Brands
Suppandi scores big as CIBIL marks 25 years with comic twist
MUMBAI: Who knew a credit score could be comic gold? As Transunion CIBIL celebrates 25 years of building India’s credit backbone, it has teamed up with Amar Chitra Katha’s Tinkle to launch ‘CIBIL Ki Kahaniyan’, where everyone’s favourite dim-witted genius Suppandi moonlights as a financial literacy guru.
The special comic sees Suppandi joined by Simran, his finance-savvy friend, and MyCIBIL, a personification of the credit score itself. Together, the trio use humour to unravel how credit works, why scores matter, and how responsible borrowing can shape futures. With nostalgia for grown-ups and fun for first-time earners, the campaign turns credit literacy into light reading.
The comic book is just one part of a larger silver jubilee push. The outreach spans print, social media, and a multi-city radio campaign, all tied together by the tagline: “Sahi CIBIL Score, Badhaaye Khushi Ka Score”. The message is clear: a healthy score isn’t just a number, it’s a ticket to dreams, from a first home to higher education.
And CIBIL’s track record is as impressive as its storytelling makeover. In 25 years, the bureau has partnered with 7,000 plus institutions, with over 164 million Indians self-monitoring their credit scores as of July 2025. Across two decades, more than 700 million individuals have gained access to formal credit, alongside 36 million commercial entities and 85 million active microfinance borrowers.
Perhaps most striking is the gender shift: in just 10 years, 118 million women have entered the formal credit system, fuelling financial independence across households. Younger borrowers are also surging, thanks to targeted outreach and digital onboarding.
“This milestone is not just about time, it’s about trust,” said Transunion CIBIL MD & CEO Bhavesh Jain who called the campaign a way to blend progress with personal stories of resilience and aspiration.
Meanwhile, Tinkle editor-in-chief Gayathri Chandrasekaran admits her own team now checks their CIBIL scores after crafting the comic: “Suppandi was the perfect pick to make finance fun.”
For a nation where finance often feels intimidating, Suppandi’s misadventures may just make credit confidence the next household story.
Brands
Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
