MAM
Concept PR bags communications mandate for NSE
MUMBAI: Concept Public Relations India Limited has added a heavyweight client to its roster, securing the media and strategic communications mandate for the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. The appointment puts the consultancy at the heart of the country’s most watched financial marketplace.
Under the mandate, Concept PR will shape and manage NSE’s integrated media and communications strategy across financial, business, mainstream and digital platforms. The brief spans all NSE Group businesses, with a clear focus on sharper messaging, stronger stakeholder engagement and steady investor confidence.
As the backbone of India’s capital markets, NSE sits at the crossroads of technology, trust and trading. Its listed companies account for a sizeable share of domestic market capitalisation, while its tech-led infrastructure keeps markets accessible, transparent and efficient across asset classes.
Commenting on the partnership, Concept Public Relations India managing director Ashish Jalan said, “NSE is among the most respected stock exchanges globally, setting benchmarks in innovation and investor participation. As India’s capital markets grow on the back of retail interest, technology and global capital, clear and credible communication becomes vital. We are pleased to partner with NSE at this important juncture and look forward to amplifying its leadership story.”
Founded in 1984, Concept Public Relations brings deep experience in BFSI, alongside work across public sector enterprises, real estate, infrastructure, technology and healthcare. The firm will support NSE in engaging a fast-expanding investor base and in strengthening its voice as India’s markets continue to evolve.
MAM
ITC YiPPee! Rolls Out Food Carts to Empower Uttarakhand Women
ITC’s YiPPee! gets the wheels turning for Uttarakhand’s newest micro-entrepreneurs.
MUMBAI: Forget the old adage about putting the cart before the horse, in the hills of Uttarakhand, the cart is the driving force. In a move that proves there’s more to instant noodles than just a quick snack, Sunfeast YiPPee! has cooked up a fresh initiative to turn homemakers into breadwinners. Under the banner of its ‘Better World Program’, the brand has rolled out a fleet of food carts to aspiring businesswomen, proving that the best route to empowerment is often a street-side view.
This January 2026, the programme set up shop in Uttarakhand, where it identified ten women ready to swap uncertainty for entrepreneurship. But this wasn’t a case of simply handing over the keys and hoping for the best. In partnership with the NGO Prayatna, the initiative treated the selection process with the rigour of a Masterchef audition. Candidates were screened for motivation and grit, ensuring that the beneficiaries weren’t just looking for a job, but were ready to run the show.
Once selected, the cohort underwent a bespoke training regime that would put many culinary schools to shame. The curriculum covered everything from financial management and customer handling to the nitty-gritty of food safety. By the time they hit the streets, these women were armed with FoSTaC Basic Catering Course and NSDC dual certifications, courtesy of the Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative (FICSI). To top it off, they were guided through the FSSAI registration maze, ensuring their businesses are as compliant as they are capable.
The result? A brigade of fully equipped, branded food carts hitting the streets, accessories included.
Snacks & Noodles unit at ITC Ltd. chief executive Ali Harris Shere noted that true dignity stems from economic independence. “We are focused on enabling women to achieve economic independence by equipping them with the capabilities, confidence, and resources needed to build resilient micro-enterprises,” he remarked, highlighting that the expansion into Uttarakhand is about cementing inclusive growth.
The local government has certainly developed an appetite for the scheme. Uttarakhand State Commission for Women president Kusum Kandwal praised the corporate-NGO tag team, noting that such efforts “complement government initiatives and strengthen our shared mission.”
This isn’t ITC’s first rodeo or rather, first roll-out. Over the past two years, the programme has been a lifeline for migrant women in Delhi NCR, helping them navigate out of vulnerable conditions and into self-reliance. It is a slice of a much larger pie; ITC’s multi-dimensional social investments have now touched the lives of over 6 million women across India, spanning education, employability, and enterprise.
For these ten women in Uttarakhand, the future is looking distinctly brighter. They finally have the ingredients for success, and for once, it’s not just about what’s on the menu, it’s about who owns the kitchen.
