The article provides a curated list of essential books for business owners considering franchising in India. It highlights seven key books, each offering unique insights into franchising, market dynamics, legal aspects, and strategic planning. The books cover a range of topics from practical examples and case studies to cultural nuances and market entry strategies, making them valuable resources for understanding and navigating the Indian franchising landscape.

Mangalore, a coastal city in southern India, is renowned for its flavorful cuisine. The article highlights five easy-to-make Mangalorean recipes: Goli Bajji, Banana Buns, Neer Dosa, Chicken Ghee Roast, and Chicken Sukka. These dishes offer a taste of Mangalore's culinary delights, from cozy snacks to hearty meals, all requiring minimal effort and common spices.

The article presents a selection of snacks ideal for the Holi festival, including traditional and modern options like gujiyas, dahi vada, papri chaat, and fruit skewers. These snacks are described as enhancing the festive spirit with their balance of flavors, textures, and colors, contributing to a joyful and memorable celebration.

Pollachi, a hidden gem in Tamil Nadu, offers a blend of tranquility and adventure with its picturesque picnic spots, thrilling wildlife safaris, rich cultural heritage, and modern amenities. Key attractions include Topslip and Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Arulmigu Masani Amman Temple, Aliyar Dam and Park, and Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. The town is also known for its traditional Dravidian architecture and vibrant local markets. Pollachi promises an unforgettable experience for all travelers, making it a must-visit destination.

India is preparing for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and concurrent legislative assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Election Commission of India has scheduled polling for Andhra Pradesh on May 13, 2024, in a single phase, while Odisha will have multi-phased elections on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, 2024. Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will vote on April 19, 2024. The vote counting for both Lok Sabha and state assembly elections will occur on June 4, 2024. Voters are encouraged to stay informed and participate actively in the electoral process.

The Panasonic Lumix S 100mm F2.8 Macro lens is praised for its minimalist design, robust build, and excellent macro photography capabilities. It features a Dual Phase Linear Motor for improved autofocus, a user-friendly manual focus system, and a durable, weather-resistant build. The lens offers a life-size 1:1 magnification ratio, effective low light performance, and pleasing bokeh. Priced at £999 in the UK and €1099 in Europe, it is considered a compact and powerful tool for both photography and videography, despite lacking built-in image stabilization.

Dell Technologies has launched Dell ObjectScale 1.3, including the all-flash ObjectScale XF960 appliance, aimed at enhancing object storage with features like speed, sustainability, and security. The new version is designed for high-growth workloads such as analytics and generative AI, offering scalability, high performance, and S3 compatibility. It includes sustainability features and built-in security measures. The product is available in two software-defined options and aims to provide a public cloud-like experience with added operational control.

Adopting healthy food habits in winter is crucial to avoid belly fat and related health risks. The top five habits include eating whole grains for their fiber and nutrients, drinking green tea to boost metabolism, having low-calorie soup before meals to reduce overall intake, including winter greens for their fiber and antioxidants, and snacking on citrus fruits and nuts for vitamin C and healthy fats. These practices, along with hydration, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep, can aid in weight loss and maintaining fitness during the winter season.

Recent floods in Chennai have led to many vehicles being submerged, highlighting the importance of comprehensive motor insurance policies supplemented with multiple riders. Experts from various insurance companies advise against restarting a stalled vehicle in a flooded area to prevent severe damage. Key recommendations include purchasing engine protection, zero depreciation, roadside assistance, and consumables covers. Policyholders are advised to document damage, notify insurers promptly, and exercise patience due to potential delays in claim settlements and repairs.

India's rapid economic growth is leading to lower interest rates, which poses a reinvestment risk for retirees relying on regular income from short-duration deposits. The article illustrates this risk through the example of Rajat Gupta, whose income from deposits decreased due to falling interest rates. Annuity products are presented as a solution, offering guaranteed lifelong income, unaffected by market volatility. The article also discusses the benefits of annuity products, such as income resilience, spousal security, and flexible income start dates, and mentions ICICI Pru Guaranteed Pension Plan Flexi as a contemporary product designed for systematic retirement contributions.

The Sports Ministry of India has suspended the newly-formed Wrestling Federation of India body led by Sanjay Singh, citing a complete disregard to the Sports Code. The Ministry highlighted that decisions were made hastily and without following the WFI constitution or the National Sports Development Code. Sanjay Singh, a close aide to former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment, was elected as the WFI chief on December 21. The Ministry's actions follow protests by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik against Singh's election. Punia returned his Padma Shri in protest, and Malik quit the sport.

Uttar Pradesh remains a pivotal battleground for the BJP, which aims to surpass its previous electoral successes by leveraging the Ram Temple inauguration and early candidate announcements. The Samajwadi Party, Congress, and Rashtriya Lok Dal, part of the INDIA bloc, are strategizing to counter BJP's dominance through caste and local sentiment appeals. The BSP faces significant challenges in retaining its voter base amid declining influence. Key political figures like Narendra Modi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mayawati are central to the unfolding political dynamics, with smaller parties gravitating towards the BJP.

The Bihar 2024 elections are set to be influenced by caste politics and political alliances. The 'Mahagathbandhan' aims to leverage the caste census to increase quotas for OBCs, SCs, and STs, while the BJP tests its dominance without JD(U) support. The election will determine Nitish Kumar's political relevance and the BJP's strength in Bihar. The caste survey has prompted seat-sharing dilemmas, and both the NDA and Grand Alliance are working to secure social engineering in their favor. The BJP is focusing on PM Modi's popularity among women, youth, and beneficiaries of central government schemes, while the Grand Alliance hopes to realign OBC and MBC voters. The Modi factor, including the upcoming Ayodhya temple inauguration, is expected to play a significant role in the elections.

The article discusses the political and legal fallout following the Hindenburg and OCCRP reports against the Adani Group. It highlights the Supreme Court's clean chit to the Adani Group, criticizing opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for their stance. The article defends regulatory institutions like SEBI and portrays the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi positively. It also criticizes figures like Rahul Gandhi and Prashant Bhushan, suggesting that the controversy has exposed a 'tool-kit nexus' against the Modi government.

Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) is a tax exemption for salaried employees in India for domestic travel expenses incurred during leave, claimable for two journeys within a four-year block. The current block is 2022-2025, and exemptions apply only to actual travel costs, excluding lodging and food. The most economical mode of travel is eligible for exemption, with specific rules for multi-destination journeys and maintaining proof of travel. The exemption cannot be claimed for more than two children born after October 1, 1998, and international segments of journeys are not eligible.

The Aam Aadmi Party has renominated Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term in the Rajya Sabha, while nominating DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal for the first time. Sushil Kumar Gupta, whose term ends this month, plans to focus on electoral politics in Haryana. Special Judge MK Nagpal issued an order related to the election process.

Air India is reportedly charging Central government employees between 80 to 150 percent more for leave travel concession (LTC) tickets compared to normal fares. Despite government rules mandating the use of Air India for LTC, the fares are significantly higher than those of private airlines. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has reiterated the requirement for government employees to purchase LTC tickets from Air India, but the practice is leading to substantial financial losses for the government.