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Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
From the Opinions Editor: The tragic death of Shefalee Jariwala and the anti-ageing trap
Dear Express reader, At some point, in give or take their forties, women are made aware that they are no longer the default setting: Not the protagonist of ads, not the statistical core of a marketing campaign, not, as Gen Z would say, giving main character energy. Instead, they become a certain kind of invisible — their demographic slides quietly off the cultural radar, and the world, with its fresh faces and optimised filters, keeps spinning. The obsession with youth is not new. The Greeks built myths around it. The Renaissance painted it in oils. But the modern world industrialised it. Today, youth is no longer measured in years; it is a product category — rebranded, bottled, injected, and sold into an ideal so pervasive that even the act of resisting it must be done with the right serum, the right lighting, the right kind of denial. Anti-ageing is a billion-dollar industry. In 2024, the global anti-ageing market was estimated to be worth $75.7 billion, according to a survey by market-research firm IMARC. In India, it reached $2.5 billion and is expected to grow to $4 billion by 2033. It sells creams that promise to reverse time, diets that speak in the language of miracles, and procedures that pledge a new you — less tired, less lived-in, necessarily idealised. Even language conspires to soften the blow of ageing, offering euphemisms like 'prejuvenation' to fix what isn't broken. Shefalee Jariwala's death at 42 last week from a cardiac arrest — linked allegedly to anti-ageing treatments and an extreme diet – throws this into sharp relief. The actor, who came into the limelight with the remix of the song Kaanta laga, was reportedly fasting and on anti-ageing medication; an avid consumer of cosmetic drugs, she is said to have taken a Vitamin C IV drip on that fateful day as well. She was, in essence, a woman trying to stay visible in a culture that flits by once you are considered past the bill of 'acceptability'. But what exactly do we mean by youth? Is it the physical resilience — the quick metabolism, the energy that never needs rationing, the sleepless nights that could be followed by 10-hour shifts at the workplace? Or, is it something more elusive: A sense of possibility, an unformedness that has not yet calcified into certainty? Youth, we are told, is when we are most alive. Which implies that ageing, in this cultural grammar, is a kind of dying. What all of this betrays, of course, is a deep unease with the passage of time itself. We live in a culture allergic to impermanence. Where once age was a milestone – of experience, of wisdom — gleaned over a well-lived life, it is now treated as a letdown. This notion becomes especially cruel in midlife, when adulthood comes of age. The body starts sending quiet memos, the mirror betrays a new flaccidity every time. Youth, in this equation, is no longer merely desirable — it becomes mandatory. So, like Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance, last year's breakaway body horror movie featuring Demi Moore, there is a relentless rush to experiment with new treatments to avoid the inevitability of hoariness. Names of substances such as Ozempic and glutathione, retinol and hyaluronic acid roll off the tongue with an ease that should be terrifying but only shows how steeped we are in this configuration of ourselves into a prospective upgrade. No one tells you how to age. There's no consensus on how much of a fight you are meant to put up, nor a handbook for how to face the first intimations of mortality. The poet Dylan Thomas told us to 'rage, rage against the dying of the light' but he died young, spared the awkward choreography of ageing in public. To age in the modern world is to perform a paradox. Women are expected to look ageless while pretending it is without effort. They must 'own' their years but not wear them too heavily. Ageing 'well' is fine as long as it is styled and shape-shifted into wellness routines and aesthetic enhancements, framed as 'self-care' over vanity or insecurity. Jariwala's story is tragic, but not unfamiliar. Many women live some version of it, quietly calibrating their worth against their age. They don't always die from it. They simply lean into an erasure that comes from letting go of the person they were meant to grow into. Take care, Paromita
Skift
24-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
India's Tourism Market Set to Hit $38 Billion by 2033: What's Fueling the Surge?
India's travel market is no longer a story waiting to be, it is booming now and the strong growth is expected to sustain. Global brands are aware of it as they race to make the most of this opportunity. The market size of India's travel and tourism industry is expected to reach $38.12 billion by 2033, according to projections by market research company IMARC Group. In 2024, this figure was $22.47 billion, it said. 'India's travel and tourism market is expanding due to strategic government initiatives that enhance domestic tourism and infrastructure,' the research firm said. It highlighted schemes such as Dekho Apna Desh (Explore your country), the PRASHAD scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive), and Swadesh Darshan initiatives. 'These initiatives collectively enhance tourist experiences, promote local economies, and drive India's travel and tourism market growth. India's tourism sector witnessed remarkable progress, driven by policy reforms and large-scale promotional efforts,' it added. Factors Driving The Growth: A combination of socio-economic, technological, and policy factors are driving the growth of India's travel story, according to IMARC. Improving disposable incomes and a growing middle class, along with growing aspirations for experiences are leading to a rise in domestic as well as international travel among Indians. It added that rapid growth in the aviation infrastructure including new airports, regional connectivity schemes, and increasing number of low-cost airlines is improving access to travel in urban and rural areas. Further, the rise of online travel platforms for booking travel, accommodations and experiences is making travel convenient. There is also an increased awareness around niche segments such as wellness tourism, adventure travel, cultural heritage, and experiential stays, which is creating new sources of demand and lengthening the chain of tourism value, the research added. Social media and influencer advertising is further adding fuel to drive travel inspiration. India's Potential: India is a key focus for travel players across the globe. In March, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas told Skift that India has long been a crucial part of Riyadh Air's network planning ahead of its operations launch. Global hotel giant Marriott has repeatedly spoken about India's increasing importance in its global expansion plans. It expects India to become its third-largest market. That's why last month, the hospitality group launched a new global midscale and upscale brand Series by Marriott and made India its debut market. This was accompanied by Marriott's first direct investment in Indian hotel industry with a 'small equity investment' in Concept Hospitality. Earlier this month, Emirates President Tim Clark once again spoke out about India's bilateral air service agreements, seeking more capacity rights to operate in India. For global online travel platform India is among the biggest growth opportunities, Laura Houldsworth, managing director and vice president for APAC at told Skift earlier this year. 'All eyes are on India right now for the opportunity size and knowing that travel spend is going to increase exponentially over the next few years,' she said. After International Routes, Air India Cuts Narrowbody Network Full-service airline Air India Sunday announced a temporary reduction of close to 5% to its overall narrowbody network. The decision comes days after the carrier temporarily scaled back widebody operations by 15%. 'This voluntary decision leads to the temporary suspension of Air India's services on three routes and reduction of frequency on 19 routes,' the airline said on Sunday, adding that these changes will remain in place at least until July 15. Daily flights on the Bengaluru-Singapore, Pune-Singapore, and Mumbai-Bagdogra have been paused for now. The reductions include metro routes such as: Delhi-Bengaluru down from 116 flights a week to 113 Delhi-Mumbai from 176 weekly flights to 165 Delhi-Kolkata cut from 70 flights a week to 63 Delhi-Hyderabad down from 84 times a week to 76 Mumbai-Bengaluru from 91 weekly flights to 84 Mumbai-Kolkata from 42 flights a week to 30 Mumbai-Hyderabad reduced from 63 times a week to 59 Apart from these, services have also been reduced on Bengaluru-Chandigarh, Delhi-Goa (Dabolim and Mopa), Delhi-Coimbatore, Delhi-Indore, Delhi-Lucknow, Delhi-Pune, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Coimbatore, Mumbai-Kochi, Mumbai-Goa (Dabolim), and Mumbai-Varanasi routes. According to Air India, these reductions will allow the carrier to strengthen its operational stability across its network. 'Despite these temporary reductions, Air India will continue to operate close to 600 daily flights with its narrowbody aircraft on 120 domestic and short-haul international routes,' it said. The airline has been making operational changes after a London Gatwick-bound Air India flight was involved in a fatal crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 of 242 passengers and crew members onboard. Disruptions in global airspace due to mounting tensions in the Middle East is also posing a challenge for the airline. On Saturday, India's aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Air India to remove three senior employees from crew scheduling duties. It cited previous violations of pilot rest and licensing rules as the reason for the order. This action was not directly related to the crash, but it brought Air India under additional scrutiny. The DGCA said multiple violations were discovered after Air India switched its internal crew scheduling software last year. Ixigo Gets $11 Million From Schroder Fund Asset management company Schroder International Selection Fund has made an investment in online travel agency Ixigo, Skift reported on Friday. Through a block deal investment, the financial institution acquired a 1.38% stake in Ixigo, the online travel agency said in a statement. On Thursday, Ixigo shareholder Elevation capital sold 7.5 million shares in a block deal for about INR 1.35 billion ($15.7 million). Schroder acquired nearly 5.37 million shares for INR 969 million ($11.2 million). Even with the block deal, Elevation Capital still holds 12.08% in Ixigo. According to Ixigo, Elevation got a 2500% return on its latest partial exit. Schroder manages assets worth over US$950 billion, bringing significant institutional heft to ixigo's cap table, the online travel agency said. In the 2025 fiscal year, Ixigo reported a profit of INR 602.52 million (approximately $7 million), while its total revenue went up 39% to INR 9.14 billion ($105.5 million). Its market capitalization as of Thursday was also up 39% year-on-year to INR 68.85 billion ($794.9 million). IndiGo Announces Flights From Hindon Airport in Delhi-NCR Indian airline IndiGo has announced its operations from the Hindon airport in the Delhi national capital region (Delhi-NCR). Starting next month, the airline will commence flights to eight cities from the airport - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Indore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna, and Varanasi. With this, IndiGo will now operate from two airports in the national capital region. Hindon also marks the airline's 93rd domestic destination. At present, IndiGo operates more than 1,500 weekly departures from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Hindon airport in Uttar Pradesh is located in Ghaziabad providing connectivity for residents of Ghaziabad, East Delhi, and Western Uttar Pradesh. 'Our expansion into Hindon is a strategic move offering an additional gateway for millions in the wider catchment area,' said Vinay Malhotra, head of global sales at IndiGo. 'With over 70 weekly departures to eight key cities, our endeavor is to increase travel convenience, drive business mobility and foster economic growth,' he added. The airline is also set to launch operations from the upcoming Jewar airport in Noida in Delhi-NCR. This move will allow IndiGo to manage operations in all three airports in and near the national capital. Hilton Debuts Hilton Garden Inn Brand in Mumbai Global hotel chain Hilton has opened Hilton Garden Inn Mumbai International Airport. The 140-key hotel marks the brand's debut in Mumbai. 'Mumbai has long been an important hub for Hilton, and the debut of our focused service brand in Mumbai is designed to cater to the rising expectations of travelers in the city. This opening marks another step in our strategic growth journey,' said Zubin Saxena, senior vice president and regional head, South Asia, Hilton. Last month, Christopher Nassetta, Hilton president and CEO said that the company plans to grow its presence in India by 10 times over the next 10 years. 'There's no market with more opportunity and higher growth than India,' he said, adding, 'What's been happening in the hospitality market in India over the last 20 years and what will happen in the next 20, there's no other market that has more opportunity.' Royal Jordanian Launches Ammam-Mumbai Direct Flights Royal Jordanian Airlines last week launched a new direct route connecting Ammam's Queen Alia International Airport with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The service, which commenced on Thursday, is set to operate year-round four times a week. 'This strategic addition strengthens connectivity between India and Jordan and offers seamless onward travel to over 50 destinations across the Middle East, Gulf, and North Africa,' the airline said in a statement. The country is looking to increase the number of visitors from across the world, including India. In 2023, around 80,000 Indians visited Jordan, and by adding direct connectivity, the country is looking to double this figure.
India Today
19-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
What are the new DNA diets
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 16, 2025)In their never-ending quest for healthier foods, along with the holy grail of losing weight, humans in the modern era have taken refuge in dieting trends. Fads like the Mediterranean diet, or the Vegan diet, are everywhere, each involving subtracting or adding a nutrient—no fat, more fat, no sugar, fasting, no carb, more carb, no meat. This approach in recent years has evolved into what is now called 'biohacking'—the mostly DIY practice of using scientific evidence to modify one's lifestyle for better biohacking has taken a far more serious turn from fancy diets, and it emerges from the depths of biological/ medical science. Incredible advancements in genetic diagnostics have opened up a whole new field called nutrigenomics. This discipline focuses on how food interacts with people's genes, how genes affect the body's response to food and thus their health. It also seeks to find new avenues to prevent and treat disease. Nutrigenomics allows for hyperpersonalised biohacking, tailoring nutrition plans based on an individual's genetic profile. A person may thus be advised to avoid dairy because her genes indicate lactose intolerance. Another can be encouraged to eat rice because there is medical proof to show her body uses the cereal better. advertisement The world of nutrigenomics The interplay of genes and health outcomes has been theoretically known for over a decade. According to a 2013 study in the journal, Nature Reviews Genetics, nutrients can modulate gene expression—the process by which instructions encoded within a gene are used to create proteins crucial for cell function—through mechanisms like DNA methylation (where methyl groups, a fundamental building block molecule, is added to the DNA, thus altering gene expression). The study of these mechanisms and changes in gene expression through nutrients and medicines—without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence—is called epigenetics. Changes in gene expression influence how genes are read and used by cells, thus affecting biological processes. These changes not only have a bearing on disease susceptibility but also influence the effectiveness of dietary the past decade, advances in DNA sequencing technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and exome sequencing—where protein-coding regions (exons) of a genome is analysed—have improved the accuracy of nutrigenomic testing. These tests assess gene variants that influence the body's response to nutrients, metabolism and susceptibility to diseases. They point out allergies and nutrient deficiencies, and also look at how a body absorbs, metabolises and uses a nutrient. It identifies predispositions to conditions like gluten sensitivity or slower caffeine metabolism, not through allergy markers but through genetic traits. According to market research firm IMARC, the Indian genetic testing market was valued at over $1.8 billion (Rs 15,400 crore) in as Dr Aparna Bhanushali, director, medical genetics, HaystackAnalytics, points out, 'While accuracy at the technical level—meaning the ability to detect genetic variants—is very high, the clinical interpretation of these variants in the context of nutrition is still an emerging area.' The predictive power of nutrigenomic insights can vary depending on the complexity of gene-nutrient interactions and the strength of scientific evidence backing them, she the way the body uses a nutrient through nutrigenomic testing is one part. The other half is using this information for better health. This is done not only by targeted nutrients but also by epigenetic medicine, which targets epigenetic mechanisms to modify gene expression and treat specific diseases. 'Nutrigenomics provides a personalised nutrition model grounded in molecular biology, epigenetics and clinical nutrition,' says Dr Bhanushali. 'For example, variations (also known as polymorphisms) in the FTO gene (a fat mass and obesity-associated gene) are associated with increased obesity risk, while variants in the MTHFR (Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase) gene can impair folate (a nutrient in Vitamin B complex essential to the body) metabolism, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects.'advertisementAccording to market research firm Grand View Research, the Indian epigenetics market generated a revenue of $479.8 million (Rs 4,150 crore) in 2023. Health tech startup Vieroots, which raised $136,000 (Rs 1.16 crore) in funding this year and is valued at Rs 106 crore, says it provides an EPLIMO (epigenetic lifestyle modification) programme based on a geno-metabolic assessment. EPLIMO can detect multiple genetic variants causing over 250 diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, depression etc. years or decades before they set in, enabling users to change their lifestyles. 'Over 10,000 people have tried EPLIMO. We have seen amazing improvements in their health markers after three months, when we do a blood work. This proves that biohacking is measurable,' says Sajeev Nair, founder and chairman, Vieroots. Nair follows a 'Sajeev diet' plan. 'Once I started following this hyperpersonalised diet plan, I started seeing great results including a stable gut, higher energy levels, proper digestion and better cognitive functions,' says of nutritionAccording to experts, relying on the right facts while eating what works for the body is where the future of nutrition lies. 'I see precision nutrition as a step forward,' says Dr Suparna Mukherjee, chief nutritionist at Narayana Health City in Bengaluru. 'We look into an individual's anthropometry (measurement of the physical properties of a body), biochemical markers, clinical symptoms, dietary habits and their genetic reports. We also consider their activity levels and calorie expenditure, which helps us personalise a food plan,' says Dr Mukherjee. It's all about why certain foods work better for individuals based on their unique genetic and lifestyle profiles, she right diagnostic tools can uncover details that make a difference. When 38-year-old Rohit, a fitness enthusiast, went for a genomic health assessment at Haystack Analytics in Bengaluru, he wasn't expecting to uncover anything major. The results changed his approach to health. The test flagged a heightened genetic risk for Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the weight loss programmes have become accessible too. When Sahil Malhotra, 41, a software engineer from Bengaluru, wanted to lose 10 kg, he opted for a personalised diet programme by a city clinic which, after procuring his genetic profile through MapMyGenome, was able to tell him why—despite trying multiple diet plans—he was unable to shed weight. 'They found out that I could not digest protein too well, which is why high-protein diets failed as they left less calories for daily requirements, making me constantly hungry,' he says. The results made sense, as his family was originally vegetarian. While more people are discovering nutrigenomics, most are adherents still of exotic biohacks like mushroom coffee and red light therapy for their nutrition needs. 'Eating certain mushrooms, for instance, can have positive health benefits,' says Dr Siddhant Bhargava, nutritionist, CEO and co-founder, InnerGize, a Delhi-based firm that makes mental health wearables. 'Other biohacks include overloading on caffeine, or foods that improve the body's NAD (a kind of dinucleotide) levels. Nootropics (drugs like creatine and caffeine) can improve cardiac as well as brain performance.' A report by Custom Market Insights, a market research firm, notes that India's health tech market—a fair share of which includes biohacking tools like wearables (such as fitness tracking bands and head-mounted displays) and brain games—is projected to touch $78.4 billion (Rs 6.7 lakh crore) by the results have not always been salutary, as Rohini Bedi, 22, a marketing intern in Mumbai, discovered. On an AI-endorsed diet that involved eating in only two hours a day and weekly ice bath plunges to 'naturally detox the body', Rohini ended up malnourished within a month and had to undergo clinical treatment to recover. 'Individual nutrition needs and health status should take precedence over what is trending on internet search results,' says Bharathi Kumar, dietitian, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru. Experts are also beginning to express doubts about the efficacy of biohacks. 'Currently, biohacks range from theories to some proven research,' says Dr Bhargava. Word of cautionWhile there's no denying the power of nutrigenomics, experts advise caution. 'Biohacking diets, when done right, are incredibly empowering,' says nutritionist Khushboo Jain Tibrewala. 'They shift control from healthcare providers to the individual, the one actually living in the body.' But she also feels that nutrigenomic biohacking, no matter how personalised, can sometimes create blind spots. This is where things like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) come in handy. In this instance, they help people understand how their blood sugar responds to different foods. Some epigenetic drugs, on the other hand, while targeting specific diseases, can affect multiple genes, leading to undesirable side-effects on other organ and epigenetic drugs are evolving sciences, and experts like Tibrewala say that, ultimately, it is one's own state of health that should be the guide even while on a hyperpersonalised diet directed by genetic mapping. Till the time when our genes give up more of their secrets, the best data continues to be how you are feeling to India Today Magazine
Web Release
12-06-2025
- Business
- Web Release
CNTXT AI and Actualize Partner to Launch Dialect-Aware Arabic AI Voice Agent, Targeting GCC's $2.2B Conversational AI Market
CNTXT AI , a Data and AI enabler driving AI readiness in the region, has partnered with Actualize, a leader in real-time voice automation, to launch a next-generation Arabic AI voice agent that understands and responds to regional dialects in real time, enhancing customer engagement across key service touchpoints. The collaboration addresses persistent challenges in Arabic voice technology — from underrepresentation of regional dialects to the need for privacy-compliant, locally hosted deployments. With the GCC's digital economy accelerating, voice automation is emerging as a critical layer in customer operations. According to IMARC , the GCC conversational AI market is expected to grow from $325 million in 2024 to over $2.1 billion by 2033, expanding at an annual rate of 23.6%, driven by rising demand for personalized, on-demand voice services. This partnership responds directly to that demand — offering a ready-to-deploy, Arabic-native voice agent that meets regional enterprise needs from day one. The AI voice agent combines Munsit, CNTXT AI's proprietary Arabic speech-to-text model, with Actualize's voice automation platform to deliver accurate voice interaction. The Arabic AI voice agent is now available for public trial with no sign-up or downloads required. Built for High-Impact Use Cases The Arabic voice agent is tailored to high-frequency, high-value business scenarios where (timely, context-aware voice communication enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction.) such as: Booking Confirmation – Automatically follows up with customers to confirm appointments, reducing no-shows and improving operational efficiency – Automatically follows up with customers to confirm appointments, reducing no-shows and improving operational efficiency Receptionist Automation – Answers and routes incoming calls in the appropriate dialect, enhancing caller experience with culturally aware interaction – Answers and routes incoming calls in the appropriate dialect, enhancing caller experience with culturally aware interaction Sales Agent Support – Engages leads through outbound voice calls, capturing interest, qualifying intent, and escalating hot leads to human agents – Engages leads through outbound voice calls, capturing interest, qualifying intent, and escalating hot leads to human agents Order & Payment Follow-Up – Calls customers to verify order details, confirm deliveries, or issue payment reminders, improving conversion rates and cash collection – Calls customers to verify order details, confirm deliveries, or issue payment reminders, improving conversion rates and cash collection Government Services – Enables voice-enabled digital kiosks and e-service platforms with dialect recognition 'Voice AI built for our region's linguistic diversity is no longer a future concept — it's a business necessity,' said Mohammad Abu Sheikh, CEO of CNTXT AI. 'By combining Munsit's dialectal intelligence with Actualize's automation infrastructure, we're making it possible for organizations to serve Arabic-speaking customers with clarity, confidence, and care.' A Regionally Tuned Solution for Arabic Speech Traditional speech technologies often fail to capture the depth and diversity of Arabic speech. Munsit, the speech-to-text model powering the voice agent, was developed to address this directly. The model has been independently benchmarked on six public datasets, outperforming industry leaders like OpenAI's Whisper and Meta's SeamlessM4T in Arabic speech recognition accuracy. The integrated voice agent supports real-time transcription, and localized pronunciation handling across dialects — while respecting regional data sovereignty and compliance requirements. 'Arabic deserves tech that speaks its language literally and culturally.' said Muhammed Shabreen, CEO at Actualize. 'This integration gives enterprises across MENA the voice tools they need to automate customer-facing operations while respecting language and cultural nuance.'
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Redefining Indian Healthcare Ecosystem: Rise of the Everyday Care Economy with preventive health
Indian healthcare has traditionally been known for curative treatment placing significant burden on Indian healthcare infrastructure coupled with sizable healthcare spending. However, with the rapid rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), more awareness around health and wellness in the post-pandemic era, Indian healthcare industry is undergoing a profound transformation. We are now seeing the emergence of ' Everyday Care economy' which is fast pivoting towards preventive healthcare empowering consumers to take control of their health. Today, self-care has evolved and has become more inclusive, encompassing preventive care, long-term wellness, mental well-being, health tracking and diagnosis and is fast becoming part of everyday rituals. At the heart of this new paradigm, self-care, is rapidly emerging as a foundational pillar of India n healthcare ecosystem promising not only improved health outcomes, but also a more productive workforce, reduced healthcare costs and improved savings. There is no better time than now for the India's self-care/Care ecosystem. With a rising and informed middle class and increasing digital penetration, more Indians are prioritizing health not only in response to illness but as a lifestyle choice to keep health problems at bay or prepare for them proactively. Empowered by access to information, growing health consciousness, and digital tools, India's health and wellness market is expected to reach USD 256.9 billion by 2033 (IMARC), with demand for products and practices that support holistic preventive care/well-being/everyday care is on the rise. Self-Care: A huge opportunity, low adoption The global consumer healthcare (CH) market was valued at over USD 700 billion in 2024 (Source-IQVIA) and is growing steadily. Within this landscape, India is gaining prominence, ranking 8th globally and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region in consumer health sales. The Indian consumer health market stood at USD 4.9 billion in 2023, growing at a strong 9.8% annually (Source-Nicolas Hall), with personal care and beauty, nutrition, patient care and OTC treatments to self-manage minor ailments and conditions emerging as key categories. Looking ahead, the global consumer market is projected to grow at a 6.5 per cent CAGR through 2030—India, by contrast, is expected to grow nearly double that rate at 12 per cent CAGR over the same period (IQVIA), indicating the massive growth potential of India. Despite this latent opportunity, India still has considerable ground to cover. Today, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 60% of the world's population but just 9 per cent of global health spending, highlighting the critical need for greater awareness and improved accessibility of self-care solutions. In comparison, preventive health has gained momentum in global markets with telehealth, wearables, and health apps making self-care more accessible coupled with increased trust in pharmacies and OTC wellness solutions providing consumers with effective, affordable everyday products. As we move ahead, we see some distinct trends shaping India's consumer health/care/everyday economy In India, self-care is influenced by unique environmental and cultural factors. For instance, India recorded unprecedented 280 heat wave days in 2022, a 55 per cent increase in deaths due to extreme heat in last two decades, with UN forecasting next five years to be hottest period ever making more people vulnerable to dehydration as well as necessitating holistic hydration strategies with fluid, electrolytes, and energy (FEE) solutions to recover faster as well as strengthen immunity. Oral health is also gaining importance. According to the World Health Organization , over 95 per cent of Indian adults suffer from cavities as well as gum problems, bad breath issues while most children do not brush twice a day. These numbers highlight the urgent need to reinforce oral health habits and promote preventive care with mouthwashes and related oral care solutions being adopted as part of daily preventive care. Skin health and beauty is also gaining attention, with the rise of science, ingredient efficacy, sensitive skin, and repair in both skin and hair. According to new research from Astute Analytica, India's skin care market was valued at USD 8.78 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 17.69 billion by 2033. In the skin health category, we are increasingly seeing a shift towards premiumization in the skincare category, with clean beauty and ingredient transparency gaining prominence. Personalization is another major trend shaping the Indian skincare market. Consumers increasingly demand products tailored to their unique skin types and concerns, fuelling the rise of AI-powered skin diagnosis tools and customized regimens. Factors such as pollution, climate-related triggers, stress are intensifying this need with a growing demand for dermatologist-recommended and science backed formulations as well as specialised solutions to tackle specific and sensitive skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and eczema. In India's journey toward self-care and healthcare resilience, pharmacies will play a pivotal role from treatment-based healthcare to a more prevention and OTC focused approach. However, for this shift to be successful, it requires greater systemic support. Policymakers also have a crucial role to play. Strengthening regulatory frameworks for OTC and wellness products is essential to ensure quality and safety. Public-private partnerships can further accelerate this transformation, making wellness more inclusive, scalable, and sustainable. The Indian government's Swasth Nagrik Abhiyan further reinforces this movement, placing preventive care at the heart of national health strategy. By focusing on lifestyle diseases and communicable health threats alike, the initiative creates a strong policy environment to support the growth of self-care. It also offers a significant opportunity for private players to collaborate, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to public health outcomes. The rise of the care economy is not merely a business trend. It is a societal shift which positively impacts consumers, healthcare systems and society at large. For consumer health companies like us, this provides both an opportunity and responsibility. To thrive in this evolving landscape, companies must innovate not only in products but also in how we engage, educate, and empower consumers working closely with healthcare professionals, pharmacists and policymakers, to nurture a healthier India. This article is written by Manish Anandani , Managing Director, Kenvue India
