IMA Insights

We often think of Indian weddings as the most traditional of social events, steeped in age-old rituals and elaborate ceremonies. However, a closer look reveals that they serve as a powerful lens to understand broader socio-economic shifts shaping the country. With the youngest of the Millennials and the oldest Gen Zs now of marriageable age, the wedding industry reflects evolving consumer preferences that go beyond mere expenditure, touching aspects such as financial independence, personalisation, sustainability and the influence of digital trends. 

As this podcast argues, the ‘Great Indian Wedding’ is no longer just a cultural milestone but a complex interplay of tradition and aspiration, offering valuable insights into shifting behaviours across allied sectors, including hospitality, tourism, retail and technology. 

Public policy is crucial in shaping business outcomes, especially in dynamic markets like India. For businesses, anticipating and adapting to policy changes is a strategic necessity. From evolving compliance frameworks to the impact of geopolitical shifts on regulation, engaging with public policy is vital to an organisation’s long-term success. 

At a recent India CEO Forum session in Chennai, Rameesh Kailasam, CEO of IndiaTech.org, shared insights on navigating the complex interplay of public policy and business strategy. He focused on how to forecast policy changes, mitigate regulatory risks and leverage opportunities to influence policy in favour of industry. This podcast summarises these discussions. 

IMA recently held its Q4 FY25 CHRO Dialogue in Mumbai, with sessions on M&A and ESG. Leading the first session, we had Tarun Varma, Global Chief Human Resources & Sustainability Officer at Tata Consumer Products Limited (TCPL), discussing the Tata Group’s approach to M&A, and how cultural integration is such a crucial success element in any merger. Dr Sujiv Nair, Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Re Sustainability, led the second session, highlighting how CHROs can play a critical role in driving ESG initiatives. This podcast summarises these discussions.

India’s landmark Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is a big step towards establishing a culture of data privacy. Sixteen months after the law was notified, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released draft rules under the Act, offering clarity on its implementation, including the formation of the Data Protection Board (DPB) to handle breaches and impose defined penalties. With a tangible timeline for implementation of the Act in place, the contours of the final regime under the DPDP becoming clearer and the strong penalties for non-compliance enshrined in the DPDP, it is the need of the hour for Indian businesses to understand the key tenets of the act and prepare to adhere to them. 

At recent India CEO Forum sessions Arun Prabhu, Partner and Head - Technology & Telecommunications at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, shed light on the changes that will flow from the DPDP and what corporates must do to prepare for it. The podcast summarises these discussions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the Finance function by enhancing efficiency and improving decision-making capabilities, with Generative AI driving an even greater shift than previous technologies. AI-powered financial planning and analytics can drive growth, streamline operations and add value, but CFOs must balance innovation with control and risk management. 

At a recent India CFO Forum session in Bangalore, Dr Phaphul Chandra, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Director at Atria University, explored real-life applications and best practices for implementing AI in Finance, and shared some key considerations around change management. This podcast summarises these discussions.

India’s journey toward mass prosperity hinges on addressing the critical challenges of employment, employability and education. These three pillars form the foundations of economic growth and social development, shaping the nation's trajectory in an increasingly competitive global landscape.  

At a recent joint session of the India CEO and CHRO Forums in Bangalore, Manish Sabharwal, Vice-Chairman of Teamlease Services, outlined key strategies for improving employability, expanding access to quality education and generating meaningful employment opportunities. He explored the interplay between these ‘E’s’, identifying structural reforms, policy initiatives and actionable strategies that can unlock India’s full potential. 

This podcast summarises these discussions.

Donald Trump's election and the announcements made since are sending shockwaves around the world. The leadership transition in Washington DC will have far-reaching ripple effects, influencing global economic and political dynamics. Key considerations include changes in US monetary policy, potential tariff hikes and their effect on other currencies. Domestically, the rupee, which was stable for much of last year, saw a sharp depreciation in December. 

At recent India CFO Forum sessions across the country, Manoj Goel, Managing Director & Head of Corporate Sales, Markets & Securities Services for HSBC India, examined the impact of Mr Trump’s presidency, global currency trends, the Rupee’s outlook under new RBI leadership and key priorities for CFOs in the coming year. This podcast summarises these discussions. 

DeepSeek is claimed to have been trained at a cost of approximately $6 million, significantly less than the $100 million for models like OpenAI's GPT-4. It appears to achieve similar performance with less advanced chips, challenging the notion that only the most expensive hardware is essential for cutting-edge AI. 

DeepSeek's emergence has rattled markets, causing significant losses for major tech companies like Nvidia. This is due to the perception that less resource-intensive AI development is possible, potentially reducing the market for expensive chips. On 27 January, the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell more than 3% in a broad sell-off that included chip makers and data centres around the world.

China’s emergence as a tech power is now at near parity with that of America, as this podcast explains.

As a consumption-driven economy, India’s overall GDP growth is tied strongly to how its households spend. While the national accounts data provide a once-in-a-quarter snapshot of overall spending growth, the government’s periodic Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys allow for a deeper (if imperfect) view of spending trends across states, the urban-rural divide and by consumption category. The latest survey round, covering 2023-24, reveals some important developments in terms of overall spending, as well as regional and category-wise trends. This podcast highlights some of the key insights from the survey. 

In recent years, global trade has faced major geopolitical headwinds, including trade wars and economic decoupling, particularly between the US and China. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains, exposing vulnerabilities and catalysing localised production. Rising protectionism has led to a spike in tariffs and other restrictions, undermining free trade principles, and today, the WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism lies broken. Technological competition and sanctions have further complicated global trade relations while climate policies and divergent sustainability goals are reshaping trade priorities. Donald Trump’s re-election only adds new complexities to the equation. 

At a recent India CEO Forum session in Hyderabad, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Founding Dean of the Kautilya School of Public Policy, provided a medium-term outlook for world trade, with a focus on the strategic imperatives for India and businesses operating in the country. This podcast summarises these discussions.