| The Financial Express
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date: 2026-07-18T15:33:30+05:30
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items: First H-1B visa cap under Trump’s new rules reached: What it means for Applicants
items: Messi vs Mbappe: FIFA World Cup Golden Boot isn’t just about goals, it’s a multi-million-dollar sponsorship race
items: Yes Bank Q1FY27 results: Net profit climbs 34%; NII rises 17.5%
items: Supreme Court says Railway’s ‘second class passenger’ tag inappropriate, flags overcrowding in trains
items: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill meeting called off as govt weighs political trade-offs
items: HDFC Bank Q1FY27 profit rises 5%; NII grows 7%
items: ICICI Bank Q1FY27 results: Net profit up 16%, NII climbs 12.7% while asset quality remains stable
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items: How Steven Spielberg built a $7 billion net worth without chasing paychecks
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First H-1B visa cap under Trump’s new rules reached: What it means for Applicants
type: item
creator: Aditi
date: 2026-07-18T10:03:22Z
subject: Immigration
subject: H-1B Visa
subject: trump
description: USCIS has received enough applications to fill the H-1B visa quota for fiscal year 2027, marking the first year under a new wage-based selection system prioritising higher salaries.
encoded: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received enough applications to fill the H-1B visa quota for the 2027 financial year. The H-1B visa is one of the most popular work visas in the United States, especially among technology companies that hire skilled foreign workers. USCIS announced on Friday that it has received enough applications to meet both the 65,000 regular H-1B visa cap and the 20,000 additional visas reserved for applicants with advanced degrees from US institutions, also known as the master’s cap. This means all 85,000 H-1B visas available under the annual limit set by Congress have now been filled. In its statement, the agency said, “US Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2027.” ALSO READ India has raised concerns with the United States over new visa rules that could affect thousands of Indian students and exchange visitors However, applications that are exempt from the cap will continue to be accepted and processed under the existing rules. First H-1B season under Trump’s new wage-based system This year’s selection process is different from previous years because it is the first full H-1B cycle under new rules introduced by the Trump administration. For years, H-1B visas were given through a random lottery, where every eligible applicant had an equal chance of being selected. That system has now been replaced with a wage-based process that gives an advantage to workers offered higher salaries. Instead of giving everyone one entry in the lottery, the new system gives multiple chances based on the salary level offered by the employer under the US Department of Labor‘s four-level wage system. Workers offered the highest wages under Level 4 receive four entries. Those under Level 3 receive three entries; Level 2 workers rec…

Messi vs Mbappe: FIFA World Cup Golden Boot isn’t just about goals, it’s a multi-million-dollar sponsorship race
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T09:46:45Z
subject: Sports
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Kylian Mbappe
subject: Lionel Messi
subject: sports
description: The FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot is no longer just a race for football's top scorer. As Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham battle for the award, the competition has evolved into a multi-million-dollar sponsorship contest, with global brands such as Adidas, Nike and Skechers closely watching every goal.
encoded: The race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Boot is no longer just about goals. With Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham still in contention heading into the closing stages of the tournament, the award has quietly evolved into one of football’s biggest commercial battlegrounds, pitting some of the world’s largest sportswear brands against each other on the game’s biggest stage. According to a recent analysis by Forbes, the battle for the tournament’s top scorer has become as valuable for global sponsors as it is for the players themselves, with Adidas, Nike and Skechers all having a vested interest in who eventually walks away with the iconic trophy. ALSO READ Lionel Messi reacts to famous baby Lamine Yamal photo ahead of FIFA World Cup final A Golden Boot race with commercial consequences The Golden Boot has traditionally recognised the FIFA World Cup’s leading goalscorer. However, it has also become a live marketing contest. Lionel Messi and France forward Kylian Mbappe currently lead the standings with eight goals each. England captain Harry Kane and teammate Jude Bellingham remain mathematically alive on six goals, while Norway striker Erling Haaland finished his tournament with seven. According to Forbes, never before has the Golden Boot race featured such a direct clash between competing sportswear giants. Messi remains one of Adidas’ most valuable ambassadors under a lifetime agreement. Mbappe continues to wear Nike boots, although it is being learnt that his current contract only runs until the end of July after Nike agreed a short extension to avoid a mid-tournament switch. Kane, meanwhile, has become the face of Skechers Football after signing a lifetime partnership with the American company in 2023. Bellingham happens to be an Adidas athlete while the Golden Boot itself will have the Adidas logo. Why the Golden Boot matters beyond football Winning the Golden Boot does not come with prize money. FIFA awards the trophy, but there is …

Yes Bank Q1FY27 results: Net profit climbs 34%; NII rises 17.5%
type: item
creator: Jigyasu Joshi
date: 2026-07-18T09:40:14Z
subject: Banking & Finance
subject: Business
subject: Banking and Finance News
subject: Q1 Results
subject: Yes Bank
description: Yes Bank reported a 34% rise in standalone net profit to Rs 1,071 crore for Q1 FY27, driven by a 17.5% increase in net interest income, improved asset quality, and rating upgrades.
encoded: Yes Bank reported a standalone net profit of Rs 1,071 crore for the April-June quarter of FY27. This is a 34% rise from Rs 801.07 crore in the same quarter last year. The bank’s net interest income rose 17.5% year-on-year to Rs 2,786 crore, up from Rs 2,371 crore. Net interest income is the difference between interest earned and interest paid by the bank. Asset quality improved on an annual basis but weakened compared to the previous quarter. Net NPA also fell year-on-year but rose sequentially to Rs 677 crore. The net NPA ratio stood at 0.2%. Provisions increased 39% year-on-year to Rs 394 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. This was higher than the provisioning seen in the same period last year. The bank’s debt-equity ratio stood at 0.66%, compared to 0.69% a year earlier. ALSO READ ICICI Bank Q1FY27 results: Net profit up 16%, net NPAs stable Retail slippages fell to their lowest in 10 quarters at Rs 843 crore or 2.7% of advances, against Rs 888 crore or 2.8% of advances, in Q4 FY26. Net credit costs for the quarter stood at 0.3% of average assets, unchanged from 0.3% in Q1 FY26. “We delivered higher core earnings even as gains from Security Receipts and treasury fell sharply – clear evidence that the underlying franchise is strengthening,” Vinay M Tonse, Managing Director and CEO at Yes Bank, said. “Margins held steady at 2.7%, cost-to-income improved further, and asset quality strengthened as slippage eased. We also earned meaningful external validation this quarter — rating upgrades from Moody’s, CARE and ICRA, and our inaugural international rating from S&P Global,” Tonse added.

Supreme Court says Railway’s ‘second class passenger’ tag inappropriate, flags overcrowding in trains
type: item
creator: FE News Desk
date: 2026-07-18T09:27:41Z
subject: India News
subject: Indian Railways
subject: Supreme Court
description: The Supreme Court urges Indian Railways to stop calling travelers “second class passengers,” focusing on coach terminology and highlighting overcrowding risks, safety concerns, and compensation rulings.
encoded: The Supreme Court has urged Indian Railways to stop using the term “second class passengers” in its manuals — observing that the moniker should describe the train compartment and not the passenger travelling within it. The apex court also addressed persistent overcrowding and pointed to multiple mishaps in which people fell from the train. According to a LiveLaw report, a Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh stated that the terminology should be reconsidered in view of India’s history of class divisions and its constitutional values. The court made this statement while awarding Rs 8 lakh compensation to the widow of a man who died after falling from a running train in 2015. Why did the court object to ‘second class passenger’? The Bench acknowledged that the term was being used in the context of an amount paid by the passenger for his journey. However, it stated that attaching a class label to a passenger was inappropriate. “We may suggest that the class connotation be attached to the coach and not to the passenger,” the Bench mentioned, as quoted by Live Law. It also described the existing terminology as “offensive to the spirit of the Constitution of India.” ALSO READ Can Election Commission decide citizenship? What the Supreme Court’s latest West Bengal ruling means In simple terms, the court stated that “second class” could continue to describe a coach or travel facility, but a person using it should not be called a “second class passenger.” The observation was a suggestion to reconsider railway terminology, not an immediate instruction changing the existing travel categories. Court raises risks posed by overcrowded trains The Supreme Court also appealed to Indian Railways to take effective measures to prevent overcrowding. The bench also observed that passengers falling from crowded trains and losing their lives was “not a rare occurrence.” It referred to the June 2025 Mumbai suburban train accident, in which four commuters lost…

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill meeting called off as govt weighs political trade-offs
type: item
creator: FE News Desk
date: 2026-07-18T09:26:56Z
subject: India News
subject: Parliament
subject: viksit bharat
description: This comes a day after the Joint Committee of Parliament deferred the adoption of a report on the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill seeking removal of ministers arrested for serious offences for 30 consecutive days.
encoded: A meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, scheduled for Monday, has been called off, The Indian Express reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The development comes a day after the Joint Committee examining the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill deferred the adoption of its report on a proposal to remove ministers arrested in serious criminal cases if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days. The development is reportedly being viewed against the backdrop of the Centre’s efforts to secure the support of regional and smaller parties for the proposed rollout of the women’s reservation law and the Delimitation Bill, according to the report. ALSO READ Supreme Court says Railway’s ‘second class passenger’ tag inappropriate, flags overcrowding in trains Focus shifts to delimitation legislation The Joint Committee on the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill had already completed voting on its first two recommendations when the process was halted during discussions on the third. Earlier, committee chairperson and BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi told reporters that the panel had unanimously felt that further consultations with stakeholders were necessary. The delay is also being seen as a possible attempt by the government to avoid pushing two politically contentious constitutional amendments through Parliament during the same session. A BJP MP cited in the report said the delay could be linked to differences within the committee, but added that the government’s immediate priority was the Delimitation Bill, for which support from the Opposition and regional parties would be important. The Delimitation Bill would also require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, making support from parties outside the ruling coalition crucial. What is the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill? The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 seeks to overhaul India’s higher education regulatory structure. The pr…

HDFC Bank Q1FY27 profit rises 5%; NII grows 7%
type: item
creator: Khushboo Kumari
date: 2026-07-18T09:26:17Z
subject: Banking & Finance
subject: Business
subject: Bank (Private) Stocks
subject: Banking
subject: Banking and Finance News
subject: HDFC Bank
subject: Quarterly Earnings
subject: Quarterly Results
description: HDFC Bank Q1FY27 net profit rose to Rs 19,060 crore, with NII up 7% and asset quality slightly weaker; read more.
encoded: HDFC Bank reported a 4.98% year-on-year (YoY) increase in its net profit at Rs 19,059.72 crore in Q1FY27, as compared to Rs 18155.21 crore reported in Q1FY26. On a seuential basis, HDFC Bank’s Q1FY27 net profit came flat from Rs 19,221.05 crore reported in Q4FY26. The bank’s total balance sheet size stood at Rs 43,97,500 crore as of June 30, 2026, compared with Rs 39,54,100 crore as of June 30, 2025. HDFC Bank Q1FY27: Key highlights The bank’s net interest income (NII) came at Rs 33,534 crore for the quarter, up 6.7% YoY and 1% sequentially. Net interest margin was at 3.26% on total assets, and 3.40% based on interest earning assets. Total income stood at Rs 92,184.38 crore, up % from Rs 99,200.03 crore reported a year ago. ALSO READ HDFC Bank to HDFC AMC: Motilal Oswal reveals top bets in HDFC Group with up to 35% upside HDFC Bank Q1FY27: Average deposits and advances grow over 13% HDFC Bank’s deposits and advances registered double-digit year-on-year growth. The bank’s average deposits rose 13.3% year-on-year to increase by Rs 3.54 lakh crore during the quarter. Average gross advances also increased 13.4% year-on-year, rising by Rs 3.50 lakh crore. The bank’s average assets under management (AUM) rose 10.8% year-on-year, increasing by Rs 2.96 lakh crore. ALSO READ HDB Financial Q1FY27 profit up 38%, net interest margin edges higher at 8.35% The bank’s operating profit stood at Rs 28,168 crore, rising 1% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Provisions increased 17% sequentially to Rs 3,059 crore. The bank’s average deposits rose 13.3% year-on-year to increase by Rs 3.54 lakh crore during the quarter. On the asset quality front, the gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio edged up by 2 basis points (bps) in Q1FY27 to 1.17% from 1.15% in the previous quarter, while the net non-performing asset (NNPA) ratio rose by 3 basis points to 0.41% from 0.38%. About HDFC Bank HDFC Bank is one of India’s leading private sector banks and was among the first to receive approval from the Rese…

ICICI Bank Q1FY27 results: Net profit up 16%, NII climbs 12.7% while asset quality remains stable
type: item
creator: Sumana Sarkar
date: 2026-07-18T09:21:38Z
subject: Banking & Finance
subject: Business
subject: Industry
subject: BSE Sensex
subject: ICICI Bank
subject: ICICI Bank shares
subject: NSE Nifty
subject: stock market
description: ICICI Bank Q1FY27 net profit rises 16% YoY to Rs 14,804.50 crore, with net NPAs stable. Read the update.
encoded: ICICI Bank has declared its Q1FY27 numbers. The net profit has increased 16% YoY to Rs 14,804.50 crore from Rs 12,768.21 in the same period last year. The Bank’s net interest income grew nearly 12.7% to Rs 24,384 crore from Rs 21,635 crore in Q1FY26. Net interest margin was 4.36% in Q1FY27 compared to 4.32% in Q4FY26 and 4.34% in Q1FY26 ICICI Bank has also reported net NPA of Rs 5,908.27 crore compared to net NPA of Rs 5,971.09 crore. The bank’s total loan portfolio grew by 19.6% year-on-year in Q1 to Rs 16,31,260 crore ($172.3billion) as of June 30, 2026. ALSO READ HDFC Bank Q1FY27 profit rises 5%; NII grows 7% ICICI Bank Q1 asset quality, capital adequacy In terms of asset quality, the net NPA ratio was 0.35% in Q1FY27 Vs 0.41% in Q1FY26. Recoveries and upgrades of NPAs, excluding write-offs and sale, were at Rs 2,845 crore this quarter compared to Rs 3,211 crore in Q1FY26. The Bank has written-off gross NPAs amounting to Rs 1,673 crore in Q1FY27. The Bank’s total capital adequacy ratio was at 16.84% compared to the minimum regulatory requirements of 11.70%. ICICI Bank Q1FY27 credit growth ICICI Bank’s total advances increased by 19.6% year-on-year and 5.0% sequentially to Rs 16,31,260 crore ($ 172.3 billion) in Q1. The retail loan portfolio grew by 12% YoY and comprised 49.2% of the total loan portfolio as of June 30, 2026. The business banking portfolio grew by 28.2% YoY and the rural portfolio grew by 35.4% YoY in Q1FY27. The bank’s domestic corporate portfolio grew by 18.5% YoY in Q1 and the domestic advances grew by 18.8% compared to the same quarter last fiscal. ICICI Bank share price The ICICI Bank share price has seen significant price action in the last 6 months. It closed Friday’s trade up nearly 2% and the stock has delivered 7% return in last 3 months. ALSO READ HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank Q1 preview: Will strong credit demand offset margin contraction? About ICICI Bank ICICI Bank is the country’s second-largest private bank, and it is a Mumbai-headquartered…

Vikram-1 reaches orbit: Skyroot’s ‘Mission Aagaman’ boosts India’s $44 billion space push
type: item
creator: Sheenu Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T09:11:43Z
subject: India News
subject: ISRO
subject: Mission Aagaman
subject: Skyroot Aerospace
subject: Vikram-1
description: Vikram-1 launch also comes against the backdrop of India’s push to grow its share of the global space economy to $44 billion by 2033, up from about $8 billion now, as the government looks to private companies to compete in the global small-satellite market dominated by players in the US, Europe and China.
encoded: Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 successfully reached orbit on July 18, marking the maiden flight of India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket and a major milestone for the country’s space industry. The mission, named ‘Mission Aagaman‘, launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, a barrier island off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The 24-metre carbon-composite rocket completed its planned sequence of flight stages and injected its payloads into a nearly 450-km orbit. ORBIT ACHIEVED. 🚀 Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 has reached orbit. India's first privately developed orbital rocket has completed its final burn and injected its payloads into a ~450 km orbit, making India the third country in the world with private orbital launch capability.… — Skyroot Aerospace (@SkyrootA) July 18, 2026 The rocket’s three solid-fuel stages performed as planned, beginning with Kalam-1200, which carried Vikram-1 through the densest part of the atmosphere before separating cleanly. The payload fairing then separated, exposing the payloads to space. Next, Kalam-250 completed its burn and separated, followed by the ignition of Kalam-100, the smallest and highest-flying solid stage in the vehicle. The solid-propulsion phase ended with Stage 3 separation, allowing the Orbital Adjustment Module to complete the final push to orbit using its 3D-printed liquid engine. Skyroot said Vikram-1 is designed to deploy payloads of up to 350 kg into a 450-km low Earth orbit and combines three solid-fuel stages with a liquid orbital adjustment module that can start, stop and restart in space. The maiden flight carried multiple payloads, including the lab-grown Diamond Lotus from Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds, as well as a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words “Vande Mataram.” Vikram-1 underscores India’s push towards $44 billion space economy by 2033 Standing about 22 metres tall, Vikram-1 is designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kg int…

How Steven Spielberg built a $7 billion net worth without chasing paychecks
type: item
creator: Shuvangi Bhattacharya
date: 2026-07-18T09:07:38Z
subject: Life
subject: Lifestyle
subject: Billionaire Lifestyle
subject: Billionaire Mindset
subject: FE Leisure
subject: lifestyle
subject: Lifestyle news
description: Steven Spielberg made his way on to the Forbes' billionaires list again in 2026 with a $7.1 billion fortune, built on backend film deals, Universal theme park royalties and DreamWorks. From his disciplined 6:30 am set arrivals to his private Pacific Palisades compound, here's a closer look at the habits and choices behind his empire.
encoded: Steven Spielberg has spent five decades building worlds on screen, and in the process, he has amassed largest fortunes in entertainment history. The filmmaker topped Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires list for a second consecutive year, with his net worth pegged at $7.1 billion, as per the publication. At 79, Spielberg remains the highest-grossing film director of all time, with his films having collectively earned more than $10 billion at the global box office, according to Forbes. From Jaws to Jurassic Park to Schindler’s List, Spielberg’s filmography reads like a history of modern Hollywood itself. But behind the iconic movies is a business mind that has quietly accumulated extraordinary wealth through shrewd deal-making, real estate and a lifestyle built on discipline as much as indulgence. How Spielberg built his fortune Much of Spielberg’s wealth traces back to an unconventional negotiating strategy. Rather than taking large upfront directing fees, he has long opted for backend profit participation, a percentage cut of a film’s earnings, as per Parade. That approach reportedly earned him over $250 million from Jurassic Park alone, according to the publication. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" height="349" width="620" src="https://images.financialexpressdigital.com/2026/07/6.jpg?w=620" alt="" class="wp-image-4295544" srcset="https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg 1200w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg?resize=620,349 620w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg?resize=310,174 310w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/6.jpg?resize=81,45 81w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/upl…

Axis Bank Q1FY27 Results: Net Profit Jumps 23%, NII up 8% but margins under pressure
type: item
creator: Anwesha Mitra
date: 2026-07-18T09:05:14Z
subject: Banking & Finance
subject: Business
subject: Industry
subject: Axis Bank
description: The Net Interest Margin for the country’s third largest private bank came in at 3.46%, the lowest in the last one year.
encoded: Axis Bank reported 23% jump in its Q1FY27 net profit at Rs 7,113.92 crore from Rs 5,806 crore in Q1FY26. The profitability surge is driven by positive operating jaws and stable asset quality. The Net Interest Income rose 8% year-on-year to Rs 14,646 crore from Rs 13,560 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. The Net Interest Margin for the country’s third largest private bank came in at 3.46%, the lowest in the last one year. In fact, this is the lowest NIM for Axis Bank in nearly 19 quarters despite loan growth being the best in 10 quarters. The company reported modest growth in its core operating profit as pressure on other income and a rise in interest expenses prevailed. Axis Bank Q1 Highlights Provisions and contingencies fell 43.7% YoY to Rs 2,222.54 crore in the quarter — leading to a sharp rise in net profit. The figure stood at Rs 3,947.66 crore in Q1FY26. Core net interest income grew 8% to Rs 14,646 crore on the back of a 19% jump in advances. Advances growth was led by a 38% growth in corporate loans, while retail loans grow by just 8% during the April-June period. ALSO READ Kotak Mahindra Bank Q1 profit jumps 26%, NIM slips, asset quality improves Axis Bank asset quality in Q1FY27 Axis Bank reported stable net NPA of 0.39% in Q1. This has seen a steady decline from 0.45% from the Q1 of last quarter. Fresh slippages saw some uptick sequentially at Rs 5,566 crore from Rs 4,675 crore. The Q1 net NPA came in at Rs 5,193 crore from Rs 4,790 crore in Q4FY26. Axis Bank Management on Q1 performance India’s third-largest private lender by market capitalisation had taken a one-time charge on a part of its ​loan book ​in the year-ago quarter due ⁠to what it termed an “industry benchmarking” exercise on its credit overdraft facilities. Indian ‌banks have seen a pick-up in loan growth since April, with demand for personal credit and loans against gold rising. Small businesses have also stepped up borrowings, in part backed by government default guarantees made avail…

Kotak Mahindra Bank Q1 profit jumps 26%, NIM slips, asset quality improves
type: item
creator: Khushboo Kumari
date: 2026-07-18T08:51:55Z
subject: Business
subject: Industry
subject: Punjab National Bank
subject: Quarterly Earnings
subject: Quarterly Results
description: Kotak Mahindra Bank Q1FY27: 9% growth in net interest income, while deposits and advances rose in double digits- Know all details.
encoded: Kotak Mahindra Bank posted net profit at Rs 4,122.96 crore in Q1FY27, up 25.64% year-on-year (YoY), from Rs 3,281.68 crore reported in Q1FY26. The bank’s consolidated net profit came at Rs 5,480.46 crore in Q1FY27, increasing 22.55% year-on-year (YoY), from Rs 4,472.18 crore reported in Q1FY26. Kotak Mahindra Bank’s asset quality also improved in the reporting quarter, with gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio at 1.18% as on June 30, 2026, from 1.48% as on June 30, 2025. Till previous quarter (Q4FY26) the bank’s NPA was 1.20% as on March 31, 2026. Kotak Mahindra Bank Q1FY27: Key highlights Kotak Mahindra Bank’s core net interest income increased by 9% YoY to Rs 7,928 crore in the reporting quarter, from Rs 7,259 crore in the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26. However, the bank’s net interest margin has reduced to 4.53% in the June quarter, from 4.65% in the year-ago period and 4.67% in the quarter-ago period. In the reporting quarter, the bank’s fee and services income increased by 11% to Rs 2,500 crore, from Rs 2,249 crore a year ago. ALSO READ Kotak Mahindra Bank: Record date set for FY26 final dividend; Q1 results on July 18 On a sequential basis, it was down 10%. Total deposits of the bank grew by 14% YoY to Rs 5.59 lakh crore in Q1FY27, from Rs 4.92 lakh crore in Q1FY26, according to the investor presentation. ALSO READ Q1FY27 earnings this week: RIL, HDFC Bank, Wipro, Tech Mahindra among 143 companies to announce results Kotak Mahindra Bank’s current account deposit increased by 15% YoY to Rs 78,107 crore. The bank has seen a 15% YoY jump in its advances to 5.28 lakh crore in the June quarter, from Rs 4.59 lakh crore in the same period a year ago. About Kotak Mahindra Bank Kotak Mahindra Bank, part of Kotak Mahindra Group, is one of India’s leading private sector banks, offering a wide range of financial services across personal and corporate banking, treasury, investment banking, stock broking, asset management, life insurance and wealth managemen…

The Odyssey box office collection day 1: Christopher Nolan’s epic scores a record-breaking opening
type: item
creator: Shuvangi Bhattacharya
date: 2026-07-18T08:50:34Z
subject: Entertainment
subject: Life
subject: Entertainment news
subject: FE Leisure
description: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey opened to blockbuster numbers worldwide on July 17, collecting Rs 17.40 crore in India and $17.6 million in US previews alone. The Matt Damon and Tom Holland starrer is on track for a massive opening weekend, surpassing Nolan's own Oppenheimer across multiple markets.
encoded: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey set sail at the global box office on July 17, 2026, delivering one of the strongest debuts of the year. The Universal Pictures epic, an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek poem, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, opened to blockbuster numbers both in North America and overseas, cementing its status as the most anticipated release of the summer. Domestic day 1 numbers break records According to Variety, The Odyssey collected $17.6 million from Thursday preview screenings across 3,900 North American theatres, the best preview haul of the year, surpassing the $17.5 million that Toy Story 5 had earned earlier in 2026. As per the Hollywood Reporter, the film was targeting a $50 million Friday that would push it toward a $117 million three-day opening weekend. Deadline reported that this performance made the film the biggest opening for Matt Damon as a lead actor, ahead of 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum, and marked the best live-action debut of the year domestically, edging past Lionsgate’s Michael. It is also worth noting that the previews figure comfortably outpaced Nolan’s own Oppenheimer, which had opened to $10.5 million in previews back in 2023. ALSO READ Inside Matt Damon’s $34 million real estate portfolio India collections surpass Oppenheimer’s opening Of this total, the English version alone contributed Rs 13.75 crore with a 77 percent occupancy rate, while the Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubbed versions added Rs 1.90 crore, Rs 60 lakh, and Rs 1.10 crore respectively, according to the same report. Reports also indicate that the film’s India numbers benefited from premium IMAX ticket pricing, with average IMAX show tickets going for around Rs 750. Nolan shot the film entirely on 70mm IMAX cameras, becoming the first filmmaker to do so, and has repeatedly emphasised that it is meant to be experienced on the biggest screens possible. ALSO READ Michael crosses $1 billion worldwide, becomes highest…

Lionel Messi reacts to famous baby Lamine Yamal photo ahead of FIFA World Cup final
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T08:38:20Z
subject: Sports
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Lamine Yamal
subject: Lionel Messi
subject: sports
description: Lionel Messi has called the viral 2007 photograph with baby Lamine Yamal "just insane" as the two prepare to face each other in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, bringing one of football's most remarkable stories full circle.
encoded: Nearly two decades ago, Lionel Messi was helping an infant into a plastic bath for a charity calendar shoot. On Sunday, the same child will stand across from him on football’s biggest stage. The image of a 20-year-old Messi bathing a baby Lamine Yamal has resurfaced ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, transforming an obscure charity photograph into one of the sport’s most remarkable full-circle moments. A photograph that became football history The picture was taken in 2007 by Barcelona-based photographer Joan Monfort during a charity calendar project organised by Catalan newspaper Diario Sport in partnership with UNICEF, according to The Associated Press. Messi, then an emerging Barcelona star, was paired with local families through a community raffle, and one of those families happened to include a baby named Lamine Yamal. At the time, Monfort saw it as another assignment. “I have never been a believer or thought that anything was destined to occur, but I am beginning to have my doubts. This is beyond all reasonable explanations,” Monfort told AP ahead of the final. Almost 19 years later, the same baby has grown into Spain’s brightest young footballer and will now face Messi for the biggest prize in international football. Messi still cannot believe it Messi himself admitted the coincidence feels surreal. “That picture with Lamine, now we are facing in a final after a photo was taken of when he was a baby,” Messi said while speaking to seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest on Friday. “It’s just insane.” The Argentina captain also spoke warmly about Yamal’s rapid rise, having watched the teenager emerge at Barcelona, the club where Messi spent more than two decades. “Lamine is truly amazing,” Messi said. “I’ve followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic — we’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.” History awaits both players The …

Don’t have ZEE5? Here’s every way to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff live in India
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T08:34:57Z
subject: Sports
subject: England Football Team
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Football
subject: France Football Team
subject: sports
description: France and England meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff on Sunday, July 19 (IST). If you don't have a ZEE5 subscription, you can still catch the bronze-medal clash live.
encoded: The FIFA World Cup 2026 may be down to its final two matches but there’s still one medal left to be decided before Argentina and Spain battle for the title. France and England will face off in the third-place playoff at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with both sides aiming to finish their campaigns on a winning note after semi-final defeats. Kick-off is scheduled for 02:30 AM IST on Sunday, July 19. If you haven’t subscribed to ZEE5, there are still several ways to watch the bronze-medal match live in India. How to watch France vs England on TV The easiest free option remains DD Sports, which will telecast the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff under the Government of India’s mandatory sports broadcasting sharing guidelines. The channel is available free-to-air through DD Free Dish. Fans can also watch the match live on the Unite8 Sports Network, the official television broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India. ALSO READ Could Argentina players be suspended before World Cup final? FIFA investigates Falklands banner controversy Watch live on mobile without ZEE5 Football fans can also stream the live television broadcast through the JioTV app. Jio users with JioFiber and AirFiber connections can access the match via JioTV+, where Unite8 Sports channels are available on supported set-top boxes. Want HD streaming? ZEE5 remains the official platform For viewers looking for Full HD streaming, multiple commentary options and additional digital features, ZEE5 remains the official streaming platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India. Fans can subscribe to the dedicated FIFA World Cup package or choose the platform’s broader premium plans, depending on the available offers. ALSO READ FIFA World Cup 2026 final set to become most expensive sporting event ever as ticket prices soar Which option should you choose? If you are looking for a free viewing option, DD Sports via DD Free Dish remains the simplest choice. If you prefer watching on your ph…

4 Small Cap Mutual Funds Outperformed in H1 2026: See the Winners
type: item
creator: Devanshi Verma
date: 2026-07-18T08:02:21Z
subject: Money Insights
subject: Bank of India Mutual Fund
subject: Borrow
subject: Insure
subject: Invest
subject: JM Financial Mutual Fund
subject: mutual fund
subject: Mutual Fund Investment
subject: Save
subject: Small Cap Funds
subject: Trust Mutual Fund
subject: Union Bank of India
description: Find out which 4 small cap mutual funds delivered the highest returns in H1 2026
encoded: The first half of 2026 was tumultuous one for the Indian equity market as the world witnessed a highly uncertain environment amid the US Iran war, the impact of AI on jobs and IT sector growth, US tariff threat, etc. This resulted in rising crude prices, a weak rupee, and FII selloff. But despite a highly uncertain environment small cap mutual funds dominated the returns chart. It was the top performing category of H1 2026, followed by mid cap funds and multi cap funds. Large cap funds on the other hand faced the brunt of heavy selling of bluechips by FIIs. As a result, most schemes in the large cap fund category delivered negative returns. The small cap segment benefitted from investors lapping up stocks after last year’s underperformance which had resulted in better relative valuation for several companies. In this editorial, we look at the top performing small cap funds of H1 2026, selected based on year-to-date returns. #1 Bank of India Small Cap Fund Bank of India Small Cap Fund delivered absolute returns of 21.9% compared to the benchmark Nifty Smallcap 250 – TRI’s 6.9% returns and the category average of 10.4%. The fund was launched in December 2018. ALSO READ 3 Indian Stocks Where Promoters Increased Their Holdings The fund invested 80.9% of its assets in small caps, 13.1% in mid caps, and just 1.5% in large caps. Its top stocks are Wockhardt, Sky Gold and Diamonds, Acutaas Chemicals, Lloyds Metals & Energy, and Quality Power Electrical Equipments. It carried a moderately high portfolio turnover ratio of 75-95% in the last few months. #2 TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund delivered absolute returns of 20.3% compared to the benchmark Nifty Smallcap 250 – TRI’s 6.9% returns and the category average of 10.4%. The fund was launched in November 2024. The fund invested 67.8% of its assets in small caps, 22.3% in mid caps, and just 1.8% in large caps. Its top stocks are Navin Fluorine International, Multi Commodity Exchange of India, Acutaas Chemicals, C…

PM Modi explains why he sent Vande Mataram note to space aboard Skyroot’s Vikram-1 – Watch
type: item
creator: Anwesha Mitra
date: 2026-07-18T07:50:43Z
subject: India News
subject: Narendra Modi
subject: Vikram-1
description: Vikram-1 reached orbit after completing its final burn and injecting payloads into a 450 km orbit on Saturday afternoon. The milestone also makes India the third country in the world to achieve private orbital launch capability.
encoded: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a handwritten note into space on Saturday as Vikram-1 reached a low Earth orbit. The launch from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh also marked the first time that an Indian private company has attempted to place satellites into orbit using its own launch vehicle.PM Modi had dubbed the event a “historic new frontier for India’s space journey” ahead of the launch. “In a way, I see your mission as a ‘Vande Mataram’ mission—to take the glory of Mother India to new heights, to harness the benefits of new-age technology, and to inspire the younger generation to pursue technology,” Modi told the Skyroot Aerospace team during a congratulatory phone call. ALSO READ Skyroot Vikram-1 Launch LIVE: ‘Hello space, we have arrived!’ Vikram-1’s Test Flight-1 completes it’s mission A separate post on X called the Vikram-1 launch a “defining moment in India’s space journey”. Modi noted that the growing participation of the Indian private sector was “opening new frontiers and accelerating innovation”. His post on X also exuded confidence that this achievement “would encourage countless youngsters to dream bigger and innovate fearlessly”. Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh: On the launch of Vikram-1 by Skyroot Aerospace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "…In a way, I see your mission as a 'Vande Mataram' mission—to take the glory of Mother India to new heights, to harness the benefits of new-age technology, and to… pic.twitter.com/4ZCXGgmOqX — IANS (@ians_india) July 18, 2026 ‘Vande Mataram is in orbit’ Modi also hailed the successful launch of Vikram-1 in a phone call to the jubilant Skyroot team. He conveyed his “grand greetings” and urged their “Mission Aagaman (arrival)” to proceed further. The Prime Minister noted that the mission “proves we can be Atmanirbhar” after being informed that the rocket had been designed and made complete in the country. “Your card has successfully reached orbit. Vande Mataram is in orbit,” Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Kumar Chand…

France ‘doesn’t want to play’ World Cup third-place playoff, says Didier Deschamps ahead of England clash
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T06:40:53Z
subject: Sports
subject: England
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: France
subject: sports
description: France coach Didier Deschamps says neither France nor England wanted to play the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff after their semi-final exits, but insists both teams have a duty to compete. The match will also mark Deschamps' final game in charge of France.
encoded: France coach Didier Deschamps has admitted that neither his side nor England wanted to be involved in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff, describing the fixture as one both teams would rather avoid after missing out on the final. France face England in Miami on Saturday with the bronze medal at stake after both nations suffered semi-final defeats. France were beaten 2-0 by Spain, while England’s hopes of ending their 60-year wait for a World Cup final appearance were dashed by a 2-1 loss to defending champions Argentina. ‘England doesn’t want to play, neither do we’ Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Deschamps acknowledged the emotional challenge of motivating players for a match that comes immediately after the disappointment of missing the final. “I have a duty for this game. It is not a friendly. It is a third-place playoff,” Deschamps said, according to Reuters. “The players, staff, and I have the duty to reach this last objective. It is less important than the final. England does not want to play this game, and neither do we. But here we are.” Despite his comments, the France manager insisted his side would approach the match professionally, stressing that representing the national team comes with responsibilities regardless of the occasion. ALSO READ Jude Bellingham shuts down Messi fued talks-‘Privilage to face Leo’ Deschamps prepares for final match in charge Saturday’s encounter will also mark the end of Deschamps’ tenure as France coach after more than a decade in charge. The 57-year-old guided France to the FIFA World Cup 2018 title in Russia, reached another World Cup final in Qatar four years later and has now overseen a third-place finish or better at three consecutive tournaments. Deschamps said his attention remains on ensuring France leave the tournament with a medal before bringing the curtain down on his international coaching career. “We have to set our eyes on that goal to be third and make this final goal a reality,” he said. …

Onam 2026: Southern Railway announces special trains between Mysuru, Kannur and Bengaluru; check schedule
type: item
creator: Anamika Sinha
date: 2026-07-18T06:37:48Z
subject: Business
subject: Railways
subject: Bengaluru
subject: Karnataka
subject: Kerala
subject: Southern Railway
description: Special train services between Karnataka and Kerala are available during Onam from August 29 to September 6, 2026.
encoded: Passengers planning to travel between Karnataka and Kerala during Onam will have additional train options, with special services slated for the Mysuru-Kannur and Kannur-Bengaluru Cantonment routes. Southern Railway shared the schedule on X and advised passengers to reserve their tickets early. The trains have been modified by South Western Railway to handle increased passenger demand during the festival. “Extra services have been introduced to meet the festive travel demand. Check the schedule, reserve your tickets early with Indian Railways and enjoy a smooth journey,” Southern Railway stated. The 10-day harvest festival, which also marks the official New Year for Malayalis, is celebrated primarily in the southern state of Kerala. This year, Onam will begin on August 16 and run till August 26. The special trains will run from the end of August, with Southern Railway sharing the timetable via social media. ALSO READ Shravani Mela 2026: Eastern Railway to run 56 special train trips between Ranchi-Bhagalpur; check full schedule Mysuru-Kannur special train dates and timings Train No.06229 Mysuru-Kannur Express will run on August 29, 2026, Saturday. It will depart from Mysuru at 11:55 pm and reach Kannur at 5:50 pm the following day. ALSO READ Western Railway cancels Mumbai–Gorakhpur Special Train on July 18 – All you need to know Kannur-Bengaluru special train dates and timings Train No. 06230 Kannur-Bengaluru Cantonment Express Special will operate on August 30, 2026, Sunday. The train will leave from Kannur at 7:45 pm and will arrive at Bengaluru Cantonment at 10 am the following day. Full station-wise schedule Station Train 06229 Mysuru-Kannur Train 06230 Kannur-Bengaluru Cantt Mysuru Departs at 11.55 pm — Mandya 12.45 am/12.47 am — KSR Bengaluru 2 am/2.10 am — Bengaluru Cantonment 2.31 am/2.33 am Arrives at 10 am Krishnarajapuram 3.11 am/3.13 am 9.09 am/9.12 am Bangarapet 4.11 am/4.13 am 8.10 am/8.12 am Salem 6.27 am/6.30 am 4.02 am/4.05 am Erode 7.30 am/7.40 am 3.…

OCI Card Rules for Overseas Citizens Updated: Visa requirements revised, registration certificate no longer needed
type: item
creator: Sunil Dhawan
date: 2026-07-18T06:30:05Z
subject: Immigration
subject: NRI investors
subject: Opportunity Abroad
description: If you are an Overseas Citizen of India applying for an OCI card from within India, be aware that the application requirements have been revised.
encoded: If you are an Overseas Citizen of India and applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card from within India, there is an important update you need to be aware of. The requirements for OCI applications submitted in India have been revised. The new OCI card rules have an important change: one document that was previously mandatory is no longer required. What Has Changed? The key change affects the document requirements for all OCI applications submitted in India. A copy of any long-duration visa (other than an E-3 visa) with a minimum of 3 months’ validity as on the date of application is now required. The good news: a copy of the Registration Certificate or Residency Permit (RC/RP) is no longer required. This document was previously mandatory but has now been removed from the checklist. Mandatory Documents to Keep Ready Before you begin your application, ensure you have the following documents in order: A valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity as on the date of application submission; a valid visa with a minimum of 3 months validity as on the date of application; two proofs of Indian origin; and an address proof. The date of application will be considered as the date on which the application is physically submitted at the concerned FRRO office and not the date of online submission. How to Apply — Step by Step The application process is straightforward and begins online: Step 1: Visit the government website of OCIservices and register on the portal. Step 2: Log in, select “Online Registration,” and apply under the applicable category. Step 3: Fill in the required details and upload your photograph, signature, and required documents. Step 4: Submit the application and use the generated reference number to seek an appointment at the concerned FRRO office. Step 5: Visit the FRRO on the appointment date with the original documents for verification. Step 6: After verification, a payment link will be generated. Once payment is made, the application will b…

Elon Musk’s SpaceX in talks with Pentagon for multi-billion dollar AI computing deal: Report
type: item
creator: Aditi
date: 2026-07-18T05:20:59Z
subject: US News
subject: Pentagon
subject: SpaceX
description: Elon Musk's SpaceX is in talks with the US Department of Defence to provide multi-billion dollar data centre capacity for AI models, aiming to boost their AI infrastructure and military computing power. The deal would expand SpaceX’s role in AI cloud services and government contracts.
encoded: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is in talks with the US Department of Defence to provide data centre capacity worth billions of dollars for running artificial intelligence (AI) models, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Friday. The report, which cited people familiar with the discussions, said the deal would give the Pentagon access to large-scale computing power needed for advanced AI work. However, the talks are still underway, and no final agreement has been signed. The discussions could still fall through. ALSO READ Vikram-1 Launch LIVE: India’s first privately built orbital rocket to lift off shortly SpaceX wants to compete in the AI cloud market If the deal goes through, it would boost SpaceX’s relationship with the Pentagon. The company already works closely with the US military by providing rocket launch services, satellite-based communications and missile-tracking support. This new agreement would add AI computing infrastructure to that partnership. The report also mentioned how SpaceX is looking beyond government contracts. According to the Wall Street Journal, employees at the company have discussed plans to compete more directly with AI cloud providers, also known as “neocloud” companies, such as CoreWeave. The idea is to sell computing power to AI customers at lower prices, making SpaceX a stronger player in the fast-growing AI infrastructure market. On the other hand, like many large organisations, the US Department of Defence is trying to secure more cloud computing capacity as it expands the use of artificial intelligence. The additional computing power would support intelligence agencies and help develop AI applications for military use. ALSO READ India responds to US 100% tariff bill after 60 senators back move targeting Russian oil purchases Last year, Amazon announced that it would invest up to $50 billion through its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud business to expand AI and supercomputing capacity for US government customers. SpaceX has a…

Could Argentina players be suspended before World Cup final? FIFA investigates Falklands banner controversy
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T05:15:37Z
subject: Sports
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: sports
description: Could Argentina players be suspended before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final? FIFA is reviewing the controversial Falklands banner displayed after the semi-final win over England. Here's what FIFA has said, the rules involved, previous cases and whether Lionel Scaloni's side could face sanctions before taking on Spain.
encoded: Argentina’s celebrations after reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 final have come under scrutiny after several players were seen holding a politically charged banner following their 2-1 semi-final victory over England, prompting questions over whether FIFA could take disciplinary action before Sunday’s title clash against Spain. The controversy erupted moments after Lionel Scaloni’s side secured their place in a second consecutive World Cup final in Atlanta. Television footage showed a group of Argentina players holding a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falkland Islands are Argentine”), a slogan linked to the long-running sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. With FIFA now reviewing the incident, attention has shifted from Argentina’s victory to whether any of the players involved could face sanctions, including a possible suspension. ALSO READ Will Rohit Sharma continue to represent India? BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issues statement amid retirement speculation What happened after Argentina beat England? Following the final whistle, several Argentina players joined supporters during the on-pitch celebrations. Among them were reportedly defenders Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero, along with midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who were seen posing behind the banner. When asked by reporters about the banner the Argentine team held up reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” after their semi-final match against England, midfielder Leandro Paredes responded: “Yes, and it will always and forever be Argentine”. The slogan refers to Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands, known domestically as the Malvinas. The dispute led to the 1982 Falklands War, a 74-day conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom in which 255 British servicemen and 649 Argentine military personnel were killed. Although political messaging has occasionally surfaced in football celebrations, the incident has attracted significant attention because it oc…

FIFA World Cup 2026 final set to become most expensive sporting event ever as ticket prices soar
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T04:44:40Z
subject: Sports
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Football
subject: Lionel Messi
subject: sports
subject: Super Bowl
description: FIFA World Cup 2026 final ticket prices have reached record highs, with Argentina vs Spain on course to become the most expensive sporting event ever. Here's how resale prices have surpassed the Super Bowl and why Lionel Messi's final World Cup could be driving unprecedented global demand.
encoded: The FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain is on course to become the most expensive sporting event ever, with resale ticket prices surpassing previous records set by the Super Bowl and NBA Finals. According to a report by The New York Times, the average resale price for Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) has climbed to unprecedented levels, fuelled by Lionel Messi‘s bid for a second successive World Cup title, global demand and the tournament’s record-breaking attendance. Resale prices eclipse Super Bowl record Data cited by The New York Times from ticket marketplace SeatGeek shows the average resale ticket for the World Cup final has reached $12,751, comfortably overtaking the previous record of $10,540 set by the 2024 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. The report added that even the cheapest available tickets on major resale platforms were selling for around $7,600 two days before kick-off, while premium Category 1 seats were listed for well over $11,000. Industry figures told The New York Times that no sporting event of comparable scale has previously sustained such high average resale values. Demand driven by Messi, global audience and bigger stadium Unlike the NFL’s Super Bowl, whose audience is primarily concentrated in North America, the World Cup attracts buyers from across the globe. The New York Times reported that nearly 20 per cent of ticket purchases on StubHub for the final have come from international buyers, compared to just 4.5 per cent for the 2024 Super Bowl. The presence of Lionel Messi in what could be his final World Cup appearance has further intensified demand, although ticket prices had already been climbing long before Argentina secured their place in the final. The venue itself also plays a role. New York New Jersey Stadium will host more than 80,000 spectators, making it significantly larger than recent Super Bowl venues while still commanding record-breaking res…

India flags concerns as US formalises new visa rules set to affect F-1 students, exchange visitors
type: item
creator: Aditi
date: 2026-07-18T04:43:53Z
subject: Immigration
subject: DHS
subject: F-1 Visa
subject: MEA
subject: Study in US
subject: US Immigration
description: India has raised concerns with the US over new visa rules capping F-1, J-1, and I visa stays at four years, affecting thousands of Indian students and exchange visitors in the United States.
encoded: India has raised concerns with the United States over new visa rules that could affect thousands of Indian students and exchange visitors. This comes after the US Department of Homeland Security finalised a rule that places a four-year cap on stays for F-1 student visa holders, as well as J-1 exchange visitors and I visa holders for foreign journalists. Under the new rule, most students and exchange visitors will be allowed to stay only for the length of their approved course or programme, but for no more than four years at a time. Foreign journalists travelling on I visas will also receive fixed-term stays. ALSO READ India responds to US 100% tariff bill after 60 senators back move targeting Russian oil purchases The rule is set to take effect on September 15, even though it will still undergo congressional scrutiny. Introduced as part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, the changes have created uncertainty for many students and professionals around the world, leaving many to question whether the American dream is becoming harder to achieve. Speaking at a weekly media briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is in touch with the US government and will continue to raise cases where genuine students or travellers face difficulties because of the new rules. India takes up the issue with the US “We’ve seen some reports regarding the visa rules. Visa rules and visa functions and immigration matters are sovereign functions of any state,” Jaiswal said at a media briefing. He added, “But having said that, let me tell you that as and when there are issues of difficulties, which are brought to our attention, in regard to genuine travellers [and] students, among others, who seek support from the US, we take up those issues with the US side so as to minimise the difficulties that our people face.” India has the largest number of international students studying in the United States. According to the Op…

Do FIFA World Cup stars get paid for winning Player of the Match? The answer may surprise you
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T04:36:53Z
subject: Sports
subject: sports
description: Do FIFA World Cup players receive prize money for winning the Player of the Match award? Here's how Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and other stars actually profit from standout performances at football's biggest tournament.
encoded: Every FIFA World Cup match ends the same way: the standout player poses with the Player of the Match trophy, cameras flash and social media erupts with praise. When Lionel Messi picked up the award after inspiring Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final win over England, his fifth in the tournament and 11th in FIFA World Cup history, many fans assumed the trophy came with a hefty cash prize. It doesn’t. No prize money for Player of the Match Despite its prestige, FIFA does not pay players any direct cash for winning the Player of the Match award. The same applies to the tournament’s biggest individual honours, including the Golden Ball, awarded to the World Cup’s best player or the Golden Boot given to the tournament’s leading scorer. Instead, FIFA’s record $871 million prize fund for the 2026 World Cup is paid entirely to national football associations based on how far their teams progress. Individual awards are purely honorary. ALSO READ WATCH: Louis Vuitton unveils priceless bespoke trophy trunk for 2026 FIFA World Cup Final So why is the award such a big deal? The value lies less in the trophy itself and more in what it represents. The 2026 award is officially branded as the “Superior Player of the Match”, backed by tournament sponsor Michelob ULTRA. Winners are decided through a global fan vote conducted on FIFA’s digital platforms during each match, turning the trophy into one of the tournament’s biggest commercial showcases. Every presentation generates millions of television impressions and social media interactions, making the award a powerful marketing asset for both FIFA and its sponsors. Where the real money comes from While FIFA pays nothing directly, standout performances can still prove financially rewarding. Many national teams negotiate performance-based bonus structures before major tournaments. Although these usually reward collective success rather than individual awards, players who consistently influence matches often benefit when prize money is distributed…

Skyroot Vikram-1 Launch LIVE: ‘Hello space, we have arrived!’ Vikram-1’s Test Flight-1 completes it’s mission
type: item
creator: Sheenu Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T03:31:42Z
subject: India News
subject: ISRO
subject: Skyroot Aerospace
subject: Vikram-1
description: Skyroot Vikram 1 Launch Live | India's First Private Space Rocket: Vikram-1 is a 24-metre, multi-stage rocket built with an all-carbon-composite structure and powered by three solid-fuel stages.
encoded: Vikram-1 launch LIVE: Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace created history on July 18 with the maiden test flight of Vikram-1. India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota at 12:05 pm. The mission, named ‘Aagaman‘, marks the first time an Indian private company is attempting to send satellites to orbit using its own launch vehicle, independent of a government-developed rocket programme. Aagaman mission’s objectives, significance for India Vikram-1 is a 24-metre, multi-stage rocket built with an all-carbon-composite structure and powered by three solid-fuel stages plus a liquid orbital adjustment module. Skyroot said the vehicle is designed to place payloads of up to 350 kg into a 450-km low Earth orbit with a 60-degree inclination, while also testing technologies such as 3D-printed engines, modular stage separation, and lightweight manufacturing. Skyroot Aerospace Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Naga Bharath Daka added that it was a three-stage orbital-class rocket equipped with an orbital adjustment module capable of deploying multiple satellites into orbit. The company was founded eight years ago to “build affordable, reliable rockets” in India and provide “on-demand launch access solutions for satellite operators around the world”. Daka also noted that the Vikram-1 vehicle incorporates several technologies being used for the first time in India. “It is a three-stage rocket with a small orbital adjustment module on the top. It has three stages of solid propulsion and one orbital adjustment module that can put multiple satellites in orbit around the Earth. It is one of the first all-carbon fibre rockets in India and is extremely efficient and light,” he explained. The mission is a major milestone for India’s private space sector and for Skyroot’s goal of offering affordable, reliable launch services to global satellite operators. Among the payloads is a lab-grown “Diamond Lot…

Rahul Gandhi slams govt’s ‘Asatya & Hinsa’ over Wagchuk hospitalisation; Dipke attacked – Top developments
type: item
creator: Sheenu Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T02:54:45Z
subject: India News
subject: Abhijeet Dipke
subject: Cockroach Janta Party
subject: Jantar Mantar
subject: Jantar Mantar protest
subject: Sonam Wangchuk
description: Delhi High Court had already directed that Wangchuk’s health be clinically monitored every day and that medical intervention be provided if needed, stressing that “the life of every citizen is precious.”
encoded: Sonam Wangchuk, climate activist and education reformer, was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday morning after 20 days of hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, with officials citing his deteriorating condition and a heavy police deployment seen at the protest site. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar. Gandhi took to X and posted, “The core tenets of the Modi government are Asatya and Hinsa. The removal of Sonam Wangchuk ji from Jantar Mantar while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong. Paper leaks, the rising cost of education, and student suicides are critical issues for India’s future. No amount of force can deter India’s students, and those of us who love and believe in them, from raising these issues.” #WATCH | DCP New Delhi, Sachin Sharma says, "In compliance with the Honorable High Court's order, and based on health conditions and medical advice, Mr Sonam Wangchuk has been moved from here to an appropriate government hospital for much-needed medical intervention and is… https://t.co/uWMVZOykIH pic.twitter.com/RZbVUvtZZb — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2026 Meanwhile, Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dipke announced that he was beginning an indefinite hunger strike after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police. I am starting an indefinite hunger strike beginning right now. — Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 18, 2026 Delhi Police urges protestors to vacate Jantar Mantar Delhi Police said, “As per orders of High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest.” DCP New Delhi, Sachin Sharma added, “In compliance with the Delhi High Court’s order, and based on health conditions and medical advice, Sonam Wangchuk has been moved from here to an appropri…

AI is churning out billionaires like never before, and GenZ is leading the pie
type: item
creator: Ashima Grover
date: 2026-07-18T02:49:24Z
subject: Life
subject: Technology
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: Billionaires
subject: Elon Musk
subject: Gen Z
subject: Indian origin
subject: Mark Zuckerberg
description: A new wave of Gen Z AI billionaires is reshaping wealth and job markets, with young founders like Aman Sanger and Alexandr Wang rapidly rising to billionaire status fueled by AI innovation and major tech deals.
encoded: A game of snakes and ladders is taking shape on the artificial intelligence front. On one hand, AI automation is ripping job titles and taking away jobs. On the other hand, the same advanced technology’s takeover has triggered a staggering net worth boom, turning young names associated with it into billionaires and millionaires. An analysis affirmed earlier this year that there are more Gen Z billionaires than ever before, with a record 35 people scoring the ten-digit fortune before hitting the age 30 milestone on Forbes’ latest World’s Billionaires list. On top of that, an all-time high of 12 of them are self-made. Another report published by Bank of America researchers predicted that Gen Z is likely to be “among the most disruptive generations to economics, markets and social systems.” It is also estimated that those born between 1997 and 2012 are projected to be the richest by about 2035, as they are poised to amass about $36 trillion in roughly the next five years and more than $74 trillion by approximately 2040. Common misconceptions continue to paint those born between 1997 and 2012, aka Generation Z, as lazy, disloyal to jobs and whatnot. However, these new AI billionaires, including Indian-origin Aman Sanger, the 25-year-old behind the AI startup recently acquired by Elon Musk’s SpaceX in a $60 billion deal, beg to differ. ALSO READ ‘Tired of my immigration status’: Laid-off Meta techie leaves US for India 4 MIT graduates who caught Elon Musk’s eye Sanger and Cursor’s story alone is a testament to how AI has accelerated many entrepreneurs’ rise to billionaire status, as opposed to leading tech moguls who got there after a years-long wait. The AI coding startup Cursor was founded by four MIT students – Michael Truell, Sualeh Asif, Aman Sanger and Arvid Lunnemark – in 2022. The Gen Z quartet entered billionaire ranks in late 2025 when their company was valued at $27 billion in a funding round. The four young billionaire cofounders’ net worths doubled recently,…

Is India’s Chabahar terminal in Iran safe? MEA responds after US shares destroyed tower images
type: item
creator: Aditi
date: 2026-07-18T02:37:55Z
subject: World News
subject: Chabahar port
subject: Iran Israel war
subject: MEA
subject: US Iran Peace deal
description: India confirms Shahid Beheshti terminal at Iran's Chabahar Port remains undamaged after US airstrike destroyed nearby surveillance tower. The port is vital for India's access to Central Asia and INSTC trade route.
encoded: India has confirmed that the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Iran’s Chabahar Port, which is developed and operated by India, was not damaged after the United States carried out an airstrike on a surveillance tower at the neighbouring Shahid Kalantari port earlier this week. The confirmation came from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday after the United States carried out strikes on Chabahar as part of its ongoing military campaign against Iran. For India, Chabahar gives direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia without passing through Pakistan. It is also a key part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a trade route connecting India with Russia and Europe. Because of its strategic importance, India has continued to support the project despite growing political and economic challenges. ALSO READ LIVE: Brent surges to $88 as 2 tankers explode in mined Hormuz; Iran warns US attacks could trigger ‘full-scale’ retaliation On July 16, U.S. forces successfully destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower, part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline used for decades by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to track and target commercial… pic.twitter.com/CgBNvgOFf9 — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 17, 2026 MEA responds to report of destruction Speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had seen reports of the strike but confirmed that the Indian-operated terminal was safe. “The Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar has not suffered any damage, and discussions on the project continue with stakeholders.” When asked whether the US strike had affected India’s work at the port, Jaiswal pointed to another issue that has already been affecting the project. “A waiver granted by the American side lapsed some time ago, and India has since been in discussion with relevant stakeholders on how to move the issue forward.” The Shahid Be…

Will Rohit Sharma continue to represent India? BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issues statement amid retirement speculation
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T02:36:15Z
subject: Sports
subject: Cricket
subject: sports
description: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has dismissed speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma's ODI retirement, confirming the India captain will continue to represent the country and that the third ODI against England at Lord's will not be his final international appearance.
encoded: Will Rohit Sharma continue to represent India in ODI cricket? The question gathered momentum after reports suggested the veteran opener was no longer guaranteed an automatic place in India’s one-day side beyond the ongoing England series. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has now moved to quell the speculation, saying that no decision has been taken on Rohit’s future and insisting Sunday’s third ODI against England at Lord’s will not be his final appearance for India. Saikia’s statement comes after reports suggested Rohit was no longer guaranteed an automatic place in India’s ODI XI, with selectors expected to assess every player as preparations begin for the 2027 ODI World Cup. ‘Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match’ “There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” Saikia said, according to PTI. ALSO READ Messi vs Yamal: The master, the heir and the World Cup final that bridges two generations The BCCI secretary also made it clear that Rohit remains firmly in India’s ODI plans. “Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match,” Saikia added. Selectors expected to review ODI squad The clarification follows reports that India’s selectors intend to review every position in the ODI side ahead of the 2027 World Cup rather than guaranteeing places based on past performances. While Rohit’s experience continues to make him a key figure in the squad, his place, like every other player, is expected to be judged on form and fitness as India enter the next phase of their ODI transition. ALSO READ Why did ticket prices for the England vs France third-place playoff plunge to less than $700? 300-match milestone in sight Rohit, who stepped away from T20Is after captaining India to the 202…

Can England beat France? AI predicts winner of FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T01:53:16Z
subject: Sports
subject: England Football Team
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Football
subject: France Football Team
subject: sports
description: France and England meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff with a bronze medal on the line. We asked ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude to predict the result, and all three AI models reached the same verdict ahead of the clash.
encoded: The FIFA World Cup 2026 may have found its finalists in Argentina and Spain, but there is still one match left before the curtain comes down. France and England will meet in the third-place playoff on Saturday, with both teams looking to finish their campaigns with a bronze medal after semi-final heartbreak. Ahead of the contest, we asked three artificial intelligence models ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude to predict the outcome. Interestingly, all three reached the same conclusion, although each arrived there for slightly different reasons. ChatGPT predicts: France 2-1 England ChatGPT believes France enter the match as slight favourites and predicts a 2-1 victory for Didier Deschamps’ side. According to the model, France’s superior attacking depth gives them the edge. “France have greater attacking depth, with players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise capable of deciding matches even if Didier Deschamps rotates his squad.” ALSO READ France vs England, FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff: When and where to watch live streaming in India? ChatGPT also highlighted the emotional backdrop surrounding Deschamps’ final match in charge of France, suggesting the players may be motivated to end his 14-year tenure on a winning note. At the same time, it cautioned against writing England off, noting that Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon possess enough quality to punish defensive mistakes. It also pointed out that third-place playoffs are traditionally difficult to predict because squad rotation often changes the complexion of the game. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="413" width="567" src="https://images.financialexpressdigital.com/2026/07/GPT-response.jpg?w=567" alt="" class="wp-image-4295309" srcset="https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GPT-response.jpg 773w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GPT-response.jpg?resize=275,200 275w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/upl…

The rocket builders: Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka
type: item
creator: Anamika Sinha
date: 2026-07-18T01:36:59Z
subject: India News
subject: ISRO
subject: Skyroot Aerospace
subject: Vikram-1
description: With Vikram-1 on the launch pad, Skyroot founders are testing India's private space business case.
encoded: When Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 lifts off from Sriharikota, all eyes will naturally be on the rocket. But the more significant test may be for the two former Isro scientists who chose to build it. For founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, the mission — named Aagaman (arrival) — represents the moment when years of engineering, fundraising and policy advocacy converge into a single question: can an Indian private company build a sustainable launch business? Their journey has mirrored the evolution of India’s private space sector, from an idea viewed with scepticism to one attracting billion-dollar valuations and global investors. Vikram-1 now has the task of validating that promise. Unlike many of India’s celebrated startup founders, Chandana and Daka did not emerge from the consumer internet boom or enterprise software industry. They came from India’s space programme. Both spent years at Isro working on launch vehicle technologies before deciding in 2018 to start Skyroot in Hyderabad. At the time, the country’s space ecosystem remained overwhelmingly state-led and private participation was largely confined to supplying components and engineering services. The government decision to open the sector through reforms in 2020 was still some distance away. Engineers steering Skyroot’s growth The two founders are engineers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, who have remained closely involved with the company’s technology even as it expanded into a venture-backed startup. Chandana, as CEO and CTO, has largely become the company’s public face, engaging with investors, customers and policymakers. Daka has focused more on operations and execution, overseeing the complex task of translating engineering designs into manufacturable launch systems. The division reflects the reality of building rocket companies, where technological capability and manufacturing discipline are as important as raising capital. ALSO READ Skyroot’s Vikram-1 to carry PM M…

HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank Q1 preview: Will strong credit demand offset margin contraction?
type: item
creator: Oliviya Kunjumon
date: 2026-07-18T01:30:00Z
subject: Banking & Finance
subject: Industry
subject: Axis Bank
subject: Banking
subject: banking sector
subject: banking stocks
subject: BSE Sensex
subject: ICICI Bank
subject: IDFC First Bank
subject: IndusInd Bank
subject: NSE Nifty
subject: SBI
subject: stock market
description: HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank Q1FY27 results are in focus. Here's what JM Financial, Motilal Oswal, BNP Paribas and Emkay expect from the banking sector.
encoded: The earnings season is gathering pace. While several companies have already announced their June-quarter (Q1FY27) numbers, the spotlight is now shifting to one of the market’s most closely watched sectors -banking. Why are bank earnings so important? Because banks sit at the centre of the economy. With HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and several other lenders set to report their Q1FY27 earnings, leading brokerage houses including JM Financial, Motilal Oswal, BNP Paribas and Emkay have shared their outlook on the sector. Here’s a look at what brokerages are saying ahead of the banking sector’s Q1FY27 report card. Banking sector outlook: What are brokerages expecting? According to the brokerage report by JM Financial, banks are expected to report a healthy June quarter, with around 14% year-on-year growth in Profit After Tax (PAT) despite continued pressure on Net Interest Margins (NIMs). JM Financial in its report added, “We expect banks to report a healthy quarter with ~14% YoY PAT growth in Q1FY27, supported by healthy business growth and stable asset quality, although earnings will continue to face pressure from NIM compression.” As per the brokerage house report, loan growth across 28 banks stood at around 16.4% year-on-year, while deposits grew about 12.3%, indicating that credit demand continues to outpace deposit mobilisation. JM Financial added that treasury income could improve because of softer bond yields, while operating expenses are expected to remain under control as banks benefit from better operating leverage. Meanwhile, Emkay expects several private sector lenders to post healthy profitability during the quarter. According to the brokerage report, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank and IDFC First Bank are likely to report healthy earnings. Among public sector banks, Canara Bank and Indian Bank are expected to outperform, while State Bank of India could report a relatively moderate quarter. HDFC Bank Q1FY27 Preview: Brokerages continue to favour country’s larg…

France vs England, FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff: When and where to watch live streaming in India?
type: item
creator: Saurabh Ganguly
date: 2026-07-18T01:21:48Z
subject: Sports
subject: England Football Team
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: France Football Team
subject: sports
description: France vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff: Check the match date, kick-off time, live streaming details, TV channels and where to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff live in India as Kylian Mbappe's France face Harry Kane-led England in Miami with a bronze medal at stake.
encoded: Following their defeats in the semi-finals, France and England will square off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff. The competition offers one last chance to end the tournament on a high note with a spot on the podium, even though neither team will fight for the prized trophy. France vs England: All you need to know Category Details Match France vs England – FIFA World Cup 2026 Third-place Playoff Date (India) Sunday, July 19, 2026 Kick-off Time (IST) 2:30 AM IST Venue Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium), Miami Gardens, Florida, USA Live Streaming (India) ZEE5 (FIFA World Cup Pack required) Live TV Broadcast (India) DD Sports (Free-to-Air on DD Free Dish), Unite8 Sports, Unite8 Sports HD Where to watch France vs England live in India Football fans in India can catch the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff live across television and digital streaming platforms. Live TV broadcast The third-place playoff will be available free-to-air on DD Sports through DD Free Dish. The match will also be broadcast on Unite8 Sports across cable and DTH platforms. Live streaming The match will be streamed live on ZEE5, the official digital broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India. Fans will need the platform’s dedicated FIFA World Cup subscription pack to access the live coverage. FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff between France and England: What’s at stake? Both teams will be motivated to finish their campaigns with a victory even if the World Cup crown is no longer in jeopardy. After losing to Spain in the semi-finals, France will be looking to recover and finish on the podium once more on the global scene. In the meantime, England will try to bounce back from their close defeat to Argentina. The Three Lions will now aim to finish the competition with a bronze medal after coming within one win of making it to their first World Cup final since 1966. Both managers are anticipated to present competitive lineups because pride is at stake, but the game may also …

India responds to US 100% tariff bill after 60 senators back move targeting Russian oil purchases
type: item
creator: Aditi
date: 2026-07-18T01:07:36Z
subject: Business News
subject: MEA
subject: Trump Tariff
description: India is monitoring a proposed US law that could impose up to 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil, impacting India's energy imports amid ongoing US-Russia sanctions developments.
encoded: India is keeping a close watch on a proposed US law that could impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying large amounts of Russian oil, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is aware of the proposed legislation and is monitoring developments. “We are closely following these developments, and we are aware of the proposed legislation,” Jaiswal said. The MEA’s remarks came after a bipartisan group of more than 60 US Senators introduced a revised sanctions bill targeting Russia and the biggest buyers of its energy. ALSO READ US tariff threat: 60 Senators move to penalise India with 100% duties over Russian crude imports The proposed law, titled the “Senator Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026,” was introduced after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham. It is aimed at putting more pressure on countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, which the US says helps fund Russia’s war in Ukraine. Unlike an earlier version of the bill that proposed a blanket 500% tariff, the revised legislation narrows its focus. The maximum tariff was reduced from 500% to 100%. India says oil purchases are based on energy needs Jaiswal said India’s oil imports are guided by its energy security needs and not by any one country. He stressed that India buys crude oil from several suppliers across the world as part of its broader sourcing strategy. “As far as buying oil, we buy oil from various countries in the world. It is based on our approach towards energy sourcing,” he added. As the world’s third-largest consumer of energy, India imports nearly 85% of the crude oil it uses. To meet this demand, India sources crude from a wide range of countries. Its traditional suppliers include Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but it has also expanded imports from non-OPEC producers in Africa and Latin America, including recently resuming purchases from Venezuela. Russian oil ha…

Jio Platforms slides for the first time
type: item
creator: Anamika Sinha
date: 2026-07-18T00:59:40Z
subject: Business
subject: Industry
subject: 5g
subject: Jio
subject: Reliance Indusrties
subject: Reliance Jio
description: Jio Platforms posted a 2.16% sequential net profit decline in Q1 FY27 due to 5G costs, while revenue and EBITDA rose. Higher depreciation and finance cost related to 5G rollout behind fall.
encoded: Jio Platforms (JPL) on Friday posted a 2.16% sequential decline in its net profit — its first ever — during the June 2026 quarter due to higher depreciation and finance cost related to 5G rollout. JPL’s consolidated net profit in the first quarter of FY27 fell to Rs 7,764 crore from Rs 7,935 crore in the January-March period. In the first quarter of the previous fiscal, it stood at Rs 7,110 crore, the company said. Revenue from operations rose 2.39% to Rs 39,713 crore from Rs 38,259 crore in the preceding quarter, driven by continued gains in subscriber market share, organic average revenue per user (Arpu) growth and scale-up of digital services. Strong revenue growth lifts JPL’s Ebitda margin JPL’s Ebitda rose 4.01% on quarter at Rs 20,865 crore from Rs 20,060 crore on account of strong revenue growth. Ebitda margin at 53.3% was up 90 basis points (bps) sequentially, and up 150 bps year-on-year (y-o-y). “Jio’s performance across mobility, home broadband and enterprise services remained strong, driving healthy earnings growth of 15% y-o-y. During the quarter, Jio Platforms filed its DRHP with Sebi, a significant step towards its public listing. The upcoming IPO will be an important milestone in Jio’s journey and will give investors an opportunity to participate in India’s digital growth story,” said Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries, the parent company. ALSO READ Reliance Industries profit falls 22%; beats estimates Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL), the telecom arm of RIL which commands the lion’s share of JPL’s financials, saw PAT decline 2.05% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 7,167 crore from Rs 7,317 crore. This is the first time the telecom arm has reported a decline in PAT. Net profit was impacted significantly by growth in network operating expenses, licence & spectrum fees, finance costs, and depreciation & amortisation. From Q1, the interest on 5G capex start flowing into the profit and loss statement, the management said, resulting in h…

Top 10 stocks rated ‘Buy’ this week: Brokerages project 17% to 45% returns
type: item
creator: Sparsh Bansal
date: 2026-07-18T00:30:00Z
subject: Market
subject: Antique
subject: Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited
subject: Bharti Airtel
subject: BSE Sensex
subject: HDFC Life
subject: ICICI Bank
subject: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
subject: JM Financial Limited
subject: Morgan Stanley
subject: motilal oswal
subject: Motilal Oswal Financial Services
subject: Nomura
subject: NSE Nifty
subject: NTPC
subject: Nuvama
subject: Nuvama Wealth Management Limited
subject: Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited
subject: Saatvik Green Energy
subject: Siemens
subject: stock market
subject: Tata Power
description: Brokerages see 17%-45% upside in 10 Buy-rated stocks, from ICICI Bank to Tata Power and Airtel. Check the full list before investing.
encoded: The domestic equity markets ended the week on a higher note despite crude oil prices jumping over $80 a barrel. The Nifty 50 closed the week 1.28% higher, while the BSE Sensex ended the week 1.12% higher. Several top research houses, including Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Antique, Ambit Capital, Nuvama Institutional Equities, JM Financial, and Motilal Oswal, shared their latest recommendations for key stocks as markets dropped, and we shortlisted 10 stocks across sectors. ALSO READ HDFC Bank to HDFC AMC: Motilal Oswal reveals top bets in HDFC Group with up to 35% upside Antique on HDFC Life Insurance Antique retained its ‘Buy’ rating on HDFC Life Insurance with an unchanged target price of Rs 740, saying the insurer delivered an in-line June-quarter performance, indicating an upside of around 30%. The brokerage highlighted 9% year-on-year growth in HDFC Life Insurance’s both annualised premium equivalent (APE) and value of new business (VNB), supported by strong traction in credit life and group insurance, while individual business growth remained moderate due to continued softness in the HDFC Bank distribution channel. Nuvama on Siemens Energy Nuvama Institutional Equities initiated coverage on Siemens Energy India with a ‘Buy’ rating and a target price of Rs 4,200, implying an upside of 20% from the current market price. The brokerage said that the company’s growth is at a discount, while the HVDC (High-Voltage Direct Current) remains unpriced. Siemens Energy is a primary player positioned to benefit from India’s projected Rs 7.93 lakh crore transmission investment cycle through FY36. This structural growth is driven by the country’s shift toward a “coal-plus-renewables” model and the need to integrate 900GW of non-fossil capacity. ALSO READ Siemens Energy India: Nuvama initiates coverage with ‘Buy’ as capacity quadruples Motilal Oswal on Saatvik Green Energy Motilal Oswal initiated coverage on Saatvik Green Energy with a ‘Buy’ rating. The brokerage sees an upside of m…

Dixon: From Rs 62,500 crore scheme to Vivo JV approval — Key triggers driving the upside
type: item
creator: Sparsh Bansal
date: 2026-07-18T00:30:00Z
subject: Market
subject: BSE Sensex
subject: Dixon Technologies (India) Limited
subject: Electronics
subject: Electronics Manufacturing Stocks
subject: NSE Nifty
subject: stock market
subject: Vivo
description: Dixon rides India’s Rs 62,500 crore phone scheme and Vivo JV, but rich valuations and competition temper upside—track execution before buying.
encoded: Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) stocks are in the news after the government announced the Rs 62,500 crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS), outlining incentive support on eligible sales for the manufacturing of mobile phones in India. One stock that’s particularly in focus after the news is Dixon Technologies. Is it poised for further upside, or is it time to book a profit? The Dixon share price has shot up over 7% in the last 1 week and delivered 27% gains in the last 3 months. It is up 19% so far in 2026, but if you track the stock’s movement on a 1-year trajectory, it has declined 10% in the last 12 months. While some experts believe that the current Govt Scheme hugely benefits Dixon Technologies, alleviating concerns on margin erosion and customers’ retention, others are worried about the impact of greater competition in the space. ALSO READ JM Financial upgrades Dixon Tech: How Vivo deal & premium pricing fuel 17% upside potential for EMS giant Dixon: What’s driving the share price now? Two weeks ago, customs duty exemption was the big trigger, but the current govt scheme is seen as a key catalyst for the stock, along with the much-awaited Govt nod for the JV with Vivo Mobile India. The Indian government granted approval to Dixon Tech’s long-pending joint venture with the Chinese phone maker Vivo, the single biggest factor for the stock since its disappointing Q4 FY26 results in May. Dixon-Vivo JV: The changing dynamics The JV will be in a 51:49 ratio between Dixon Technologies (majority stake) and Vivo under PN3 norms. The JV will act as a major contract manufacturer, producing smartphones and other electronic devices for Vivo and potentially other brands. Before moving ahead, PN3 refers to Press Note 3 (2020), which is a regulatory guideline issued by the Indian government requiring prior government approval for foreign direct investments (FDI) from countries that share a land border with India (including China). Why this JV matters more than …

Reliance Industries profit falls 22%; beats estimates
type: item
creator: Anamika Sinha
date: 2026-07-18T00:23:38Z
subject: Business
subject: Industry
subject: Asian Paints
subject: Jio
subject: Mukesh Ambani
subject: Reliance Indusrties
subject: Reliance Jio
subject: RIL
description: Reliance Industries reported a 22.4% decline in Q1 net profit to Rs 20,946 crore, beating revenue and profit estimates with strong refining margins despite supply disruptions and cost pressures.
encoded: Reliance Industries (RIL) on Friday reported a 22.4% year-on-year decline in June quarter consolidated net profit attributable to owners at Rs 20,946 crore, as the corresponding quarter last year included a one-time gain from the sale of its stake in Asian Paints. Excluding the impact of the high base, the oil-to-retail conglomerate delivered an operating performance ahead of market expectations, with revenue, operating profit and net profit all beating Bloomberg estimates, aided by strong refining margins despite supply disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict. Revenue from operations rose 25.4% year-on-year to Rs 3,11,850 crore, above Bloomberg’s estimate of Rs 2,98,716 crore. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased 10.7% to Rs 47,517 crore against the estimate of Rs 46,660 crore, while profit attributable to owners also exceeded the Bloomberg estimate of Rs 19,987 crore. Ebitda margin, however, contracted to 15.2% from 17.3% a year ago as costs rose faster than revenue. The company’s statutory results show that other income in the year-ago quarter included Rs 8,924 crore from the sale of listed investments, which had lifted reported earnings. ALSO READ RIL Q1FY27 Results: Revenue growth exceeds Rs 3 lakh crore; Mukesh Ambani says new energy, Jio IPO in focus Adjusted for the one-time gain from the Asian Paints stake sale in the base quarter, RIL’s recurring profit rose 6.1% year-on-year. O2C business leads growth despite pressure on margins The oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business was the biggest contributor to the quarter’s performance. Segment revenue rose 30.4% to Rs 2,01,803 crore, while Ebitda increased 17.2% to Rs 17,010 crore as record transportation fuel cracks and improved downstream petrochemical margins more than offset lower production because of a planned refinery turnaround. The company said higher crude premiums, freight and insurance costs, under-recoveries on domestic fuel retailing and the reintroduction of…

The invisible defence race: 3 stocks tapping into the US $55 billion global anti-drone industry
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T00:00:00Z
subject: Stock Insights
subject: Astra Microwave Products
subject: Defence
subject: Paras Defence and Space Technologies
subject: Zen Technologies
description: Everyone is talking about drones. Far fewer are asking what happens once they take to the skies. The answer is quietly reshaping defence priorities and could lead investors towards an overlooked corner of India's defence ecosystem.
encoded: Drones have transformed warfare. The next defence race may be about stopping them. In 3 Unlikely Winners of India’s ₹5.2 lakh-crore Drone Opportunity, we said that India’s drone boom could create winners far beyond drone manufacturers. Firms supplying electronics, embedded systems, and aerospace manufacturing gained as drone implementation rose. But every tech cycle has a second phase. The first is about creating the technology. The second is about guarding against it. Modern wars have brought that second phase much sooner than expected. A ₹50,000 drone can destroy military equipment worth several crores. That simple equation has brought a new challenge for armies globally. Air defence systems devised to stop aircraft and missiles are often too costly to use against low-cost drones flying in large numbers. ALSO READ 4 Companies to Track as Copper Megatrend Unfolds in India As armies improve their Counter-UAS capacities, the bigger break may lie not in making more drones but in building the engineering tech that can spot, rank, and destroy them. Every attacking tech generates a defensive industry History shows that every breakthrough in warfare eventually creates another industry. Aircraft made radar indispensable. Guided missiles led to missile-defence systems. Cyberattacks gave rise to cybersecurity. Drones are now driving demand for counter-drone technologies. Unlike drone manufacturing, however, this ecosystem remains largely hidden. Most listed companies do not report anti-drone revenue separately because these capabilities sit within broader defence electronics businesses. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) market may grow from US$14.4 billion in 2026 to over US$55 billion by 2034, suggesting the scale of this evolving opportunity. Counter UAS Market <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="384" src="https://images.financialexpressdigital.com/2026/07/image_369c39.png" alt="" class="wp-image…

24.7% ROCE, 29% profit growth: One global shift could power this smallcap’s next phase
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T00:00:00Z
subject: Stock Insights
subject: Mayur Uniquoters
description: After years of being viewed as a steady synthetic leather manufacturer, this company is gradually becoming a more export-led automotive supplier. Higher exports, improving profitability and a debt-free balance sheet provide a strong foundation for growth. The key monitorable is whether export momentum continues, but the business appears to be entering a different phase.
encoded: Investors often put companies into neat little boxes. Once a label sticks, it can take years for the market to notice that the business has changed. Mayur Uniquoters is one such company. Long seen as a manufacturer of synthetic leather, it is increasingly becoming a play on exports, particularly global automobile Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The latest numbers suggest that this shift is no longer just a story. It is beginning to show up in the financials. Mayur Uniquoters 1-Year Share Price Chart <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2476" height="946" src="https://images.financialexpressdigital.com/2026/07/image_496dea.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4295090" srcset="https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png 2476w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=300,115 300w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=400,153 400w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=768,293 768w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=620,237 620w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=1536,587 1536w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=2048,782 2048w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=1200,458 1200w, https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image_496dea.png?resize=650,248 650w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2476px) 100vw, 2476px" /> Source: Screener.in For years, the company built its reputation on consistency rather than excitement. It generated healthy cash flows, maintained a strong balance sheet and delivered respectable returns, but revenue growth rarely gave investors a reason to believe the business was entering a different league. However, now, that appears to be changing. Exports are becoming a larger…

Tata Steel vs JSW Steel: Which stock offers deeper value post-q1 volume records?
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T00:00:00Z
subject: Stock Insights
subject: JSW Steel
subject: tata steel
description: JSW Steel’s consolidated steel volumes in the June 2026 quarter were the best ever for the first quarter of a financial year, coupled with a 4.0% y-o-y rise in steel volumes in the quarter. The company will add incremental steel volumes in the September 2026 helped by the ramp up in its steel volumes. Steel stocks can be added to the watchlist for 2026.
encoded: Steel stocks are one of the few that have held their ground despite the broad market sell-off in the current calendar year, and in fact, they are also trading close to their 52-week highs. For instance, leading players like JSW Steel, which declared its results during Friday trading hours, ended 1.4% higher at Rs 1,238.4 on Friday, and hovering not too far from its 52-week high of Rs 1,327.4 reached on 27 May, 2026. Also, closest rival, Tata Steel was broadly flat at Rs 185.9 on Friday, and the stock reached a 52-week high of Rs 224.4 on 15 May, 2026. ALSO READ The 3 power EPC giants holding Rs 1.18 lakh crore in unexecuted orders Investors are bullish on steel sector, given continued strong demand from user industries like autos and construction / infrastructure sector. Of equal importance, steel prices are higher in the June 2026 quarter y-o-y, at a time when China, the largest steel producing nation has curtailed production during the current financial year. The above trends are clearly visible in the results of JSW Steel that were declared during market hours on Friday. Inside JSW Steel’s Q1FY27 Volume Drivers JSW Steel has highlighted its consolidated steel sales volumes grew 4% y-o-y to 6.25 million tonnes in the June 2026 quarter. The company has highlighted that they were the best ever for the first quarter of a financial year. Of equal importance, institutional sales were up 5% y-o-y to 3.7 million tonnes in the quarter under review, and along with sales to auto, renewable and appliances sectors were also the best ever for a June quarter. It does appear that the Middle East crisis has not shown any visible impact on demand from user industries in the June 2026 quarter. JSW Steel on a consolidated basis has operations in India, USA and Italy, with sales in the local market remaining key – steel sales in the Indian market were 6.02 million tonnes in the June 2026 quarter, a rise of 4% y-o-y. JSW Steel has a combined crude steel capacity of 37.9 million tonnes…

3.5% dividend yield, 3X dividend growth in 5 years: Can this PSU keep raising payouts?
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-18T00:00:00Z
subject: Dividend Hunter
subject: Stock Insights
subject: Bank (PSU) Stocks
subject: Bank of Baroda
description: From record profits to a 3x rise in dividends since FY22, the numbers look strong. But can the payout remain sustainable over the long term?
encoded: Welcome to the latest edition of Dividend Hunter. Over the past few weeks, we have analyzed companies where strong cash flows could translate into consistent dividends going forward. In our previous edition, we covered a prominent logistics provider with 9 consecutive years of free cash flow and a 5.6% dividend yield. Our focus today is on a prominent banking institution in India with a rich 118-year legacy. The bank manages more than 8,648 domestic branches and 80 overseas offices across 15 countries. With a global business asset of ₹30.8 lakh crore, the bank is one of India’s leading financial institutions. The stock we focus on in this edition of Dividend Hunter is Bank of Baroda (BOB), a leading public-sector bank. The bank’s growth outlook is supported by India’s robust macroeconomic fundamentals. According to Nomura, system wide bank credit surged 17.7% year-on-year as of 30 June 2026, marking the highest level in two years. Credit growth is expected to hover around 14.5-15.5% in FY27, according to CareEdge Ratings. This is good news for banks like Bank of Baroda. The bank is undergoing digital transformation through platforms such as the BOB World application, thereby improving operational efficiency and customer connectivity. This aims to improve deposit mobilization and increase demand for the bank’s lending services. Regarding dividends, Bank of Baroda has consistently paid them. Asset Quality Clean-up: How Record Earnings Resumed the Dividend Engine In fact, the bank has consistently increased its dividend payout since FY22, the first year after FY17. The bank didn’t pay any dividends between FY18 and FY22 due to balance sheet stress. BOB resumed dividends in FY22 at ₹2.85 per share and has paid almost 3 times higher dividends (₹8.5) in FY26. Now, BOB is in a very strong position—asset quality is at its best in a decade, credit costs are low, and profits are rising, leading to increased free cash flow. This is happening at a time when credit growth is exp…

Learning to Say No Again
type: item
creator: Shuvangi Bhattacharya
date: 2026-07-17T23:30:00Z
subject: Live to 100
subject: FE Leisure
subject: lifestyle
description: In this edition of Live to 100, we explore how the first half of life relies on saying "yes" to open doors. However, aging shifts our perspective on time. True freedom isn’t about constant busyness; it’s about the power to edit, creating space for a more meaningful "yes" by saying "no."
encoded: For much of our lives, saying “yes” is a good strategy. Yes to the new assignment. Yes to the promotion. Yes to relocating. Yes to another responsibility. Yes to helping a friend. Yes to joining one more committee. Many of those “yeses” shape our lives in wonderful ways. They build careers. Expand opportunities. Introduce us to people we might never have met. ALSO READ The Importance of Being Needed Open doors that would otherwise have remained closed. In the first half of life, saying yes often creates possibility. But somewhere around our late fifties or early sixties, the equation begins to change. Time starts feeling different. Not because there is suddenly too little of it. But because we become more aware of how precious it is. Every commitment now competes with something else. A morning walk. Time with a grandchild. Lunch with an old friend. Reading a book. Learning a new skill. Simply enjoying an unhurried afternoon. ALSO READ The Fear of Running Out (And What It Really Means) The question quietly shifts from, “Can I fit this into my schedule?” to, “Is this how I want to spend my life?” That is a profoundly different question. Yet many of us continue saying yes out of habit. Out of politeness. Out of obligation. Or because saying no feels uncomfortable. There is a subtle irony here. Many people spend decades working towards freedom. Financial freedom. Professional freedom. Freedom from constant deadlines. Then, when that freedom finally arrives, they voluntarily fill it with obligations once again. Almost as though empty space makes us uneasy. Perhaps because we have spent so many years equating busyness with importance. But there is another way to think about it. Every “no” creates space for a more meaningful “yes.” No to another meeting. Yes to better health. No to another social obligation. Yes to deeper friendships. No to doing things out of habit. Yes to doing them with intention. This isn’t about becoming selfish. Quite the opposite. It is about becomi…

Brokerages split over Q1 show of Wipro & TechM
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T19:32:14Z
subject: Business News
subject: Tech Mahindra
description: India's top IT services players showcased highly polarized first-quarter performances. While Tech Mahindra outpaced Street expectations with its fourth straight quarter of margin expansion, Wipro struggled with compressed profits and legacy AI deflation.
encoded: Brokerages were divided on the mixed results from Wipro and Tech Mahindra for the April-June quarter, with nearly half of them remaining bearish about the former due to its weak performance and a deferred recovery while favouring the latter based on better-than-expected earnings. Legacy Disruption While India’s fourth-largest IT services provider Wipro’s revenue of Rs 24,479 crore met estimates despite falling by 1.2% sequentially, most other metrics were on a decline. Its net profit fell by 4.3% sequentially, missing estimates, as did operating margins owing to pressure from wage hikes, acquisitions and AI investments. Positive growth was limited to a handful of verticals including technology & communications and the consumer segment. Analysts said that large deals signed by the IT firm were mostly in the legacy realm which has been facing AI-led deflation as productivity gains are passed down to clients, indicating that the company was still lagging behind peers at booking newer AI-centric deals. Additionally, the management said that some deals had slipped to the second-quarter and will be closed eventually. The company improved its guidance for the second quarter to between (-)1.5% to 0.5%, but hardly projected above flat revenue growth. ALSO READ FIIs sell 1.46% RIL stake, Q1 holding lowest in a decade On the other hand, Tech Mahindra announced healthy sequential rise in net profit and revenue by 8.2% and 4.2%, respectively, carried by a strong deal momentum. Although total revenue missed estimates, the firm surpassed estimates for margin performance with Ebit margin expanding by 60 basis points to 14.4% from 13.8% in the last quarter. This makes the current quarter the fourth consecutive one of margin expansion. Segments like manufacturing showed sustained flow of revenue with other verticals like communications and BFSI expected to anchor a quick turnaround in the next quarter. Consequently, CEO Mohit Joshi said the company is confident about reaching 15% mar…

FIIs sell 1.46% RIL stake, Q1 holding lowest in a decade
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T19:23:17Z
subject: Business News
subject: fiis
description: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) saw a massive structural shift in its Q1 FY27 shareholding pattern.
encoded: Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold 1.46% stake in Reliance Industries (RIL) worth Rs 26,000 crore in the first quarter of FY27, bringing down their quarterly holding to 17.20% — the lowest in nearly a decade. During the same period, RIL promoters bought shares worth Rs 9,500 crore raising their stake by 0.48% — the biggest quarterly increase since September 2019, when they had increased their holdings by 2.76%. Changing Guard The promoter shareholding went up from 50% in the March 2026 quarter to 50.48% in the June quarter. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) increased their stake from 20.55% to 21.19% during the same period. The stake held by retail investors went up from 6.96% to 7.16%. ALSO READ RBL Bank Q1 profit rises 27% on higher NII, better asset quality RIL shares declined 3.75% to Rs 1,293.85 during the quarter. On Friday, the stock price went up 2.59% to close at Rs 1,326.50 on the BSE. According to the company’s latest shareholding pattern filed with the exchanges, FIIs sold 193.3 million shares at an average price of Rs 1,343 in the first quarter of FY27, while promoters bought 70 million shares. Granular Ownership Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani and Anant Ambani, each hold a 0.12% stake in the company. Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani owns a 0.24% stake. The bulk of the promoter holding is through promoter group entities. Srichakra Commercials is the largest shareholder with an 11.12% stake, followed by Devarshi Commercials , Karuna Commercials and Tattvam Enterprises, each holding 8.20%, according to the exchange filing. ALSO READ Tata Technologies guides for doube-digit growth, margin expansion in FY27 Among institutional investors, domestic mutual funds owned 10.11% of the company while insurance companies held 9.20%, including LIC with a 6.88% stake. Foreign portfolio investors collectively held 17.06%, according to the filing.

Terrified residents evacuate buildings as massive 7.3 earthquake shakes Mexico | WATCH
type: item
creator: Ajay Joseph
date: 2026-07-17T18:45:46Z
subject: World News
subject: Earthquake
subject: Mexico
subject: Tsunami
description: The earthquake was strongly felt in Tapachula, the main city near Mexico's southern border. Residents and workers evacuated buildings as the intensity of the shaking increased.
encoded: A powerful earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico on Friday, sending strong tremors across parts of Mexico and neighbouring Guatemala and prompting residents to evacuate buildings in several areas. The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.3, with the epicentre located around 48 kilometres southwest of Aquiles Serdan, near the coast of Chiapas, at a depth of approximately 15 kilometres, according to The Associated Press. The earthquake was preceded by a smaller tremor whose epicentre was located farther out in the Pacific Ocean. Tremors felt across southern Mexico and Guatemala The earthquake was strongly felt in Tapachula, the main city near Mexico’s southern border. Residents and workers evacuated buildings as the intensity of the shaking increased. 🚨 GUATEMALA CITY EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY Buildings are being evacuated across Guatemala City following a powerful earthquake that shook the region.#BreakingNews #Earthquake #Mexico #Tsunami #TsunamiWarning #Seismic #NaturalDisaster #PacificOcean https://t.co/xCjt8x80s5 pic.twitter.com/39AB06QI2e — Rosa News Official (@Mirha1206) July 17, 2026 “We were upstairs on the second floor when it started shaking; we thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we all went downstairs and evacuated in an orderly manner to the front courtyard,” Alejandra Mendoza, an administrative employee at a public hospital in Tapachula, told the Associated Press. In Guatemala City, the prolonged tremors frightened residents, with many people rushing out of buildings and gathering in the streets during the morning rush hour. The earthquake was also felt in Mexico City, where buildings in some areas creaked and shook. However, the city’s earthquake alert system did not activate. The Mexican government said the alert was not triggered because “the energy radiated by the earthquake during the first few seconds did not exceed the activation thresholds.” Sismo preliminar 7.4 frente a las costas de…

Parliament to take up FCRA, MSME reforms
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:44:33Z
subject: Money
subject: MSME
description: The upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament will feature a targeted legislative agenda centered on tightening foreign funding rules for NGOs via the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026.
encoded: The Parliament’s Monsoon Session, beginning July 20, will have a relatively light legislative agenda, with the government seeking approval for key pending bills, including the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to tighten rules governing foreign funding of non-government organisations (NGOs). The Income-Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, will replace an ordinance granting tax concessions on foreign investment in government debt securities. The government has listed five new bills for the session, which concludes on August 13. These include the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at aligning the MSME Development Act, 2006, with the sector’s evolving needs. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to strengthen the framework governing how Indian entities, individuals and NGOs receive, utilise and create assets from foreign contributions. A key provision of the Bill is the creation of a designated authority to take charge of foreign contributions and assets if an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or lapses. In such cases, assets created using foreign funds may be taken over, managed or disposed of by the authority in accordance with prescribed rules, replacing the current system that lacks a structured mechanism for handling such situations. The Income-Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, will replace the ordinance promulgated on June 5 to provide tax relief to foreign portfolio investors (FPIs). The measure grants a retrospective exemption, effective April 1, 2026, from taxes on capital gains and interest income earned from investments in government securities. Earlier, FPIs were subject to a 30% tax on short-term capital gains, a 12.5% tax on long-term capital gains and a 20% tax on interest income—levies that had remained a key deterrent even after India’s inclusion in major global bond indices. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, …

RBL Bank Q1 profit rises 27% on higher NII, better asset quality
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:39:57Z
subject: Banking & Finance
subject: RBL
description: Bank expects NIMs to improve, mobilises $150 million through FCNR(B) deposits after RBI's regulatory relaxation.
encoded: RBL Bank’s net profit for the quarter ended June was up 27% on year to Rs 253.7 crore, due to growth in the net interest income and improvement in asset quality. The net interest income for the bank was up 12% on year to Rs 1,654.45 crore for the Apr-Jun quarter. However, it declined marginally on a sequential basis. Net interest margin (NIM) for the reporting quarter stood at 4.13% as against 4.41% a quarter ago. Other income declined by 10% on year to Rs 959.43 crore, mainly due to reduction in the large treasury income. “NIMs will go up and will be in the 4.80-4.90%,” R Subramaniakumar, managing director and CEO of the bank said in the post earnings media call. ALSO READ ‘Gold loans to be a focus area in FY27’: Jairam Sridharan, MD & CEO, Piramal Finance Looking ahead, RBL Bank said it will focus on building a scalable, resilient and profitable franchise by strengthening its liability franchise and gradually narrowing the gap in cost of deposits with larger peers. The bank plans to accelerate growth in savings accounts, tap non-resident deposit flows through Emirates NBD’s international network, deepen relationships with large corporates and leverage trade corridors where the partner has a presence. Loan Mix Realignment The advances grew 23% on year to Rs 1.16 lakh crore as on June 30. Within which, wholesale advances grew by 38% on year to Rs 52,027 crore and retail advances grew 13% to Rs 64,196 crore. Unsecured retail advances grew by 8% on year to Rs 27,635 crore. On the asset side, it aims to drive faster growth in secured retail products, including housing, gold and business loans, while improving profitability through better pricing, operating leverage and product optimisation across its existing customer base. On the loan growth guidance, the bank’s management said that they will continue to grow in the range of 20-25%. Deposits for the bank grew 11% on year to 1.25 lakh crore as on June 30. The growth in current account and savings account (CASA) deposit…

SEBI allows standing instructions for SWP and STP for mutual fund units held in demat form
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:26:09Z
subject: Market
subject: Sebi
description: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a circular extending standing instructions for Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWPs) and Systematic Transfer Plans (STPs) to demat mutual fund units.
encoded: In its latest circular, the Securities and exchange board of India (Sebi) extended the facility of creating standing instructions with the registrar and transfer agent (RTA) or the fund house for STP and SWP transactions. ALSO READ Apple unseats Nvidia from the top spot to become the world’s most valuable company This will allow the investors holding their mutual fund units in demat form to create standing instructions for periodic redemption of specified number of mutual fund units or amount through Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) or transfer of investments from one mutual fund scheme to another scheme of the same fund house by redemption from one scheme and subscription to the other scheme through Systematic Transfer Plan (STP). Until now, the facility of creating standing instructions was only available for mutual fund units held in physical form by the investors. The regulator specified that the facility will be implemented in two phases. ALSO READ Caliber Mining IPO subscribed 1.21x on Day 1; retail, NII portions fully booked The first phase will make the facility available for unit-based SWPs and STPs where standing instructions are based on withdrawal or transfer of a specified number of mutual fund units. The second phase will extend the facility to amount-based SWPs and STPs where standing instructions are based on withdrawal or transfer of a specified amount. The regulator specified that these provisions will come into effect immediately.

More than assembly
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:20:13Z
subject: Opinion
subject: Semiconductor
description: Chip and mobile schemes target higher value addition, but incentives alone cannot build competitiveness
encoded: The Cabinet’s approval of Semicon 2.0 and the new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) is more than the announcement of another Rs 1.9 lakh-crore incentive package. It marks a decisive shift in the manufacturing strategy. For much of the past decade, the government’s objective was to persuade global electronics companies to make in India. That effort has delivered measurable results. India is today the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume, 99.2% of the phones sold domestically are produced locally, mobile phones have emerged as the country’s largest export category, and electronics production and exports have grown seven-fold and eleven-fold, respectively, since 2014-15. The first phase of the semiconductor mission has also succeeded in attracting a dozen projects across fabrication and packaging. Yet these achievements came with an important caveat. India became a preferred location for assembly, but not necessarily for technology ownership or value creation. The new schemes acknowledge that distinction. Their objective is no longer merely to expand production but to capture a larger share of the economic value embedded in electronics manufacturing. ALSO READ Data is ‘crude’, digital refineries create value That change in emphasis is evident in both schemes. The first semiconductor mission was primarily about attracting fabrication plants and packaging facilities. Semicon 2.0 broadens the canvas to include chip design, semiconductor equipment, materials, research, talent development, and intellectual property (IP). Equally significant is the decision to open the Design Linked Incentive scheme to large companies alongside startups, recognising that building globally competitive chip design capabilities requires participation across the industry. The ambition to move from the current 28 nanometre technology to 7 nm and eventually 2 nm chips underscores the government’s intent to climb the technology ladder rather than remain confined to matu…

Data is ‘crude’, digital refineries create value
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:14:36Z
subject: Opinion
subject: Data Centre
description: As AI commoditises data and algorithms, institutional capability to refine information will determine enduring economic advantage
encoded: Economic history has consistently rewarded those who transformed resources more effectively than those who merely possessed them. Every industrial age has reaffirmed the same principle: resources create opportunity, but transformation creates enduring value. For more than a decade, corporate strategy has been influenced by the proposition that “data is the new oil”. Businesses celebrate the scale of their information assets, while investors and executives increasingly equate ownership of information with competitive advantage. Data has become an essential economic resource. Yet it risks encouraging a misunderstanding of where value is ultimately created. The more useful analogy is therefore not between data and petroleum, but between the digital and petroleum value chains. Crude oil acquires economic significance through refinement. Data follows an analogous journey. Its greatest value emerges through the institutional capability that systematically transforms raw information into intelligence worthy of commercial, regulatory, and societal trust. ALSO READ India needs a compliance stack The first phase of the digital economy rewarded accumulation. Data was scarce, computing expensive, and analytical capability limited. Every customer interaction, financial transaction, supply chain event, and digital footprint represented another potentially valuable resource. That economic logic is changing. Smartphones, payment systems, industrial sensors, satellites, and connected devices now generate information continuously. Computing power has become progressively accessible. AI models are proliferating rapidly, while many algorithmic capabilities that once differentiated leading technology companies are steadily becoming available across markets. As industries mature, scarcity migrates. That has profound consequences for corporate strategy. An enterprise may possess extraordinary volumes of information while lacking consistent definitions, coherent architecture, or sufficient…

India needs a compliance stack
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:09:09Z
subject: Opinion
subject: SBI
description: An AI compliance stack won't dilute tax enforcement, it will make routine obligations intelligible
encoded: By Soumya Kanti Ghosh & Shashidharan Sharma, Ghosh is Member, Economic Advisory Council to the PM, Member, 16th Finance Commission, and Group Chief Economic Advisor, SBI; Sharma is Economist, SBI There is a deeper reason why compliance laws in India often feel suspicious. The state cannot perfectly observe private information — whether a declaration is accurate or strategic, whether a mistake is honest, or whether a firm is a lemon pretending to be a peach. When information is scarce, the law ideally becomes risk-averse. It asks for repeated forms and multiple permissions, as it cannot easily separate the trustworthy from the risky. Subsequently, adherence to compliance laws in India continues to remain shrouded in haze. Compare these with the enormous progress India has made in digital tax administration in the last decade. Returns, payments, challans, tax deducted at source (TDS) information, goods and services tax (GST) filings, refunds, and notices now move through digital systems that are anonymous and faceless. However, in a similar vein, tax compliance is still experienced as a calendar of forms, reconciliations, thresholds, circulars, extensions, and anxieties. The World Bank’s last Doing Business profile for India, a historical benchmark, recorded 11 tax payments taking 252 hours a year. Singapore records five payments taking 64 hours. ALSO READ The ghosts of the past have changed India can clearly solve this problem with an artificial intelligence (AI) compliance stack/copilot. As an example, an AI compliance stack would not dilute tax enforcement. It would make routine obligations intelligible. A founder could ask — do I need to deduct TDS on this payment? When is my next GST return due? What records must be kept? Has my turnover crossed a registration threshold? Is there an updated return or correction route available? What evidence is needed if a notice arrives? The system would not give private legal advice, but it would instead provide authenticated p…

Tata Technologies guides for doube-digit growth, margin expansion in FY27
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T18:01:55Z
subject: Business News
subject: Tata Technologies Limited
description: Tata Technologies posted an 11.4% sequential decline in net profit to ₹180.8 crore for Q1, impacted by a high base from a prior one-time provision reversal.
encoded: Tata Technologies reported an 11.4% sequential drop in net profit to Rs 180.8 crore for the June quarter. Excluding the one-time reversal of a provision under the new labour code in Q4FY26, the first-quarter profit growth was 11.3%. The company’s EBITDA margin for the quarter rose by 10 basis points to 16.1%. The operating EBITDA was up 6.1% to Rs 267.4 crore while revenue rose by 5.9% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 1,664.6 crore. Tata Technologies has guided for strong organic double-digit growth in FY27, with greater acceleration in the second half of the year and margin expansion. FY27 is going to be a breakout year for Tata Technologies, said Warren Harris, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Technologies. ALSO READ Iron ore key addition in revised core sector index The ongoing investments in AI, disciplined focus on operational efficiency, and continued portfolio diversification have positioned them to deliver strong double-digit organic revenue growth in FY27, Harris said at the investor call on Friday. The company’s growth during the quarter was driven by business mix, deal momentum, and ramp-up of large strategic wins, including a full vehicle development programme from a Japanese automotive OEM, margin expansion and AI-led efficiency, he said. The demand growth was not just in engineering but in embedded software, digital transformation and software-defined vehicles, Harris said. Strategic Wins The joint venture with BMW was growing, and the team had grown to 2,000 engineers and had contributed Rs 17 crore to profit (including deferred profit of Rs 8.3 crore). The company will start executing the five-year $ 100 million Tenneco deal in Q2 and ramp up this fiscal. As Tata Technologies was a fuel-agnostic technology solutions provider, the company had benefited from the tapering of EV investments by customers and their shift to a more balanced approach to the fuel mix. Harris said this was one of the key drivers of their improved performance. ALSO READ RIL Q1FY27 Res…

AMFI streamlines the transfer of mutual fund units in the event of unitholder’s death
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T17:56:33Z
subject: Mutual Funds
description: The moves are aimed to ensure smooth transmission of MF units to the nominees.
encoded: The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) today announced modifications to its procedure to claim units/proceeds upon death of a unit holder. The trade body specified that in the case of a mismatch in the recorded address of the deceased unit holder, fund houses will have to rely on the latest available address details, provided they are supported by relevant documents. Further, for cases pertaining to name and signature, the AMCs to adopt a similar framework as the one followed by the registrar and transfer agents (RTAs). ALSO READ Parametric Insurance: Handy payouts when rains wash out a hard day’s work Navigating Discrepancies The RTA framework divides the mismatches in name and signature into minor and major mismatches. For minor mismatches in name between two documents presented by the security holder like initials not being spelt out fully or initials put after or prior to surname, the demat request is processed if the signature in the demat request matches with the signature card with the RTA after the security holder or claimant provides a self-attested copy of an identity proof like Aadhaar, valid passport, driving licence etc. For a major mismatch in name, the security holder is allowed to change his/her name following submission of a marriage certificate or valid passport, in case of name mismatch due to marriage or publication of name change in the official gazette for other cases. Resolving Signature Disputes For a minor mismatch in signature, the framework allows the security holder a timeline of 15 days to raise an objection following intimation through speed post, email and SMS. In the absence of an objection, the service request is processed. In the event of a major mismatch or updation/non-availability of the signature, allowing the security holder to register or update the signature by either submitting a cancelled cheque with the security holder’s name or a self-attested copy of the bank passbook/bank statement. Alternately, the security ho…

Gujarat tops Niti Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T17:49:34Z
subject: Industry
subject: Gujarat
subject: NITI Aayog
description: Gujarat has secured the first rank in NITI Aayog's newly unveiled Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) with a score of 56.6, followed closely by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
encoded: Gujarat topped the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) unveiled by government think tank NITI Aayog on Friday, reflecting its strong investment ecosystem and recognising the pivotal role of states in fostering a conducive business climate. Gujarat secured the highest score of 56.6 out of 100, driven by efficient port operations, a competitive power sector ensuring reliable electricity supply, and an overall favourable business environment. Maharashtra followed with 53.7, backed by strong private equity and venture capital inflows, the highest number of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), and robust economic indicators. Tamil Nadu ranked third with a score of 53.3, benefiting from efficient port infrastructure, a near-100% memorandum of understanding (MoU) conversion rate and strong export performance. It was followed by Goa (53.1) and Odisha (52.4). Among the large states, Bihar ranked last with a score of 41.2, with NITI Aayog noting significant scope for improvement in its business climate and financial health. The index assesses all 28 states and eight Union Territories across eight parameters—Infrastructure, Business Climate, Resources, Government Policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health and Environmental Resilience—to benchmark the investment ecosystem across the country. In the Hilly and North-Eastern States category, Uttarakhand emerged as the top performer, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh. Among City States and Union Territories, Goa ranked first, ahead of Delhi and Chandigarh. According to NITI Aayog, India will need significantly higher investment rates to achieve its Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, with private investment expected to play a central role in driving industrialisation, innovation, job creation and long-term economic growth. While reforms by the Centre provide the broader policy and macroeconomic framework, the quality of the business environment at the state level ultimately shapes investment decisions. Factors such as…

Who is Shreya Kaushik? 18-year-old wins Rs 3 crore Lincoln Scholarship, only Indian selected this year
type: item
creator: Anjana PV
date: 2026-07-17T17:21:27Z
subject: India News
subject: education
subject: United States of America
subject: US News
subject: USA
description: Shreya Kaushik from Bihar becomes the only Indian to win the Rs 3 crore Lincoln Scholarship, securing fully funded undergraduate studies at Centre College, US.
encoded: For 18-year-old Shreya Kaushik, the journey from a small town in Bihar to one of the world’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship programmes is about much more than studying abroad. It is the story of a student who turned opportunities, mentorship and determination into a life-changing achievement. As the only Indian selected this year, Shreya’s success adds another inspiring chapter to India’s presence in global education. Originally from Siwan in Bihar, Shreya has been selected for the Lincoln Scholarship, becoming the only Indian among this year’s 10 global scholars. The scholarship, valued at nearly Rs 3 crore, will fully fund her four-year undergraduate education at Centre College in Kentucky, United States. A scholarship that opens doors Named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, the Lincoln Scholarship is one of the most competitive undergraduate scholarships in the world. Every year, just 10 students from across the globe are chosen for the programme. The scholarship is awarded to students who have shown outstanding academic performance, leadership qualities and a strong commitment to creating a positive impact in society. ALSO READ Who is Apoorv Shankar? Indian bags $5.5M seed to build AI-native hardware interface Beyond paying tuition fees, the scholarship covers the complete cost of studying at Centre College. This includes accommodation, meals, books, study materials, health insurance, travel expenses and other approved educational and personal costs, allowing students to focus entirely on their education. Shreya’s education Although Shreya was born in Siwan, she completed her schooling at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Aya Nagar, New Delhi. At the age of 13, she joined Dexterity Global, an organisation that provides leadership training and educational opportunities to students from different backgrounds. Over the years, she participated in several national and international competitions, leadership programmes and learning …

Renewed US-Iran fighting could keep $20-a-barrel oil premium
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T17:16:01Z
subject: Economy
subject: crude oil prices
description: August 16 MoU deadline becomes key trigger; sustained fighting could hold Strait traffic near 2 million bpd
encoded: Renewed and sustained fighting between the US and Iran could keep a geopolitical risk premium of $15-20 a barrel embedded in crude prices, after Brent surged above $85 from $72 at the start of the month amid maritime attacks and Washington’s renewed naval blockade of Iranian ports. Rystad Energy has raised the probability of sustained fighting to 20%, while the combined likelihood of no substantive agreement has climbed to 55%. A prolonged stalemate now carries a 35% probability, against 40% for a narrow agreement and just 5% for a full resolution. ALSO READ Iron ore key addition in revised core sector index The August 16 expiry of the 60-day memorandum of understanding negotiation window has become the critical near-term date for oil markets, with the Strait of Hormuz again facing severe disruption. Hard Elements Left Unresolved “The narrow deal is still our base case, but it has become a considerably less comfortable one,” said Jorge León, senior vice-president and head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy. Washington wants lower oil prices and a diplomatic outcome ahead of the November midterm elections, while Tehran has an economic package involving access to frozen assets and export waivers that it does not want to abandon permanently, León said. “The problem is that the MoU has not moved the needle on its hardest elements: nuclear limits and who controls commercial passage through Hormuz,” he said. “After Aug. 16, the question becomes whether the shipping market can adapt to a continuing threat rather than whether diplomacy can resolve one.” Under the renewed-fighting scenario, negotiations collapse, direct military activity broadens and the threat to Gulf energy infrastructure increases. Iran restricts commercial passage, while the US maintains maximum sanctions enforcement and a full blockade of Iranian ports. Strait traffic would remain close to 2 million barrels per day before August 16, Iranian oil exports would be limited to around 300,000 bpd, and …

Maharashtra bus fare hike: How much more will you pay for MSRTC travel from July 18?
type: item
creator: Ajay Joseph
date: 2026-07-17T17:10:20Z
subject: India News
subject: Diesel
subject: Maharashtra
subject: Transport
description: The fare revision has been attributed to the increase in diesel prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region and the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
encoded: Bus travel in Maharashtra is set to become more expensive, with the State Transport Authority approving a 13.56% increase in fares of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) services. Quoting officials familiar with the development, news agency PTI reported that the revised fares will come into effect from midnight between July 17 and July 18. This development comes amid rising diesel prices, higher employee-related expenses and an increase in the cost of spare parts, tyres and vehicle maintenance. The corporation said the revision was necessary to protect its financial sustainability and ensure the continuation of safe and uninterrupted bus services. Existing 10% seasonal hike on ordinary buses to be withdrawn As part of the revision, the existing 10% seasonal fare increase on ordinary MSRTC buses will be withdrawn. The corporation had extended the seasonal fare hike until the end of July on July 15. However, with the new fare structure coming into effect from July 18, the seasonal increase will no longer be applicable. “The State Transport Authority has approved the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation’s (MSRTC) proposal to increase bus fares by 13.56%,” PTI reported Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik as saying. ALSO READ Skyroot’s Vikram-1 to carry PM Modi’s handwritten ‘Vande Mataram’ postcard on maiden orbital mission Diesel prices, West Asia tensions cited as key factors The fare revision has been attributed to the increase in diesel prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region and the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The state government also cited higher allowances for MSRTC employees and increased expenditure on spare parts, tyres and vehicle maintenance as factors behind the decision. Sarnaik reportedly said the increase had become necessary in view of the rising operating costs faced by the corporation. He added that the fare revision had been structured to keep the additional financial burden on passengers to a minim…

Govt’s flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme has slashed out-of-pocket expenses to 49%: Anupriya Patel
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T17:08:26Z
subject: Healthcare
subject: Ayushman Bharat
description: Union Minister Anupriya Patel announced major milestones in India's journey toward universal health coverage at the FE Healthcare Summit 2026.
encoded: Union minister of state for health and family welfare Anupriya Patel on Friday said the central government’s efforts to translate universal health coverage into reality are delivering results with the rapid expansion of healthcare initiatives. ALSO READ Regulatory easing to open the generic drug floodgates At the FE Healthcare Summit & Awards 2026, Patel said that the Centre’s flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has provided institutional care to over 120 million beneficiaries backed by government spending of Rs 1.82 lakh crore. The scheme now covers around 1,961 procedures in the health benefit package, and has helped reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure from 64% to 49%. Digital Frontiers Patel said India’s digital health ecosystem has also expanded rapidly, with over 950 million ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) accounts created and more than 1 billion health records linked digitally. She added that over 10 lakh doctors have registered on the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission platform, while 1.24 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are conducting one of the world’s largest screening programmes for diabetes, hypertension and common cancers. ALSO READ Patent expiries of $300-billion by 2030 offer India a chance to move beyond generics: NITI Aayog From Theory to Reality Patel said universal health coverage had remained “on paper” for years, but the Modi government is working to convert it into reality. She also said that the central government has adopted an integrated approach combining healthcare, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, research and innovation to build an ecosystem capable of addressing both India’s healthcare needs and emerging global health challenges.

Who is Apoorv Shankar? Indian bags $5.5M seed to build AI-native hardware interface
type: item
creator: Anjana PV
date: 2026-07-17T17:03:40Z
subject: NRI
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: Indian origin
subject: United States of America
subject: US News
subject: USA
description: Meet the Indian entrepreneur behind Aina, the AI hardware startup that raised $5.5 million to reinvent human-computer interaction.
encoded: Aina, a Bengaluru– and San Francisco-based startup, has raised $5.5 million in seed funding to build a new kind of hardware interface designed for the age of artificial intelligence. The round was led by Redstart Labs and 360 ONE Asset, with participation from global investors and prominent Indian founders. The company is also opening a waitlist for its private pilot, as it prepares to bring its flagship interface developed in stealth to market. Apoorv Shankar’s design-led journey Apoorv Shankar, a hardware-focused product builder is the founder and CEO of Aina, with a strong background in human-computer interaction. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, where he pursued a Master’s in Design, and with additional exposure to marketing at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Shankar’s career has consistently sat at the intersection of design, hardware, and human behaviour. He began with a degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering from JSS Academy of Technical Education before moving into product design. ALSO READ NRI Techie who secretly made 400 of his employees millionaires overnight Shankar first gained traction with Lazy Co., a hardware startup he co-founded with a clear philosophy, make everyday digital interactions faster and easier by embracing “laziness” as a design principle. The company built experimental products including an AI-powered smart ring that allowed users to control smartphone functions like booking cabs or managing music without touching their screens. Lazy Co. was eventually acquired by Ultrahuman, where Shankar went on to serve as Vice President of Hardware, contributing to the development of advanced wearable devices such as sleep-tracking rings. Experimenting with interfaces beyond screens and keyboards Through his work, Shankar has consistently questioned the limitations of existing interfaces. His earlier project, Handkey, created during the Covid-19 pandemic, showcased his ability to identify real-world…

Iron ore key addition in revised core sector index
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T16:59:07Z
subject: Economy
subject: Industry
subject: Iron ore
description: Index with FY23 as base year to be launched on Monday
encoded: The government will release a revised Index of Core Industries (ICI) on Monday by adding iron ore to the gauge and increasing the number of industries tracked to nine from eight. The revised ICI series will have 2022–23 as the base year, updated from 2011-12 in the current series. Currently, the ICI measures the production performance of core industries—coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity. In view of iron ore’s extensive use in industrial production and its significant contribution to industrial development, iron ore has been included as a core industry in the revised ICI series, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade said. ALSO READ RIL Q1FY27 Results: Revenue tops Rs 3 lakh crore, retail hits 396 million users – 5 key highlights Growth in industrial activity, as measured by the ICI, has been moderating in recent years. As per the FY12 ICI series, growth in the output of eight core industries was at a five-year low of 2.7% in FY26. In May, the eight core industries grew at a 7-month low pace of 0.5%. The OEA on Monday will release the revised ICI series for June and back series data from April 2023. This marks the first revision of the ICI since 2017, when the base year was updated from FY05. It also follows similar exercises for most macro-economic data in India in 2026. The statistics ministry earlier this year revised the CPI, GDP, and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series, while the DPIIT introduced a revised WPI and new Producer Price Indices in June. The combined weight of these nine core industries is 32.88% of IIP, up from 40.27% in the previous series. Electricity has the highest weightage in the new nine core industries index at 30.93%, up sharply from 19.85% in the FY12 series. Refinery products, coal, natural gas, crude oil, and cement saw a sharp reduction in their weightages in the new index. ALSO READ Gujarat farmers to take Adani transmission line protest statewide In…

How much will Anthropic’s new investor relations director earn? AI firm posts high-paying job ahead of IPO
type: item
creator: Anjana PV
date: 2026-07-17T16:52:54Z
subject: US News
subject: Anthropic AI
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: United States of America
subject: USA
description: Anthropic is hiring an investor relations director ahead of its expected IPO. Here's what the role involves, why it matters, and how much it pays.
encoded: A salary of up to $600,000 a year is turning heads at Anthropic, but the high-paying job is about much more than compensation. As the artificial intelligence company prepares for what could be one of the biggest IPOs in the sector, it is looking for someone who can convince Wall Street that its fast-growing business and massive valuation deserve investors’ confidence. As reported by Business Insider, the company has posted an opening for a Director, Investor Relations, offering a base salary between $425,000 and $600,000. The role comes as Anthropic reportedly readies itself for a public listing that could happen as early as this fall. A key role before the public debut According to the job listing, the new hire will help shape Anthropic’s “investment narrative” and become one of the main links between the company and major investors, as per Business Insider. The person will explain the company’s products, monitor developments across the AI industry, meet institutional investors, and help them understand how Anthropic’s business decisions could affect its financial performance and stock. ALSO READ How TCS is taking on OpenAI and Anthropic in enterprise development space The position will also work closely with the company’s recently appointed head of investor relations, Kenneth Dorell, who joined Anthropic in June after leading investor relations at Meta. He reports to Chief Financial Officer Krishna Rao. Anthropic’s previous head of strategic finance and investor relations, Vu Bui, left the company earlier this year. IPO expected after explosive growth The hiring comes as Anthropic is widely expected to pursue a blockbuster IPO. The AI startup has grown rapidly over the past year, driven largely by enterprise demand for products such as Claude Code. In May, the company said its annualised revenue had crossed $4.7 billion, reflecting the growing adoption of its AI tools by businesses. Anthropic has also continued to launch advanced AI models, strengthening its posit…

What is WAICO? Inside China’s new 29-nation alliance to counter US AI dominance
type: item
creator: Shaurya Agarwal
date: 2026-07-17T16:29:11Z
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: Business News
subject: Global Views
subject: Technology
subject: World News
subject: China
subject: chip shortage
subject: Manufacturing
subject: Semiconductor
subject: United States of America
description: China launches the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) to boost global AI collaboration, challenge US dominance, and offer developing countries new AI development, governance, and training opportunities.
encoded: China has moved its artificial intelligence contest with the United States beyond laboratories, semiconductor factories and technology companies. It is now building an international institution around its competing vision for how AI should be developed, governed and distributed. President Xi Jinping on Friday formally backed the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, or WAICO, at China’s flagship AI conference in Shanghai. The organisation, headquartered in the Chinese financial city, has been established by 29 countries as what Beijing describes as the first intergovernmental body dedicated to AI cooperation. As per analysts interviewed by Reuters, the larger message was difficult to miss. China wants to position itself not merely as a producer of competitive AI systems, but as a rule-maker offering developing economies an alternative to a technology order still dominated by American chips, cloud platforms and proprietary models. China turns AI access into diplomacy Xi pledged 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities for developing countries over the next five years. China will also establish application cooperation centres with countries including India, Russia that are a part of multilateral organisations like BRICS, ASEAN, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the African Union. ALSO READ Cabinet clears Rs 1.9 lakh crore push for chips & mobiles, new schemes target deeper localisation As per the formal statement put by the Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan, these commitments turn AI cooperation into a development proposition covering skills, public services and technology deployment rather than limiting it to diplomatic statements on responsible use. Decoding this move, analysts interviewed by Reuters explained that global AI power rests on four layers: access to computing chips, the ability to train models, access to the latest finished models, and influence over the standards governing their use. At present, the United States remains domi…

Flipped promises or late E10 trains? Why India and a former Japanese minister are at odds
type: item
creator: FE News Desk
date: 2026-07-17T16:20:19Z
subject: India News
subject: Bullet Train
subject: Japan
subject: MEA
subject: Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet Train
description: India rejects former Japanese minister's blame over bullet train project delays, calling it a personal opinion. The India-Japan high-speed rail collaboration continues with a 2027 operational goal.
encoded: New Delhi pushed back hard on Friday after a former Japanese minister blamed India for delays in the countries’ bullet train project. India called it “an individual opinion” at “considerable variance with facts”. The comments came from Hideki Makihara, Japan’s former Justice Minister and a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who had personally worked on the Shinkansen project. His criticism was pointed. He accused Indian negotiators of being reckless and repeatedly breaking their promises. “They just don’t keep promises, no matter what,” he wrote, adding, “Even if they make a promise, they flip it right away.” Makihara singled out the Indian minister in charge, calling him “awful” and said self-interest had driven India’s approach throughout the negotiations. “For the honour of all the Japanese folks who poured their hearts into this, I have to say it: I feel 100% that the reason this hasn’t moved forward is entirely on the Indian side,” he wrote. ALSO READ Skyroot’s Vikram-1 to carry PM Modi’s handwritten ‘Vande Mataram’ postcard on maiden orbital mission MEA responds India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded within hours. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the remarks directly at a press briefing, describing them as a personal opinion rather than fact. “This is an individual opinion and is at considerable variance with facts,” Jaiswal said, adding that talks between the two countries were progressing well. The timing gives the exchange added weight. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently confirmed that India’s first bullet train service will begin operations on August 15, 2027, with the rollout happening in phases starting with the Surat-Bilimora stretch. Bullet train centerpiece of India-Japan cooperation Later, the MEA followed up with a written statement laying out where the project actually stands. Japan will supply the E10 series train, though that won’t happen until the early 2030s since the train is still under development. Construct…

RIL Q1FY27 Results: Revenue tops Rs 3 lakh crore, retail hits 396 million users – 5 key highlights
type: item
creator: Khushboo Kumari
date: 2026-07-17T15:53:39Z
subject: Business
subject: Industry
subject: Quarterly Earnings
subject: Quarterly Results
subject: Reliance Industries
subject: Reliance Industries Ltd
subject: Reliance Industries shares
subject: Reliance Jio
subject: Reliance Retail
subject: Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL)
subject: stock market
description: Reliance Industries Q1FY27 results: Revenue rose 24.5% to Rs 3.40 lakh crore as Jio, Retail and O2C grew; see five key highlights from the results.
encoded: Reliance Industries started FY27 on a strong note supported by strong performance in its telecom, retail and oil-to-chemicals (O2C) businesses. All the three verticals delivered double-digit growth. Consumer businesses, led by Jio and Retail, contributed more than half of Reliance’s consolidated EBITDA during the quarter. Commenting on the performance, Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said the company has made a steady start to FY27 despite geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity markets. The Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate reported a 24.5% year-on-year (YoY) rise in consolidated revenue to Rs 3.40 lakh crore in the June quarter. EBITDA rose 10.1% YoY to a record Rs 54,067 crore. Here are 5 key highlights from Reliance Industries’ Q1FY27 performance 1. Jio Platforms Q1 profit rises 9.2% Jio Platforms reported a 9.2%increase in profit after tax to Rs 7,764 crore. The growth was driven by sustained gains in subscriber market share, ARPU and sale of digital services. ALSO READ RIL Q1FY27 Results LIVE: Revenue growth exceeds Rs 3 lakh crore; Mukesh Ambani says new energy, Jio IPO in focus Jio Platforms (JPL), the digital and telecom arm of Reliance Industries, posted revenue at Rs from operations at Rs 39,173 crore, increasing by 11.8% year-on-year (YoY). “The Digital Services business continued its growth momentum during the quarter. Jio’s performance across mobility, home broadband and enterprise services remained strong, driving healthy earnings growth of 15% YoY,” Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani said in a statement. During the quarter, Jio Platforms filed its DRHP with Sebi, which is a significant step towards its public listing, he added. “The upcoming IPO will be an important milestone in Jio’s journey and will give investors an opportunity to participate in India’s digital growth story,” Ambani said. ALSO READ Jio Platforms IPO DRHP: 5 key balance sheet realities behind one of India’s biggest e…

Reliance Retail Q1 net declines 14%, revenue up 8%
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T15:52:48Z
subject: Business News
subject: reliance
description: The business witnessed 8.5% y-o-y growth in unique customers, while total transactions recorded stood at 568 million, up 46% y-o-y in the said quarter, reflecting growing customer engagement, the company said.
encoded: Reliance Retail, the country’s largest organised retailer, on Friday reported a 14.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) decline in net profit to Rs 2,805 crore amid higher depreciation and investment in its quick commerce business. However, revenue growth in Q1 held up supported by a broad-based performance across consumption baskets, the company said in a post-results earnings call on Friday. Gross revenue for the quarter stood at Rs 90,408 crore, up 7.4% y-o-y including the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business. When adjusted for the demerged FMCG business, Q1 gross revenue grew 11.6% versus last year, the company said. Net revenue grew 8.2% to Rs 79,745 crore, driven by double-digit growth across grocery, electronics, and the fashion and lifestyle segments. ALSO READ MTR bets on protein breakfast range; eyes quick-commerce growth Rising Infrastructure Costs Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) declined 1.8% y-o-y to Rs 5,935 crore in the June quarter. Ebitda margins slipped 80 basis points to 7.4% in Q1 versus 8.2% reported a year ago, impacted mainly by investments in hyper-local commerce, Dinesh Taluja, CFO, Reliance Retail said during the earnings call. Reliance Retail’s tax expenses in the June quarter declined 7.3% versus last year, touching Rs 930 crore. Last year, tax expenses stood at Rs 1,003 crore during the same period. Depreciation, however, surged 17.5% y-o-y to Rs 1,780 crore in Q1 amid increased investment in digital and retail infrastructure. Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries, said, “Reliance Retail delivered resilient growth this quarter. Our omni-channel presence continues to serve millions of Indian consumers and I am confident that it is well placed to benefit from India’s long-term consumption growth.” The FMCG business under Reliance Consumer grew 2.1 times versus last year in Q1, touching Rs 8,600 crore, led by brands such as Campa (beverages) and Independence (staples). Daily essent…

MTR bets on protein breakfast range; eyes quick-commerce growth
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T15:44:56Z
subject: Business News
subject: Food & Beverages
description: The new portfolio includes protein variants of rava idli, dosa and upma under the dry batter mix range, alongside protein-infused poha, khatta meetha poha and upma in its three-minute breakfast portfolio.
encoded: MTR Foods has expanded its breakfast portfolio with a new protein-enriched range as it looks to tap India’s growing demand for healthier convenience foods, particularly among younger urban consumers shopping through quick commerce platforms. The company has launched six products across two of its flagship breakfast categories—traditional dry batter mixes and its three-minute instant breakfast range—marking its latest push into protein-enriched convenience foods. Balancing Traditional Taste Speaking about the launch, Sunay Bhasin, chief executive officer, MTR Foods, said consumer expectations around breakfast have evolved beyond taste and convenience to include stronger nutritional credentials. “For years, breakfast choices have largely been driven by familiar taste and convenience,” Bhasin said. “What we are now seeing is the emergence of a third consumer need—nutrition, where consumers are increasingly conscious about ingredients, protein intake and overall health.” ALSO READ Dear boss, is that really you? The new portfolio includes protein variants of rava idli, dosa and upma under the dry batter mix range, alongside protein-infused poha, khatta meetha poha and upma in its three-minute breakfast portfolio. Each serving contains around 10 grams of plant protein, according to the company. The three-minute range is priced at Rs 75 for an 80-gram pack, while the protein-infused dry batter mixes retail at Rs 175 for a 250-gram pack. The launch comes amid rising demand for protein-fortified packaged foods as consumers seek healthier meal options without compromising on taste or convenience. Bhasin said the trend is especially visible among Gen Z consumers in urban markets. Quick Commerce Strategy The products will initially be rolled out through major quick commerce platforms across India’s four largest metros before expanding to the top 28 cities. MTR is also strengthening its digital commerce capabilities through an internal initiative, Project Bolt, aimed at building…

West Indies legend Sir Garry Sobers dies at 89
type: item
creator: Shaurya Agarwal
date: 2026-07-17T15:40:30Z
subject: Sports
subject: sports
subject: West Indies
subject: West Indies Cricket Team
description: West Indies cricket legend Sir Garry Sobers, one of the greatest all-rounders, died at 89. He scored 8,032 runs, took 235 wickets, and made history with record-breaking performances.
encoded: West Indies cricket legend Sir Garry Sobers, widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest all-rounders, died on Friday at the age of 89. A career filled with records The Barbadian legend, who would have turned 90 on July 28, represented the West Indies in 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974. He scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78, including 26 centuries, and claimed 235 wickets with his versatile left-arm bowling. Sobers announced himself on the international stage with an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958. The innings remained the highest individual score in Test cricket for 36 years before Brian Lara surpassed it in 1994. He also became the first batter to hit six sixes in a six-ball over in first-class cricket, achieving the feat for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in 1968. An exceptional batter, bowler and fielder, Sobers was widely considered the most complete cricketer of his generation. He was knighted in 1975 for his services to cricket and inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.

SpiceJet fined Rs 1 lakh for using ‘dark patterns’ in bookings; airline calls it ‘technical error’
type: item
creator: FE News Desk
date: 2026-07-17T15:35:30Z
subject: Airlines/Aviation
subject: Business
subject: Aviation
subject: Civil Aviation
subject: SpiceJet
description: The Central Consumer Protection Authority fined SpiceJet Rs 1 lakh for deploying deceptive dark patterns on its booking platform, including pre-ticked checkboxes enrolling users without explicit consent.
encoded: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on SpiceJet Ltd for deploying deceptive design practices, commonly called dark patterns, on its flight booking platform, the authority said on Friday. An inquiry led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra found that consumers were being enrolled into the SpiceClub Loyalty Programme automatically, through a checkbox that was pre-ticked by default. Customers were similarly deemed to have consented to receiving promotional messages, since the option to opt in was already selected without any action on their part. The CCPA noted that even after it issued a notice to the airline, SpiceJet merely swapped one pre-ticked checkbox for another, this time for promotional messages via SMS, WhatsApp and email, effectively continuing the same practice in a different form. SpiceJet’s representatives told the authority during proceedings that the lapse was the result of a technical error. The company has since been directed to submit an undertaking confirming that corrective measures have been implemented and will remain in place permanently. ALSO READ Indian airlines retreat from West Asia routes as foreign carriers hold ground Three dark patterns The CCPA’s order flagged three distinct dark patterns on SpiceJet’s platform. The first was “forced action”, automatic enrolment of users into the SpiceClub Loyalty Programme via a pre-ticked checkbox. The second was “Interface interference”, which presented the company’s preferred option as the default choice to nudge consumer decisions. The third was “Trick question”, use of confusing, negatively worded consent language likely to mislead users. The authority said such practices “impair consumer autonomy, undermine informed decision-making” and run counter to the principles of fair and transparent consumer engagement. Deceptive interface design CCPA held that SpiceJet’s conduct violated provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 201…

PM flags off first hydrogen-powered train in clean energy push
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T15:15:05Z
subject: Railways
subject: Hydrogen Train
subject: Train
description: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India's first indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell train on Haryana's Jind-Sonipat section.
encoded: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the first indigenously-developed hydrogen fuel cell train on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway in Haryana, making India enter a small group of nations that operate hydrogen-powered trains. Developed under the “Make in India” initiative, the project is being positioned as a pilot to evaluate the feasibility of clean rail transportation in the country. The PM said that hydrogen train technology has emerged 7-8 years ago globally, and is currently available in a handful of countries where it is still at a nascent stage. Highlighting the train’s technical capabilities, he said the newly launched hydrogen train is the world’s most powerful with a 3,200-horsepower engine and 10 coaches. He noted that hydrogen trains operating in other countries typically have 3-4 coaches whereas India deployed a longer train on the first attempt. “India has successfully demonstrated its prowess by running a hydrogen train with ten full coaches straightaway,” Modi said. ALSO READ Shravani Mela 2026: Eastern Railway to run 56 special train trips between Ranchi-Bhagalpur; check full schedule Technical Engineering Benchmarks The train is powered by a 1,200-kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and can carry around 2,600 passengers. It has been approved to operate at a maximum speed of 75 kmph, although its design speed is 110 kmph. Besides the trainset, railways has also established the country’s largest railway hydrogen storage and refuelling facility at Jind, capable of storing nearly 3,000 kg of hydrogen. The facility has also received the safety clearances from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The PM said that hydrogen-powered trains require distinct infrastructure and specialised support systems, unlike conventional rail networks. To meet the specific network needs, he said new factories and allied facilities will be set up, creating economic ripple effect at the local level. “This advanced trai…

Parametric Insurance: Handy payouts when rains wash out a hard day’s work
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T15:03:34Z
subject: Money
subject: insurance benefits
description: Parametric insurance is emerging as a rapid-payout alternative to traditional indemnity-based coverage as extreme weather events increase. By paying a pre-agreed sum based on objective data triggers—such as exact wind speeds or rainfall levels—instead of lengthy physical damage assessments, it offers immediate liquidity to vulnerable workers and businesses.
encoded: By Amitabh Dewan As climate-related events such as floods, cyclones, droughts and heatwaves become more frequent, communities are looking for quicker ways to recover financially. This is where parametric insurance is emerging as an alternative to traditional insurance. Unlike conventional insurance, which compensates for the actual loss suffered, parametric insurance pays a pre-agreed amount when a predefined event occurs. The focus is not on assessing damage after an incident but on verifying whether the agreed trigger has been met. ALSO READ A toolkit to choose the right pension fund in NPS How parametric insurance works Parametric insurance is based on measurable parameters such as rainfall, wind speed, temperature, flood levels or earthquake (peak ground acceleration). Before the policy is issued, the insurer and the customer agree on three things: the trigger event (strike parameter and exit parameter), the source of pre-agreed data that will verify the event, and the payout amount. Parametric insurance is valuable for gig workers, industrial workers or those engaged in commercial farming who can lose income when extreme weather such as heavy rainfall and heatwaves prevents them from working. The cover will provide immediate financial relief and ensure those vulnerable receive timely support during weather-related disruptions. How claims are settled Claims under parametric insurance are considerably simpler than traditional insurance. Once an event is triggered, payout amount and data source are agreed at the time of buying the policy, there is usually no need for lengthy surveys or physical loss assessments. Once the predefined parameter is breached and verified through the agreed data source, the claim process is initiated automatically. Deciding the cover size Businesses can choose a payout amount based on the likely loss they expect if the trigger event occurs. It is not always necessary to insure the entire value of the asset. The objective is to secure en…

A toolkit to choose the right pension fund in NPS
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:55:25Z
subject: Money
subject: nps
description: It identifies which pension funds have generated higher retirement wealth
encoded: The pension funD regulator’s new digital toolkit will enable National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to make better-informed retirement planning decisions. They can compare how different pension fund managers have performed over the same period rather than relying on point-to-point returns. The Pension Fund Returns for Informed Decision & Empowerment (PRIDE-DISHA) will enable investors to decide whether to remain in a higher-equity active choice strategy, move to an auto choice option for automatic age-based rebalancing, or switch between them as they approach retirement in order to optimise long-term risk-adjusted returns. How to use the toolkit A subscriber will have to enter his date of birth, contribution start date and monthly contribution and select the schemes he wants to compare. The toolkit uses an extended internal rate of return (XIRR), which considers the actual timing of each monthly contribution. ALSO READ Your loan queries: NRIs can get home loans from Indian banks The tool lets subscribers pick up two schemes and compare them side by side, with bar charts showing corpus and returns across pension funds, including both active and auto choice options. “Seeing actual historical outcomes laid out this way makes it much easier for a subscriber to judge which pension fund or choice has delivered better for someone contributing regularly, rather than relying on headline return numbers,” says Rahul Bhagat, CEO, DSP Pension Fund. This provides a more accurate picture of the returns that an investor would have experienced through monthly investments. It displays the final accumulated corpus based on historical net asset value (NAV) growth, helping assess not only percentage returns but also the actual wealth that could have been created over time. Kurian Jose, chief executive officer, Tata Pension Fund Management, says by using a common methodology for all schemes, PRIDE-DISHA improves transparency and comparability. “It helps identify which pension funds ha…

Your loan queries: NRIs can get home loans from Indian banks
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:45:50Z
subject: Money
subject: NRI
description: Get expert answers to essential personal finance questions, including NRI home loan documentation, prepaying top-up loans versus base home loans, securing loans against fixed deposits, and the step-by-step process for escalating disputed credit card transactions to the RBI Ombudsman.
encoded: My brother is working in Dubai and plans to invest in a property in Chennai. How can he apply for a loan from an Indian bank and what are the documents that he will need?—A R Bhuvanesh An NRI can apply for a home loan from a bank in India. The papers are similar to that for a resident. The additional papers are the proof of employment and employment pass of the resident country. The applicant needs to visit India to do the documentation and for the registration of the property. ALSO READ Now check foreign income & assets data in AIS ahead of ITR filing I closed my home loan a year ago. I am out of the country and not able to collect the property papers. Can I authorise my brother to collect the papers from the bank?—Umesh Sharma Usually, the bank will not hand over the original documents to a third party, even with an authority letter. You may have to cite special circumstances and request the bank for approval. I have had a home loan for about five years and the interest rate is 8%. I have taken a top-up loan six months ago and the interest rate is 8.5%. If I prepay some amount, which one should I do?—Alok Singh It is better to pay the costlier loan first. Here in this case, reduce your top-up loan amount with your surplus funds. I have deposits of Rs 10 lakh in State Bank of India. Can I take a short-term loan pledging the deposits and repay the amount after six months without any penalty?—Sanjay Bisht Loan on deposits will attract an interest rate higher than the rate that is applicable on the deposit. If you utilise the loan for six months, the interest plus the loan amount has to be paid back to the bank. If I pay the interest on the education loan before the moratorium period, will the bank reduce the interest rate?—Aman Kumar The interest rate will be the same. However, the interest amount payable will reduce as the outstanding will be lower. ALSO READ EPFO launches scheme for dispute settlement I have Rs 10,000 credit card outstanding and the amount is under…

Explainer: Why SC said compliance more important than investor profit
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:36:26Z
subject: Business News
subject: Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund
description: Upholding Sebi's penalties on Kotak AMC, Trustees, and key executives over the restructuring of six FMPs, the Court emphasized that market integrity and strict compliance take absolute precedence over investment outcomes.
encoded: Last week in a case involving Kotak Mahindra AMC, the Supreme Court ruled that infraction of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) regulations cannot be justified on the grounds that investors did not incur any losses. Banasree Purkayastha looks at what the order means for mutual fund houses & their investors l What was the SC ruling? THE SUPREME COURT ruled that compliance with Sebi regulations are mandatory and cannot be diluted simply because investors ultimately suffered no financial loss or even made gains. The Court held that market integrity and adherence to the regulatory framework take precedence over the outcome of a transaction. “Breaches of the regulatory framework, fortuitously, could ultimately result in gain but excusing a breach which led to profit is likely to incentivise the next breach. Progression from profit to greed, from greed to regulatory breach and from breach to systemic failure is not too unfamiliar,” it said. The Court also upheld the penalties imposed by the markets regulator, which included a Rs 50 lakh penalty on Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company (Kotak AMC) and Rs 1.6 crore in penalties on Kotak Mahindra Trustee Company (Kotak Trustee) and six executives, including Rs 30 lakh on MD Nilesh Shah for regulatory infractions in their handling of six fixed maturity schemes (FMP). It also slapped punitive costs of Rs 30 lakh on Kotak AMC and Rs 20 lakh on Kotak Trustee. ALSO READ Bharat Tex generates $ 2.8 billion business enquiries, investments l Violations that lead to profits are equally bad THE COURT REJECTED Kotak AMC’s argument that its actions were taken in good faith and the restructuring of the schemes enabled avoidance of losses for the unitholders. Making it clear that the Sebi (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996 do not distinguish between a violation that benefits investors and one that causes losses, it said that a wrongdoer cannot be allowed to use the plea of the investors having gained, notwithstanding the violati…

Apple unseats Nvidia from the top spot to become the world’s most valuable company
type: item
creator: Jigyasu Joshi
date: 2026-07-17T14:34:54Z
subject: Global Markets
subject: Apple
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: Nvidia
description: Apple has retaken the crown as the world's most valuable publicly traded company, surpassing Nvidia after a fierce market battle driven by AI chip demand and new iPhone lineup reports.
encoded: Apple has overtaken Nvidia to reclaim the title of the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, ending a reign that Nvidia built almost entirely on the back of insatiable demand for AI chips. The two companies had been running neck and neck for weeks. In mid-July 2026, the gap between them narrowed to roughly $20 billion on certain trading days. The decisive swing came on July 3, when Apple shares jumped nearly 5% after reports surfaced about an expanded iPhone lineup. Nvidia, meanwhile, faced selling pressure as sentiment across the broader chip sector softened. ALSO READ AI Bubble Burst? Big sell-off in semiconductor stocks drag Nasdaq and global markets lower Nvidia’s market cap has ranged between roughly $4.7 trillion and $5.15 trillion in early-to-mid July 2026, while Apple’s has tracked between $4.5 trillion and $4.9 trillion over the same stretch. Apple’s fiscal third-quarter earnings, due July 30, are expected to show revenue growth of 14% to 17%. Nvidia’s meteoric, and recent, rise Nvidia’s ascent has been extraordinary by any measure. Its market cap sat below $20 billion in 2015. By October 2025, it had crossed $5 trillion, becoming the first company in history to hit that mark — just three months after first crossing $4 trillion in July 2025. Nvidia had first overtaken Apple as the world’s most valuable company in October 2024. Apple, for its part, has its own string of firsts: the first US company to reach a $1 trillion market cap in 2018, the first to $2 trillion in 2020 and the first to $3 trillion in 2022. ALSO READ Why SpaceX shares fell below their IPO price for the first time Not necessarily permanent Losing the top spot doesn’t necessarily mark a lasting shift. Nvidia remains a major beneficiary of AI-related spending, with its graphics processors powering much of the generative AI boom, and it could reclaim the crown if sentiment turns. Apple, meanwhile, faces its own risk: it has raised prices to offset rising costs, a strategy that could …

WATCH: Louis Vuitton unveils priceless bespoke trophy trunk for 2026 FIFA World Cup Final
type: item
creator: Abhishek Singh
date: 2026-07-17T14:31:18Z
subject: Sports
subject: Fashion
subject: FIFA
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Football
subject: Louis Vuitton
subject: sports
description: For the fifth consecutive tournament, the French luxury fashion house will escort the solid gold FIFA World Cup trophy onto the pitch, this time inside a masterfully crafted, custom-moulded piece.
encoded: When the winners of FIFA World Cup 2026 Sunday’s final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium lift the most coveted prize in sport, they will also be looking at the world’s most exclusive piece of luggage. Designed by French luxury house Louis Vuitton as the Official Supplier and Branded Licensee for the 2026 tournament, the trophy, will arrive in a trunk, unveiled on July 17 (Friday), with symbol V crafted on it to symbolise the continuing a partnership that has spanned nearly two decades. Louis Vuitton crafts its fifth consecutive World Cup trophy trunk, featuring a golden ‘V’ for victory and the brand's iconic monogram design https://t.co/iXFYRJfLsx pic.twitter.com/68pYWRNSZt — Reuters (@Reuters) July 17, 2026 Nestled inside a newly designed, custom-made Louis Vuitton travel trunk, the arrival of the trophy on the ground in New York, will mark the fifth tournament in a row where FIFA and LV have continued to partner. It started with the South Africa 2010 edition and has since continued, marking its presence in Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, What Makes World Cup Trophy’s LV Case Special Handcrafted in Louis Vuitton’s historic workshops in Asnières-sur-Seine, just outside Paris, the trunk is built by artisans using techniques dating back to the 1860s. ALSO READ Jude Bellingham shuts down Messi feud talks-‘Privileged to face Leo’ The 2026 design blends modern football prestige with classic luxury heritage: Element Detail Exterior Covered in the brand’s Monogram canvas, with two front panels hand-painted with a golden “V”, representing both Victory and Vuitton Hardware Bound by the house’s signature leather trim, known as lozines, reinforced with gold-plated brass corner protectors, custom clasps and a central security lock Interior Lined with light-beige micro-suede leather, featuring an integrated, debossed leather patch bearing the official Louis Vuitton-FIFA partnership logo The 18-carat solid gold trophy itself weighs 6.175kg, with a malachite bas…

Now check foreign income & assets data in AIS ahead of ITR filing
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:24:08Z
subject: Money
subject: Income Tax
description: In case of discrepancies with own records, retain supporting evidence
encoded: The inclusion of foreign income and investment data in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) will improve tax compliance and reduce inadvertent reporting errors. Taxpayers must reconcile the information with their own records while reporting foreign income, foreign assets and claiming foreign tax credits. This week the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) started showing foreign assets and income information received under the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) framework, in the AIS of eligible taxpayers. This will enable taxpayers to identify omissions or discrepancies before filing the income tax return (ITR) and reduce the likelihood of notices or subsequent litigation. Taxpayers must ensure that all foreign assets and financial interests are disclosed in the relevant schedules of the ITR, even where a particular transaction may not yet be reflected in AIS. “Where there are differences between the taxpayer’s records and the AIS, the taxpayer should retain adequate documentary evidence to substantiate the reporting adopted in the return and provide feedback on the same on the AIS portal,” says Neeraj Agarwala, senior partner, Nangia & Company. ALSO READ EPFO launches scheme for dispute settlement Automatic Exchange of Information framework The AEOI framework functions as an automated international data exchange where foreign financial institutions systematically collect and transmit annual financial account data including peak balances, interest, dividends, and custodial proceeds of Indian tax residents under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) protocols. Sandeep Sehgal, partner-Tax, AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm, says to ensure this intelligence is actionable, the July 2026 CBDT directive mandates that inbound AEOI data must be processed and uploaded into the individual’s domestic AIS within a strict 90-day structural window from the end of the month it is received. “This automated bridge converts raw …

Why US Small Business Administration’s SpaceX investment raises questions
type: item
creator: Anjana PV
date: 2026-07-17T14:21:24Z
subject: US News
subject: SpaceX
subject: SpaceX IPO
subject: United States of America
subject: USA
description: Kelly Loeffler's SpaceX investment gains spotlight as SBA chief, raising ethics questions while leading the agency responsible for supporting millions of US small businesses.
encoded: The US Small Business Administration (SBA) exists to help entrepreneurs launch, grow and recover their businesses through loans, funding and support. But the financial investments of its administrator, Kelly Loeffler, are now drawing attention after it was found that she significantly increased her stake in Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI while leading the agency. Loeffler’s investments have become a talking point because the SBA is responsible for supporting millions of small businesses across the United States, even though there is no public evidence that the agency has financial ties with either SpaceX or xAI. SBA has no known business relationship with SpaceX or xAI According to Reuters, federal law prohibits Cabinet members from participating in decisions involving companies in which they have a financial interest. Public records, however, do not show any financial relationship between the SBA and either SpaceX or xAI. The report also noted that xAI did not appear on the SBA’s public list of artificial intelligence tools used by agency employees in 2025. ALSO READ Explained: Why US wholesale prices posts biggest drop since April 2025 Investments made before and during her time as SBA chief According to Reuters, financial disclosures showing that Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million in xAI by January 3, 2025, before becoming SBA administrator. A second financial disclosure, signed on May 14, 2026, showed that she invested another $1 million to $5 million in SpaceX and xAI during 2025. Reuters obtained the filing from the SBA on June 12. According to Reuters, this second investment had not been previously reported. ALSO READ US market set for a weak opening? Nasdaq futures drops 2% after global sell-off Cabinet officials disclose their assets using value ranges rather than exact amounts, and the filings do not reveal the exact dates on which investments were made before taking office. SpaceX IPO sharply increased the value of her holdings The value of L…

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 to carry PM Modi’s handwritten ‘Vande Mataram’ postcard on maiden orbital mission
type: item
creator: Ajay Joseph
date: 2026-07-17T14:20:27Z
subject: India News
subject: ISRO
subject: Narendra Modi
subject: Skyroot Aerospace
subject: space industry
subject: Vikram-1
description: According to Skyroot, the messages are intended to connect India's decades-long public-sector space journey with the new generation of private space companies.
encoded: Skyroot Aerospace‘s Vikram-1 rocket is all set to carry a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words “Vande Mataram” when it lifts off from Sriharikota on July 18, adding a symbolic national dimension to the Indian private space sector‘s first attempt at an orbital launch from the country. The postcard will be carried aboard Mission Aagaman, Skyroot’s maiden orbital mission and a key test of the capabilities of India’s privately developed launch vehicles. The mission is expected to mark the first attempt by a privately built Indian rocket to reach orbit from Indian soil. Among the payloads on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 is something truly special—a handwritten postcard from Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi with the words, “Vande Mataram.” 🇮🇳🚀 It travels to space alongside handwritten messages from our team, investors, policymakers, and… pic.twitter.com/sJajN6NiVJ — Skyroot Aerospace (@SkyrootA) July 17, 2026 PM Modi’s postcard to fly alongside messages from space pioneers The Prime Minister’s handwritten message will be part of a collection of postcards contributed by members of the Skyroot team, investors, policymakers, scientists and supporters from across the world. The collection is intended to represent the people and institutions that have contributed to the growth of India’s space programme and its emerging commercial space ecosystem. The Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 will also carry handwritten postcards from current and former chairpersons of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as well as Indian astronauts. According to Skyroot, the messages are intended to connect India’s decades-long public-sector space journey with the new generation of private space companies. “Mission Aagaman is a celebration carried by many hands and shared by millions,” Skyroot said while announcing the symbolic payload. ALSO READ ISRO hit by over 100 resignations, government steps in to tweak exit policy Vikram-1 to carry multiple technology dem…

EPFO launches scheme for dispute settlement
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:15:18Z
subject: Money
subject: EPFO
description: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced the "VISHWAS, 2026" scheme, a six-month digital initiative designed to settle long-pending disputes over default penalties and damages.
encoded: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched “VISHWAS, 2026”, a one-time initiative for settlement of disputes relating to levy of damages or penalties through a digital and time-bound process. The scheme was notified on June 29 and will remain operational for six months. “VISHWAS, 2026 has been introduced with the objective of promoting voluntary compliance, reducing litigation, and enabling speedy resolution of long-pending disputes relating to penalty/damages while safeguarding the interests of employees,” the labour ministry said in a release. Penalties for defaults pertaining to the period prior to June 14, 2024 will be recalculated at a lower rate of 0.25% per month for defaults up to two months, 0.50% per month for defaults from two to less than four months, and 1% per month for defaults exceeding four months. “These concessional rates are intended to encourage employers to resolve pending disputes expeditiously,” the ministry said. The scheme covers four broad categories of cases: cases where orders for penalty/damages are under challenge before judicial forum; final damages/penalty orders where recovery is pending or only partly made, including Recovery Certificate (RRC) cases; cases where notices have been issued but final orders for damages/penalty are yet to be passed; and cases where notices for penalty/damages are yet to be issued. Disclaimer: This article is based on a recent ITAT Pune ruling in a specific case. Judicial decisions are fact-specific, and their applicability depends on individual circumstances. Taxpayers should seek professional advice before relying on this ruling for their own cases. Every financial journey has a turning point. What’s yours? Financial Express is launching a new series highlighting real experiences with money, investments, and the taxman. Did a sudden tax rule catch you off guard? Did a piece of financial advice change your life? Your story could provide invaluable, practical lessons for thousands of …

Man sells house for Rs 1.10 crore; Income Tax calculates capital gains on Rs 1.96 crore – what ITAT says
type: item
creator: Mithilesh Jha
date: 2026-07-17T14:12:17Z
subject: Money
subject: income tax department
subject: Income Tax Explainers
subject: Taxation
description: Can Income Tax calculate capital gains on a higher value than the price at which you sold your house? In an important ruling, the ITAT Pune has clarified that while Section 50C may require adoption of the higher stamp duty value, taxpayers may still be eligible for Section 54 exemption if they reinvest in another residential property and satisfy all legal conditions.
encoded: The Pune Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has clarified an important point for taxpayers selling property below the stamp duty value. The Tribunal has said that even if the Income Tax Department applies Section 50C and calculates capital gains using the higher stamp duty value, a taxpayer may still be eligible for Section 54 exemption if the money has been invested in another residential house and other conditions are met. However, the benefit is not automatic and depends on the facts of each case. What was the case? The case involved Pune resident Himanshu Jain, who filed his income tax return for Assessment Year (AY) 2023-24 declaring an income of nearly Rs 50 lakh. His return was selected for scrutiny because he had sold a residential property in Ghaziabad for Rs 1.10 crore, while the property’s stamp duty value was Rs 1.96 crore. Under Section 50C of the Income-tax Act, the stamp duty value can be treated as the sale value for computing capital gains if it is higher than the actual sale price. As a result, the Assessing Officer added Rs 86.20 lakh to his capital gains by treating the difference between the actual sale price and the stamp duty value as deemed consideration. Why did the taxpayer sell at a lower price? During the assessment proceedings, Jain argued that the property was sold under distress circumstances. He had been transferred by his employer, Spark Minda, from Ghaziabad to Pune and needed to sell the house quickly at the best price available in the market. However, the Assessing Officer rejected this argument, observing that Section 50C does not provide any exception for distress sales. The addition of Rs 86.20 lakh was therefore sustained. ALSO READ Received an income tax reassessment notice? This ITAT ruling shows when you can challenge it What happened after selling the house? After selling the Ghaziabad property, Jain booked a residential flat in Pune from Mahindra Lifespaces Developers Ltd. According to the case records: -Sa…

Dear boss, is that really you?
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:09:12Z
subject: Business News
subject: Sebi
description: Designed to exploit workplace deference, the fraud tricks accounts personnel into executing urgent, confidential fund transfers.
encoded: For generations of Indian office-goers, one rule has been drilled in deeper than anything in the HR manual: when the boss says urgent, you move. Do not ask why, do not ask twice and certainly do not ask for it in writing. On Friday, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) issued a counter-order: if the boss pings you on WhatsApp demanding an immediate, hush-hush transfer of funds, do the unthinkable. Question him. The market regulator has cautioned listed companies and all its regulated entities about what it calls, with admirable directness, the “Boss Scam”. Alerted by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Sebi says fraudsters are impersonating chief executives and managing directors on email, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams and other platforms, instructing finance and accounts personnel to wire money—urgently, confidentially and preferably before anyone’s better judgement kicks in. The choreography is finely tuned to corporate psychology. The message from “the CEO” often invokes a sensitive transaction or unpublished information, conveniently explaining why the employee must not consult anyone. Urgency supplies the pressure; confidentiality removes the safety net. All that remains is the reflex that decades of hierarchy have perfected: compliance. If a text from the top is not persuasive enough, technology completes the costume. Fraudsters are using deepfake voices and AI-generated video calls. The man on screen looks and sounds like your chairman, and carries the same air of mild impatience. He is, regrettably, a graphics file. Some scammers create fake “management” groups on social media—a supporting cast of directors and chief financial officers, all counterfeit. The payment instruction then appears to carry the authority of the entire boardroom. Artificial intelligence has not merely learnt to imitate the boss; it can recreate the management committee. Another variant dispenses with acting. A ZIP or ISO file arrives, ostensibly containing an urgent r…

The ‘RAM tax’ is here: India’s smartphone market shrinks 10 per cent
type: item
creator: Amritanshu Mukherjee
date: 2026-07-17T14:07:10Z
subject: Life
subject: Technology
subject: Apple
subject: Samsung
subject: Smartphones
description: See how soaring memory costs cut India smartphone shipments 10%, crushed budget models and pushed buyers toward EMIs and premium brands.
encoded: India’s smartphone market has taken a drastic hit as far as sales are concerned. According to the latest Monthly India Smartphone Tracker from Counterpoint Research, smartphone shipments in India have dropped by 10 per cent year-on-year (YoY) during the second quarter of 2026 (April–June). The drop is stated as the worst in six years for the second quarter, most of which is attributed to the supply chain issues created by the chip RAM shortage. The primary reason behind the slump is not a lack of consumer interest, but a brutal surge in component costs — specifically memory. Since September 2025, smartphone memory prices (DRAM and NAND) have skyrocketed almost four times. This has forced manufacturers to implement multiple rounds of price hikes to consumer technology, leading to an average smartphone price increase of 15 per cent by the end of Q2 2026. ALSO READ ‘AI can be a somewhat painful tool’: Linux founder on using AI in software development The budget smartphone is gone! The segment hit hardest by this ‘RAM tax’ is the budget-conscious mass market devices priced below Rs 15,000. Shipments in this tier collapsed by a massive 45 per cent YoY. In the entry-level bracket, memory has gone from occupying less than 20 per cent of a phone’s total bill of materials (BoM) to more than 45 per cent. With manufacturing margins gone, brands have had to pass the costs directly to consumers, extending replacement cycles as macroeconomic headwinds and inflationary pressures cause everyday buyers to tighten their belts. “India’s smartphone market remained under pressure during the quarter, as both demand and supply were adversely affected,” stated Prachir Singh, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research. “As most Chinese brands are heavily exposed to the entry- and mid-tier segments, their overall market share fell to its lowest level for a second calendar quarter since 2020,” he added. To address the concerns regarding price hikes, many manufacturers are going back to expanding…

Bharat Tex generates $ 2.8 billion business enquiries, investments
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T14:03:22Z
subject: Business News
subject: textile industry
description: The flagship event drew nearly 95,000 visitors and featured over 30 state-led MoUs and a major international partnership with Première Vision Paris to boost exports.
encoded: India’s premier global textile event Bharat Tex generated $ 2.8 billion worth of business enquiries over the past three days and catalysed investments worth Rs 14,300 crore. Bharat Tex 2026, which concluded on Friday brought together 1,647 exhibitors, nearly 95,000 business visitors and 11,315 buyers, including 6,090 international buyers, 3,461 delegates and participants from 138 countries, a statement by the Ministry of Textiles said. Bharat Tex 2026 saw 30+ MoUs signed by various states, including Karnataka (Rs 2,821 crore, 11,020 jobs), Bihar (Rs 1,476 crore, 40,500+ jobs), Maharashtra (Rs 1,095 Crore) and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 4,100 crore), reinforcing the event’s role in driving decentralized, state-led growth in India’s textile and apparel sector. Further, RE&UP of Netherlands that transforms textile waste into high quality raw materials announced investing Rs 4,800 Crores in India. During the event, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris, one of the world’s most prestigious textile and fashion sourcing platforms. The strategic collaboration aims to deepen India–European Union textile partnerships by enhancing market access, sustainable sourcing, design intelligence and buyer-seller engagement, creating new global opportunities for Indian manufacturers, exporters and MSMEs. International participation has been equally impressive, with ministerial delegations from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Russia, Cambodia and Portugal, alongside representatives from the European Union, and over 30 industry and international business delegations from countries including the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, South Korea, UAE, Australia, France and Germany, among others.

Not just coding skills, judgment will get AI jobs abroad in 2026 | Expert view
type: item
creator: Dimple Singh
date: 2026-07-17T14:02:52Z
subject: Artificial Intelligence
subject: NRI
subject: Technology
subject: Jobs Abroad
subject: recruitments
description: AI interviews are no longer just about coding. Recruiters reveal how employers hiring for AI roles abroad now evaluate judgment, prompt engineering, communication and real-world problem-solving, along with the common mistakes Indian professionals should avoid.
encoded: Indian professionals applying for AI jobs abroad are facing a new kind of test. It has little to do with writing perfect code. As global demand for AI talent surges, overseas employers are redesigning interview formats to check whether candidates can question AI-generated answers, defend their decisions under pressure, and know when not to trust a model. Speaking to Financial Express Digital, recruiters and hiring experts share what’s changed, the mistakes Indian candidates keep making, and how to prepare. ALSO READ How to use AI to get a job abroad? Experts say don’t blindly trust the bot How AI interviews differ from traditional tech interviews The shift isn’t about new technology, it’s about how candidates are judged. Coding tests, algorithms and system design still matter, but they no longer decide the offer. “Technical skill opens the door. It rarely closes the deal. The thing that actually decides an offer is judgment,” says Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM APAC & MENA, who notes that companies want professionals who can flag when an AI model can’t be trusted and explain their reasoning clearly. Daniele Merlerati, CRO at GI Group Holding says, “Technical skill is table stakes; problem solving is expected. The differentiator is decision-making under constraints.” Interviewers now weigh how candidates balance accuracy, latency, cost, governance and security while designing AI systems and not just whether the code runs. Nishant Chandra, co-founder of Newton School, adds that AI interviews layer in prompts, data quality, evaluation methods and production issues like hallucinations, inconsistent outputs, privacy and monitoring on top of standard coding fundamentals. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="413" width="620" src="https://images.financialexpressdigital.com/2026/07/ChatGPT-Image-Jul-17-2026-07_47_37-PM.png?w=620" alt="" class="wp-image-4294955" style="width:1000px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.financialexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ChatGPT-Ima…

India added 1.6 GW thermal by May 31; 22% of FY27 target met
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T13:57:06Z
subject: Economy
subject: Energy
description: Despite the initial push, construction delays and over 21 GW of stranded projects threaten grid stability as the Central Electricity Authority and Union Power Ministry prepare for peak electricity demand to touch 300 GW next year.
encoded: India added 1.6 GW of thermal power capacity till May 31, up 60% from 1 GW in the same period of FY26, but execution delays and stranded projects remain a concern as peak power demand rises sharply and is expected to touch 300 GW next year. The latest Central Electricity Authority data showed that the capacity addition till May accounted for 22% of the FY27 target of 7.3 GW. In FY26, India had added 9.47 GW of thermal capacity against the targeted 12.86 GW, reflecting continuing slippages in project execution. The capacity addition in the current fiscal came entirely in May, while April saw no thermal capacity addition against 1.01 GW in April last year. Of the 10 thermal units targeted for commissioning in FY27, only two had been commissioned by May 31. These included Patratu STPP in Jharkhand and Yadadri TPS in Telangana, both of 800 MW each. ALSO READ Volume increase major driver of export growth in April-May Skyrocketing Peak Demand The pace of thermal addition assumes significance as India’s peak power demand touched 270.8 GW in May, surpassing 241 GW recorded in 2025. Union power minister Manohar Lal recently said peak demand had already reached 271 GW, while available capacity had grown to 284 GW. “Our available capacity has grown up to 284 GW, which enables us to meet all types of demand. But with the accelerating pace of electrification, we must prepare for 300 GW peak demand next year,” the minister said at India Energy Storage Week 2026 on Wednesday. Under-Construction Bottlenecks Project delays continue to weigh on the sector. As of May 31, 32 thermal units with 43.36 GW capacity were under construction, while another 21.38 GW remained stranded, with work either on hold or unlikely to be commissioned. The private sector did not commission any thermal unit during April-May. The data showed that two stranded central-sector plants were originally scheduled for commissioning in May 2020, while several private-sector thermal projects have faced delays since 2…

Gujarat tops NITI Aayog’s investment friendliness index; Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu follow
type: item
creator: Shaurya Agarwal
date: 2026-07-17T13:38:58Z
subject: Economy
subject: ECONOMY
subject: NITI Aayog
description: Gujarat ranks highest in NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index with a score of 56.6, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, highlighting top states driving India’s investment climate.
encoded: Gujarat has emerged as India’s most investment-friendly state, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, in the first Investment Friendliness Index released by NITI Aayog on Friday. Gujarat secured an overall score of 56.6 out of 100, while Maharashtra scored 53.7 and Tamil Nadu 53.3. Goa, with 53.1, and Odisha, with 52.4, completed the list of five states classified as “top performers”. Delhi ranked sixth with a score of 49.9, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 48.9. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka were jointly placed next with scores of 48.7 each. Gujarat’s performance was attributed to efficient port operations, reliable electricity supply, a competitive power sector and its fiscal position. Maharashtra scored strongly on its business climate, including its ability to attract private equity and venture capital investment. Tamil Nadu’s position was driven by its ports, export performance and a near 100% conversion rate for investment memorandums of understanding, the report said. Five states classified as top performers NITI divided the 36 states and Union Territories into four performance groups. Five were classified as top performers, 15 as frontrunners, and eight each as emerging performers and aspiring states. The states were also grouped separately as large states, hilly and northeastern states, and city states and Union Territories to account for differences in geography, size and economic structure. ALSO READ Niti Aayog charts road map to take ayurveda global Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu led the large-state category. Uttarakhand, Assam and Himachal Pradesh were the three leading hilly and northeastern states, while Goa, Delhi and Chandigarh headed the city-state and Union Territory group. NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri said the exercise should not be treated purely as a race between states. “This is not a ranking exercise. It is an exercise to tell states where they are doing well and where they are not doing so well,” Lahiri said. The index was d…

Volume increase major driver of export growth in April-May
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T13:35:18Z
subject: Economy
subject: exports
description: An analysis by the Commerce Ministry reveals that India's recent export growth is driven by volume expansion, not just high commodity prices from the West Asia conflict.
encoded: India’s recent export growth does not depend solely on higher value realisation due to elevated commodity prices particularly of crude oil, aluminium and copper since the onset of the war in West Asia. Around 72 product categories out of 100 for which quantity data is available showed robust growth in export volumes in April-May. In April-May, India’s exports stood at $78.6 billion across a total of 168 product categories. Quantity can be determined and tracked for 100 of these categories. Of these 100 products, volume by weight is recorded in 92 categories and in the remaining 8, quantities are measured by the number of units. Volume growth was seen in 72 product categories which account for 32% of total exports, according to a commerce ministry analysis. Within these 72 categories, both value and volume growth occurred in 58, accounting for 27.5% of total exports during the period. Export value of the 92 products was $41.2 billion in April-May, while for the remaining 8 products it was $3.4 billion. Around $33.9 billion worth of exports came from 68 product categories where quantity data is unavailable. The increase in crude prices, however, did help petroleum exports which increased 44.6% to $18.1 billion. The product categories driving volume and value growth are engineering goods like aluminium and aluminium products, iron ore and iron and steel products. Among agricultural products, value and volume growth was seen in non-basmati rice, other cereals, wheat and pulses. Other high growth sectors include drug formulations, biologicals, organic chemicals and steel products. In 2025-26, 168 product categories enabled exports of $441.7 billion. Quantity data is available for 104 of these product categories. Of the 104 categories, 68 grew in both value and volume. These accounted for 30% of India’s exports during the year. Products showing volume and value growth in 2025-26 included motor vehicles, passenger cars, two- and three-wheelers, and lead and lead-based prod…

MakeMyTrip confirms India IPO, confidentially files DRHP
type: item
creator: FE News Desk
date: 2026-07-17T13:30:56Z
subject: Business News
subject: business
subject: business news
subject: IPO
subject: IPO News
subject: MakeMyTrip
description: MakeMyTrip India has confidentially filed its DRHP with SEBI for a proposed IPO, marking the first step toward listing its Indian business on stock exchanges.
encoded: Nasdaq-listed travel services company MakeMyTrip has begun the process of listing its Indian business on domestic stock exchanges by confidentially filing a DRHP with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the BSE and the NSE. The company disclosed the development in a regulatory filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 17. Though, the company confirmed the proposed initial public offering (IPO), it did not disclose the size of the issue. A confidential filing allows companies to submit draft offer documents to the market regulator for review without making them public immediately, helping protect sensitive business and financial information during the early stages of the listing process. Existing shareholders to sell stake The proposed IPO will involve the sale of equity shares in MakeMyTrip (India) Limited by its parent, MakeMyTrip Limited, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ibibo Group Holdings (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. ALSO READ MakeMyTrip raises $3.1 bn in largest fundraise by Indian new-age company “The proposed initial public offering is expected to involve a sale of equity shares in MMT India by MakeMyTrip and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ibibo Group Holdings (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Upon completion of the proposed initial public offering, MMT India will continue to be a subsidiary of MakeMyTrip and will be included in MakeMyTrip’s consolidated financial statements,” the company said in a statement. ALSO READ MakeMyTrip evaluating India IPO as part of long-term growth strategy Funds to support future growth According to the filing, the listing is expected to strengthen MakeMyTrip India’s brand visibility and helping it attract and retain talent in the competitive technology sector. “MakeMyTrip expects the proposed initial public offering and listing of MMT India to enhance its brand visibility and support MMT India’s ability to incentivize and promote talent in a competitive technology recruitment landscape. The net proceeds rec…

Can Election Commission decide citizenship? What the Supreme Court’s latest West Bengal ruling means
type: item
creator: Ajay Joseph
date: 2026-07-17T13:21:48Z
subject: India News
subject: Election commission
subject: SIR
subject: Supreme Court
subject: West Bengal
description: The court said that where a tribunal concludes that a person should not be included in the SIR list, the Election Commission must refer the matter to the Union government for determination of citizenship under the Citizenship Act.
encoded: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Election Commission of India, the West Bengal government and the state poll panel on a petition seeking detailed constituency-wise data on claims and objections filed by voters whose names were excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, news agency PTI reported. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard a PIL filed by Prasenjit Bose, chairperson of the SIR Committee of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee. The petition seeks detailed Assembly constituency-wise information on the SIR exercise, including the number of Forms 6, 6A and 7 filed, accepted and rejected. According to PTI, the Supreme Court sought data on appeals pending before and disposed of by tribunals constituted to hear challenges against voter exclusions. ALSO READ Monsoon Session 2026: Govt likely to table 5 new Bills, revive FCRA amendment push – What’s on agenda Petition seeks greater transparency in SIR process Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayan, appearing for Bose, argued that the absence of detailed constituency-level data prevented effective scrutiny of the electoral roll revision exercise. The plea alleged that the EC has not published sufficient information on how many applications were received, accepted or rejected in individual constituencies. It also raised concerns over the non-publication of formats prescribed under the Election Commission’s Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2024, arguing that this weakened transparency and accountability in the process. 33.5 lakh appeals reportedly pending During the hearing, Sankaranarayan reportedly told the court that around 33.5 lakh appeals were still pending and claimed that nearly 70% of the cases disposed of resulted in the claims being allowed. He said voters whose names were deleted were facing difficulties in accessing government welfare schemes, including the public distribution system and Annapurna…

Club Over Country: Why Chelsea Were Chastised for Cheering Their €121 Million Argentine Star’s Goal Against England
type: item
creator: Abhishek Singh
date: 2026-07-17T13:21:16Z
subject: Sports
subject: Argentina Football Team
subject: England Football Team
subject: FIFA World Cup 2026
subject: Football
subject: sports
description: Chelsea' social media team misjudged the room spectacularly, celebrating Enzo Fernández's late equalizer during England's heartbreaking World Cup semifinal exit.
encoded: For English football fans, Wednesday (July 15) night was supposed to be the moment a 60-year-old curse was finally lifted. With England leading Argentina 1-0 in the 85th minute of the 2026 World Cup semifinal in Atlanta, the ‘Three Lions’ were just minutes away from a historic final. Then Chelsea’s €121 million (£106.8m) midfielder Enzo Fernández ruined the party. Fernández curled a stunning, long-range effort past Jordan Pickford to equalize, shifting the momentum before Lautaro Martínez struck in stoppage time to seal a devastating 2-1 comeback win for Argentina. But while English hearts were breaking across the nation, Chelsea Football Club’s official social media admin made a fateful decision: they decided to celebrate. The resulting post severe backlash among their own fanbase, forcing the club into a humiliating, rapid deletion. ALSO READ ‘I was shaking’: Slavko Vincic breaks down after FIFA choses him to referee World Cup Final The Post That Set X on Fire As the dust settled on England’s elimination, Chelsea’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted an image of Fernández celebrating his equalizer, captioned simply with his name and an explosion emoji. The backlash from Chelsea’s own domestic supporters — as well as the wider English public — was immediate and ruthless. Many felt the post was incredibly tone-deaf, prioritizing individual player PR over the emotional state of the club’s core local fanbase. “Seriously. We’re an English football club. Poor from my club. Poor,” wrote one disgruntled Chelsea supporter on the platform where it was posted. “The absolute cheek of an English football club to tweet this. Grim,” commented another. A third added: “Read the room, disgusting. Especially when that player would spit at us at any opportunity” — referencing past controversies surrounding Fernández’s commitment to the Stamford Bridge outfit. Recognizing the escalating public relations disaster, Chelsea quietly pulled the post down within hours. Chelsea's ad…

Received an income tax reassessment notice? This ITAT ruling shows when you can challenge it
type: item
creator: Vipul Das
date: 2026-07-17T13:14:41Z
subject: Income Tax
subject: Income Tax Act
subject: income tax department
subject: Income Tax Explainers
subject: Income Tax Rules 2026
subject: ITR
description: Based on the given case law and the relevant assessment year, before issuing a reassessment notice under section 148, the Assessing Officer must have specific information indicating that income has escaped assessment.
encoded: If you receive an income tax reassessment notice, your first instinct may be to focus on proving that the tax demand is incorrect. But what if the notice itself is legally flawed? A recent Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) ruling shows that the validity of a reassessment can depend as much on the procedure followed by the Income Tax Department as on the tax issue itself. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Pune Bench, has delivered an important ruling in the case of Sanjyot Jay Sheth vs Income Tax Officer (ITO) on July 2, 2026, providing significant relief to taxpayers facing reassessment proceedings. The Tribunal quashed the reassessment initiated by the Income Tax Department after finding serious procedural lapses in the reopening process under Sections 148A and 148 of the Income-tax Act. In Sanjyot Jay Sheth v. ITO, the Pune ITAT examined the validity of reassessment proceedings initiated for AY 2014–15. The taxpayer had not filed an original return but subsequently filed a return declaring income of Rs. 1.81 lakh in response to the reassessment notice. The reassessment ultimately resulted in substantial additions, including Rs. 3.45 crore under section 56(2)(vii)(b) and Rs. 15.42 lakh under section 69C. The original notice under section 148 was issued on 23 June 2021 under the old tax regime during the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 (TOLA) period. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Union of India v. Ashish Agarwal, the notice was treated as a show-cause notice under section 148A(b) of the new reassessment regime. Accordingly, a notice under section 148A(b) was issued on 20 May 2022. The section 148A(b) notice alleged that the taxpayer had sold an immovable property for Rs. 30 lakh and also referred to the sale of another property in Pune for Rs. 6.20 crore. The taxpayer denied having owned or sold the property referred to in the notice. However, the order subsequently passed under section 148A(d) …

Gold Bonds: Premature redemption price of SGBs due on July 18, 20 announced by RBI
type: item
creator: Sunil Dhawan
date: 2026-07-17T13:11:34Z
subject: Gold Pulse
subject: Gold price in India
subject: Opportunity Abroad
description: The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price of the Sovereign Gold Bond scheme due on July 18 and the SGB 2021-22 Series IV due on July 20.
encoded: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the premature redemption price for the Sovereign Gold Bond scheme: SGB 2020-21 Series X, due on July 18, 2026 (July 19 being a holiday), and SGB 2021-22 Series IV, due on July 20, 2026. Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 (Series X) were open between January 11 and 15, 2021, with the settlement date January 19, 2021. The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period was Rs 5,104 per gram and Rs 5,054 for the digital purchase. Sovereign Gold Bonds 2021-22 Series IV was open between July 12 and 16, 2021, with the settlement date July 20, 2021. The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period was Rs 4,807 per gram and Rs 4,757 for the digital purchase. The redemption price of SGB is based on the simple average of the closing price of 999 purity gold over the previous three business days from the date of redemption, as published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Ltd (IBJA). Accordingly, the redemption price for premature redemption due on July 18, 2026 (July 19 being a holiday) and July 20, 2026, shall be Rs 14,158 per unit of SGB based on the simple average of the closing price of gold for the three business days, i.e., July 15, July 16, and July 17, 2026. Gold price in India is Rs 14,094 per gram as of July 17. Returns for Gold Bond investors Investors in the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme SGB 2020-21 Series X due on July 18 are expected to gain 180% over five years and six months, equating to an annualized return of over 20%. There was an additional return of 2.5%, half-yearly paid to the SGB investors. Investors in the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme SGB 2021-22 Series IV due on July 20, 2026, are expected to gain 197% over five years, equating to an annualized return of 24%. There was an additional return of 2.5%, half-yearly paid to the SGB investors. ALSO READ Gold plunges 25% from peak: Should investors buy the dip or wait? SGBs have an eight-year duration, but investors may redeem them be…

Caliber Mining IPO subscribed 1.21x on Day 1; retail, NII portions fully booked
type: item
creator: Devanshi Verma
date: 2026-07-17T13:00:04Z
subject: IPO
subject: Caliber Mining & Logistics
subject: IPO News
subject: Retail investors
description: Caliber Mining IPO was subscribed 1.21x on Day 1, with retail and NII quotas fully booked; check key details.
encoded: The Indian primary markets pipeline has started picking up pace, as another mainboard IPO is garnering investor’s attention. The Caliber Mining & Logistics IPO drew heavy response on its first day of bidding, receiving an overall subscription of 1.21 times. The retail applicant category in particular saw strong response. On its first day of bidding, the issue generated a demand of 95.11 lakh shares against its ask of 78.36 lakh equity shares. Caliber Mining IPO: Strong NII, Retail participation The offer worth Rs 450 crore saw robust demand on its first day of bidding from the retail category, which was subscribed 1.58 times. The non-instutional portion also attracted high investor interest as the quota was fully subscribed at 1.59 times. However, the Qualified Institutional Buyer (QIB) category saw steady response as it was subscribed 0.29 times on the first day of bidding. Caliber Mining IPO: Day 1 subscription snapshot Caliber Mining IPO attracted a healthy response on its first day of bidding, being subscribed 1.21 times Investor Category Subscription (Day 1) Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) 0.29x Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs) 1.59x Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) 1.58x Overall 1.21x Caliber Mining IPO: GMP at 27% As per the latest update, the shares of Caliber Mining IPO are trading at a premium of 26.89% in the unlisted markets, translating into an estimated listing price of Rs 538 per share, based on the upper end of the price band. This reflects a gain nearly 27%. ALSO READ SBI Funds Management IPO: What are your realistic allotment chances after 41x subscription? Check status For a retail applicant, this means a profit of Rs 3,990 on one lot. The company has fixed the price band for the IPO at Rs 402 to Rs 424 per share, and seeks to raise a total of Rs 450 crore from the markets. The IPO comprises issuance of fresh equity shares worth Rs 400 crore and Rs 50 crore will be raised through the Offer for Sale (OFS) route. It is important to note th…

India’s forex reserves rise to $675.16 billion, but remain $53 billion below February peak
type: item
creator: Shaurya Agarwal
date: 2026-07-17T12:59:24Z
subject: Economy
subject: ECONOMY
subject: economy news
subject: forex
subject: Forex Reserve
subject: Forex reserves
description: India’s foreign exchange reserves rose for a second consecutive week to $675.157 billion, driven by increased foreign currency assets amid RBI measures and external pressures from the West Asia conflict.
encoded: India’s foreign exchange reserves rose for a second consecutive week, supported by an increase in foreign currency assets, as the Reserve Bank of India’s measures to attract overseas deposits began providing an additional buffer against the external-sector pressures created by the West Asia conflict. The country’s reserves increased by $964 million to $675.157 billion in the week ended July 10, RBI data released on Friday showed. This followed a much sharper $7.26-billion increase in the preceding week, taking the cumulative addition over two weeks to $8.22 billion. The recovery, however, remains partial. India’s reserve stock is still $53.34 billion, or 7.3 per cent, below the record $728.494 billion reached in the week ended February 27. The subsequent erosion came as the West Asia conflict pushed crude oil prices higher, weakened risk appetite towards emerging markets and placed the rupee under sustained pressure. The RBI intervened repeatedly through dollar sales to contain volatile currency movements. ALSO READ FCNR(B) inflows short of expectations: Barclays According to a PTI report citing experts, the latest rise, therefore, strengthens India’s import and external-debt cover, but does not by itself signal that the pressure on the rupee or the RBI’s balance sheet has ended. Foreign currency assets drive the increase For the week ended July 10, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by USD 930 million to USD 546.508 billion, the central bank’s data showed. They accounted for more than 96 per cent of the overall weekly rise. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the valuation effect arising from movements in currencies such as the euro, pound sterling and Japanese yen. The weekly increase cannot, therefore, be treated entirely as evidence of fresh dollar purchases or capital inflows. Gold reserves registered a relatively marginal increase of $18 million to $105.223 billion. The composition was markedly diff…

Regulatory easing to open the generic drug floodgates
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T12:56:11Z
subject: Healthcare
subject: pharmaceutical
description: DCGI exempts low-risk drugs from prior bioequivalence nod
encoded: The central drug regulator has removed a key hurdle for the domestic generic drug launches by exempting nearly half of all low-risk bioequivalence (BE) studies from prior approval. The move has eliminated around 3,000 No Objection Certificates (NOCs) annually, based on the current spate of applications from drugmakers. BE studies are critical to develop generic drugs as they establish that a generic drug have same effect as the innovator drug. They are a mandatory step in generics development. At the FE Healthcare Summit & Awards 2026 here on Friday, the Drugs Controller General of India Rajeev Raghuvanshi said that by replacing the approval regime with a simple intimation process, the regulator has the shortened the drug development timelines, reduced uncertainty for pharma companies and contract research organisations (CROs), and freed up regulatory resources for crucial oversight activities. “There was no value addition by the regulator in many of these permissions. So, we have freed almost 50% of these bioequivalence studies from prior approval. It helps the industry and also frees our resources to do much more value-added work,” Raghuvanshi said. ALSO READ Serum Institute to invest $ 100 million for TB vaccine, signs agreement with Gates MRI Easing Pre-Clinical Approvals Besides bioequivalence studies, companies carrying out R&D and pre-clinical drug development no longer require prior approval from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and only need to notify the regulator before commencing research. According to Raghuvanshi, the changes are intended to reduce what he described as “regulatory anxiety” among innovators while maintaining oversight where it matters. “We are trying to solve the problem of regulatory anxiety. Till the companies go for first human testing, they don’t need to come to the regulator,” he said. The regulator said that it has digitised 99% of its processes and is developing an integrated end-to-end digital platform linking …

Gujarat farmers to take Adani transmission line protest statewide
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T12:47:44Z
subject: Industry
subject: adani
description: Farmers in Gujarat's Saurashtra region are planning to expand their month-long protest statewide, demanding higher compensation for land used in Adani Energy Solutions' 765-kV transmission project.
encoded: Farmers protesting against ‘inadequate’ compensation for power transmission infrastructure in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region plan to expand their month-long agitation statewide, intensifying pressure on Adani Energy Solutions Ltd.’s 765-kV transmission project linked to the Khavda Renewable Energy Park. Protest leaders said on Friday that memorandums would be submitted to collectors in every district, while committees are being formed at the taluka level to expand the agitation. Niket Panchasara, a close aide of Nehul Amruitya, one of the key leaders of the agitation, told FE on Friday that the agitation is now not confined to just Morbi. Nehul is the nephew of Kantilal Amrutiya, minister of state for labor, skill development, and employment. ALSO READ JSW Steel Q1FY27 profit doubles to Rs 4,696 crore, approves Rs 811 crore stake sale in JSW One IPO Panchasara’s father, Pranjivanbhai, holds 12.5 bigha of land, out of which 10 bigha will fall under poles and transmission lines. “What do I do with the remaining 2.5 bigha?” he asked. Pratik Patel, another farmer, challenged the state government to arrest them when they bring down the electricity poles if their demands are not met. Khavda Green Energy Link The project in contention is being implemented by Halvad Transmission Ltd. The company is a special purpose vehicle of AESL to draw additional power from the Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Kutch. The power transmission lines are spread over 240 kilometers. Located near the international border in the Rann of Kutch, the under-construction energy park is slated to be the world’s largest, spanning across more than 72,600 hectares of barren land. Estimated to cost Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, the park has multiple developers. Protest leaders say support for the agitation has continued to grow since it began in Jetpar village of Morbi on June 1. Farmers have been holding meetings across villages, while supporters gather daily at the protest camp—or “Chhavani”—where they participate i…

Andy Burnham to take oath as UK PM on Monday, promises ‘economy that works for all’
type: item
creator: Jigyasu Joshi
date: 2026-07-17T12:46:48Z
subject: World News
subject: Andy Burnham
subject: Britain
subject: UK
description: Andy Burnham was confirmed as the new leader of Britain’s Labour Party and is set to become prime minister next week, succeeding Keir Starmer and taking charge at 10 Downing Street.
encoded: Andy Burnham was confirmed Friday as the newly elected leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party, putting him on course to become prime minister-designate and take charge at 10 Downing Street next week. Burnham will be invited by King Charles III to form a new government on Monday, after outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally submits his resignation to the monarch. The announcement came from chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) Shabana Mahmood at a special party conference in London. With only one MP nominated for the role, the contest was a formality. “There was only one nominated MP… hardly a nail biter,” Mahmood told the conference. Message of continuity and change ALSO READ UK plans 6-hour social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds. Here’s how it will work In his first speech as Labour leader, Burnham said he was “ready to lead the party and to build on the foundations laid by Keir Starmer”, according to the BBC. He credited Starmer with taking Labour from its worst-ever defeat to its best-ever victory, putting the party in a position to change people’s lives. Burnham pointed to falling NHS waiting times and the rebuilding of Britain’s reputation on the world stage as among his predecessor’s key achievements. But he also struck a note of transformation, promising “a new politics based on unity and hope” and “an economy that works for everybody”, regardless of where they live. From Manchester to No. 10 Burnham’s rise has been anything but conventional. A decade ago, he walked away from a 20-year climb up the Labour ladder in London to run for mayor of Greater Manchester. A month ago, he returned to Parliament by winning a high-risk special election. And on Monday, he will become Britain’s 59th prime minister. The sudden downfall of Starmer after just two years in office has swept the 56-year-old Burnham into power. He arrives at No. 10 carrying the weight of expectation and unanswered questions about how he will handle it, according to t…

EPS Scheme 2026: Know when you can claim a lump-sum withdrawal and when you can’t
type: item
creator: Vipul Das
date: 2026-07-17T12:14:57Z
subject: Money
subject: EPF
subject: EPFO
subject: pension
description: Short career breaks do not necessarily break pensionable service, but failure to transfer previous EPS records can create gaps in the service history and complicate claim settlement.
encoded: The Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 2026, notified under the Code on Social Security, 2020, broadly retains the withdrawal benefit framework that existed under the earlier EPS, 1995. The most important distinction is whether a member completes 10 years of eligible pensionable service. While members with less than 10 years of eligible service can still claim a withdrawal benefit instead of a monthly pension, they can now do so only after a prescribed waiting period in most cases. Moreover, the amount payable is not based on your accumulated amount in the EPS account but is calculated using a formula. So, if you’re planning to change jobs, take a career break, or leave the workforce before completing 10 years under EPS, it’s worth understanding exactly how your withdrawal benefit is calculated, when you can claim it, and what options you have. ALSO READ New EPS Scheme 2026 Explained: 10 things every employee should know about what changed and what did not Scenario 1: Employee works continuously with the same employer for 10 years If an employee completes 10 years or more of eligible pensionable service without interruption, they cannot withdraw the EPS corpus as a lump sum. Instead, they become eligible for a monthly pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme upon attaining the prescribed pensionable age (currently 58 years, with provisions for early or deferred pension as per scheme rules). For example, if an employee joins an organisation at age 25 and remains employed with the same establishment for 10 continuous years while EPS contributions are made regularly, the accumulated service qualifies them for pension benefits rather than a withdrawal benefit. At the time of leaving employment after completing 10 years, they receive a Scheme Certificate, which preserves their pensionable service until they become eligible to draw a pension. ALSO READ EPFO pension rules: Settlement in 20 days, but here’s why many EPS claims still get rejected Scenario 2: Employee change…

JK Tyre sees raw material costs as key FY27 challenge
type: item
creator: Aniket Sharma
date: 2026-07-17T12:10:54Z
subject: Business News
subject: JK Tyres
description: CMD Dr. Raghupati Singhania says demand outlook remains positive despite geopolitical and supply chain risks
encoded: Raw material price volatility, geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and elevated logistics costs will remain the biggest challenges for the tyre industry in FY27, even as demand is expected to stay robust, according to JK Tyre & Industries Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Raghupati Singhania. “We are optimistic for FY27, supported by infrastructure-led growth, steady freight movement, new vehicle launches and continued sustained demand across OEM and replacement markets,” Singhania told Financial Express. However, he cautioned that “risks remain around raw material price volatility, geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and elevated logistics costs,” adding that the company’s diversified sourcing, strong manufacturing base and focus on operational efficiency position it well to navigate these challenges. ALSO READ Suzuki entry-level city EV spied ahead of launch Singhania said JK Tyre expects growth to be driven by capacity expansion, premiumisation of its product portfolio, a higher share of value-added products, stronger OEM partnerships and export growth. The company also sees emerging opportunities in electric vehicles and smart mobility. Record FY26 Earnings Despite a challenging operating environment in FY26, marked by geopolitical uncertainties and evolving market dynamics, JK Tyre reported its highest-ever consolidated revenue of ₹16,384 crore, EBITDA of ₹2,089 crore and profit after tax of ₹774 crore. According to Singhania, the company’s performance was supported by strong volume growth, particularly in the OEM business, a resilient replacement market, an improved product mix through premiumisation, and continued cost optimisation and operational efficiencies, which helped sustain healthy margins. Steady export performance and investments in technology, innovation and capacity expansion also strengthened its competitive position. Looking ahead, Singhania expects tyre demand to broadly track growth in the automotive industry…