Brands
Smart Bazaar and McCann reframe retail with ‘living well’ campaign
MUMBAI: Smart Bazaar has teamed up with McCann Worldgroup India to roll out a fresh brand campaign that captures a cultural shift sweeping through Indian homes, the move from ‘making do’ to ‘living well’.
The films spotlight how everyday spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, are being reimagined with more intention, reflecting dignity, pride and a desire for quality. At the centre of this change are women, the everyday architects of aspiration, turning homes into reflections of both dreams and needs.
“This is not just about retail, it’s about enabling aspiration,” said Reliance Retail, CMO, Surabhi Sen. “Consumers today want both savings and quality, and Smart Bazaar bridges that gap, turning everyday upgrades into everyday reality.”
McCann Worldgroup’s CEO and CCO Prasoon Joshi added, “India is at a cultural inflection point. Living well is no longer a luxury, it’s dignity and joy. With Smart Bazaar, we tapped into a truth quietly redefining daily life.”
The campaign, featuring films like Masterchef, Twinning, Twins and Shepreneur, positions Smart Bazaar not merely as a store but as a cultural enabler, making quality living accessible to all.
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
