Author: Anil Malik

One news item which caught my eye is that  ‘CREDIT CARD DUES in India have crossed over Rs 2 lakh Cr for the first time in April 2023’. As per the Reserve Bank of India, there is an increase of 29.7% over  April 2022. As per the experts, the increase in credit card dues is not just rising indebtedness but is a reflection of their increased use for payments and inflation. The figure says in April 2023, the total value for which credit cards were swiped or used online was just over Rs 1.3 lakh Cr, which means a balance of Rs 70,000 lakh Cr was for interest and penalty. Generally, an increase in credit card transactions is seen as a measure of consumer confidence, but growth in dues can also be because of inflation, as people pay more for the same items. Credit card outstanding is the third biggest…

GOAT Friends, I am not going to write this blog on animals of the same name. Here GOAT is an acronym for Greatest Of All Times. In the tennis world, there have been discussions going around for the last few years about who is the greatest of all time Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. By winning his 23rd Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic has surpassed the 22 Grand Slam titles won by Rafael Nadal, whereas Roger Federar has won 20 Grand Slam titles. The fact is Federer has retired, Nadal has become injury prone, and his fitness is always under the radar. In the case of Djokovic, his fitness level is still great, which he has proven by beating his 14 year junior Casper Ruud in the recently concluded French Open, Grand Slam. No one denies one fact these three players have ruled the men’s tennis world for…

Friends sometimes, to live comfortably, we do not need to earn more. All we need to do is, learn to get more out of what we have. Saving, investing wisely, finding good deals, planning, tracking expenditures closely, etc., are some ways to get more out of our Rupee. Most often, we send on unwanted things or lose them without realizing it. Here are some MONEY SAVING HACKS, you can use in everyday life. Reduce access to plastic or digital money It is the cashless age with the government pushing for digital transactions through UPI, wallets, etc. However, the ease of digital transactions can make us spend more. When we carry a credit card or use a wallet for payment, we make purchases without restrictions. For the next few months, when you go shopping, prepare a list, and carry cash just enough to purchase what you want. Having limited cash will…

Friends,  yesterday I came across a news item which was about the FOOTWEAR Industry, and how government has issued guidelines for maintaining the quality of footwear products. The government came into the picture because of many substandard products floating in the market. To curb sub-standard imports from countries like China, large and medium-scale footwear manufacturers and all importers will have to follow the mandatory quality standards for 24 footwear and related products from 1st July 2023. For small-scale footwear makers, the deadline is 1st Jan 2024, while for the micro industry, it is 1st July 2024. The footwear products on which the quality standards will apply include rubber gum boots, PVC sandals, rubber hawai chappal, slippers, moulded plastic footwear, footwear used for municipal scavenging work, sports footwear, derby shoes, anti-riot shoes, moulded solid rubber shoes and heels etc. With this, the total number of footwear under quality control order (QCO)…

Healthcare in India was always treated as a second cousin when it came to prioritizing resources, but with the advent of Covid 19 three years back, India experienced a disadvantage it had put itself, as the virus exposed its shortcomings. Covid 19 made the government realize that this is a significant sector for which if sufficient resources are not provided, then it has the potential to bring the entire country to its knees and can devastate the economy. After this realization, presently the Indian healthcare sector is one of the fastest growing sectors with high contributions not only in terms of revenue but also employment. It includes hospitals, medical devices, health insurance, telemedicine, clinical trials, medical tourism, and medical equipment. This shift of focus to Healthcare infrastructure led the country and the world to sit up and realize that there is a massive opportunity beyond the Pharma sector. Presently the…

The meal may be over, but for some, it may not be over. Heartburn, chest pain, belching, coughing, regurgitation-it is all part of the unpleasant picture for those with acidity or acid reflux. In fact, 20% of adults have chronic acid reflux, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition caused by the flow of contents from the stomach upward into the esophagus. What is behind the burn- a weakening or malfunctioning of a ring of muscle at the base of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When this does not close properly, any acid-containing contents of your stomach can flow back into the esophagus. While antacids and other over-the-counter (OTC)  medication can help tame stomach acid, dietary tweaks can reduce the frequency and intensity of symptoms such as heartburn. Here are some foods that can help you find relief from GERD. Your doctor or dietitian can help identify which specific…

Most people go to family doctors when they are not feeling well, or go to dentists when they have dental problems. But are you taking proper care of your eyes, especially if you are not using corrective lenses? There are many things you can do to ensure healthy vision and prevent eye-related diseases. Take out time to focus on how to improve your vision. Schedule an eye test Even if you do not use corrective lenses, it is important to first schedule an eye test. Here are some quick thumb rules for how often you should be receiving an eye exam: Children and teens-regular vision screenings and eye exams with eye specialists. In your 20s and 30s-every 5 years. From 40-64 years- every 2 to 4 After 65 years-every 1 to 2 years. It is important to check your eyes regularly to prevent eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration,…

In the present times, there is too much use of social media and online platforms as advertising and marketing tools. We all are aware of the methods deployed by websites and online platforms to grab consumers’ attention. We all have experienced that once we show some interest in some product/service, then we will come across many advertisements on our social media account about the same or similar product/service. We are unaware, what is being advertised to us in the name of ‘personalised experience’ is actually known as “DARK PATTERNS”. These tailored experiences are in fact manipulative schemes employed by website owners, online platforms and such leading a consumer into giving up their data, time, and money either by way of misleading advertisements or entrapment of consumers in a vicious cycle of continued subscriptions/memberships. What are Dark Patterns? The term dark patterns was first coined in 2010 by London-based Harry Brignull,…

You all must have heard about people buying Benami Property, so as not to come under the scanner of tax authorities. In recent times, there have been cases in High Courts where the question arose-Should a property purchased by a husband in the name of his wife from a known source of income be categorized as benami property. In a recent ruling by Delhi High Court, it was announced that any person holding property in his wife’s name, bought from his own finances, can not be termed as benami property. The decision came after the trial court had ruled that a person can not claim ownership of a property registered in his wife’s name since it would be looked at as benami property. Considering that it was the husband who had used all his money to purchase the property and the source of these funds was known and legal, the…

Raj Kapoor was the biggest showman of Indian cinema, he was actor, producer, director, editor, studio owner. At the age of 21, he started his acting career, and at 23 he became a producer/director, and at the age of 25, he established his own studio. One thing people are least aware that the number 9 had special significance in his career. RAJ  KAPOOR-THE MAGIC OF NUMBER ‘NINE’ A Total number of films in his career as actor, producer, and director- SEVENTY-TWO (ie 7+2=9). B Total ‘EIGHTEEN’ number of films were produced under RK Banner in the lifetime of Raj Kapoor (ie 1+8==9). C Total of NINE directors directed these 18 films- 1 Raja Nawathe (Aah), 2 Prakash Arora (Boot Polish), 3 Shambhu Mitra & 4 Amit Mitra (Jaagte Raho), 5 Amar Kumar (Ab Dilli Door Nahin), 6 Radhu Karmakar (jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai), 7 Rahul Rawail (Biwi O…