CHENNAI PLUS

  T he Advertising Standards Council of India’s (ASCI’s) Half-Yearly Complaints Report (2025–26) shows that digital media continue to dominate advertising violations, accounting for 97% of the total.  Between April and September 2025, ASCI reviewed 6,841 complaints and investigated 6,117 advertisements. Of these, 98% required modification. There was a sharp 70% rise in complaints and a 102% surge in ads processed over the same period last year – the outcome of ASCI’s intensified surveillance, consumer vigilance and collaboration with regulators such as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.   Illegal betting (4,575 ads and 3 others reported as surrogates), personal care (367), healthcare (332), food and beverage (211), and education (71) emerged as the top five violative sectors. Together, they accounted for nearly 90% of cases processed.   Highlights from the report   ●         Offshore/Illegal betting remains Ind...

myBiz, the SaaS-based corporate booking platform from MakeMyTrip, and Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, today announced a partnership to simplify meal expense management for millions of corporate travelers across the country. With its tech-first approach, myBiz has emerged as one of India’s leading corporate travel platforms, serving more than 75,000 corporates and SMEs nationwide. Having already streamlined complex categories such as flights, hotels, ground transport, visas, and travel insurance for the corporate sector, myBiz is now joining forces with Swiggy to address the next most challenging component of business travel—meal expenses, which account for over 11% of India’s corporate travel spend. With this partnership, corporate travelers can seamlessly order meals through ‘Swiggy for Work’ on the Swiggy app and pay directly using the myBiz corporate wallet. They can choose from over 2.6 lakh restaurants across 720+ cities for delivery, or dine at more than...

BLS International Services Limited, an Indian multi-national corporation and a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens, announced its consolidated financial results for the q uarter and half year ended 30 th September 2025. BLS International Services Ltd reported, yet again, highest ever quarterly performance and continued to strengthen its global footprint and diversify its portfolio with key contract wins and strategic initiatives across multiple geographies. l   In a major development, the company was awarded a three-year contract by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India , to establish and operate Indian Visa Application Centres across China. This win underscores BLS International’s longstanding partnership with the Indian government and its consistent delivery excellence in the consular services domain. l   In addition, BLS International won Cyprus Visa processing operations in Kazakhstan , further consolidating its...

Tam il Nadu has emerged as the largest market in South India for illegal mosquito repellent incense sticks, exposing people to a hidden public health threat. Companies are offering legal mosquito repellent solutions, along with institutions like The Home Insect Control Association (HICA) — a non-profit industry association promoting the safe use of household insecticides in India — have been actively cautioning people and authorities about the dangers of such unapproved and illegal mosquito repellent incense sticks that pose serious health risks. The illegal incense stick market in India is estimated to be worth over INR 1,800 crore, with Southern India contributing around INR 370 crore. Tamil Nadu alone accounts for nearly INR 150 crore, making it one of the biggest hubs for these unsafe and illegal products. Marketed as “herbal” or “natural,” illegal mosquito repellent incense sticks often contain unapproved chemicals. Prolonged exposure may lead to respiratory problems, particu...

As India moves closer to its goal of becoming a malaria-free nation by 2030, EMBED (E limination of Mosquito-Borne Endemic Diseases) has proved to bring down malaria and dengue cases significantly across three Indian states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. The EMBED Malaria Elimination Programhas emerged as a powerful example and a ready model of how public-private partnerships can save lives, protect livelihood and accelerate India’s mission toward a malaria-free nation.   A special ceremony was organized to mark 10 years of the EMBED program, attended by senior government officials, health body representatives, and officials from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), which supports the program’s implementation across three states. The ceremony celebrated NGOs from Family Health India, teachers, and ASHA workers who reached remote forests and villages—delivering care and awareness to help families live disease-free lives.   To build on ten years mileston...

VIDA – powered by Hero MotoCorp –announced the launch of the VX2 Go 3.4 kWh variant, further expanding the VX2 portfolio of Evooters. The new variant was unveiled by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, underscoring the government’s focus on accelerating electric mobility adoption in India. The introduction of this new variant reaffirms VIDA’s commitment to its vision of democratizing electric mobility and its philosophy of “Ghar Ghar Evooter” — bringing practical, affordable electric mobility to every household. Since its debut, the VIDA Evooter VX2 has earned strong consumer acceptance for its reliability, convenience, and familiar design. Recognized as “Badalte India Ka Scooter”, it combines the reliability of a scooter with the innovation of an EV, making it a preferred choice for riders looking to shift to electric mobility. The new Evooter VX2 Go 3.4 kWh builds on this success, offering enhanced performance, extended range and improved com...