MAM
BBC and ITV join forces for exit poll
MUMBAI: BBC News is joining forces with ITV News to commission a joint exit poll at the next general election.
The poll will be jointly undertaken by two polling companies NOP and MORI – which have extensive experience in exit polling over recent general elections.
NOP’s partnership with the BBC on exit polling goes back to the 1992 election and MORI worked with ITV News on their exit poll for the last two general elections, informs a media release.
The fieldwork will take place on election day at a number of carefully selected polling stations throughout the country where voters will be asked how they voted.
This data will then be analysed by a joint ITV/BBC team of political specialists to produce an estimate of the election result which will be revealed on the BBC and ITV election results programmes once the polls have closed.
According to the official communiqué, BBC News director Helen Boaden said, “I’m delighted that we are able to work with ITV News on this important piece of research. The partnership will mean we can ensure a high quality poll for the BBC’s election results programme and deliver value for money for the audience.”
ITV News assistant editor Craig Oliver quoted as saying, “In sharing this exit poll we have brought together Professor Colin Rallings and the Professor John Curtice – Britain’s foremost election analysts. No one is better qualified to ensure we get an accurate picture of how the country has voted.”
Brands
Godrej Capital’s ‘Do se teen’ celebrates women scaling businesses
Aarohi loans cross Rs 1,000 crore AUM milestone for women entrepreneurs
MUMBAI: Godrej Capital has launched a new campaign, ‘Do se teen’, ahead of International Women’s Day, spotlighting India’s emerging women entrepreneurs and the families increasingly backing their ambitions.
The film centres on a woman entrepreneur preparing to expand her warehouse business from two outlets to three. A brief misunderstanding, when her mother-in-law mistakes the expansion for a pregnancy announcement, quickly turns into a moment of encouragement as the family supports her decision to sign a business loan and grow the venture on her own terms.
The campaign forms part of Aarohi Loans for Women, an initiative by Godrej Capital’s subsidiaries designed to expand access to credit for women borrowers. The programme removes a longstanding barrier in lending by allowing women to apply for loans without a mandatory male co-applicant, giving them greater financial autonomy.
“Across India, more women are stepping forward to build and scale their own businesses, but access to formal credit remains a challenge,” said Godrej Capital managing director and chief executive Manish Shah. “Through Aarohi, we aim to remove some of these barriers and make it easier for women to access capital and grow with confidence.”
Since its launch, the initiative has gained traction among women entrepreneurs. Loans worth Rs 1,890 crore have been disbursed under the programme, helping the portfolio cross the Rs 1,000 crore assets under management (AUM) milestone. The company is targeting roughly Rs 1,200 crore AUM by the end of the current financial year.
Beyond lending, the programme also focuses on strengthening the ecosystem for women-led businesses through financial literacy initiatives, training partnerships and community programmes aimed at building entrepreneurial capabilities.
As part of its outreach, the company recently opened an all-women branch in Pune to deepen engagement with women entrepreneurs and local business networks.
Godrej Capital says the campaign underscores a broader cultural shift: as families increasingly support women’s ambitions, and credit becomes easier to access, women-led enterprises are poised to expand their role in India’s small-business economy.
