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Mirchi’s Jal Vaani turns up the volume on India’s water crisis
Radio giant teams with government to flow conservation message across the nation plus spotlight real Water Warriors.
MUMBAI: While taps keep dripping and rivers keep crying for help, Mirchi has decided to turn the volume all the way up not with music, but with a timely wake-up call for the nation’s most precious resource. The country’s leading radio network has launched Mirchi Jal Vaani, a nationwide campaign in partnership with the National Water Mission and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Aired across all Mirchi stations, the initiative is aimed at building awareness and encouraging smarter, more responsible water use at a time when polluted rivers, erratic supply and urban shortages are becoming everyday headaches.
True to the spirit of Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari (water conservation through people’s participation), each episode brings real stories from the ground. Government-recognised Water Warriors from different corners of India share how small, local actions are adding up to bigger change.
In one powerful on-ground experiment in Delhi, RJ Naved placed a visibly leaking tap in a busy public spot. While most people simply walked past, a handful stopped to turn it off. Those thoughtful few were later tracked down and honoured as Mirchi Jal Warriors, a gentle reminder that conservation often starts with the simplest of acts.
The Water Warriors featured in the campaign put it perfectly: India’s water problems stem from years of overuse, pollution and disregard for limits. Policies and infrastructure matter, but real change will only happen when citizens treat water as a shared, finite resource. They believe that when the message reaches people through something as everyday as radio, it has the power to shift attitudes and behaviour.
Backed by RJ-led digital content and celebrity support, Mirchi Jal Vaani is reaching urban audiences where wastage is highest. In a country where water worries are growing louder by the day, this campaign is trying to make sure the conversation doesn’t just flow, it actually sticks.
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Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
