Consumers

Urban, rural consumer confidence dips as price concerns persist: RBI survey

Households became more cautious about the economy, jobs and inflation in July, though they remained optimistic about income growth and spending, RBI's latest surveys showed

SC gives states 6 weeks to file replies on consumers' 'right to know' plea

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted six weeks time to several states and Union Territories to file their responses on a plea which sought to declare that consumers have a "right to know" about the quality, purity and certification of products, besides the details of distributors and sellers. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a petition which said "right to know" was crucial for consumers to make informed choices and to protect themselves from unfair or restrictive trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation. In July last year, the apex court had agreed to hear the plea and sought responses from the Centre, various states and UTs and others. During the hearing on Wednesday, petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay told the bench that so far, he has received responses from only few states, including Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Assam and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. "We grant six weeks time to the respondents who have not filed responses to

Spending on experiences to outpace physical goods in India: Report

Indian households are expected to increase spending on experiences faster than physical goods through 2030, with hotel accommodation emerging as the fastest-growing category

Consumer Protection: Sale or allotment of parking space by builder illegal

Maharashtra State Commission cited Supreme Court's ruling in Nahalchand Laloochand Pvt Ltd vs Panchali Co-operative Housing Society Ltd, where it had clarified that parking spaces could not be sold

Mastering the business of travel & tourism

In this session of Manager’s Mantra, Wifred Selvaraj, Managing Director, LGT Holidays, talks about India’s travel and tourism industry and provides management tips.

Govt to use AI for machine-readable standards to cut compliance costs

The Consumer Affairs Ministry is planning to develop machine-readable, SMART standards using artificial intelligence tools to reduce compliance burden on industry, a senior official said on Thursday. Machine-readable standards translate regulatory requirements into structured digital rules that computer systems can process directly, enabling automatic compliance verification without manual intervention. SMART (Standard Machine Accessible, Readable and Transferable) formats go a step further by being dynamic, constantly updated and integrated into software and manufacturing lifecycles. Addressing a FICCI-organised event here, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the department was looking at ways to leverage emerging technologies, particularly AI, to modernise the country's standards ecosystem. "We also understand that the emerging technologies which are coming up in a big way, especially the AI, it may be creating a lot of disruption, and it could be creating more challenges

Brick by brick: Build your real estate careers

In this session, Khalid Masood, Managing Director, Shalimar Corp, talks about India's real estate sector and provides career tips to B-Schoolers.

China's economic model may be flawed, but hasn't short-changed consumers

The prevailing consensus tells us more about China watchers than it does about realities on the ground. We should be wary of "China bashing" masquerading as a concern for Chinese consumers

Gen Z to command $1.3 trillion consumption in India by 2030: Report

By 2030, Gen Z will comprise 27 per cent of India's population and will command USD 1.3 trillion in consumption, reshaping consumer markets with a focus on experiences, sustainability and digital convenience, according to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants. The report, titled "Gen Z: Defining Trends, Influencing Spends," analyses how this demographic, born between 1997 and 2012, is prioritising value-driven choices. "Gen Z will occupy a greater share of the population, and command USD 1.3 trillion in consumption by 2030. This generation shuns labels, valuing inclusivity, self-expression and authenticity. Through this phase of self-discovery, they prioritise aesthetics and new experiences -- all of which reflect in their behaviour as consumers," the report noted. Gen Z's emphasis on aesthetics is evident in their engagement with the beauty and personal care (BPC) sector. By 2030, this group is projected to account for nearly USD 19 billion share of India's BPC market. One in t

Consumer Protection: Insurer made to pay claim for sabotage case

NCDRC directs National Insurance to settle sabotage claim, holding delay in FIR not fatal and inferring malicious damage on balance of probabilities

Union Budget 2026-27: Consumers cautiously expect a brighter future

Private consumption grows 7% in FY26, but its GDP share stays flat as household finances remain strained despite rising consumer confidence

SIM-binding diktat by DoT: Tech firms warn of disruptions for consumers

Move to prevent fraud, ensure security, say telcos

Trump tariffs may cost firms $1.2 trn, consumers to bear burden: S&P Global

S&P Global report states that two-thirds of the total additional cost will be passed on to the consumers via higher prices, while one-third ($315 billion) is absorbed internally through lower earnings

Learn from IBM's communication stalwart

In this episode Tuhina Pandey, Director APAC Communications & Marketing, India and South Asia, IBM, talks about opportunities and challenges in marketing communications and gives career advices >

Govt asks firms to share revised prices after GST reductions for consumers

The said list will be displayed on the official GST website, thereby helping consumers to see the relief they can expect as the next generation GST reforms are set to kick in on September 22

Consumer industry executives ask government to monitor price changes

Industry bodies highlight issues in GST implementation, seek further clarity

Indian retail sector to reach $1.93 trn by 2030: Deloitte-FICCI report

According to the report, the quick commerce segment is projected to reach $35 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) by 2030

Govt bans 25 OTT platforms including Ullu, ALTT for explicit content

MIB blocks platforms like Ullu, Desiflix and Big Shots citing violations of IT Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Indecent Representation of Women law

Snabbit raises $19 mn to expand on-demand home services across India

Backed by Lightspeed, Elevation, and Nexus, the startup aims to enter 200 micro-markets and build a tech-enabled platform for rapid household services

Govt tells e-commerce firms to audit dark patterns, submit yearly reports

DoCA directs e-commerce platforms to conduct annual dark pattern audits and file reports, as govt plans stricter oversight and collaborative enforcement