GECs
India Today group launches Indian edition of ‘Scientific American’
MUMBAI: The India Today Group launched the Indian edition of Scientific American, the worlds foremost and oldest science and technology magazine published since 1845.
In India, the title will be known as Scientific American India and will bring to its readers insightful analysis of the emerging trends in the fields of science and technology and their relevance to the daily lives of people.
India Today Group editor-in-chief Aroon Purie handed over a copy of the first issue of the Indian edition of the magazine to Minister of State for Science, Technology and Ocean Development Kapil Sibal.
Sibal said, “I was absolutely delighted when I got to know that this magazine will be accessible to the Indian audience. It has come at the right time when the interest of the international community in Indian scientists is immense. It will give the Indian scientists a great opportunity and exposure.”
Speaking on the occasion, Purie said, “India has one of the largest pools of scientific talent in the world, yet there really has never been a magazine of international repute devoted to science and technology and published from India. By bringing out Scientific American India we hope to fill this void. The magazine is for everyone who has a thirst for knowledge, a sense of wonder on how the world works and a desire to see the future now.”
Purie pointed out that the American part of the name “was not a declaration of allegiance. Rather it reflects India Todays feeling that in this modern era, the citizen of every land has the civic responsibility to be informed about science and technology. Lets not forget that science helped transform the United States from an agricultural country into an industrial superpower.”
Scientific American combines unmatched credibility and authority with more than 120 Nobel laureates having written for Scientific American; most of whom wrote about their prize-winning works years before being recognised by the Nobel Committee. For over 150 years the magazine has chronicled major discoveries and inventions of the Industrial Revolution, including the Bessemer steel converter, the telephone and the incandescent light-bulb.
Today, Scientific American boasts of more than five million loyal readers worldwide, is published in 15 languages and circulated across 20 countries. Each issue identifies and delivers the latest developments in biotechnology and information science, along with business-critical R&D across a broad range of fields. On the occasion of the launch, Scientific American India editor Raj Chengappa said, “The Indian edition will also help the world appreciate the accomplishments of Indian scientists and engineers by featuring their work. “
Scientific American India publishing director Pavan Varshnei added, “With innovation being the key to success, Scientific American India, its coverage and the foresight it brings are more relevant than ever before for readers with a vision for the future.”
Scientific American India would appeal to opinion leaders in business, industry, government and research and development. The magazine is priced at Rs 100 with special subscription offers for scientists, academicians and students.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
