MAM
Subhash Kamath re-elected as Asci chairman
Mumbai: The Advertising Standards Council of India’s (ASCI’s) board has elected Subhash Kamath as chairman for a second consecutive term, here on Thursday.
August One Partners LLP managing director NS Rajan was re-elected as the vice-chairman of the board. The vote, which followed the 35th annual general meeting, ensures continuity for the several initiatives the advertising self-regulator had kickstarted over the past year, Asci said in a statement.
“We have flagged off important initiatives in the digital space, such as the influencer guidelines and the monitoring of promotional content. We are becoming future-ready in this ever-changing marketing and media landscape. The second term will allow me to push further with these initiatives, which are showing immense promise. As we expand our presence, we are engaging more with consumers as well to increase awareness of their rights,” said Kamath.
The Asci board was expanded this year with the inclusion of members such as noted academician and social activist Dr Ranjana Kumari, educationist Dr Indu Sahani, technology entrepreneur Rajesh Patel, and finance sector expert and former editor Rajrishi Singhal – strengthening governance through partnering with external stakeholders and civil society.
In a statement, the industry watchdog said it will continue its digitisation efforts on the complaints management system as well as through a new website and learning tools for the industry. It will also focus on consumer, industry, and student education and thought leadership initiatives through collaborations.
Under Kamath, Asci has launched several initiatives which included Influencer guidelines for labelling promotional content which helped consumers distinguish paid content from organic, Alliance with French digital service provider Reech for monitoring influencer content using artificial intelligence for paid marketing communication and real-money gaming advertising guidelines introduced in collaboration with the ministry of information and broadcasting made it mandatory to inform consumers of the associated risks.
Asci also escalated more than 200 potentially misleading advertisements based on the advisory on COVID-related advertising by the ministry of Ayush, while also issuing its own COVID advisory for advertisers in October 2020. The industry body’s ‘Chup Na Baitho’ campaign, encouraging consumers to report ads with misleading claims, reached more than one million social media users, making them aware of their rights and how to file complaints, it added.
Brands
From mega bills to spontaneous dates: Swiggy Dineout Valentine’s report
From mega bills to last-minute plans, India celebrated love with flair
MUMBAI: Valentine’s Day 2026 was a feast for the senses and wallets alike, according to Swiggy Dineout. India’s on-demand dining platform revealed how the nation celebrated romance with big gestures, lively nights out, and plenty of spontaneous bookings.
Metropolitan hubs continued to rule the roost with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad seeing the most reservations. Emerging cities aren’t far behind, with Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh joining the party. Growth was particularly striking in Surat (up 180 per cent), Vadodara (155 per cent) and Bhubaneswar (145.5 per cent) compared with the previous Saturday.
Mumbai stole the headlines with a single customer splashing out Rs 130,155 – the highest bill in the country. The city also hosted the largest single group booking, with 30 diners coming together to celebrate in style. Most Valentine’s transactions took place between 10pm and 11pm, proving love, and hunger, strike late.
Mumbai stole the spotlight with a mega-spender whose bill made everyone else blush, while savvy diners were cashing in on discounts, including a Pune customer saving 60% and another in Bengaluru saving 50 per cent. Fine dining was on fire, with bookings up 121 per cent year-on-year, though pubs, bars, and lounges remained the crowd favourites, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all reservations. Last-minute romance was the order of the day, with 66 per cent of diners booking within two hours of heading out. Together, India saved over Rs 6 crore, proving that love can be grand, yet thrifty.
Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi led the premium dining rush, showing a growing appetite for curated, high-end experiences. Meanwhile, spontaneous bookings reinforced modern lifestyles, where convenience and instant gratification rule the day.
Whether it was big spends, huge groups, or a last-minute romantic dash, Valentine’s Day 2026 proved love and dining go hand in hand – and sometimes, they go all out.
