strategy / Feature

Tapan Singhel on Transforming Insurance in the Era of Digital Revolution

Digitisation has touched all industries, and the insurance sector is not far behind. There have been many changes post-Covid, but it is time to understand the next step in this journey. Digitisation has touched all industries, and the insurance sector is not far behind. There have been many changes post-Covid, but it is time to understand the next step in this journey. Tapan Singhel, MD and CEO of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, speaks about how digitisation can enable the interchange of data to develop capabilities that can benefit customers and save millions of lives. Edited excerpts:

strategy / Feature

Love, Sex and Dhokha at Workplace

Not all office romances have a fairy-tale ending like the Obamas. In some cases, love turns sour and complications arise. No wonder HR honchos dread co-workers falling for each other and then falling apart 

strategy / Feature

That Tumbling Feeling for FMCG Companies

India’s FMCG giants are struggling with sluggish growth. Declining sales and tough competition from local brands have dampened the sentiments around many popular legacy brands. Can the marquee names rev up a new growth engine? 

strategy / Interview

GenAI Will Make Creativity More Precious: B.K. Kalra

Change is difficult, but it also brings agility, says B.K. Kalra, president and CEO of global IT services company Genpact, referring to the disruption in businesses brought about by generative artificial intelligence. In an exclusive interview, he gives details of Genpact’s focus on becoming an AI-first company, its AI-assisted learning platform Genome, its strategy for growth in coming years and more. Edited excerpts:  

strategy / Interview

Awareness, Guidance Key to Retirement Planning: V. Vaidyanathan

IDFC First Bank has seen remarkable success in 2023, riding on impressive financial performance, with deposits growing at 40% thanks to customer-friendly banking initiatives and tools. In an exclusive interview, V. Vaidyanathan, managing director and chief executive officer of IDFC First Bank, speaks about the importance of retirement planning early in life, the emotions of those concerned and the tools for retirement planning which can provide financial security and peace of mind

strategy / Feature

Illusions of Growth

Powered by easy credit, a section of Indians is splurging on premium products; at the same time, agricultural wages have stagnated and the share of the self-employed has steadily gone up. Post-pandemic, the Indian economy is going through a lop-sided recovery 

strategy / Interview

The Rich Are Getting Richer, but the Poor Are Not Getting Poorer: T.V. Somanathan

Increasing consumption among the middle class and the poor in India is a valid policy challenge, the answer to which lies in creating more jobs, says T.V. Somanathan, finance secretary and secretary of expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance. In an exclusive interview, he also discusses why the current income tax rates are reasonable and why he finds the 3% fiscal deficit target questionable among other issues. Edited excerpts:  

strategy / Feature

How You End Up Paying for What Farmers are Demanding

Farmers are demanding a legal guarantee of MSP on crops. But MSP is not the silver bullet; over the past two decades, high food inflation has distorted not just the Indian economy but has also affected millions of poor, making India perform poorly on the global hunger index 

strategy / Feature

Aviation on a Net-Zero Flight

The aviation industry’s rapid growth is triggering concerns over carbon emissions. Investing in sustainable aviation fuel, modern infrastructure and technology, besides giving the obvious returns of reduced emissions, will help amplify India’s pitch as a responsible partner in the global climate action story 

strategy / Feature

A Deeper Alliance With Deepfake

While it has gained notoriety for its unethical use, deepfake technology has the ability to revolutionise businesses in areas like advertising, education and political campaigning. Regulatory support and greater inclusion in the formal IT sector can lend it the much-needed legitimacy 

strategy / Feature

Adani: Twice Born at the Bourses

While the first few months of 2023 saw nothing going right for the Adani Group, market watchers do not see much going wrong for the 35-year-old group as it enters the New Year

strategy / Feature

It Is Too Early to Celebrate India’s New Growth Path, Says Raghuram Rajan

Former RBI governor and economist Raghuram Rajan has been vocal about his ideas on policy matters in India. His latest book Breaking the Mould, co-authored with economist Rohit Lamba, is a deep dive into finer issues of the economy, including welfare schemes, job crisis, misplaced priorities of the government and much more. In an interview, Rajan demystifies the current narrative of growth in the country and why manufacturing-led growth might not be the best solution at hand. Edited excerpts: