MAM
Korean becomes fastest growing language in India: Duolingo report
Mumbai: Language learning app Duolingo has released the 2021 Duolingo Language Report in the country according to which Korean leads the language learning growth curve in India. This rise can be attributed in part to the release of the popular streaming show “Squid Game” (2021).
Influenced by pop culture, Indian millennials and Gen-Z – especially between the age groups of 17 to 25 – are responsible for the rise of Korean learning in India. Over 56 per cent of respondents said that they were influenced to learn a new language by pop culture trendsetters including films, OTT shows and web series, said the report.
Korean has climbed up the ladder of most popular languages becoming the fastest growing language in India and has comfortably established itself as the fifth most popular language in the country. English, Hindi, French and Spanish are the other top languages that Indians are currently learning on the Duolingo app. It is interesting to note that English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese are the most popular languages on Duolingo globally.
As India tunes into more Korean entertainment and listens to more K-pop, language study has been reframed as something that complements and supports interests and other activities.
Taking a deeper dive into the impact of culture on language learning, Duolingo also conducted additional research in India in association with an international data and analytics group.
The report found that improving career opportunities and personal growth are main reasons in India for learning a new language. Close to 40 per cent of respondents stated that they were currently studying a new language. There is equal focus on learning English and regional languages. Digital learning is the most preferred medium of learning especially via mobile applications and video platforms.
“With a young India wanting to stay connected to local and global culture we have witnessed most traction on Duolingo from the 17 to 25 age bracket, across languages,” stated Duolingo’s country marketing manager for India Karandeep Singh Kapany. “As Indians increasingly move to virtual learning platforms that are fun and effective, we look forward to further tailoring courses for the Indian learner and meeting their language learning needs.”
Duolingo revealed that in 2021 over 700 million hours were spent learning on the app with nearly 10 billion lessons completed and 15 billion words learned. 25 million people worldwide were learning more than one language.
MAM
DS Group expands climate strategy with full emissions audit
FY25 GHG inventory across Scope 1, 2, 3 to guide decarbonisation push.
MUMBAI: Going green is no longer a side note, it’s moving onto the balance sheet. DS Group has sharpened its climate strategy, announcing a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for FY 2024–25 that will map emissions across Scope 1, Scope 2 and key Scope 3 categories, covering everything from direct operations to supply chain activity.
Timed with Earth Day, the move signals a shift from broad sustainability commitments to data-led execution. By identifying where emissions are concentrated, the company aims to move towards targeted interventions rather than incremental fixes.
The audit spans direct emissions, purchased energy and upstream supply chain inputs areas often harder to quantify but increasingly critical to corporate climate strategies. The objective is to pinpoint the biggest emission drivers and embed climate considerations into everyday decision-making, from operations to expansion plans.
Aligned with India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the roadmap centres on three pillars: decarbonisation, resource efficiency and responsible growth. This includes accelerating renewable energy adoption to reduce product carbon intensity, alongside integrating circular economy practices to improve water and material use.
A notable element of the strategy is its focus on indirect impact. By working with supply chain partners on sustainable sourcing, the company is attempting to address emissions beyond its immediate control, an area where many corporate plans still fall short.
Internally, the push is backed by governance metrics that include zero regulatory non-compliance, no product recalls linked to quality issues, 100 per cent pay parity and zero data breaches indicators the company positions as part of its broader sustainability framework.
Going forward, all major investments will be assessed through a climate-risk lens, signalling a tighter integration of environmental considerations with business growth.
In an industrial landscape where sustainability often sits at the margins, the DS Group’s approach suggests a recalibration treating climate not as a compliance box, but as a core operating principle shaping how the business grows.
