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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Maha Kumbh 2025 is more than just a spiritual gathering; it’s shaping up to be a mega stage where tradition meets trade, where faith drives footfalls, and where brands have a rare chance to leave a lasting imprint on millions. With a turnout of 400-450 million devotees expected, this isn’t just an event—it’s a marketer’s dream playground.

work-life balance and the pressure of long working hours has sparked a series of conversations in the corporate world. A recent incident shared by Parminder Singh, the COO of Tatler Asia, highlights a bizarre yet revealing moment from his career in India that sheds light on the rigid mindset some employers still have when it comes to hiring candidates with diverse interests outside of work.

Personal Touch Skincare's pitch. Entrepreneurs Ashish and Aditi Jawa, who appeared in the fourth season of the show, have now voiced their frustration after facing accusations of manipulating their business figures. The duo, who sought an investment of Rs 1.2 crore for 1% equity in their company, were met with skepticism and harsh criticism from the judges, particularly Vineeta Singh, the CEO of Sugar Cosmetics.

Constitution, the central government has chosen Mahakumbh in Prayagraj to take the celebration to millions of visitors over one and a half month, starting from Monday. The Union social justice ministry has termed the Mahakumbh as a grand confluence of equality, empowerment and justice. The ministry has set up a pavilion with a «grand, divine, and digital» theme, highlighting the Indian Constitution. As the debate continues over the Constitution from the Parliament to the common masses, the ministry is using this opportunity to educate people on the Indian Constitution and the leaders who were involved in Constitution making. An e-copy of the Indian Constitution will also be kept at the pavilion. There will also be a digital flip book which the visitors to the pavilion can flip through to know about the important sections, amendments and leaders.

Aditi Tatkare said women listed under Namo Shetkari and direct benefits schemes will not be eligible for Ladki Bahin Yojana — the scheme which promised ₹2,100 as pension to all women above 18 years and helped the Mahayuti alliance to come back to power. Early estimates show that this will help the Maharashtra government prune the 2.63-crore beneficiary list by 20 lakh. On January 1, Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu voluntarily surrendered the free electricity subsidy of 125 units in his name and urged all self-reliant individuals to follow suit. The appeal aims to benefit the state electricity board by ₹200 crore. The Congress government, which assumed power in December 2022, has been facing severe financial crunch and struggling to implement its election promises. In the process, it has started pruning the beneficiary list and tweaking freebies introduced by the previous BJP government. In October, in an exclusive interview to ET, Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu admitted he was struggling to implement super six promises made in the run-up to the assembly polls because of financial constraints.

Vice President-elect JD Vance, a staunch supporter of Ohio State University and a proud alumnus, has humorously hinted at a potential scheduling conflict as he prepares for his upcoming inauguration. With the Buckeyes set to face Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship, Vance joked about prioritizing his alma mater over his official duties, as mentioned in a report by New York Post. The clash of events—Ohio State’s championship game and the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and Vance on January 20—has become the subject of light-hearted banter.

Manoj Kumar Singh has said that 35 crore pilgrims are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela taking place in the vicinity of Sangam — the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. He also said that during the period of Mauni Amavasya, an estimated four-five crore devotees are expected to reach the holy city and participate in the festivities. Singh said that the state budget for the 45-day-long mega event is around Rs 7,000 crore, and added that «the last Kumbh was known for sanitation. This time it is sanitation, security and digital Kumbh. »2019 was Kumbh. This is Maha Kumbh, and in the last Kumbh, we received 24 crore pilgrims, and this time we are expecting more than 35 crore pilgrims. Arrangements are also being made like that.

The comment, which Trudeau described during a recent MSNBC appearance on Thursday, was clearly meant to defuse the tension. However, Trump didn’t seem to find it humorous. In fact, according to Trudeau, the conversation quickly shifted to a more concerning topic: Trump's plan to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods, a move that could escalate trade tensions between the two countries.

Scott’s $16 billion (around Rs 1,36,000 crore) donation spree over the past five years has made headlines, but Musk isn’t entirely sold on her approach. In a recent social media post, Musk raised concerns about Scott’s focus on causes like racial equity and LGBTQ rights, suggesting that her efforts may be missing the mark on the world’s most urgent issues.

Anand Mahindra finally addressed the secret behind his strong social media presence. The billionaire, who commands an impressive 11.4 million on X, refuted rumours that he had an army of social media experts at his beck and call. I am often asked if I have got an office that manages my tweets. If you think my office can produce those posts, then I have got a truly fabulous team who lives inside my head!”

Elon Musk’s opinions have often landed him in controversy, but that hasn’t stopped him. Through his social media platform X, Musk has become a vocal commentator on global politics, fuelling debates and shaping narratives. His involvement in Donald Trump’s 2024 US presidential election victory highlights how he leverages X to amplify his political influence and forge alliances with key figures. In November, Trump announced that Musk would lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alongside Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Experts believe his advisory influence could shape national and international policies, potentially benefiting his ventures, including X, Tesla, and SpaceX.

Election Commission of India against the BJP, accusing it of spreading misinformation and violating the Model Code of Conduct. The complaint alleges that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shared a false video on social media, depicting pothole-ridden roads as being located in Delhi when they were actually from Faridabad, Haryana. «The party (BJP) has been spreading misinformation through a false video on their social media channels, showcasing roads in Delhi in a deplorable condition. However, it has been exposed that the road featured in the video is actually located in Faridabad, Haryana,» said the AAP's complaint letter. The letter attaches screenshots of tweets posted from the BJP's Delhi handle, where the purported videos were shared.

The letter sent to the district magistrates of all 75 districts in the state and also marked to the divisional commissioners emphasizes the urgency of the measure, citing data that shows a significant number of two-wheeler accident victims do not wear helmets. It also highlights directions issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath earlier this month during a review of road safety measures in the state.

SN Subrahmanyan: pay employees who work over 40 hours a week. Taking to X on Saturday, Nirmalya Kajuri, an IIT professor, wrote, “ If India strictly implements overtime pay for 40+ hours of work per week, all the corporate bosses who are now advocating that employees work 70-90 hours a week will become the biggest champions of work-life balance.”

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Non-resident Indians play a vital role in India’s economic and social progress, significantly contributing to the country’s growth through remittances, investments, entrepreneurship, and international trade. As the Union Budget for 2025-26 approaches, NRIs will be looking for clarity on certain rules as well as incentives and reforms that could strengthen their contribution to India’s economic landscape.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, echoed Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra's views on the necessity of work-life balance. In a lighthearted remark, Poonawalla noted, “Even my wife enjoys staring at me on Sundays,” aligning with Mahindra’s earlier statement about cherishing personal time. Mahindra, a prominent voice on social media, had previously quipped, “I’m on social media, not because I’m lonely. My wife is wonderful; I love staring at her. I’m here because people don’t realize it’s an incredible business tool.” His comment, delivered at a recent event, was widely interpreted as a witty critique of L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan. Subrahmanyan had controversially questioned the utility of Sundays, provocatively asking, “How long can you stare at your wife? What do you do sitting at home?” The debate around work-life balance gained further momentum after RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka dismissed the notion of relentless work schedules. Taking to social media platform X, Goenka humorously proposed renaming Sunday as “Sun-duty” while stressing that excessive work hours lead to burnout, not success. He added, “Work-life balance isn’t optional; it’s essential.”

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. It has been over two weeks since China reported cases of the HMPV (human metapneumovirus) virus, and this has caused covid-19-like panic across the globe, more so in Asia. The number of cases reported in India has surged to 13 (at the time of writing this story) — the most recent one, according to a report by Mint, being a 9-month-old child in Gujarat.

Spam calls from banks pitching loans or credit cards often disrupt daily life, but professional voice artist Tanya Nambiar found a comedic way to deal with them. In a now-viral Instagram video, Nambiar used her talent for voice modulation to prank a telemarketer, delivering laughter to millions online.

Adani Group has committed investments worth Rs 75,000 crore in Chhattisgarh in sectors ranging from power, cement, education, health, skill, and tourism, announced the state's Chief Minister's Office. This comes after Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani had a meeting. CMO Chhattisgarh in post on social media platform X said that the Chairman of the Adani Group announced a planned investment of Rs 60,000 crore to expand the group's power plants in Raipur, Korba, and Raigarh. This expansion is expected to enhance Chhattisgarh's total power generation capacity by an additional 6,120 MW.

Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to spiritual leader and social reformer Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Modi said Vivekananda is an eternal inspiration for the youth. The spiritual leader was born in 1863 and founded the renowned Ramakrishna Mission.