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TV & mobile electronics: Domestic prod leaves $ 300bn gap for import
NEW DELHI: The demand of electronic products in India is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41 per cent during 2017-2020 to reach $ 400 billion by 2020, but the government has to help domestic production.
The local production of electronic products has to be increased significantly to meet the domestic demand. The industry suggest the government to focus on both infrastructural as well as at the policy level, increased emphasis has to be provided for increasing the percentage of local component manufacturing in India. This includes simplifying the complex regulatory structure for making compliance easier for new entrants and developing a participatory approach.
A joint Study by ASSOCHAM and NEC (which provides product development, global product maintenance and global business enablement services) says India can become a manufacturing hub only with increased domestic production. Demand for electronic products in India is poised for significant growth in the next few years, driven by a strong economic outlook.
The domestic production which is currently growing at a CAGR of 27 per cent may touch $ 104 billion leaving a huge gap for import to the extent of $ 300 billion. The study says the electronics industry valued at $ 1.75 trillion is the fastest growing industry globally.
The Indian electronics and hardware market grew by 8.6 per cent Year on Year to reach $ 75 billion in 2015, driven by rising local demand. The worldwide electronics industry was valued at around $ 1.86 trillion in 2015.
With a growing middle class population, disposable income has led to increased consumer demand for electronics products specially advanced TV’s, mobile phones and computers. This surge in demand is huge which shows a positive outlook for the industry.
The Electronics industry valued at $ 1.75 trillion is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world, highlighted the study.
India’s total electronics hardware production 2014-15 is estimated at $ 32.46 billion – representing a share of about 1.5 per cent in world electronic hardware production. The domestic consumption of electronic hardware in 2014-15 was $ 63.6 billion out of which 58 per cent was fulfilled with imports. With demonetisation adding to the demand for POS devices and mobile phones, this demand is going to increase manifolds.
The investments in electronic manufacturing which was just Rs 110 billion in June 2014 has increased to Rs 1278.8 billion in 2016.
Initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ and specially focusing on schemes such as the ‘Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme’ (M-SIPS) and ‘Electronic Development Fund’ (EDF) has helped this growth.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
