Festival Season

Early workforce planning, richer incentives, and stronger Tier-2 hiring helped e-commerce and logistics players manage record festive demand without major disruptions, staffing firms told Moneycontrol

Data Story: Bank credit growth can run beyond the festive sprint

Festivals may be nearing an end but Indians may continue to indulge some more as tax cuts have increased affordability.

Logistics firms brace for Diwali rush amid supply chain strain, worker crunch

From smart routing to predictive dashboards, 3PL players are using AI to ease warehouse congestion and keep India’s festive deliveries on schedule..

Amazon, Flipkart festive blitz fuels 29% YoY surge in first-week sales to record Rs 60,700 crore

GST reforms, early access deals and a surge in Gen Z spending have turbocharged demand across categories, from smartphones to appliances.

From iPhones to brooms, Instamart’s festive sale delivers record-breaking Day 1 orders

Traffic surged 5X while Tier 2 cities like Bathinda and Ludhiana emerged as surprise growth leaders

Amazon expands quick commerce service 'Now' to Mumbai, after Delhi and Bengaluru

With Mumbai now live, Amazon is signalling it is done testing the waters and is ready for a larger play in India’s $7-billion quick commerce market.

Swiggy launches instant gifting platform ‘Giftables’ for curated festive gifting

The service, currently live in Bangalore and expanding to metros including Mumbai and Delhi, appears as a tab within the main Swiggy app rather than a standalone application

Swiggy hikes platform fee for third time in three weeks, taking it to Rs 15

At Swiggy’s present order volumes — estimated at over 2 million orders per day — the higher fee translates to up to Rs 3 crore in daily revenue, compared to around Rs 2.4 crore when the fee was at Rs 12. That’s an additional Rs 54 crore per quarter and Rs 216 crore annually if the rate sustains.

Zomato hikes platform fee to Rs 12 to boost profitability amid festival season rush

The company has also begun testing a Rs 50 'VIP Mode' in select locations that promises faster deliveries, priority riders, and a concierge-style service for select top customers.

Amazon, Flipkart expand fulfilment centres, create 4 lakh seasonal jobs ahead of flagship festival season sales

The new fulfillment centers, micro-warehouses, and quick commerce networks are set to speed up deliveries across metros and Tier-2 cities amid the festival season rush.

Amazon, Flipkart await govt clarity on GST reforms before finalising festive sale plans

Shoppers are holding off on big-ticket purchases ahead of the festive sales, anticipating a possible GST cut. Analysts say that a lack of clarity in taxation may lead to sales moving to other channels.

D2C brands pile in inventory, double ad spends on quick commerce amid festive rush

D2C brands are rushing to load warehouses, bundle festive SKUs and jostle for visibility on Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart, even as staffing shortages slow down restocking and push up ad costs.

Delivery deficit: Quick commerce firms face worker crunch ahead of festival season rush

Average per-order payouts in quick commerce have dropped by as much as 40 percent over the last year, falling from Rs 34–Rs 42 in 2024 to Rs 22–Rs 30 in 2025, according to recruitment platforms, with some even earning as low as Rs 15-Rs 25 per order.

Gig hiring to rise 15–20% with over 2.16 lakh new roles as firms kick off festival season push early

Retailers, e-commerce firms and logistics players have begun festive hiring weeks in advance, eyeing deeper reach and faster fulfilment across smaller cities

Revered or Reviled? Places Where Ravana is worshipped: Surprising temples across India

In this fascinating episode, we explore the lesser-known places in India where Ravana, the King of Lanka, is revered rather than reviled. From Kanpur to Mandore, uncover the unique traditions that celebrate his wisdom, devotion, and legacy. Join Payal Tiwari Sharma of Moneycontrol as we delve into the rich cultural tapestry that honors this complex figure in Indian mythology!

Navratri fasting and feasting: 6 ways to balance festive treats and maintain your health and fitness

Festivals are a time for joy and indulgence, and you don't have to miss out on that. By being mindful, planning ahead, and making small changes, you can enjoy the festive season without losing sight of your fitness goals. The key is finding balance, so enjoy the treats while still taking care of your health. Here are some tips you may follow.

City dwellers to splurge Rs 1.85 lakh cr, but top-tier may spend less this festive season: LocalCircles

Comparison of spending trends with the 2022 pan-India survey shows a slowdown in spending at top tier of people looking to spend Rs 50,000 and more

Dussehra to Diwali: Here’s how to stay healthy during the festival season

Festival flu is a real challenge! By following these tips, you can ensure that you not only enjoy the festivities but also stay healthy throughout this season.

India festival spending booms despite inflation worries, global slowdown

Online and offline sales during the Hindu festival period starting in the last week of September and lasting until early November are estimated to cross $27 billion, almost double the amount in the same pre-COVID period in 2019, and nearly 25% higher than last year, according to industry estimates.

JioMart rolls out month-long sale, to offer up to 80% off across categories during festive season

Limited period 'flash deals' will also be offered every three hours on the app where exclusive deals will be available on consumer durables and electronic gadgets such as laptops, smartwatches and smartphones.

Amazon India to waive 50% fee for new sellers in festive season

All new sellers registering on Amazon.in between August 28 and October 26, and launching within 90 days can avail a 50% waiver on the amount they pay to sell their products through the website, Amazon.in said in a statement.

Theatre reopening may impact OTT originals, platforms to see slower subscription growth

Theatre owners will also have to deliver better experiences to draw viewers away from these platforms

Interview | Govt should consider some form of direct income support in order to spur consumer sentiment and demand, says Assocham India's President Vineet Agarwal

The Assocham president said that despite the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 and lockdowns across the country the association expects India's GDP to grow 9 to 10 percent in 2021-22.

Expect sugar prices to increase in coming months: Triveni Engg

In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Tarun Sawhney, VC & MD of Triveni Engineering & Industries spoke about the results and his outlook for the company.

Demonetisation to slow down PC, phone sales in Q4: IDC

The ongoing cash crisis is expected to pull down feature phone shipments sharply by 24.6 percent and that of smartphone by 17.5 percent during the quarter compared to the previous three-month period.