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Astrotalk sees 50 per cent rise in career, relocation queries amid global tensions
Parents lead surge as families rethink overseas plans in uncertain times
NEW DELHI: Astrotalk has reported a sharp 50 per cent rise in queries related to education, careers and relocation, as geopolitical uncertainties prompt Indian families to rethink their future plans.
The spike, compared to March 2025, reflects a noticeable shift in how decisions are being made. What was once driven by ambition is now increasingly shaped by caution. These queries now account for nearly 40 per cent of all consultations on the platform, signalling a growing appetite for guidance in uncertain times.
Parents are leading this trend, contributing 73 per cent of the increase. Much of the focus is on children at key life stages, particularly those aged 16, 18 and 21. Questions around overseas education and travel feasibility are becoming more frequent, especially among parents of 18-year-olds weighing global opportunities against rising instability.
About 35 per cent of the queries centre on education and relocation, while another 27 per cent come from parents planning early for younger students. These include decisions around subject choices and coaching pathways, aimed at staying competitive in what many perceive as a tightening global economy.
The concern is not limited to students. Around 25 per cent of queries are from working professionals with four to five years of experience who had earlier planned to move abroad but are now reassessing timelines and destinations. Another 13 per cent come from soon-to-be graduates reconsidering international study plans and long-term settlement goals.
Commenting on the trend, Astrotalk founder and ceo Puneet Gupta said, “This is the first time we’re seeing global mobility being questioned at scale by Indian families. Parents today are not just planning for opportunity, they are planning against disruption. Whether it’s visas, job markets, or geopolitical shifts, there’s a visible anxiety around stability, and that’s driving earlier, more cautious decision-making for their children.”
As uncertainty continues to shape global narratives, platforms like Astrotalk are finding themselves at the intersection of decision-making and reassurance. For many families, the future is no longer just about where to go next, but whether to go at all.
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Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
