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Transforming Bangalore's Urban Mobility: Facts about BMRCL

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Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is a joint venture equally owned by the Government of India (GoI) and the Government of Karnataka (GoK). It is primarily responsible for the construction and operation of the metro rail project in Bangalore. The Bangalore Metro has emerged as the second-longest metro network in the country. Boarding’s at Namma Metro During the Financial Year 2022-23, the Bangalore Metro recorded an average daily ridership of 4.86 lakh passengers. The addition of the Reach 1 Extension in March 2023, along with the establishment of connectivity between Baiyappanahalli Metro Station and K.R. Pura Metro Station, as well as the opening of Challaghatta Metro Station on October 9, 2023, created a seamless 43.30 km stretch for commuters. These developments significantly boosted ridership, increasing the average daily boardings to 6.36 lakh passengers in the Financial Year 2023-24. Highest boarding and Revenue On August 14, 2024, BMRCL achieved its highest-ever d...
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Licensing: The Story Behind 'Being Human' and Its Impact on Mandhana Retail Ventures

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My friend recently bought a "Being Human" branded T-Shirt, feeling proud that the entire amount he paid would be used for charity. However, there's more to the story. The "Being Human" brand is owned by The Salman Khan Foundation (‘the Foundation’). The Foundation had a licensing agreement with The Mandhana Retail Ventures Limited (‘the Company’) until March 31, 2020, making the Company its global license partner. We have data from FY 2016-17 to FY 2019-20, during which the Foundation licensed its "Being Human" trademark to the Company. Before diving into what this data reveals, let's first understand the relationship between the Company and the Foundation. A portion of the revenue from apparel sales is paid to the Foundation as a license fee. On average, this fee ranged from 3% to 6% of the revenue. For instance, if the Company sells a T-shirt for Rs.100, approximately Rs.5 (or 5%) is paid to the Foundation as a license fee. This means the Foundat...
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The Government of Karnataka's goldmine operating the busy runways

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Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), a bustling hub located in Bangalore, has firmly established itself as the third busiest airport in India, following the giants of Delhi and Mumbai. Operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), KIA has witnessed remarkable growth in passenger and cargo traffic, reflecting the dynamic expansion of the Indian aviation industry. BIAL, under a concession agreement with the Government of India until 2068, holds exclusive rights to develop, design, finance, construct, commission, maintain, operate, and manage KIA through a public-private partnership. In simple terms, this means BIAL can exploit KIA until the year 2068. In 2016, Fairfax India acquired a 33% stake in BIAL from the GVK Group for $330 million, implying a total equity value of approximately $1 billion for the entire company.  Fast forward to 2023, Fairfax India acquired an additional stake of 10% in BIAL from Siemens for $250 million, bringing the company's total valuation...
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The lawsuit that benefited Apple

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In 2016, a woman took her iPhone to an Apple Authorized Service Centre for repair. What happened next was a shocking violation of privacy: two employees allegedly accessed images and videos stored on her device and posted them on her Facebook account, making it seem like she had shared them herself. She only discovered this when a friend alerted her to the leak. Although she quickly removed the content, the damage was done. She sued Apple for privacy violations and the emotional distress caused, leading to a reported multi-million dollar settlement. Speculation suggests she received nearly $5 million, with a confidentiality clause preventing disclosure of the exact amount. This scandal seemed like a major financial loss for Apple due to the negligence of its technicians. However, it also uncovered a new revenue stream. To prevent such breaches, Apple tightened its controls by introducing the subject “Customer’s Responsibility,” in its Apple’s Repair Terms and Conditions. Accordin...
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Is PVR a theater or a restaurant.

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Have you ever gone to purchase a smartphone and found the dealer or shopkeeper convincing you to buy an insurance plan, a protective back case, a tempered glass screen protector, and headphones? These are classic examples of upselling strategies, where secondary products are sold alongside the primary product. Similar scenarios include ordering a combo meal with a burger and coke, buying a Royal Enfield branded helmet when purchasing a new Royal Enfield bike, adding accessories like a laptop bag, wireless mouse, and extended warranty when purchasing a new laptop, or buying a matching tie, belt, and shoes when purchasing formal attire. Breaking down these examples: To enjoy a burger, you don't need a coke. To ride your new Royal Enfield bike, you don't need a Royal Enfield branded helmet. To use your new laptop, you don't need a laptop bag, wireless mouse, or extended warranty. To wear formal attire, you don't need a matching tie, belt, and new pair of shoes. ...
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To Infinity and Beyond

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Special acknowledgements to Walter Issacson the author of "Steve Jobs". The facts and events in the blog are based on the biography of Steve Jobs written by Walter Issacson. The book is highly recommended to know more about Steve Jobs. We are highly indebted to the author for the valuable information that he has published in the book, without which the blog would not have taken shape. When I was 12, I watched Toy Story for the first time. Despite not understanding English, the movie's animations conveyed its message. Now, at 22, Toy Story remains a cherished part of my childhood. Somehow, I find myself watching the movie every six months. Curiosity about the Pixar logo alongside Disney's led us to research Pixar. We discovered that Steve Jobs played a key role in managing Pixar and, in 2006, became Disney's largest shareholder, earning billions despite being ousted from Apple. Our research revealed Jobs as both an innovator and a masterful dealmaker. We hope you e...
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Why hawala operators dispatched postmen to ___ ?

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Special acknowledgment goes to Rakesh Maria, the author of "Let Me Say it Now," on which this blog is based. The book is highly recommended for anyone interested to read about crime and investigation. We are highly indebted to the author for the valuable information that he has published in the book, without which the blog would not have taken shape. On 25 September, 1994 a 28-year-old young man called Santosh Pandurang Patole standing outside the Navniram Cooperative Housing Society in Sector 3 was shot when a group of assailants opened fire on him. Who was Santosh Pandurang Patole (herein referred to as ‘Patole’)? He was not a businessman, builder or hotelier who would be the usual targets of such shootings. He was a postman! However, he was not an ordinary postman going door to door, walking up apartment buildings to deliver envelops. Patole was attached to the foreign post office at the Sahar International Airport in its sorting department. He also owned a Maruti 800 car....
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