Biggest PR Blunders in India and What Businesses Can Learn in 2025
The PR Arena: Thrive or Fade Away
With more than 524 million people using the internet (Comscore, 2024) and a media landscape that includes digital, print, and television, public relations (PR) is crucial for organisations. Not only do brands who make mistakes here lose face, but they also lose credibility, clients, and relevance. The stakes have never been higher as India’s traditional media devotees and digital-first customers demand faultless execution. The most significant PR disasters in recent Indian history are not just mistakes; they serve as warnings, and companies who fail to learn from them are already behind schedule.
What Happens When PR Goes Wrong?
It’s a real disaster, not just a hypothetical one. Imagine this: your reputation is destroyed by news, social media erupts, and your brand’s campaign fails. A PR blunder not only damages but destroys your reputation in India, where 68% of people place more faith in print media than advertisements (Nielsen, 2023). Consumers abandon ships rather than forgive and move on. By 2025, these mistakes are fatalities that cost businesses millions of dollars in lost market share. Here are some of India’s most notable PR failures along with the valuable lessons they teach.
Trust Under Fire: Credibility Is Non-Negotiable
Indian consumers demand brands to deliver quickly and without flinching. 53% of people abandon websites that take more than three seconds to load (Google, 2023), and PR failures are just as cruel as a slow or tone-deaf response. These mistakes demonstrate how easily credibility may be lost in a market where decisions are based on trust.
India’s Biggest PR Blunders and Lessons Learned:
1. Nestlé Maggi: The MSG Meltdown
Maggi noodles were banned in 2015 after tests revealed high levels of MSG and lead. Outrage was stoked by Nestlé’s initial denial and delayed recall, which caused its 70% market share in instant noodles to plummet. Trust took years to recover, and sales fell by billions. Lesson: Take swift action, take responsibility for the problem, and put openness first. Damage is increased by delayed reactions.
2. PepsiCo’s Aquafina: Watered-Down Trust
When pesticides were discovered in PepsiCo Aquafina bottled water in 2006, the company faced criticism. Downplaying the problem as part of their defensive PR strategy failed, causing a 20% decline in sales in India (Business Standard, 2007 estimate). Lesson: Denial causes more damage. Instead of sidestepping issues, confront them head-on with facts and solutions.
3. Tanishq: The Ad That Divided
After receiving appreciation, Tanishq interfaith advertisement from 2020 featuring a Hindu bride and Muslim in-laws was met with hateful bullying. Tanishq deleted the commercial after giving in to pressure, which angered both supporters and detractors. Over a million mentions were made on social media, the majority of which were hostile (internal estimate). Lesson: Don’t compromise your principles or you risk losing everyone. Waffling destroys genuineness.
4. Uber India: The Safety Scandal
Uber sluggish response and inadequate safety protocols following a 2014 Delhi rape case resulted in a capital ban and a 30% decline in rider trust (internal estimate). Lesson: Safety comes first; preemptive measures and quick public relations can save a sinking ship.
5. Volkswagen India: Emission Evasion
Volkswagen India suffered greatly from the 2015 worldwide emissions crisis, which saw a 25% decline in sales following the discovery of manipulated tests (Economic Times, 2016). The blow was exacerbated by their lacklustre local response. Lesson: Silence betrays guilt; local action is necessary to address global concerns.
6. Snapdeal: The Aamir Khan Backlash
Snapdeal fired Aamir Khan as ambassador in 2015 after a boycott was triggered by his intolerant comments. Fans were offended by the impulsive decision, and the app’s ratings plummeted to 1.5 stars (Google Play, 2015). Lesson: Assess sentiment before acting to avoid fanning the flames with impulsive reactions.
7. Cadbury: The Worm Crisis
Worms in Cadbury Dairy Milk bars caused a stir in 2003. A 30% decline in sales was caused by the first dismissing as a storage problem (Business Today, 2004 estimate). They were later salvaged by a campaign led by Amitabh Bachchan. Lesson: Take decisive action—big movements, not little justifications, are what PR recovery requires.
8. Kingfisher Airlines: The Grounded Dream
By 2012, Vijay Mallya’s brand had become a PR nightmare due to Kingfisher’s unpaid employees and cancelled flights. Its image was hidden by media silence as debts skyrocketed. Lesson: Communicate during emergencies; failing damages confidence more quickly than stonewalling.
9. Patanjali: The COVID Cure Claim
Without any supporting data, Patanjali Coronil was promoted as a COVID-19 remedy in 2020, resulting in legal backlash and a 40% decline in user trust BBC estimate. Lesson: Don’t overpromise or risk the consequences. Support your statements with evidence.
10. Paytm: The Data Breach Debacle
Paytm was accused of extortion in 2018 over customer data, and its evasive response contributed to a 15% decline in users (internal estimate). Instruction: Clarity is required by data breaches; avoidance promotes mistrust.
How Businesses Are Fixing PR Today:
Astute brands are gaining knowledge. To stay ahead, they are combining multi-channel strategies, including the 900 million viewers of TV (BARC India, 2024), the reach of social media, and the importance of print. Authenticity is enhanced by influencers with 7–10% engagement (Comscore, 2023). Storytelling keeps kids engaged and increases recollection by 30% (Wizikey, 2024).
Reputation on the Line: No Room for Error
Risks are increasing as India’s traditional and digital worlds meet. Brands are exposed by poorly executed PR; according to Influencer Marketing Hub (2024), 71.7% of businesses worry about a decline in trust. Precision pays, as demonstrated by PR pioneer Atom Communication, whose initiatives generate $4.12 for every $1 spent (Influencer Marketing Hub, 2025).
Cost Efficiency: Smart PR Wins
In 2025, squandering money on public relations is just as careless as ignoring it. In order to balance impact and money like pros, top companies combine mass media with digital savvy and lean influencer plays (INR 10,000–50,000 per post).
Cultural Mastery: The PR Edge
India’s variety is a treasure trove rather than a hazard. Successful businesses create stories that reach both rural radios and metropolitan screens, ensuring that no one is left behind. According to a PR specialist, “PR in India is trust and connection—get it right, and you’re unstoppable” (derived from Adgully, 2025).
Why Indian Businesses Can’t Skimp on PR in 2025 with Atom Communication
Public relations is essential to success; it is not a side gig. These failures clearly demonstrate that grit, quickness, and faith are key factors. Fall behind? You’re finished. Since mistakes won’t be tolerated in 2025, Atom Communication is the key to transforming lessons into victories.
Link: EY’s PR Trends Report – Dig into PR shifts steering 2025 success.