Influencer marketing in India to reach up to $3.5 bn in 2028

There are about 3.5 to 4 million influencers (accounts with more than 10,000 followers) in India influencer marketing ecosystem, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants.

India likely to see 147 unicorns in next 5 years: Report shines through. The 51 Gazelles and 96 Cheetahs in this index likely to go Unicorn in the next 5 years are a testimony to this,” he added.

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) India which is currently the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, is likely to see 147 unicorns in the next five years, disrupting financial services, healthcare, business management solutions and education sectors, a report showed on Tuesday.

India is currently home to 83 unicorns, 51 gazelles (most likely to go unicorn within three years) and 96 cheetahs (to achieve unicorn status in five years), according to the 'ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023' report. It is a ranking of India’s startups founded in the 2000s, worth at least $200 million, not yet listed on a public exchange and most likely to ‘go Unicorn’ in the next five years.

The future unicorns, on average, were set up in 2015, with the vast majority selling software and services, with only 20 per cent selling physical products. About 37 per cent are selling to businesses, while 63 per cent are consumerfacing.

New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) With an estimated up to 4 million social media influencers, the influencer marketing in India is likely to be worth $2.8–$3.5 billion in 2028 as more brands are leveraging the credibility of influencers to promote their products, a report showed on Wednesday.

Influencer marketing has gained much momentum in last 12 months as it helps brand improve its reach to their target audience more effectively.

“One of the primary challenges in influencer marketing is the effective matching of influencers with the specific campaign requirements of brands, along with the ability to accurately assess influencer engagement metrics,” said Mukesh Kumar, associate partner at Redseer.

“Simultaneously, influencers often encounter difficulties in achieving price transparency and securing favourable deals. The advent of emerging models, such as creator marketplaces, holds significant potential in resolving these challenges,” he added.

Redseer estimates that the number of Internet users in India is set to cross 1 billion landmark by the end of the decade. As engagement of these users across internet platform increases, digital ad spends to grow steadily to $21 billion by FY28.

Most of the influencers in the Mid-tier, Micro, and Nano categories start out as hobbyists and aspiring influencers.

“Influencers are becoming the centre piece of digital advertisement as UGC generates 2X more engagement than PGC. These new age celebrities have a direct connection to their followers, and the relationship is a crucial tool for advertisers.” the report noted.

India’s third moon mission slated between July 12-19, lander modified

Speaking to the media, ISRO Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, S. Somanath, said the space agency will look at launching the moon mission at the earliest date, which could be July 12 or July 13.

He said the launch window is there between July 12 and July 19.

Chennai, June 28 (IANS) Indian space agency ISRO is gearing up for its third moon mission -Chandrayaan-3 -- slated between July 12 and July 19, officials said.

“We have the launch window between July 12 and July 19. The exact date has not been finalised,” a senior official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), not wanting to be named, told IANS.

According to Somanath, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has been tested and encapsulated inside the rocket’s payload fairing/heat shield and the rocket -- LVM3 -- is getting ready at the Sriharikota rocket port in Andhra Pradesh.

The main purpose of Chandrayaan-3 is to safely land the lander on the moon soil. Following that a rover will roll out to do the experiments.

As regards the changes made in the lander this time as compared to the one that crash landed on the moon during the Chandrayaan-2 mission, the official said the lander will have four motors instead of five. The space agency has also carried out some changes in the software.

As regards the naming of the lander and rover, the official told IANS that it has not been decided yet.

ISRO might even retain the names of the earlier lander -- Vikram and Pragyan.

“Despite the headwinds, we have seen founders demonstrating unwavering determination, adaptability, and resourcefulness. The funding winter serves as a catalyst for innovation, urging startups to think creatively, optimise resources and refine their strategies,” said Rajesh Saluja, CEO & MD, ASK Private Wealth.

“It is during these times that the true spirit of entrepreneurship

“Gazelles and Cheetahs provide an insight into the economy of tomorrow. What they are doing and where they are doing it gives an indication into which sectors are attracting the world’s top young talent and smartest capital, and which countries and cities have the best startup ecosystems,” explained Anas Rahman Junaid, Hurun India Founder and Chief Researcher. Peak XV Partners (earlier Sequoia Capital India and Southeast Asia) is India's most successful VC platform at finding and investing into Gazelles and Cheetahs, followed by InnoVen Capital, Tiger Global Management, Accel and Blume Ventures.

In India, quick commerce company Zepto, financial services start-up Vivriti Capital and EV space start-up Ather Energy are expected to play a critical role in solving credit, last mile logistics and renewable energy for India. Online furniture platform pepperfry is the most valuable Cheetah, according to the report.

7 electrocuted to death, 14 injured after chariot touches overhead wire in Tripura

Agartala, June 28 (IANS) At least seven people, including two children, were electrocuted to death while 14 others were seriously injured on Wednesday after a chariot made of iron came in contact with an overhead high-tension wire in Tripura’s Kumarghat area, the police said.

Officials said the death toll is likely to increase as many of the injured are stated to be critical.

A police spokesman said that the chariot taken out on the occasion of ‘Ulto Rath’, the return journey part of the annual Rath Yatra procession, was carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra.

The police spokesperson told IANS that six injured people have been referred to the Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital in Agartala.

“Nine-year-old Diya Ghosh succumbed to her injuries on way to Agartala from Kumarghat,” he said.

Local people were shocked by the sudden mishap, following which Fire and Emergency Service personnel rescued the injured and rushed them to the hospital. Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of people were pulling the rope of the chariot taken out by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which came in contact with the 11,000volt high-tension wire, as proper precautionary measures were not taken.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the deaths and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased.

Modi tweeted: “The mishap during the Ulta Rath Yatra at Kumarghat is saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected.”

New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Delhi University has played a major role in creating a strong generation of talented youngsters, and that India's rich education system is the carrier of the nation's prosperity.

Addressing the gathering during Valedictory Ceremony of Centenary Celebrations of the University of Delhi, PM Modi said the contributions of the personalities which have emerged out of the University give a glimpse of the life of Delhi University.

Earlier, PM Modi took a metro ride to reach the University. He also interacted with the students during the journey. Upon arriving, the Prime Minister took a walk-through of the exhibition - 'Journey of 100 Years of the University'. He was the chief guest of the Valedictory Ceremony of Centenary Celebrations here.

PM Modi pointed out that there were only three colleges under Delhi University when it began but today there are more than 90 colleges under it.

He also underlined that India which was once considered a fragile economy and has now become one of the top 5 economies in the world. Noting that the number of women studying at DU is more than men, the Prime Minister pointed out that the gender ratio has significantly improved in the country.

The PM said, "If during these hundred years, DU has kept its emotions alive, it has kept its values vibrant too".

Underscoring the importance of knowledge, the PM noted that when India had vibrant universities like Nalanda and Takshila, it was at the peak of prosperity. "India's rich education system is the carrier of India's prosperity," he said, underlining the high Indian share in the global GDP of that time.

Continuous attacks during the period of slavery destroyed these institutions leading to obstruction of the intellectual flow of India and bringing the growth to standstill, he added.

He said after Independence, universities played a crucial role in giving concrete shape to the emotional swell of postindependence India by creating a strong generation of talented youngsters. Delhi University too played a major part in that, he said. This understanding of the past gives shape to our existence, shape to our ideals and expansion to the vision of the future, he said.

He emphasized the importance of an interconnection between the resolutions of a University and a nation and said that the deeper the roots of the educational institutions, the higher the progress of the country.

The Prime Minister noted that the goal of Delhi University was India's independence when it first began, but now that the institution will complete 125 years when India reaches 100 years of Independence, the goal of Delhi University should be to make India a 'Viksit Bharat'.

"The third decade of the last century gave new momentum to the struggle for India's Independence, now the third decade of the new century will give impetus to the development journey of India," PM said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that education is not merely a process of teaching but also a way of learning. He pointed out that after a long time, the focus is shifting to what a student wants to learn. He talked about the flexibility in the new National Education Policy for selecting subjects.

PM said that due to the futuristic educational policies and decisions, recognition of Indian universities is increasing. He informed that while in 2014, in the QS world ranking there were only 12 Indian universities, today this number has reached 45. He credited India's youth force as the guiding force for this transformation.