With an epic battle of billionaires for supremacy in one of the world's most prolific markets and a pandemic-propelled surge in online shopping in the background, India's nearly trillion-dollar retail market is hoping to touch 85 per cent of the pre-COVID business in the first half of the New Year. In a year when the COVID-19 carnage ripped apart the retail business, circa 2020 will best go down for the unravelling of the war between Jeff Bezos, the world's wealthiest man, and richest Indian Mukesh Ambani for pre-eminence in the booming market that is estimated to reach $1.3 trillion by 2025. It all started with Ambani's Reliance Industries agreeing in August to buy assets of the nation's second-largest retailer for Rs 24,713 crore, just a year after Bezos' Amazon purchased an indirect stake in the indebted Future Retail.
'People on both sides of the Hindutva debate need to read and understand the texts first,' Bibek Debroy, translator of the unabridged Mahabharata, tells Kanika Datta as he gets started on a similar project for the Ramayana.
Winged guests have started arriving at the Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha.
'Mumbai is at a peak, from here it can only be a downward trend.'
'Bhagwat, aware of the advantages of keeping the BJP in power, is wary about the RSS taking steps that would undermine the popular standing of either the PM or the party.'
Cairn India CEO has a tough task at hand.
Sridevi talks about living a life marked by wellness and the secret to her beautiful skin and perfect body.
The Hundred-Foot Journey treats its Indian characters with respect, discovers Aseem Chhabra/Rediff.com
If you think the film is gutsy, you are simply being blind to the truth that the whole men-are-worthless slant is saleable right now, argues Sreehari Nair.
The categories which came up trumps include apparels and accessories, food and beverages, hair care, skin care, and the surprise of the lot, baby care.
EazyDiner will be a restaurant reservation platform offering reviews, reservations, deals and a concierge services
Think organic food, affordable homes, artificial intelligence, suggests Prof Manmeet Barve.
We help the Bigg Boss with his favourite job!
The rice bucket challenge, over the last two months, has voluntarily been taken up by individuals and organisations.
Subtle and sharp, sarcastic and self-deprecating. And sometimes just downright rude. There are wife jokes, husband jokes, boss barbs, Modi jibes, weight gain worries and the inevitable China insults. Humour in all forms is the panacea it seems for people around the world who are united in their need to laugh or at least crack a smile in these troubled times.
Stress, if not treated, could prove fatal in the long run.
Opposition parties on Thursday launched a vociferous attack on the Centre over its handling of the farmers' agitation, callings its dialogues with the protestors 'monologues', even as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the new laws asserting that its government is committed to the welfare of peasants and increase their incomes.
Just as Billa-Ranga had become symbols of everything that was wrong with the system many years ago, Nestle is now portrayed as the wickedest of the wicked. Every known food crime in India is now attributed to Nestle including deliberately increasing the level of lead in their noodles, as well as deliberately destroying the health of millions. That's not only unfair, it's downright idiotic, says Rajeev Srinivasan.
Rescue agencies are facing tough challenge from local residents of various villages of Uttarakhand as they too are fleeing the affected areas along with stranded tourists and pilgrims.
RBI could opt for a 'deep cut' after winning inflation war, say experts.
On International Tiger Day, India is still a long way from making sure that the future of our national animal is safe.
Devansh Sharma tells us how he lost those extra pounds.
On World Health Day, Bollywood stars posted pix and videos with beautiful messages and stories.
For India startups, pulling in the reins now may enable them to live longer - even if it means shedding their unicorn status, says Una Galani.
Though fundraisings for startups still rank amongst the biggest deals struck this year, the average ticket size has fallen sharply, says Una Galani.
'The benefits may not be visible immediately, but the general feeling of wellness, rejuvenation and relaxation is palpable.' 'A former President had the habit of undergoing Ayurveda treatment every year in Kerala and he remarked once that he felt ten years younger every time he took the treatment.'
'Tragically, compassion is in short supply in our ancient capital city, as the horrific violence in recent weeks testified,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Dr Prathima Reddy debunks the various myths surrounding the health condition.
A look at the hottest male vegetarian celebs from across the globe.
Kamal Meattle and Barun Aggarwal guide us on the protective measures we can introduce in our daily lives to protect ourselves from the harmful effects of air pollution.
These projects are targeted at financially well-off and upwardly mobile Indians.
'If the almost literally heart-stopping Suez block has any positive outcome, it is to be hoped that it will accelerate the setting up of a fab (perhaps Taiwanese) in India,' asserts Rajeev Srinivasan.
Undergraduate courses indicatively cost S$23,000 to S$38,000, while postgraduate courses approximately cost S$15,000 to S$40,000.
Bhavik Bhadresh Mody's weight-loss story will leave you motivated.
With the recovery of four more bodies today, the death toll mounted to 36 in Assam floods that affected about 10 lakh people in 13 districts and rendered majority of them homeless.
'My biggest challenge is to keep motivating my staff to do their best without compromising on their safety even as we all strive to do our best for the patients under our care.'
'There has been far too much overconfidence about the size and composition of the Indian consumer economy,' notes Mihir S Sharma.
'The no-rate cut policy and preference to wait for the Budget and clarity on the fiscal front demonstrate RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das is maturing in his new role,' notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
Bollywood is rushing to embrace him, but Vivian Fernandes aka DIVINE wants to rap his own tune, discovers Shreevatsa Nevatia.
