iWorld
Plug & play startup hops on Amazon Launchpad; expects 10,000 customers
MUMBAI: Oakter, a Noida based tech startup, has been chosen by Amazon Launchpad platform in India. Oakter will be amongst the select group companies for which its products will be showcased to millions of Amazon customers. The two-year old company designs and manufactures plug & play smart home products. The Launchpad is already available in the US, UK, China, Germany, France, and Mexico.
Oakter was chosen since its IOT based products are innovative, completely made in India and designed to solve the needs of Indian consumers. “We have been selling on Amazon for about six months and we have realized that Amazon is extremely careful with regard to customer experience. We also feel we were selected since our product has been receiving overwhelmingly positive response with regard to delight it provides to our customers,” said Oakter CEO Sishir Gupta.
The deal with Amazon will help Oakter to scale up their production, ensure timely deliveries, ensure product quality and customer experience. The tech company did not apply to get on board of the e-commerce giant but were approached by Amazon. “Amazon approached us and asked us if we would be interested. We said, hell yeah! It was very professional and structured process. It took us about three weeks to finalize everything. Amazon will help us reach more of its millions of customers. This is a moment of pride for us. The Amazon Launchpad Programme is a great opportunity for us to showcase our innovation,” asserted Gupta.
The Amazon Launchpad Programme is a globally distinctive program that showcases innovative products from startups to millions of Amazon customers across the globe. The Indian startups are given can reach out to 300 million users around the world and make a name for themselves. The main focus of this program is that it gives these startups a chance to launch their products on Amazon.
In this manner, these products and the respective companies get good exposure and this programme also acts as a powerful avenue for future opportunities. The program offers a streamlined onboarding experience, custom product pages, a comprehensive marketing package, and access to Amazon’s global fulfillment network, all geared toward helping startups successfully launch their innovations and share their stories. With Amazon Launchpad, startups can overcome many of the challenges associated with launching new products by using Amazon’s retail expertise and infrastructure to create awareness and drive sales.
“The deal is very timely for us, just at the time when we are ready to scale up and expand to large customer base, Launchapd has come to help us out. We hope to reach 10,000 customers in next 3 to 6 months,” added Gupta.
A year and a half ago, Amazon had introduced this Programme in U.S after which it was launched in other western countries. Amazon has recently launched the same in India. India is the seventh location around the world where amazon has introduced the Launchpad.
The store, which can be found on Amazon.in, features over 400 innovative products ranging across categories like wearable technology, health monitoring, food and beverages, educational toys, and others.
iWorld
Mumbai Police bans uniform reels and khaki swag videos
51,000 personnel ordered to stop social media content in uniform, violations face disciplinary action under 1979 rules.
MUMBAI: Mumbai’s finest are hanging up their khaki swag reels because sometimes the spotlight on uniform glamour risks turning into a security slip-up. In a circular issued on Thursday (20 February 2026) and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Dattatray Kamble, the Mumbai Police has directed all 51,000 personnel to immediately cease posting reels, mini-vlogs, or any videos shot while in uniform on social media platforms like Instagram. The order warns of strict disciplinary proceedings under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 1979 for non-compliance.
The crackdown targets the viral “khaki swag” trend that saw younger officers gain big followings through entertaining, dance-filled, or motivational clips in uniform. The circular notes that such content often inadvertently shows office premises, government vehicles, equipment, or duty-related details potentially compromising operational security and confidentiality.
The Mumbai Police Social Media Lab has been tasked with actively monitoring platforms and flagging violations. The move aligns with a July 2025 Government Resolution regulating social media use by state government employees, which bars self-promotion, criticism of policies, sharing confidential material, or posting offensive content. It also mandates clear separation between personal and official accounts, prohibits displaying designations, logos, government property, or office details (except in profile photos), and stresses avoiding anything that could harm the force’s image or discipline.
Senior officers acknowledge that while many reels appeared harmless or even boosted public engagement, the risks of breaching secrecy or projecting an unprofessional vibe outweighed the perks. The trend had produced stars like Amol Kale, who amassed over 583,000 followers and collaborated with celebrities including Ranveer Singh, Nora Fatehi, and Malaika Arora.
For a force that thrives on discipline and discretion, this directive is less about killing fun and more about keeping the uniform’s authority intact on duty and off the feed. From now on, the only reels Mumbai cops are expected to chase are the ones involving actual lawbreakers.
