National News
Madhuri Dixit inaugurates 20000* sqft jewellery shopping destination for PNG Jewellers at Laxmi Road, Pune
Retail expansion in jewellery aligns with the consumer response in any given market. Phenomenal popularity and product demand call for unprecedented expansion, and one such instance was exhibited by PN Gadgil Jewellers, widely known for its commitment towards excellence across a legacy of 193 years of business and counting, with the launch of a new store besides renovation of its flagship showroom, both at Laxmi Road in Pune, on 23 March, 2025.
Catering to rising demand across all categories of gold, diamond, platinum, and colour gemstone jewellery in the Pune market, the two stores were jointly inaugurated by Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit in the presence of Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director of PNG Jewellers; Mr. Parag Gadgil, and members of the PNG Jewellers family. The combined area of the two large-format stores now reach a staggering 20,000 sq. ft.*
Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing director of PNG Jewellers said, “Pune holds a special place in our hearts, as it is where our flagship store continues to stand as an example to our heritage and trust. Now, the brand has a total of 53 stores across the world. As we strive to strengthen our retail network further, this expansion brings us closer to our patrons, ensuring they have convenient access to the finest jewellery, steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. We look forward to serving the people of Pune with the same commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and trust.”
Ushering in a completely modern in-store experience while respecting Maharashtrian tradition, the renovated flagship showroom has been redesigned akin to heritage Wada courtyard houses intrinsic to the state. Exclusively retailing in gold jewellery of Kalkatti, temple, antique, and kundan designs, the flagship showroom specialises in bridal jewellery along with a dedicated wedding lounge replete with private make-up stations to give the brides-to-be the attention they deserve. The new 2-storey showroom, on the other hand, stands tall as a hub of the studded categories including diamond, platinum, uncut, polki, and precious colour gemstone jewellery. The expansion has now diversified the product range of PNG Jewellers by an impressive 30-40%, thus giving buyers across all categories better options for an immersive and satisfying shopping experience.
Commenting on the continuing legacy of the brand, ambassador and Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit said, “It is a privilege to be a part of this historic event with PNG Jewellers, a company known for its excellence and tradition. Their commitment to preserving tradition while embracing modern designs truly sets PNG Jewellers apart. PNG has always stood for trust, tradition, and timeless craftsmanship.”
The new store of PNG Jewellers is located 500 meters away from their flagship store, and has rolled out exclusive offers such as 0% deduction on old gold exchange, up to 40% off on gold jewellery-making charges, and up to 100% off on diamond jewellery-making charges respectively to celebrate the grand inauguration.
National News
Malabar Group Signs Letter Of Intent With The West Bengal Government To Strengthen CSR Partnerships and Advance Inclusive Development
Rs 20 Crore CSR Commitment For West Bengal In FY 2026–27 To Expand Education, Healthcare, Nutrition, Water Security and Artisan Welfare Initiatives.
·Strengthens government-corporate collaboration to drive inclusive development across West Bengal
·Supports 11,873 children through 297 Micro Learning Centres across the state
·Provides nutritious meals daily to 1,200 beneficiaries and has completed 629 drinking water wells
·Expands support for healthcare, elderly care, and artisan communities across West Bengal
Malabar Group, a leading diversified business conglomerate and the parent company of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Government of West Bengal to strengthen CSR partnerships and expand the impact of its social initiatives across the state. The LOI was exchanged with Finance Minister Dr. Swapan Dasgupta by Thahsil Ahammed, Regional Head (East India), Malabar Gold & Diamonds, along with Sajid N K, Manufacturing Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and Shabeer P K, Senior Manager, CSR. The collaboration marks an important step towards enhancing government-corporate convergence and promoting inclusive and sustainable development through focused interventions addressing community needs.
The engagement is aligned with West Bengal Government’s efforts to establish a more coordinated and outcome-oriented framework for CSR partnerships. The state has also instituted an integrated CSR framework through the Finance Department, State CSR Council, West Bengal CSR Portal and CSR Projects Facilitation Unit to facilitate partnerships between the government, corporates, and philanthropic organisations, while aligning CSR investments with identified development priorities. As a part of its continued contribution towards the social development in the state, Malabar Group has earmarked a total CSR commitment of Rs 20 crore for FY 2026–27.
Malabar Group has been implementing a range of community-focused initiatives in West Bengal through the Malabar Charitable Trust (MCT) and its implementing partner, Daya Rehabilitation Trust (Thanal). These initiatives encompass education, nutrition, healthcare, water security, elderly care, housing, and artisan welfare, with a focus on creating sustainable impact among underprivileged communities.
Under its education initiatives, Malabar Group currently supports 297 Micro Learning Centres, benefiting 11,873 children from underserved communities across West Bengal. The Group has also provided scholarships to 500 girls to support their education. In addition, the Ujjwala Scholarship initiative supports 500 students from the Karigar community in West Bengal, contributing to greater access to education for children from artisan families.
Nutrition remains another important area of intervention. Malabar Group provides nutritious meals daily to 1,200 beneficiaries across the state. The initiative aims to ensure regular access to nutrition among vulnerable communities. Its outreach efforts include daily street medical services that reach around 60 beneficiaries, extending basic healthcare support to underserved sections of society.
Moreover, the Group has completed 629 drinking water wells against a target of 800, helping communities improve access to safe drinking water. Furthermore, the Group has expanded its social welfare initiatives to elderly care and housing. A Grandma Home for 60 elderly women has been proposed in West Bengal to provide accommodation, care, and support to elderly women in need. Through its Samman Awas housing initiative for artisans, Malabar Group has committed to provide 140 houses, including 80 in West Bengal, with the aim of improving living conditions for artisan communities.
Commenting on the initiative, MP Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group, said:

“At Malabar Group, CSR is an integral part of our culture, and we believe in creating meaningful and sustainable social impact. Our collaboration with the Government of West Bengal marks an important step in enhancing this approach and strengthening the alignment between corporate social responsibility and the development priorities of the state.
Through our continued engagement with communities, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that enhance access to education, healthcare, nutrition, livelihoods, and essential social infrastructure. We look forward to building on this partnership and contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future for communities across West Bengal.”
The Letter of Intent further strengthens Malabar Group’s ongoing engagement with communities across West Bengal and provides an opportunity to deepen existing interventions while exploring areas for greater collaboration. West Bengal Government’s CSR framework is designed to connect corporate intent with development priorities at the state and district levels, and facilitate partnerships that can improve quality, alignment, and scalability of CSR interventions.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds has allocated Rs 200 crore towards CSR initiatives for FY 2026–27, with a focus on driving meaningful social needs.
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