Despite Indian society and families placing great pressure on women to have kids, a growing number are choosing to be childfree. And as many of them have successful careers, discerning tastes and high spending power, brands can no longer afford to ignore this powerful group.

Why are Indian families shrinking? What’s to become of the tradition of the home-cooked family meal? And how are Dalits fighting against age-old inequalities? This Cultural Snapshot uses local statistics and case studies to explore behavioural norms shared by Indian people in 2016.

Women living in India are facing more danger than women anywhere else in the world, a poll by Reuters shows. Yet, Indian women are fiercely standing up for themselves, redefining their role in society. India needs the female workforce, and brands are starting to back women’s equality.

Millions of Indians are routinely prescribed psychotropics for mental health issues, but biomedical treatment exists alongside the country’s distinct traditions of Ayurveda and homeopathy. How is Bengali culture shaping – and clashing with – biomedical approaches towards mental health?