iWorld
New BBC Instagram filter lets you put yourself on a billboard
MUMBAI: The BBC has launched a new Instagram filter which lets users put themselves on a virtual BBC News billboard. If you use the filter, post a story to Instagram, and tag BBC News with the relevant language service handle (for example, BBCHindi, BBCNewsMarathi), you also stand the chance of being selected to appear on real BBC billboards across India. Selected posts will also be featured on the official Instagram account of the relevant BBC News language service.
This initiative is part of BBC News’ ‘Make More of Your World’ campaign, relaunched in December 2020. The International broadcaster said its audience research has highlighted the optimism and ambition held by young people in India, and this initiative invites them to make more of their world through their own social media.
BBC News marketing manager – Asia Pacific Tejash Kothari said: “This campaign is the first of its kind in India and we are proud to have come up with this unique opportunity. Audiences are at the heart of what the BBC does, and this initiative reflects its ambition to represent all those that come to us for trustworthy, impartial journalism. Through this initiative we are taking our commitment to ‘Make more of your world’ to our audiences in the comfort of their own homes. With the help of this idea we intend to engage with our audience at a deeper level and offer an honest opportunity to be part of our campaign. I invite everyone to join in and be part of our campaign.”
The filters are available in Marathi, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil and Gujarati languages, besides Hindi as of now. Through this innovative promotion, BBC News aims to make its India IG followers part of its ‘Make More of your World’ campaign.
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
