MUMBAI: The Times of India Group has said it has renewed the franchise rights for the Miss Universe pageant in India.

An agreement to this effect was recently signed at the Miss Universe headquarters in New York. The Miss India Universe pageant will be produced in isolation as a stand-alone pageant.

Times Group MD Vineet Jain said, "It is important that the Miss Universe pageant is back once again with the Times Group. The Miss Universe pageant forms an integral part of the Miss India pageant structure in sending its title winners to premium International pageants."