Brands
84 per cent Indians seek healthier food choices: Pwc report
MUMBAI: A new Pwc India report reveals that for Indian consumers, it’s no longer just about what’s on the plate, it’s about how it’s made, how safe it is, and how it supports their health goals.
Released on 11 September, the ‘Voice of the consumer 2025: India perspective’ surveyed over 1,000 Indian consumers and uncovered a clear appetite for healthier, tech-integrated, and eco-friendly food choices.
Among the standout stats: 84 per cent of respondents said food safety is a top priority; 29 per cent would switch brands for health benefits; 80 per cent now use health apps or wearables to manage wellness; nearly half prefer eco-friendly packaging, while 73 per cent would even pay more to support sustainable farming.
“Nutrition, affordability and sustainability are shaping today’s food choices,” said Pwc India, partner and leader- retail and consumer sector, Ravi Kapoor.“Consumers are embracing tech-led, personalised wellness, local produce and digital shopping experiences offering huge opportunities for forward-looking brands.”
The report also highlights a shift towards cost-conscious shopping, with 63 per cent of consumers citing food prices as a key concern. They’re mixing it up buying from supermarkets, local kirana shops, and digital delivery platforms to get the best value.
Interestingly, tradition still holds its ground: 74 per cent of consumers said their food habits are rooted in cultural heritage, proving that while innovation matters, nostalgia isn’t going anywhere.
As supply chains tighten and consumer expectations climb, the food industry is feeling the heat but it’s also getting a recipe for reinvention. Clean labelling, tech-savvy wellness solutions, and genuine sustainability practices could be the key ingredients for future growth.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
