Paints, a low-involvement category till recently, is suddenly a top draw for many large corporate houses, and has evolved well beyond wall paints to branded home solutions. As category leader Asian Paints and JSW battled it out, what’s making the sector so hot? Host Ratna Bhushan talks to A S Sundaresan, Joint MD & CEO at JSW Paints, and Manoj Menon, Head of Research & Consumer Analyst (Staples & Discretionary) at ICICI Securities.
Credits: Asian Paints, Nerolac, JSW Paints



Follow your host Ratna Bhushan on her social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ratnabhushanET
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ratna-bhushan-aa83aa21/





Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

Paints, a low-involvement category till recently, is suddenly a top draw for many large corporate houses, and has evolved well beyond wall paints to branded home solutions. As category leader Asian Paints and JSW battled it out, what’s making the sector so hot? Host Ratna Bhushan talks to A S Sundaresan, Joint MD &amp; CEO at JSW Paints, and Manoj Menon, Head of Research &amp; Consumer Analyst (Staples &amp; Discretionary) at ICICI Securities. Credits: Asian Paints, Nerolac, JSW Paints
 
Follow your host Ratna Bhushan on her social media: Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/ratnabhushanET"> https://twitter.com/ratnabhushanET</a> Linkedin:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ratna-bhushan-aa83aa21/"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/ratna-bhushan-aa83aa21/</a>
 
 
Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on<a href="https://www.etplay.com/etplay"> ET Play</a>,<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr"> The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> Apple Podcasts</a>,<a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_"> JioSaavn</a>,<a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief"> Amazon Music</a> and<a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvNjBiMmU5MjYtZTVmOC00YjkwLWE0NjUtYWVmOTAxMTYzMDAxLzk1ZmQ3YzU5LTc5MGQtNDk2ZS1iYmRlLWFlZjkwMTE2N2ZlNC84YWU1NDc2My05OTI1LTQwY2EtOGMzZC1hZWY5MDExNjdmZmIvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2gOG4la36AhUvjtgFHcdWDU8Q9sEGegQIARAC"> Google Podcasts</a>.

To make sense of the week’s hottest stories in business, economy, politics and markets, journalists from the Economic Times chat with reporters and industry leaders in this thrice-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) podcast.

The Morning Brief

Paint Wars: A New Coat of Competition

Tamil Nadu Polls: Crime & Chaos Rock DMK

Vijay's TVK: Spoiler or Tamil Nadu's Future?

TVK's Thin-Margin Threat: Tamil Nadu on Edge

BJP's Saffron Gambit in Tamil Nadu's Battle

Conclusion

Credits

Tamil Nadu heads to the polls with its familiar two-party battle DMK vs AIADMK facing an unprecedented challenge. Actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party TVK are injecting fresh uncertainty into a state that has ritually voted out incumbents since 1967. With law and order, corruption, and drugs dominating voter anxieties, MK Stalin's "Dravidian model" faces a tough stress test. Vijay's caste-neutral identity and populist promises are drawing the youth away from established loyalties. In 120 seats won by razor-thin margins, even a vote-splitter can rewrite history. Host Nidhi Sharma talks to ET’s Dia Rekhi and Krishna Kumar how April 23 could be one Tamil Nadu's most consequential elections.

You can follow our host Nidhi Sharma on her social media: Twitter & Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes like: How Will a Volatile ₹ Impact You in 2026?, How Quick Commerce is Triggering a Health Crisis for Gen Z, Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws...and Succeeded,Can India Truly End Naxalism?, Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharma’s Moat Breaks  and much more.


Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn,  Amazon Music and Google Podcasts.

Credits: KCH Movement

Tamil Nadu heads to the polls with its familiar two-party battle DMK vs AIADMK facing an unprecedented challenge. Actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party TVK are injecting fresh uncertainty into a state that has ritually voted out incumbents since 1967. With law and order, corruption, and drugs dominating voter anxieties, MK Stalin's "Dravidian model" faces a tough stress test. Vijay's caste-neutral identity and populist promises are drawing the youth away from established loyalties. In 120 seats won by razor-thin margins, even a vote-splitter can rewrite history. Host Nidhi Sharma talks to ET&rsquo;s Dia Rekhi and Krishna Kumar how April 23 could be one Tamil Nadu's most consequential elections. You can follow our host Nidhi Sharma on her social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/nidhi_sharma">Twitte</a>r &amp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nidhi-sharma-4439b47/">Linkedin </a>Check out other interesting episodes like:<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000742733036"> How Will a Volatile ₹ Impact You in 2026?</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000740924439"> How Quick Commerce is Triggering a Health Crisis for Gen Z</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000760362789">Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws...and Succeeded</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000738205536"> </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000757611462">Can India Truly End Naxalism?</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000756051799">Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharma&rsquo;s Moat Breaks</a>&nbsp; and<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> much more</a>.
 Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on<a href="https://www.etplay.com/etplay"> ET Play</a>,<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr"> The Economic Times Online</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">&nbsp;Amazon Music</a> and<a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvNjBiMmU5MjYtZTVmOC00YjkwLWE0NjUtYWVmOTAxMTYzMDAxLzk1ZmQ3YzU5LTc5MGQtNDk2ZS1iYmRlLWFlZjkwMTE2N2ZlNC84YWU1NDc2My05OTI1LTQwY2EtOGMzZC1hZWY5MDExNjdmZmIvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M?sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi2gOG4la36AhUvjtgFHcdWDU8Q9sEGegQIARAC"> Google Podcasts</a>. Credits: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2qhXWpP2DI&amp;list=RDE2qhXWpP2DI&amp;start_radio=1">KCH Movement</a>

Polls On My Pod: TN and the Thalapathy Factor

 The downturn in medical tourism 

India's medical tourism bleeds patients out

Sector Revenue Up Despite Volume Decline

Geopolitics & Rivals Threaten Healthcare Edge

India's Medical Visa Process Blocks Patients

 Cost vs Quality 

Global Insurers Skip Indian Hospital Networks

India's Wellness Brand Remains Underexploited

India's medical tourism industry is in a quiet downturn. Foreign patient arrivals have fallen roughly a third since 2019 from nearly 700,000 visitors to around 500,000 dragged down by strained ties with Bangladesh, visa processing times stretching up to 60 days, and aggressive competition from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. A tax incidence on medical referrals threatens to push costs higher just as global insurers remain largely unempanelled with Indian hospitals. The silver lining: average revenue per patient is rising, as high-value procedures like oncology and cardiac surgery now dominate. Host Anirban Chowdhury talks to ET’s Forum Gandhi and  pharma editor Vikas Dandekar about the problem, its reasons and fixes.



Listen in:

You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: X and Linkedin

Check out other interesting episodes like: How Will a Volatile ₹ Impact You in 2026?, How Quick Commerce is Triggering a Health Crisis for Gen Z, Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws...and Succeeded,Can India Truly End Naxalism?, Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharma’s Moat Breaks  and much more.


Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

India's medical tourism industry is in a quiet downturn. Foreign patient arrivals have fallen roughly a third since 2019 from nearly 700,000 visitors to around 500,000 dragged down by strained ties with Bangladesh, visa processing times stretching up to 60 days, and aggressive competition from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. A tax incidence on medical referrals threatens to push costs higher just as global insurers remain largely unempanelled with Indian hospitals. The silver lining: average revenue per patient is rising, as high-value procedures like oncology and cardiac surgery now dominate.&nbsp;Host Anirban Chowdhury talks to ET&rsquo;s Forum Gandhi and&nbsp; pharma editor Vikas Dandekar about the problem, its reasons and fixes. 
Listen in: You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media:<a href="https://twitter.com/AnirbanET"> X</a> and<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-chowdhury-b5067219/"> Linkedin </a>Check out other interesting episodes like:<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000742733036"> How Will a Volatile ₹ Impact You in 2026?</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000740924439"> How Quick Commerce is Triggering a Health Crisis for Gen Z</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000760362789">Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws...and Succeeded</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000738205536"> </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000757611462">Can India Truly End Naxalism?</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000756051799">Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharma&rsquo;s Moat Breaks</a>&nbsp; and<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> much more</a>.
 Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr"> The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> Apple Podcasts</a>,<a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_"> JioSaavn</a>,<a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief"> Amazon Music</a> and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts"> Youtube</a>.

India's Medical Tourism Slips Off the Table

India's wealthy are quietly trading flash for function. The luxury MPV — long dismissed as a hotel shuttle or family hauler — has become the unlikely status symbol of the country's new-money elite. Founders close funding rounds from reclining rear seats. Executives hold confidential meetings behind privacy partitions. Celebrities vanish into near-silent cabins. The Toyota Vellfire, Lexus LM, and Mercedes-Benz V-Class are rewriting what luxury means: not the car you're seen stepping out of, but the private world you inhabit inside it. In a city where traffic consumes hours, the rear seat has become the new boardroom. Narrated by Anirban Chowdhury, this episode of the new TMB series ET Deep Dive is based on a story by Lijee Philip.



Narrated by Anirban Chowdhury


Check out other interesting episodes like: How Will a Volatile ₹ Impact You in 2026?, How Quick Commerce is Triggering a Health Crisis for Gen Z, Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws...and Succeeded,Can India Truly End Naxalism?, Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharma’s Moat Breaks  and much more.


Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

India's wealthy are quietly trading flash for function. The luxury MPV &mdash; long dismissed as a hotel shuttle or family hauler &mdash; has become the unlikely status symbol of the country's new-money elite. Founders close funding rounds from reclining rear seats. Executives hold confidential meetings behind privacy partitions. Celebrities vanish into near-silent cabins. The Toyota Vellfire, Lexus LM, and Mercedes-Benz V-Class are rewriting what luxury means: not the car you're seen stepping out of, but the private world you inhabit inside it. In a city where traffic consumes hours, the rear seat has become the new boardroom. Narrated by Anirban Chowdhury, this episode of the new TMB series ET Deep Dive is based on a story by Lijee Philip. 
Narrated by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-chowdhury-b5067219/">Anirban Chowdhury </a> Check out other interesting episodes like:<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000742733036"> How Will a Volatile ₹ Impact You in 2026?</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000740924439"> How Quick Commerce is Triggering a Health Crisis for Gen Z</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000760362789">Two Women Fought to Change India's Maternity Laws...and Succeeded</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000738205536"> </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000757611462">Can India Truly End Naxalism?</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000756051799">Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharma&rsquo;s Moat Breaks</a>&nbsp; and<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> much more</a>.
 Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr"> The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777"> Apple Podcasts</a>,<a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_"> JioSaavn</a>,<a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief"> Amazon Music</a> and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts"> Youtube</a>.

Paint Wars: A New Coat of Competition

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