In this interview to Vinay Kamath and Meenakshi Verma Ambwani of businessline, Saugata Gupta, MD & CEO of Marico Ltd, talks about the factors that have contributed to a slowdown in FMCG consumption and about rural and urban consumption. He also talks about how digital will be a big driver of growth for the group and how it has emerged as a  strong pillar of growth for the group, complementing its core portfolio of Saffola and Parachute oils. It has parlayed the Saffola brand into foods, as well, and expects this to be a big play in its portfolio soon.

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(Host: Vinay Kamath, Meenakshi Verma Ambwani)

In this episode of the businessline podcast, Aishwarya Kumar speaks with Dr. Suraj Jain, Clinical Operations Head at Manipal TRUtest, to address the growing concerns about human metapneumovirus (hMPV). With cases of hMPV emerging across various Indian states, the discussion clears up misconceptions about the virus. 

Jain explains that hMPV, while resembling the flu in its symptoms, is not a new threat—it's been present in India since 2003 and is part of a family of respiratory viruses that have existed for decades. 

The podcast explores how hMPV spreads through respiratory droplets and what precautions can be taken to prevent infection, especially in households with young children or the elderly. 

He goes on to highlight that most cases are mild, with common symptoms like nasal congestion, cough, and sore throat. Recovery typically happens within 10 to 15 days, with mortality being extremely rare, particularly among immunocompromised individuals or those in higher-risk age groups. 

Additionally, Jain emphasises the lower contagiousness of hMPV when compared to more recent viruses like COVID-19, explaining that it’s not likely to lead to a pandemic. The discussion also touches on the lack of a vaccine for hMPV, as its low severity and widespread exposure make it less of a public health concern compared to more deadly viruses. Listen in!

(Host: Aishwarya Kumar, Producer: Amitha Rajkumar)

In this episode of EnergOnomics podcast, Richa Mishra explores the potential impact of Donald Trump's return to the White House on US-India relations, particularly in the energy sector. How might his policies shape the future of energy trade between the two nations? 

Peter Jarka-Sellers, Climate and Energy Policy Professional, helps examine Trump’s energy agenda, which is expected to prioritise energy independence, economic growth, and expanded fossil fuel production—factors that will likely shape US-India energy cooperation moving forward. Tune in to understand what this means for both countries’ energy futures and global energy dynamics.

Listen in to know more.

Maharashtra is all set to go to the polls on November 20, 2024. The battle for control of the 288-member Assembly has seen shifting alliances, ideological clashes, intricate caste equations, and emotional appeals over the past few years. The major alliances in the fray include the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with both emerging as the main contenders. A total of 4,136 candidates are vying for seats across 36 districts, with over 9.7 crore eligible voters.

What’s at stake this time, and how have the political dynamics in the state evolved over the last few years?

In this BL podcast, Siddharth Mathew Cherian speaks to Radheshyam Jadhav, deputy editor at businessline, who has extensively covered the issues across the length and breadth of Maharashtra. He will share his insights on what’s at stake in this election. Listen in!

Cross-border trade of electricity is nothing new. It has been happening for some time now through bilateral agreements, memorandum of understandings or power trade agreements between the two countries. But the recent developments in Bangladesh have once again generated the debate on the policy side and the element of risk involved for the players involved, this and more in the latest episode of Energonomics. 

In this episode of the Energonomics podcast, Richa Mishra speaks with Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, a leading industrial economist and Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a prominent think tank based in Dhaka. They discuss Bangladesh’s position on the issue and explore the potential way forward. 

Cross-border trade of electricity is nothing new. It has been happening for some time now through bilateral agreements, memorandum of understandings or power trade agreements between the two countries. But the recent developments in Bangladesh have once again generated the debate on the policy side and the element of risk involved for the players involved, this and more in the latest episode of Energonomics. 

Currently, all players have maintained that they continue to supply power to Bangladesh. Adani supplies from its 1600 MW Ultra supercritical power plant in Goda, Jharkhand through a dedicated transmission corridor. The plant, which was fully commissioned in July 2023 and users imported coal meets significant part of the northern Bangladeshi's power demand. It is a catch 22 situation for the Adanis as the project is not connected to the Indian network besides, It cannot be simultaneously connected to two networks. This raises the question of why the Indian government felt it was necessary to implement this change at this time.

In this episode of the Energonomics podcast, Richa Mishra speaks to former power secretary Alok Kumar, and this is what he had to say. 

Hindenburg Research is again in the news, this time with allegations against the chairperson of the Securities & Exchange Board of India Ms Madhabi Buch. It claims that she and her husband had invested in a fund that was founded by a former director at Adani Enterprises. The US-based shortseller points to a conflict of interest. 

While both she and her husband have denied any opacity in their dealings, SEBI has also said that Ms Buch had been making disclosures from time to time and that when necessary, she had recused herself from decisions to avoid conflict of interest. 

We spoke to TT Ram Mohan, former Professor of Economics at IIM-Ahmedabad. He says that given that this is the chair of the markets regulator, it is important to ensure that due process has been followed and that appropriate disclosures have been made. The government, he says, must satisfy itself that no conflicts of interest have been entertained. If disclosures have indeed been made, the question is, to whom, he asks. “Is it to the SEBI board of directors? To help answer these questions, the government must form a committee and satisfy itself" that everything has been above board. 

Listen in for more from Prof. Ram Mohan. 

(Host: Bharatkumar K, Producers: Rowan Barnett, Anjana PV, Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

In this episode of Digital Gadfly, host Shubho Sengupta, a digital marketing expert, chats with Abhishek Singh, IAS, and one of the prime architects of Digital India. The freewheeling chat takes a nostalgic dive into an era when the Internet was just taking off in the country and Mr Singh was posted in Nagaland from where he shares some fascinating stories of early initiatives. Currently as CEO of Karmayogi Bharat, he is at the centre of online training initiatives that help competency and capacity building of government staff, and discusses stuff like how AI will revolutionise e-learning.

Kerala’s Wayanad was hit with a landslide on Tuesday killing close to 170 people. This is not the state's first time facing a crisis related to monsoons. In this businessline podcast, Anjana PV talks to Vinson Kurian, Consultant,businessline, about the recurring issues of landslides and extreme weather events in Kerala.  

The podcast highlights the frequency and severity of these natural disasters, attributing them largely to the monsoon season. Kurian explains that while the north of Kerala is severely affected, the threat extends to other districts such as Idukki, which are part of the Western Ghats and thus prone to landslides and flooding due to heavy rainfall.  

He discusses the critical role of the monsoon, noting that July and August are the wettest months, often leading to extreme rainfall events. These events cause the hillsides to become unstable, resulting in landslides. Kurian recounts significant past incidents, such as the 2018 landslide in Wayanad that killed nine people and destroyed 15 houses, and the 2019 event in Puthumala, which resulted in 17 deaths and significant destruction. 

Kurian explains that the state and central governments are responsible for inadequate preparation and response. He points out that the Kerala Government has not declared ecologically sensitive areas as required, allowing construction and development in vulnerable regions. Despite repeated warnings, the state government has not taken sufficient proactive measures, leading to a cycle of unpreparedness and reactive responses. 

He also addresses the central government's role, noting that while funds are allocated for disaster management, they are insufficient and often underutilised by the state government. For instance, in 2021, out of the 59 crores allocated, only 40 crores were used. Kurian emphasises the need for better fund utilisation and more comprehensive preparedness measures, including increasing the number of rain gauges and improving flood management strategies. 

The podcast stresses the importance of the Kerala Government setting its house in order before seeking assistance from the Central Government. He suggests halting illegal construction and quarrying activities in floodplains and vulnerable areas, as these increase the impact of natural disasters. He also highlights the need for proactive measures rather than reactive responses, ensuring the state is better prepared for future monsoon seasons. 

Listen in to the podcast to know more.  

Hardeep Singh Puri, India's oil minister, has announced plans to include petrol, diesel and natural gas under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as part of the new cabinet. This is what he said the day he took office. This has led to debates and discussions.

In this latest episode of Energonomics Podcast, businessline's Richa Mishra and Shishir Sinha get into an interesting conversation on whether GST could solve India's rising fuel price problem.