MAM
September bliss Ipsos survey finds consistent happiness levels!
Mumbai: The September wave of Ipsos IndiaBus happiness monitor shows happiness has stayed steady in September with no change in happiness levels. However, 69 per cent of urban Indians claim to be happy.
A graph showing different colored lines
Description automatically generated
Interestingly, the cohorts that emerged happiest were full-time students (74 per cent), homemakers (73 per cent), women (71 per cent) and those with higher education (70 per cent).
94 per cent of urban Indians living in tier-one towns claimed to be happy. Urban Indians in the west and north were happier than those in the South and East. 87 per cent of urban Indians living in the west zone were happy and similarly, 77 per cent of those living in the north zone claimed to be happy. Only 54 per cent of those living in the South Zone were seen to be happy. And only one in two (50 per cent) in the east per cent one were happy. The trend was seen across demographics.
Overall, happiness has surged for family (+1 per cent), situation of the world (+3 per cent), situation of the country (+2 per cent), and neighbours (+1 per cent); and decreased for health (-2 per cent), economic/ financial conditions (-1 per cent), colleagues/ business associates (-2 per cent), employment or work (-1 per cent) and with no change around friends’ circle, in September, over the previous month.
Looking at the pecking order of happiness contributors for urban Indians, it was led by family (74 per cent), health (65 per cent), friends’ circle (62 per cent), employment or work (59 per cent), colleagues/ business associates (55 per cent), neighbours (54 per cent), economic/ financial conditions (53 per cent), situation of the country (47 per cent) and situation of the world (42 per cent).
Commenting on the findings of the survey, ESG & CSR group service line leader, public affairs, and corporate reputation, Parijat Chakraborty said, “Happiness Levels have held steady and family continues to be the biggest driving force in infusing happiness. The happiness monitor also shows happiness is defined by different aspects of our daily life. It is about close family ties, social framework and societal engagement, work environment and colleagues, financial conditions, how the country is being run and how the global scenario looks. The G20 Summit has rubbed off on the perception of India and the world and is being positively manifested in the happiness monitor in September. Likewise, work and colleagues and increasing work pressures have slightly dented happiness levels. Women and homemakers seem happier with their “me” time.”
“West and North zones have seen a maximum boom in terms of jobs, access to the best of facilities and overall development. Tier one towns are the emerging centres of consumerism. Seeing a major boost in quality of life and happiness,” added Chakraborty.
Methodology
Ipsos IndiaBus is a monthly pan-India omnibus (which also runs multiple client surveys), that uses a structured questionnaire and is conducted by Ipsos India on diverse topics among 2200+ respondents from SEC A, B and C households, covering adults of both genders from all four zones in the country. The survey is conducted in metros, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, providing a more robust and representative view of urban Indians. The respondents were polled face-to-face and online. We have a city-level quota for each demographic segment that ensures the waves are identical and no additional sampling error. The data is weighted by demographics and city-class population to arrive at the national average. Data collection is done every month and the results are calculated on a two-month rolling sample.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
