Environmental, social, and governance investing, commonly known as ESG investing, has evolved from a niche strategy into a mainstream approach reshaping global capital markets. Initially popularized by a handful of socially responsible funds in the 1990s, ESG factors are now embedded in the investment mandates of major asset managers, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds. This shift reflects growing recognition that material risks and opportunities extend beyond traditional financial metrics, and that companies excelling in ESG criteria often demonstrate superior long-term resilience and innovation. Integrating ESG Criteria into Portfolios Institutional investors have spearheaded the integration of ESG criteria by demanding comprehensive sustainability reports and measurable impact data from companies. Investment teams now analyze carbon footprints, labor practices, board diversity, and anti-corruption policies alongside revenue growth, profit margins, and balance sheets. By...
Over the last few years, digital wallets have transformed from a niche convenience to a mainstream method of payment. Fueled by widespread smartphone adoption and government initiatives promoting cashless transactions, solutions such as Paytm, Google Pay, and PhonePe in India experienced explosive growth. Consumers who were once hesitant about storing money in a mobile application slowly warmed to the idea as seamless onboarding processes removed previous barriers. Integration with bank accounts and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) enabled instant transfers between peers and merchants, creating a frictionless experience that traditional banking channels struggled to match. Shifting Spending Patterns As digital wallets became more widely accepted, consumer spending habits evolved significantly. Small purchases such as grocery bills, fuel refills, and street-food orders increasingly took place through QR-code scans or in-app payments. This dramatic shift reduced reliance on cas...