Author: Bhakti Narayanan

According to a report based on data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions in India are projected to constitute 75% of all United Payments Interface (UPI) transactions by 2025. Currently, 56.1% of UPI transactions are P2M transactions. Global payments service provider Worldline’s “India Digital Payments Report for H1 2023” revealed that UPI transactions in India increased by 62% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2018, largely driven by P2M transactions. Between January and June 2023, there were 51.91 billion UPI transactions, with 29.15 billion being P2M payments, accounting for…

A study conducted by Nielsen Media India on behalf of Amazon India reveals that consumers across India are feeling optimistic about online shopping for the upcoming festive season, with one in two planning to increase their spending compared to the previous year. The report indicates that a significant 81% of consumers intend to shop online during the festive season, and more than 75% trust e-commerce platforms for genuine products and convenient shopping. The core expectations of consumers include a broad product selection, competitive pricing, easy returns, and exchanges. Manish Tiwary, Country Manager India – Consumer Business at Amazon India, expressed…

The highly anticipated film “Animal” has been generating significant buzz, particularly for its intense action sequences. A teaser featuring Ranbir Kapoor engaging in a fierce battle with thugs has already earned praise from action enthusiasts. To add to the excitement, the film’s creators have been unveiling character posters that introduce intriguing figures from the world of gangster warfare. Following the poster of Anil Kapoor as Ranbir’s father, the next character poster unveiled belongs to Bobby Deol, who plays the role of the antagonist in this underworld tale. Released on September 26, the poster showcases Bobby Deol in a sharp and…

India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was reaffirmed during the G20 summit, where these goals were emphasized as a top priority. India’s progress toward the SDGs was lauded as an inspiring example of determination and innovation. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, highlighted this commitment during the ‘India Roundtable’ held alongside the UN General Assembly. She noted that while global progress on the SDGs has been slow, India has made strides, especially in reducing poverty, staying on track to achieve SDG 1 before 2030. The G20 summit placed significant emphasis on the SDGs, marking a…

According to a recent survey conducted by the Retailers Association of India (RAI), the retail sector has shown significant growth in August 2023, with a remarkable 9% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This upward trend follows a similar pattern from July, where overall retail sales also saw a 9% rise compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the apparel sector, an integral part of retail, experienced an 8% growth in July. Delving into specific categories, food and grocery sales surged impressively, recording a remarkable 13% growth rate. Similarly, quick-service restaurants (QSR) and the jewelry sector both…

Director Atlee, known for his recent blockbuster Jawan, disclosed that Hollywood professionals expressed interest in his work following the film’s remarkable success. However, he declined these lucrative offers, firmly believing that filmmaking should be fueled by passion, not financial gain. In an interview with Film Companion, Atlee delved into his filmmaking philosophy, underscoring the role of love in his craft. He stated, “Love is paramount in my work. There’s no mathematical formula for what I do. My craft revolves around love. If I don’t have a deep connection with something, I can’t creatively bring it to life. So, I must…

According to an analysis conducted by CREDAI-CRE Matrix, the demand for warehouse space has surged by 1.4 times, reaching 13 million square feet in the first half of 2023 (January-June). This robust demand has consistently outpaced supply, maintaining an average deficit of 10%. The Grade-A Warehousing sector in India has expanded to encompass 163 million square feet, with an impressive supply addition of 9.4 million square feet in the same period. This remarkable growth can be attributed to the substantial development within the industrial sector, making it one of the fastest-growing segments in the country. Interestingly, while the demand has…

During the 105th episode of his radio show, ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the significance of the India-Middle East-Europe corridor, which was announced during the G20 summit in New Delhi, as a pivotal global trade route for future economic interactions. PM Modi underscored that this corridor had the potential to shape world trade for generations to come, drawing parallels to the historic Silk Route of ancient India, instilling a sense of pride that the IME corridor originated from India. Furthermore, PM Modi commended India’s role in granting full membership to the African Union in the G20 bloc,…

Three days after the lunar sunrise, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has not received any signals from the Chandrayaan-3 lander, Vikram, and its rover, Pragyan. Despite this, hopes persist for their potential reactivation on the moon’s surface. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath stated that while no signals have been received thus far, there is an ongoing possibility of a reconnection. He mentioned that they are prepared to wait through the entire lunar day, which spans 14 Earth days and ensures continuous sunlight, leading to rising temperatures. Somanath explained that the increasing temperature could potentially warm up the systems inside the lander…

India’s inaugural space-based solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has initiated its journey to the Lagrangian 1 (L1) point through the Trans-Lagrangian 1 Insertion (TL1I) maneuver executed by ISRO on September 19. This milestone maneuver signifies the commencement of Aditya-L1’s 110-day voyage toward the L1 point, positioned between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 1.5 million km away, representing a mere 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. ISRO announced the successful execution of the TL1I maneuver with excitement, stating that the spacecraft is now on a trajectory bound for the Sun-Earth L1 point. It will be placed in orbit around L1 via another maneuver…