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I&B to digitise photo records
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary Raghu Menon wants the Photo Division of the Ministry to draw up a plan proposal for the XIIth Plan to cross creativity and technological frontiers through digitisation.
Menon noted that about 800,000 images had been digitalised by the Photo Division from its library.
He said that it was necessary to organise Photo Contest and Exhibitions across the country to popularise and promote excellence in photography. This would enable better participation from people residing in far flung areas as well as mainstream the reach of photography to the remote corners of the country.
Speaking at the 23rd National Photo Contest Awards Function here, Menon said the theme of the photo contest was extremely apt as it portrayed the youthful energy and vibrant character of our young population. 726 photographs on the theme received for the competition spoke volumes of the character and depth associated with the subject. India is a nation of young people. The future of the country, its hopes, aspirations and achievements, rests with the youth and this demographic asset has to be harnessed for the good of the nation.
Menon said that the Division had been able to universalise a language and medium of communication easily understood by the people. In order to keep pace with new formats, it was necessary to innovate. The process of digitalisation has enabled India to preserve the rich visual heritage of the country.
Speaking earlier, Joint Secretary Khurshid Ahmed Ganai said the need of the hour was to promote highest standards of excellence in the photography domain. The Photo Division would strive to achieve this objective in the XIIth Plan.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
