OPINION, P10 WELL BEING While women's genetic makeup makes them more prone to autoimmune diseases, are there other factors as well? Page 9 Vice chancellors will become viceroys FE LINES How to streamline workflow and improve efficiency Page 8 AI tools to boost productivity THE 'X' FACTOR THAT IS PUTTING WOMEN AT RISK ACROSS THE AISLE, P CHIDAMBARAM LEISURE Follow us on Twitter & Facebook. App available on App Store & Play Store WWW.FINANCIALEXPRESS.COM Vol. 17 No. 44 BOTS IN YOUR WARDROBE FINANCIAL EXPRESS ON SUNDAY MUMBAI SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2025 14 Pages, `12 P U B L I S H E D F R O M : A H M E D A B A D , B E N G A L U R U , C H A N D I G A R H , C H E N N A I , H Y D E R A B A D , GARIMA SADHWANI New Delhi, January 11 NO PLASTIC, ONLY biodegradable products, solar power, eco-friendly transport,sewage monitoring...this year’s Maha Kumbh will be big on sustainability, in tune with the Union government's announcement of a‘green’mela. Vivek Chaturvedi,additional districtmagistrateofMahaKumbh,told FE, “We are planting three lakh saplings to make Prayagraj a green city. We are refraining from using plastic in the mela area. Instead,we are relying on kulhad,dona,and pat- ■ SPOTLIGHT, P6-7 New-age storytellers With a diverse range of compelling content, how Indian podcasters are rewriting the rules of the game in the third-largest podcast listening market in the world AI: Beauty or the beast? With no definite answers, a book captures a rapidly evolving moment that could shape destinies and evolution Ireland, Norway, and Japan recorded over 25% rise. — Compiled by Kishor Kadam cleaning staff to be deployed, divided into 850 teams 25,000 3 dustbins (with liner bags) being placed ■ Online e-rickshaw 40 compactor trucks for waste management tals,whicharebiodegradablematerials,toreplacethermocolandplastic.” The mela management has also deployed over10,000cleaningstaff, booking system for shared & eco-friendly public transportation steel plates to be distributed among devotees dividedinto850teams,whilecloseto 150,000toiletsandurinalshavebeen set up, along with 25,000 dustbins (with liner bags), and 40 compactor KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, MD, IMF What we expect in 2025 is to have quite a lot of uncertainty, especially in terms of economic policies Georgieva said she expects the Indian economy to be a little weaker in 2025. However, she did not explain it any further. The World Economy Outlook update week will have more details about it. “TheUSisdoingquiteabitbetter than we expected before, the EU is somewhat stalling, (and) India a littleweaker,”shesaid.Brazilwasfacing somewhathigherinflation,shesaid. In China, the world’s secondlargest economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was seeing deflationary pressure and ongoing challenges with domestic demand, she said. “Low-income countries, despite all the efforts theyare making, are in a position when any new shock can affect them quite negatively,”Georgieva said. Continued on Page 2 ● AYODHYA BUSTLES WITH DEVOTEES 30 20 1.0 15 19.8 71.2 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 cloth bags to be offered to visitors trucks forwaste management. Toalsocutdownonvehicularpollution,the Prayagraj Mela Authority has come up with an online e-rick- ● Equipment from China also paused to iPhone plants 0 -10 Visitors take selfies on the first anniversary of the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, on Saturday As on December 31, 2024, *previous data not available; Source: NSDL TAIWANESE ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING giant Foxconn has paused new work rotations for its Chinese employees at its Apple iPhone factories in India,deploying Taiwanese workers instead,as per a report by Rest of World. The report also stated that Chinese workers currentlystationed at Indian plants are being recalled,signaling potential new economic tensions between China and India. Citing sourcesfamiliarwith Foxconn’s India operations, the report noted thatshipments of specialised manufacturing equipment intended for India have also been delayed in China. The disruptions could impactiPhoneassemblylines atFoxconn’sfactoriesinTamilNadu and Karnataka, which collectively employ around 50,000 workers. “Currently, the equipment and manpowerarenotallowedtogoover PTI VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO Mumbai, January 11 ONE OFINDIA’S richestCEOsNeville Tata packs a Punch to end Maruti’s 40-year reign ● But Maruti retains THE RACE IS ON Maruti stronghold with 6 cars 190,855 Wagon R in ‘top 10’ list of 2024 186,919 202,031 Unit sales (2024) Maruti Ertiga Tata Punch, launched in 2021 and priced between `6.13 lakh and `10.15 lakh, sold an impressive 202,031 units in 2024, averaging 16,836 units permonth.Its success has set a benchmark in the sub-4 Maruti Brezza 190,091 188,160 metre SUVsegment,inspiringcompetitors like Hyundai to launch Exter (2023), Skoda Kylaq (2024), and Kia Syros (2025). Punch was followed by Maruti Suzuki’s Wagon R, Ertiga, and Hyundai Creta FOR THE FIRST time in 40 years,a non-Maruti Suzuki car claimed the top spot in annual car sales chart.Tata Motors’Punch, a sub-4 metre SUV, emerged as the highest-selling car of 2024, breaking Maruti Suzuki’s decades-long dominance. While this marked a milestone for Tata, Maruti Suzuki continued to demonstrate its market strength,placing six cars in the top 10 list. Tata Punch VIKRAM CHAUDHARY New Delhi, January 11 D E L H I , P U N E shaw and e-auto booking system to encouragetheuseofsharedandecofriendlypublic transportation. Otherthanthis,threetemporary sewage treatment plants (STP) are being set up,alongwith use of solar power and promoting use of reusable materials. Themelawillalsohavea‘onebag, onethali’drive,avolunteer-ledinitiative to make the gathering a low wastegenerator,wherein1.5million steel plates and 2 million cloth bags will be distributed among devotees. This hasn’t been the case always though. In 2013,when the last edition of the Maha Kumbh was held, newsheadlineshighlightedhowone of the largest human gatherings in the world left behind heaps of garbage,and an even more polluted riverin its aftermath. Continued on Page 2 ON HOLD FE BUREAU Chennai, January 11 ● Noronha steps down, Unilever’s Asawa to be CMD 10 -3.4 N E W ■ Disruptions could impact iPhone assembly lines at Foxconn factories ■ Factories in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka collectively employ 50,000 workers ■ Suspensions could hinder efforts to develop next-gen iPhones in India ■ Foxconn began producing iPhones in Tamil Nadu in 2019, later expanded to Karnataka and Telangana (toIndia),”asourcewasquotedassaying.“AndIndiadoesn’thavethetechnologyto produce the equipment.” Continued on Page 2 Change of guard at Avenue Supermarts 50 40 45 temporary sewage treatment plants being set up 1.5 mn 2 mn 71.2 16.1 38.5 M U M B A I , toilets and urinals being set up % y-o-y growth, RHS In ` lakh crore, LHS L U C K N O W , 150,000 % y-o-y growth 16.1% 60 0 1 BAG, 1 THALI Volunteer-led initiative for low waste generation to be “a little weaker” in 2025 despite steady global growth, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva has said.Georgievaalsosaid she expects quite alotof uncertaintyin theworld thisyear mainlyaroundthetradepolicy of the US. Inherannual mediaroundtable with a group of reporters on Friday, she said global growth is expected to be steady in 2025, but with regional divergence. Top countries by FPI equity AUC US 18.0 30.3 Singapore 17.9 5.3 Luxembourg 20.0 5.4 Ireland 27.8 4.2 Mauritius -5.2 3.2 UK 10.3 3.6 Norway 31.4 2.7 Japan 39.4 2.1 Canada 6.7 1.8 Netherlands * 1.2 FPI equity AUC 30 Biodegradable materials like kulhad, pattals to be used THE INDIAN ECONOMY is expected FPIs’ equity assets under custody rise 16% in 2024 75 NO PLASTIC PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Washington, January 11 In ` lakh cr K O L K A T A , Indian economy to be Foxconn pulls plug on Chineseworkers 'littleweaker' in ’25: IMF to India: Report ■ WORDS WORTH, P4 Total K O C H I , ● Several measures in ECO-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES place to make event 300,000 10,000 big on sustainability saplings being planted in area their equity assets under custody (AUC) rise by 16% in 2024 to a record `71.2 lakh crore. However, the growth rate was lower than the 26.8% recorded in the previous year.The US, which led the FPIAUC rankings, experienced an 18% growth to `30.3 lakh crore in 2024. Singapore and Luxembourg witnessed growth of 17.9% and 20%, respectively. READ TO LEAD Green Maha Kumbh a departure from the past WHAT'S INSIDE FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTORS (FPIs) saw AI is everywhere, but Indian fashion industry is yet to find its footing Page 5 Maruti Swift 172,808 Maruti Baleno 172,094 Maruti Dzire 167,988 Mahindra Scorpio 166,364 Tata Nexon 161,611 Brezza, which sold 190,855, 190,091, and 188,160 units, respectively. Hyundai’s Creta secured fifth place with 186,919 units,while Maruti’s Swift, Baleno, and Dzire occupied the next three slots,selling172,808,172,094,and 167,988 units,respectively. The ninth position was taken by Mahindra’s Scorpio (166,364 units), reflecting a growing preference for rugged SUVs, and Tata’s Nexon rounded off the top 10 with 161,611 units. Interestingly, Maruti’s Eeco, which featured in the top 10 in 2023,was replaced by Mahindra’s Scorpio,indicating a shift towards SUVs even in the budget-conscious segments. In terms of body types,SUVs dominated the listwith five models (Punch, Brezza, Creta, Scorpio, and Nexon), followed by three hatchbacks (Wagon R, Swift, and Baleno), one MPV (Ertiga), and one sedan (Dzire). Continued on Page 2 Noronha, who was with Avenue Supermarts for over two decades, has decided to end his tenure with the company. On Saturday,Avenue Supermarts,which runs the DMart chainofstores,saidNoronha,49,will not renew his candidature after his current term ends in January2026. Unilever’s Ansul Asawa, an IITIIM alumnus, will take over as MD & CEO of the company from February next year. AvenueSupermartssaid Asawawillbe CEO-designate from March 15, 2025, to ensure a smooth transition. Noronha will aid in the transition process over the next one year, the company said. “After more than two decades of leadership and a glorious tenure at the Neville Noronha helm of the business, Neville has chosen not to extend his contract. The board of directors honours his decision and expresses profound gratitude for his extraordinary contribution to the company,” Avenue Supermarts said in a statement on Saturday. Noronha has a 1.95% stake in the company at the end of the September 2024 quarter.This is worth `4,676 crore at the end of Friday's closing price on the BSE. Neville joined DMart in January 2004 and has led the company from its early years to its current position as one ofthelargestsupermarketchainsin the country. Avenue Supermarts said that Noronha's strategy was focused on competent execution articulated in simple and precise terms, which was easy to understand across levels. Under his leadership, DMart reached significantmilestones,including surpassing the `50,000 crore annual turnover mark and growing from five stores, when Noronha joined the company, to 387 stores now. Continued on Page 2 ■ DMart Q3 net up 5%: P2