CONSUMER AWARENESS
Air pollution: Smog puts skin and hair in the game; dermatologists report a rise in queries
Pollution-related beauty concerns are not new, but consumer awareness is becoming more specific. Patients are arriving with questions about vitamin C serums, barrier-repair moisturisers, charcoal products, oxygen-based facials and scalp detox treatments. Gupta said that social media has helped increase awareness, but it has also created confusion. Patients ask whether they need an air purifier or whether their skincare needs to change during winter.
Price gets in the whey of Indians’ daily protein fix
International whey protein concentrate prices are decreasing, but Indian prices have not softened significantly. Demand for protein supplements is growing in India, driven by heightened consumer awareness. Retail prices for whey concentrate remain elevated, influenced by tight inventories and import costs. Producers are urged to invest in local whey processing infrastructure to meet domestic demand. Overall, protein consumption is now extending beyond traditional fitness enthusiasts to a wider audience.
PM in Manila: Aligning act east, Indo-Pacific & MAHASAGAR policies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manila for the ASEAN Summit, focusing on strengthening India's partnerships. The growing competition in the Indo-Pacific requires ASEAN countries to seek reliable collaborations with India. Maritime cooperation, educational exchanges, and renewable energy initiatives are critical areas for future collaboration.
US air travel schedule should recover from ground stop by the end of Sunday, FAA says
Airlines across the United States faced significant disruptions as thousands of flights were canceled due to a nationwide ground stop. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that this delay was caused by complications in updating air traffic control systems. Passengers experienced long waits at airports, leading to considerable frustration and travel delays. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested that outdated equipment contributed to the recent issues faced by airlines.
Pollution-linked health insurance claims rise 4.3 times in three years: Report
Health insurance claims related to pollution have increased markedly over the last three years. Cardiovascular and respiratory conditions constitute the majority of these claims, significantly affecting working professionals and senior citizens. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities account for a substantial portion of these claims across India. A seasonal pattern indicates these claims peak during October to March, coinciding with worsening air quality.
TRAI crackdown on spam: Over 1.24 lakh mobile connections barred or disconnected in Jul-Sep
TRAI enforced strict regulations against over 1.24 lakh telecom resources for violating unsolicited commercial communications rules. The regulator responded to 15.29 lakh complaints, classifying 7.23 lakh as actionable during the quarter. It blocked 3,725 SMS headers and blacklisted 374 entities from obtaining telecom resources for one year.
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Paytm wallet's return; Inside Jensen Huang’s Nvidia exit
Paytm has received RBI's in-principle approval to restart its wallet business. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Sachin Tendulkar takes minority stake in waste management startup Recykal
Sachin Tendulkar has become a strategic investor in Recykal, acquiring a minority stake to support its mission. Recykal aims to enhance awareness and adoption of responsible waste management practices in India. The company recently closed a $23 million funding round to strengthen technology and expand operations. Tendulkar's involvement forms part of their efforts to drive behavioral change among one billion people.
Microsoft outage: Company can’t pinpoint cause, disruptions to Outlook, Teams continue
Microsoft’s service health page showed “service degradation” for business, enterprise and consumer customers as of 11.16 am India time on Friday. The company said it was pursuing multiple workstreams to identify the underlying cause of a traffic influx and to recover its backend servers.
Microsoft Outage: Air India, IndiGo and Akasa issue passenger advisories
Air India reported that its flight operations were unaffected by the ongoing Microsoft outage. The airline implemented measures to ensure continued communication with customers and timely email responses. IndiGo and Akasa Air experienced disruptions in their email services due to the same outage and recommended alternative support channels. Microsoft is addressing a significant global disruption impacting multiple services, including Teams and Outlook.
Microsoft outage enters second day; company says not aware of malicious activity
Microsoft's workplace services, including Outlook and Teams, faced major disruptions originating from a global outage. Users across India struggled to access their emails and mailboxes as service quality declined. IndiGo airline reported that its email support experienced interruptions due to this outage. Microsoft attributed the issue to server unavailability rather than increased traffic and is actively engaged in recovery efforts, promising comprehensive updates soon.
Service is not a profession but a responsibility towards society: Mohan Bhagwat
Mohan Bhagwat addressed the significance of compassion and responsibility in contributing to society after presenting an award. He urged individuals to help those in distress, irrespective of personal relationships, reflecting true humanity. Bhagwat emphasised that social service should not be driven by the expectation of recognition or rewards. He articulated that the essence of work is to serve society rather than solely earn a livelihood.
Milk, curd and paneer packs to look different soon: Food regulator FSSAI orders dairy manufacturers to add new logo across products
FSSAI has mandated a new blue-and-white droplet logo on all milk and milk products, including milk, curd and paneer, from July 1, 2028. The standardised symbol, featuring a white droplet inside a blue square, aims to help consumers identify dairy products more easily and bring uniformity to food labelling. The new rules also prescribe logo sizes based on packaging dimensions.
Senior citizen's ₹10 lakh health insurance policy cancelled despite disclosing pre-existing disease; here's why he fought and won
A 70-year-old doctor battled Care Health Insurance over the cancellation of his policy, which the insurer claimed was due to undisclosed pre-existing conditions. The Telangana Consumer Commission ultimately ruled in his favor, emphasizing the importance of following cancellation procedures and disclosing medical history accurately. This case highlights the delicate balance between insurer obligations and policyholder transparency.
Mars sees India business more than doubling after Kellanova buy
Mars expects its India business to more than double following its $36-billion acquisition of Kellanova, with the company banking on rising incomes, premiumisation, expanding distribution and the growth of online and quick-commerce channels. CFO Claus Aagaard said India is already clocking double-digit growth and will be a significant growth driver for Mars over the next decade. The Kellanova portfolio will strengthen Mars' presence in salty snacks and cereals while widening its reach across stores and channels.
MeitY examines data collection by home services platforms for physical AI training
The consultation comes amid growing interest among AI and robotics developers in first-person video and sensor data, which can help train machines to understand and replicate human actions in real-world environments. Such recordings capture how people perform routine activities, providing training inputs for robots designed to undertake physical tasks.
'Journalists always catch us off guard': PM Modi recalls how media predicted his 2001 Gujarat move
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminisced about his longstanding relationship with the media during a BJP event. He highlighted significant changes in news reporting, from press releases to Instagram reels. Modi shared a personal account of journalists learning about his Gujarat chief minister appointment before it was officially announced. He appreciated those journalists who attended his oath ceremony out of personal affection rather than professional obligation.
Haldiram kicks off IPO process, eyes $1 billion public float in 2027
Haldiram Snacks Food has begun the process for its initial public offering, aiming for late 2027. The proposed issue size is estimated at ₹10,000 crore, valuing the company over ₹1 lakh crore. This IPO will involve an offer for sale by existing shareholders along with a fresh issue of shares. Haldiram witnessed significant investments from global investors in recent years, enhancing its growth potential.
Xiaomi eyes local partners; Electronics firms target AI infra
Xiaomi is looking for local partners as it plans to manufacture home appliances in India. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
India doesn’t have a savings problem. It has a savings incentive problem
Indian households are saving more than ever. The bigger question now is whether money kept accessible in a savings account can also earn meaningful value while it waits to be used.
Front-of-pack labelling: Food CEOs rush taste tweaks as new rules loom
Packaged food companies in India are responding to regulatory pressures by introducing no-added-sugar and low-salt alternatives. Executives recognize the challenge of maintaining taste while making these healthier options. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India plans a major change in food packaging regulations. These changes could significantly impact the sale of everyday packaged products. Companies will likely expand their product variants to meet health demands.
Group health insurance claims: 5 common claim deductions and disputes employees should know about
Most group plans cover pre-existing diseases from day one, and individual employees are not medically underwritten. Barring a few exceptions, disputes are rarely about whether a claim is admissible. They are mostly about deductions.
Indian economy to grow faster, foreign capital returning to markets: NSE CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan
India's economy is projected to experience faster growth due to strong macroeconomic fundamentals and increased foreign interest. The Managing Director of the National Stock Exchange highlighted that the country is managing fiscal pressures effectively. Domestic financial savings have significantly increased, reaching nearly USD 1.4 trillion annually. Furthermore, foreign institutional investors are showing renewed enthusiasm for Indian markets ahead of the new Samvat year.
Karnataka ethanol row: DK Shivakumar alleges excessive blending, promises evidence and documents on Monday
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has backed allegations of excessive ethanol blending in petrol sold in the state, claiming levels exceed the approved E20 limit. He said samples had been collected from 67 locations and an investigation was underway, with a minister set to present evidence and documents on Monday.
The great Indian biscuit battle begins: Can Reliance crack the code?
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd is set to foray into India's competitive biscuit market, with an aim to leverage affordable pricing and a wide variety of products to attract consumers. Industry leaders Britannia and Parle dominate the market, making it challenging for new entrants like Reliance's Independence.
Ex-Ultrahuman executive launches AI ring startup Aina for agentic interactions
The startup said it is positioning the device as an alternative interface to smartphones for everyday interactions with AI systems. It has spent the past 15 months developing the product and is now opening pre-orders globally, with prices starting at $399 (about Rs 36,000), the startup said in a statement.
FSSAI accuses PepsiCo of ‘duping’ consumers by marketing Sting, Adrenaline Rush as 'energy drinks'
FSSAI has told the Delhi High Court that PepsiCo India deliberately markets its Sting Energy and Adrenaline Rush beverages as energy drinks to mislead consumers, despite the absence of prescribed standards for the category. The regulator has opposed the company's request for a 12-month extension to exhaust existing packaging material, citing public health concerns.
Beyond ‘no subscription’, NeoSapien sees a paid future for advanced AI features
The Bengaluru-based AI wearables startup is exploring another funding round in early 2027 but its CEO said there was no pressure to raise capital because its cash burn remained low and capital from earlier round was still in the bank.
Reliance Consumer expands Independence biscuit portfolio with nine variants
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd will launch an expanded Independence biscuit portfolio consisting of nine variants. These products aim to cater to evolving consumer preferences in Tamil Nadu and other markets. The new range will include unique offerings such as Power Up biscuits, combining milk, glucose, and protein. Increased production capacity is expected to enhance distribution through various retail channels.
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