Axis Bank on Wednesday launched a registered mobile number update journey via Aadhaar Face Authentication on its mobile banking app.

This newly launched solution allows customers to update their registered mobile numbers digitally, anytime and anywhere, through a secure three step Aadhaar Face Authentication journey, the private sector bank said in a statement. This self-service option complements branch support.

The Aadhaar Face Authentication mechanism validates the customer’s identity by capturing a live facial image and matching it with the photograph available in the Aadhaar database, ensuring secure customer authentication.

To further strengthen safety, the Bank has introduced an additional layer of protection, whereby Mobile Banking transaction limits are automatically reset to default for the first 24 hours once the registered mobile number is updated and the customer re-registers on Axis Mobile App ‘open’.

Sameer Shetty, Group Executive, Axis Bank, said: “By leveraging UIDAI’s robust biometric authentication, we are strengthening a critical customer journey and enabling them to manage essential account details safely, confidently, and with greater ease.”

Published on April 1, 2026

CPI(M) leader P Shanmugam at the The Hindu office
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

“I would strongly dispute the claim that support for Joseph Vijay is unprecedented,” said P Shanmugam, Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Tamil Nadu.

Questioning the narrative around the large crowds gathering to see the actor-turned-politician, Shanmugam said that such turnout should not be misconstrued as a sign of electoral strength. “People are naturally curious to see an actor — whom they have only watched on the silver screen — step out into public life for the first time. We do not interpret these crowds as political endorsement,” he told The Hindu group of journalists on Wednesday.

He cautioned against assuming that public enthusiasm would translate into votes or trigger political change in the State. “It is a fallacy to believe that this will automatically convert into votes aimed at bringing about a change in government,” he said.

While acknowledging that his assessment could be proven wrong after the results are declared in May, Shanmugam maintained that Vijay’s electoral prospects remain limited. “He may secure a certain percentage of vote share in his maiden electoral outing. However, there is absolutely no chance — not even in constituencies he may choose to contest — of winning a single seat,” he added.

Shanmugam noted that a segment of voters in Tamil Nadu has historically remained disengaged from the two dominant political formations —the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. “This demographic has consistently sought alternatives. In the previous election, Naam Tamilar Katchi founder Seeman attracted a portion of these votes. This time, Vijay could tap into that base,” he said.

However, he reiterated that there is no evidence to suggest that Vijay’s entry would significantly alter the electoral outcome or play a decisive role in regime change.

Framing the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a contest between “secular and communal forces,” Shanmugam said the CPI(M)’s priority is to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from gaining ground in the State.

Prevent BJP entry

“Our sole objective is to ensure that the BJP does not win even a single constituency. It is with this aim that we have continued in alliance with the DMK-led front,” he said. “Although seat allocation did not fully meet our expectations, we remain committed to the alliance to defeat the BJP-AIADMK combine,” he added.

He stated that preventing the BJP from establishing a foothold in Tamil Nadu is crucial to safeguarding the State’s long-term political trajectory. “The BJP won four seats last time. This time, they will not win even one,” he asserted.

On the recent labour unrest at Samsung Electronics, Shanmugam criticised the State government’s handling of the issue, particularly its role in the registration of a newly formed union. “While the company has the authority to recognise a union, the State should not interfere in the registration process,” he said, referring to the prolonged strike that drew global attention.

Expressing confidence in the ruling alliance, Shanmugam said the DMK-led front would return to power with an increased mandate compared to 2021. “We have a grand alliance this time,” he added.

On welfare measures, he said that subsidies and “freebies” should not be outrightly dismissed . “Certain schemes like the Magalir Urimai Thogai are welcome and necessary,” he added.

Published on April 1, 2026

India’s sugar production, which was 10 per cent higher until a fortnight ago, reached 271.20 lakh tonnes (lt) as of March 31. This was against 248.65 lt a year ago, up by 9 per cent, according to the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSF). The latest data show a fall in production in Uttar Pradesh, for the first time this season, as it was higher until March 15.

businessline was first to report about a possible drop in sugar production in Uttar Pradesh when farmers in some areas complained about as high as 30 per cent drop in yield of sugarcane. “Due to an early start and higher crushing as well as higher recovery during October-December, the overall sugar production was showing on higher side, though monthwise production started falling from January in Uttar Pradesh,” an industry expert said.

According to NFCSF data, there was 3 per cent drop, each during January and February, but the fall has widened to 13 per cent in March in Uttar Pradesh.

467 units shut

The industry body of cooperative sugar mills said that as many as 74 mills across India are currently in operation while 467 units have closed, including 100 factories in the past fortnight. In the year-ago period, 113 mills were in operation and 420 had finished crushing.

In Uttar Pradesh, which failed all estimates, the sugar production has reached 87.45 lt as of March 31 in the current season against 87.70 lt in the corresponding period in 2024-25 season (October-September). The higher production over a year ago was more than 2 per cent till end of February. As many as 83 plants in the State have ended crushing, while 38 are still in operation, though many of them are expected to close by April 10, sources said.

According to NFCSF data, mills in Uttar Pradesh have crushed 857.35 lt of sugarcane against 904.12 lt a year ago. However, due to a higher recovery rate of 10.20 per cent, up from 9.70 per cent last season, the sugar production is better despite drop in crushing. Recovery rate is the quantity of sugar produced from sugarcane.

Maharashtra output up 24%

The data also show that Maharashtra’s sugar output reached at 98.95 lt in October-March period of 2025-26 season, which is 24 per cent higher from 80.1 lt year-ago and Karnataka reported 17 per cent up at 46.75 lt from 39.90 lt.

Only 8 mills are in operation while 202 have closed in Maharashtra, and one mill in operation and 80 have closed in Karnataka.

Published on April 1, 2026