Job Increase 2024 In India: More than 2.16 lakh job postings were reported in this festive season in the country – a 20 per cent increase compared to 1.8 lakh job postings last year, according to a report on Sunday.

The festive season saw a significant rise in hiring across key sectors like logistics, e-commerce, retail and hospitality. Additionally, the rapid expansion of the quick commerce industry contributed to this hiring momentum, said apna.co, a leading jobs and professional networking platform.

Among the sectors, logistics and operations experienced the highest growth, with a 70 per cent increase in job postings. Retail and e-commerce followed with a 30 per cent rise, while the restaurant and hospitality sector grew by 25 per cent.

This hiring trend is not limited to major metro cities and tier 2 and 3 cities are also experiencing a significant rise in job opportunities.

While tier-1 cities like Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad have seen a 20 per cent increase in job postings, the demand in tier 2 and tier 3 cities is even more notable.

Cities like Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Indore, Kanpur, Chandigarh, Patna, Coimbatore, and Jaipur have recorded a 25 per cent increase in job postings.

According to the report, factors such as increasing urbanisation, the expansion of malls and quick-service restaurants, and improved consumer spending are driving this growth.

“Our sector-specific, go-to-market campaigns helped us deliver tailored solutions across industries like logistics, e-commerce, and quick commerce, filling key roles such as logistics managers, warehouse associates, delivery partners and customer support managers,” said Nirmit Parikh, Founder and CEO of Apna.co.

The retail and e-commerce sector is also expanding, adding 18,000 roles, including category growth managers, sales associates and customer support managers to enhance consumer experience.

In hospitality, 14,000 jobs have opened for positions like restaurant managers, front office staff, and administrative personnel, the report mentioned.

Last Updated:October 27, 2024, 09:48 IST

Each cocktail adds festive color and flavor, perfect for celebrating Diwali in style

This festive season, raise a glass to the joy, love, and cherished moments that make life truly meaningful and celebrate the special bonds with those who matter most and create memories to last a lifetime. Set aside the usual clichés and extravagant gatherings this season and embrace the spirit by creating your own unique traditions. Whether it’s savoring a cozy evening with a rich, smoky drink or sharing laughter over festive cocktails with family, make this festival a memorable tribute to the relationships that brighten your life. Indulge in the flavors of the season with cocktail recipes that add an extra touch of sophistication to your celebrations.

Diwali Delight

Ingredients:

50 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label

15 ml honey syrup

10 ml saffron-infused water

10 ml lemon juice

Dash of Angostura bitters

Star anise for garnish

Instructions: Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a glass, and garnish with star anise.

Blonde Gold Fizz 

Ingredients:

50 ml Johnnie Walker Blonde

20 ml orange juice

10 ml lime juice

15 ml honey syrup

Sparkling water

Optional: Edible gold leaf

Instructions: Shake first four ingredients with ice, strain into a glass, top with sparkling water, and garnish with gold leaf.

Festival Firecracker

Ingredients:

50 ml Black & White whisky

20 ml pomegranate juice

10 ml lime juice

15 ml ginger syrup

Pomegranate seeds for garnish

Instructions: Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a glass, and garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Saffron Sunset

Ingredients:

50 ml Black Dog whisky

10 ml saffron syrup

10 ml lemon juice

Dash of orange bitters

10 ml ginger ale

Instructions: Shake whisky, saffron syrup, and lemon juice with ice, strain into a glass, and top with ginger ale and orange bitters.

Diwali Sparkle

Ingredients:

50 ml Smirnoff vodka

25 ml mango juice

10 ml lime juice

10 ml honey syrup

Sparkling wine

Instructions: Shake first four ingredients with ice, strain into a flute, top with sparkling wine, and garnish with mango slice or marigold petals.

McDowell’s & Co X Gin

Ingredients:

50 ml gin

100 ml ginger ale

Orange wedge for garnish

Instructions: Pour gin over ice, top with ginger ale, and garnish with an orange wedge.

McDowell’s & Co X Citron Rum

Ingredients:

50 ml citron rum

15 ml lime juice

15 ml honey

Basil or mint for garnish

Instructions: Shake ingredients with ice, strain, and garnish with a basil leaf.

Dark & Cola

Ingredients:

50 ml dark rum

100 ml cola

Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions: Pour rum over ice, top with cola, squeeze in a lime wedge, and drop it in.

Vodka Tonic

Ingredients:

50 ml vodka

50 ml tonic water

50 ml soda water

Orange wedge for garnish

Instructions: Pour vodka over ice, top with tonic and soda water, and garnish with an orange wedge.

Each cocktail adds festive color and flavor, perfect for celebrating Diwali in style!

Ahead of Diwali festival, a team of food safety officers in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district confiscated 300 kg of adulterated Mawa (Khoa) being transported from Ahmedabad, Gujarat in the district on Friday morning, a food officer said. According to the officers, the Mawa was brought through bus parcel service. Based on the input about the consignment, the team reached Dewas gate bus stand in the district at around 7 in the morning and recovered the adulterated mawa.

District Food Safety Officer, Basant Dutt Sharma told ANI, “In view of the upcoming Diwali festival, we are continuously working to confiscate adulterated items. This morning, we received information about adulterated mawa (Khoa) being transported here in the district and being sold at cheaper rates. When I reached Dewas gate bus stand at around 7 am today, I saw a suspect and traced him. As soon as the mawa was deported from the bus, we confiscated it. A total of 300 kg mawa in 10 sacks containing 30 kg mawa each were recovered from the spot,” said Basant Dutt Sharma, District Food Officer.

“The suspect has been identified as Praveen Jain, a resident of Vidyapati Nagar in the district. He neither has a food licence nor any shop of his has been detected in the area. We are further interrogating him to ascertain whom he supplies the mawa with. The mawa was brought from Ahmedabad, Gujarat and we are investigating the matter,” the officer said.

Further action into the matter will be taken accordingly, he added.

Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.

Diwali is the favourite festival of many Indians – LED lights strung across every building, homes full of sweets and a crisp air of upcoming winter enveloping all of us in a spirit of joy and celebration. What’s not to love about Diwali? Seize this festive spirit and play host to one of the most fabulous Diwali Card Party your guests will never forget. We are here to help you every step of the way – from decor to dessert and everything in between. 

Party-Theme Outfits

Pick a theme for outfits and make sure all your guests stick to it. It can be as simple as Diwali ethnic outfits to perhaps some colour theme for the card party – red, white and black. You can also wear a shirt with hearts or cards to stand out as the host. 

Festive Decor

A nice decoration is important for a Diwali party. Make sure you are done with the Diwali cleaning in your home before hosting the get-together. Next, place diyas and candles to get that Diwali vibe. You can also make a pyramid of playing cards (make sure to stick all cards in place) and set it at the centre table.
Also Read:Diwali 2024: Date, Puja Timings, Rituals And Best Traditional Sweet Recipes

Cocktail O’ Clock!

No card party is complete without cocktails. Going with the festive vibe, you can serve Bloody Mary, Sangria, Whiskey Sour, Elderflower Martini and Margaritas. Feel free to customise the cocktail menu based on what your guests love the most.

Appetizers And Snacks

Finger food is perfect for a card party. Avoid serving anything complicated such as chicken wings that may require your guest to leave the cards to eat or get their hands dirty. Here are some snack ideas: 

Vegetarian:

Rajma Kebab: These veg kebabs combine kidney beans and aromatic spices, which are deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown colour. 

Potato Cheese Shots: Potatoes are a staple in every Indian kitchen and are always a popular choice. Potato cheese shots make for a delightful snack for people of all ages.

Falafel With Peanut Sauce: This falafel recipe is easy to prepare using common ingredients you probably have on hand. These Middle Eastern patties will be a versatile addition to your party spread.
Also Read:Ahead Of Festive Season, Swiggy Instamart Launches 24×7 Free Delivery In Delhi-NCR

Non-Vegetarian:

Fish Popcorn: The aroma and texture of this recipe will surely captivate the taste buds of your guests. 

Baked Chicken Seekh: Enjoy chicken seekh kebabs that aren’t drenched in oil. With this simple baked chicken seekh recipe, your guests can savour kebabs completely guilt-free.

Keema Samosa: Instead of stuffing samosas with potatoes, fill them with juicy, spiced keema for a meaty, crispy snack.

Dinner

Once everyone is done playing, it will be time for dinner. You can play some nice background music for dinner. Make sure all crockery and cutlery are in place before guests move for the main course. Here are some ideas for the dinner menu:

^Photo:iStock

Butter Chicken: Chicken fans love a good and flavourful Butter Chicken. Choose shredded chicken pieces so guests can enjoy this dish easily.

Rogan Josh: One of the most beloved Kashmiri dishes in Indian cuisine, this red-gravy mutton dish has mutton pieces cooked with hot and spicy Kashmiri spices.

Dal Makhani: Everyone loves dal makhani, a creamy dal full of butter and rich flavours. 

Dum Paneer Kali Mirch: With its spicy and creamy profile, this paneer gravy dish will be loved by all your guests.

Malabar Parotta: Crispy and layered, Malabar parotta will add a delightful South Indian flair to your party menu.

Matar Pulao: Elevate plain rice with peas and spices to create a delicious pulao.

Desserts

Shahi Tukda: Transform fried bread pieces into a memorable dessert by generously coating them with rich layers of milk and nuts.

Phirni: Delight your guests by serving chilled Phirni in earthen cups, the perfect Indian dessert for a Diwali celebration.

Ice Cream: You can never go wrong with ice cream. Classics like vanilla, chocolate and mango are loved by everyone.

Say Goodbye With Gifts

Once done with desserts, do not forget to send your guests home with a special Diwali gift. You can never go wrong with a customised luxury food hamper and perhaps a pack of glossy cards as a token for the successful card party at your place. Happy Diwali!