WhatsApp on Wednesday, launched a WhatsApp-based QR ticketing service that allows DTC commuters in the Delhi NCR region to book their tickets through. 

WhatsApp’s ticketing systems will help simplify the transport service for commuters by allowing them to book their tickets from anywhere. Delhi NCR’s DTC is the first state bus network to have accepted and implemented this service. 

The feature is currently available only on DTC buses in Delhi NCR. 

The system is available on WhatsApp in both Hindi as well as English. Commuters can access it by sending a “Hi” to +91 8744073223 or by scanning the QR code provided by the social media platform. 

The features currently enables commuters o book single journey QR tickets on the DTC and DIMTS routes. And for travellers who frequent the same route will be offered a Quick Purchase feature that further reduces time spent on selecting the start point and destination. 

Furthermore, a commuter can purchase upto six tickets via their preferred UPI payment method available within the chat window. 

WhatsApp launches QR ticketing system for DTC buses in Delhi NCR

WhatsApp’s ticketing systems will help simplify the transport service for commuters by allowing them to book their tickets on WhatsApp from anywhere.

Leadership changes at ZEEL: CRO Atul Das steps down, Anil Malhotra to succeed

Tata Digital undergoes organisational restructuring

WinZO to export impact-driven and Indian culture-based gaming tech

Disney announces Q2 results: Streaming hits profit milestone

Sharan Hegde first South Asian finance creator to make red carpet appearance at Cannes

Gupshup appointments Salim Ali as chief marketing officer

Representational image via Unsplash

Zee-Sony merger saga ends: Timeline of the failed merger

Why are Indian brands advertising in NYC's Times Square?

What Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick teaches us about leadership

Advertising is in the position where tobacco was: IPG's Arun Kumar 

Biz Moves: Interactive Avenues, Verve Media, Foxymoron and Grapes

There is an opportunity for building a better agency, not just a different one: Manja's Prajato Guha

BJP's digital ad spending soars to nearly Rs.17 crore in last 7 days amid election season

Pidilite records Rs 11,118 crore as net sales for the year

Amazon Prime Video confirms Aparna Purohit's exit

600 million Indian consumers embrace the open internet: Trade Desk

Piyush Pandey

Adtech regulation a priority for Modi govt in third term: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Credibility of news and platforms are as important as monetisation challenges: Anurag Thakur

HUL: Meet the leaders who have emerged from "The CEO Factory"

Punit Goenka addresses Zee employees; ensures no layoffs due to failed merger

Disney's strategic sale to Viacom18 set to boost market share to 40 percent

The Leader's Edge: Storyboard18 in conversation with leaders, decision makers and disruptors

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

Chef Sanjyot Keer, known for his fusion of flavors and captivating Indian culinary creations will be making his debut at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Chef Keer has carved a niche for himself in the digital culinary world, garnering a massive subscriber base of 15 million across social media platforms and captivating audiences with his delectable Indian recipes. His innovative approach to food and storytelling have earned him widespread acclaim and admiration. He was recently seen cooking misal pav with the global music sensation Ed Sheeran.

Niharika NM prepares to attend the iconic film festival for the third consecutive year. Niharika has become a staple at the world-renowned festival, captivating audiences and fashion enthusiasts alike with her appearances. Having made her debut in Hollywood with her cameo in Netflix’s widely popular series Big Mouth alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Jordan Peele, Padma Lakshmi earlier this year, Niharika is set to take the global stage yet again at the Cannes Film Festival.

Having worked with the creme-de-la-creme of the Indian film industry, right from Aamir Khan to Mahesh Babu, from Yash to Priyanka Chopra, Niharika has stamped her authority through her shareable videos. Stay tuned as Niharika NM takes Cannes by storm for the third consecutive year, promising yet another unforgettable moment at the world's most prestigious Red Carpet.

Sanjyot shared, “The Cannes Film Festival is an incredible stage for cinema and culture. I am grateful to have been invited to experience this Festival in all its glory. In my 8 year journey with Your Food Lab, I have strived hard to make every food video feel like cinema in my own way of storytelling. My life-long goal is to bring a fresh perspective to traditional Indian cooking, making it accessible to audiences worldwide through my work as a culinary artist.”

Niharika shared, "Being invited to witness the grandeur of the Cannes Film Festival for the third time feels lovely. For the film enthusiast in me, it’s like a dream I don’t wake up from. I'm looking forward to experiencing cinema at its finest yet again. ” 



Indian influencers Niharika NM and Chef Sanjyot Keer to attend Cannes Film Festival

Interactive Avenues, the digital arm of IPG Mediabrands India, has joined forces with Chhanv Foundation, a non-profit organization, for a trend-jacking initiative in support of acid attack survivors. 

The agency gave a creative twist to the viral social media trend “ek machhli paani mai gayi” and crafted a series of Instagram reels focused on Sheroes Hangout – a chain of cafes run by acid attack survivors. The films highlight the courage, resilience and indomitable spirit of these ‘Sheroes’, who have been victims of extreme gender-based violence.

According to a report by the Acid Survivors Foundation, close to 70 percent of acid attacks are against women. These attacks not only lead to permanent physical disfigurement but also profoundly impact the education, livelihood, social well-being and mental health of the victims. 

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BQ-m2t-UY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5BQ-m2t-UY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; 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Since 2013, Chhanv Foundation has emerged as a beacon of hope for these survivors, empowering them through much-needed medical treatment, surgeries, legal aid, as well as education, skill training and employment opportunities. Sheroes Hangout is a social enterprise initiative by Chhanv Foundation. 

Shantanu Sirohi, COO, Interactive Avenues, said, “We firmly believe in using our craft to make a difference not just to clients, but also to communities. Through this initiative, we wanted to boost Sheroes Hangout Cafe's visibility, attract more patrons, and raise funds for the rehabilitation of acid attack victims.”

Alok Dixit, Founder, Chhanv Foundation, added, “Our mission is to Stop Acid Attacks and create a more inclusive society where survivors are supported, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. Heinous crimes like acid attacks can be reduced through public awareness campaigns, and our collaboration with Interactive Avenues marks a significant step in that direction."
 


Interactive Avenues partners with Chhanv Foundation to empower acid attack survivors

The Walt Disney Company reported their earnings for its second quarter ended March 30, 2024 on Tuesday. Revenues for the quarter increased to $22.1 billion from $21.8 billion in the prior-year quarter.



Diluted earnings per share (EPS) was a loss of $0.01 for the current quarter compared to income of $0.69 in the prior-year quarter. Diluted EPS decreased to a nominal loss due to goodwill impairments in the quarter, partially offset by higher operating income at entertainment and experiences.





“In the second fiscal quarter of 2024, we achieved strong double digit percentage growth in adjusted EPS, and met or exceeded our financial guidance for the quarter. As a result of outperformance in the second quarter, our new full year adjusted EPS growth target is now 25 percent. We remain on track to generate approximately $14 billion of cash provided by operations and over $8 billion of free cash flow this fiscal year,” said a press statement released by the company on May 7.





The company also repurchased $1 billion worth of shares in the second quarter and looks forward to continuing to return capital to shareholders.



The Entertainment Direct-to-Consumer business was profitable in the second quarter. 



“While we are expecting softer Entertainment DTC results in Q3 to be driven by Disney+ Hotstar, we continue to expect our combined streaming businesses to be profitable in the fourth quarter, and to be a meaningful future growth driver for the company, with further improvements in profitability in fiscal 2025,” the statement added.



Disney+ Core subscribers increased by more than 6 million in the second quarter, and Disney+ Core ARPU increased sequentially by 44 cents.



Sports operating income declined slightly versus the prior year, reflecting the timing impact of College Football Playoff games at ESPN, offset by improved results at Star India.



The Experiences business was also a growth driver in the second quarter, with revenue growth of 10 percent, segment operating income growth of 12 percent, and margin expansion of 60 basis points versus the prior year. 





“Our strong performance in Q2, with adjusted EPS up 30 percent compared to the prior year, demonstrates we are delivering on our strategic priorities and building for the future,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. 



“Our results were driven in large part by our Experiences segment as well as our streaming business. Importantly, entertainment streaming was profitable for the quarter, and we remain on track to achieve profitability in our combined streaming businesses in Q4,” he added.







“Looking at our company as a whole, it’s clear that the turnaround and growth initiatives we set in motion last year have continued to yield positive results. We have a number of highly anticipated theatrical releases arriving over the next few months; our television shows are resonating with audiences and critics alike; ESPN continues to break ratings records as we further its evolution into the preeminent digital sports platform; and we are turbocharging growth in our Experiences business with a number of near- and long-term strategic investments,” Iger said. 



Walt Disney and Comcast are reportedly locked in a disagreement over the valuation of Hulu. The issue stems from Disney's plan to acquire Comcast's 33 percent stake in the streaming platform, a move agreed upon last year.
Their contract included a provision for a neutral third-party valuation if the initial assessments by each company's chosen banks differed significantly. 


As per a Reuters report, JP Morgan Chase has valued Hulu for Disney at around $27.5 billion, while Morgan Stanley, representing Comcast, placed the value at over $40 billion.


To bridge this gap, Disney and Comcast are now searching for an independent investment bank to provide a neutral valuation of Hulu. This valuation will determine the final price Comcast receives for its stake in the streaming giant.


The significant difference in valuations highlights the current volatility within the streaming service industry. While Disney is likely seeking a more conservative price, Comcast is aiming to capitalise on the perceived growth potential of Hulu. The involvement of a third-party advisor  is expected to bring a resolution to the matter. 


On November 1, 2023, The Walt Disneyannounced today that it will acquire the 33 percent stake in Hulu, LLC held by Comcast Corp.’s NBC Universal (NBCU), following Comcast’s exercise of its right under the put/call arrangement between the two companies.


Under the terms of the put/call arrangement, by December 1, Disney expected it will pay NBCU approximately $8.61 billion, representing NBCU’s percentage of the $27.5 billion guaranteed floor value for Hulu that was set when the companies entered into their agreement in 2019 minus the anticipated outstanding capital call contributions payable by NBCU to Disney. 



Under the appraisal process agreed to by Disney and Comcast, Hulu’s equity fair value will be assessed as of September 30, 2023, and if the value is ultimately determined to be greater than the guaranteed floor value, Disney will pay NBCU its percentage of the difference between the equity fair value and the guaranteed floor value. 

Hulu valuation dilemma: Third-party to decide price tag?

Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd reported an 11 per cent decline in consolidated profit after tax at Rs 10.74 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2024, as per PTI. 

The company had posted a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 12.08 crore in the same quarter previous fiscal, Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd (HMVL) said in a regulatory filing. Revenue from operations during the quarter under review stood at Rs 188.05 crore as against Rs 188.13 crore in the year-ago period, it added.


Printing and publishing of newspapers and periodicals segment clocked a revenue of Rs 181.47 crore in Q4 as against Rs 186.63 crore in the corresponding period a year ago, as per the report. 


Digital registered Rs 5.84 crore revenue in Q4 as against Rs 1 crore a year ago, the filing said. Total expenses in the quarter were higher at Rs 219.51 crore as compared to Rs 207.64 crore earlier, the company said. In the fiscal ended March 31, 2024, profit after tax was at Rs 9.95 crore. It had posted a consolidated loss after tax of Rs 38.09 crore in FY23. Revenue from operations in FY24 was at Rs 704.09 crore as against Rs 713.4 crore in FY23, it added.

Hindustan Media reports 11 per cent decline in consolidated profit after tax at Rs 10.74 crore

Broadcaster Star India's operating loss from the sports business has increased by 50 percent to $342 million for the six months ended March 30, compared to $228 million in the corresponding six months of the previous fiscal, as per reports.

India sports revenue dropped 17 percent to $105 million, while operating expenses for the quarter declined by 48 percent to $102 million. Ad revenue for the quarter increased by 9% to $37 million, even though affiliate revenue remained stagnant at $63 million.

The company's ad revenue for the first six months more than doubled to $221 million, while affiliate revenue declined 3 percent to $128 million.

Star India's sports business narrowed its operating loss by 73 percent to $27 million for the quarter ended March 30 due to lower programming and production costs attributable to the non-renewal of Board of Control for Cricket in India rights, partially offset by an increase in costs for Indian Premier League matches due to more matches aired in the current quarter compared to the prior-year quarter.


The Walt Disney-owned company's operating revenue from the sports business rose 40 percent to $504 million, while operating expenses jumped 51 percent to $786 million.

In Walt Disney said that the higher programming and production costs at Star India were attributable to higher rights costs for ICC and, to a lesser extent, IPL cricket programming in the current period compared to the prior-year period, in its Q2 results.


The increase in ICC cricket programming costs was due to an increase in average costs per match and more matches aired, while the increase in costs for IPL cricket programming was due to more matches aired, it added.

It also said that these increases were partially offset by the comparison to costs for BCCI cricket programming in the prior-year period as we did not renew the rights for the current fiscal year.



Star India's sports revenue dropped 17 percent to $105 million

Social media users might be led to believe that Anant Ambani is embroiled in a mix-up, but it is nothing more than fake news being circulated by financial scammers.

Multiple unverified platforms are circulating links with clickbait headlines designed to make readers think Ambani is involved in a controversy surrounding a Vantara interview. Headlines like "CNBC-TV18 management refuses to comment on the scandal surrounding its interview with Vantara (Star of the Forest)" and "He didn't realise the microphone was on" are being circulated to lead users to a full-fledged article impersonating leading media organisation banners.

<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/WhatsApp-Image-2024-05-07-at-4.15.32-PM-2024-05-d75b0c0d03aed38a708e7d93d7af7198-196x300.jpeg" alt="" width="196" height="300" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-30958" />

<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2024/05/WhatsApp-Image-2024-05-07-at-4.15.33-PM-2024-05-7946169d5acd1af60f008cd129f09510-1024x1009.jpeg" alt="" width="750" height="739" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-30957" />


These articles fabricate a complete interview with a conversation between News18's Anand Narasimhan and Ambani. The conversation is even embedded with links to platforms like "Every Edge," a cryptocurrency platform that entices users with claims of earning "Rs90000 to Rs1600000 per day" on their homepage.

Some of the pages like 'Finanstic' and ‘Pinky’ sharing this article on social media platforms appear to be nothing but bots.


FAKE NEWS: Hoax media articles on Anant Ambani target netizens with crypto scam

The Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the resolution plan of Sapphire Media Limited for the iconic radio network Big 92.7 FM, owned by Reliance Broadcast Network Limited.


The NCLT Bench comprising technical member Madhu Sinha and judicial member Reeta Kohli approved the resolution plan submitted by Sapphire Media Limited in its order dated May 6.


“The interlocutory application is allowed. The Resolution Plan submitted by Sapphire Media Limited is hereby approved. It shall become effective from this date and shall form part of this order,” the bench said in its order.


Big FM, owned by Reliance Broadcast Network Limited, was going through the insolvency process since Feb 2023. The Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) was initiated under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of 2016 and Rohit Mehra was appointed as the resolution professional.

 

A committee of creditors of Big FM was also appointed, which approved Sapphire Media Limited’s resolution plan on November 11, 2023, with a voting share of 88.97% in accordance with the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. 


The resolution professional subsequently filed an application with NCLT Mumbai seeking approval of Sapphire Media Limited’s resolution plan. As per the plan, Sapphire Media Limited will pay Rs. 261 crores to secured and operational creditors as against the total claims of Rs. 947.5 crore.


The NCLT order also directed the monitoring committee to supervise the implementation of the resolution plan and file the status of its implementation before it from time to time. 



The acquisition by Sapphire Media Limited is expected to inject fresh energy into Big FM. As the country’s largest radio network with 58 stations and a reach of over 1,200 towns and 50,000+ villages, the brand will reinforce Sapphire Media Limited’s pan-India presence.

NCLT approves resolution plan of Sapphire Media Limited for Big 92.7 FM

On Monday, the Election Commission (EC) asked political parties to remove all fake content from their social media handles across platforms within three hours of this content being brought to their notice, as per reports. 

The EC has also asked parties to avoid impersonating others, post content that is derogatory towards women, abstain from using children in campaigns, avoid any harm to animals and refrain from circulating or publishing deepfake videos. 

Recently, there were deepfake videos circulating of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and of actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh. These videos were promptly taken down from social media platforms and complaints were filed to this effect. 

Additionally, the EC also alerted political parities of against the misuse of AI tools to create said deepfakes or disseminate misinformation. The EC issued directions to political parties for ethical and responsible use of social media amid the elections to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders. 

EC asks political parties to use social media responsibly and ethically for election campaigning

Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Ola recently took to X to share his views on gender pronouns which initiated a debate on the microblogging platform. 

Aggarwal asked LinkedIn’s AI chatbot about himself and shared the response in the form of a screenshot on X. The chatbot used pronouns “they” and “their” to address the CEO.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hoping that this “pronoun illness” doesn’t reach India.<br><br>Many “big city schools” in India are now teaching it to kids. Also see many CVs with pronouns these days. Need to know where to draw the line in following the west blindly! <a href="https://t.co/q4CwiV6dkE">pic.twitter.com/q4CwiV6dkE</a></p>&mdash; Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhash/status/1787191204104532074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He wrote in his post, “Hoping that this “pronoun illness” doesn’t reach India.”

He added that many “big city schools” are now teaching kids how to use these gender pronouns. He also said, “Also see many CVs with pronouns these days. Need to know where to draw the line in following the west blindly!”

"This “pronouns illness” is being perpetuated in India by MNCs without us Indians even realising it,” he said in the post. 

Debates have sparked in the posts comment section since, both for and against Aggarwal’s statement. 

While some believe that the CEO is right to bring up this topic and initiate a discussion around it, others argued that using the correct pronouns is the bare minimum one can do to respect the LGBTQ+ community. 

WhatsApp launches QR ticketing system for DTC buses in Delhi NCR

WhatsApp’s ticketing systems will help simplify the transport service for commuters by allowing them to book their tickets on WhatsApp from anywhere.

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