R@J aur Sweety ka Scribble Pad

 In one of my earlier posts, I highlighted the shifting consumption patterns in India. This weekend, as I delved deeper into the topic, I stumbled upon a report that shed light on the rapid growth of Junk Food consumption across the country, which is raising concerns about an exponential increase in obesity and related health issues. In the fiscal year 2023 alone, the numbers are eye-opening: Varun Beverages: The beverage giant sold a staggering 480 crore liters of Pepsi and other Beverages. Domino's India: Known for its delicious pizzas, Domino's sold between 6.7 to 7.83 crore #Pizzas. Pizza Hut: With two major franchisees in India, Sapphire Foods and Devyani, Pizza Hut collectively sold approximately 2.2 crore Pizzas. Bikaji: The snack manufacturer saw a substantial increase in sales, with almost 65 crore packets of Bhujia sold in FY 23, up from 60 crore packets in FY 22. This totals approximately 4.5 crore kilograms in FY 23. This is just one Bhujia brand that commands close...

 Today marks the initiation of a significant four-day ceasefire in Gaza, offering a brief respite from the ongoing conflict. The ceasefire is set to facilitate the exchange of 50 Israeli hostages for 150 Hamas operatives, a move aimed at fostering a temporary calm in the region. Beyond the exchange, the ceasefire holds the promise of delivering essential humanitarian aid to the beleaguered residents of Gaza, providing relief from the relentless bombardment that has impacted over two million civilians. One important thing about Palestinian people is that no country wants them. Despite being surrounded by Muslim countries, who keep raising the Muslim cause flag, none of them wants to let them in. Palestinians have a very bad reputation for biting their host. Case study, One such statistic 64% of the 321 Palestinian refugees taken in by Denmark in 1992 have criminal records, additionally 34 % of the children of these refugees have criminal records. 80% of them are living on state welf...

 India, the third-largest auto market globally, is experiencing a significant transformation in the automotive industry, with electric vehicles (EVs) gaining traction at an unprecedented rate. As of June, EVs accounted for 3% of new car sales, marking a remarkable doubling of market share in just six months. In this evolving landscape, Tata Motors has emerged as a frontrunner in EV car sales, while Maruti Suzuki, holding over 50% of the market share, is playing catch-up with plans to launch its first EV in 2025, a far cry from its chairman's statement in 2021. If this trend persists, experts predict that EVs could constitute around 6 to 8% of new car sales in India by the end of the year, a tipping point that could reshape the future of mobility in the country. One critical factor fueling the EV surge is the government's proactive efforts to bolster public charging infrastructure. Collaborating with both private and public agencies, including the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BE...

India has witnessed an unprecedented surge in monthly credit card spending, marking a significant financial trend. Over a span of just three years, average monthly credit card spending has doubled, soaring from 60,000 Crores in 2019 to a staggering 1.2 Lakh Crores in 2022-23. This surge is further exemplified by the record-breaking circulation of 87.4 million credit cards as of May 2023. Indians are exhibiting remarkable spending habits, with UPI transactions surging past the 10 billion mark in August 2023. A substantial sum of 15,760 Crores was transacted via UPI during this period. Interestingly, these financial dynamics appear to be closely aligned with India's GDP growth, which stands at an impressive 7.8% as of August 2023. Nifty companies are reporting record earnings, and Nifty is at a all-time high. In this landscape of heightened financial activity, it's crucial to keep an eye on key players in the credit card sector. SBI Cards, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank currently domi...

Narayana Murthy's recent statement advocating for a 70-hour workweek has sparked a heated debate within the professional community. Everyone is entitled to their opinion so NRN is entitled to his. While opinions vary, it's crucial to acknowledge that everyone is entitled to their own perspective. Drawing from personal experiences at Infosys, where I found myself working extended hours trying to deliver poorly estimated and badly staffed fixed price projects. Sometimes my work would exceed 80 hours per week for long stretches of time and then I would spend 20 to 30 hours stuck on Hosur road while trying to get to Electronics City and back home. The impact on individuals is palpable, with performance appraisals often attributing long hours to a top consolidated relative rating of 1 (CRR -1) and a 3 to 5% salary increment, leaving employees disheartened and uncertain about the rationale behind the numbers. To rub it in, the HR would mention that this was a performance hike, the VP...

 It has been four weeks since the latest eruption of tensions in Israel, and the world finds itself at a crossroads, torn between supporting the right of Jews to exist and empathizing with the Palestinians who play the victim card extremely well. The complexity of this age-old conflict suggests that a resolution is not imminent, and the situation may persist for an extended period. However, a lasting solution remains elusive unless the root cause—countries funding terrorism—is addressed. Notable among these nations are Qatar, Turkey, and Iran. The current global divide on this issue reflects the intricacies and deep-seated historical grievances on both sides. As the conflict unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that a comprehensive resolution must involve addressing the financial support provided to terrorist groups. Qatar, Turkey, and Iran have been implicated in funding terrorists, thereby perpetuating the cycle of violence and hindering the prospects for peace. People are al...

 Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the popular television sitcom "Friends," has delivered many memorable scenes throughout the show. The series Friends was so popular and ran 10 seasons. "Friends" not only catapulted Matthew Perry to international fame but also reportedly made him and his co-stars recipients of a staggering $1 million per episode during the later seasons. The show's unparalleled success turned its ensemble cast into household names, with Perry's Chandler Bing earning a special place in the hearts of viewers around the globe. Perry's impeccable comedic timing and delivery of sarcastic punchlines turned ordinary moments into unforgettable scenes. Whether it was his dance, his on-again-off-again romance with Monica, or his bromance with Joey. Chandler Bing was the heartbeat of "Friends," and Matthew Perry was its comedic soul. People saw his funny character in Friends, Behind the scenes, Perry battled with...

Recently, I found myself explaining the concept of Ahinsa to my children. As I delved into the explanation, memories from my own childhood surfaced – the teachings we received, the lessons we learned. Among them, Mohandas Gandhi's cherished Sanskrit sloka " Ahinsa Paramo Dharma - Non-violence is the ultimate duty " stood out, as well as his depiction of the three monkeys: Bura Mat Dekho - See no Evil Bura Mat Suno -  Hear no Evil Bura Mat Kaho - Say no Evil During COVID-19, as I delved deeper into my understanding of the Bhagavad Gita, a question emerged – an inquiry about Ahinsa itself. I grappled with the apparent contradiction: If Ahinsa was truly the highest virtue, why did Lord Krishna, a central figure in the Gita, encourage Arjuna to engage in the Kurukshetra war when Arjuna himself was hesitant to do so? The very foundation of non-violence seemed to be shaken by this apparent encouragement towards conflict. As I dwelled deeper into this I realized, that all these ...

 "Neighbours envy, Owners pride", this was a tagline of one of the prominent television brands in the 80's and 90's. As a kid, I never understood the meaning of envy, though I looked up the dictionary, the meaning was not well understood. As I grew up, slowly realized envy is an emotion that occurs when we lack something — whether it be a specific personal attribute or an object — that someone else has. Basically, Envy is the desire for something possessed by another, accompanied by a feeling of discontent or resentment There is a subtle difference between Jealousy and Envy, and often these words are used interchangeably. Jealousy typically arises in situations involving perceived threats to a valued relationship or possession. It often involves a fear of losing something that is already possessed or enjoyed, such as a relationship, a status, or a possession. Until now I used to think that these emotions are very much limited to humans. Yesterday I realised even anima...

 Marriage season is starting off in India, 35 Lakh weddings are planned in 23 days between November 23 to December 15. The Confederation of All Indian Traders estimates a business of 4.25 lakh crores. A typical Indian wedding typically has expenses on Gold, Jewelry, clothing, food, gifts, and travel. I was shocked to hear that an average wedding hall in Hyderabad is charging rates of 1 lakh per hour as rentals. It's noteworthy that this cost does not even cover additional expenses like electricity, cleaning, decorations, and seating. What adds to the peculiarity of this scenario is that a significant portion of these transactions occurs in cash. The wedding industry's flourishing economic impact is indeed awe-inspiring, providing a glimpse into the extravagant and cash-intensive nature of these celebratory events.