All you need to know about business, economy and finance before you start your day
Good morning! In a real world reminder of ‘all publicity is good publicity’, India and Pakistan’s more than average bonhomie in the past few months has led to an explosion in ad rates for the upcoming Asia Cup. India-Pak matches are driving the biggest demand, and rates have been locked at ₹16 lakh for 10 seconds. Advertisers should probably just be happy we’re still only 1/100 of Super Bowl prices - ₹24 crores for 10 seconds, incase anyone was wondering.
Now, let’s get into the Dispatch! 🚀
Today’s reading time is 5 mins.
Economy
Consumer attention shifting to regional FMCG brands
What’s happening and why? The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in India is experiencing a notable shift, with consumers increasingly favouring newer and regional brands. Experts in the field, like Varun Alagh (CEO, Mamaearth) are saying that buyers are being drawn to localized offerings from regional players that deliver better value. These players are mounting stiff competition against well-established FMCG giants by adopting aggressive pricing and offering superior margins to distributors - factors that have begun to affect the growth of large companies in the segment. The brands they offer are also typically younger, more agile, and leverage vernacular strategies tailored to regional consumer preferences. Additionally, these players have a deeper understanding of local consumer behaviors and nimble operations resulting in quicker pivots when needed.
Big guns react: The who’s who of FMCG firms such as Nestle, Britannia, Dabur and HUL have also acknowledged emerging challenges from small regional players in some of their product categories (right after the quarterly results…). While the overall FMCG industry’s June-quarter growth saw no significant increase in volumes, small ‘newer’ players have seen faster growth. To counter the rising challenge the big movers are deploying financial resources and conducting focused competitive analysis in smaller territories.
Broader trends: Consumers’ emerging value-seeking and localized preferences are not the only change impacting the FMCG sector. Additional insights also reveal that rural India is the one pushing the pedal - growing at twice the pace of urban areas, marking six consecutive quarters of rural outperformance. Small manufacturers have played a pivotal role in this surge. As this evolves, large firms are recognizing the need for targeted responses as they adjust strategies and refine offerings in a rapidly changing market.
Politics
Vote-theft: Who, what, where?
Image Credits: Scroll
What’s happened? On August 7, 2025, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress figure, alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) enabled widespread "vote theft" in the 2024 general elections. Citing internal Congress analysis, he claimed Mahadevapura in Karnataka showed more than 100,000 irregular voter entries - including duplicate voters, invalid or fake addresses, bulk registrations, invalid photos, and misuse of voter-registration forms. He also pointed to similar alleged irregularities in Haryana, Maharashtra, and during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Protests, Yatras and Detentions: Following his allegations, Gandhi launched a 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra (Voter Rights March) from Sasaram, Bihar, framing it as a constitutional fight. Opposition leaders also staged protests in Delhi, marching toward the ECI headquarters; approximately 200–300 opposition figures including Rahul Gandhi, were detained.
“Give me proof” says Election Commission (EC): The EC has responded by demanding that Gandhi either submit a sworn affidavit substantiating his allegations within seven days or publicly apologize - insisting there is "no third option". The CEC, Gyanesh Kumar, asserted that failure to submit such an affidavit would render the claims “baseless and invalid.” He described the allegations as an affront to the Constitution and accused political actors of eroding public trust through politicization.
The Bihar Tale: EC has defended the SIR process in Bihar, noting it was a routine corrective measure endorsed by political parties over the past two decades - not a partisan tool. He clarified that voter lists are available online in a searchable, though not machine-readable, format - consistent with Supreme Court directives since 2019. The Commission also fact-checked an AI-generated Congress video, describing it as misleading, and reiterated that the SIR is being conducted transparently with participation from booth-level officials and party agents
Investigations Pushback: Electoral officers in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana have issued notices to Gandhi, requesting documentation to substantiate his allegations as preparation for inquiry. In one instance, a voter named Shakun Rani was alleged to have voted twice. The claim was however dismissed after an official inquiry and she confirmed she voted only once. In UP, an official review has found that Rahul Gandhi’s claim of voters registered in multiple states was based on misreading of data.
Business India: Dhanda Hai Yeh!
Image credits: Mint
Trade talk timeout: The U.S. has reportedly called off its Aug 25–29 India trade delegation amid rising tensions, with Trump’s additional 25% tariff on Indian goods kicking in Aug 27, taking some duties to 50%. Talks stalled over U.S. access to India’s agri/dairy industry and Russian oil purchases.
India gets the bump: S&P upgraded India to BBB from BBB- after 18 years, citing fiscal discipline, growth, inflation targeting; forecasting 6.8% GDP growth. Brokerages see lower borrowing costs and UBS expected yields <6% by Jun 2026.
iPhone 17 manufacturing in India: Foxconn’s $2.8 billion Bengaluru plant has begun small-scale iPhone 17 production, supplementing Chennai. Despite a brief interruption due to exits of Chinese engineers, operations have been stabilized. Apple is targeting 60 million iPhones in 2025 (vs 35–40 million FY24-25).
Samsung laptops get made-in-India feature: Samsung has started making laptops at its Greater Noida plant, expanding beyond phones, wearables, and tablets. After a meeting with the IT Minister, it signalled more local devices ahead.
Diamond dependence: U.S. buyers are saying there’s no substitute for India’s diamond hub as Surat-Mumbai polish most of the world’s stones with skilled labour, scale, and speed. Even as lab-grown rises and tariffs loom, America’s supply chain still runs through India.
World 🌏
The meet and greet at Anchorage
Image Credits: USA Today
On August 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first (and much talked about) summit since Trump’s 2024 reelection, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
Opening gesture and setting: Putin was welcomed with a red-carpet reception and a military flyover featuring the B-2 stealth bomber and the F-22 jets. The two leaders then held a private meeting reportedly lasting nearly three hours, followed by a brief joint press appearance in which neither took questions.
The reactions: While both Presidents described the talks as “constructive atmosphere of mutual respect” and “extremely productive” no ceasefire or formal peace agreement was reached during the summit. Trump reiterated his intent to engage further with European leaders and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and alignment with Putin’s preference for pursuing a comprehensive peace deal rather than a ceasefire first.
Private developments: Trump reportedly disclosed to Zelenskyy and European leaders that Putin wants Ukraine to cede control of Donetsk and Luhansk in exchange for frozen front lines in other areas. He also discussed possible U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine after the war, without specifying details.
What next: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday that European leaders will accompany Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday (August 18, 2025). After Zelenskyy’s tense encounter with Trump in February this is being seen as a show of European backing for Ukraine and mitigate concerns of a peace agreement under pressure. Reports are suggesting everyone is ready to say thank you on command.
DuniyaDIARY 🌏📒
Image credits: Mint
Samsung takes on Apple: Reports are suggesting Samsung is taking market share from Apple with its foldable phones gaining momentum. In the second quarter, shipments from Samsung surged in the U.S., with its market share rising from 23% to 31%. Last month, Samsung introduced two new folding phones, one that can effectively turn into a tablet, and another that resembles an old-school flip phone with modern features.
Trump asks China will not invade Taiwan: US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that China would not move to invade Taiwan during his presidency. Trump made the remark in an interview speaking ahead of his scheduled talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
China developing world’s first “gestation robot”: Chinese scientists are developing the world’s first “gestation robot” that could potentially give birth to a live baby. The groundbreaking technology is being designed to imitate a full pregnancy cycle, from conception to delivery. We’re stunned.
Aur Batao 📰
Himachal’s monsoon havoc: Himachal’s monsoon chaos has led to 261 deaths since June 20. 361 roads (3 NHs) have been blocked and 637 transformers and 115 water schemes down. Mandi is worst-hit; Kullu, Kinnaur face NH closures. Landslides slow repairs; avoid non-essential travel.
SRK Jr.’s roast: Netflix unveiled the first look of Aryan Khan’s directorial debut a Netflix series called “The Ba***ds of Bollywood.” Backed by Red Chillies it is apparently going to be a glossy satire with equal parts love letter and industry roast. The Archies 2.0? We’ll have to wait and watch.
