Shipments of ‘Made in India’ smartphones grew 6% YoY in 2024

‘Made in India’ smartphones are expected to experience double-digit growth in 2025, driven by government push as well as increasing diversification by brands.

Tata Electronics was the fastest growing smartphone manufacturer in India in 2024 with 107% YoY growth, according to Counterpoint’s ‘Make in India’ report. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models were the major volume contributors in the year.

Dell retains title as India’s Most Trusted Brand for sixth year, Apple iPhone rises to second: TRA’s Brand Trust Report

The largest number of brands has been seen in the category of air conditioners and mobile phones with 19 brands each, Televisions has 17 brands, and both categories of Deo/Perfume and SUV-Brands have 14 brands each. (Photo: Unsplash)

Brands such as TVS at Rank 28, Lipton Tea at Rank 45, Yamaha at Rank 47, Hero MotoCorp at Rank 52, Okaya at Rank 53, Maruti Suzuki Alto at Rank 91, Bajaj Auto at Rank 92, are some of the new entrants in top 100.

The rise of Influencer Cartels: Gaming the system or just playing smart?

As AI infiltrates every layer of influencer marketing; from engagement manipulation to full-fledged AI influencers —the industry is at an inflection point. Will brands continue to chase numbers, or will they finally prioritize authenticity over appearance?

Influencers have long used engagement pods—private groups where members like, comment on, and share each other’s content—to boost their numbers. But as the industry evolves, so do the tactics.

FMCG Ads: Facebook leads with 54%, YouTube 29%, X 9%

Prime time (6 PM – 10 PM) dominates FMCG TV advertising, with 53% of ads airing during this period to maximize audience reach. Celebrity-backed campaigns account for 32% of total TV ad duration, leveraging star power for greater impact. Among the most popular ad slots, General Entertainment Channels lead with 41%, followed by Sports at 30% and Movies at 14%, reflecting consumer viewing preferences.

Regardless of the growth in digital platforms, TV remains the leading advertising platform, especially for mass-market FMCG brands like Coca-cola, Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, as per the report.

Finland is the world’s happiest country once again! Here are the top 10 on the list

Finland secured an average score of 7.74 on a scale where 10 represents the best possible life. (Image: Visit Finland)

The report, which evaluates how residents across 140+ countries perceive their quality of life, found that Finland scored an average of 7.74 out of 10, reaffirming its long-standing dominance in global happiness rankings.

33% finfluencers give stock tips, 2% SEBI-registered, 63% hide sponsorships: Report

The average age of finfluencers is 31 years, with 60% under 29. Instagram is the most popular platform, followed by YouTube. 100% of the influencers are on Instagram followed by 84% on YouTube and 80% on LinkedIn. This also suggests that many influencers are present on more than one platform.(Representative Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya via Unsplash)

While 69% of influencers highlight financial risks, this concern is primarily driven by macro-influencers (20 out of 25), with mega-influencers (13 out of 23) also providing similar warnings.

Trade Marks Registry accepts ‘Chutiyaram’ for FMCG brand, then makes a u-turn

According to the report, there were questions raised as to how the mark bypassed the scrutiny under Section 9(2)(c) of the Trade Marks Act, prohibiting the registration of trademarks that are “scandalous, obscene, or against public morality."

According to the Indian trademark law, registering expletives or offensive words as trademarks is prohibited.

From endorsements to enforcement: Telangana’s dual strike against betting apps and influencers

The Telangana Gaming (Amendment) Act, 2017, has actively taken measures to prohibit online gaming including games entailing a serious impact on the financial status and well-being of the people with provisions for punishment, including imprisonment and fines. Additionally, the Government of Telangana has signed a MOU with tech firms, such as Google, to enhance digital literacy and protect citizens from online risks.

Legally, an influencer will be liable for any breach or non-compliance of laws. However, the influencer can shield themselves from financial liability through Indemnification and protecting them from legal claims related to misleading content.

CCI raids on major ad firms spark hopes of level playing field for Indie agencies

Home-grown media agencies feel the Competition Commission of India's probe will promote greater transparency and data sharing. (Image source: Unsplash)

Homegrown advertising agencies are expecting greater transparency in ad rates and costs after the Competition Commission of India’s investigation into GroupM, Publicis, Madison, dentsu, and IPG.