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Room to Read India launches girls’ financial literacy drive
MUMBAI: Room to Read India has launched the sixth edition of its flagship girls’ education campaign, Har Kadam Beti Ke Sang, this time with a sharp focus on financial literacy. The initiative, titled Har Kadam Beti Ke Sang – Financial Literacy Ki Aur Badhe Hum, aims to equip adolescent girls, with the skills and confidence to make informed financial choices, resist early marriage, and envision independent futures.
The week-long campaign calls on families, educators, policymakers, and communities to nurture financial confidence among young people. Through practical lessons on budgeting, saving, goal setting, and understanding credit and investments, the programme seeks to normalise girls’ participation in financial decision-making at home and in schools.
Room to Read India country director Poornima Garg said, “Financial literacy gives girls more than economic skills, it gives them agency. Only 16.7 per cent of Indian adolescents can correctly answer basic financial questions, and fewer than 20 per cent of girls have ever made a personal purchase without permission. When girls understand money, they understand their worth and power to shape the future. Har Kadam Beti Ke Sang is our call to make that empowerment universal.”
Since 2005, the girls’ education program has supported over 396,050 girls, with a 98 per cent advancement rate. Around 80 per cent of alumnae have completed tertiary education across states including Chhattisgarh, Delhi NCR, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Previous editions have spotlighted critical adolescent issues such as digital inclusion, safety, and mental well-being.
The national seminar featured “My Financial Journey”, where adolescents shared candid stories on access and exclusion, and a panel discussion titled “Breaking Gender Barriers — Whose Space is Finance?” explored how financial literacy can challenge traditional norms. The event concluded with “Commitments for the Future”, underscoring financial literacy as a pathway to agency, power, and gender equality.
Through Har Kadam Beti Ke Sang 2025, Room to Read India reaffirms its mission to nurture a generation of girls who are educated, financially empowered, and ready to lead change for themselves and their communities.
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Hyundai India posts record April sales with 17-per cent growth
Domestic sales hit 51,902 units, exports stand at 13,708 units
MUMBAI: Hyundai is clearly shifting gears and April has put the pedal firmly to the metal. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has reported its highest-ever domestic sales for the month of April, clocking 51,902 units in April 2026, marking a 17 per cent year-on-year growth. The milestone sets a strong tone for the new financial year, signalling sustained demand momentum across its portfolio. Alongside domestic performance, the company recorded export volumes of 13,708 units for the month, underlining its continued strength in overseas markets.
The growth has been driven by a mix of refreshed models and special editions across segments. Recent launches and updates including the Exter, Verna, Ioniq 5, Creta Summer Edition, Grand i10 NIOS Vibe Edition and Venue Knight Edition have helped keep the line-up competitive in an increasingly crowded market.
A standout performer was the Venue, which recorded its highest-ever monthly domestic sales of 12,420 units. The model’s 5-Star Bharat NCAP safety rating, including for the VENUE N Line, appears to have bolstered consumer confidence, reflecting a broader industry shift where safety credentials are becoming a key purchase driver.
Tarun Garg, Managing Director and CEO, HMIL, said the company has carried forward recent momentum into the new financial year, with product interventions and safety-focused positioning playing a central role in driving growth.
The numbers suggest Hyundai’s strategy is ticking multiple boxes fresh product cycles, safety-led messaging and steady export performance. If April is any indication, the company isn’t just starting the year strong, it’s aiming to keep the engine running at full throttle.
