DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS

With steadily expanding revenues over the past three fiscals and a wide array of premium brands and products under its umbrella, Tata Consumer Products is poised to leap into a higher growth orbit

'NOT OPPOSED TO FOREIGN LAW FIRMS, BUT ADVOCATES ACT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED'

A towering legal luminary, Lalit Bhasin, helms one of the largest law firms in north India, Bhasin & Co. In an exclusive interview with BW Businessworld Chairman and Editorin-Chief Annurag Batra, he explains how the Indian legal ecosystem has evolved over the years, incrementally moving towards opening the doors to foreign law firms. Excerpts:

4-Day Working Week, A Panacea?

A FOUR-DAY WORKING WEEK? Is it just a concept or reality? As many as 61 companies in the United Kingdom tried this out between June and December 2022.

'THERE'S A LOT THAT FOREIGN FIRMS CAN LEARN ABOUT PRACTISING LAW IN INDIA'

IN mid-March the Bar Council of India (BCI) overcame its earlier reservations about allowing foreign lawyers and law firms to practise law in India, adding a rider that it should be on a reciprocity basis. In an exclusive conversation with John B. Quinn, Founder & Chairman, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, BW Businessworld Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Annurag Batra discusses the nuances of the Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022. Quinn also talks at length on law practices prevalent across the world. Excerpts:

INDIA'S PROSPECTS AMIDST GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY

THE WORLD HAS BEEN grappling with unprecedented uncertainty brought about by a confluence of factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, geopolitical tensions, and economic turbulence.

Why Guardrails for AI Ethics is an Important Ask

THE FAMOUS SCI-FI WRITER Isaac Asimov foretold the shape of artificial intelligence (AI) to come. This was much before the ideology was even incubated into commercialisation. He developed the Three Laws of Robotics, as an antidote to the challenges of autonomous AI.

The Road Less Taken

PICTURE A YOUNG schoolboy in his mid-teens – impatient and hungry for success – with a rare capacity to think out-of- the-box. He belongs to a traditional Gujarati Jain family.

To Work, or Not to Work, from Home

A RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA platform report mentioned that over three-fourths of office workers in India are heading back to office, essentially to socialise and to become part of normal team activities.

AI PRIMARILY AN ENHANCER, BUT JOB DISPLACEMENT REAL

THE IMPACT of artificial intelligence (AI) on the labour market is a significant topic of debate and discussion. Several sections of society believe AI has the potential to transform the way we work and live. However, many others equally fear that AI catalysed transformation will have appreciable implications for the labour market.

Reshaping Global Power

ALL EYES ARE FIXED on the 2024 Lok Sabha election. But three months before that, and six months after, are two key elections in Taiwan and the United States. Taken together, the three general elections could shape geopolitics through this decade.

India's G20 Presidency and Economic Growth

THE YEAR 2023 IS A momentous one for India. The G20 presidency, of course, serves as a diplomatic exercise to reinforce relations with old partners, explore new ones, and enhance the incumbent nation’s image and might on the global stage.

INDIA'S G20 MOMENT

As infrastructure, tourism, MICE market get a fillip, India Inc. senses G20 presidency as an opportunity to showcase the country as a business and investment hub

Ten Banking Lessons From Silicon Valley

What did the era of cheap money and relaxed regulations do to the business of banking? Answer: It injected lethargy and glamour into it! The banks forgot the basics of banking - risk management, balancing their assets and liabilities, and having cash needed to pay on demand!

Does Leadership Start From The Top?

How often have you heard yourself say something similar? To state that Leadership starts from the top is fine. However, it does not mean that it only begins from the top.

"INDIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT FROM CHINA'S"

Union Finance Secretary T.V. Somanathan opens up about a range of issues pertaining to the economy and policy, from the government's focus on infrastructure, cuts in food and fertiliser subsidy and job creation to the basic differences in India and China's approach to infra growth

Reminiscences of a Banker Who Saw Fragility of Banks

RECENTLY MEDIA HEADLINES were agog with the demise of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Without going into the history of why this happened, and how it could have been avoided, I would like to make a case for the need for such an institution.

Why a US Bank Failure Shows Up a Strong RBI

THE FEAR MONGERING in India about the collapse of the 16th largest US bank- the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) - and its impact on the Indian economy is completely unfounded. Indian startups, whose funds were in SVB, are safe.

A WELL-GOVERNED RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

The Model Risk Code (MRC), a practical playbook meant to ‘enable faster, bolder, risk-intelligent decisions’ for corporates, was released recently by the Global Risk Management Institute (GRMI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

"WE ARE TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION"

IN an exclusive interaction, Swati Munjal, President, BML Munjal University (BMU) talks about the university's commitment to providing a transformative learning experience through its innovative programmes, worldclass faculty and focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and social responsibility

END OF A LONG ROAD FOR IT?

Tata Consultancy Services and Tech Mahindra are gearing up for leadership changes signalling the beginning of another interesting chapter in India's tech story

INVITE IMMIGRANTS, INDIA

SOUNDS STRANGE, the title, even contrarian. The world’s biggest country, with a population of 1,400 million and growing: conventional wisdom will say, “keep out immigrants – we do not need more people.” Yet, there are good reasons to think otherwise.

Rapid Deforestation & Making of a City Forest

WE ARE ALL aware of the ill effects of deforestation and yet millions of trees are destroyed for the sake of development – agriculture for food security, highways atreesnd roads, construction of factories, commercial spaces and residential complexes etc.

PodcastAn Overlooked But Highly Effective Content Marketing Strategy

PODCASTS were everywhere in 2022, and they’re not going away anytime soon.

KISSA WHEELCHAIR ΚΑ

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE with my left knee for a few months now. While I manage all my day-to-day activities at work and at home reasonably well, I have been requesting a wheelchair at the airport because of the long queues and sometimes long commutes to airport gates.

CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE PAYS

For companies, respect is always earned through consistent performance, stable and trustworthy leadership, and effective growth strategy

Who Decides What Should Sell?

IN A RECENT AD, a girl washed festive colours off her face and when done, looked at herself in the mirror. Black eyes stared back from her scarred face.

"INNOVATION IS IN THE DNA OF CROMPTON"

IN an exclusive interaction, Sanjeev Agrawal, Vice President - Innovation & Chief Technology Officer, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals speaks about how the firm is amalgamating digitisation with innovation, adapting to meet ever-changing consumer demands, and much more

NAVIGATING A TURBULENT MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

BW CFO World brought together leaders and decisionmakers to discuss finance strategy and best practices for CFOs in India to tackle unforeseen economic challenges

"THERE IS HUGE SCOPE TO GROW AS A MARKET LEADER"

SIS Group Enterprises is a $1.3 billion multinational and market leader in security, facility management and cash logistics solutions. DHIRAJ SINGH, CEO, SIS talks to ASHISH SINHA of BW Businessworld about a variety of issues, opportunities and the role of Al and technology as a major game-changer going ahead. Excerpts:

SPOTLIGHT ON REGIONAL MUSIC

On 12 February history was created when 'Naatu Naatu' a song from the Telugu film RRR became the first song from an Indian motion picture to win an Oscar, bringing the spotlight on to the regional music industry