OpenAI goes local in India, ChatGPT now available in INR: Check ChatGPT Plus, Pro prices here
This rollout comes just after the release of GPT-5, OpenAI's latest and most advanced model. GPT-5 offers improved performance in 12 Indian languages, making it more relevant for the local market. There is also buzz about a more budget-friendly plan called ChatGPT Go, reportedly priced at Rs 399 per month, which could target casual users or students.Interestingly, local pricing was one of the key demands made to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during his visit to India in February 2025, as per MoneyControl. Indian startup founders and developers had pointed out that high costs were a barrier to wider adoption. Earlier in June, OpenAI's vice president of engineering, Srinivas Narayanan, told MoneyControl that the company was working on making its tools more affordable for Indian developers as part of its global accessibility push. "India has incredibly creative developers with a deep tech ecosystem. You have people who actually are open to embracing new technology, along with a government which is super-excited about making AI more accessible through the National AI Mission," Narayanan said.India is now OpenAI's second-largest market outside the US, and Altman has even suggested that it could soon overtake the US in terms of ChatGPT usage.However, OpenAI isn't alone in chasing Indian users. Rivals like Google and Perplexity are also expanding aggressively. Perplexity is offering Bharti Airtel's 360 million customers a free one-year subscription to its premium tier (normally priced at Rs 17,000 annually), while Google is providing college students in India a year's free access to its AI tools.- Ends
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Economic Times
10 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Born before India's Independence: 7 desi brands that we keep on loving
Synopsis India Independence Day 2025: From humble beginnings before India's independence to navigating the complexities of globalization, several iconic brands have become deeply ingrained in the nation's collective memory. Boroline, Rooh Afza, Keventers, Parle-G, Cipla, Godrej, and Vadilal have adapted to changing consumer tastes while retaining their core values. ET Online From Boroline to Vadilal, several iconic Indian brands have stood the test of time since pre-independence era India's journey since 1947 has been nothing short of a transformation. However, throughout these rapid changes, globalisation, opening of new markets and the arrival of shiny new names, there are certain brands that have stayed with us like good-old that were born in the days before our tricolour first flew over an independent India, that weathered the consequences of partition, and yet adapted to changing consumer tastes, carving their way out to remain relevant across generations. From creams that healed the cuts and scrapes of childhood to biscuits that sweetened our teatimes, from the cool comfort of a rose-scented drink to the sturdy locks that guarded the family heirlooms, these brands are woven into our collective memory. These brands are like shared stories or maybe a passed-down recipe reminding us that while the world moves forward, some bonds only deepen with time. Also Read: Tryst with Growth: India's economic journey from Nehru to now Boroline "The miracle cure for any ailment"- doesn't the line remind you of a white, thick-textured cream? Well, Boroline's story began in 1929 in West Bengal, when India's Swadeshi movement was at its peak. Its founder, Gour Mohan Dutta, crafted the cream as a distinctly Indian alternative to imported antiseptic ointments. Packaged in its iconic green tube, the elephant logo quickly became familiar on shelves and in homes. Away from being just another balm, Boroline symbolised defiance - an everyday product tied to the idea of self-reliance and national the decades, Boroline navigated new challenges that came with globalisation. International brands targeting middle-class consumers began flooding the market. Yet…Boroline held firm!The cream remained affordable and unpretentious, emphasising value and trust rather than other brands' glitzy packaging. The distinctive elephant mark and green tube maintained shelf visibility, while regional marketing reinforced its heritage appeal in smaller towns and in today's time, Boroline has been rediscovered as a retro cult favourite, not just a functional ointment, but a statement of authenticity and media chatter often refers to 'grandmother's cream,' and even lifestyle influencers include it in their skincare routines. It's now a beauty-heritage crossover, beloved for its storied past as much as its smooth, antiseptic utility. This dynamic blend of trust and trend keeps Boroline firmly relevant even after nearly a century of its birth. Also Read: Narco-colonialism: How Britain exploited Indians for its drug trade with China Rooh Afza Be it your roadside falooda, or delightful cup of pudding, Rooh Afza has always been a part of these desserts. Originated in Old Delhi in 1907, Rooh Afza was developed by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed, the founder Hamdard, as a Unani herbal cooling tonic. Composed of rose, kewra, herbs and floral extracts, it offered a fragrant antidote to the sweltering Indian summer. Its formulation, both aromatic and refreshing, made it an instant hit, which was seen as a fixture of households in pre-Independence divided not just people but also brands. Rooh Afza's makers ended up across India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh. Despite geographical divisions, the pink-coloured syrup sustained its cultural role. It served across Ramadan iftars, summer family get-togethers, and festive each country's Hamdard branch tailored the recipe subtly to suit local palates, the core rosy, fragrant refreshment remained constant throughout the Rooh Afza is much more than a drink - maybe a vessel of nostalgia. Its flavour immediately brings back the childhood summers and cross-border shared enduring popularity is a testament to how a product can transcend commerce to become a cultural emblem despite modern beverage trends and newer alternatives. Also Read: The 'Hindu-German conspiracy' that nearly shook the British Raj Keventers Keventers' story began in 1889 when Swedish dairy entrepreneur Edward Keventer arrived in India. By 1894, he had taken over the Aligarh Dairy Farm, producing milk, butter, and cheese. The brand was formally established in 1925, earning a reputation for quality dairy productsOriginally supplying milk and condensed milk, the brand quickly became known for quality and innovation. In 1940, Ram Krishna Dalmia acquired it from the Swedish owners. After that Keventers expanded to supply hospitals, the army, and government offices, becoming an emblem of reliable, industrial-scale dairy as the decades rolled on, regulatory challenges and economic shifts caused the brand to fade from prominence. Its core operations were eclipsed by state expansion and competitors, and the once-vibrant brand nearly disappeared. But the emotional imprint had lingered, especially among Delhi's older residents who remembered its glass-bottled milk and creamy texture.A nostalgic revival occurred in 2014 when Agastya Dalmia (grandson of R.K. Dalmia) relaunched Keventers as a retro milkshake chain. Vintage interiors, pastel aesthetics, and Instagram-friendly presentation turned it into a youth favourite, once again!The brand's revival proved that heritage could be transformed into an experiential offering, appealing to both nostalgia and modern sensibilities simultaneously, revitalising a century-old name into a contemporary success. Also Read: Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji gave India its own currency Parle-G Say 'G maane Genius' and generations of Indians will picture the little girl on the yellow packet. Parle-G's origins trace back to the late 1930s when the Parle Products company launched its Gluco biscuits. By 1939, they had become a hit across India, and in the early 1980s, the name was officially shortened to Parle-G. The 'Parle-G Girl' quickly became one of India's most recognisable brand the start, Parle-G was made to be accessible. It was affordable, had a long shelf life, and reached deep into rural markets. Whether as a school snack, a tea-time staple, or a quick breakfast for workers, it was present in every corner of the country. Its strength lay in its ubiquity rather than even with a crowded biscuit market, Parle-G continues to be seen and consumed. Its brand equity is deeply embedded in Indian memory from childhood to office desks. Generations grew up with its taste, and no amount of glossier competitors has unseated its position as the nation's trusted, crunchy, comforting companion. Cipla Cipla was founded in 1935 by Khwaja Abdul Hamied as Chemical, Industrial & Pharmaceutical Laboratories. The idea was to manufacture affordable medicines for Indians, reducing dependency on expensive British imports. Its early mission was rooted in public health more than World War II, Cipla scaled production to meet urgent medical needs. In the years following, under the leadership of Yusuf Hamied (who succeeded his father in the 1970s), Cipla gained international recognition by launching generic versions of critical drugs, especially for HIV/AIDS treatment. This humanitarian pricing model earned the company global credibility and solidarity from health-rights Cipla remains a major pharmaceutical player. Its brand identity balances heritage with innovation. It is still viewed through the lens of service and social purpose, while investing in R&D, emerging therapies, and new brand stands as a rare Indian business where ideals and enterprise have remained deeply intertwined for nearly ninety years. Godrej Godrej began in 1897 when Ardeshir Godrej set out to make locks and safes in India that could rival European craftsmanship. His products quickly earned a reputation for quality and durability, laying the foundation for a brand built on trust. In 1918, the company launched the world's first vegetable oil soap, breaking away from animal-fat-based soaps and appealing to a growing number of vegetarian brand's reliability was dramatically proven in 1944 when an explosion at the Victoria docks destroyed much of the area, yet Godrej safes were found intact. By 1951, the company was even manufacturing ballot boxes for India's first general elections, further cementing its role in national the years, Godrej diversified into furniture, appliances, chemicals, real estate, and more, yet it has kept its core promise of trust and quality. Becoming synonymous with steel almirahs, it is a name that has grown with the country, adapting to modern needs while holding on to values that have spanned generations. Vadilal What began in 1907 as a small soda fountain in Ahmedabad by Vadilal Gandhi would go on to become one of India's most beloved ice cream brands. In 1926, his son Ranchod Lal Gandhi opened the first Vadilal Soda Fountain store, later importing a modern ice cream machine from Germany to improve quality. By independence, the brand had already established a strong presence in 1970s saw a rapid expansion under Ranchod Lal's sons, Ramchandra and Laxman Gandhi, followed by the fourth generation in the 1990s who took Vadilal national. Innovation played a big role in its success, from new flavours to creating one of the world's largest ice cream sundaes, a feat that landed them in the Limca Book of Records in Vadilal remains a leader in frozen desserts, blending traditional favourites like kesar pista and kulfi with fun, modern formats. It has also expanded into frozen foods, showing that a brand can evolve while keeping the warmth and charm of its origins intact.
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
Indian Investors Show Cautious Optimism Ahead of US-Russia Summit
(Bloomberg) -- Before the trading day starts we bring you a digest of the key news and events that are likely to move markets. Today we look at: Good morning, this is Chiranjivi Chakraborty, an equities reporter in Mumbai. There's not much to cheer for equity bulls on a rainy Thursday morning in the city. Nifty futures are trading steady, and Asian markets haven't managed to sustain Wednesday's rally. The focus is shifting to the weekly expiry of Nifty options, especially with a long weekend ahead and a highly anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, foreign funds seem to be toning down their bearish bets. This, combined with still hopeful retail investors and local institutions sets the stage for a surprise move in the days ahead. Cautious optimism ahead of the long weekend Odds favor the Nifty 50 Index breaking its six-week losing streak — the longest since 2020. Despite a dip on Tuesday, the benchmark is up for the week. With Nifty options expiring and an extended weekend ahead, some short covering could give the market an extra lift. Local traders and global funds may also keep positions lighter than usual ahead of the upcoming US-Russia summit on the Ukraine war, mindful of the past market jolts from the unpredictable Donald Trump. REITs quietly building momentum While equity markets wobble, India's listed real estate investment trusts are on a tear. Driven by the boom in global capability centers and steady demand for high-quality office and retail space, the four listed REITs distributed 15 billion rupees ($172 million) to investors in the June quarter, up 13% from last year, according to the Indian REITs association. The sector's stability and income potential are making REITs a regular feature in investment portfolios. Derivatives traders switching lanes? Another corner of the market is drawing increased interest from traders. With derivatives trading volumes falling, margin trading exposure — or leveraged bets — in the cash market is up nearly 30% since April to 911 billion rupees, according to data from the National Stock Exchange. The surge suggests that some options traders may have switched tracks due to stricter regulations in the derivatives segment since November. While the jump hasn't yet shown up in cash market turnover, brokers are benefiting from the higher commissions such trades generate. Three great reads from Bloomberg today: Over in bond land, benchmark 10-year yields have burst past the 6.5% mark for the first time since April, climbing about 15 basis points since the RBI dashed rate-cut hopes. Big buyers are staying away, waiting to see if fiscal measures can soften the blow from steep US tariffs. And just to keep things interesting, a fat-finger trade briefly sent yields tumbling Wednesday morning, only for them to snap right back up. To read India Markets Buzz every day, follow Bloomberg India on WhatsApp. Sign up here. --With assistance from Kartik Goyal and Savio Shetty. (Corrects year in second paragraph.) More stories like this are available on
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump's crypto cheer lifts Bitcoin, but core risks still loom
The cryptocurrency faithful are having quite a moment. Donald Trump's return to the White House has brought a veritable cornucopia of pro-crypto promises, from talk of a 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" to declarations about making America the 'crypto capital of the world." Markets have reacted predictably: Bitcoin has surged past previous highs, and believers are treating this as ultimate vindication. Yet beneath the sheen of political legitimacy, nothing fundamental has changed about cryptocurrencies' essential nature. The irony in Trump's embrace of crypto is hard to miss. The proposed 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and US Digital Asset Stockpile" will apparently consist entirely of assets seized from criminals. In other words, the US government's official cryptocurrency holdings will be digital assets once used for ransomware, money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities. It's rather like announcing a strategic reserve of stolen goods as proof of their virtue. This detail neatly captures crypto's central problem. Despite all the technological sophistication and political endorsements, it remains the payment method of choice for criminals worldwide. Every major ransomware attack, dark web marketplace, and cross-border money laundering network gravitates to crypto for the same reasons enthusiasts celebrate it—anonymity, irreversibility, and freedom from traditional oversight. Political enthusiasm can't fix these structural flaws. Governments seeking to legitimise crypto are, in effect, blessing a system designed to bypass governmental authority. The contradiction is glaring: regulators tout an asset class while acknowledging that their strategic reserves will be filled mainly by seizing it from criminals. The ease with which fraud and theft occur in crypto remains staggering. Consider the 'socialised loss" strategy, where a major Indian exchange, after losing customer funds to hackers, decided everyone should share the pain, a perfect example of the Wild West ethos. When exchanges profit, it's capitalism; when they're robbed, suddenly everyone's a socialist. The frequency of such episodes would be comical if they didn't wipe out life savings. These aren't isolated mishaps or growing pains; they're built into a system that operates outside traditional financial protections. When a bank is robbed, deposit insurance protects you. When a crypto exchange is 'hacked", often a euphemism, you're on your own. The very decentralisation crypto champions means there's no safety net when things go wrong. Trump's enthusiasm also underlines another uncomfortable reality: an anti-establishment movement has been fully co-opted by the establishment it once vowed to disrupt. Wall Street, which Bitcoin was meant to circumvent, is now its biggest backer via ETFs and institutional products. The so-called revolutionary currency depends on the same traditional finance for its legitimacy. Political endorsement carries psychological weight. When governments and big institutions adopt a position, it creates an illusion of safety and permanence. Past crypto bubbles fed on tech mystique and get-rich-quick dreams; this cycle adds political validation, which could make it more dangerous for ordinary investors mistaking political backing for sound investment. For Indian investors, the temptation to chase this apparent legitimacy will be strong. Domestic taxation has curbed much local speculation, but political developments in the US could encourage some to seek workarounds. The 'don't miss out" narrative, wrapped in patriotic American rhetoric about financial dominance, could be persuasive. Yet the math hasn't changed. Crypto produces nothing, earns nothing, and represents no underlying asset. It serves no economic purpose that existing systems can't fulfil more efficiently. Its price is driven purely by speculative sentiment, whether fuelled by tech hype, celebrity endorsements, or presidential tweets. The most telling part of crypto's political embrace is how quickly its advocates abandoned anti-government principles in exchange for government approval. Those who once railed against fiat currencies and central banks now cheer politicians promising to hoard their preferred tokens. It's a striking shift from revolutionary idealism to conventional rent-seeking. Short-term price predictions are futile, speculative bubbles can inflate far beyond reason. But knowing what you're buying matters. Political theatre and presidential applause can't turn speculation into investment, gambling into wealth-building, or criminal infrastructure into legitimate finance. However much hot air gets pumped into this bubble, the fundamentals remain unchanged. Dhirendra Kumar is founder and chief executive officer of Value Research, an independent advisory firm. Views expressed are personal.
