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As India’s start-up ecosystem matures, a new trend is emerging: <keyword id="23791918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="micro-acquisitions" source="Orion">micro-acquisitions</keyword>. This approach – focussed on buying smaller businesses – has become increasingly popular among Indian entrepreneurs looking for cost-effective growth avenues. Platforms like <keyword id="23791917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flippa" source="keywords">Flippa</keyword> are at the forefront of this shift, facilitating these transactions by offering a user-friendly, data-rich environment where buyers and sellers can connect seamlessly. In a country that has seen rapid growth in entrepreneurship, micro-acquisitions represent a shift from the traditional emphasis on large scale deals. And this trend is being fuelled by an influx of domestic funds and micro venture capital (VC) firms dedicated to nurturing early-stage startups. <h2>Changing Mindsets: Why Micro-Acquisitions?</h2>Entrepreneurs are turning to micro-acquisitions for the flexibility, speed and cost-efficiency that they offer. By targeting smaller, less capital intensive deals, they are able to side step the complexities of a traditional M&amp;A, making it a viable pathway for expansion and growth. Besides these can also help entrepreneurs diversify their holdings and adapt to market demands without overcommitting resources. Flippa allows Indian entrepreneurs to access a global marketplace where they can identify businesses aligned with their objectives. <h2>The M&amp;A Landscape in India</h2>While the US mergers and acquisitions market has seen slower growth, private capital inflows in India are on the rise, according to <a href="https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/deals/trends/private-capital.html">PwC</a>. The second quarter of 2024 proved to be a landmark period for Indian startups, with a 57% year-on-year surge in megadeals driving fundraising to an eight-quarter high of $5.2 billion, as reported by <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/reports/india-deal-review-q2-2024">Deal Street Asia</a>. Flippa has capitalised on this trend. A marketplace founded in 2009 for buying and selling online businesses, it has amassed over 3 million users worldwide. As of <a href="https://flippa.com/data-insights?buy_sell=PR_DataInsights_EmbedGraphs">October 2024</a>, Flippa had 396,000 active buyers on its platform with a combined wallet of $75 billion, an increase of 15,000 active buyers month-on-month. This broad, engaged user base gives Indian entrepreneurs a diverse pool of acquisition targets, from digital properties to app-based ventures. Notably, data-driven app acquisition companies like KalaGato leverage Flippa to identify the right opportunities. “If you’re trying to get into the market, a platform like Flippa is a great place to start,” said Aman Kumar, Founder of KalaGato. <h2>Cutting Edge Technology At Work</h2>Flippa’s technology sets it apart, using a proprietary <a href="https://flippa.com/product/recommender-engine">matching algorithm</a> powered by an AI-driven graph neural network that assesses over 100 factors to match buyers and sellers. This technology streamlines the acquisition process, helping entrepreneurs find suitable opportunities more efficiently, especially in a crowded market like India, where navigating business brokers or directly approaching potential sellers can be time-consuming and fraught with challenges. “Flippa as a platform is continuously evolving. Once you start looking at exits or the potential to exit a business, then a platform like Flippa is super useful,” Kumar adds, emphasising the platform's adaptability to the needs of modern entrepreneurs. Another standout feature is its <a href="https://flippa.com/product/deal-room">multi-user Deal Room</a>. This comprehensive digital sales hub allows users to manage the entire sales process for online businesses and digital assets in one place. Sellers can communicate with buyers in real time, filter messages, and review offers and Letters of Intent (LOIs) within the Deal Room itself. This organisation is particularly helpful for entrepreneurs who may be overwhelmed by the volume of inquiries when trying to sell their business. The Deal Room provides real-time notifications about buyer engagement, ensuring that users can respond promptly and keep negotiations moving forward. Buyers are invited to the Deal Room on a scheduled basis, creating a structured interaction environment. <h2>Prioritising Security and Trust</h2>A secure transaction environment is crucial, especially for entrepreneurs new to acquisitions. Flippa’s <a href="https://flippa.com/product/insurance">insurance</a> policies offer this layer of security for both buyers and sellers. The Buyer Protect policy safeguards buyers against financial losses resulting from seller misrepresentation or breaches of warranty, covering up to 100% of the enterprise value of the business. Meanwhile, the Seller Protect policy shields sellers from potential financial losses, creating a balanced environment for transactions. This dual protection reinforces trust and allows the involved parties to focus on growth without worrying about potential hidden risks. <h2>Market Insights for Informed Decision-Making</h2>To further assist users in making informed decisions, <a href="https://flippa.com/product/market-insights/">Flippa Market Insights</a> provides valuable data on online businesses and digital assets. This tool enables users to compare prices of similar businesses, benchmark performance metrics like average order value and customer lifetime value, and access real-time sales data, including historical performance information. Users can filter this data by time period, business model, and price point, ensuring they have the insights needed to navigate the acquisition landscape effectively. Flippa’s expert vetting team reviews the stated financial performance of every asset priced above USD $50,000, providing an additional layer of credibility to the listings. <h2>A Bright Future for Micro-Acquisitions in India</h2>With the Indian startup ecosystem thriving and the appetite for micro-acquisitions only expected to grow, Flippa stands at the forefront by connecting ambitious entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. Whether you’re an established business owner looking to expand your portfolio or a newcomer eager to dip your toes into entrepreneurship, Flippa offers a wealth of opportunities in this exciting landscape. So, if you are interested in starting your exit journey, get a free valuation for your business here - <a href="https://flippa.com/free-valuation">get a FREE valuation</a>. Disclaimer: This article is generated and published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on <a href="mailto:insiderstudios@businessinsider.in">insiderstudios@businessinsider.in</a>

The rise of micro-acquisitions in India: How Flippa is driving the trend

<ul><li><keyword id="35210" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sebi" source="Orion">SEBI</keyword> has introduced new investment criteria to mitigate risks associated with <keyword id="509133" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fractional-ownership" source="Orion">fractional ownership</keyword> of <keyword id="6354553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate" source="Orion">real estate</keyword>. </li><li>You should research the <keyword id="6354516" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="property" source="Orion">property</keyword>, its location, market trends, and potential risks before investing. </li><li>Fractional ownership platforms operate by purchasing pre-leased commercial properties and dividing the ownership among investors. </li></ul>Owning real estate is not just a financial decision, in many cases, it’s a deep-rooted emotional one for many households. Buying commercial real estate, on the other hand, has always been touted as a wise economic decision. But how can one own such an asset if you can’t afford it given that the price of commercial properties is often too high for most individuals? You can still invest to avail a slice of real estate through fractional ownership! Minimum investment required Previously, the minimum investment required for fractional ownership of real estate varied, typically ranging from ₹10 to ₹25 lakhs. However, most platforms standardised the minimum investment at ₹25 lakhs. With the introduction of new regulations from SEBI, this threshold has been lowered to ₹10 lakhs making it more accessible to a broader range of investors. Fractional ownership options in India are still limited. However, while the concept is relatively new, it has quickly garnered <keyword id="6368449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="investor" source="Orion">investor</keyword> interest. The fractional ownership industry is currently estimated to have ₹4,000 crores AUM and is expected to experience substantial growth, with projections suggesting it could reach a size of $5 Bn+ AUM by 2030, as per a JLL report. The number of platforms offering these investment opportunities is still limited, reflecting the industry's early stage of development. However, there were no defined rules on fractional ownership until SEBI stepped in recently. What SEBI says regarding fractional ownership To safeguard investor interests and foster growth in the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) and fractional ownership market, SEBI has implemented a distinct framework tailored for small and medium (SM) (REITs). “SM REITs are structures that pool funds ranging from at least ₹50 crore to less than ₹500 crore, with the aim of issuing units to a minimum of 200 investors. These funds are utilised to acquire real estate assets, ensuring investors receive income generated from such assets. Going forward, any firm offering product (FOP) intending to establish an SM REIT must seek SM REIT registration from SEBI,” says Sudeep Chandran, Founder and COO of YOURS, a platform for Fractional Ownership of Luxury Second Homes. SEBI has also introduced new investment criteria to mitigate risks associated with fractional ownership. “It mandates that at least 95% of a scheme's assets must be invested in completed and income-generating properties, while the remaining 5% can be allocated to liquid assets. Furthermore, SEBI has issued additional rules and guidelines aimed at enhancing the sector's performance and safeguarding investors' interests," says Aryaman Vir, CEO of WiseX, a real estate investment platform that facilitates fractional ownership. Fractional ownership platforms Fractional ownership platforms operate by purchasing pre-leased commercial properties and then dividing the ownership among investors using a special purpose vehicle (SPV) structure. An SPV is a distinct legal entity set up for the sole purpose of acquiring a specific real estate asset, allowing for a clear separation of this investment from other financial engagements. Investors participate by acquiring securities issued by the SPV, effectively gaining a fractional share in the property. “The costs associated with the acquisition and maintenance of the property are distributed among the investors in the SPV, and these investors then share in the profits and returns from the asset. This sharing takes into account the management and maintenance fees that are levied by the FOP or by appointed third parties. Such a structure provides investors with an accessible route to earn from real estate, offering benefits like rental yields and potential asset appreciation,” says Vir. This model of investment significantly reduces the financial burden on individual investors, allowing them to attain steady income streams and long-term financial returns. Furthermore, it enables investors to diversify their investment portfolios by engaging in various real estate projects located in different areas, with each project having its own SPV. What you should keep in mind Before you enter into an agreement, review the agreement thoroughly to understand your rights, responsibilities, and any potential limitations or restrictions associated with the fractional ownership arrangement. “Like traditional property investment, due diligence is a must. You should research the property, its location, market trends, and potential risks before investing. Consider factors such as property valuation, maintenance costs, and resale prospects,” says Chandran. Also, when you co-own a property through a platform, credibility, reputation, and track record of the fractional ownership platform facilitating the investment also become important. Look for platforms that have a reliable track record of adhering to regulatory guidelines, providing transparent information, and offering robust investor protection mechanisms.

You can own a fraction of a real estate property, but it pays to keep the following in mind

<ul><li>Dinner dates may be dead as picnics, coffee dates, stand-ups, long drives and cooking were among the most popular <keyword id="6367193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dating" source="Orion">dating</keyword> ideas. </li><li>Going alcohol-free during dates is also on the rise in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> this year. </li><li>More than a hookup, but not quite a traditional relationship, the “situationship,” a casual-yet-clearly-defined relationship, came to rise in 2022, as per the <keyword id="1738241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tinder" source="Orion">Tinder</keyword> report. </li></ul><keyword id="2529384" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="chandler-bing" source="Orion">Chandler Bing</keyword>, the character from popular American sitcom <keyword id="343" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="friends" source="Orion">Friends</keyword>, is funny, quirky and “makes jokes when he is uncomfortable” – losing him the ladies on the sitcom. However, going by Tinder’s Year in Swipe report for 2022, being funny may have won him brownie points on the dating site. Young singles were indeed looking for dates who are “fresh, funny and forward,” Tinder revealed. If dating during the pandemic involved ‘roller skating’ or ‘grocery stores’, this year it evolved to ‘picnics’ ‘coffee dates’ and ‘stand-ups’. Situationships, shared values and social issues were the top green flags for a new generation of daters who are done with wasting their time, the dating app Tinder’s yearly report revealed. <div type="image" title="Top 10 Emojis of 2022 on Tinder" msid="95824835" hostid="261" sizebytes="131226"></div> More than a hookup, but not quite a traditional relationship, the “situationship,” a casual - yet-clearly-defined relationship, came to rise in 2022, as per the Tinder report. Young singles are owning the situationship as a valid relationship status now. “When asked what the most important characteristics are in a potential date, young singles prioritised value-based qualities like loyalty (79%), respect (78%) and open-mindedness (61%) over looks (56%),” Tinder reported. Politics and social issues were also a major make-or-break deal in the dating world. Three-quarters (75%) singles were looking for a match who was respectful of or invested in social issues. <div type="image" title="Top 10 local issues that created buzz on Tinder" msid="95824864" hostid="261" sizebytes="116346"></div> Many Indian Tinder members added the Ukrainian flag to their profiles in support of Ukraine this year, and it ranked within the top 10 trending emojis on Tinder. Additionally, the <keyword id="15638635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="activism-and-voters-rights" source="Orion">Activism and Voters Rights</keyword> interests both increased (84% and 37% respectively) in Tinder profiles this year. What are young Indians looking for? Dinner dates might just be witnessing its end as coffee dates, picnics, stand-ups, long drives and cooking were considered the most popular dating ideas. Hiking, movie night, a walk in the park, pairing up during festivals and board games were other popular forms of connection. Interestingly, going alcohol-free during dates also witnessed a spike in India. Over 25% of young singles surveyed said they drank less on dates compared with last year and 72% of members said on their Tinder profiles that they don’t drink or only drink occasionally. The emoticons indicating beer and wine witnessed a drop of up to 40% on tinder profiles. <div type="image" title="Top 10 interests on Tinder India profiles" msid="95824939" hostid="261" sizebytes="122848"></div> “Indian daters are wasting no time in reshaping the dating world in their image, once they could return to in-real-life dating. As we shift into gear for 2023, the trends of 2022 will definitely guide the way Indian daters navigate the world of dating, friends, connections and relationships – and we can’t wait to see them continue to embrace situationships, spontaneous trips and sober dates,” said Aahana Dhar, director of communications for <keyword id="3150067" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tinder-india" source="Orion">Tinder India</keyword>. The terms “red flag” and “gaslighting” were trending. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of the young singles surveyed said they were confident they could identify potential green or red flags when dating. Young singles were also looking for astrology to guide their dating life as star signs were the most popular type of descriptor on the app bios behind smoking preferences, pets and diet. <keyword id="27359" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="zodiac" source="Orion">Zodiac</keyword> signs Leos, Scorpios and Cancers were the signs most likely to include their sign in their bios, Tinder revealed. Tinder also revealed that Indians aged 18-25 years were packing their bags more frequently as revenge travelling witnessed a spike post pandemic. Hyderabad has been crowned the chattiest city for video chats on Tinder India this year, followed by Chennai and Bangalore, all using the feature to connect with others around the country, and world. Globally, nostalgia got a strong hold of young singles as they found inspiration from the dating trends of the 90s and the noughties. In addition, talking about sneakers, anime, going camping and barbeque, trying new things or street food together were growing interests that captured the attention of the youth on the app. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-new-car-and-suv-in-india-in-december-2022/slidelist/95823897.cms">Upcoming cars launching in India in December 2022</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/digital-lending-platforms-see-3x-year-on-year-rise-in-disbursals-to-14016-crore-in-q2-fy23/articleshow/95821140.cms">Digital lending platforms see 3x year-on-year rise in disbursals to ₹14,016 crore in Q2 FY23</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/black-friday-the-sales-scams-and-myths/articleshow/95764746.cms">Black Friday: The sales, scams and myths</a>

Having a funny bone like Chandler Bing’s could make you hot property on Tinder

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 8th edition of the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (<keyword id="23549707" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ITU-WTSA" source="keywords">ITU-WTSA</keyword>) at <keyword id="19950568" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Mandapam" source="keywords">Bharat Mandapam</keyword> here in the national capital today. This is the first time the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. Prime Minister will also inaugurate the 8th edition of the <keyword id="21058244" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="India-Mobile-Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="India Mobile Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="India Mobile Congress">India Mobile Congress</keyword> (IMC), with the theme, "The future is now." Prime Minister Modi took to X to announce both events, saying, "At 10 AM tomorrow, 15th October, the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly and the India Mobile Congress 2024 will be inaugurated. These forums are important ones, bringing together leading stakeholders from across the sector." Aa per a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the event will be facilitating interactions with various industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over one ninety countries. It is a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors. The ITU-WTSA event will also facilitate discussion on the standards set for new age technologies such as 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, etc. "Hosting this event in India will provide the country an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the global telecom agenda and to set the course for future technologies. Indian startups and research institutions are set to gain critical insights into developing Intellectual Property Rights and Standard Essential Patents," the PMO said. India Mobile Congress 2024 will be showcasing the telecom ecosystem, with leading telecom companies highlighting advancements in Quantum technology and Circular Economy along with spotlight on 6G, 5G use-case showcase, cloud &amp; edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing. India Mobile Congress is Asia's largest <keyword id="21099140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-technology" source="keywords">digital technology</keyword> forum, and has become a well-known platform across the globe for showcasing innovative solutions, services and state-of-the-art use cases for industry, government, academics, start-ups and other key stakeholders in the technology and telecom ecosystem. The IMC will feature over 400 exhibitors, 900 startups, with participation from over 120 countries. The event also aims to showcase more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host more than 100 sessions and discussion with over 600 global and Indian speakers.

PM Modi to inaugurate 8th ITU's telecom standard meet, India Mobile Congress in Delhi today

On September 18, 2024, the US <keyword id="19900043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fed" source="keywords">Fed</keyword> delivered a jumbo-sized surprise to the global economy. Not only did they trim their interest rates by a massive 50 basis points to bring their yields down to 5%, but also hinted at further rate cuts in the upcoming months. This move from the fed and several other central banks globally had pushed expectations high for a similar rate slash closer home, from the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> this month. But governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, in a “picture abhi baaki hai” moment, decided to hold the repo rates here steady, leaving them unchanged at 6.5% for the record 10th straight time. Although, he did tinker with the policy stand, changing it from “rate cuts are absolutely off the table” to a more accommodating “we’re okay with bringing down the rates, if needed”. This, rather neutral, stance from India’s financial custodian sparked hopes for a rate cut in December this year. However, the stubborn inflation levels in September have again dented such hopes. As consumers, you may be wondering what all the hullabaloo this is about, since it hardly makes a difference to your regular financial routine. Well, the majority of both economic growth and inflation is closely connected to this policy stance from the central bank and it does have a rather indirect effect on both our earnings and spending. But more directly, it would have clear implications for those looking to own a house. Even the slightest modification of interest rates, or the lack of it, influences the <keyword id="19916018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="emi" source="keywords">EMI</keyword> you pay significantly. So, all aspiring homebuyers, is this the right time to take out a loan and buy a house? Can you expect a rate cut anytime soon, and what will that mean for your home-owning dreams? We lay it out. <h2>What’s the connection?</h2>You see, buying a house is no small feat, at least financially. The task becomes even more herculean if you are scouting for your own roof in cities like Delhi, Noida, Bangalore or Mumbai where, as Circuit from Munnabhai says, “room shuru hote hi khatam ho jata hai”. Naturally, you’ll have to take a <keyword id="6354730" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="home-loan" source="Orion">home loan</keyword> from the bank. Don’t be mistaken, the bank won't give you a loan that covers 100% of the value of the property you want to own. Rather, your loan amount will be equivalent to a certain percentage of the property’s total value. RBI’s guidelines on this are pretty clear: <ul><li>If your loan amount is up to Rs 30 lakh, you can get a loan worth 90% of the property’s value.</li></ul><ul><li>If the loan amount is between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 75 lakh, you are eligible for a loan worth 80% of the property’s value.</li><li>If you are taking a loan of more than Rs 75 lakh, your loan amount will be equivalent to 70% of the property’s value.</li></ul>Now assuming that you have the money, it's all about paying back the principal amount, but not without a little (read hefty) interest added on top. See, when you’re taking a home loan, you are actually signing up for a long-term, even multi-decadal financial commitment, which will unfailingly present itself to your bank accounts and finances every single month, in the form of EMIs, or equated monthly instalments). When you take a home loan, you can choose to pay the interest in two ways (talk about choices!). One is that you decide to keep a fixed rate of interest throughout the tenure of your home loan. So, if you opt for a 25-year fixed-rate home loan at the rate of 8.8% p.a., you’ll have to pay interest at this rate for the next 25 years, till your entire loan is paid off. Yes, you can go backsies and switch to a floating-rate home loan by paying a fee. Floating, as the name suggests, means that your interest rate is not set in stone. But starting October 2019, when it comes to a floating interest rate home loan, your payable interest and EMIs are directly impacted by any changes in <keyword id="20094323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="repo-rate" source="keywords">repo rate</keyword>, which were left unchanged by RBI this time around. Why are these two so chummy, you might ask. Well, home loan interest rates are a sum of two things: <ol><li>Repo Rate (the rate at which RBI lends money to banks)</li><li>Operational cost + margins</li></ol>Any plus or minus in this equation would send your home loan interests tanking, or skyrocketing. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat explains that any change in the repo rates impacts the cost of funds and thereby the home loan interest rates. “When the interest rates are expected to reduce, the corresponding impact will be in the form of a reduced EMI. Home loan borrowers should always try to borrow at a floating rate when interest rates are expected to reduce and at a fixed rate when the interest rates are expected to increase. This minimizes the outflow in the form of EMIs that the home loan borrowers will experience”, he continues. So, no change in repo rates means no change in your home loan interest payout and no financial relief whatsoever. A rate cut, which most experts are anticipating will start this December, would mean your EMI payments come down, and your wallet might save a little more. But there’s also a chance of an UNO reverse happening. In case RBI is in the mood to hike the interest, your home loan EMIs might end up taking more from your pockets. Consider this. You took a floating interest rate home loan worth Rs 50 lakh in January 2022 at 8% p.a., for a period of 20 years. This brings your total monthly EMI to Rs Rs 41,822. But, as luck would (or won't) have it, RBI raised the interest rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023, bringing it to its current status of 6.5%. Some back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that now, your home loan interest payout will also rise by a hefty 2.5%, taking the total to 10.5%. In other words, you’ll have to dish out Rs 49,919 per month as EMI. Now, won't you heave a sigh of relief if the RBI were to bring down the interest rate by say, even 50 basis points, or 0.5%? Agreed, your EMI will come down just marginally, to Rs 48,251. But look at this over a 20-year period, and you’ll see how big the difference is. <h2>Are rates set to change anytime soon?</h2>Generally, RBI hikes the repo rates if it sees inflation spiralling out of control. Then, in a bid to reduce consumer spending, it raises interest rates to make borrowing expensive. But when the apex bank sees sluggish consumption in the economy, inflation in control and wants to boost spending, it slashes down on interest rates, making it more lucrative for people to borrow. As of now, most experts are not anticipating any changes in the interest rates anytime soon. This means home loans are not getting cheaper anytime soon. The CPI data, which came out yesterday, saw inflation rise to 5.49% in September, compared to 3.65% last month. Food and beverage prices jumped to a four-month high of 8.36% in September, as opposed to a 5.3% rise in August. So a rate cut seems a no-go at the moment! Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities explains that the RBI had probably expected a hardening of inflation and that's why it chose to hold on to the rates in the monetary policy announcement last week. “Now, it seems that RBI will take a cautious stance going ahead and will not be in a hurry into rate cuts like its global peers”, he added. In all this, one thing is clear, in the grand movie of the Indian economy, the RBI has chosen stability over drama. And just like in every good Bollywood film, we're left wondering what twist the sequel will bring. Until then, it might be “The End" for rate cuts, but the show must go on for the Indian economy!

Boom or bust — how RBI’s decision to leave rates unchanged affects homebuyers

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s <keyword id="22863440" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Animation-and-VFX" source="keywords">Animation and VFX</keyword> segment is expected to surge from USD 1.3 billion in 2023 to USD 2.2 billion by 2026, according to a CII GT report released on Wednesday. This will increase the share of the Animation and VFX segment India's Animation and VFX segment to reach at USD 2.2 billion by 2026: reportin the <keyword id="20018821" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="media-and-entertainment" source="keywords">media and entertainment</keyword> (M&amp;E) industry from 5 per cent to 6 per cent during the same period, the report added which was released by Information and Broadcasting secretary, Sanjay Jaju on Wednesday. Currently, the <keyword id="22345339" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AVGC-XR" source="keywords">AVGC-XR</keyword> sector accounts for approximately 20 per cent of India's media and entertainment (M&amp;E) industry and is poised for further expansion, as per the CII GT report. AVGC-XR stands for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality. The report further anticipated that the Indian <keyword id="20349295" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-gaming-industry" source="keywords">online gaming industry</keyword> will reach to USD 4.6 billion by 2026, with its contribution to the M&amp;E sector rising from 10 per cent to 13 per cent. Currently, the online gaming industry is valued at USD 2.62 billion, as per the report. The report underscores the sector's potential as a major employment driver. The sector is expected to create of over 160,000 new jobs annually, with a total of 20 lakh new jobs anticipated by 2030. The report calls for the swift implementation of the National Draft Policy Framework for AVGC-XR. The report further added that a push in the AVGC-XR sector could accelerate growth, paving the way for a larger, more vibrant creative economy. India's AVGC sector had an overall market size of USD 2.3 billion in 2019, which was about 0.7 per cent of the global market size. The sector is expected to grow 2.2 times over the next four years driven by market forces and constitute about 1.5 per cent of the global AVGC market as per Draft National Policy, AVGC-XR, according to the report. Further, the CII GT report advocates for enhanced Intellectual Property Rights to retain talent and content and the introduction of clear regulatory definitions within the gaming industry. The report also calls for enhanced support for AVGC-XR entrepreneurs through Start-Up India and strategic investments in the National Centre of Excellence to foster innovation and global competitiveness. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-gained-over-3-million-subscribers-in-june-vi-lost-nearly-a-million/articleshow/112670406.cms">Reliance Jio and Airtel gained over 3 million subscribers in June, Vi lost nearly a million</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/the-iphone-pro-models-will-be-made-in-india-for-the-first-time-this-year/articleshow/112653019.cms">The iPhone Pro models will be made in India for the first time this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/orient-technologies-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112646237.cms">Orient Technologies IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a>

India's Animation and VFX segment to reach at $2.2 billion by 2026: report

<keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> laid off thousands of employees in 2023 and many found their lives turned upside down with just an email notification. After all, when you have given your heart and soul to an organisation, it is never easy accepting the fact that you are being asked to leave at a moment’s notice. The situation becomes even more complicated when you have been with the company for more than a decade. Something similar happened with <keyword id="23300967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nicholas-Whitaker" source="keywords">Nicholas Whitaker</keyword>, who had been working with the company since 2010 and found out about his <keyword id="20118388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="layoff" source="keywords">layoff</keyword> abruptly. <h2>The 3 am email bringing bad news</h2>“My layoff experience was traumatic. I got an email at 3 am to my personal email, that I only found because a colleague pinged me on Linkedin in the DMs to ask if I was ‘Ok’ and if I was ‘safe’,” Whitaker told <keyword id="21390875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Business Insider India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Business Insider India">Business Insider India</keyword> in a conversation. He added that when his colleague enquired about his safety, he thought it was a “shooting or some natural disaster.” In other words, he didn’t even imagine that he was being laid off from Google. He then revealed that when he checked his work email, he discovered that he was locked out of his laptop and phone. He then checked his personal email and there it was, the “short and impersonal email” that told him that his role at Google was being eliminated. <h2>The layoff process was uncomfortable</h2>When Google announced large-scale layoffs last year, the company made a lot of headlines for handling them in an unprofessional manner. In March 2023, several Google employees had even written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, asking him to deal with layoffs in a better manner. Whitaker, narrating his own experience, shared with Business Insider India that after receiving the dreadful layoff email at 3 am, he spent the next few months completing formalities to get his payments that were due. He said, “It took all of the next several months for me to mail back my laptop, badge and any gear that I had that was Google property. (I also had to) navigate unemployment, health insurance and get all of the documentation I had to submit to "self Offboard" and to receive payments that I was supposed to get.” “Along the way there were multiple errors and miscommunications from the team that made it all even more uncomfortable,” he said. Whitaker also noted a complete lack of communication and empathy from his old team at Google. “I got a single text message from my prior manager asking how I was doing a few days after I was laid off, but otherwise no one reached out to check on me or offer assistance from my old team. Overall I found the process to be brutally impersonal and inhumane,” he said. <h2>Experience at Google</h2>But was Google always “inhumane” in his experience? Not really. There were some amazing days too and Google, according to Whitaker, was a different company when he had joined. “My initial experience working at Google was like it was a completely different company. I started as a temp, contractor and then a vendor for Google back in 2010, and at the time I think it was something like 40,000 employees. It had a real startup feel to it. Teams were agile and collaborative, and there was a lot of room for growth. It may have been specific to my team and org, but it felt like you had a lot more room for experimentation and autonomy to make decisions, and failure wasn't seen as a bad thing, but a necessary part of innovation,” he said. Whitaker also said that a “class system” was there at Google, especially since he was a TVC (Temporary, Vendor and Contractor). “As a TVC you wouldn't be included in many of the activities and learning opportunities that full time employees had, and didn't get invited to extracurricular activities. There was a real bias towards culture at the time, and words like Don't be Evil, and be Googly were often used.” However, in general, he added that the atmosphere was positive and full of possibilities. “Colleagues generally were very supportive, collaborative and encouraging to work with. I was excited as this was my first time working in big tech, or Corporate America and I saw that period of time as a real coming of age for me. I learned how to be a professional at Google and appreciated all of the early guidance and support that I got from colleagues and leaders.” <h2>Helping others</h2>It has now been over a year since Whitaker was laid off. He now has his own venture and helps other people navigate their careers. Talking about what motivated him to kick-start his own venture, he said, “After 13 years in big tech, the last few years in particular being particularly difficult due to toxic teams and leaders, I didn't want to jump right back into that kind of experience again. A year before getting laid off, I had experienced a bad <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> crisis that was the result of workplace bullying, gaslighting and toxic leadership. "I wanted to help others avoid and recover from similar situations and create a community where people can find mutual support and coaching on how to best navigate their careers in a conscious way. My severance after working so long at Google allowed me to fund the launch of my coaching business, and eventually ‘changingwork.org’." <keyword id="23300968" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Changing-Work" source="keywords">Changing Work</keyword>, Whitaker explained, is his way of addressing a deep need in corporate life — helping people rediscover their sense of purpose and alignment in their careers and finding ways to build more conscious leaders and businesses. He added, “What makes this so transformative for me personally is that it allowed me to step into a role where I could integrate all the lessons from my own career—especially the parts that were hardest for me. During my time at Google, I saw firsthand how high-pressure environments can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a disconnect from our true selves.” The recent tragic death of a young CA at Ernst &amp; Young (EY) employee in India has turned the spotlight on toxic work cultures prevalent in many high-pressure industries. Broader debates on burnout, mental health struggles, and unrealistic expectations in corporate environments in the workplace have occupied social media platforms. This incident serves as a painful reminder that companies must prioritize <keyword id="21050364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-well-being" source="keywords">employee well-being</keyword> and mental health to foster sustainable, humane workplaces. And makes the work that people like Whitaker are doing all the more important. “I’ve spoken publicly about how mindfulness practice, coaching and therapy literally saved my life during some of my darkest times at Google. Changing Work is the culmination of that journey. It’s not just about helping others find balance and fulfillment—it’s about creating a space where I can live those values every day,” he concludes.

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hotel giants Hilton and Hyatt are growing their luxury camping portfolios.</li><li>Both are adding <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-review-of-autocamps-airstream-trailer-hotel-and-luxury-campground-2021-9">glamping resorts</a> to their booking channels, where their members can earn and redeem points.</li></ul>Forget high-rise hotels and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-hyatt-vivid-hotel-mexico-all-inclusive-adult-only-photos-2024-4">all-inclusive beachfront resorts</a> — the world's most popular hotel companies see a future in luxury tents.If it seems like a third of your friends are going "glamping" these days — a portmanteau of glamorous and camping — you'd be correct. Luxury and traditional camping comprised 32% of all vacations in 2022, with more than 10 million households going on a glamping trip that year, <a target="_blank" href="http://koa.uberflip.com/i/1497941-2023-north-american-camping-outdoor-hospitality-report/43?">according</a> to campground giant Kampgrounds of America, or KOA.Over the last few years, scores of boutique luxury camping properties have popped up around the US to meet growing demand, from Getaway's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-walmart-partners-tiny-home-getaway-retail-store-concept-2022-8">Instagram-famous matte black tiny cabins</a> to RV-rental platform Outdoorsy's growing portfolio of luxury canvas tent resorts.Now, hotel giants want a slice of the high-end camping pie.<h2>Hilton and Hyatt are getting into glamping</h2><div type="image" title="A row of Airstream trailers at Autocamp's Joshua Tree location." height="1667" width="2500" msid="109572610" hostid="261" sizebytes="271000"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hilton-new-tempo-hotel-brand-will-attract-millennials-photos-review-2023-10">Hilton</a> and Hyatt have both recently announced partnerships and properties to expand their glamping portfolios.Earlier this year, the former said its members could soon earn and use Hilton Honors points to book AutoCamp's chain of luxury campgrounds.The brand's resorts are best known for their stationary <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-see-inside-autocamps-airstream-trailer-hotel-room-joshua-tree-2022-6">Airstream trailers turned hotel rooms</a>, although they also offer "traditional" glamping accommodations like tiny homes and high-end <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-500-night-margaritaville-hotel-room-with-glamping-tent-2022-10">canvas tents</a> with beds.<div type="image" title="a bed surrounded by white walls and blinds" height="1667" width="2223" msid="109572612" hostid="261" sizebytes="62540"></div>It's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hilton-new-hotel-brand-budget-travelers-spark-by-hilton-photos-2023-1">Hilton's first move</a> into the glamping industry. And it's starting with a pretty successful partner.Like other glamping and camping properties, AutoCamp saw a boom in bookings during the COVID-19 pandemic as travelers shunned cruises, planes, and traditional hotels for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rv-rental-companies-spike-bookings-states-lifting-stay-home-orders-2020-6">road trips</a> and the great outdoors (remember that?).The glamping company has grown quickly: Four of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-luxury-campground-airstream-hotel-rooms-doubling-properties-2022-7">its seven resorts</a> launched after 2021, and two more locations are now underway.Hilton hasn't disclosed how many points travelers need for an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-autocamp-airstream-luxury-campground-joshua-tree-glamping-2022-6">AutoCamp reservation</a> or when they'll become available. Still, the glamping company isn't known to be as affordable as camping. In the summer, a weekend stay can range from about $300 to $670 a night.<div type="image" title="empty tent in nature, Mr and Mrs Smith Jamtara Wilderness Camp" height="488" width="651" msid="109572614" hostid="261" sizebytes="50330"></div>For its part, Hyatt has taken the same approach as its opponent.On Wednesday, the competing hotel giant announced World of Hyatt members can now earn and spend points at more than 700 of high-end hotel brand Mr and Mrs Smith's properties. This includes five of its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/search/luxury-camping/hotels?&amp;limit=12">17</a> glamping resorts, like a bed under the stars in India's Pench National Park, and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3d-printed-tiny-home-guatemala-earthquke-resistant-photos-2023-11">thatched-roofed hut</a> in Sri Lanka's Yala National Park.Hyatt plans to add more Mr and Mrs Smith properties to its World of Hyatt collection every quarter. No word yet on whether it will include the high-end hotel brand's 12 other luxury camping resorts.<div type="image" title="empty hut among grass" height="2395" width="3193" msid="109572616" hostid="261" sizebytes="508026"></div>But if you think AutoCamp's Airstreams can get expensive, wait until you see Mr and Mrs Smith's glamping accommodations. The most expensive of the five — all-inclusive cabins in Dunton, Colorado — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/dunton-hot-springs?s%5Btags%5D=editorial.collection%3Aluxury-camping">starts</a> at $2,855 per night. The huts in Sri Lanka are, at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/uga-chena-huts?s%5Btags%5D=editorial.collection%3Aluxury-camping">their cheapest</a>, $724 a night.But the addition of these glamping resorts to its booking channels isn't Hyatt's first venture into glamping. The company's Alila Ventana Big Sur hotel in California also offers high-end canvas tents alongside conventional hotel rooms.Hyatt is now using the same model to launch an adult-only expansion of its all-inclusive Dreams Curaçao resort, set to open in June. Alongside the Caribbean property's existing traditional hotel, Hyatt plans to deploy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hyatt-all-inclusive-adult-only-resort-modular-tiny-homes-hotels-2024-4">modular tiny-home-sized hotel room units</a> directly on the beach.<h2>Glamping could be a great investment for these hospitality giants.</h2><div type="image" title="Four Seasons' Naviva glamping resort." height="1725" width="2300" msid="109572617" hostid="261" sizebytes="611970"></div>Glamping was one of the biggest travel trends from the COVID-19 pandemic, and interest has yet to fade. In 2023, KOA called the industry an "aggressive growth segment," with four in 10 campers expressing interest in glamping that year.According to the campground giant, compared to traditional campers and hotel guests, "glampers" spend more money daily at glamping properties and their surrounding areas — music to Hilton and Hyatt's ears.

The hottest hotel rooms right now are luxury tents and RVs. They can cost more than $2,700 a night. 

Four top Republican <keyword id="78619" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Senators">senators</keyword> on Friday urged US President <keyword id="99719" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Joe-Biden">Joe Biden</keyword> not to accept a proposal by India and South Africa to the <keyword id="84934" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Trade-Organisation">World Trade Organisation</keyword> to waive anti-Covid vaccine patents to boost its supply. India, South Africa and <keyword id="2386915" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="other-countries">other countries</keyword> are presenting a proposal at the World Trade Organisation to waive all <keyword id="80726" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Intellectual-Property-Rights">intellectual property rights</keyword> for any innovation related to COVID-19," the group of four Republican senators wrote in a letter to Biden. The proponents of this scheme argue that if we just destroy the intellectual property developed by American companies, we will suddenly have more manufacturers producing COVID-19 <keyword id="79555" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vaccines">vaccines</keyword>, they said. In the letter, Senators Mike Lee, <keyword id="2309726" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tom-Cotton">Tom Cotton</keyword>, Joni Ernst and Todd Young urged Biden to reject the upcoming proposal at the WTO. But the opposite is true. By destroying the intellectual property of every American company that has worked on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, we would be ending the progress -- started under Operation Warp Speed -- that led to the fastest development of life-saving vaccines in history," the Senators wrote. They alleged that some countries believe that they would benefit from seizing America's intellectual property. But this is a mistake, they said. Waiving all rights to intellectual property would end the innovation pipeline and stop the development of new vaccines or boosters to address variants in the virus. It also wouldn't increase the supply of vaccines because of the tremendous time and resources needed to build new manufacturing plants and acquire the knowhow to produce these complex medicines, they said. Even if the waiver may temporarily result in a few copycats attempting to produce what American companies developed, it would introduce major quality control problems, the Senators said. As a global leader and a force for good, we can do a lot to help other countries overcome the virus. But destroying our rights to intellectual property wouldn't advance our mission of fighting the virus -- it would make the problem worse, for America and for the world, they wrote. The end of this pandemic is in sight. More than 50 million Americans have been vaccinated, and cases have declined by more than 75 percent from their recent high. We stand ready to work with you to bring an end to this deadly crisis and urge you to take a strong stand against this scheme that would halt our progress, the Senators said. In a statement, the US Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Centre (GIPC) senior Vice president Patrick Kilbride said the proposals to waive intellectual property rights are misguided and a distraction from the real work of reinforcing supply chains and assisting countries to procure, distribute and administer vaccines to billions of the world's citizens. Diminishing intellectual property rights would make it more difficult to quickly develop and distribute vaccines or treatments in the future pandemics the world will face, he said. Early this week, hundreds of American civil society organizations and three top Congressmen urged Biden not to block the waiver to COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organisation, a move they said would boost the treatment of coronavirus patients worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic knows no borders and the need for vaccine development and dissemination across the globe is critically important. The TRIPS waiver raised by India and South Africa at the WTO would help the global community move forward in defeating the scourge of COVID-19 by making diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines available in developing countries, Congressman Rosa DeLauro, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee told reporters at a news conference. The WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) requires countries to provide lengthy monopoly protections for medicines, tests and technologies used to produce them. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-find-my-stalking-airtags-item-safety-alerts/articleshow/81342449.cms">Apple’s new Find My feature updated to prevent stalking as launch of the rumoured AirTags nears</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/regulating-digital-news-is-important-but-freedom-of-press-is-precious/articleshow/81341289.cms">OPINION: Regulating digital news is important but freedom of press is precious</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heranba-industries-ipo-makes-a-bumper-debut-on-stock-exchanges/articleshow/81342578.cms?upcaceh=2">Heranba Industries makes a bumper debut on stock exchanges — shares soar 44% over the issue price band</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Bankers may be working all 31 days of March with the government looking to double the loans doled out under the PM SVANidhi scheme</a>

Republican senators urge Biden not to accept India and South Africa proposal to WTO to waive COVID-19 vaccine patents

New Delhi, About 82 per cent of the total income from unknown sources declared by national political parties in 2022-23 came from electoral bonds, according to a poll rights body. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) also said that the analysis of the national parties' audit reports and donation statements filed with the Election Commission (EC) shows that the sources remain largely unknown. Out of the Rs 1,832.88 crore as income from unknown sources, the share of income from electoral bonds was Rs 1,510 crore or 82.42 per cent, according to the analysis of the financial reports for the fiscal year 2022-23 submitted to the poll panel, it stated. For this study, six national parties were considered -- the <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharatiya-janata-party" source="keywords">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the National People's Party (<keyword id="20864989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="npep" source="keywords">NPEP</keyword>). The BJP declared the highest income from unknown sources among the national parties at Rs 1,400 crore or 76.39 per cent of the total amount. The Congress declared an amount of Rs 315.11 crore (17.19 per cent). The BSP has declared that it did not receive any funds from voluntary contributions -- above or below Rs 20,000, sale of coupons or electoral bonds, or unknown sources of income, the ADR said. Though the amount of donations from electoral bonds has been highlighted for the national parties, state parties also get a substantial amount of money from electoral bonds, the NGO noted. Between the financial years 2004-05 and 2022-23, the national parties collected Rs 19,083 crore from unknown sources, it said. On its latest analysis for the financial year 2022-23, the ADR said among these unknown sources, the major contributor was income from electoral bonds, constituting a "massive 82.42 per cent of the total income from unknown sources". Further scrutiny revealed that out of the total income from unknown sources, Rs 1,510 crore came from electoral bonds, it said. In addition, the Congress and the CPI(M) have also declared a combined income of Rs 136.79 crore from the sale of coupons, constituting 7.46 per cent of the income from unknown sources, its analysis showed. The BSP received Rs 29.27 crore from other known sources of income which included bank interest (Rs 15.05 crore), membership fees (Rs 13.73 crore), gain on sale of immovable property (Rs 28.49 lakh) and interest on income tax refund for 2021-22 (Rs 20.65 lakh), the organisation said. The total income of the six national political parties in the financial year 2022-23 is Rs 3,076.88 crore, it said. Donations from voluntary contributions below Rs 20,000 formed 10 per cent of the income from unknown sources, totalling Rs 183.28 crore. Currently, political parties are not required to reveal the names of individuals or organisations giving less than Rs 20,000. The ADR has suggested stringent measures to enhance transparency and accountability in political funding. It advocates for full disclosure of all donors under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and proposes that the mode of payment for all donations, regardless of the amount, be declared in the audit reports submitted to the Income Tax Department and the EC. Moreover, the EC's recommendation to grant tax exemption only to parties contesting and winning seats in elections, along with the disclosure of donors contributing above Rs 2,000, has received support from the ADR. In a landmark verdict delivered last month, ahead of the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> polls, the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="keywords">Supreme Court</keyword> scrapped the government's electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding, terming it "unconstitutional" and ordering disclosure of the names of the purchasers, value of the bonds and their recipients.

About 82.4% of national parties' unknown income tied to electoral bonds says poll rights body

Prices of luxury properties appreciated by 8-12 per cent during the last year across major cities and have breached the 2015 peak level, according to <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> Sotheby's International Realty. In its annual 'Luxury Outlook Survey 2023', India Sotheby's International Realty (<keyword id="14413008" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="isir" source="Orion">ISIR</keyword>) revealed that 61 per cent of High-Net-worth Individuals (HNIs) and Ultra High-Net-worth Individuals (UHNIs) are looking to buy luxury real estate during 2023-24. The sample size of the survey is more than 500 HNIs and UHNIs. Asked about the price range of the property respondents were considering, the ISIR said that the highest interest (65 per cent) came in the price bracket of Rs 4-10 crore for their property investment. The survey found that 33 per cent of HNIs and UHNIs are willing to spend upwards of Rs 10 crore to acquire the right luxury property. On rates of luxury properties, the ISIR said, "Even though luxury property prices have gained 8-12 per cent in 2022, they are only marginally higher than the 2015 peak." ISIR CEO Amit Goyal said the housing sales remain strong amid pent-up demand and the country's economic growth. "As the wealth of a nation grows, it is bound to bring in a new set of buyers into luxury real estate and that's what we are witnessing," Goyal said. "We all are witness to a fundamental shift in the desire for home ownership across age groups, post the pandemic. A young thriving workforce in India will continue to drive demand for the housing sector," he added. Ashwin <keyword id="297510" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="chadha" source="Orion">Chadha</keyword>, President of ISIR, noted that Indian real estate has started its multi-year bull run in 2021, after years of remaining subdued. "Prices of luxury homes have risen in the last 16 months, but they are still only marginally higher than the peak prices of 2015, making it possible for HNIs to strike well-priced deals even now," Chadha added. On key demand drivers, the ISIR said that lifestyle upgrade remains the key motivation for buying property in 2023- 24. "Capital appreciation is the second most important motivation factor for buying property. This indicates that HNIs and UHNIs are expecting prices to rise in the coming years," the report said, adding that 12 per cent of the wealthy also ticked real estate as a chosen asset class to create multi-generational wealth to pass on to the next of kin. Among other findings, the ISIR report said that Delhi NCR, Mumbai, <keyword id="826" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="goa" source="Orion">Goa</keyword> and Bengaluru remain the top four cities for respondents to buy real estate. "Eleven per cent of India's wealthy are searching for real estate in overseas destinations. This number was negligible when we conducted our survey at the end of 2021," it added. ISIR survey revealed that 57 per cent of those surveyed still consider the city and urban community for their luxury real estate purchase in the coming years. Another 33 per cent of people gravitated towards owning a farmhouse/holiday destination. High-rise apartments remain the most sought-after real estate investment for respondents followed by farmhouse/holiday homes. Rent-yielding commercial real estate is also in demand as 23 per cent of the respondents would like to invest in it. Larger homes and open green spaces combined with excellent physical and social infrastructure came as the top two reasons for wealthy Indians choosing a property to buy, the survey report said. "We were happy to see 11 per cent also picked sustainable features as one of the key reasons driving their purchase," it added. The report further said that 74 per cent of the surveyed HNIs and UHNIs believe real estate is an important asset to hedge against inflation. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/award-winning-compostwali-poonam-kasturi-wants-money-not-awards-finds-it-on-shark-tank-india/slidelist/97087692.cms">Compostwali Poonam Kasturi says she wants money, not awards, on Shark Tank India and gets it</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/janitri-on-shark-tank-india-bill-melinda-gates-foundation-backed-startup-provides-ai-solutions-to-monitor-pregnant-women/articleshow/97088842.cms">Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation backed startup provides AI solutions to monitor pregnant women</a>

Luxury property prices up 8-12% in 2022; surpasses 2015 peak level: India Sotheby's International Realty

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil became <a href="https://www.insider.com/indias-first-openly-gay-prince-conversion-therapy-lgbtq-community-2022-4">India's first openly gay prince</a> when he came out to the public in 2006.</li><li>In October, India's top court rejected same-sex marriage, but Gohil said he remains optimistic about the future of LGBTQ+ rights in the country.</li></ul>This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who became India's first openly gay prince when he came out in 2006. He is now an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in India and the founder of <a href="https://www.lakshya-trust.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakshya Trust</a>, a nonprofit organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS education and prevention. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.When I was growing up, there was no chance for me to find out my sexuality because we didn't have a counselor in school. I didn't have anywhere to go and talk about my behavior or this kind of feeling that I had.There was also absolutely no sex education in school, and parents felt shy to talk about sex. So children often grew up in confusion, not knowing about their sexuality. That was completely missing.But there's been a significant change in the mindset of the people. We've created a lot of allies: The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SweekarTheRainbowParents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rainbow Parents</a> association comprises of 200-plus parents from all over India who have accepted their children. The Indian Psychiatric Society <a href="https://indianpsychiatricsociety.org/ips-position-statement-regarding-lgbtq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolved</a> that homosexuality should not be treated as a mental disorder, and has been working to ensure that mental health practitioners and doctors don't indulge in malpractice or unethical issues.<div type="image" title="Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil as a child" height="870" width="1161" msid="104627812" hostid="261" sizebytes="22888"></div>Bollywood and the media has changed a lot, too. The media used to use derogatory terms like calling LGBTQ+ people "unnatural," "abnormal," or "criminal," but that language has changed. Bollywood used to portray us as comical characters and jokers, but now, there are serious films about the issues we face.A major change is in the youth population — and the youth population of India is the largest in the world. There has been a lot of awareness and curiosity among students. They want to know a lot about us. I've already done 18 TED Talks in India, and they're all student-driven.Because students have become an ally, I have hope for India. They are the future of our country. If we are able to change their mindset and get them to understand our issues, then we can expect a bright future.<h2>On the Supreme Court's ruling rejecting gay unions</h2>Recently, India's Supreme Court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/world/asia/india-same-sex-marriage.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected same-sex marriage</a>. There has no doubt been disappointment around the ruling, but there have also been positive steps taken to ensure LGBTQ+ rights.<div type="image" title="Members of the Student Federation of India (SFI) along with LGBT activist hold placards and shout slogans during a protest march against India's Supreme Court verdict on same-sex marriage, in New Delhi on October 18, 2023." height="2862" width="3816" msid="104627815" hostid="261" sizebytes="598536"></div>The government's stance has long been that legalizing same-sex unions will affect the culture of the country, but that stance has softened to an extent when the government agreed that same-sex couples have been deprived of certain benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy.In 2018, <a href="https://www.insider.com/indias-supreme-court-legalized-gay-relations-2018-9">homosexuality was unanimously decriminalized in India</a>. In that case, they found that there were four fundamental rights in the constitution that were being violated. In this case, there were again five judges on the bench. Two were supportive to the LGBTQ+ community, and three were not. The majority won. But they did rule that transgender men and women have the right to marry.They also said that anyone who wishes to live together as a couple can legally do so without any stigma, discrimination, or violence against them. Many times, parents have used force to keep their gay children from living with their partners, and now the judgment has said that the state will protect couples from forced separation.The government also suggested to the Supreme Court that a committee be formed that can help look into issues that same-sex couples face, like setting up bank accounts, joint properties, inheritances and wills. That committee will be formed of government officials, mental health practitioners, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.<div type="image" title="Holy Hindu Saints and United Hindu Front stages agitation against the petition before same-sex marriage in Supreme Court , at Jantar Mantar on April 27, 2023 in New Delhi, India." height="4015" width="5354" msid="104627817" hostid="261" sizebytes="1216150"></div><h2>Solutions to work toward</h2>I am optimistic about the future of LGBTQ+ rights in India. I've worked with political representatives and parliamentarians, and we have created allies. I'm proud to say that I have an ally in each and every political party in India.For me, one ally is enough to make the change. I'm not a political person. I don't plan to run for elections or anything. But I do plan to continue making others realize our value, and that's how we win them over and get them on our side.Because there have been so many petitioners and advocates fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, the government has become more educated. So although the Supreme Court rejected the petition for same-sex unions, it's not a rejection without a solution.See, when you're rejecting something and not giving a solution, then that is a major disappointment. But there is a solution, and we should work on that solution. It's our duty to work on it.

I'm India's first openly gay prince. Even though the country's Supreme Court denied same-sex marriage, I'm optimistic about the future of LGBTQ+ rights.

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