Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>The IPO is a mix of fresh issue of ₹1,250 crore and an offer for sale of up to ₹5,750 crore.</li><li>Afcons Infrastructure is a 60-year-old <keyword id="20049407" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="epc" source="keywords">EPC</keyword> company from the <keyword id="20474756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shapoorji-pallonji" source="keywords">Shapoorji Pallonji</keyword> group.</li><li>Its listed peers include L&amp;T, KEC International, Kalpataru Project, and <keyword id="19926448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dilip-buildcon" source="keywords">Dilip Buildcon</keyword>. </li></ul>Shapoorji Pallonji group’s construction company, Afcons Infrastructure, filed a DRHP with the market regulator, SEBI, to raise funds through a public issue. It intends to raise as much as ₹7,000 crore through this initial public offering (IPO). The IPO, with a face value of ₹10 per equity share, is a mix of fresh issue of shares of ₹1,250 crore and an offer for sale of up to ₹5,750 crore by <keyword id="21126697" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="goswami-infratech" source="keywords">Goswami Infratech</keyword>. The company may consider undertaking a further issue of shares through a preferential issue or any other method for a cash consideration aggregating up to ₹250 crore as a ‘pre-IPO placement’. If such placement is completed, the fresh issue size will be reduced. The offer is being made through the book-building process. Not more than 50% of the net offer shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to qualified institutional buyers. Also, not less than 15% of the net offer shall be available for allocation to non-institutional bidders, and not less than 35% of the net offer shall be available for retailers. Last year, JSW Infrastructure raised as much as ₹2,800 crore via an IPO. Six-decade-old EPC company Afcons Infrastructure is a sixty-year-old engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company. The company has a track record of delivering a wide range of EPC projects both domestically and internationally. It operates across five major verticals with projects across ports, highways, and urban infrastructure like metro works, bridges, flyovers etc. It also does EPC work on dams, tunnels, offshore and onshore projects. Some notable projects of the company completed include the Jammu Udhampur Highway Project, <keyword id="21126696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nagpur-metro-reach" source="keywords">Nagpur Metro Reach</keyword> 3, and <keyword id="21126698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agra-lucknow-expressway" source="keywords">Agra Lucknow Expressway</keyword>. As of September 30, 2023, Afcons was actively involved in executing 67 active projects across 13 countries. The company also worked on the Chenab Bridge in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh. The ongoing projects include the Kolkata Metro, <keyword id="21126699" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thilafushi-link-project" source="keywords">Thilafushi Link Project</keyword> in the Maldives, and more. Its equipment base includes marine barges, cranes, tunnel boring machines, jack-ups, and piling rigs. It also has two dedicated workshops in Delhi and Nagpur for equipment maintenance. Financials &amp; other details Afcons’ order book has increased at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% from ₹26,248.46 crore in FY21 to ₹30,405.77 crore in FY23. As of September 30, 2023, its order book stands at ₹34,888.39 crore. Some of its listed peers include L&amp;T, KEC International, Kalpataru Project, and Dilip Buildcon. Its restated consolidated revenue from operations in FY23 increased 14.7% to ₹12,637.38 crore from ₹11,018.97 crore in the previous year. This is primarily due to an increase in construction contract revenue, driven by an increase in business in its urban infrastructure and hydro and underground business verticals, both in India and overseas. Profit after tax grew 14.89% from ₹357.60 crore for FY22 to ₹410.86 crore for FY23. For the six months ended September 30, 2023, revenue from operations stood at ₹6,505.39 crore, and profit after tax stood at ₹195.13 crore. ICICI Securities, DAM Capital Advisors, Jefferies India, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities, Nuvama Wealth Management, and SBI Capital Markets are the book-running lead managers, and Link Intime India is the registrar of the issue.

Shapoorji Pallonji’s Afcons Infra files DRHP for ₹7,000 crore IPO

On Monday, gold rates saw a decline across India. In Delhi, 10 grams of 24-carat gold would cost you ₹ 72,690 today. Meanwhile, on the MCX, gold contracts for June delivery traded lower ₹100, settling it at ₹ 72,540 per 10 grams. <h2>Here is an extensive daily list to give you the most recent information on silver prices in India's key cities.</h2><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">City </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">22-Carat </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">24-Carat </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Delhi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,640 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,690 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Mumbai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kolkata </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 9pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chennai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 67,040 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 73,140 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bengaluru </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 9pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hyderabad </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ahmedabad </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,540 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,590 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pune </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Surat </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,540 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,590 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Nagpur </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kerala </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vijayawada </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 66,490 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6000000000000001pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffffff;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 72,540 </td></tr></tbody></table> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/gold-rate-today-india-14th-june-mumbai-delhi-kolkata-bengaluru-chennai/articleshow/110986935.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Click to view the details of the silver rate for last Friday</a> The COMEX gold price recently closed at $2,339.80, reflecting a decrease of $9.30 or 0.40% from the previous trading session. During the day's trading, the price reached a high of $2,348.70 and a low of $2,336.20. The market opened at $2,348.50. This fluctuation in gold prices on the COMEX, a primary market for trading metals, indicates a slight downward trend for the day. Factors influencing this change could include global economic indicators, investor sentiment, and fluctuations in the US dollar value, all of which impact gold prices. While these data points offer valuable insights into market trends and factors driving price movements to assist investors in navigating the gold market effectively, investors are advised to perform their own due diligence before making any investment decisions. As the day progresses, we encourage investors to remain vigilant and monitor gold rates closely for any emerging trends or market developments. By staying informed about these daily price fluctuations, investors can identify potential trading opportunities and make well-informed investment decisions. For daily updates and in-depth analysis of gold rates, continue following our coverage on Business Insider India. Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Rates are subject to change from time to time and across multiple geographical locations. We recommend readers consult certified, qualified and registered advisors for professional and personalised financial advice.

Gold rate today (17th June 2024): Latest Prices in Indian Metros

<ul><li>Snapdeal added 6 million new buyers on its platform during the pandemic.</li><li>Its recent 5-day sale kicked-off on October 16 and ended on October 20. </li><li>Rajnish Wahi, Senior Vice President, Snapdeal tells us some of the trends the platform saw during its pre-Diwali sale, its plan to go deeper into Bharat and USPs that helped it stand out in the clutter of online sales. </li></ul>Indian consumers have always been value-conscious, who take pride in their haggling skills and with the pandemic, buyers are expecting greater value for their spends. Therefore, e-commerce player Snapdeal’s sale, which took place between October 16 to 20, focused on offering ‘Kum Mein Dum Diwali,’ i.e., value deals for lesser money. According to Snapdeal, less than 5% percent of retail is online and during this on-going <keyword id="36208" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-season">festive season</keyword>, the platform’s aim is to bring more users online and give them strong reasons to switch. Snapdeal observed that consumers weren’t willing to buy premium brands this year and wanted to access the online platforms in their regional language. So, as other e-commerce platforms offered premium brands at a discounted price, Snapdeal wanted to make online shopping more inclusive for buyers across India. It focused more on non-metro cities, which is a market with potential 400 million users and shipped orders to rural places like Palasner in Maharashtra, Abdasa in Gujarat, Kalsi in Uttarakhand, Chitkul in Himachal among many others. Ahead of the sale, Snapdeal added 1300 new pin codes to go deeper into Bharat, areas which were previously unserviceable or where users were compelled to travel to nearby towns to collect their orders. It also updated its user interface by adding eight languages including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Marathi. As a result, 70% of its orders were received by sellers located beyond the top 5 metropolitan areas of the country and 90% of its orders were placed from non-metro cities. We caught up with Rajnish Wahi, Senior Vice President, Snapdeal to further understand some of trends that the platform saw during its sale. Excerpts: Q. The role of engagement and communication has never been more important, especially in today’s digital-first world. How are you making sure your communication during this year's sale is relevant to consumers? Snapdeal is sharply focused on catering to the value-conscious consumers, who see e-commerce as the connecting link between their aspirations, access and affordability. Our theme for this year’s festive sale - “Kum Mein Dum Diwali '' clearly communicates our core message - your shopping rupee has more value this year. As part of our sale preparations, we had conducted a survey of nearly 1.25 Lakh users and one of the key insights was user unwillingness to pay for brand premiums this year and instead focus on the functional value of their purchases. Based on these inputs, the festive assortment was expanded in a focused manner by on-boarding additional sellers for popular products like kitchen appliances, kitchenware, bed linen, apparel, footwear and fashion accessories like watches, wallets, etc. Shaping our sale offers around the clearly-stated expectations of our customers and conveying the same unambiguously through our festive promotions and digital marketing is the sum and substance of our festive communication. Q. This year is different. People have been observed to be judicious in spending. How has the consumer sentiment improved? While 2020 has been a volatile year, we see that there are many tailwinds that are propelling our business. The pandemic has resulted in redistribution of demand between offline and online channels, with online gaining share due to its inherent advantages of reach, convenience, large assortment and safety of buying from home. It has also accelerated the familiarity and acceptance of e-commerce amongst new buyers. With the pandemic, consumers have become more price conscious and are likely to opt for lesser-priced products, while not compromising on their quality expectations. Given all of this, we have seen two sets of buyers come on Snapdeal - one which is trading up to a better assortment and one that is trading down and opting for better functional value instead of big brands. In fact, we have added 6 million new buyers on our platform in the pandemic. We are witnessing the return of enthusiasm for festivities and it is also apparent that online channels will be a preferred medium for a larger number of buyers this year. But it will also be different this year, as more people will be price conscious and will look to spend on quality products that suit their price sensibilities. In a way, Snapdeal’s “Kum Me Dum” focus is about “offering more choices at price points better than last year”, especially for popular categories like home &amp; fashion, which has been made possible by year-long focus on expanding our value selection. Q. With the on-going festive season, many other platforms will have their Sales days too. How do you then cut the clutter and make sure you win consumers? How will you be different from the other players in the segment? Snapdeal is synonymous with value e-commerce. While others in the industry are now starting to build a value segment, we at Snapdeal have been focused on “only value” for the last three years. While other platforms are making efforts to sell branded items at discounted prices, these are still not affordable for a majority of the buyers in the country. On the other hand, we are focussed on bringing the depth and diversity of India's bazaars &amp; markets to the doorsteps of our users. On Snapdeal, buyers find endless varieties of regional and local brands that not only serve their needs, but also offer immense value at affordable prices. The result of our “Kum Mein Dum” Diwali sale bears testimony to this - more than 80% of Snapdeal’s Diwali shoppers chose to buy regional &amp; local brands on Snapdeal. The strong growth of lesser-known brands relative to national/international brands has been because of two key reasons: increased choice and a substantial price difference. Our value-focused positioning runs consistently through our selection and communication and is one the reasons why 90% of our orders flow from non-metros cities and towns across the country. Q. What are some of the other trends you are expecting to see this festive? Our first sales results are out and are reflective of how close the lives of users revolve around their homes. The sale in the home products category has grown by 30% over last year and has become the largest category on Snapdeal this year, overtaking the fashion category, which has traditionally been the top-performer at Snapdeal. The growth in the home category is propelled by popular products like kitchen appliances, kitchenware, bed &amp; bath,decor,cleaning equipment, lighting and comforters &amp; blankets etc. This growth in the fitness category reflects the extra time that people have on their hands and also underscores heightened awareness about personal health &amp; fitness. This category has grown by 45% over last year led by gym essentials like tummy trimmers, push-up bars, wrist supports, fitness gloves, hand grip strengtheners etc. Users buying sports equipment like badminton racquets &amp; cricket sets and weighing machines are also strong consumer trends. While the fashion category has also grown from previous years in terms of shipped units, the growth is less than other higher-performing categories. In the fashion category, there is an increased spending on kidswear in the festive season. . Among popular picks in Snapdeal’s Diwali sale are men’s &amp; women’s grooming products, nutritional supplements, religious items (prayer books, temples accessories etc). With the deterioration of air quality in North India, the sale of N95 masks, air-purifier filters, anti-pollution skincare items, skin moisturisers, lip balms has also increased. Snapdeal also witnessed an increase in gifting via e-commerce early in this festive season. The range of festivals starting with Karva Chauth and followed by Dhanteras, Diwali, Bhaiya Dooj and Chhath Puja have become important gifting occasions for users in various parts of the country. While in the previous years, shoppers used e-commerce channels to buy and ship to families &amp; friends in other cities, this year many shoppers in metro cities are also sending gifts to people living in the same cities. This year gift cards have also been hugely popular among people to send to their friends and family, with a 3X surge in orders as compared to the festive sale last year. These included gift cards of travel, entertainment, food and retail brands which were upto 30% off. Q. How are you working towards improving the overall consumer experience? E-Commerce in India has grown beyond the first 100 Mn largely urban, English-speaking users. A market of potentially 400 Mn users is now emerging across India’s smaller non-metro cities. This is a very diverse cohort in terms of languages spoken, literacy levels, frequency of online purchases and familiarity with technology. A large part of Snapdeal’s existing user base and new users come from this cohort and all our focus and efforts are on building the right experience that our users want. That means we work tirelessly to give them a wide array of products to choose from, and at just the right prices they are looking to spend. We also make it easy in many other ways for users to buy on Snapdeal. This includes providing interfaces on our app &amp; m-site in eight Indian languages, so that they can browse through products &amp; transact in a language of their choice. We also enable conversation with our customer service agents in multiple Indian languages. Transaction and promotional messages all are available in many Indian languages. Some other ways, in which we support our users to buy is by helping them make well-informed choices through short 10-second product videos which are far more captivating and help buyers to make decisions faster than static pictures of the products concerned, easy 7-days return, no questions asked refunds policy. We are the only platform that provides uninterrupted access to cash-on-delivery option even during the turbulent early days of pandemic lockdowns. Q. Which are your strongest markets currently? How are you planning to strengthen your presence in other markets? We have a strong pan India presence. During the current sale and consistent with Snapdeal’s positioning, more than 90% of Snapdeal’s orders were placed from non-metro cities. Populous cities like Nagpur, Vijayawada, Surat, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati and others continued to drive orders on Snapdeal, but smaller cities like Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Raniganj &amp; Durgapur (West Bengal), Patiala &amp; Gurdaspur (Punjab), Anand, Bharuch, Una, (Gujarat), Miryalaguda (Andhra Pradesh) and Bhimavaram (Telangana) also clock impressive order volumes. With our recent network expansion, Snapdeal has also shipped orders to rural places like Palasner in Maharashtra, Abdasa in Gujarat, Kalsi in Uttarakhand, Chitkul in Himachal amidst many others. Q. What are your current MAUs? More than 70 million users visit Snapdeal every month to browse and buy from our vast catalogue of 220 million plus listings. Q. What kind of target have you set for this year's sale? Do you anticipate people to buy more, considering a lot of people might have pushed buying things for the festive season? What kind of numbers do you aim to reach this year? Less than five percent of retail is online, which is an incredibly small penetration number. In our view, Diwali or not, our job to bring more buying options for our users doesn’t change. Diwali does serve as a milestone to accelerate some of our related initiatives or build virtual infrastructure to connect the dots between demand and supply in our country. This year, ahead of the festive season, we on-boarded additional sellers of popular products like kitchen appliances, kitchenware, bed linen, apparel, footwear and fashion accessories like watches, wallets, etc., as indicated by our users in a survey. In the run-up to Diwali, Snapdeal also on-boarded 5000 manufacturer-sellers who sell products like water purifiers, choppers &amp; blenders, steel &amp; copper utensils, crockery items, bedsheets, quilts, geysers, etc directly from their manufacturing units. This year, we knew more and more people would be buying online and ahead of the sale, and expanded our network to add 1300 new pin codes to go deeper into areas which were previously unserviceable or where users were compelled to travel to nearby towns to collect their orders, reaching out to 50 million additional users. Today, we are India's leading value-focused marketplace with more than 500,000 registered sellers and we cover 27000 + pin code areas across the length and breadth of the country.

Why Snapdeal targeted non-metro cities and rural India during its pre-Diwali sale

NEW DELHI: If you are swiping your card regularly or making online transactions, you are most likely buying clothes. According to <keyword id="6368201" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="MasterCard">MasterCard</keyword>, apparel is the top category across all metros in the country. And, people in Chennai spend the most on clothes and jewellery, followed closely by Bengaluru. 
 
“Penetration of electronic payments is still very low in India but there is an immense opportunity. The roll out of the identity project (Aadhaar) will provide a great platform for commerce and all sort of things can be built on that platform,” said Ann Cairns, president, international markets, MasterCard. 
 
MasterCard, said to be the world’s second-largest payment and technology firm, opened its analysis centre in Delhi last year. It’s looking to process an ever-growing amount of global data, now at 10 petabytes (a million gigabytes), and sell information as a stand-alone product, or provide consulting based on that. 
 “Because our data is online and real time, we can tell what people are really buying, what consumers are doing in the <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> and we are not just relying on our information but co-relating with external sources,” said Cairns. According to MasterCard data, foreign travellers are largely from the US, UK and UAE and they spend mostly on jewellery and giftware. 
 
“In some cases, cross-border transactions have fallen because Europeans are travelling within the continent and not outside,” explained Cairns. 
 Within India, <keyword id="31669" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="spending">spending</keyword> in cities such as Lucknow, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh and Nagpur are growing more rapidly than in the metros. 
 
The payment company is hopeful that India will follow trends that have been observed in some of Far Eastern countries. “There, transactions are shifting more online, (there’s a) massive increase in cross-border commerce. In places like South Korea, we have seen people buying things directly from America through online (sites),” said Cairns. 
 According to an <keyword id="6355988" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Assocham">Assocham</keyword> report, India’s e-commerce market, which stood at $2.5 billion in 2009, reached $8.5 billion in 2012 and rose 88% to touch $16 billion in 2013. The survey estimates the country’s e-commerce market to reach $56 billion by 2023, driven by rising online retail. Last week, the industry body had asked the government to remove the ban on <keyword id="382868" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="FDI-in-retail">FDI in retail</keyword> e-commerce business.

Metros SpendMmost On Apparels Online, Says MasterCard

<ul><li>Global brands like M&amp;S and <keyword id="3014364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pepe-jeans-india" source="Orion">Pepe Jeans India</keyword> are focussing as much on tier 2, 3 cities as they are metros.</li><li>Small town Rajahs are just as well-informed and brand conscious as their metro counterparts, they say.</li><li>QSR players like Pizza Hut too see half of their growth from smaller cities, and are altering their offerings to deliver to the palettes. </li></ul>India’s charming smaller cities bring certain images to mind — like a samosa-wala sitting around the corner; and dusty market areas with barely-lit shops or most people commuting on two-wheelers. Think again. Bharat has gone high-end, and now most cities be it Baroda, Budaun, Indore, Nagpur or Udaipur — are where mall developers are crowding to. In with the trend are not just Indian brands but foreign brands want to go where they see ‘growth’. When it comes to store opening both fashion, cars or even fast food chains, they all want to grow across metros and smaller cities — on an almost equal footing. For luxury car brands, small is the new big. Companies like BMW, <keyword id="25952" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mercedes-benz" source="Orion">Mercedes-Benz</keyword>, <keyword id="75789" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lamborghini" source="Orion">Lamborghini</keyword>, and others are eyeing smaller towns and cities like Ludhiana, Kanpur, Surat, etc. to drive up their volume growth in India. By selling an average number of 40,000 units annually, luxury carmakers make up less than 2% of the entire passenger vehicle market in the country-as compared to 13% penetration in China and 10 per cent in the US. They are now hoping to drive up sales by penetrating deeper into the Tier-II and Tier-III markets in the country. According to top luxury players in India, non-metro cities could drive significant sales volumes owing to an emergence of young entrepreneurs from these places. Small towns are ‘Fashion forward’ <div type="image" title="pepe jeans" msid="105071304" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Manish Kapoor, MD and CEO of Pepe Jeans India &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> British retail major <keyword id="1295402" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marks-spencers" source="Orion">Marks &amp; Spencers</keyword> which, recently opened its 100th store in India, is betting big on ‘thriving and vibrant Bharat. M&amp;S has opened a store each in Ranchi, and Kochi has just gotten its second store like Baroda. It’s also present in Surat, Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati. "Even though growth in Tier 1 cities has not yet exhausted, Tier 2 cities are growing much faster. At present, 40 out of our 100 stores are in Tier 2 cities. Provided the right locations come up in these cities, we will look at more stores in these cities," Ritesh Mishra, MD of Marks and Spencer Reliance India told Business Insider India. Yet another UK based fashion retailer Pepe Jeans India also said that it plans to open around 30 new stores every year. Of that, a majority would be in smaller cities. “We have not covered many Tier 2 cities, and they also provide higher avenues to growth,” said Manish Kapoor, CEO &amp; MD of Pepe Jeans India told Business Insider India. Thanks to exposure to the internet, the small town consumers are just as fashion forward as their metro consumers. “Their exposure to brands, fashions and international styles is on par with the metro consumers,” said Kapoor. Online presence also helps these brands service many more pin codes across the country. Mishra agrees, and adds that there is not much of a difference between the consumers in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities except that the basket value in the smaller cities may be a tad lower. They also intend to reach more pin codes via e-commerce, taking their style and substance to all of India that wants it. For a long time, smaller cities have been smaller markets for large brands. But what’s changed in the last few years, the number of middle income households are changing. Their incomes are growing on-par too. According to consumer insights company Kantar, all-India urban average monthly household income has been growing at 8.4% for the last five years. In Tier 2 and tier 3 cities, it has been growing a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. More money to spend The discretionary wallet share of a smaller city consumer is also higher, argues Kapoor. “For example, take a person who earns ₹1 lakh per month in Bombay, he or she would spend ₹40,000-45,000 on rent and then some more on commuting and other essentials. Then take a person who earns ₹50,000 pm in Lucknow — all the aforesaid expenses will be under ₹25,000,” he explains. Moreover, the new generation of consumers – be it millennials or GenZs – are focussed on experiences, consumption and self-care. That’s bringing about a marked change in the traditional mindset of people — all manna for brands. “Earlier people would feel guilty of spending, now the new generation thinks — Why not? What else do we earn for?” sums up Kapoor, profiling the consumers they’re going after in smaller towns, who wouldn’t flinch before spending ₹5,000 on a pair of jeans. Value in growth <div type="image" title="pizza hut" msid="105094177" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Merrill Pereyra, Managing Director, Pizza Hut India Subcontinent&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> US major Pizza Hut India too is thinking on the same lines as its apparel counterparts. In the last two years, they went from around 400 restaurants to over 800 stores. And, half the stores as a part of its expansion strategy are in smaller cities. It expects 50% of its growth to come from newer markets i.e cities that intend to foray into through their franchises, Merrill Pereyra, MD of Pizza Hut India subcontinent told Business Insider India in an interview. Unlike their apparel counterparts, they are a tad more careful about their approach. Quick service restaurants (QSR) are more of a habit where even consumers with chunky wallets seek value. “We have to be strategic with the value we provide. We have offers like one plus one meals, My Box which is a meal for one. But we are also appealing to local tastes. One of our innovations is Dhabe Da <keyword id="4821660" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="keema-pizza" source="Orion">Keema Pizza</keyword>, the way a small town consumer would think is, we are used to it, let’s see how it tastes on a pizza whereas a big city consumer would see it as a fusion menu,” Pereyra explained. Be it fashion or food, the new-age small city customer is seeking the ‘premium’ route — that’s caught the eye of large international players who want to make their mark. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/wine-vs-tea-indias-consumption-trends-show-a-sharp-divergence/articleshow/104810168.cms">Wine vs Tea: India’s consumption trends show a sharp divergence</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/pvr-woos-netflix-n-chill-crowd-back-to-big-screens-with-its-passport/articleshow/104919450.cms">PVR woos Netflix n Chill crowd back to big screens with its Passport</a>

Foreign brands bet big on Bharat’s bulging wallets

<ul><li>According to a report by <keyword id="63099" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="avtar" source="Orion">Avtar</keyword> Group, cities from South India dominate the list of top cities for women in India. </li><li><keyword id="12864" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="chennai" source="Orion">Chennai</keyword> topped the first category (cities with a population of 1 million plus), with a city inclusion score of 78.41. </li><li>In the less than a million category also, the top 5 cities belong to the state of <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword>. </li></ul> South Indian states have dominated the list of top cities for women in terms of city inclusion, broadly comprising ease of living, safety, inclusive organisations, and inclusive industries, according to a report by Avatar Group. The cities from Tamil Nadu emerged at top in both categories — cities with more than a million population and less than a million population. As per Avtar, the United Nations (UN) has defined women-friendly cities as those that provide the access to health, education, employment opportunities, comprehensive urban, social services, and a safe environment to the women population. Chennai topped the list in the first category, with a city inclusion score (CIS) of 78.41, followed by Pune and Bengaluru, as per Top Cities for Women in India report. The city inclusion score is a composite of the <keyword id="15978376" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="social-inclusion-score" source="Orion">social inclusion score</keyword> (SIS) and <keyword id="15978375" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="industrial-inclusion" source="Orion">industrial inclusion</keyword> score (IIS). The Social Inclusion Score (SIS) comprises social factors contributing to making a city women-friendly. Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS) evaluates the extent to which organisations in the city across industries are inclusive of women. Top cities for women in Category 1 (more than a million population) <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">City </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">City Inclusion score </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chennai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">78.41 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Pune </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">69.44 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bengaluru </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">64.48 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hyderabad </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">62.47 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Mumbai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">61.11 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Ahmedabad </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">58.62 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Visakhapatnam </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">56.14 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kolkata </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">54.80 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Coimbatore </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">51.16 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Madurai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">49.35 </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: Avatar report Other than Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai from Tamil Nadu also made it to the top 10 on the list. It is interesting to note that even in the less than a million category, the top five cities belong to the state of Tamil Nadu – Tiruchirappalli, Vellore, Erode, Salem and Tiruppur, in that order. “This is a clear indication that the cities in the state fare comparatively better on livability. The impact of the same could have permeated to the current index, along with the added effect of the industrial centers that these cities which employ numerous women, putting them on top of the list,” said the report. The National Capital, Delhi, however, did not make it to the top 10 list - ranking at the 14th position with the CIS at 41.36, more than 30 points less than the top city. In the list of ‘State Averages of City Inclusion Score’, Kerala emerged on top with the highest state average of 55.67. Interestingly, among the top five states with the highest average, three are from South India- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The other two states are Maharashtra (from the <keyword id="6576454" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="west" source="Orion">West</keyword>) and Himachal Pradesh (from the North). Even while comparing the average scores of each region, the report found that the Southern region emerged on top closely followed by the West. According to the report, Southern region scored an average of 46.17, West scored 41.13. North Indian cities came third with an average of 36.03, followed by the Central region at 31.17 and East at 29.43. Out of the 111 cities included in the study, only 47 of them were found to be above the national average of 37.75. However, smaller cities fared better than metros, with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities (which make up the less than a million category cities) having comparatively higher scores for averages. “The fact that the South and West regions are more women-friendly in terms of employment is not a surprise, given the politico-historic context of these regions. The rise of cities like Hubli, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Coimbatore as promising hubs of women’s employment, due to their high Industrial Inclusion scores is very heartening. Metros like Delhi and Kolkata have fallen behind in terms of social inclusion due to lower standards of safety and poor enablers for women to pursue employment,” said Saundarya Rajesh, founder – president, Avtar Group. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/chennai-pune-ahmedabad-among-top-10-indian-cities-for-women-for-city-inclusion-avtar/slidelist/96765212.cms">Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad among top 10 Indian cities for women for city inclusion: Avtar</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-only-reached-halfway-on-its-digital-journey-nandan-nilekani/articleshow/96764588.cms">India only reached halfway on its digital journey: Nandan Nilekani</a>

For women, South Indian states are better than their North counterparts says Avtar report

New Delhi, Dec 23 () Ride hailing platform Ola on Monday said it will expand its AI-enabled safety feature 'Guardian' to 17 cities across India and Australia.
 The 'Guardian' feature uses real-time data from rides to automatically detect irregular trip activity, including prolonged stops and unexpected route deviations.
 These alerts are flagged off in real-time to Ola's 24x7 Safety Response Team that immediately reach out to customers and drivers to confirm if they're safe and offer on-the-call assistance until ride completion.
 "After running a successful pilot across multiple cities in India and international markets, the 'Guardian' feature is going live in 16 Indian cities as well as Perth in Australia. Ola aims to take Guardian to more cities in the coming quarter," Ola said in a statement.
 It added that Ola Guardian is built on artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities on the Ola platform which enables it to continuously learn and evolve from millions of data points to improve risk signalling and instant resolution.
 Apart from the four metros, the feature will be available in Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Indore and Trichy.
 "Our safety initiatives such as emergency button, facial recognition system for driver authentication, and one-time-password (OTP) system, are innovations that have all been built in India and now lead the global benchmarks for the mobility industry," Ola Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Arun Srinivas said.
 Ola said it also conducts mandatory verification through stringent criminal records checks as well as mandatory online training for drivers that includes modules like customer service and etiquette, platform usage, partner support, defensive driving amongst others.
 "To prevent driver impersonation, Ola has put in place a facial recognition system in place, which prompts on-duty drivers to upload a selfie and authenticate themselves multiple times in between rides. This feature is live across India and is also being piloted in various international markets," it added. SR SHW
SHW

Ola to expand 'Guardian' safety feature to 17 cities in India, Australia

Alike it’s delicious variant of soupy noodles, <keyword id="6369404" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maggi">Maggi</keyword> noodles is in a concentrated soup and there seems no 2 minute respite anytime soon. A week later after reports detecting high content of lead in one batch of Maggi has stirred up a controversy, <keyword id="6356830" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nestle-India">Nestle India</keyword> has initiated a quick damage control. Asking the retailers not to panic, Maggi has been putting up logics to defend its move, a news report by The Economic Times has claimed. 
 
 “The order to recall the Maggi batch is for February 2014, which anyway would have got expired in November 2014," <keyword id="75190" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nestle">Nestle</keyword> wrote to retailers. "This is an order from the state agency and no central agency has passed any orders," it said. reviewed a copy of the communication. 
 
The ET reviewed a copy of the communication where it has been further said, "This is an order from the state agency and no central agency has passed any orders.” 
 
 
 "The news of lead is yet to be verified in the second test. The amount of any such substance is so small in any food product that even the slightest of error in test results might give incorrect results," the note said. In an email response to the ET, a Nestle India <keyword id="6357308" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="spokesperson">spokesperson</keyword> said, "Some recent reports in the media about Maggi noodles are confusing people and we are working to clear the confusion as soon as possible. We are confident of our product and are sharing this confidence with our consumers and trade. It is too early to assess any impact on sales." However, insiders’ report to the financial daily has shown a significant drop in the sales of Maggi ranging from 10-40% since last week. Sales at stores in metros and bigger cities have been specially impacted because a lot of the current controversy has escalated on social media like <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> and <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword>," sources have confirmed the ET. 
 The brand accounts for close to 30% of Nestle's sales in the country. National food regulator <keyword id="109212" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Food-Safety">Food Safety</keyword> and <keyword id="179673" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Standards-Authority-of-India">Standards Authority of India</keyword> (FSSAI) has initiated sample tests of Maggi noodles across other parts of the country, including <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> and Mumbai and Nagpur. 
 Defending its flagship brand strongly, Nestle said Maggi noodles comply with applicable food and safety laws as well as the company's own standards of quality and safety before they reach consumers. Its <keyword id="122238" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spokesman">spokesman</keyword> said Nestle has made a representation to the Uttar Pradesh authorities and has submitted large number of product samples to an independent accredited laboratory to independently evaluate the product. 
 
"We will share the initial results soon and will continue to update as new results are received," the spokesperson told ET. In its communication to retailers, Nestle urged them not to be defensive if any customer talks about the controversy. "Nestle is a big enough company and will come clean out of it. Please don't get into any sort of communication or opinion without legal guidance," it said. 
 Industry experts, however, say the controversy could have a severe long-term impact on brand trust. "In a case of this magnitude, both parties should make their reports public. In case the authorities have <keyword id="6370579" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="proof">proof</keyword> that the product in the market is tainted and unsafe, then they will likely initiate a public recall and initiate a probe in the matter," said <keyword id="2867937" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashwin-Bhadri">Ashwin Bhadri</keyword>, <keyword id="2867416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-auditor">food auditor</keyword> and business relations head at <keyword id="1459500" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Equinox-Labs">Equinox Labs</keyword>, which works closely with the FSSAI, on compliance issues. 
 (Image: <keyword id="-101" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Times">India Times</keyword>)

You Searched For "nagpur metro reach" and got 8 results

Shapoorji Pallonji’s Afcons Infra files DRHP for ₹7,000 crore IPO

BI India Bureau

Gold rate today (17th June 2024): Latest Prices in Indian Metros

Avantika

Why Snapdeal targeted non-metro cities and rural India during its pre-Diwali sale

Karuna Sharma

Metros SpendMmost On Apparels Online, Says MasterCard

Economic Times

Foreign brands bet big on Bharat’s bulging wallets

Katya Naidu

For women, South Indian states are better than their North counterparts says Avtar report

Vaamanaa Sethi

Ola to expand 'Guardian' safety feature to 17 cities in India, Australia

PTI

Maggi is in a soup. But it won’t give up without a fight

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides