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FIPB clears Vodafone deal
New Delhi: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) today cleared the British telecom giant Vodafone‘s deal to buy mobile carrier Hutchison Essar subject to some conditions, after deferring a ruling thrice. The file will now go to the Finance Ministry for a formal and final approval. FIPB has said the British company – the world‘s largest mobile operator in terms of revenues – has to comply with Press Note three of the Foreign Direct Investment rules, which were recently amended to permit FDI up to 74 per cent. The FIPB which functions under the Finance Ministry has also said the 15 per cent stake held by Indians Analjit Singh and Ashim Ghosh and foreign investors cannot be |
Expressing concern on the FDI inflow into India , FIPB said the Government should review the guidelines relating to foreign investment in the country across all sectors. ‘‘Under existing norms and guidelines, the FIPB has cleared the Vodafone deal, but the loopholes in the system need to be plugged,‘‘ an official told reporters after the meeting here. |
Satisfied that the shareholding of both Analjit Singh and Asim Ghosh was Indian, the FIPB said the approval of the Government would be needed to transfer the shares held by two Indian shareholders. ‘‘FIPB was satisfied that Vodafone only held 52 per cent under the Joint Venture,‘‘ said an FIPB official. Under recently announced Press Note 3 ‘‘Indirect foreign investment shall mean foreign investment in the company/ companies holding shares of the licensee company and their holding company/companies or legal entity (such as mutual funds, trusts) on proportionate basis. In any case, the `Indian‘ shareholding will not be less than 26 per cent.‘‘ |
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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.
