Archive: October 17, 2022

Mooshek Motors to Launch New Electric Vehicles in Car Segments to Revolutionize the Indian Market

17th October 2022- Mumbai

A paradigm shift from petrol or diesel-run cars to fully electric-run cars is being considered seriously by automakers and customers as it attempts to transition to alternative, less energy-intensive options. Making environmentally friendly choices with the increase in global warming and preventing climate change are essential as the World gets ready for Electric vehicles (EVs). One of the significant drivers behind India’s recent decisions to speed up the transition to e-mobility is the increase in prices for rising pollution, oil imports, and international pledges to battle global climate change.

One of the start-ups, Mooshek Motors, will soon launch new car ranges in the automobile industry. Mooshek will lead the way to the future of mobility, enriching lives in India with the safest, eco-friendly, leading-edge technology. The company aims to exceed expectations and be rewarded with encouragement through the commitment to high quality, innovation, and respect for the planet.

Promoad Shettie, Founder of Mooshek Motors, quips, “Atmanirbhar Bharat, an initiative taken by the Government of India, is a mission for all of us. India is dedicated to an aspirational goal of having at least 30% to 40% of private automobiles as EVs by 2030. Currently, the automobile industry adds around 7.1% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 49% of its manufacturing GDP, which to me, are good numbers. This means that India is poised to witness a significant impact on the nation’s economy and has the impetus to grow further.”

Before conceiving Mooshek, Promoad has worked with well-known OEMs in Japan for 14+ years and understands the importance of bringing “Diamond Quality” to the end products with his rich experience and management skills.
“A lot of work needs to be done to Make In India vision a reality while EV market is slowly and steadily gaining momentum. As far as my knowledge goes, there are around 13,92,265 EVs on Indian roads as on info dated in August 2022 (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India). I strongly feel by 2030, this will likely increase by 55–75 Mn EVs on the road. Post-COVID pandemic, Indians wish to travel in their vehicle, and I strongly feel that by 2030, the EV market will reach 10 Mn annual sales, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 49% between 2022 and 2030.” states Promoad.

India has already accomplished one of the benchmarks in the EV sector. The highway between Delhi and Chandigarh is the first in the nation to be made e-vehicle friendly by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), successful commissioning 20 Solar Based EV Chargers. Other states need to adapt and transform and start thinking ahead of time. Country’s total number of charging stations climbed by 285 percent year over year in the financial year (FY) 2022; strong government measures are projected to accelerate the expansion to 4 lakh stations by FY 2026.

“In India, I understood the challenges OEMs face due to an overwhelming response from suppliers and their employees. I have adopted one of the best management and work cultures in Mooshek Motors that will solve not only industrial problems but also the key problem of the ‘work-life balance of employees. Apart from launching electric cars, we plan to launch Mooshek Mould, India’s first initiative to empower the supplier development chain. We envision this program to deliver new edge management solutions and break the silos. We want to emphasize building ‘Quality In India’ to improve the industrial standards,” Promoad announced.

Check Point Software Launches New Global Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) Program to Accelerate Partner Growth

New Delhi, October 17, 2022 — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, has announced a new Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) Program that removes administrative burdens and empowers a partner service-led approach. With Check Point’s industry-leading prevention-first security operations suite, Horizon, the program gives partners the capabilities needed for comprehensive XDR/XPR, MDR/MPR, events management, and SOC certainty, while providing operational peace of mind. The MSSP program allows partners to become more profitable and organizations more secure.

“Rapidly evolving market dynamics are fueling growth in managed security services, and Check Point is dynamically adapting to meet that demand,” said Manish Alshi, Head of Channels and Growth Technologies – India & SAARC, Check Point Software Technologies. “We’re significantly investing in our new MSSP program, including product features that drive MSSP interest, as well as operational improvements, training, and marketing activities. This allows for higher levels of partner growth and profitability with services-led cyber protection across network, cloud, and endpoints.”

The role of an MSSP is to deliver complete management of security systems and devices for an organization. It should operate a security operations center (SOC) providing 24/7 monitoring and incident response. However, with a constantly evolving threat landscape and a global shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, traditional SOC provisions cannot keep up. It is also too focused on detecting and responding to attacks rather than preventing them.

The managed security services market is expected to reach $53.2B by 2031, according to MSSP Alert. With Check Point’s prevention-first Infinity architecture that spans network, cloud, security operations center (SOC), and remote workforce, Check Point provides comprehensive cybersecurity solutions in a partner-led “as a service” offering. As cyberattacks grow in scale and frequency, MSSPs can benefit from Check Point’s proven security portfolio with more than 300 cloud-native integrations that help partners automate services, fueling profitability.

Under the new program, MSSPs can:

• Provide global SOC-as-a-Service without the upfront investment required: MSSPs can leverage Check Point’s 24/7/365 Horizon MDR/MPR solution with co-branded and white-label versions. This can supplement similar services the MSSP is offering or completely expand its current solution set.
• Address major security incidents: MSSPs can also leverage and provide co-branded versions of Check Point’s Incident Response (IR) services. With over a decade’s IR experience, Check Point is well-positioned to handle the most complex breaches and security incidents. Additionally, the service provides IR readiness planning for customers to be prepared prior to an incident.

“Enterprises to SMBs are struggling to keep pace with evolving and persistent threats, dynamic innovations in security technology, and chronic security staffing challenges. Managed security services provide businesses with access to leading technologies and scalable expert resources at a reasonable cost relative to the on-premises alternative. Check Point investing in an innovative MSSP program reflects a commitment to enabling its partners to capitalize on this growing opportunity,” said Lawrence M. Walsh, CEO and chief analyst at Channelnomics.

The MSSP program simplifies operations with faster customer onboarding, streamlined quoting, technical onboarding, pipeline development, and go-to-market (GTM) alignment. These operational improvements, additional MSSP training courses, and enablement services will strengthen partners’ ability to manage the sophisticated cyber defense requirements of customers today.

The new Check Point MSSP Program includes:

• Streamlined onboarding: Check Point’s MSSP Program streamlines the onboarding process with hands-on support including engineering boot camps, enablement workshops, proof of concepts (POCs), and operational improvements.
• Network of experts: Check Point is extending more support to MSSPs by enabling access to its network of elite experts including the Check Point Research (CPR) team and the Incident Response team, which has over 25 years of experience.
• Managed detection and response: Leveraging the expanded capabilities of Check Point’s Horizon platform within the Infinity Architecture, MSSP partners can now have prevention-first security operations with comprehensive XDR/XPR, MDR/MPR, and events management capabilities.
• Pricing Flexibility: Upcoming capabilities will allow customized billing options across the security portfolio which removes the cost of engaging partners and customers.
  Here is what some MSSPs have to say:

Rajesh Garg, Executive Vice President & Chief Digital Officer, Special Initiative, Yotta Infrastructure Solutions said: ‘’With accelerated digital transformation and evolving digital maturity, businesses are bound to face more sophisticated threats. At Yotta, we have always prioritized holistic and fail-proof cybersecurity, providing end-to-end protection across Infrastructure, Network, Web, Platform, and Application layers for enterprises. We are pleased to collaborate with Check Point Software as they launch their full-stack MSSP program into the Indian Market, at a time when such cybersecurity services are absolutely essential. With such an innovative approach which will enable partners and complement our capabilities, we look forward to expanding our existing Check Point-based MSSP services with this exciting new launch.’’

Reza Nashville, Group CISO, Orro Group said: ‘’We’re seeing massive customer uptake around managed security services. Organizations have a lot riding on their cyber security posture these days and don’t necessarily have best-of-breed skills and tools located in-house – which is obviously where Orro Group MSSP offerings show their relevance. Plus, customers have fully embraced the whole shift from CapEx to OpEx and rightly expect a totally flexible payment structure as a baseline for doing business. This new Check Point MSSP program is coming to market at exactly the right time and seems like the sort of innovative, fresh approach that the ANZ market needs.’’

Craig Somerville, CEO & Founder at Somerville Group said: “Customer security requirements have evolved massively over the last few years. Not only is there a much broader and more complex range of environments to secure, but customers are increasingly demanding totally flexible OpEx models. It’s fantastic to see Check Point launching its innovative new full-stack MSSP program into an ANZ market full of so many joint opportunities. We look forward to exploring how we can expand our existing Check Point-based MSSP services with these exciting new offerings”

Marquez makes it 100 with podium return

Australia, October 17, 2022:  357 days after his last trip to the podium, Marc Marquez became just the fourth rider in history to achieve 100 premier class podiums after a thrilling Phillip Island battle while Espargaro fought for the top ten.

The sun was shining down on the Phillip Island Circuit as Marc Marquez lined up in the centre of the front row of the grid for the 27 lap race. With clear track ahead of him, the #93 charged off the line to tuck in just behind polesitter Jorge Martin for the opening half of the race as they avoided the frantic battle behind. As the laps went by, the competition grew closer and it was soon a seven-way battle for the victory – a true Phillip Island classic. It would only be decided in the closing laps, Marquez saving his soft rear for an all-out assault at the end.

Pushing until the line, for the 31st time in his MotoGP career the eight-time World Champion took second place and earned his 100th premier class podium in the process. Marc Marquez narrowly missed out on a return to the top step of the podium 0.186s behind Rins. 357 days after his last podium, achieved at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2021, Marquez has once again taken to the rostrum. After incredible efforts to return to fitness after a fourth surgery on his injured right arm, the podium shows the great progress that Marquez is making in his ongoing recovery.

The eight-time World Champion becomes just the fourth rider to achieve 100 podium finishes in the premier class, joining Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa in an exclusive club. From 152 MotoGP starts, Marquez has achieved 59 wins and has finished in the top three in 65% of his premier-class races. The second-place finish also moves him level with Spanish legend Angel Nieto, the pair sharing 139 podiums across all Grand Prix classes.

Behind, Pol Espargaro made an aggressive start to the race as he tried to hustle his way into the top ten. He quickly found himself battling with several other riders which saw him stuck in 14th place for the opening half of the race. Sticking to his plan and conserving his tyres, the #44 began to make steady progress in the final 13 laps as he worked his way forward to 11th at the line.

Now the Repsol Honda Team head for the penultimate race of the year at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. From the cold and wind of Phillip Island, it looks set to be a classic weekend in Malaysia with scorching temperatures and high humidity. The work continues right until the end.

Marc Marquez (2^nd)

“It was a great race today; I really enjoyed the battle a lot and the feeling of returning to the podium is fantastic. It has been a long journey and we have reached the next stage. The soft rear was certainly the correct option for us in the race, I felt quite good, and I was able to fight until the end. At the start I was managing the situation a little bit, but I really enjoyed the race, I tried to win! Alex Rins did really well in the last few laps. I left everything out on track today and I really enjoyed all the overtakes, especially at Turn 2 because the bike was working really well there. We are coming better but there is still work to do. It’s great to achieve this milestone of 100 premier class podiums and an honour to draw equal with Nieto but we are not done yet! 

Pol Espargaro (11^th) 

“Our race today was quite similar to the last races; we were playing catch up a lot during the race. We were probably a bit closer to the front this race than in the previous ones, but the pace of the race overall was slower than we thought it would be. Again, starting so far back on the grid makes it really hard and especially at a circuit like Phillip Island – there’s a lot of turbulence and the opening laps you have to be really precise. We started the weekend well here, so we can see that there is some potential there but missing out on Q2 really hurt us. Two races left in the season; we keep on going.” 

Australian Grand Prix – Race Results 

Get all your groceries from Amazon Fresh to prepare for a glorious festive meal

Bengaluru, October 17, 2022: Get your festive needs delivered at your doorstep and enjoy great deals and offers on a vast selection of everyday essentials, fresh fruits, and vegetables, pooja essentials, festive gift packs and much more from Amazon Fresh during the Amazon Great Indian Festival. Be it a traditional regional recipe or modern-day snacking essentials, Amazon Fresh hasgot you covered to make this festive season special.

Customers can enjoy up to 50% off and deals as low as INR 5. They can also shop for pooja essentials, gifting selections, combo offers and more delivered to their doorstep. For Prime customers, Amazon Fresh will continue to enjoy free shipping on all orders above INR 249 and above with an additional INR 300 cashback on the first order with a minimum order value of INR 1000.

So, get ready to wow your guests and browse through the collection of ingredients, namkeens etc. on Amazon Fresh and add them to your cart to prepare delicious meals for you and your loved ones at home.

Get offers you wouldn’t want to miss on Snacks and Beverages

• 24 Mantra Organic Jaggery/Gur/Shakkar Powder – 500gms – Prepare puran poli, gur ki chikki and gulgule with 24 Mantra’s organic jaggery and add a touch of sweetness to your meal.Buy this on Amazon.in for INR 58.
• Borges Blanched & Peeled Almonds (400gms) – Use the sweet and crunchy almonds from Borges to add texture to the desserts and mithais you prepare during the festive season. Available on Amazon Fresh for INR 409.
• Aashirvaad Svasti Pure Cow Ghee – Desi Ghee with Rich Aroma – Relish kachoris, mathri, chakriand namakpaare with AashirvaadSvasti Pure Cow Ghee that is made with cow milk to provide health benefits for every member of the family. Get it on Amazon Freshfor INR 546.
• Tata Tea Gold |Premium Assam teas with Gently Rolled Aromatic Long Leaves | Rich & Aromatic Chai |Black Tea | 1 kg – Unwrap a dose of rejuvenation on this festive occasion with Tata Tea Premium made for the taste preferences of Indians. Available on Amazon Freshfor INR 483 approximately.
• Daawat Rozana Gold, Naturally Aged, Rich Aroma, Perfect Fit for Everyday Consumption Basmati Rice, 5 Kg – No celebration is ever complete without a plate of flavorful biryani, or kheer! Relish recipes made with DaawatRozana, the finest basmati rice in the mid-price segment. Each grain is perfectly selected and perfectly aged to bring happiness to your table. Available on Amazon Fresh for INR 415.
• Ferrero Rocher Premium Chocolates 24 Pieces, 300 g – Experience the totally unique taste of Ferrero Rocher with this iconic box. It’s a perfect gift to share with your loved ones, or even for indulging yourself. Get this on Amazon Fresh for INR 895.
• Del Monte Tomato Ketchup – Classic Blend, 950g – Celebrate a lip-smacking Diwali with Delmonte’s Tomato ketchup made with ripe vine bright red tomatoes giving it a smooth and thick texture to enjoy with snacks. Add a flavorsome twist to your recipes. Buy this on Amazon Fresh for INR 95.
• Chocobakes Choc layered Cakes, 126g – Make festive moments with your loved ones special with an exciting new Cadbury chocolate choc layered cake that is sure to amaze you. Get this on Amazon Fresh for INR 48.

Re. 5 Deals(offer valid till stock lasts)

• Poha Loose (500 g)- Steal this exclusive deal from Amazon before the stock runs out. This is a quick-to-make Poha that could be a perfect snack to serve your guests this Diwali as a tea-time snack.
• Fresh Onion, 500g – Make the most of this versatile vegetable this festive season. Prepare tasty recipes this Diwali like crispy onion rings, pakodas, pyaaz ki kachoris, chaats, zingy chutneys, curries, sandwiches, soups, salads, and much more – there is just so much that can be done with this humble ingredient.
• Idly Rawa, 500 g – The Idly Rawa will save you the hassle of making batter from scratch. It promises soft, light, and fluffy idlis. Instead of visiting a restaurant for your idli fix, make it at home and enjoyit with your loved ones this festive season.

Shop from Dhanteras Store

• Happilo 100% Natural California Dried Almonds 200g – Gift your loved ones Happilo’s California dried almonds and enrich the celebration with something healthy. Munch a handful on the go or add it to your meal for that perfect crunch. Have it the way you like it anytime, anywhere for INR 797 on Amazon Fresh.
• 24 Mantra Kismis/Raisins (100gms)–Rich source of energy and a perfect garnish for Indian sweets, raisins are a delicious match. They also provide a guilty free snacking for your midnight sweet craving. Available on Amazon Fresh for INR 48.
• Unibic Assorted Cookies 75g (Pack of 10) – Indulge in the bundle of premium assorted cookies fromUnibic that is sure to appeal the taste buds of all age groups. The pack contains a variety of flavors including PistaBadam, Multigrain, Honey Oatmeal, Choconut, Choco Chip, Fruit & Nut, Daily Digestive, Butter, Jeera and Cashew Cookies. Buy this on Amazon Fresh for INR 115.

Empowering the Indian developer ecosystem is crucial for building the next-gen virtual world: Agora

Bengaluru, India, 17 October 2022: Agora, the world’s leading real-time engagement platform, highlighted the need to empower India’s developer ecosystem to create the next-generation virtual world powered by real-time engagement technologies. Agora participated at a recent developer conference, React India, held in Goa, which is an international conference that provides a platform for developers to share and discuss their insights and experiences. React provides developers from India an opportunity to meet, listen, and network with React Developers and Open-Source Contributors all around the world, emphasizing the criticality of building real-time engagement as per customer expectations.

At the event, Agora highlighted how they have helped Indian developers build a platform that is developer friendly and enabled them to utilize Agora’s SDKs and APIs for real-time voice, video, LIVE Streaming Quality Analytics, etc. This also includes customer use-case-driven extensions such as interaction recording, speech-to-text transcriptions, whiteboard, 3D spatial audio, and AI noise suppression. Apart from this, Agora also has low code/no code offerings like the Agora App Builder, which is built on top of the React platform that allows anyone to create, personalize, and publish their purpose-built, live video apps to connect with audiences, engage with customers and drive business outcomes. Users can build beautiful video applications in a matter of minutes without writing a single line of code and customize the experience to fit their unique needs.

With features such as this, Agora enables developers to deliver rich in-app experiences—including embedded voice and video chat, real-time recording, interactive live streaming, and real-time messaging. Agora powers an average of over 60 billion minutes of human connection each month across the globe. Agora’s mission is to make real-time engagement ubiquitous, allowing everyone to interact with anyone, anytime and anywhere.

Highlighting the role of Agora in developing mature RTE solutions, Ranga Jagannath, Senior Director, of Growth, Agora said, “We have seen enhanced customer engagement across almost every sector in the last two years – from gaming, media, and entertainment, healthcare, education to even the metaverse. Seeing the increased adoption of technology like RTE, we believe it is imperative to make such products customizable and seamless for developers to help build more scalable and interactive environments. Agora is committed to India and by empowering the developer ecosystems we are set to enable products that are more customer oriented, secure, and engaging for Indian enterprises.”

Speaking about Agora’s participation at the React conference, Ekaansh Arora, Developer Advocate at Agora said, “At Agora, we use React and React Native for a lot of our products and core offerings. Being at React India was a way for us to better understand the developers in the React community and engage in discussions to understand where the developer ecosystem is headed.”

Rishi Ahluwalia, Director, Solution Architecture and Customer Success, at Agora also added, “ It was an invigorating experience to interact with developers who build on React and for React. This was also an opportunity for us to create awareness about the “general availability” of our chat solution which is known as “Agora Chat”. We are committed to supporting developers within the React ecosystem with easy-to-use SDKs, APIs, UI Kits and our Low Code/No Code solutions”.

KAYAK reveals this year’s Diwali travel search trends

Mumbai, October 2022: With international and domestic travel well and truly back on the agenda, travellers have given a positive indication they will be travelling for Diwali.

All prices and search data are based on searches (between 01.06.2022 and 06.10.2022) for travel from 19.10.2022 to 24.10.2022. These have been compared to searches (between 04.06.2019 and 09.10.2019) for travel from 22.10.2019 to 27.10.2019.

The world’s leading travel search engine, KAYAK, has seen a significant rise in flight searches over the Diwali festival period (travel between October 19 to October 24) with domestic flight searches increasing about 124% and international flight searches increasing about 133%, compared to the same period in 2019*. This is despite return economy domestic flights increasing the price by about 39% and return economy international flights increasing by about 40% compared to 2019.

Multiple other types of data have been identified by KAYAK as indicating the Diwali travel trends. The same is included in this email.

According to KAYAK India Country Manager, Tarun Tahiliani: “KAYAK’s search data reveals that higher airfares aren’t deterring Indian travellers from heading to domestic and overseas destinations for the upcoming Diwali period*. Domestic search insights suggest that October 21 will be the busiest day at Indian airports over the festive Diwali period, so those hoping for smooth sailing to their destination may prefer to set off on a slightly earlier or later date. Avoiding the peak travel dates can also help travellers secure the best possible fare price, and we recommend setting up price alerts for your chosen destination to help secure a great price for your holiday.”

KAYAK.co.in domestic search insights for the Diwali travel period*:

● Domestic flight searches for travel over this period have increased by around 124% when compared to the corresponding holiday dates from 2019. The average price of a return domestic flight over the holiday period is about 14,719 ₹, an increase of about 39% for the same period in 2019.

● The most searched date for return economy domestic flights from Indian airports during this period is October 21, indicating this day could be a busy period for airports in India, with the least searched day being October 19.

● The most expensive day to fly for return economy domestic flights over the holiday period is October 22 and the cheapest day to fly is October 19.

● KAYAK return economy domestic flight search data per origin airport for Diwali festival period:

Top 10 most searched destinations for return domestic economy flight for the upcoming Diwali period:

1. New Delhi – average price 13,341 ₹
2. Goa – average price 11,650 ₹
3. Mysore – average price 2,936 ₹
4. Mumbai – average price 7,319 ₹
5. Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) – average price 31,896 ₹
6. Bengaluru – average price 10,169 ₹
7. Srinagar – average price 18,269 ₹
8. Kolkata – average price 13,873 ₹
9. Patna – average price 16,030 ₹
10. Kochi -average price 17,959₹

● Most affordable destinations for return economy domestic flights for the upcoming Diwali period are:

1. Mysore – average price 2,936 ₹
2. Mumbai – average price 7,319 ₹
3. Bengaluru – average price 10,169 ₹
4. Goa – average price 11,650 ₹
5. New Delhi – average price 13,341 ₹
6. Kolkata – average price 13,873 ₹
7. Lucknow – average price 15,347 ₹

● The average price for one night in a double room in a 3-4 star hotel room in India is about 5,840 ₹, an increase of around 10% compared to pre-pandemic with searches increasing 57%.

● Most search domestic destinations for hotels and average price for one night in a double room in a 3-4 star hotel room:

1. New Delhi – average price 5,257 ₹
2. Mumbai – average price 8,275 ₹
3. Goa – average price7,522 ₹
4. Bengaluru – average price 7,270 ₹
5. Chennai – average price 7,192 ₹
6. Kolkata – average price 4,156 ₹
7. Jaipur – average price 7,424 ₹

KAYAK.co.in international search insights for the Diwali travel period*:

● International flight searches for the Diwali holiday period have increased around 133% compared to the same period pre-pandemic, despite around a 40% increase in the average return economy international flight price approximately 67543 ₹ in 2022.

● The average price for one night in a double room in a 3-4 star hotel room overseas for Indian travellers is about 16,434 ₹, an increase of around 24% compared to pre-pandemic with searches decreasing about 32%.

● Top 10 most searched destinations for return international economy flight over the Diwali period:

1. Dubai, UAE – average price 28,563 ₹
2. Bangkok, Thailand – average price 25,413 ₹
3. Singapore – average price 31,056 ₹
4. New York, United States – average price 93,63 ₹
5. Bali, Indonesia – average price 48,292 ₹
6. Malé, Maldives – average price 25,899 ₹
7. London, United Kingdom – average price 63,48 ₹
8. Istanbul, Turkey – average price 50,332 ₹
9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – average price 25,159 ₹
10. Melbourne, Australia – average price 84,580 ₹

KAYAK Tips:

● Set a price alert: As one of KAYAK’s most popular features, price alerts help travellers save money by alerting them when prices change for a flight or hotel they want. If a flight you’re eyeing drops in price, KAYAK will alert you so you can lock in that new price, instantly saving you both time and money.
● Get flexible: Choose ‘flexible’ filters, if your travel dates aren’t set in stone, and you have a little wiggle room, chances are you can save some cash booking within +/- 3 days of your desired date range.
● Choose your dates wisely: Flying out and returning midweek vs the weekend can be cheaper on short-haul and long-haul. It is a similar story for shorter breaks. Travelling on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday generally may be more affordable than at other times of the week.
● Websites like KAYAK.co.in provide powerful planning tools and features that help travellers save money and make confident decisions, including things like flexible search filters, and price forecasts and alerts.
KAYAK Data Notes:

*Based on flight and hotel searches made on KAYAK.co.in and associated brands between 01.06.2022 and 06.10.2022 for travel between 19.10.2022 and 24.10.2022. They were compared to searches for the same period between 04.06.2019 and 09.10.2019 for travel between 22.10.2019 and 27.10.2019. Percentages are on average and prices are approximate and may vary with time. All flight searches are for travels with departure from any airport in India, round-trip and economy class tickets. All prices for hotels are average prices for 1 night in a double room in 3-4 star hotels.

Equities, Gold Recover, Housing Gets Lucrative Again

17 September 2022: Investments are aimed at maximum returns and do yield those when chosen wisely. While there are numerous options available today, gold, equities, and residential real estate have withstood the test of time.

Gold remained a favourite investment for Indian households due to its liquidity and investment size flexibility. Equities are highly volatile and easily impacted by social, political, and economic upheavals. Real estate, always considered a long-term investment, gives portfolio stability, and appreciates with time. The physical nature of the asset, unlike stocks, also ensures limited wealth erosion.

The Bear of the 1st Wave of Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic beset the world towards the end of 2019, global stock markets buckled and crumbled under unprecedented business uncertainties. India, an integral part of the global economy, also saw rough times – the BSE Sensex declined sharply by 29% between December 2019 and March 2020.

Gold, considered a ‘safe haven’ investment in time of turbulence, went northward and appreciated by 4%. Residential real estate prices in India remained stable as there were uncertainties about the execution, development, and sales of the projects. All sectors, including real estate, were challenged on how to navigate the tempest.

The Lethal 2nd Wave (April 2021 – June 2021)

The 2nd wave was more toxic in India, creating an acute healthcare crisis that claimed many lives and led to the re-enforcement of lockdowns. However, all asset classes stayed steady on the back of business continuity learnings from the 1st wave.

The stock markets exhibited resilience and investors again became active as many scrips were available at attractive valuations. During this period, the Sensex regained a growth trajectory after a minor correction of 1% in April 2021 compared to the previous month. Gold, though lower than the previous peak, appreciated again, while residential real estate remained stable.

The Post-Pandemic Recovery (September 2020 till date)

The Sensex has recorded the highest appreciation in value and volume since the pandemic receded. The 3rd wave early this year caused a minor aberration and was short-lived. Gold continued regaining lost ground and would have remained in a stronger position had it not been for the global economic turmoil, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain issues.

Prashant Thakur, Sr. Director & Head – Research, ANAROCK Group, says, “In all this turmoil, residential real estate has exhibited exceptional resilience and is now on a growth path. The weighted average price across the top seven cities has appreciated. While price is a function of supply and demand, the favourable change of sales exceeding supply continued even during the pandemic. Analysis shows that the available housing inventory is on a steady decline.”

Performance Over Pre-Pandemic Levels

Source: ANAROCK Research. Data for the top 7 cities of India only.

Source: ANAROCK Research

(Prices are for BSP on SBUA. Data for the top 7 cities of India only)

Source: Compiled by ANAROCK Research

All assets have exceeded their pre-pandemic levels. Compared to the September 2019 levels, the BSE Sensex has recorded an appreciation of 52%, gold prices have increased by 34%, and residential real estate by 9%. These readings indicate that the worst impact of the pandemic is behind us. Economic growth, despite global uncertainties and the headwind of rising inflation, is likely to be robust.

“The COVID-19 pandemic reaffirmed the necessity of owning homes, since it provides more than mere accommodation – it also gives security in times of generalized financial instability,” says Prashant Thakur. “Gold and stocks, on the other hand, are volatile and subject to market risks.”

Currently, real estate activities are in full swing and both demand and supply are increasing rapidly. As residential launches increased by 76% and sales by 61% in H1 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic levels of H2 2019, housing is all set to witness further traction during the festive season, leading to further price appreciation.

SBI extends Rs. 2 Crore towards Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund

Bangalore, October 17, 2022: State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender has announced that the bank has contributed Rs. 2 Crore to the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF). The fund is extended to armed forces for the welfare of casualties during the battle and to support the dependents of the personnel.

SBI has contributed the amount through a newly launched website named ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot’ by Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Defence Minister of India. The website was launched at a function organized at the National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi

The AFBCWF is a Tri-Service fund, which is utilized the grant immediate financial assistance to the families of soldiers/sailors/airmen who lay down their lives or get grievously injured in active military operations.