GECs
79% Indians look for best deals while shopping
MUMBAI: A majority (79 per cent) of Indians would rather ‘spend time looking for a good deal,’ while only 21 per cent would rather ‘pay more to make a quick/efficient purchase.’ The findings reflect a new poll of 18,503 online respondents conducted by Ipsos OTX.
“Indian consumers lately show both impulsive and compulsive buying behaviour. But at the same time they are dealaholics and hardcore value for money seekers. No wonder why sale/ discount offer periods record the highest revenue both for online and offline retailers,” said Ipsos India head of marketing Biswarup Banerjee.
Those with a lower household income (82 per cent) are most likely to spend time looking for a good deal. Even those with middle (80 per cent) and high (74 per cent) levels of income, however, would take the time to find a better price. Similarly, those with a low level of education (100 per cent) are more likely than those with a medium (80 per cent) or high (79 per cent) level. Women (80 per cent) are more likely than men (78 per cent) to go hunting for a sale.
The countries with the highest proportions of those indicating they would rather spend time looking for good deals are from: Hungary (94 per cent), Spain (94 per cent), Great Britain (93 per cent), Argentina (92 per cent), Belgium (91 per cent), France (91 per cent) and Germany (91 per cent). This group of deal-chasers is followed by: Australia (90 per cent), Italy (90 per cent), Mexico (90 per cent), Japan (88 per cent), South Africa (87 per cent), Canada (86 per cent), Poland (86 per cent), the United States (85 per cent), China (81 per cent), Russia (81 per cent) and South Korea (81 per cent). The lower group includes: India (79 per cent), Brazil (76 per cent), Saudi Arabia (76 per cent), Norway (75 per cent), Sweden (75 per cent), Turkey (74 per cent) and Indonesia (58 per cent).
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
