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In a major step toward protecting students and their families, the Indian government has issued new guidelines aimed at curbing misleading advertisements by coaching centres. The Centre's crackdown addresses exaggerated claims like “100% selection” or “guaranteed job security” — promises that often lead to disappointment among students who invest time and money expecting a near-certain outcome. <h2>Protecting consumers, not shutting down coaching</h2>On Wednesday, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) rolled out these guidelines in response to numerous complaints from the National Consumer Helpline. According to <keyword id="20003684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-affairs" source="keywords">Consumer Affairs</keyword> Secretary Nidhi Khare, the government’s goal is not to shut down coaching centres but to ensure their ads don’t “undermine consumer rights.” “We have seen coaching centres deliberately concealing information from prospective students,” Khare said. “Therefore, we have come out with the guidelines to provide guidance to people involved in the coaching industry.” So far, the CCPA has issued 54 notices to violators and imposed penalties of around Rs 54.60 lakh. <h2>What’s prohibited?</h2>The guidelines lay out strict boundaries on what coaching centres can — and cannot — say in their ads. Here’s what the guidelines address: <ul><li>False Claims: Ads should not make unsubstantiated promises about “100% selection” or “100% job security.”</li><li>Course Details: No exaggerating or omitting information about courses, their duration, or outcomes.</li><li>Faculty Credentials: Qualifications of teachers must be presented accurately, with no fake credentials.</li><li>Fees and Refunds: All fees and refund policies must be transparent.</li><li>Selection Rates and Ranks: Coaching centres cannot claim high selection rates or exam rankings without proof.</li></ul>Additionally, they are not allowed to use successful candidates’ names, photos, or testimonials in ads without written consent from these individuals. Khare advised students to double-check the information provided by coaching centres. “Many UPSC students clear prelims and mains on their own and take only interview guidance from coaching centres,” she explained, encouraging students to verify the course details actually taken by successful candidates. The guidelines go beyond the broad term “coaching.” They define coaching as academic support, education, guidance, study programs, and tuition — but they exclude counselling, sports, and creative activities. The purpose of this definition is to keep the focus on academic and career-oriented programs, which are most prone to misleading ads. <h2>Full disclosure and consequences for violators</h2>Transparency is now mandatory, as coaching centres must display disclaimers and reveal essential course details. Facilities, infrastructure, and resources must be represented accurately, along with any required approvals or recognitions from authorities like AICTE or UGC. Khare, who also serves as the CCPA chief, stressed that coaching centres should accurately present the service, resources, and infrastructure provided. For instance, if they advertise “fully-equipped classrooms,” the guidelines require this to be an honest description. These guidelines come as a supplement to existing laws and are enforceable under the Consumer Protection Act. This means violators will face penalties, potentially similar to the Rs 54.60 lakh already imposed by the CCPA. The government hopes these new standards will push coaching centres to keep their ads honest, helping students and families make better-informed decisions. (With inputs from agencies)

No More False Promises: Government sets rules to prevent misleading and exaggerated coaching centre ads

Expanding the scope of its hearing in the <keyword id="19980518" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Patanjali" source="keywords">Patanjali</keyword> Ayurved case, the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="266" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on Tuesday took a stern view of <keyword id="20610549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="misleading-advertisements" source="keywords">misleading advertisements</keyword> by FMCG firms and asked three Union ministries to inform it about the steps they have taken to curb the practice which takes "public for a ride" and adversely affects their health. The court passed the order after Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah that they have issued unqualified public apology in as many as 67 newspapers over misleading advertisements and are willing to issue additional advertisements expressing their contrition. The bench said the public apology published in newspapers were not on record and asked those to be filed within two days. It posted the matter for April 30 for further consideration. While hearing the Patanjali case, the apex court said the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Consumer Protection Act and the related rules also needed a closer examination. It said the issue was not limited to Patanjali but extended to all Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms which have been issuing "misleading advertisements and taking the public for a ride, in particular affecting the health of babies, school-going children and senior citizens who have been consuming products on the basis of the said misrepresentation". "We must clarify that we are not here to gun for a particular party or a particular agency or a particular authority. This is a PIL, and in the larger interest of the consumers, public should know which way they are going and how and why they can be misled, and how authorities are acting to prevent it," the bench said. The court asked the Union ministries of consumer affairs, information and broadcasting, and information technology to explain what action they have taken to prevent the misuse of consumer laws. It also sought an explanation from the Centre over an August 2023 letter issued by the Ministry of Ayush to the licencing authorities of all states and Union Territories and drug controllers of Ayush asking them to not initiate any action under rule 170 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. The bench also asked the <keyword id="20083252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Medical-Association" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Medical Association" meta.hostid="266" meta.entityid="Indian Medical Association">Indian Medical Association</keyword> (IMA), the petitioner in the Patanjali advertisements case, to "put its house in order". It said several complaints have been made about alleged unethical acts by members of the IMA who prescribe highly expensive medicines and line of treatment. The bench also ordered impleading the National Medical Commission (NMC) as a respondent in the matter for effective assistance to the court. At the outset, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd managing director Balkrishna, told the bench they have issued on Monday unqualified apology for the "lapses" on their part. "Where? Why it is not filed?" the bench asked. Rohatgi said it was issued on Monday in 67 newspapers across the country. When the court asked the senior advocate why did the respondents wait for a whole week before publishing the public apology, Rohatgi said, "Its language had to be changed". The court also quizzed him about the size of advertisements. "Is it the same size of advertisements that you normally issue in newspapers?" it asked Rohatgi, who submitted "It costs tens of lakhs (of rupees)". The bench ordered that the apology published be filed on record and added it wanted to see the actual advertisement published in newspapers. "The said advertisements are not on record. It is submitted that the same have been collated and shall be filed in the course of the day with copies to counsel for the parties. Needful shall be done within two days with copies to counsel for the parties," it said. The counsel said additional advertisement shall be issued by Ramdev and Balkrishna tendering unqualified apology for the lapses on their part. The bench said it was necessary to implead the three central ministries in order to examine the steps taken to prevent the abuse of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act and rules, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Consumer Protection Act. It said these ministries shall file affidavits enunciating the action they have taken to prevent the misuse/abuse of these statutes along with the relevant data since 2018. The bench said licencing authorities of all states and UTs shall also be impleaded as co-respondents in the matter. The bench told the IMA's counsel that while they are pointing fingers at Patanjali, "the other four fingers are also pointing at you (IMA)". On April 16, the apex court had warned Ramdev and Balkrishna against any attempt to "degrade allopathy" and permitted them to tender a "public apology and show contrition" within a week in the contempt proceedings in the misleading advertisements case against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. The apex court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the IMA alleging a smear campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. Ramdev and Balkrishna had earlier tendered an "unconditional and unqualified apology" before the top court over advertisements issued by the firm making tall claims about the medicinal efficacy of its products. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank">Google Pixel 8a may be more expensive than its predecessor, as per a new leak</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india/slidelist/109529634.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india/slidelist/109529634.cms" target="_blank">Best smartphones under ₹25,000 in India</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank">At 17, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh becomes youngest challenger for World Championship</a>

Supreme Court expands Patanjali misleading ads hearing to include FMCG companies

Festive season is here and on the occasion of <keyword id="23288581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhanteras" source="keywords">Dhanteras</keyword> today, buying jewellery is customary for many. If you are also planning to buy jewellery this festive season, this is for you. The <keyword id="20050220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Indian-Standards" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bureau of Indian Standards" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bureau of Indian Standards">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS) is placing special emphasis on consumer awareness around gold and silver purchases, specifically advising shoppers to choose items backed by the <keyword id="21548543" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BIS-hallmark" source="keywords">BIS hallmark</keyword> for guaranteed purity and quality. The hallmark, as the BIS notes, is a crucial indicator of authenticity, especially given the high value traditionally associated with gold purchases during this festival. The BIS hallmark consists of three critical components: the BIS Standard Mark, confirming adherence to quality standards; the Purity Mark, which denotes gold’s fineness and carat purity; and a unique Hallmark Unique ID (HUID), a six-digit alphanumeric code specific to each jewellery piece. Consumers can verify the HUID on their jewellery using the ‘<keyword id="23727070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="verify-HUID" source="keywords">Verify HUID</keyword>’ feature on the BIS Care App, which is free to download. This added verification step ensures customers can make informed purchases that meet the advertised purity levels, making the hallmark a trusted seal during peak shopping seasons. As part of its hallmarking efforts, BIS has made hallmarking mandatory in several regions of India since June 2021. Originally launched in 256 districts, hallmarking has been expanded to cover 343 districts following three phases of implementation, according to BIS. The scheme has had a substantial impact, with the number of BIS-registered jewellers increasing from 43,153 in 2021 to over 193,567 today. Furthermore, the number of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) now stands at 1,611, reflecting an extensive infrastructure to meet rising demand. Hallmarking fees have been set at Rs 45 per piece (exclusive of taxes), with testing available at AHCs for Rs 200 per item, a move BIS believes supports consumer confidence by offering a third-party verification system. Director General of BIS, <keyword id="22532001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pramod-Kumar-Tiwari" source="keywords">Pramod Kumar Tiwari</keyword>, reiterated BIS’s commitment to upholding <keyword id="21945794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quality-standards" source="keywords">quality standards</keyword> in gold purchases, especially during festive seasons like Dhanteras, when jewellery is traditionally seen as a symbol of prosperity and future security. Tiwari encouraged consumers to prioritise BIS-certified jewellery, highlighting that with the hallmark and BIS CARE app, buyers can validate purchases independently. With Dhanteras marking a peak in gold buying as families seek financial security, BIS is focusing on educating consumers about hallmarking as a means to safeguard investments. This growing system of certification, backed by government oversight, is intended to make buying gold a transparent, secure experience—one that helps consumers focus more on the joy of the purchase and less on the risks associated with authenticity. (with ANI inputs)

Buying gold jewellery this Dhanteras? Here is how you can verify authenticity as per BIS

<div type="image" title="Companies are embracing the unbossing trend" msid="113256383" hostid="261" sizebytes="1440779"></div> If there’s one thing both a productive team member and an underperformer hates in the corporate world, it’s being micromanaged. Now, imagine a workplace where the boss isn’t calling all the shots. Instead, everyone has a voice, and innovation flows freely. The recent corporate trend of "Unbossing" promises to do just that, empowering employees by eliminating the heavy hands of hierarchy. Sounds too good to be true? Well, globally, not just the new-age start-ups, but dozens of major corporations have embraced this trend and trimmed their middle management. <h2>Managers managing managers — no more!</h2>In January last year, <keyword id="399907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="META" source="Orion">Meta</keyword> CEO Mark Zuckerberg made headlines for declaring 2023 as the “year of efficiency” and saying that he doesn’t want a management structure that's just “managers managing managers”. <div type="image" title="Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg" agency="ANI" msid="113256403" hostid="261"></div> The same month, it was also reported by Command Line that Meta's chief product officer Chris Cox, had shared a post on the company's communication platform, Workplace, highlighting the necessity to "flatten" the organisation's structure. What followed was reports of Meta slashing middle management roles. Gradually, other companies like Shopify, Bayer, and Cisco began making headlines for showing the exit door to some of their middle managers. Loosely, unbossing is essentially cutting down the middle management roles. It cuts significant costs for the company and the new-age workforce also endorses the trend as efficient in enabling faster decision-making and innovation. However, critics argue this trend also limits the extent of mentorship that the younger generation receives while entering the workforce, which often remains an intangible value if your boss turns out to be a good mentor. Therefore, for some, it’s not about firing the middle management, but just another leadership philosophy on how leaders (and ‘bosses’) should conduct themselves. This approach advocates bosses working along with the team as a part rather than shouting instructions from the top. Whatever one’s understanding, this trend of “Unbossing” appears to be taking corporate America by storm in 2023, as evidenced by hundreds of media reports highlighting the same. Overall, most agree that the trend is restructuring organisational hierarchy to enable direct communication between employees and leaders. Cut to 2024, this trend is still prevalent and making headlines. A Bloomberg report recently said that Georges Elhedery, the incoming CEO of HSBC Holdings, might also consider plans to streamline the company's operations by reducing layers of middle management. But what’s the scenario in India? Are Indian companies ready to ditch the old-school approach and adopt this new way of working? Let’s dive in and see what the experts have to say! <h2>Layoffs to impact senior professionals: Naukri.com survey</h2>A survey by job portal Naukri.com early last year had suggested that recruiters in India expect a decline in layoffs during the first half of 2023. The survey, which included responses from 1,400 recruiters and consultants across ten industries, revealed that only 4 percent of participants anticipated layoffs to be the main focus of hiring activities within their organisations. However, the survey also highlighted that information technology roles and senior professionals were likely to be the most affected by hiring adjustments. About 20 percent of recruiters predicted that layoffs would predominantly impact senior professionals, while freshers are expected to face the least disruption from these hiring corrections. Interestingly the survey came around the same time when the Unbossing trend had begun picking up pace abroad. <h2>Layoffs at Wipro, <keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword> and Collegedunia</h2>In January this year, Wipro India was in the limelight for laying off hundreds of its mid-level executives. The company reportedly culled many jobs as part of its strategy to improve margins. An ET report citing two sources familiar with the situation had said that the leading Indian IT firm reduced mid-level roles at its onsite locations. "Notices began being issued earlier this month, and hundreds of mid-level executives onsite are being let go," one source revealed. Another source added, "They have costly resources onsite in Capco, and although growth is returning, it's not sufficient. Aparna Iyer, Wipro's chief financial officer, has been tasked with delivering better margins this quarter." <div type="image" title="Amazon decided to lay-off middle managers in May" msid="113256170" hostid="261"></div>Then in May, Amazon also decided to reduce layers of middle management within its customer service divisions as part of an organisational restructuring, a Fortune report had said. The cuts impacted over 100 customer service managers in Level 5 and Level 6 middle management roles, both in call centres and virtual positions, primarily based in the U.S. and India. Not just large tech companies, startups too seem to be adapting the <keyword id="23125775" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="unbossing-trend-in-India" source="Orion">unbossing trend in India</keyword>. Last month, educational portal Collegedunia confirmed that around 100 employees from its Study Abroad department had been given the pink slip. A report in CNBC-TV18 had said that additional job cuts were happening across other departments as part of a broader reorganisation. The restructuring, as per the report, was aimed at automating many tasks to reduce costs. Interestingly, despite the layoffs, Collegedunia had posted 13 job openings on LinkedIn for various roles in different locations, primarily entry-level positions requiring up to two years of experience. "While Collegedunia is laying off several employees, it is also hiring fresh talent, allowing them to keep staffing levels up but at a lower cost," one employee told CNBC-TV18 at the time. Another source confirmed that while Collegedunia had been actively recruiting for some months, it has also been letting go of employees, including senior staff members with 7-8 years of experience at the company. <h2>What do experts say?</h2> <div type="image" title="Experts&amp;#39; opinion on unbossing trend" msid="113256250" hostid="261"></div>Mr. Sumit Kumar, Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, told Business Insider India, “From the perspective of HR leaders and CEOs, the strategic culling of middle management is viewed as a means to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and foster a culture of autonomy and innovation.” He also noted that even though employees can “exercise greater ownership and agility in decision-making” through this approach, there are also significant downsides. “The erosion of middle management creates a vacuum in leadership development, mentorship, and the retention of institutional knowledge, potentially leading to disengagement, a weakened talent pipeline, and misalignment with organisational objectives,” Kumar noted. Talking specifically about the Indian scenario, he said, “Implementing this trend in India would be a strategic move, positioning organisations to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment. However, to fully capitalise on this approach, developing a more robust talent pipeline that integrates the ability to multitask at all levels is imperative. In today's landscape, leadership demands thinkers, strategic visionaries, and individuals who can execute with precision. We need to cultivate a new breed of leaders who are both thinkers and doers, capable of navigating complex challenges while driving innovation and growth. By building versatile, agile leaders through targeted talent development programs, Indian organisations can ensure they are well-prepared to thrive in a decentralised, high-performance environment.” RP Yadav, Chairman and Managing Director of Genius Consultants Limited, told ET recently that the Unbossing approach simplifies hierarchies and encourages open communication between frontline employees and senior management. He had added that the concept of “the oldest in the room is always the wisest of all” is no longer applicable. Meanwhile, Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR Services told ET that the unbossing trend is predominantly seen in tech companies, creative roles, and startups, where swift decision-making and the unrestricted exchange of ideas are crucial. For example, the tech sector often thrives with flattened hierarchies that support rapid innovation and agility, while creative industries such as advertising and media use unbossing to cultivate a more collaborative and idea-focused environment. Thus, the unbossing trend is gaining traction beyond global companies and is finding its way into Indian organisations as well. While this approach can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance agility, experts caution that it also brings challenges, such as gaps in leadership development and the loss of institutional knowledge. To fully harness the benefits of unbossing, Indian companies must focus on cultivating agile leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive growth. By building a strong talent pipeline and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, Indian organisations can position themselves to thrive in a more decentralised and dynamic business environment. Do you have insights or personal experience to s hare on layoffs, <keyword id="34447" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workplace-trends" source="Orion">workplace trends</keyword>, or career changes? Contact us at businessinsider@timesinternet.in.

SIMPLY PUT: What’s with all “Unbossing” talks? Are Indian companies also embracing this global trend?

Tuesday, April 2: Exaggerated claims of unbelievable results with the use of consumer products are not new in the Indian advertisement industry. But, the law of the land does explicitly prohibit and punish misleading advertisements from time to time. One such case is grabbing headlines of late. <keyword id="20083249" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="baba-ramdev" source="keywords">Baba Ramdev</keyword> and <keyword id="20752072" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="acharya-balkrishna" source="keywords">Acharya Balkrishna</keyword>, co-founder and managing director of <keyword id="19980518" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="patanjali" source="keywords">Patanjali</keyword>, respectively, appeared before the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="keywords">Supreme Court</keyword> today for a hearing regarding a case involving misleading advertisements. So, what exactly happened? <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="A case of false and misleading advertisements" comment="subhead" text="A case of false and misleading advertisements">A case of false and misleading advertisements</cmsannotation> The case began in November last year when the Supreme Court, responding to a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), cautioned <keyword id="6406649" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="patanjali-ayurved" source="Orion">Patanjali Ayurved</keyword> against airing "false" and "misleading" claims in its advertisements about medicinal products. The IMA cited several ads that allegedly portrayed allopathic medicine and doctors negatively, claiming that companies producing ayurvedic medicines made disparaging remarks to deceive the public. Despite the Supreme Court's cautionary stance and prohibition on advertising products claiming to treat specific ailments under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, Ramdev and Balkrishna reportedly conducted a press conference, once again making misleading claims about Patanjali's ability to cure various conditions permanently. Subsequently, on February 27, the Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with Patanjali's continuous dissemination of false advertisements regarding medicinal cures and issued notices to the company, questioning why contempt proceedings should not be initiated. It also chastised the government for not taking action and “sitting with their eyes shut”. On March 21, the Court summoned Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna to personally appear before it on April 2 to address their failure to respond to the contempt notice regarding misleading advertisements about medicinal cures. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What’s the latest update?" comment="subhead" text="What’s the latest update?">What’s the latest update?</cmsannotation> In today's hearing, the Supreme Court criticised Ramdev and Balkrishna for their "absolute defiance" in failing to submit proper affidavits of compliance and for disregarding legal directives. The Court also rebuked Patanjali's MD for describing the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act as "archaic". Noting that Patanjali's advertisements are in the "teeth of law" of the land, the Court warned Ramdev to prepare for potential consequences. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, presiding over the bench, declined to acknowledge the apology extended by Patanjali last month. Subsequently, Ramdev's attorney, reportedly with folded hands, reiterated that both Ramdev and Balakrishna were extending a personal and unconditional apology before the court. Finally, the Court has granted Ramdev and Balkrishna a final opportunity to file affidavits in one week and mandated their presence at the next hearing on April 10.

Government ‘sitting with its eyes shut’, says Supreme Court as Patanjali’s misleading advertisement case drags on

As side-effects of generative <keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI" source="Orion">AI</keyword> begin to haunt people, <keyword id="399907" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="meta" source="Orion">Meta</keyword> has asked advertisers to disclose whenever a social issue, electoral, or political ad contains an image or video that have been digitally created or altered. Advertisers will now have to disclose whenever political ads contain a photorealistic image or video, or realistic sounding audio, that was digitally created or altered to depict a real person as saying or doing something they did not say or do. The policy will apply to ads that depict a realistic-looking person that does not exist or a realistic-looking event that did not happen, or alter footage of a real event that happened; or depict a realistic event that allegedly occurred, but that is not a true image, video, or audio recording of the event. "Advertisers running these ads do not need to disclose when content is digitally created or altered in ways that are inconsequential or immaterial to the claim, assertion, or issue raised in the ad," Meta said in a blog post late on Wednesday. This may include image size adjusting, cropping an image, colour correction, or image sharpening, unless such changes are consequential or material to the claim, assertion, or issue raised in the ad. The new policy will go into effect in the new year and will be required globally. Meta will add information on the ad when an advertiser discloses in the advertising flow that the content is digitally created or altered. This information will also appear in the Ad Library. "If we determine that an advertiser doesn't disclose as required, we will reject the ad and repeated failure to disclose may result in penalties against the advertiser. We will share additional details about the specific process advertisers will go through during the ad creation process," said the company. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/what-is-samsungs-bixby-call-features-and-how-it-works/articleshow/105033482.cms">Samsung’s Bixby offers to answer calls for you – here’s how it works</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/the-average-selling-price-of-smartphones-increased-in-a-flat-market/articleshow/105033814.cms">The average selling price of Indian smartphones has increased despite a flat market</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-pay-everything-you-need-to-know-about-googles-new-credit-offerings/articleshow/104573817.cms">Google for India – Sachet loans to credit on UPI, tech giant bets on lending</a>

Meta asks advertisers to disclose use of AI in political, social ads

<ul><li><keyword id="8441028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="audio-series" source="Orion">Audio series</keyword> listeners are expected to grow to 540 million by 2027 from 350 million in 2023.</li><li>More than 80% of paid users of audio series subscribe to ‘micropayment packs’. </li></ul><keyword id="25903" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indians" source="Orion">Indians</keyword> are tuning into audio series more and more. So much so, Redseer projects that the number of listeners of audio series could grow to 540 million by 2027 from 350 million in 2023. “Audio series, with its 24x7 entertainment, has a greater engagement potential compared to other Audio <keyword id="572624" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="streaming" source="Orion">Streaming</keyword> services. With its ability to address untapped use-cases, the market is expected to continue expanding,” says Redseer. <keyword id="694470" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-users" source="Orion">Indian users</keyword> started out by spending 1.3 hours per day on the platforms and wound-up dedicating as much as 1.5 hours per day just a year into their listening experience. “Key factors like compelling storytelling with immersive user experience on the go are seen to be the driving factors for its rapid adoption,” said <keyword id="19923640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mukesh-kumar" source="keywords">Mukesh Kumar</keyword>, associate partner at Redseer. What’s the appeal? Serialized audio fiction is appealing to users of different age groups. The younger cohorts of 16-24 hours enjoy listening to them during leisure time, before bedtime. As per the Redseer analysis, 20-35 year olds use it mainly for entertainment during downtime between daily activities like commuting. The 40-50 year olds use it to complement their less-engaging working hours or during office breaks and downtimes. In spite of popularity, paid users comprise only around 10% of the user base. Also more than 80% of paid users subscribed to ‘micropayment packs’. They allow them to pay for content they want to consume via ‘pay-per-content’, instead of subscribing to the entire library. “The micropayment model also helps increase the frequency of payment by providing an affordable option. Apart from subscriptions and micropayments, Audio Series also has substantial potential for advertisement monetization,” says Redseer.

Audio series catch on as Indians spend up to 1.5 hours per day listening to them

<ul><li>Indians love to stream OTT shows and movies on TV screens, says a NielsenIQ study.</li><li>Video and sound quality, ergonomic benefits, and voice assistants make TVs the preferred option to stream.</li><li>Most Indians want to stream and watch their family and comedy is the preferred genre. </li></ul><keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> has a new dinner companion — streaming services. As per a study conducted by NielsenIQ commissioned by Amazon for TV streaming trends, 97% of Indians prefer to stream their favourite movies and shows at dinner time. The good news is that they’re not cutting down on family time, as 74% watched these services with family, especially spouses and children. Family streaming also means they all want to watch it together on their big screens. According to the study, 78% respondents prefer streaming content on their TVs through streaming sticks, smart TVs, and set-top-boxes as compared to smartphones, tablets and laptops. TV equals painless streaming In addition to family time, TV watching offers ergonomic comfort. “Viewing on TV may also allow one to maintain a comfortable body posture, alleviating the aches and pains sometimes associated with watching content while holding the phone,” the study says. Adding to this is the active broadband connections at most homes. TVs also provide better video and sound quality, and convenience of accessing a variety of content across OTT providers and online sources. Voice assistants, and the convenience of watching live shows and DTH channels all in one single screen also helps. “Online video streaming has come a long way since its inception, and so has streaming habits of consumers. What has remained a constant is our preference to view content on the biggest screen in our homes – the television,” said <keyword id="20216460" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parag-gupta" source="keywords">Parag Gupta</keyword>, Director and Country Manager, Amazon Devices India. What does India love to stream? Almost 66% of respondents of the study also said that they streamed five hours daily over the weekend. On weekdays, most of them keep it down to three hours of streaming. As per the study, India loves to watch comedy – which is the most popular genre of content watched. It’s closely followed by sports, thriller, romantic, horror, international TV shows, and news in order of preference. Ormax too recently released a report on the most streamed movies and shows on OTT. <keyword id="19911186" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shahid-kapoor" source="keywords">Shahid Kapoor</keyword>’s Farzi became the most watched Hindi web series with a viewership of around 37 million. Anil Kapoor’s The Night Manager however comes a close second with 28.4 million. Bhuvam Bam starrer Taaza Khabar came at number three with a viewership of 23.5 million. Made in Heaven season 2 ranked at number 10 with 15.7 million. “Farzi is the only show to cross the 30 million viewership mark in 2023, and is now the most-watched subscription video on demand (SVOD) series in India of all time. Two advertising video on demand AVOD shows from JioCinema, i.e., Asur 2 &amp; Taali, feature in the top five most-watched shows of the year,” said Ormax. Bawaal starring <keyword id="19946417" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="varun-dhawan" source="keywords">Varun Dhawan</keyword> and Janhvi Kapoor was the most streamed movie attracting 21.2 million. Shahid Kapoor is back on the list again with his Bloody Daddy becoming the second most watched movie. The much hyped Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies ranked 13 with a viewership of 10 million. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/zoya-akhtars-the-archies-turns-out-to-be-a-damp-squib-and-nothing-like-the-breezy-comic-series/articleshow/105831059.cms">Zoya Akhtar’s ‘The Archies’ turns out to be a damp squib and nothing like the breezy comic series</a>

Dinner with the idiot box: 97% Indians like to stream while they eat

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indian and Nepalese men are being coerced into fighting for Russia against Ukraine, a report said.</li><li>The men were apparently deceived by fake job ads and forced to sign military contracts.</li></ul>Countless Indian and Nepalese men have been forced into joining <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-democracy-the-best-kremlin-against-all-evidence-navalny-2024-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">Russia</a> in its fight against Ukraine, according to multiple reports.At least 20 Indian men were reported by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/03/02/india-ukraine-war-uae-job-dubai-fight/">The Telegraph</a> as being trapped on the front lines after being tricked with the false promise of job opportunities.But the total number could be much higher, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/07/he-had-no-idea-he-was-being-sent-to-a-war-zone-the-indian-and-nepalese-men-on-frontlines-in-ukraine">The Guardian,</a> which noted that some estimates are in the hundreds.Indian and Nepalese men told The Guardian that they had been pressured into signing military contracts written in Russian and that they couldn't leave because their passports had been taken.<div type="image" title="Russian soldier" height="1369" width="1825" msid="108307053" hostid="261" sizebytes="155988"></div>The family of Hemil Mangukiya, a 23-year-old from the Indian state of Gujarat, spoke of the confusion and fear their son felt after being tricked onto the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-military-avdiivka-struggles-with-underprepared-defensive-lines-2024-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">front lines</a>.Mangukiya traveled to Russia last December after watching a recruitment video on YouTube, The Guardian reported. He believed he was going to work in security — but when he arrived, he was taken to a military training camp and then to the front lines.He died in a missile strike in Ukraine in late February, his family said.Mangukiya's father, Ashwin, told The Guardian that the family is "devasted" and that they are "still trying to get back his dead body."At least 26 Indian men have been tricked by recruitment videos by the YouTube channel Baba Vlogs, run by the Dubai-based Indian recruiter Faisal Khan, The Guardian said.The channel falsely advertised military helper jobs that would not involve fighting on the front lines.Khan told The Guardian that he had been "misled" by a Russian intermediary about the position and said he had "no idea they would be sent to a war zone.""We are trying to get these people out of there now," he said.Similar tactics have been used on Nepalese citizens. Speaking to The Guardian from an army hospital in Russia, Nandaram Pun, from the Rolpa district in Nepal, said that he had been offered a job in Germany and was told to go to Russia as a transit stop.But like many others, he said he was taken to a military camp shortly after arriving in Moscow. He was later sent to Bakhmut in Ukraine, where he became injured in a drone attack."We had no idea about the drone attacks. My legs, thighs and right hand were hit by shrapnel," he said. "I don't want to be cured, because if they think I am better, then they will send me back to war again."Pun said he had attempted to contact the Nepalese authorities in the hope of being rescued, but he had received no help.<h2>India and Nepal's reactions have been completely different</h2>The apparent coercive tactics used by Russia are significant, not just for those involved, but for Russia's respective relations with India and Nepal.While Nepal has historically had a <a target="_blank" href="https://mofa.gov.np/nepal-russia-relations/">friendly relationship</a> with Russia, the government has pushed back against its citizens being recruited.<div type="image" title="Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Nepal's then-Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in 2010" height="1380" width="1840" msid="108307228" hostid="261" sizebytes="193640"></div>In December, a spokesperson for the Nepal government said in a statement that it had requested the Russian government to "immediately return" the bodies of six Nepalese nationals killed in the war and pay compensation to their families, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/nepal-urges-russia-not-recruit-its-citizens-into-army-says-six-killed-2023-12-05/">Reuters reported</a>.In February, the government <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/05/nepal-bans-citizens-from-working-in-russia-or-ukraine-after-deaths-in-military">barred citizens</a> from working in Russia or Ukraine after the death toll increased to 12, and countless others were reported missing from the front lines.A spokesperson for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Guardian they were working "constantly" to bring its citizens home.While the exact number of Nepalese people still fighting in Russia is not known, the spokesperson said 245 families had filed petitions claiming that they had a relative trapped in the army, while five others have been recorded as prisoners of war by Ukraine.India's reactions to the situation appeared to be less confrontational.<div type="image" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016" height="1324" width="1765" msid="108307232" hostid="261" sizebytes="136954"></div>"We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army," a spokesperson for the Indian Government said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mea.gov.in/response-to-queries.htm?dtl/37653/Official_Spokespersons_response_to_media_queries_regarding_Indians_caught_in_conflict_in_Russia">statement</a> on February 23."The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge."The spokesperson urged all Indian nationals to "exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict," but did not make an official ban.India's relationship with Russia has only appeared to strengthen since the invasion of Ukraine, as it did not join the EU, the US, and other Western countries in imposing sanctions.The leaders of the two countries have also made public exchanges during this period. Most recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call in January, where they discussed "the situation in Ukraine," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-indias-modi-discuss-ukraine-wish-each-other-well-elections-kremlin-2024-01-15/">Reuters </a>reported.Representatives for the Russian army, the Indian government, and the Nepalese government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Indian and Nepalese men say they were tricked into fighting for Russia in Ukraine and can't return home

Indian Advertising folks discuss the representation of agency life in Emily in Paris

<ul><li>The <keyword id="3241635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="asian-federation-of-advertising-associations" source="Orion">Asian Federation of Advertising Associations</keyword> at its General Body Meeting held on 1st December 2021, elected <keyword id="330918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="srinivasan-swamy" source="Orion">Srinivasan Swamy</keyword> as its Chairman for a term of four years. </li><li>Swamy, a doyen of advertising, who is well known as the Chairman of R K SWAMY HANSA group, has held leadership positions in many industry bodies at a national and global level.</li></ul>The Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA), at its General Body Meeting held on 1st December 2021, elected Srinivasan Swamy as its Chairman for a term of four years. Swamy, a doyen of advertising, who is well known as the Chairman of R K SWAMY HANSA group, has held leadership positions in many industry bodies at a national and global level. He has been Chairman and World President of the <keyword id="1534752" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-advertising-association" source="Orion">International Advertising Association</keyword> (IAA), Chairman Confederation of Asian Advertising Agency Associations (CAAAA), President Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), IAA India Chapter, Chairman Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), President <keyword id="148548" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="all-india-management-association" source="Orion">All India Management Association</keyword> (AIMA), to name a few. Says Swamy, "This is a privilege not just for me but for the Indian marcom community at large. The AFAA not just hosts the prestigious AdAsia conference, but is also connected with AdStars, and runs the widely acclaimed FastTrack program where young professionals are trained and transformed in a three-day program. I look forward to making a meaningful contribution to the communications industry in Asia, as well as seeing how AFAA can work along with other global industry Associations and further the cause of professionalism." India gave AFAA two distinguished Chairmen in the past – <keyword id="12647838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gautam-rakshit" source="Orion">Gautam Rakshit</keyword> and <keyword id="711507" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pradeep-guha" source="Orion">Pradeep Guha</keyword>. Unfortunately both of them passed away recently. AFAA is represented in India by the Advertising Council of India (ACI) whose members are The Advertising Club, Advertising Agencies Association of India, the India Chapter of International Advertising Association, <keyword id="12647839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-broadcasting-and-digital-association" source="Orion">Indian Broadcasting and Digital Association</keyword> and the <keyword id="32717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-society-of-advertisers" source="Orion">Indian Society of Advertisers</keyword>.

You Searched For "Indian advertising" and got 11 results

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