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Showing posts from July, 2025

Why Your Digital Payments Might Be Making You Spend More

  With the widespread adoption of UPI, mobile wallets, and contactless cards, India has embraced digital payments like never before. The transition has been fast, smooth, and, for the most part, incredibly convenient. But while going cashless has made life easier, it has also introduced a subtle shift in how we perceive money—and more importantly, how we spend it. What was once a deliberate act involving physical notes now requires just a tap, a swipe, or a scan. And this frictionless experience may be leading many of us to spend more than we intend. The Disconnection Between Money and Value When we pay with cash, there’s a sense of parting with something tangible. Handing over a ₹500 note for a coffee or a movie makes the transaction feel real. But with digital payments, that emotional connection is weakened. There’s no physical exchange, and this can dull our sensitivity to the value of what we’re spending on. This mental gap between money and value often results in people approv...

Charting Success: Abhay Bhutada’s Rise to Influence and Impact

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TL;DR Abhay Bhutada, a Chartered Accountant from Latur, Maharashtra, has built a powerful legacy by modernizing India’s financial sector through digital innovation. With a net worth now estimated to exceed ₹1,000 crore, he has gone beyond business to focus on education and community betterment through his foundation. His story is one of purpose-driven leadership and strategic foresight. Abhay Bhutada grew up in the small town of Latur, where ambition and resilience helped shape his early life. He pursued a degree in commerce and went on to become a Chartered Accountant, a qualification that laid the groundwork for a future in finance and entrepreneurship. From a young age, he was drawn to the systems that powered businesses and economies and set out to explore how they could be improved. Also read - How Abhay Bhutada Turned Business Success into a Force for Good Entering the Financial Sector After qualifying as a CA, Abhay began his career in 2010 at a national bank, working specifica...

How Social Media Has Transformed Advertising

Social media has completely reshaped how brands advertise. What was once limited to TV spots, billboards, and newspapers has now expanded into a fast-paced, interactive world where consumers and brands talk in real time. Advertising is no longer just about broadcasting—it's about engaging. From Monologue to Dialogue In traditional advertising, brands spoke and consumers listened. Social media changed that. Now, customers can respond instantly, leave comments, share opinions, and even influence the popularity of a campaign. This two-way communication gives brands immediate feedback and creates deeper connections. Targeting the Right Audience One of the biggest advantages of social media advertising is precision targeting. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) allow advertisers to reach specific age groups, interests, behaviors, and locations. This means ads are more relevant—and more effective. Real-Time Trends, Real-Time Campaigns Social media...

The Abhay Bhutada Foundation's Practical Approach To Equitable STEM Education

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  In many rural parts of India, science is still taught as a subject to memorize rather than experience. Without access to proper labs or tools, students in these areas are often deprived of the opportunity to engage with science meaningfully. The Abhay Bhutada Foundation, founded by CA Abhay Bhutada, is actively changing this by putting science directly into students’ hands. Learn By Doing: Changing How Students Learn The Foundation’s “Learn By Doing” initiative is centered around giving children real exposure to scientific learning. Instead of sticking to blackboard lessons and rote learning, the program introduces Mini-STEM Labs—carefully built kits that help students explore and experiment with the concepts they study in textbooks. This effort began in eight government schools in Pune—Bursewadi, Kelgaon, Dhanore, Bahul, Thakarwadi, Bhose, Malegaon, and Sangise—and reached over 2,000 students. The initiative’s next phase has taken it to more classrooms in the Maval and Mulshi re...

Understanding Credit Scores and How to Improve Them

  A strong credit score opens doors to favourable loan terms, lower interest rates, and greater financial flexibility. Conversely, a poor score can lead to higher borrowing costs or outright rejections when you seek credit. By gaining a clear understanding of what shapes your credit score and taking targeted steps to enhance it, you position yourself for smoother approvals and healthier personal finances. This article explains how credit scores are calculated, why they matter, and practical actions you can take to raise your score over time. What a Credit Score Represents Your credit score is a three‑digit number, typically ranging between 300 and 900 in India, that reflects your creditworthiness. Lenders use this figure as a quick gauge of the risk you pose as a borrower. Scores above 750 are generally viewed as excellent and can unlock the best loan terms. Scores in the 600 to 750 range are considered fair to good, while anything below 600 may prompt lenders to charge higher rate...

The Abhay Bhutada Foundation’s ₹51 Lakh Grant to Shivsrushti

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  For many residents of Maharashtra, trips to cultural landmarks remain financially taxing—entry fees, travel expenses, and group logistics often put heritage sites out of reach. This summer, Pune’s renowned Maratha‑themed park, Shivsrushti, aimed to change that narrative. Thanks to a ₹51 lakh grant from the Abhay Bhutada Foundation, the park reduced its ticket price to just ₹50 per person from May 15 to August 15, 2025. By removing economic barriers, this initiative invited a broader audience to engage with their history firsthand. Discover more about the Foundation’s work here. Also read - The Visionary Path of Abhay Bhutada in Business and Giving A Lifelike Journey Through Maratha Legacy Set against the backdrop of Ambegaon Budruk’s rolling hills, Shivsrushti immerses visitors in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s world. Through meticulously crafted fort replicas, interactive displays, and live theatre sequences, guests experience the strategic brilliance and personal courage of the...

Women and Hunger The Gender Gap in Food Security

 Hunger does not affect everyone equally. In many parts of the world, including India, women and girls are more likely to face food insecurity compared to men. Despite being central to food preparation and often the first to make sacrifices in tough times, women remain one of the most vulnerable groups in the fight against hunger. In traditional households, it is common for women to eat last and least. Even in food-scarce situations, they often prioritize children, husbands, or elders. This social norm leads many women to survive on less nutritious diets or skip meals altogether. As a result, anemia, undernourishment, and chronic fatigue are widespread among women—especially those in rural or economically weaker regions. The issue becomes even more serious during pregnancy or lactation. Malnourished mothers are at higher risk of complications during childbirth and are less able to provide adequate nutrition to their newborns. This leads to a cycle where undernourished mothers giv...

The Story of the Abhay Bhutada Foundation

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  Social impact is most effective when rooted in clarity, community, and consistency. The Abhay Bhutada Foundation, founded in 2023, is a strong example of how focused philanthropy can influence lives at scale without losing touch with local needs. In just over a year, the Foundation has built meaningful programs across Maharashtra that are educational, inclusive, and deeply practical in nature. Rather than spreading itself thin across scattered causes, the Foundation has stayed committed to three sectors—education, healthcare, and sports—with each program tailored for long-term community benefit. Whether it’s equipping classrooms with STEM kits, awarding scholarships, or making heritage learning accessible, the Foundation believes in actions that speak louder than announcements. Education That Encourages Discovery At the core of the Foundation’s efforts is its work in STEM education. Recognizing the lack of hands-on science resources in rural schools, the Foundation partnered with...