The ET GenAI Hackathon 2026 has announced the results of its Idea Submission phase, with the shortlist finalised after evaluating entries from more than 54,000 builders across India. Shortlisted teams now advance to the Prototype Development Phase
The fast-expanding war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has captured global attention largely because it is disrupting oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf. Yet another resource is now emerging as far more critical to the survival of the region’s societies. Water
Indian technology stocks have seen an unprecedented rout over the past few weeks over fears of artificial intelligence upending the traditional outsourcing model that powers the country's $300bn (£223bn) back-office industry. The sell-off - part of a global correction in traditional software and
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday managed an easy victory in the biennial polls to five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar, with its candidates including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin
Star Brazilian forward Neymar didn’t receive a call-up to the national team squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia, although striker Endrick found a spot. With this snub, Neymar’s hopes of playing at the upcoming FIFA World Cup have received a massive blow
US-returned venture capitalist shares why she rarely eats out in India
US-returned venture capitalist shares why she rarely eats out in India: 'You open the door and the city hits you'
US-returned venture capitalist shares why she rarely eats out in India: 'You open the door and the city hits you'
Nitisha Bansal, Vice President at a venture capital firm, shared how returning to India from the United States changed the way she socialises and spends money.
Updated on: Mar 05, 2026 7:31 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link A LinkedIn post by a US-returned venture capitalist about why she rarely eats out after moving back to India has sparked a debate online about urban infrastructure, spending habits and lifestyle differences. The post has sparked a debate online about urban infrastructure, spending habits and lifestyle differences. (Unsplash/Representational image) Nitisha Bansal, Vice President at a venture capital firm, recently shared how returning to India from the United States changed the way she socialises and spends money. In her post, she said she now rarely eats out and prefers inviting friends home instead. “Ever since I moved back from the US, I noticed something about myself. I almost never eat out. Even catching up with friends – ‘Come home, I’ll cook,’” Bansal wrote. At first, she attributed the change to habit, home-cooked food or cost. However, she said the difference became clearer when she compared her experience with life in the US. (Also Read: Indian man in Singapore says ‘surviving here is hard’, explains why he feels more at home there)US vs India
"In the US, a Saturday evening just pulls you out. Clean footpath. Shade. A coffee place with chairs spilling onto the street. People walking slowly, no agenda,” she wrote, describing how casual outings would often turn into hours of socialising. But in India, she said, stepping outside feels very different. “You open the door and the city hits you in the face. 40°C. Horns. Garbage. Dust. A footpath that’s become a two-wheeler parking lot. You last 30 seconds and turn back inside. The street doesn’t invite you. It rejects you,” she wrote. Bansal argued that infrastructure plays a key role in shaping behaviour and consumer spending. Citing data, she said Indians eat out about 1.6 times per week at roughly $3 per meal, while Americans eat out 5.9 times per week at around $25 per meal. “That’s not just culture. It’s infrastructure suppressing behaviour, and behaviour suppressing GDP,” she wrote. According to her, India has responded by building strong delivery systems that bring groceries and food home quickly. However, she argued that the bigger opportunity lies in improving public spaces. “Fix the street → people step outside → dwell time goes up → retail, food, experiences, real estate all follow,” she wrote, adding that improving walkable streets could unlock $100–150 billion in incremental consumption by 2035. Bansal concluded the post with a pointed suggestion about infrastructure priorities. “The best infrastructure investment India can make right now isn’t a highway. It’s a footpath,” she wrote. (Also Read: ₹2.7 lakh chair while employee with back pain is told 'no budget'">CEO shows off ₹2.7 lakh chair while employee with back pain is told 'no budget')How did social media react?
The post quickly gained traction on LinkedIn, drawing mixed reactions from users. A user noted, “If we fixed the streets and people ate out 5.9x/week (like the US), wouldn’t we have as big a health crisis as the US does? I’m not saying we shouldn’t fix the streets. But we shouldn’t fix them so people can eat out 5.9x/week. That’ll likely be a bigger economic disaster than the broken streets.” Another added, “It’s a little simplistically put to just say that people eat in because of the city. People eat outside with higher frequency outside India because the alternate is to come home and cook yourself or eat leftovers. When you are tired, it’s rather easy to just go outside.In India, having help to cook fresh food for you every day reduces that need by a lot.” “The root cause is not the foothpath, the reason is empty pockets. Spending 100K dollars form your 1 million dollars pockets will not impact much but spending 1000 rs from 10K budget is big problem Even though %wise it the same,” commented a third user. “I live in Boston and frankly I don’t want to eat outside at all because my options are crap, I end up paying a bomb for the most average of meals and I also don’t want to eat unhealthy, not to mention the cost of hiring a babysitter. The clean footpaths are not inviting me at all..and not sure if I would call footpaths of New York or San Francisco clean.. My parents in Delhi eat out and try out more restaurants than I do in a week.. so while I agree with commute in India being a reason to invite friends over, it’s not the footpath or walking infrastructure,” shared another. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bhavya Sukheja Bhavya Sukheja is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 6 years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in covering stories that reflect everyday human experiences, with a focus on viral videos, social media trends, and human-interest features that inform readers while sparking meaningful conversations. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings. Known for her strong news sense, Bhavya has a keen ability to spot emerging trends and craft angles that transform viral moments into impactful narratives. Her coverage spans pop culture, entertainment, global affairs, and the internet’s most talked-about topics, helping readers better understand the context behind what is trending online. Before joining Hindustan Times, Bhavya worked with Republic World and NDTV, where she developed her skills in real-time reporting and digital storytelling. Working in fast-paced newsrooms helped her build an editorial approach that prioritises accuracy, clarity, and audience engagement. Bhavya is driven by a curiosity about how people communicate and connect in the digital age. She is particularly interested in stories that highlight cultural shifts, shared emotions, and the evolving nature of online conversations. When she is not tracking trends or producing stories, Bhavya enjoys unplugging and spending time with her cat.Read More Consumer Spending Venture Capitalist Us Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world News / Trending / US-returned Venture Capitalist Shares Why She Rarely Eats Out In India: 'You Open The Door And The City Hits You' See LessA LinkedIn post by a US-returned venture capitalist about why she rarely eats out after moving back to India has sparked a debate online about urban infrastructure, spending habits and lifestyle differences.
Nitisha Bansal, Vice President at a venture capital firm, recently shared how returning to India from the United States changed the way she socialises and spends money. In her post, she said she now rarely eats out and prefers inviting friends home instead.
“Ever since I moved back from the US, I noticed something about myself. I almost never eat out. Even catching up with friends – ‘Come home, I’ll cook,’” Bansal wrote.
At first, she attributed the change to habit, home-cooked food or cost. However, she said the difference became clearer when she compared her experience with life in the US.
(Also Read: Indian man in Singapore says ‘surviving here is hard’, explains why he feels more at home there)
But in India, she said, stepping outside feels very different. “You open the door and the city hits you in the face. 40°C. Horns. Garbage. Dust. A footpath that’s become a two-wheeler parking lot. You last 30 seconds and turn back inside. The street doesn’t invite you. It rejects you,” she wrote.
Bansal argued that infrastructure plays a key role in shaping behaviour and consumer spending. Citing data, she said Indians eat out about 1.6 times per week at roughly $3 per meal, while Americans eat out 5.9 times per week at around $25 per meal. “That’s not just culture. It’s infrastructure suppressing behaviour, and behaviour suppressing GDP,” she wrote.
According to her, India has responded by building strong delivery systems that bring groceries and food home quickly. However, she argued that the bigger opportunity lies in improving public spaces.
“Fix the street → people step outside → dwell time goes up → retail, food, experiences, real estate all follow,” she wrote, adding that improving walkable streets could unlock $100–150 billion in incremental consumption by 2035.
Bansal concluded the post with a pointed suggestion about infrastructure priorities. “The best infrastructure investment India can make right now isn’t a highway. It’s a footpath,” she wrote.
(Also Read: ₹2.7 lakh chair while employee with back pain is told 'no budget'">CEO shows off ₹2.7 lakh chair while employee with back pain is told 'no budget')
A user noted, “If we fixed the streets and people ate out 5.9x/week (like the US), wouldn’t we have as big a health crisis as the US does? I’m not saying we shouldn’t fix the streets. But we shouldn’t fix them so people can eat out 5.9x/week. That’ll likely be a bigger economic disaster than the broken streets.”
Another added, “It’s a little simplistically put to just say that people eat in because of the city. People eat outside with higher frequency outside India because the alternate is to come home and cook yourself or eat leftovers. When you are tired, it’s rather easy to just go outside.In India, having help to cook fresh food for you every day reduces that need by a lot.”
“The root cause is not the foothpath, the reason is empty pockets. Spending 100K dollars form your 1 million dollars pockets will not impact much but spending 1000 rs from 10K budget is big problem Even though %wise it the same,” commented a third user.
“I live in Boston and frankly I don’t want to eat outside at all because my options are crap, I end up paying a bomb for the most average of meals and I also don’t want to eat unhealthy, not to mention the cost of hiring a babysitter. The clean footpaths are not inviting me at all..and not sure if I would call footpaths of New York or San Francisco clean.. My parents in Delhi eat out and try out more restaurants than I do in a week.. so while I agree with commute in India being a reason to invite friends over, it’s not the footpath or walking infrastructure,” shared another.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Why India's political start-ups rarely succeed Kerala Woman Explains Why She Left Dubai And Returned Home Family of murdered man want body returned to India Israel identifies bodies of two hostages returned by Hamas Man praises auto driver who returned his wife’s lost iPhone Man claims thief returned phone after seeing guru’s wallpaper Best Talks Since Trump Returned Three stolen Tamil Nadu bronze sculptures to be returned by US Museum Rs 2,000 cr returned so far under When The Fireflies Returned
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said Sunrisers Leeds' signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed "indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians". Gavaskar's comments are the most high-profile criticism of Sunrisers' deal for Abrar at last week's Hundred auction
5 hours ago
The US artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic is looking to hire a chemical weapons and high-yield explosives expert to try to prevent "catastrophic misuse" of its software. In other words, it fears that its AI tools might tell someone how to make chemical or radioactive weapons
5 hours ago
If one wants to explore the many debates and controversies surrounding the Congress and its role in shaping India’s political trajectory, there may soon be a new address in the capital to turn to. At 3, Safdarjung Lane, the official residence of Nishikant Dubey — the Bharatiya Janata Party MP
5 hours ago
Chelsea have been handed a Premier League record fine of £10.75m and a suspended transfer ban. It was a result of the club making secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018. But it could have been a lot worse
5 hours ago
Kerala Congress (M), BDJS announce names of 12 candidates eachKerala Congress (M) and BDJS announced candidates for the upcoming assembly polls, including KC(M) chairman Jose K Mani from Pala and 12 others from BDJS. Published on: Mar 17, 2026 7:36 AM IST By Vishnu Varma
5 hours ago
Iran’s National Security Chief Ali Larijani on Monday penned a note to Muslim countries, questioning their lack of support for Tehran as the US-Israeli war is now entering its third week with no clear end in sight, disrupting global energy supplies and raising fears of a spike in global inflation
5 hours ago
Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi expressed strong displeasure over Dr. Asif Nazar being considered for the Lahorighat Assembly ticket, citing Nazar's alleged association with an individual charged in an attack on Bordoloi. Bordoloi wrote to AICC General Secretary Jitendra Singh
5 hours ago
A sessions court in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district on Monday convicted five persons and acquitted 35 others in connection with a 2016 case in which seven Dalits were assaulted in the town of Una, The Indian Express reported. Additional Sessions Judge Jignesh Pandya of the court in Veraval
5 hours ago
It's Hollywood's biggest night. The 98th Academy Awards featured emotional speeches, comical relief and a bevy of backstage fun. But it was perhaps a night to forget for Timothée Chalamet. As well as losing out to Michael B Jordan for best actor and One Battle After Another for best picture
5 hours ago
US President Donald Trump on Monday said more than 30 mine laying ships of Iran have been destroyed which has affected Tehran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “We are hammering their capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz with more
5 hours ago
Love Horoscope Today for March 17, 2026: A spontaneous moment could lead to a meaningful connectionLove Horoscope Today, March 17, 2026: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: Mar 17, 2026 7:28 AM IST By Neeraj Dhankher Share via Copy link Aries: Mars is pushing you to
5 hours ago
Dubai arrests Iranian drone strike survivors after they sent explosion photos to loved ones3 foreigner nationals who survived drone strike in Dubai have been arrested after sending photos of the explosions to family members. Updated on: Mar 16
5 hours ago
‘Firms need to move to adaptive, energy-efficient AI models’Sarah Hooker is convinced that the future lies in AI systems that use less computing power, cost less to run and can adapt to the needs of users. Published on: Mar 17, 2026 6:58 AM IST By Shweta Taneja Share via Copy link In the last
5 hours ago
Baghdad witnessed a significant drone and rocket attack on the U.S. embassy early Tuesday. This incident marks the most intense assault since the commencement of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Iraqi security forces have heightened their presence across the capital. The Green Zone
5 hours ago
Russell Wilson trade update: Chiefs hand a shock to Giants QB with Justin Fields move Published on: Mar 17, 2026 5:03 AM IST By Khushi Arora Share via Copy link New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) waves to fans after the game against the Dallas Cowboys (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
5 hours ago
![London [UK], March 17 (ANI): The Premier League has completed a disciplinary process with Chelsea FC in respect of historical breaches relating to Financial](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/chelsea-fined-and-faces-supended-transfer-ban-by-premier-league.webp?height=520)
London [UK], March 17 (ANI): The Premier League has completed a disciplinary process with Chelsea FC in respect of historical breaches relating to Financial Reporting and Third Party Investment.In 2022, Chelsea FC’s current owners voluntarily reported to the League that they had evidence of
5 hours ago
A Bengaluru-based cafe has drawn attention on social media after adding a 5 per cent “Gas Crisis Charge" to a customer’s lemonade order, sparking debate on social media platform X. The unusual fee, applied on a bill for two mint lemonades, has left many users amused and some questioning its
5 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Still using an older laptop? These Intel 13th Gen laptops show what modern performance feels likeIntel 13th Gen laptops bring improved performance
5 hours ago
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is planning to delay a high stakes visit to China later in March by about a month because of the Iran war. "We've requested that we delay it a month or so," he told reporters at the White House
5 hours ago
LDF ally ISJD, UDF ally RSP name candidates for four seats eachThe ISJD and RSP announced their candidates for Kerala Assembly polls, with ISJD's K Krishnankutty retiring from politics and RSP seeking assembly representation. Published on: Mar 17, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Vishnu Varma
5 hours ago
Horoscope Today, March 17, 2026: Operational strategies at work need refinementHoroscope Today: Read the astrological predictions for each zodiac sign based on an expert's guidance on March 17, 2026. Published on: Mar 17, 2026 7:19 AM IST By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
5 hours ago
The report from Elara Capital said retail gasoline and diesel prices “could be fully protected through excise cuts until roughly $110/bbl, beyond which price hikes on diesel and gasoline would become inevitable”. Also Read :Fino Payments Bank Shares Fall To 52-Week Low Amid Probe Reports;
5 hours ago
Punjab Assembly session: House passes motion against LoP Bajwa over ‘band player’ remarkThe Punjab assembly condemned opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa for alleged derogatory remarks about a minister, leading to chaos and a walkout by Congress. Published on: Mar 17
5 hours ago
More than a thousand citizens in Ladakh's Leh and Kargil regions rallied on Monday, echoing calls for statehood and adherence to the Sixth Schedule. Leaders from the Apex Body Leh alongside the Kargil Democratic Alliance expressed their discontent regarding the central government's stance
5 hours ago
Menstrual pain is often dismissed as an inevitable part of being a woman. But when cramps become debilitating, interfere with daily life or are accompanied by chronic pelvic discomfort, they may signal something more serious. One such condition is endometriosis – a long-term disorder affecting
5 hours ago
Khushbu Sundar comes out in support of Trisha amid her viral pics with Vijay: ‘She is one of the most dignified women’Khushbu Sundar has addressed the online chatter surrounding the public appearance of Vijay and Trisha Krishnan, after the divorce petition filed by Sangeeta. Mar 17, 2026
5 hours ago
Rex Culpepper's fiancee pays sweet tribute after tragic bike accident death: ‘I don’t regret' Published on: Mar 17, 2026 4:55 AM IST By Yash Nitish Bajaj Share via Copy link Former Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper died after an accident on Saturday (Instagram/Rex Culpepper) Rex Culpepper
5 hours ago
