Saner pricing of start-ups

Many start-ups that went public this year received an overwhelming response on the bourses, even as the market for Indian start-ups in general has been lukewarm. MobiKwik, Zinka Logistics, Swiggy, Unicommerce, Awfis all made impressive debuts on the stock exchanges and have retained their momentum post listing, too. This is different from what played out in 2021 when high profile start-ups hitting the markets such as Nykaa, Zomato and Paytm disappointed investors with tepid stock performances. Investment bankers said that saner pricing has worked well and hopefully that will carry over into 2025.

Filling technical posts

Should the Government look at filling technical posts with experts in the field rather than those from the IAS? Critics of the current system say it is time it was done. For example, the post of DG Shipping should be manned by someone well-versed in foreign trade or even postal service. Similarly, they say the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade should have someone with a foreign trade background. The argument is the Government should allow the IAS cadre to look at administration and not the technical aspects. For example, though commodities board chairpersons are political appointments, the administration is managed by the IAS cadre.

Monkeys back in business

The monkey menace has reached new “heights” in government offices in Delhi. At one such office, there was a huge brouhaha over some missing files. Panic buttons were pressed and rigorous searches were carried out across a few floors of the building. Finally, realisation dawned that a simian was at fault. Fragments of a file were recovered from a feisty rhesus macaque. Apparently, some officers had decided to open the windows to allow sunlight and wind into the building. A curious simian came in, and decided he was better-off with one of the files. Of course, there was a digital copy which saved the officers. The original one though was recovered in bits and pieces from the primate and his friends.

Tote bag diplomacy

In an era where every move by a political leader invites scrutiny, Priyanka Gandhi’s choice of tote bags has sparked a fiery debate. The ‘Palestine’ bag made waves when she came to Parliament, signalling solidarity with a global cause. Days later, her ‘Bangladesh’ tote highlighted minority persecution, a subject fraught with diplomatic sensitivities. Not to be outdone, the BJP entered the fray with a ‘1984’ riot-themed bag, a sharp jab at Congress’ tumultuous history.

Priyanka Gandhi’s tote bag diplomacy is a masterclass in leveraging personal style for public messaging. Whether you admire or criticise her, one thing is certain — these bags carry more than just essentials; they carry a message.

Published on December 22, 2024