Mamaearth's parent company profit grew by 87%; Goyal defends his Temple project amid criticism

Honasa Consumer, the parent company of the beauty and personal hygiene brand Mamaearth, reported an 87% increase in net profit compared to the same period last year in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Meanwhile, the company's revenue increased by 36% due to strong growth across all product categories.

The company, which manages brands such as Mamaearth, Dermacare, and Aqualogica, recorded a net profit of 73.24 crore rupees in the second quarter of fiscal year '27, up from 39.22 crore rupees in the same period of fiscal year '26. Revenue for this period amounted to 731.18 crore rupees compared to 538.06 crore rupees a year earlier.

According to information from Honasa Consumer, the revenue growth in the second quarter is the highest indicator since its public listing in November 2023.

Honasa Consumer CEO Varun Alag stated that 'at the brand level, every business writes its own story of growth. Mamaearth maintains a high growth rate within twenty percent, The Derma Co. continues to grow profitably. Our younger brands have grown by more than 45% year-on-year, highlighting the potential of our evolving portfolio.'

He added that each brand has its own consumer, its own offering, and its own opportunities, and the company's goal is to create a sustainable business in every category.

The omnichannel retailer noted that its offline segment showed growth in the second quarter: total trade expanded to over 3.2 lakh outlets, and modern trade (large format retail stores) showed a 40% year-on-year increase in shipments.

Ghazal Alag, Chief Information Officer and co-founder of Honasa Consumer, stated: 'As we enter the next phase of growth, we will continue to expand the boundaries of innovation, deepen our presence in core categories, and make our products accessible to a wider range of consumers through all channels.'

Over six months of the fiscal year, the company reported a revenue of 1,487.13 crore rupees, corresponding to a 31% year-on-year growth. Net profit for this period reached 163.69 crore rupees, showing a 103% year-on-year increase.

The financial company MobiKwik announced a net profit in the second quarter of the fiscal year 27. This profit amounted to 11.83 crore rupees for the period from July to September. This result marked the fourth consecutive profitable quarter for the company and was its highest quarterly profit in history.

This figure contrasts with the loss recorded in the same period last year, when the company lost 28.61 crore rupees in the second quarter of fiscal year 26.

Concurrently, trends in the Indian economy indicate that employment growth among women is not accompanied by the creation of high-quality jobs. Women in India are working more, but they remain tied to agriculture and other low-productivity activities. Furthermore, their economic opportunities are limited by a disproportionately large burden of unpaid domestic and care work.

A study titled 'The Participation Paradox: Women’s Work and Time-Use in India, 2017-18 to 2025' analyzes this gap between labor force participation and job quality.

In other news, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani became the world's largest wealth holder, increasing his fortune by over $6 billion in just one day following a sharp rise in the flagship company's shares amid stronger-than-expected quarterly financial results.

According to Forbes' 'Real-Time Billionaires' list, Ambani's wealth grew by 7.85%, equivalent to $6.3 billion, making him the world's largest wealth holder in the latest update on November 2.

It was also noted that the India-focused private equity fund ValueQuest Tristar Fund attracted over 2,100 crore rupees in investor commitments within 15 months after closing its first round. This amount exceeded both the target baseline and the full 'greenshoe' option. The fund targets advanced manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, defense, precision engineering, and energy transition, and has already invested in four companies: Hi-Q Electronics, Rangsons Aerospace, Waaree Energy Storage Solutions, and Trusted Aerospace & Engineers (TASE Global).

Meanwhile, the parent company of the hotel chain OYO, PRISM, published a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of 353 crore rupees for the first quarter ending in June. This represents a 17% increase compared to 301 crore rupees the previous year. According to the company's audited financial statements, the quarterly profit included a deferred tax credit of approximately 244 crore rupees.

At the Bihar Idea Festival, which concluded in September 2025 in Patna, YourStory launched an event as part of its initiative The Bharat Project. This project was conducted in collaboration with the Bihar Department of Industries and the Chandragupta Institute of Management Patna (CIMP). The festival aimed to expand entrepreneurship beyond major cities, helping youth in small towns and villages bring their business ideas to life.

Shital Kumari was among the participants of this event. She was considering starting her own venture but faced numerous questions regarding business selection, startup procedures, funding sources, and potential risks of failure.

Nearly a year after the festival, Shital's efforts reached a significant milestone. Through YourStory's Shuru Kar initiative, she received funding of 1 lakh rupees for her startup, GomatiRoots. These funds were provided by Shraddha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project. For Shital, this amount represented not just financial aid, but also recognition of the value of her idea.

Through GomatiRoots, Shital aims to give a unique identity to traditional Bihari products, such as 'badi'. Badi is a traditional lentil-based product that has been part of Indian households' diets for generations, and she wants it to become a recognizable brand in the market.

To understand Shital's entrepreneurial journey, one must look at her early life. She grew up in Bihar and received education in government institutions. She completed school up to Class 10 at Shri Guru Gobind Singh Girls High School, pursued intermediate education at RPM College, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the College of Commerce.

Although she wished to obtain a BTech degree, this dream did not materialize. Nevertheless, she continued her studies and later obtained a Master's degree from Nalanda Open University. Her studies were supported by a friend who provided her with 4,500 rupees.

A major turning point in her life occurred in 2018 when she lost her younger brother. After his death, the family moved to Muzaffarpur. While the family grieved, Shital lost her mother during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following her mother's death, responsibility for her younger siblings fell upon her. She moved to Patna to support her family and began looking for work. Over the next two to three years, she worked in video editing, teaching children, and selling lychees when necessary. During this period, she continued preparing for the Indian Civil Services Examination (UPSC).

It was during this time that she learned about the Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana scheme—a state government initiative aimed at supporting small entrepreneurs. She applied for this program and received the first installment of 50,000 rupees, along with training to start her business. She later received a second installment of 1 lakh rupees. Additionally, she took out a loan of 2 lakh rupees and laid the foundation for GomatiRoots in Patna.

Speaking to YourStory, Shital notes: