MAM
ASCI upheld complaints against 52 of 84 ads; healthcare
MUMBAI: ASCI‘s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 52 out of 84 advertisements, which came under the scanner of the self regulatory body in March 2013. Taking a proactive measure to protect the interest of healthcare, education and personal care consumers, ASCI upheld complaints against those ads that were making misleading claims to engage clients, in forming pseudo brand image.
The major brands that had come under ASCI‘s scanner, include Dabur India Ltd, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Ltd, Ag Herbs (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Zaptech, Garima Career Foundation, Montfort Group of Institute, The Economic Times, Honda Siel Power Products Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Ltd and Eureka Forbes Ltd.
In March 2013, ASCI witnessed a surge in number of complaints against the deceiving ads, which had mounted to 84. However, all of them did not contravene ASCI‘s codes or guidelines, and 32 complaints were later taken back. Those which didn‘t trespass the code were, Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt Ltd- Idea 3 G, Applect Learning Systems Pvt Ltd– Meritnation.com, Cadbury (India) Ltd – Perk Glucose, Carrier Midea India Pvt Ltd – Midea Air Conditioners, Hindustan Unilever Ltd – Dove Elixir Hair Oil and Nitta Gelatin India Limited, Parle Products Pvt Ltd – Parle Londonderry.
In the case of health & personal care products or services ASCI upheld complaints against those inadequate and unscientific print ads, which had violated the Chapter I of the ASCI code. Some of the healthcare product or services ads also contravened the provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act. Due to which industry‘s major players, including Dabur India Limited, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Ltd, Dr. Monga Clinic, ClinTech Medical & Aesthetic Center, Rvita Ayurveda Centre, Vaarid Herbal Face Pack and Soliel International came under the fire.
On the educational fore, there were 14 advertisements that could prove its essence and had violated the ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions. For instance, players like Zapak, Garima Career Foundation, Mazenet Solution Pvt Ltd and BS Abdur Rahman University, Montfort Group of Institute‘s claims came up futile in providing 100 per cent job to people.
ASCI‘s regulation didn‘t spare India‘s biggest media conglomerate like Times Group, when ET Now came under scanner for its print ad saying, “ET Now is the undisputed leader on the budget date, and only our competitor will say it was a bad budget.” They have quoted ET Now has 64 per cent of the market share and CNBC TV18 has 36 per cent of the market share.The CCC noted the contents of the ad and concluded that the market share claimed by the advertiser was not adequately substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code; therefore, the complaint was upheld.
Above all, there were some other companies from Automobile, FMCG and consumer durable products that flouted the codes of ASCI‘s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC).
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
