MAM
TCS writes a new chapter with 25 years of Literacy as a Service
MUMBAI: Words can change worlds and for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the past 25 years have been proof enough. On World Literacy Day, the IT giant marked a milestone: a quarter-century of its flagship Literacy as a Service (LaaS) initiative, which began life in 2000 under the vision of Dr F C Kohli as a modest adult literacy programme and has since grown into a global movement of empowerment.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Over the years, 2.85 million learners across 21 Indian states, union territories, and parts of Africa have been equipped with functional, financial and digital literacy. In FY25 alone, LaaS reached more than 412,000 learners, powered by a vast network of 241,000 plus facilitators. The ripple effect extends far beyond classrooms: from helping rural women run small businesses to ensuring families understand their rights and claim welfare entitlements.
In Andhra Pradesh, for example, TCS has partnered with the government to empower 400,000 women across 26 districts, blending financial know-how with digital skills. The platform itself has kept pace with the times available in nine Indian and three foreign languages, it uses graphics, sound patterns, vernacular content, and even AI-powered personalisation to ensure inclusivity for first-generation learners and under-served groups.
Beyond the basics of reading and writing, the curriculum now stretches into life-relevant areas: financial literacy, digital adoption, awareness of citizen entitlements, and even disaster preparedness. The impact is visible in small but powerful ways from managing household finances to bridging the digital divide and building resilience in crises.
The initiative has also been amplified by the “Each One Empowers One” campaign, where TCS and Tata Group associates mentor individuals within their communities, creating a multiplier effect. Social inclusion, economic participation, and self-confidence have all been central outcomes of this effort making literacy not just a skill, but a springboard for dignity and opportunity.
TCS Joseph global head of CSR Sunil Nallapalli called it a movement rather than a programme: literacy as the seed of generational change. And after 25 years, those seeds have taken root in millions of lives, creating not just readers, but leaders.
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
