MAM
Flipkart promotes Kunal Gupta to SVP amid quick commerce push
Minutes head to lead expansion as dark store network set to hit 1,600
MUMBAI: In the race where minutes matter, Flipkart is betting on a familiar hand to move faster.Flipkart has elevated Kunal Gupta, vice president and head of Minutes and grocery, to senior vice president, signalling a sharper focus on its quick commerce ambitions. The move, confirmed via an internal email reviewed by Moneycontrol, comes as the Walmart-owned firm doubles down on high-frequency delivery, positioning its Minutes vertical as a key growth engine.
According to Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Gupta brings a proven track record in turning around businesses and scaling high-growth categories, having led roles across fashion, mobiles and large appliances during his tenure at Flipkart.
Gupta, who joined the company in 2014, has spent over a decade across multiple business units and most recently steered the Minutes and Grocery vertical. In his new role, he will continue to oversee Minutes and report directly to Krishnamurthy.
The elevation comes at a time when competition in quick commerce is intensifying, with rivals such as Amazon (via Amazon Now), Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy (through Instamart) and BigBasket all racing to capture market share.
Flipkart is also gearing up to launch a standalone app for Minutes currently housed within the main platform marking a shift towards a more dedicated, speed-first user experience for grocery and essentials.
On the infrastructure front, the company is set to double its network of dark stores to 1,600 in the coming months, underscoring the scale of its push.
As the quick commerce battle heats up, Flipkart’s message is clear, speed isn’t just a feature, it’s the strategy.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
