BLOOMING INSIGHTS

Introduction: “ It is not just the government that has a veto; the judiciary too has it ”, the statement by former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. In a similar vein, " I am now appealing to you to establish a suo moto bench of 11 judges of the Supreme Court to reconsider the verdicts from the Second and Third Judges' cases” , former Supreme Court judge, Markandey Katju urged in his letter to Chief Justice of India, B. R. Gavai, highlighting the weaknesses in the Collegium system of Judiciary. These statements reflect the long lasting debate about the process of judges appointing judges in the judiciary system of India.  An overview: The Collegium system in India is the process by which judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed and transferred in the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and includes the four senior-most judges of the court.  The High Court collegium is led by the respective Chief Jus...

Introduction: India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world but there exists a significant gap in accessing formal credit, especially when compared to other developed nations. Banks and financial institutions (FIs) are working on filling this gap by introducing new payments products and instruments that would make it easier to access formal credit. Traditionally, formal credit was restricted to financial products such as home, auto and personal loans. However, banks and FIs have recently shifted their focus towards instruments like credit cards, buy now, pay later (BNPL) and credit EMIs. New FinTech players have disrupted the market by introducing new and innovative products and offerings to consumers. Credit cards, BNPL and credit EMIs have witnessed large-scale issuance and growth in usage. Traditional banks and new start-ups are focusing on acquiring new customers by allowing access to credit for the unbanked/underserved segment. Credit Usage and Growth: Credit in I...

Do you remember the famous NFT called “The First 5000 Days” by Beeple? It was sold for $69.3 million.  But what exactly are NFTs? Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are assets like artworks, images, GIFs, videos, tweets, documents, and more. These tokens are created using blockchain technology, such as Solana, Ethereum, Cardano and others.  Each NFT has some unique identification codes created through an encryption function from metadata. These tokens are then stored on a blockchain ledger while the assets themselves are stored in other places, the connection between the token and the asset is what makes it one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. The very first NFT sold was “Quantum”, created by Kevin McKoy in 2014 on blockchain (Namecoin). With the advent of Ethereum blockchain in 2017, the NFTs started gaining much recognition. However, the NFTs market has experienced a dramatic roller-coaster over the past 3 years characterising a meteoric rise, rapid fall and now signs of revival...

Introduction In recent years, the Indian real estate market has been the subject of much debate and speculation. Some experts have raised concerns about the possibility of a bubble, citing factors such as rapid price appreciation, high levels of unsold inventory, and a slowdown in sales. Home prices in almost all large Indian cities are unaffordable. In cities like Mumbai and Gurgaon, buying a home demands decades of savings.  In fact, as The Times of India   reported on June 24, 2025, it would take 109 years of savings for the richest 5 percent of families in Mumbai to be able to buy a home to live in. In Gurgaon it would take 64 years. For Bengaluru and Delhi, the figure was at 36 years and 35 years respectively. Now, these are average numbers, and like all average numbers they hide more than they reveal. Nonetheless, even if it would take half the number of years, the message is simple: Home prices in Indian cities have reached extremely high levels. Why Bubble migh...

Introduction Imagine being a US citizen, looking to expand your business into The Japanese market. Upon your arrival, you naturally extend your hand for a firm handshake, initiate a small talk, and address your counterparts by their first names- practices appropriate and expected in American business culture. However, you are soon encountered with puzzled expressions and subtle discomfort. In Japan, such behaviours can seem disrespectful, where bowing is the customary greeting and formality is deeply valued.  This scenario displays a common challenge faced by the Multinational Corporations (MNCs) operating on the global stage: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. Every culture has its own unique set of communication styles, norms and business etiquettes. What is considered standard practice in one country may be inappropriate or misunderstood in another. Failing to recognise and adapt to these differences, can result in miscommunication, damaged relationships and even the breakdown of negotiatio...