Brands
Dabur dons Kovirakshak kit, as ASCI doffs Chyawanprash ad
Mumbai: India’s leading FMCG major Dabur India Limited Tuesday announced the launch of Dabur Kovirakshak Kit that includes Chyawanprash, Giloy, Tulsi and Juri-Tap products.
A company message said the product is “A combination of time-trusted ayurvedic medicines to help in faster recovery from ongoing respiratory infections. Dabur KoviRakshak Kit was developed and launched based on (the) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines and after (a) thorough study on infected patients”, the company has claimed.
@DaburIndia launches ‘Dabur Kovi Rakshak Kit’, a combination of time-trusted Ayurvedic Medicines that help in faster recovery from ongoing respiratory infections. #Dabur #KoviRakshakKit has been developed, launched based on ICMR guidelines and thorough study on infected patients. pic.twitter.com/N4MBnC1MXo
— Dabur India Ltd (@DaburIndia) May 25, 2021
The company’s website also prominently claims: “Get your Dabur Kovirakshak kit – As part of our commitment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Dabur is distributing free Kovirakshak kits to the first 200 people who register with us. Sign up to get your immunity shield.”
The new audience interactive advertisement comes only a day after the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) pulled up the brand for making misleading claims through its advertisement for Dabur Chyawanprash. ASCI had asked the ayurveda major to modify or withdraw the Chyawanprash ad that claimed to offer protection against the Corona virus. The print ad published in March this year claimed that taking two spoons of the product daily provided protection against COVID-19.
ASCI secretary general Manisha Kapoor told IndianTelevision that while she’s yet to see the new Dabur Kovirakshak ad, “Each product and advertisement will have to be examined on its own merit, if they are able to prove what they are claiming then its fine.” She added that they have not received any complaint about the newer advertisement so far.
The ad featuring actor Akshay Kumar stated that the claim is backed by “clinical studies conducted in 5 centres”.
The advertisement ran into controversy on social media after several people tagged ASCI to look into the matter. Brand consultant & strategist, Ambi Parameswaran had also tweeted and alerted ASCI about a possible violation:
Alerting @ascionline ! How reliable and valid is the study @DaburIndia is quoting? Please find out and pass your verdict. @rameshnarayan @skswamy @beastoftraal @calamur @bhatnaturally Two spoons vs Two shots of vaccine? pic.twitter.com/UgKAc2MZxn
— Ambi Parameswaran (@ambimgp) March 26, 2021
ASCI launched an investigation after a formal complaint was lodged and noted, “Dabur Chyawanprash has immunity building properties, however, it is not established whether the product could protect one against (the) Corona virus.”
In its report to Dabur, as reported by online media afaqs, ASCI stated that the claim made in the advertisement “could be construed literally by an ordinary consumer, that consuming the product would protect one from COVID-19”. Following the investigation of reports and data provided by Dabur, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of ASCI in turn maintained that the “claim is misleading by ambiguity and exaggeration and is likely to lead to widespread disappointment in the minds of consumers.”
ASCI has advised Dabur to suitably modify or withdraw the advertisement by June 4, 2021.
The ad had attracted major trolling on social media after its brand ambassador Akshay Kumar announced that he has tested positive for covid-19.
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 4, 2021
The irony of the situation was not lost on net users who trolled the brand as well as the actor over the apparently false COVID-19-protection claims.
A section of the online community had also red flagged the actor and the company for being reckless while promoting products through incorrect claims.
#AkshayKumar becomes #Coronapositive .
But, isn’t he one who advertises a chyawanprash promising protection against #COVIDー19 ?
Will advertising council now make the actor announce that he doesn’t consume the product?#dabur#coronavirus#@ascionline @DaburIndia pic.twitter.com/t1eHl6TYj3— Adwait Ainapure (@adwaitainapure) April 4, 2021
While the Covid-19 outbreak has brought some businesses to a grinding halt, it has also served as a business opportunity for others. Several FMCG giants cashed in on the health-related fear induced into the general public by the pandemic by launching a plethora of immunity-boosting products ranging from beverages comprising of juice, tea, coffee to probiotic shots and supplements in capsule form, mixes and powder, even food items.
The Indian Immunity Boosting Packaged Products Market is projected to reach $ 347 million by FY 2026, as per a report, owing to increasing consciousness and focus among Indian consumers towards sickness preventing health foods.
Major players operating in the immunity boosting packaged products market include The Himalaya Drug Company, Dabur India Ltd., Patanjali Ayurved, among others, which have capitalised on their ayurvedic lineage. Dabur India is a remarkable case in point, with the home-grown FMCG major overhauling its go-to-market strategy.
While Brand strategist Ambi Parameshwaran believes the brand has played it safe this time by avoiding any blatant mention of COVID-19 protection in the ad copy, he still feels the product name may get it into trouble once again. He said, “Just on the basis of the name Kovirakshak Kit they can be taken to ASCI again. Rakshak in Hindi means protector, which again implies COVID-19 protection, not just immunity. So, while the copy is correct, I still have an issue with the brand name. They could be hauled up once again.”
In either case, the controversy has meant piqued audience interest inadvertently for a second time, not necessarily in the interest of public health. Bad publicity is also good for publicity.
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.
