The Hidden Tax of Chaos – How hassled visitors are shrinking our tourism GDP by billions

  Author: Vivek V Kumar (MD, Lexicon World) is a marketing communications leader who has helped 100s of organisation enhance their reputation and bolster their sales with real world changes and messaging   In our previous discussion on the need for Chief Tourist Happiness Officer, we looked at the Atithi Paradox and the strange way our ancient culture of hospitality fails to show up on our modern city streets. Today, we need to talk about the language that every politician and every bureaucrat understands very well. We need to talk…

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The “Atithi” Paradox: Why 5,000 Years of History is Losing to 50 Years of Hospitality

Author: Vivek V Kumar (MD, Lexicon World) is a marketing communications leader who has helped 100s of organisation enhance their reputation and bolster their sales with real world changes and messaging   We have the Taj Mahal, the eternal soul of Agra. We have the sacred, pulsing Ghats of Varanasi, the golden sands of Jaisalmer, and the emerald backwaters of Kerala. By all laws of logic, geography, and heritage, India should be the undisputed tourism capital of the planet. We are a civilization that has welcomed travellers for millennia, built…

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​Eco-Luxury – The ‘New Normal’ in Premium Housing

– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces: For several decades until fairly recently, marble lobbies, imported fixtures, and sweeping views of the city or landscaped parks, gardens and sometimes reserved forests were the hallmarks of luxury in Indian real estate. This definition has rapidly evolved since the Covid-19 pandemic and recent global warming statistics have redefined comfort, health, and responsibility. Today, luxury homes must tick several new boxes for affluent buyers who have travelled the world and are very aware of climate risks. The trend of eco-luxury housing…

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Right-Fitting Senior Indian Homeownership

– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces As the world gets increasingly torn by war and Indian retirees worriedly track the impact on their investments, one major area of concern should be housing – specifically, the costs involved, and whether the house is a good fit in the first place. If it is not, good money may be following bad in the worst possible times. For decades, the Indian middle and upper-middle class have viewed the 'big bungalow' or the spacious 4 BHK apartment as the ultimate badge…

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​Fix the Locks, Don’t Scrap the Law: A Developer’s Case for RERA 2.0

– Anil Pharande, Chairman – Pharande Spaces The recent news stories about the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA) have been nothing short of extraordinary. People understandably get anxious when the Supreme Court says that a regulator has turned into a 'rehabilitation center' for retiring officials – or that we may as well get rid of it. But as a developer who has worked in this field for decades, both before and after 2016, I see this uproar not as a sign of failure but as a crucial turning point. Let's…

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How to Send USDT TRC-20 Without Errors: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

USDT transfers on the TRON network are widely used thanks to their speed and accessibility. However, beginners often face unexpected issues: the balance is sufficient, the address looks correct, but the transaction fails or suddenly requires TRX to proceed. The reason lies in TRON’s resource-based fee model. This guide explains how USDT TRC-20 transfers work, what to check before sending funds, and how to avoid the most common mistakes. Why USDT TRC-20 Transfers Sometimes Fail USDT TRC-20 operates through a smart contract. In the TRON blockchain, such transactions consume network…

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Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra Bolsters Andhra Pradesh with Expertise-Driven Wins in Critical Cases

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, a renowned legal practitioner at the Supreme Court of India, acknowledged for his mastery in the spheres of criminal and constitutional law, continues to provide the State of Andhra Pradesh with unmatched legal expertise in high-profile legal disputes. His strategic interventions have secured results and robust defenses, drawing on decades of his experience representing state governments, union government and public institutions. Currently, Mr. Luthra is actively representing the State Governments in the State of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra. In the past, Mr. Luthra has…

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​Union Budget 2026–27 Draws Strong Endorsement from Industry Leaders Across Sectors

The Union Budget 2026–27 has received an encouraging response from industry leaders, who view it as a balanced and forward-looking blueprint for India’s next phase of growth. With a clear emphasis on fiscal consolidation, sustained public capital expenditure, healthcare and MedTech innovation, MSME empowerment, infrastructure development, and technology-driven agriculture, the Budget is seen as reinforcing macroeconomic stability while creating conditions to crowd in private investment. Together, these measures signal the government’s commitment to building a resilient, globally competitive economy. Mr. Sanjay Bhutani, Managing Director, Bausch & Lomb & Director, MTaI said,…

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Municipal Elections & Union Budget – And the Future of Pune Real Estate

– by Anil Pharande, Chairman – Pharande Spaces The elections for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal (PCMC) governments that are happening right now are not just about politics in those cities. They're about the infrastructure, the cost of housing, and the future liveability of two cities that have become magnets for millions of Indians looking for jobs, homes, and a better quality of life. At the same time, with the Union Budget just weeks away, real estate industry stakeholders are waiting to see if the government finally puts affordable housing…

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Pune & PCMC Housing Markets – 2025 and 2026

– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces The Pune residential real estate market in 2025 tells a mixed story, as below the city's strong fundamentals was a lot of stress. The city went from a period of rapid growth to a more stable, selective market, with affordability and changing buyer demographics becoming more defining characteristics in the year. The Highs: Strong registration in the face of uncertainty At first glance, 2025 saw many transactions. Pune had its best property registration run in four years, with over 1.70 lakh…

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