Category: iWorld

  • Oppo sparks festive glow with Reno14 Diwali Edition and Prime Video show

    Oppo sparks festive glow with Reno14 Diwali Edition and Prime Video show

    MUMBAI: This Diwali, your screen time may just outshine the diyas. Oppo India has teamed up with Prime Video to light up the festive season with a double treat, a sparkling new Reno14 5G Diwali edition smartphone and the much-anticipated unscripted talk show Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, streaming exclusively on Prime Video from today.

    The show kicks off with a reunion fans never thought they’d see Aamir Khan and Salman Khan sharing the couch, swapping stories, laughs, and surprises. The line-up that follows reads like a Bollywood blockbuster: Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan, Vicky Kaushal, Govinda, Chunky Panday, and Janhvi Kapoor are all set to appear, promising spontaneous conversations and plenty of star-studded chaos.

    While Kajol and Twinkle keep the cameras rolling, Oppo brings the sparkle with its limited Reno14 5G Diwali Edition, a device that is as much art as it is tech. Priced at Rs 39,999 (special festive price Rs 36,999), the smartphone draws from Indian tradition, with a mandala base symbolising harmony, a peacock representing prosperity, and flame motifs echoing the light of countless diyas.

    The black-and-gold palette captures Diwali’s essence black as the new moon, symbolising obstacles, and gold as the glow of lamps, signifying triumph and prosperity.

    In a first for India, the device features heat-sensitive Glowshift technology, transforming from deep black to radiant gold at body temperature. The shift, achieved through nine layers of lamination and six intricate processes, can be triggered over 10,000 cycles meaning the magic won’t fade with the season.

    The Reno14 Diwali Edition packs a 50MP Hypertone triple camera with a 3.5x telephoto lens, 4K HDR video at 60fps across all lenses, and even an Underwater Photography Mode. On the inside, it’s powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8350, paired with a 6000mAh battery backed by 80w Supervooc fast charging. At just 7.42mm thin and 187g, it’s built with an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass 7i, and IP66/68/69 protection.

    Running ColorOS 15 with GenAI integration, it also doubles as your AI assistant, offering tools like Translate, Mind Space, AI Summary, Circle to Search, and AI Toolbox 2.0.

    For Oppo, the festive edition isn’t just a smartphone, it’s a storytelling device. As Oppo India, head of PR and communications Goldee Patnaik put it: “This special edition smartphone is a festive keepsake inspired by India’s rich cultural heritage… Our collaboration with Prime Video for Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle echoes the same sentiment celebrating real, unscripted connections and the joy of being in the moment.”

    With a smartphone that changes colour with your touch and a talk show that promises raw, unscripted conversations, Oppo has blended tech and tradition into a festive narrative. This Diwali, your upgrade might just come with both a new device and a binge-worthy watchlist.

  • CTV clicks with consumers as screen time turns into shopping time

    CTV clicks with consumers as screen time turns into shopping time

    MUMBAI – From binge-watching to binge-buying, connected TV is rewriting India’s festive shopping playbook. At the 3rd India Brand Summit 2025, Nikhil Kumar, chief growth officer at mediasmart, joined Indiantelevision.com group founder, chairman & editor in chief Anil NM Wanvari to chart how connected TV (CTV) has evolved from a niche experiment during COVID to a Rs 2,500 crore ad magnet today.

    “When we first spoke about it five years ago, we said CTV would change the way the world perceives television,” Kumar recalled. “Back then it was new, almost niche. Today there are dedicated CTV conferences, panels, and players from OEMs and ad tech firms to SSPs and publishers. Everyone knows the power of CTV.”

    The growth numbers back him up. India’s CTV ad spends are projected to touch Rs 2,500 crore in 2025, reflecting 40 per cent growth, as per industry reports. “That’s one of the fastest-growing slices of media we’ve ever seen,” Kumar noted.

    What’s driving this growth? For Kumar, the answer lies in how festive season advertising has shifted. Consumers now hop seamlessly across screens mobiles in the morning, laptops at work, and smart TVs in the evening. “We’ve moved from asking where the ad is shown to who the ad is shown to,” he said.

    Acquired by Affle group, mediasmart has positioned itself not just as a CTV player but as an omnichannel partner. “No consumer lives on a single screen. People are constantly engaging with multiple touchpoints mobile, CTV, even OOH. Our job is to help advertisers minimise frequency fatigue and maximise relevance across devices,” he explained.

    Kumar stressed that AI is now the backbone of ad delivery tracking attention, optimising frequency, and ensuring seamless user journeys from TV to mobile to purchase. From QR codes on screen to shoppable ads and interactive formats, engagement has become more dynamic and measurable.

    “Ads are evolving. A campaign today might prompt a viewer to scan a code, explore an offer on mobile, or engage with gamified elements on their TV. This interactivity is making advertising far more actionable,” Kumar said, pointing to case studies where TV-to-mobile commerce spiked festive sales.

    Brands too have gotten sharper. From weather-optimised ads in Mumbai’s monsoons to contextual integrations in daily soaps, marketers are weaving themselves seamlessly into storytelling. “Consumers don’t want repetition. They want relevance,” he quipped.

    Looking ahead, Kumar sees three big shifts:

    ●    AI-powered personalisation that adapts by region, language, and timing.

    ●    Shoppable and interactive ads that nudge viewers from watching to buying.

    ●    Better measurement, as agencies and OEMs collaborate to unify fragmented ecosystems.

    Kumar signed off with a reminder: “Brands should think beyond ads and impressions. Integrated journeys connecting CTV with offline sync, store visits, and mobile engagement will deliver real festive impact.”

    As the festive season nears, one thing is clear, CTV is no longer just screen time, it’s shopping time.

  • Sarc Global teams up with Nodwin Gaming

    Sarc Global teams up with Nodwin Gaming

    MUMBAI: Level up and play big! India’s esports industry just got a power boost. Sarc Global, a strategic advisory and consulting firm, has joined forces with Nodwin Gaming, south Asia’s leading esports company, to turbocharge the country’s competitive gaming scene. The alliance is designed to push esports into the mainstream, with plans ranging from promoting tournaments and unlocking sponsorships to driving esports-friendly policies with government support.

    The move dovetails with prime minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision, giving esports a policy tailwind as states like Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan draft pro-gaming frameworks. “This partnership is an important step towards unlocking the true potential of esports in India,” said Nodwin Gaming CEO Gautam Singh Virk. “We’re bridging the world of competitive gaming with the business and policy frameworks that will allow it to thrive.”

    Sarc Global will bring its expertise in investment facilitation and cross-border partnerships, while Nodwin leverages its deep roots in esports, youth culture and intellectual properties. Together, the duo aims to create a future-ready ecosystem that blends entertainment, regulation and opportunity.

    The timing couldn’t be sharper. The Online gaming act, 2025, now offers regulatory clarity, incentives for infrastructure and clear safeguards for young audiences. A recent FICCI-EY report notes that brand participation in esports will rise from 68 in 2024 to 75 in 2025, fuelled by bigger tournaments and growing youth engagement.

    As sponsorships, prize pools and large-scale youth campaigns gather momentum, the Sarc Global–Nodwin partnership is set to redefine India’s role in global esports. From boardrooms to battle arenas, the game has only just begun.

  • Indian talent shines as International Emmys span record 26 countries

    Indian talent shines as International Emmys span record 26 countries

    MUMBAI: Indian performers have secured three coveted nominations for the 2025 International Emmy Awards, with Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh earning recognition for his performance in Amar Singh Chamkila and the film itself competing in the TV Movie/Mini-Series category. The third nominees is in the kids animation category where Vaibhav Studios’ Lamput has been nominated. 

    The nominations, announced yesterday by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, span a record 26 countries with 64 nominees across 16 categories. India joins an eclectic mix including traditional powerhouses Britain, Germany and France alongside emerging markets such as Kenya, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

    Dosanjh’s portrayal of the legendary Punjabi folk singer in Netflix’s biographical drama has earned him a spot in the best performance by an actor category. He faces competition from Britain’s David Mitchell for Ludwig, Spain’s Oriol Pla for Yo, adicto and Colombia’s Diego Vasquez for One Hundred Years of Solitude.

    The Amar Singh Chamkila film, produced by Window Seat Films for Netflix, will compete against Germany’s Herrhausen: The Banker and the Bomb, Britain’s Lost Boys & Fairies and Chile’s Vencer o Morir in the TV movie category.

    “As the International Emmys continue to recognise the very best in television, the creativity and calibre of this year’s nominees, from a record 26 countries, reflect the global strength of our industry,” said the academy’s president & chief executive Bruce Paisner.

    The nominations showcase television’s increasingly global nature, with South Korea’s Chicken Nugget competing in comedy, Australia’s beloved Bluey nominated for children’s animation, and Qatar’s Al Jazeera earning recognition for its Gaza coverage.

    Winners will be announced at the 53rd International Emmy Awards gala in New York on November 24th, following the World Television Festival from November 21st-23rd. The ceremony’s partners include Dubai Studios, Brazil’s Globo and Turkey’s Ay Yapim, underlining the awards’ international reach.

    Britain leads with seven nominations across multiple categories, while streaming giants Netflix and Disney+ dominate the platform landscape. The breadth of nominated content—from Turkish telenovelas to Finnish children’s programmes—reflects television’s role as a universal storyteller transcending borders and languages.
    The nominees are as follows

    Arts Programming
    Art Matters with Melvyn Bragg
    Oxford Films / Sky Arts
    United Kingdom
     
    DJ Mehdi: Made In France
    Ultra Magnetic / 360 Creative / Unité / Arte France
    France
     
    Herchcovitch; Exposto [Herchcovitch; Exposed]
    Mood Hunter
    Brazil
     
    Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days
    NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
    Japan
     
    Best Performance by an Actor          
    Diljit Dosanjh in Amar Singh Chamkila
    Window Seat Films / Netflix
    India
     
    David Mitchell in Ludwig
    Big Talk Studios / That Mitchell & Webb Company
    United Kingdom
     
    Oriol Pla in Yo, adicto [I, Addict]
    Alea Media / Disney +
    Spain
     
    Diego Vasquez in One Hundred Years of Solitude
    Dynamo Producciones / Netflix
    Colombia
     
    Best Performance by an Actress
    Charlotte Hope in Catch Me A Killer
    Kowalski Films / LMP 51 / Showmax / Night Train Media
    South Africa
     
    Anna Maxwell Martin in Until I Kill You
    World Productions
    United Kingdom
     
    Carolina Miranda in Mujeres Asesinas – Season 2       
    Pletora Productions / ViX
    Mexico
     
    Maria Sid in Smärtpunkten [Pressure Point]
    Kärnfilm / Art & Bob
    Sweden
     
    Comedy
    Chicken Nugget
    Studio N / Plusmedia Entertainment / Netflix
    South Korea
     
    Iris
    Les films entre 2 et 4 / Canal+
    France
     
    Ludwig
    Big Talk Studios / That Mitchell & Webb Company
    United Kingdom
     
    Y Llegaron de Noche [They Came at Night]
    3Pas / Visceral / ViX
    Mexico
     
    Current Affairs
    Dispatch: Kill Zone: Inside Gaza
    Basement Films
    United Kingdom  
     
    Philippines: Diving for Gold
    Keyi Productions / Arte G.E.I.E
    France
     
    Repórter Record Investigação: Desaparecidos Forçados [Enforced Disappearances]
    Record TV / Playplus
    Brazil
     
    Walk the Line
    Mediacorp Pte Ltd
    Singapore
     
    Documentary
    Hell Jumper
    Expectation Entertainment for the BBC
    United Kingdom
     
    King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
    Abelart Productions
    France
     
    O Prazer é Meu [It’s My Pleasure]
    Amana Cine
    Brazil
     
    School Ties
    IdeaCandy
    South Africa
     
    Drama Series
    Las Azules [Women in Blue]
    Lemon Studios / Apple TV+
    Mexico
     
    Bad Boy
    Sipur Studios / North Road Company / Tedy Production / Hot
    Israel
     
    Koek [Cake]
    Wolflight
    South Africa
     
    Rivals
    Happy Prince part of ITV Studios / Disney+
    United Kingdom    
     
    Kids: Animation
    Bluey
    Ludo Studio
    Australia
     
    Lamput – Season 4  
    Warner Bros. Discovery / Vaibhav Studio / Robot Playground Media / Lil Critter Workshop /
    The Monk Studios / Tribe Audio / The Tuning Folk / Inspidea / Shapeshifter Studio
    Singapore
     
    Lupi e Baduki
    Flamma / Elo / Birdo
    Brazil
     
    Muumilaakso – Season 4 [Moominvalley]
    Gutsy Animations / YLE / SkyOne
    Finland
     
    Kids: Factual & Entertainment
    Auf Fritzis Spuren – Wie war das so in der DDR? [On Fritzi’s Traces – What was it like in the GDR?]
    Balance Film GmbH / Germany Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) / Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
    Germany
     
    Bora, O Pódio é Nosso  
    Globo / Sentimental Filmes
    Brazil
     
    Kids Like Us
    Echo Velvet
    United Kingdom    
     
    Playroom Live
    Eclipse Television Productions
    South Africa
     
    Kids: Live-Action
    Fallen
    Globoplay / Night Train Media / Silver Reel / Hero Squared / Umedia
    United Kingdom   
     
    Luz
    Floresta (Sony)
    Brazil
     
    Prefects
    Peripheral Vision International
    Kenya
     
    Shut UP
    Alfredfilm / Feelgood SFT / Snowreel / Rabbit Films
    Norway
     
    News
    Fantástico: El Salvador: Safety’s Somber Side
    Globo
    Brazil
     
    The Gangs of Haiti
    Sky News
    United Kingdom
     
    Gaza, Search for Life
    Al Jazeera News Directorate  
    Qatar
     
    Syria – The Truth Coming Out
    TV4
    Sweden
     
    Non-Scripted Entertainment
    Big Brother: Canada – Season 12
    Insight Productions
    Canada  
                                     
    Love is Blind: Habibi
    Imagic / Netflix
    United Arab Emirates  
     
    ¿Quién es la Máscara? – Season 6 [The Masked Singer]
    TelevisaUnivisión / Endemol Shine Boomdog
    Mexico
     
    Shaolin Heroes
    Metronome Productions / Banijay / TV 2 Danmark
    Denmark
     
    Short-Form Series
    Beyond Dancing
    Radio Television Hong Kong
    Hong Kong SAR, China
     
    La médiatrice [The Mediator]
    KOTV
    Canada
     
    My Dead Mom
    LoCo Motion Pictures
    Canada
     
    Todo se Transforma – Season 4 [Change is Everything]
    Warner Bros. Discovery / Buffalo Producciones
    Argentina
     
    Sports Documentary
    Argentina ‘78
    Disney+ Original Productions / Pampa Films
    Argentina
     
    Chasing the Sun 2
    T+W
    South Africa
     
    It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed the Spanish Football
    You First Originals
    Spain
     
    Sven
    Whisper / Up & Away Film Entertainment / Prime Video
    United Kingdom  
     
    Telenovela
    Deha [The Good & The Bad]   
    Ay Yapim
    Türkiye
     
    Mania de Voc? [Crazy About You]
    TV Globo
    Brazil
     
    Regreso a Las Sabinas [Return to Las Sabinas]
    Diagonal TV / Disney+
    Spain
     
    Valle Salvaje
    Studio Canal
    Spain
     
    TV Movie/Mini-Series
    Amar Singh Chamkila
    Window Seat Films / Netflix
    India
     
    Herrhausen: The Banker and the Bomb
    Sperl Film
    Germany
     
    Lost Boys & Fairies
    Duck Soup Films
    United Kingdom  
     
    Vencer o Morir [Victory or Death]
    Amazon MGM Studios / Parox S.A.
    Chile

  • Pocket Aces plays new card with Finnet investment

    Pocket Aces plays new card with Finnet investment

    MUMBAI: From filters to finance: Pocket Aces cashes in with Finnet. The Saregama-backed digital entertainment company has announced an investment in Finnet Media, a rising star in managing creators across finance, infotainment, and healthcare.

    Finnet, which represents more than 40 influencers including Anushka Rathod, Chandralekha, Shankar Bhalla, and Dr Pal, has worked with over 500 advertisers and built a 50-member team since its humble beginnings in Bhopal. With this deal, it now finds itself on a bigger stage, supported by one of India’s most dynamic media players.

    For Pocket Aces, the move marks a strategic expansion of its creator management arm, Clout, which already works with over 240 talents in entertainment, comedy, fashion, food, and wellness. Together with Finnet, the portfolio now stretches further into finance and health, categories booming with Gen z audiences looking for trustworthy voices.

    Finnet’s founder and CEO Ayush Shukla reflected on the journey: “I started out with no connections, no backing, just belief in creators. Today, to be invested in by Pocket Aces is validation of that belief. With this partnership, we’re set to go deeper into BFSI and health, driving trust, scale, and growth.”

    Pocket Aces co-founder and CEO Aditi Shrivastava echoed the enthusiasm, “Finnet’s creators are the voice through which millions of young Indians understand money, entrepreneurship, and wellness. We believe the creator economy will only grow bigger, shaping how people learn, shop, and engage.”

    From Filtercopy’s viral sketches to Dice Media’s hit shows and now Finnet’s finance-first storytellers, Pocket Aces seems intent on proving one thing, in India’s creator economy, the house always wins.

  • NZ cricket live in India: Every ball on Prime Video this summer

    NZ cricket live in India: Every ball on Prime Video this summer

    MUMBAI: Prime Video is serving a non-stop season of boundaries and bouncers. The streamer has announced it will bring every ball of New Zealand’s 2025-26 home season live to India, giving fans front-row seats to a packed calendar of Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

    Starting 1st October with a fiery three-match T20I showdown against Australia, the Black Caps’ home summer promises wall-to-wall drama. England follows with six white-ball games through October, before the West Indies arrive for a full tour of five T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests across November and December. South Africa then rounds things off in March 2026 with a high-octane five-match T20I series, while the White Ferns take on Zimbabwe Women for the very first time, alongside fixtures with South Africa.

    Across nine iconic venues, the season will feature cricket’s biggest names, from Rachin Ravindra, Pat Cummins and Travis Head to Sophie Devine, Laura Wolvaardt and Sikandar Raza.

    For Indian fans, it means free access to a feast of cricketing rivalries and historic firsts, streamed directly on Prime Video. With the entire season running till March 2026, one thing is clear, New Zealand’s summer just became India’s too.

     

  • Baraat of laughs Chaupal to stream Sarbala Ji this October

    Baraat of laughs Chaupal to stream Sarbala Ji this October

    MUMBAI: Who needs a wedding planner when you’ve got a sarbala ready to unleash chaos? Chaupal is all set to turn shaadi season into a laugh riot with Sarbala Ji, a comedy of errors premiering exclusively on 2 October 2025.

    The film stars Punjabi powerhouses Gippy Grewal as the prank-loving Sucha and Ammy Virk as the shy groom-to-be Gajjan, alongside Nimrat Khaira and Sargun Mehta, who bring glamour, wit, and perfect comic timing to the madness.

    In Punjabi tradition, the sarbala, the groom’s page boy adds charm to wedding rituals. But in Sarbala Ji, this simple role snowballs into a whirlwind of confusion. When Sucha convinces his cousin Gajjan to make him sarbala, the mandap becomes ground zero for misplaced rituals, runaway animals, and relatives who don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

    Big-fat-Punjabi-wedding tropes get a comic twist here, from dhol beats to dance-offs, as director and cast bring both heart and hilarity to the screen. With family feuds, pranks, and surprises tumbling one after another, the film promises a non-stop rollercoaster of giggles and gasps.

    Beyond the comedy, Sarbala Ji is a love letter to Punjabi culture. The music, the vibrant sets, and the depiction of wedding traditions make it a festive treat. The presence of Nimrat Khaira and Sargun Mehta ensures the fun is laced with sass, sparkle, and plenty of memorable one-liners.

    Chaupal, home to some of the biggest Punjabi originals, positions Sarbala Ji as the go-to family entertainer of the festive season. Whether you’re a veteran of dozens of big-fat Punjabi weddings or someone who’s never seen one, this film guarantees to bring the baraat straight to your living room minus the traffic jams.

    So, mark the date. On 2 October, when the groom ties the knot, be prepared for a joyride where rituals meet pranks, traditions meet chaos, and laughter steals the show.

  • Drawer to dollar Cashify unlocks India’s 219.7 billion dollar resale boom

    Drawer to dollar Cashify unlocks India’s 219.7 billion dollar resale boom

    MUMBAI: Phones that gather dust in drawers may soon gather dollars instead. With the refurbished smartphone market pegged to hit a staggering 219.7 billion dollars by 2033, India is powering up to become the world’s recycling and recommerce hub and Cashify’s Great Indian Upgrade 2025 whitepaper shows just how big this reboot really is.

    Drawing insights from 10,000 survey respondents, proprietary marketplace data, and reports from IDC, Counterpoint and Canalys, the study maps how resale culture has shifted from hush-hush grey channels to an increasingly mainstream movement. Yet, the so-called “Drawer Economy” remains a colossal untapped treasure chest 70 per cent of Indians admit to hoarding two to three unused phones at home, signalling billions of rupees in locked-up value.

    The shift in behaviour is undeniable: 33 per cent of consumers now sell old phones to fund upgrades, 40 per cent are lured by competitive buyback offers, and 63 per cent dispose of devices within six months of upgrading. But the grey market still dominates, with 77 per cent of resale happening informally, Cashify argues this highlights the urgent need for trusted, transparent platforms.

    India shipped 151 million smartphones in 2024, up 4 per cent year-on-year, with the average selling price climbing to Rs 22,100. While Apple’s shipments surged 35 per cent, making India its fourth-largest global market, the brand also dominates resale: it commanded 64.5 per cent of refurbished sales in 2024 and 62.9 per cent in the first half of 2025. Three in five refurbished buyers picked Iphones driven by steady demand for the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro in the premium Rs 60,000-plus bracket, which itself grew 33 per cent YoY.

    Following Apple are Oneplus (10.2 per cent), Xiaomi (9.7 per cent), Samsung (6.1 per cent) and Vivo, which is showing the fastest growth, rising from 2.1 per cent in 2024 to 3.2 per cent in H1 2025. Oppo and Realme follow at 2.4 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.

    While Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai remain the epicentres of trade-ins and refurbished sales, tier-2 and tier-3 cities are catching up fast, signalling that circular tech culture is spreading beyond metros.

    Cashify has also unveiled India’s first Repairability Index, ranking brands on spare-part availability and repair scores addressing one of the biggest barriers to longer device lifecycles. A solid 57.9 per cent of consumers say they prefer repair over replacement, though cost (53.2 per cent) and part shortages remain major hurdles.

    Backing this push is Cashify’s “repair-first, recycle-always” ecosystem, powered by 200 plus physical stores, a 10,000 plus retailer network, and an AI-driven 80,000 sq. ft. refurbishment facility.

    Awareness is on the rise: 76 per cent of respondents could correctly define “refurbished” as “like new tested and repaired by experts.” Of all refurbished buyers, 60 per cent chose Apple, with purchasing patterns shifting upwards: 32.4 per cent spent Rs 21,000–35,000, while 17.1 per cent spent over Rs 50,000. The top drivers? “Like new at lower cost” (50.8 per cent), “budget fit” (32.4 per cent) and sustainability (8 per cent).

    What builds trust? A 12-month warranty tops the list (52.5 per cent), followed by detailed device reports (16.9 per cent) and “try before you buy” options (16.9 per cent).

    “India’s 219B dollars resale revolution isn’t just a market opportunity, it’s a chance to redefine how technology is consumed,” said Cashify co-founder & CEO Mandeep Manocha. “Our findings clearly show consumers are embracing resale, yet the untapped ‘Drawer Economy’ highlights the urgent need for trusted platforms.”

    Cashify co-founder & CMO Nakul Kumar added: “For too long, old phones have been treated as clutter rather than capital. India’s upgrade culture is shifting from impulsive consumption to mindful circulation. Repairability is key when fixing devices becomes easier, sustainability becomes everyday action.”

    The whitepaper also calls for supportive policy frameworks, from easing customs on refurbished imports to tax incentives for sustainable recycling and digital traceability for e-waste.

    As India transitions from hoarding to habit, Cashify’s data-rich report positions recommerce not just as a market disruptor but as a mainstream economic force, one that puts forgotten phones back in play, turns drawers into goldmines, and powers India’s leap towards a greener digital future.

  • Karnataka court tells X it must bow to Indian content rules

    Karnataka court tells X it must bow to Indian content rules

    BENGALURU: X has lost its battle against India’s content regulators. The Karnataka high court today rejected a petition by Elon Musk’s social-media company challenging the government’s authority to issue information-blocking orders.

    “Social media needs to be regulated, and its regulation is a must, more so in cases of offences against women,” declared justice M. Nagaprasanna. The court warned that without proper oversight, citizens’ constitutional right to dignity would be “railroaded.”

    X, formerly Twitter, had argued that only specific provisions of the Information Technology Act gave officials the power to block content. The company wanted a declaration that section 79(3)(b) of the 2000 act did not empower government officers to issue such orders. Instead, it claimed only section 69A, combined with 2009 blocking rules, provided the proper legal framework.

    The platform also sought to avoid joining the government’s Sahyog portal, a compliance mechanism for social-media companies.

    After months of hearings that concluded in late July, justice Nagaprasanna delivered a stinging rebuke to X’s American-style free-speech arguments. “Information and communication has never been left unchecked and unregulated,” he noted. “American judicial thought cannot be transplanted into the soil of Indian constitutional thought.”

    The Centre had opposed X’s petition, arguing that unlawful content deserved less constitutional protection than legitimate speech. The ruling reinforces India’s increasingly assertive approach to regulating global tech platforms, requiring them to comply with local content standards regardless of their corporate preferences.

    The decision comes as India tightens its grip on social media, with companies facing mounting pressure to remove content deemed harmful to public order or national security.

  • Flipkart dares gamers to name it and claim it with BGMI challenge

    Flipkart dares gamers to name it and claim it with BGMI challenge

    MUMBAI: What’s in a name? If you’re a gamer this Big Billion Days, potentially your entire wishlist. Flipkart has pulled off one of its quirkiest surprises yet, teaming up with Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) for a campaign that proves true to its tagline Yahan Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai.

    Every festive season, gamers flock to Flipkart to upgrade their rigs whether it’s snagging a new gaming chair, upgrading to a beast of a device, or grabbing peripherals to boost their play. But in 2025, Flipkart is cranking the stakes up several notches. The prize? The ultimate gamer’s wishlist, free. The challenge? Name2claim, a dare so outlandish it could only be born in BGMI land.

    Conceptualised by DDB Mudra, Name2claim taps into the colourful culture of gamer tags the quirky, witty, often bizarre usernames that have become the identity badge of millions of BGMI players. To win, players must go all in and make their gamer tag their real, official name.

    To make it legit, Flipkart has built a dedicated platform www.name2claim.in where gamers can “file” for a name change by drafting a classified ad announcing their new moniker. Flipkart will even publish the ad on their behalf, officially stamping the transformation. In other words: prove your passion, and the loot is yours.

    Flipkart vice president for marketing & growth Pratik Shetty explained the madness: “Gaming is one of the fastest-growing passions in India, and BGMI has built a community that thrives on creativity and fun. With Name2claim, we wanted to celebrate that culture in a way only Flipkart can by turning something as quirky as a gamer tag into a real identity. It’s a light-hearted challenge that shows how far gamers will go for what they love, and a reminder that during Big Billion Days, yahan sach-much kuch bhi ho sakta hai.”

    Backing the idea, DDB Mudra group group creative directors Gagandeep Bindra and Rahul Arcot added, “BGMI fans are one of the most fun-loving and creative communities out there. It shows in their gamer names and the way they engage. And one thing they love more than playing? A challenge. With Name2claim, we gave them the most unexpected dare change your real name to your gamer tag and win the ultimate wishlist. Crazy? Absolutely. Possible? Only for a true BGMI fan.”

    The campaign has been brought to life with a quirky film stitched entirely from in-game footage, showcasing the randomness, fun, and chaos of the BGMI universe. Fans can watch it on Youtube or catch the buzz spreading fast on Instagram, where reels and reactions are already trending.

    With over 100 million BGMI users in India and Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale attracting millions more, the crossover feels like a cultural flashpoint where e-commerce meets esports. And as Flipkart proves once again sometimes, all it takes to unlock the deal of your dreams is a name.