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<ul><li><keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Adani Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Adani Group">Adani Group</keyword> will acquire <keyword id="21434388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Orient-Cement" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Orient Cement" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Orient Cement">Orient Cement</keyword> at a valuation of ₹8,100 crore.</li><li><keyword id="20057393" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ambuja-Cements" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ambuja Cements" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ambuja Cements">Ambuja Cements</keyword> has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of the company.</li><li>The latest acquisition will add 16.6 MTPA capacity to Adani Cement.</li></ul>Gautam Adani-led Adani Group on Tuesday said it will acquire <keyword id="21501327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CK-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CK Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CK Birla Group">CK Birla group</keyword> firm Orient Cement at a valuation of ₹8,100 crore as part of its expansion drive. Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of Adani Cement and part of the diversified Adani Group, has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of Orient Cement Ltd (OCL) at an equity value of ₹8,100 crore. As per that, its step-down unit "Ambuja will acquire 46.8 per cent shares of OCL from its current promoters and certain public shareholders", according to a joint statement. The acquisition will be fully funded through internal accruals, it added. The latest acquisition will add 16.6 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) capacity to Adani Cement, which operates through Ambuja Cements in the sector. In June this year, Adani announced the acquisition of Hyderabad-based Penna Cement at an enterprise value of ₹10,422 crore, which added 14 MTPA capacity to the country's second-largest manufacturer. "This timed acquisition marks another significant step forward in Ambuja Cements' accelerated growth journey, increasing <keyword id="21171283" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-capacity" source="keywords">cement capacity</keyword> by ~30 MTPA within two years of Ambuja's acquisition," said Karan Adani, Director of Ambuja Cements. By acquiring OCL, Ambuja is poised to reach 100 MTPA cement capacity in FY25, he said, adding, "The acquisition will help to expand Adani Cement's presence in core markets and improve its pan-India market share by 2 per cent." OCL has 5.6 MTPA clinker capacity and 8.5 MTPA cement capacity along with the statutory clearance to increase the clinker capacity by another 6.0 MTPA and cement capacity by another 8.1 MTPA. With inputs from PTI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-to-afcons-infrastructure-ipos-to-look-out-for-this-week/articleshow/114421377.cms">Waaree Energies to Afcons Infrastructure, IPOs to look out for this week</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping-in-india/articleshow/114354358.cms">Best credit cards for online shopping this festive season</a>

Adani Group to acquire CK Birla group firm Orient Cement at ₹8,100 crore valuation

India's <keyword id="20884491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-industry" source="keywords">cement industry</keyword> is heating up faster than a kiln! If one’s tracking the sector, the war-like situation between the existing and emerging cement giants is pretty evident. For the uninitiated, Aditya Birla Group-backed <keyword id="19963567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ultratech-Cement" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ultratech Cement" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ultratech Cement">Ultratech Cement</keyword> and <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords">Adani Group</keyword> have been at loggerheads for increased market share in recent years. And now, JSW Cement also seems to be gearing up to challenge the potential duopoly. As conglomerates aggressively acquire smaller players to achieve market domination, the cement industry in India right now resembles an eighteenth-century battlefield. The battle has significantly escalated this year, but this trend of acquiring regional cement companies can be traced back to 2018 when Ultratech acquired Binani Cement. Since then, both Adani Group and Birla Group have been capturing checkposts all over India, one by one. Ultratech acquired Binani Cement to strengthen its base in the western region and this week, India Cement, for the southern states. Adani has also acquired the Hyderabad-based Penna Cement this year, after acquiring majority stakes in Ambuja Cements and ACC in 2022. But why the obsession with cement? <h2>Why are the Titans clashing for…cement?</h2>India's infrastructure boom is in full swing, and whoever controls the cement supply holds the key to this construction kingdom. Adani Group has been known to follow an acquire &amp; dominate strategy for capturing market segments. <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>, however, has dominated the cement industry in India through Ultratech for a while now. The answer to the above question may simply lie in establishing the leadership moat for themselves. With even-growing public and private spending on infrastructure, both players want to capture the majority share to dominate the supplies of cement, which is essential for construction. <h2>Where is the sector heading?</h2>While both Adani and Aditya Birla groups have locked horns to acquire CK Birla’s Orient Cement for a while now, a new hurdle threatens their dominance. As per an Economic Times report, Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Cement has now started to evaluate the acquisition of the promoter stake in Orient Cement. As an emerging front, JSW Cement also aims to reach 50 MT per annum by 2030. However, two other major players, Shree Cement and Dalmia Bharat, already have 53 MTPA and 43 MTPA capacity. <div type="image" title="Birla Vs Adani" msid="112196675" hostid="261" sizebytes="284160" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Look back at major acquisitions in the cement sector&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, with over a dozen acquisitions over the last decade, both Ultratech and Adani Group are by far the largest players in the sector eyeing over 200 MT per annum by 2030. <h2>What about the prices?</h2>Will consumers benefit from this cutthroat competition to industry domination? In the short term at least, yes! While lower prices might sound appealing, it's essential to keep an eye on quality as consolidation in the manufacturing sector is always tricky. We don't want to end up with buildings crumbling like cookies. And let's not forget about the little guys. This consolidation of power into a few mega-corporations could squeeze out smaller players, reducing competition and potentially leading to higher prices in the long run. <h2>I think I’ve seen this film before….</h2>The current atmosphere of the cement industry feels reminiscent of what happened in the telecom industry in India in 2016 i.e. the infamous tussle of tariffs. As Reliance Industries launched Jio, it disrupted the entire segment and forced other telecom companies to compete on their terms. As a result, the tariffs fell sharply, companies shut and brands merged, but Jio still claims 40% of the market share in India in terms of subscriber count. Moreover, experts feel that the change in power dynamics in both these industries, cement and telecom, have direct ties to the current government’s industrial policy. Government policies seem to favour companies that have acquired a dominant position in distinct sectors of the economy, which in India’s case are led by two of the richest men in Asia — Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. This strategy of adopting ‘<keyword id="1327299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-champions" source="Orion">National Champions</keyword>’ is seemingly inspired by South Korea’s <keyword id="4933297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaebols" source="Orion">Chaebols</keyword> and Japan’s Zaibatsu conglomerates that came into existence decades ago. <h2>From corporate drama to k-drama: Chaebols</h2>The term Chaebol might ring a bell if you've watched K-dramas. They are family-owned business conglomerates in South Korea. This business structure originated in the 1960s and got so popular that it made its way into Korean pop culture. While chaebols have fueled the rapid growth of the Korean economy, concerns about their opaque governance and controlling shareholder interests often deter external investors. Japan’s zaibatsu were also similar financial and industrial conglomerates that were major forces in Japan during World War II. Korea’s Hyundai and Japan’s Mitsubishi are some prime examples of this structure. <h2>Growth of the Goliaths</h2>Viral Acharya, the former Deputy Governor of the RBI, highlights the decade-old trend of the central government achieving economic growth outcomes by working with large conglomerates in part, rather than with state governments. In his conference paper for the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity in March 2023, he demonstrates this pattern with examples from multiple sectors. “By way of specific examples, the share of the Top 5 groups by sales in Civil Engineering and Construction rose from 31% in 2016 to 42% in 2021, in Telecommunications from 65% to over 84%, and in the Retail trade sector from under 44% to over 65%. Similarly, the share of Top-5 groups by Assets rose sharply by 2021 to 68% in the Manufacturing of Basic Metals, 26% in the Manufacturing of Chemicals, 90% in the Manufacturing of Refined Petroleum and Coke, and 47% in the Manufacturing of Non-metallic Mineral Products (including cement and other building materials),” writes Acharya. While this strategy of ‘National Champions’ has benefitted the telecom sector, it has its caveats. The acceleration in the growth may lead to an oligopolistic economy, thereby restricting the entry of new players and stifling innovation. Additionally, a multi-dimensional concentration of power poses the threat of crony capitalism. <h2>National champions: checks and challenges</h2>There’s more to this debate. Arvind Subramanian and Josh Felman, in their paper titled ‘India’s Stalled Rise’ note that the collective impact of this strategy could be more adverse in India, more than anywhere else. They explain that the two big conglomerates — Adani Group and Ambani-led Reliance “have interests that extend throughout the economy, in defence production, ports and airports, energy, natural gas, petroleum, digital platforms, telecommunications, entertainment, media, retail, textiles, financial payments, and education.” Chaebols and Zaibatsu have/had their demerits that range from autocratic decision-making dubbed as ‘imperialistic management’ to the slow inclination of the market towards an oligopolistic structure. However, they weren’t shielded from international competition, nor was this strategy of creating ‘national champions’ shaped using government regulation. They were prevalent in sectors that faced competition internationally, like Hyundai in automobile manufacturing, keeping them in check. The lack of a similar system of checks and balances in India may lead to deeper implications of this strategy of ‘national champions.’ Viral Acharya further notes that they “grew not just at the expense of the smallest firms, but also of the next largest firms” and empirically established a causal link between market power and markups (broadly, profit). At a point when India has seen a monumental shift in infrastructure and looks to capture the market share that China could evacuate, the implications of a tilted policy could prove detrimental. While consolidation can improve performance and catalyse growth, we need to be very careful as a country of the direction we will set ourselves in at this crucial juncture. <h2>Also read:</h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112159576" title="India Cement employees to lose jobs after UltraTech acquisition? Chairman Srinivasan answers" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112163130" title="Ambuja Cements Q1FY25 profit at Rs 789.63 crore; revenue at Rs 8,311.48 crore" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div>

Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

On Tuesday, <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aditya Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aditya Birla Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>'s <keyword id="20102108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="metal" source="keywords">metal</keyword> flagship <keyword id="20318152" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hindalco-Industries" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hindalco Industries" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hindalco Industries">Hindalco Industries</keyword> reported a 25.2% rise in consolidated profit at Rs 3,074 crore for the June quarter, on the back of favourable macros, operational efficiencies and lower input costs. The company had posted a consolidated profit of Rs 2,454 crore in the year-ago period, <keyword id="20129733" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hindalco" source="keywords">Hindalco</keyword> Industries said in a regulatory filing. In a statement, the company said the consolidated PAT in the first quarter of FY'25 was Rs 3,074 crore, compared to Rs 2,454 crore in Q1 FY24, up by 25 % year-on-year (YoY)." Total income during the quarter under review rose to Rs 57,437 crore, over Rs 53,382 crore noted in the year-ago period. The consolidated revenue for the first quarter stood at Rs 57,013 crore, up 8% YoY, on account of better realisations and efficiencies in India operations. "Hindalco reported an <keyword id="19957744" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EBITDA" source="keywords">EBITDA</keyword> of Rs 7,992 crore (vs Rs 6,109 crore in Q1FY24) in Q1 FY25, up 31% YoY, driven by lower input costs and higher volumes," the statement said. "Our strong Q1 results ride on the back of consistent operational excellence and cost optimisation which allowed us to leverage the higher average metal prices. "The <keyword id="20076812" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="copper" source="keywords">copper</keyword> business achieved its highest quarterly EBITDA driven by high domestic sales (especially downstream products), healthy by-product credits and better operational efficiencies following a successful planned shutdown," Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries said. The <keyword id="20472150" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aluminium" source="keywords">Aluminium</keyword> India upstream business recorded an 81% growth in EBITDA over the previous year, he said. "Looking ahead, the major capital formation phase of the downstream business is near completion, and from here on, we will explore growth opportunities in the upstream business, given our strong cash position," he explained. The company said its copper business delivered a new record-breaking performance in the first quarter, with EBITDA at an all-time high of Rs 805 crore, up 52% YoY, backed by higher average copper prices and robust operations. Hindalco Industries Ltd is the metal flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group. A 26 billion dollar metals powerhouse, Hindalco is the world's largest aluminium company by revenues, and the world's second largest Copper rods manufacturer (outside China). Hindalco operates across the value chain, from bauxite mining, alumina refining, coal mining, captive power plants and aluminium smelting to downstream rolling, extrusions, and foils. Along with its subsidiary <keyword id="20665479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="novelis" source="keywords">Novelis</keyword>, Hindalco is the global leader in flat-rolled products, and the world's largest recycler of aluminium. Hindalco is the country's largest copper producer, serving more than half the nation's copper requirements. Its copper facility in Gujarat, comprises a copper smelter and refinery complex, downstream facilities, and a captive jetty. Hindalco's global footprint spans 52 manufacturing units across 10 countries.

Hindalco Q1 profit rises 25% Rs 3,074 crore on operational efficiencies, lower input costs

The <keyword id="19896633" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CBI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CBI">CBI</keyword> has booked the country's leading aluminium producer <keyword id="20129733" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindalco" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Hindalco" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Hindalco">Hindalco</keyword> of the <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aditya Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aditya Birla Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword> for alleged <keyword id="19895687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="corruption" source="keywords">corruption</keyword> in getting environmental clearances for <keyword id="20054958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coal-mining" source="keywords">coal mining</keyword> between 2011 and 2013, officials said on Tuesday. The agency has also named T Chandini, the then director in the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, for favouring the company as member secretary of the Expert Appraisal Committee ((EAC) in allowing mining in the Talabira-I mine in the critically polluted area of Odisha's Jharsuguda in violation of ministry guidelines, they said. The central probe agency registered an FIR against Hindalco and Chandini under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act after a nearly eight-year-long preliminary inquiry. Reacting to the FIR, a Hindalco spokesperson said, "This is an old matter pertaining to 2014-15. These mines were de-allocated as part of the government's de-allocation process. This is a matter of public record where more than 100 mines were de-allocated." The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the preliminary inquiry in 2016 on allegations that the Aditya Birla Management Corporation Private Limited (ABMCPL) had allegedly paid "massive bribes" between 2011 and 2013 to ministry officials for getting mandatory <keyword id="20082436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="environmental-clearance" source="keywords">environmental clearance</keyword> to mine coal from Talabira. The findings of the inquiry showed that the ministry had made it mandatory in 2006 for a company to seek environment clearances for all new projects, expansion of existing products and any change in the product mix in an existing manufacturing unit. The projects needing prior environmental clearance were supposed to go through the EAC, consisting of experts from different disciplines. The clearance was given by the regulatory authority based on the EAC's recommendation. Hindalco received its first environmental clearance in 2001 for mining 0.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of coal from the Talabira-I mine. Another clearance was given in January 2009 for its expansion, allowing the increase in mining from 0.4 MTPA to 1.5 MTPA. Nearly a month after the second clearance, the company sought to double its capacity to 3 MTPA, which was to be considered by the EAC, it said. It emerged that the company had allegedly violated clearances given in 2001 and 2009 by producing more coal than permitted by the ministry, the FIR said. The company allegedly mined 3.04 MTPA excess coal from 2004-05 to 2007-08 and 2008-09, it said. "This fact became known during the process of consideration by the EAC of which T Chandini, director, was the member secretary," the FIR alleged. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board confirmed during the inquiry that the Talabira mine was in the critically polluted area of Jharsuguda, the CBI alleged. According to ministry rules, in-pipeline projects in critically polluted areas or those applying after January 13, 2010, were to be returned to the project proponent by member secretaries with the approval of the advisor. The inquiry showed that Chandini, despite being fully aware that the company was mining excess coal in violation of previous environmental clearances, did not return the project, as stipulated in the ministry circular. "Rather she acted to the contrary in as much as the proposal of HIL (Hindalco) was continued to be processed which amounted to misuse of her official position to favour HIL," the CBI FIR has alleged. Chandini, by misusing her official position, communicated to Hindalco that their proposal for grant environmental clearance would be considered in the next meeting of the EAC to be held on February 25 and 25, 2010, the agency alleged. She allegedly ensured that the clearance was granted in haste, considering the fact that Hindalco was already in violation of earlier clearances granted by the ministry, as it was already mining excess coal from the Talabira-I coal mine, it said. 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CBI books Hindalco for corruption in green clearance for Talabira coal mining

Star couturier <keyword id="19970644" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tarun-tahiliani" source="keywords">Tarun Tahiliani</keyword> is in the eye of the proverbial storm over his <keyword id="21239939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="designs" source="keywords">designs</keyword> for the <keyword id="20287873" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-contingent" source="keywords">Indian contingent</keyword> at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games with epithets such as "pathetic" and "mediocre" being used to describe his creations. As the <keyword id="21679717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uniforms" source="keywords">uniforms</keyword> became a talking point on social media platforms and elsewhere too, several people also criticised the designs for becoming a promotion for <keyword id="22604764" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tasva" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tasva" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tasva">Tasva</keyword>, the collaborative label of <keyword id="22604763" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tahiliani" source="keywords">Tahiliani</keyword> and the <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aditya Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aditya Birla Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>. The men's attire, the classic kurta bundi silhouette, had panel detailing in the colours of the national flag, safari pockets, and rolled-up sleeves. The women's saris featured a pre-pleated design for convenience and ease of wear. Their borders featured the panelling in tricolour. They completed the look in gold brocade sneakers. What has not gone down well for some is the way brand logo has been incorporated prominently in the borders of the garments, the fabric used and the fits. Tahiliani's team said he was unavailable for comment when PTI reached out for a response. However, he defended himself in an interview with NDTV when he said he stood by his work and said the opening ceremony was not a couture show. "We wanted the team in the colours of the tricolour as most countries follow their flag and that was visible from afar. It would have been very easy for me to send them in zardozi vests. But it's not appropriate," Tahiliani said. He added that he and his team had only three weeks to prepare the costumes. "I can't weave handloom for 300 uniforms in that time. The shoes were brocade, brocade from Benares," he told NDTV. Tahiliani also slammed "armchair critics" who accused him of charging a heavy sum for crafting these designs. "This was paid for by Tasva. It was not done for a fee, it was done to support our athletes. Asking what I was paid for it just shows their mentality," he added. Among those criticising the designer, who made headlines of another sort entirely when he dressed American reality star Kim Kardashian for the Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant wedding, was former badminton star Jwala Gutta. "The garments which was made for the Indian contingent participating in <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> this time has been a huge disappointment!! (Especially when the designer was announced I had huge expectations) (sic)" she wrote, without mentioning Tahiliani's name. Gutta argued that not all women know how to wear a sari and that's why the designer should have crafted "pre draped" saris, which are a current trend. "The girls looked uncomfortable the blouse was of bad fit!! And second the colour and the print was so opposite of beautiful Indian!!! There was an opportunity for the designer to display the art of our culture through embroidery or hand paint!! "It was a work of absolute mediocrity and looked shabby!!! I really hope the sports family stops compromising on quality for our sportspersons looks on court and off court!!!! (sic)" Gutta wrote, posting photographs of herself from the 2016 Rio Olympics with fellow badminton players PV Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa and tennis star Rohan Bopanna. A user reshared her post and wrote: "Hello Tarun Tahiliani! I have seen better Sarees sold in Mumbai streets for Rs.200 than these ceremonial uniforms you've 'designed'. Cheap polyester like fabric, Ikat PRINT (!!!), tricolors thrown together with no imagination. Did you outsource it to an intern or come up with it in the last 3 minutes before the deadline? Such a disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India." There were others who were not too convinced either. Another user said designers for the Mongolia and Sri Lanka contingents did a better job dressing their teams. Others shared videos of the designs as reimagined by AI and wrote Tahiliani's design can be "easily replaced" by technology. One user said the kurtas were "creased", the blouse "poor fitting" and the sari was "not even white". "I don't know what Tarun Tahiliani was thinking while scribbling these pathetic uniforms, did our champions really bad. The women's saree look like 'before' shot in an Ujala Ad. While menswear, it's just looks a bit ..ringard if I may say in spirit of Paris! (sic)" commented another. According to Ashish Mukul, brand head, Tasva, the ceremonial attire for Team India is "crafted with a profound sense of national pride and an aim to balance tradition with modernity". In a statement, Mukul said the garments draw inspiration from the Indian flag, "symbolizing unity, and pride, which is one of the richest ways of representing India". He said the contemporary silhouettes, such as the Bundi jacket and pre-pleated sari, were carefully chosen to ensure "both comfort and functionality" for the athletes. "The fabrics, including cotton and viscose crepe, are selected for their practical and aesthetic qualities, as our athletes would be out in the open for almost 6 hours during the event. The use of Ikat-inspired prints and modern elements is a deliberate choice to reflect modern India. Our intention is to create an attire that represents India's rich heritage and ensure our athletes feel comfortable and confident," he added. Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, who was one of the flag bearers of the Indian contingent along with table tennis legend A Sharath Kamal, had posted a series of pictures on X ahead of Friday's ceremony. "Paris 2024, flag bearer-one of the greatest honors of my life to hold our country's flag in front of millions," she wrote.

Tarun Tahiliani at centre of controversy over "mediocre" designs for Indian contingent at Olympics

NDA nominee <keyword id="19896877" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Om-Birla" source="keywords">Om Birla</keyword> was elected as speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second consecutive term by voice vote on Wednesday, capping days of intense battle on the issue with the <keyword id="19895395" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="opposition" source="keywords">opposition</keyword> in a rare move proposing its own candidate. <keyword id="19911515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister" source="keywords">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>, who moved the motion for Birla's <keyword id="19895095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="election" source="keywords">election</keyword> as speaker, lauded the balance he showed in maintaining decorum of the House during his previous term. Several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, congratulated Birla too, stressing on "impartiality" and hoping he would allow them to raise the voice of the people and not apply his restraint orders only to opposition benches. Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab made the announcement of Birla's election after the opposition, which had forwarded the the name of eight-term Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate, did not press for votes to the motion. This is the fifth time that a speaker will serve beyond the tenure of one Lok Sabha. It is also amongst the few occasions that an election became necessary for a post conventionally decided by consensus. As he assumed charge, Birla read out a resolution condemning the Emergency imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 and asked members to observe a moment's silence, triggering a wave of protests by the opposition. "Democratic values and debate have always been supported in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>... Indira Gandhi imposed dictatorship on such an India. The democratic values of India were crushed and freedom of expression was strangled," Birla said while reading the resolution. His first day in the chair saw the House being adjourned. While opposition members vociferously protested inside, <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> members held a demonstration outside <keyword id="19895397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parliament" source="keywords">Parliament</keyword> House, raising slogans and demanding an apology from the Congress for the Emergency. Earlier in the morning, after the election, the prime minister and Leader of Opposition Gandhi escorted Birla to the speaker's chair. Gandhi also shook hands with Modi before escorting him. In his address, the first in the 18th Lok Sabha, Modi said Birla's work as a parliamentarian should be an inspiration for new Lok Sabha members. He said Birla presided over a golden era in Lok Sabha history with a number of historic decisions taken during its previous term. Modi lauded the balance shown by him in maintaining the decorum of the House which also involved taking several tough decisions. He expressed gratitude towards Birla for choosing to uphold the values of the House while maintaining traditions. The prime minister emphasised that the functioning of the house, conduct and accountability deepen the foundation of <keyword id="19973112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="democracy" source="keywords">democracy</keyword> in the country. Congratulating Birla, Gandhi said the opposition wanted the House to function "often and well" and added that it was very important that cooperation happens with trust. "The opposition would like to assist you in your work. I am confident you will allow us to speak in the House," he said. Gandhi also pointed out that the opposition this time represents significantly more voices of the Indian people than last time. Samajwadi Party chief Yadav hoped that actions like suspension of MPs would not be taken as they hurt the dignity of the House. He said he also hoped Birla would be impartial towards the opposition and give its leaders equal opportunities. Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and DMK leader T R Baalu echoed the sentiment. Bandyopadhyay said the functioning of the House always depends on the attitude of the treasury benches. "It is my firm belief and so far parliamentary democratic practice is concerned, the House belongs to the opposition," he said. He referred to the suspension of opposition MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha and said it was "not desirable". "You might have been elected by my BJP friends (but) hereafter there is no politics between you and the powers... You have to treat the opposition and the ruling party in the same manner. Kindly be impartial," added Baalu. Birla, 61, the BJP's MP from Kota, has risen through the ranks of the party. He is a third-term MP from Kota in Rajasthan and been a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly thrice. "Treasury and opposition benches run the House together, the strength of Indian democracy is in listening to everyone, and running the House with everyone's agreement. I will expect that I run the House with everyone's agreement. Even if there is lone member from a party, they should get sufficient time," Birla said. "It will be my expectation that the House runs without obstruction. We are elected by people with hope, which is why I urge there should not be disruptions in the House." There can be criticism, but obstruction is not a tradition of the House, Birla said. "I never want to act against any member, but everyone wants the high standard of parliamentary tradition to be maintained. For that I have to make tough decisions at times," the speaker said. During the course of the proceedings, Birla intervened several times, reminding members to be precise and raise issues they wanted to during the debate on the motion of thanks to the president's address. He said the members should remember for the next five years that others should take their seat when the speaker is standing, Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan took a jibe at the opposition for forcing an election for the speaker's post. In many opposition ruled states, he said, the post of both speaker and deputy speaker in the assembly is held by the ruling party. Birla's election follows a rare showdown by both the ruling alliance and the opposition bloc after the effort for a consensus was failed. The opposition's last-minute decision to go for a contest came after senior BJP leaders did not agree to the precondition that the INDIA bloc must be offered the post of deputy speaker in lieu of supporting Birla. "INDIA parties exercised their democratic right and moved motions in support of Kodikunnil Suresh as <keyword id="19990696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-speaker" source="keywords">Lok Sabha Speaker</keyword>... Voice Vote was taken. Thereafter, INDIA parties could have insisted on division. They did not do so. "This is because they wanted to a spirit of consensus and cooperation to prevail, a spirit singularly lacking in the actions of the PM and the NDA," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. With the NDA having 293 MPs in its kitty and the INDIA bloc 233 in the Lok Sabha, the numbers were clearly in favour of Birla. The Lok Sabha currently has 542 members after Rahul Gandhi resigned from one of the two seats he was elected from. At least three independent members also support the opposition. Balram Jakhar is the only presiding officer to have served two complete terms extending seventh and eighth Lok Sabha.

Om Birla elected for second time as Lok Sabha speaker, opposition hopes their voice will be heard

<ul><li><keyword id="19946118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="luxury" source="keywords">Luxury</keyword> brands leased 0.6 million square feet of space in 2023, which is a 170% year-on-year growth.</li><li>Exclusive high-end malls like Jio World Plaza in Mumbai and Mall of Asia in Bangalore act as facilitators.</li><li>Apart from millennials and GenZs, <keyword id="20098485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gen-alpha" source="keywords">Gen Alpha</keyword> also has an affinity to luxury retailing — forming a new set of consumers. </li></ul>Indians no longer have to fly abroad to buy Valentinos, Balenciaga, or shop at Tiffany &amp; Co. — as these luxury brands have been establishing their presence across the country for the last few years. And, there are more to come. <keyword id="20943315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="brioni" source="keywords">Brioni</keyword>, <keyword id="20943314" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="roberto-cavalli" source="keywords">Roberto Cavalli</keyword>, and Dunhill are expected to enter <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> in 2024. Indians’ love for global luxury brands has been growing as much as their love for India, according to a report by CBRE. The report, which mapped retail space leasing in India’s top eight states, says that as much as 0.6 million square feet of space was leased by them in 2023 — a 170% year-on-year growth. Their preferred format is high streets which have a 45% share in total space leased by luxury brands. It’s followed by malls at 40%, and individual stores make up the rest at 15%. “This surge in leasing has been accompanied by the entry and expansion of various international luxury fashion, watch and jewellery brands across different locations,” says CBRE. A few exclusive high-end malls have also opened recently like Jio World Plaza in Mumbai and Mall of Asia in Bangalore — facilitating the entry of more brands. Also, French upmarket retailer Galeries Lafayette is planning to enter India in a joint venture with <keyword id="20943317" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aditya-birla-retail" source="keywords">Aditya Birla Retail</keyword>. The trend was put in high gear during the pandemic when global travel restricted the global shopping trips of affluent Indians. Consequently, international retailers ensured that their Indian customers had access to the current season trends. Also, they eliminated price disparity between Indian stores and their counterparts in other global cities — making a smooth entry. Moreover, luxury offerings in metros also attract affluent consumers from tier II cities. This growth trajectory has prompted them to adopt an aggressive expansion approach by opening stores in cities such as Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. The luxury sector, which saw a significant increase in leasing in 2023, shows a promising trend with the entry and expansion of international brands. This positive momentum is expected to continue, aligning with our anticipation for a similar trend in the years ahead,” said <keyword id="20177586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anshuman-magazine" source="keywords">Anshuman Magazine</keyword>, chairman &amp; CEO of India, Southeast Asia, Middle East &amp; Africa at CBRE. Young wear Prada More trends bode well for the growth of luxury sales in India. Luxe is catering to a younger and younger clientele. Millennials and GenZs collectively hold a significant market share in luxury sales. But there is a new and emerging generation of luxury brand lovers — Gen Alpha born between 2010-2024. As per CBRE, the spending power of GenZ, and even Gen Alpha is projected to grow three times faster than other generations till 2030. This trend highlights a more precocious attitude towards luxury, with GenZ consumers becoming more conscious of luxury much earlier than even millennials. It means teens are much more brand-conscious than ever and as that trend takes off, there will be more aspirations and buyers of such brands. “Luxury brands are aggressively chasing new avenues to attract both seasoned and aspiring luxury consumers,” says <keyword id="20943316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="magazine" source="keywords">Magazine</keyword>. Social media has become a game changer when it comes to skyrocketing awareness. “For these generations, luxury isn’t about price; it’s a way to express themselves – a badge of social status, refined taste and individuality,” sums up CBRE.

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