The journey from Leh to Nubra Valley via Khardung La pass is a must-visit, historically rich and diverse region. It was captured by the Indian Army from Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak War and is now home to the Balti people with their unique language and culture. While tourism has brought prosperity, it has also caused pollution, making cleanliness a key concern.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, starting on July 20, will focus on passing key bills such as the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill and the Income-Tax (Amendment) Bill. The session will also introduce new bills, including the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, aimed at improving ease of doing business and addressing delayed payments to MSMEs.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu topped the Investment Friendliness Index released by NITI Aayog, highlighting the importance of states in creating a business-friendly environment. Bihar ranked last, while Uttarakhand, Goa, and Delhi were top performers in their categories. The IFI aims to promote reforms, encourage peer learning, and attract private investment for economic growth.
Rystad Energy forecasts a $15-20 per barrel geopolitical risk premium in crude prices due to the escalating conflict between the US and Iran. The chances of sustained fighting have risen to 20% and the likelihood of no agreement has reached 55%.
The government is releasing a revised Index of Core Industries (ICI) on Monday, including iron ore and increasing the number of industries tracked to nine. The base year has been updated to 2022-23 from 2011-12. This marks the first revision since 2017 and follows similar exercises for other macro-economic data.
PM Modi launches India's first hydrogen fuel train, a symbol of the country's expertise in eco-friendly rail transport. The train, built under "Make in India," boasts a 3,200-horsepower engine and 10 coaches, making it the world's strongest hydrogen train. With a top speed of 75 kmph and a 3,000 kg hydrogen storage and refueling facility, it promises economic growth and job opportunities.
Parametric insurance is a fast way to recover from climate-related events, paying a pre-agreed amount based on measurable parameters. It is beneficial for gig workers and farmers who can lose income due to extreme weather. However, it is not a substitute for traditional insurance and has limitations such as fixed payouts and limited event coverage.
The Pension Fund Regulator's new digital toolkit, PRIDE-DISHA, allows National Pension System subscribers to make informed retirement planning decisions by comparing performance of different pension fund managers. It uses an extended internal rate of return (XIRR) to display accurate returns and accumulated corpus based on historical net asset value (NAV) growth.
The inclusion of foreign income and investment data in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) will improve tax compliance and reduce errors. Taxpayers must reconcile the information with their records and disclose all foreign assets to avoid penalties.
EPFO launches "VISHWAS, 2026" to settle disputes through a digital and time-bound process. The scheme aims to promote voluntary compliance, reduce litigation, and resolve long-pending disputes related to penalty/damages. Concessional rates of 0.25%, 0.50%, and 1% per month will be applied for defaults.
India's thermal power capacity saw a significant increase of 1.6 GW, but execution delays and stranded projects are still a concern. With peak power demand expected to reach 300 GW next year, only 22% of the FY27 target has been met. The government plans to add 97 GW of coal-based capacity by 2034-35 to meet the growing demand.
India's export growth in April-May was not just due to higher commodity prices, as 72 out of 100 product categories saw an increase in export volumes. While petroleum exports rose due to crude prices, engineering goods, agriculture, and high-growth sectors like drug formulations and steel products were the main drivers.
The central drug regulator has exempted half of low-risk bioequivalence studies, making it easier for domestic generic drugs to be launched. This has reduced burden on pharmaceutical companies and freed up regulatory resources. Digitization of processes and development of a digital platform to streamline drug value chain have also been implemented.
Farmers in Gujarat's Saurashtra region are protesting against inadequate compensation for power transmission infrastructure, specifically targeting Adani Energy Solutions Ltd.'s project. The protest is expected to spread statewide, with committees formed at the taluka level. Despite a revised government policy, farmers are demanding 400% of market value and a rerouting of the transmission.
The Indian government's new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme has boosted EMS stocks, particularly Dixon Technologies. While the stock has seen recent gains, it has also declined in the past year. Experts have varying opinions on how the scheme will affect Dixon Technologies.
Indian airlines have significantly reduced operations on the India-West Asia corridor due to the Iran-Israel conflict, cutting 1.73 million seats between March and June. Meanwhile, foreign carriers have maintained their schedules, showing the resilience of their hub-based networks.
India's maritime combat capability has been enhanced with the arrival of advanced MH-60R "Romeo" Seahawk naval helicopters from Lockheed Martin. These helicopters are equipped with advanced sensors and weapons systems, making them highly capable for various missions. This highlights the growing defense partnership between India and the United States.
The first scheduled commercial flight between Daman and New Delhi was launched today, connecting the two cities twice a week. The flight was flagged off by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. Operated by Alliance Air, the new service aims to improve connectivity, boost tourism, and support business and investment in the region.
SBI Funds Management IPO, which closed with an overall subscription of 41.73 times, is expected to finalise its allotment today, July 17. The IPO, which attracted strong demand, saw the QIB portion being subscribed 140.11 times, followed by NII at 22.51 times and retail at 3.76 times. The grey market premium is around Rs 97 per share, implying a premium of 17%.
Anurag Kumar, a senior IPS officer, has been appointed as Delhi's new Commissioner of Police, signaling a major reshuffle in the city's law-enforcement leadership. With his extensive experience and intelligence background, Kumar is expected to focus on intelligence-led policing, community engagement, and improved coordination with other agencies.
Caliber Mining's IPO, aiming to raise Rs 450 crores, has a price band of Rs 402 to Rs 424 per share and is open for bidding until July 21. The issue includes a fresh issue of Rs 400 crores and an offer for sale of Rs 50 crores. As of 12:30 PM, the IPO has been subscribed 0.72 times, with strong interest from retail investors. Allotment is expected soon.
Antique Stock Broking maintains a positive view on select financial stocks, including Union Bank of India, HDFC Life Insurance, and ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company, due to their strong June-quarter earnings and reinforced long-term earnings outlook.
Nuvama initiates coverage on Siemens Energy with a ‘Buy’ rating and a target price of Rs 4,200, implying a 20% upside. The company is positioned to benefit from India's projected Rs 7.93 lakh crore transmission investment cycle through FY36. Its portfolio in the high-growth 400–765kV segment, robust export growth.
Maruti Suzuki to challenge court order to replace vehicle over E20 fuel concerns, citing evidence of fuel contamination. Raises concerns about E20 fuel compatibility and quality for older cars. Court orders compensation for mental harassment and litigation costs, highlighting challenges of India's move towards higher ethanol blending in petrol.
The highly subscribed SBI Funds Management IPO is awaiting the basis of allotment, to be finalized today. The issue saw strong demand from institutional, retail, and shareholder categories. Successful applicants can expect shares to be credited before the July 21 listing. Investors can check their status on BSE, NSE, or KFin Technologies, but should keep in mind the risks involved in investing.
The popular Mix Up-Down toy train on the Kalka-Shimla railway line has resumed operations after a summer break. The budget-friendly train runs daily, stopping at all 18 stations between Kalka and Shimla. It is a convenient and affordable option for tourists and local passengers, with a fare of just ₹50.
India's data centre industry is boosting the power sector, benefiting companies like NTPC, JSW Energy, Tata Power, and Torrent Power. By 2030, data centres are expected to account for 7-8% of peak power demand, leading to a surge in demand.
The Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur Special Train on July 18 has been cancelled by Western Railway due to operational reasons. This will impact passengers travelling between Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Passengers should find alternative travel options and check the route and list of stations affected.
SCR has extended the Hyderabad-Gorakhpur special train services to meet growing demand and provide convenience to passengers. This will ease the load on the busy route, offer more options and increase chances of confirmed tickets. The trains will pass through major stations in Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta unveiled a new policy to boost startups and entrepreneurship in the city. With an investment of Rs 400 crore, the policy aims to make Delhi a hub for startups and provide support for turning ideas into successful businesses. It will cover educational institutions and offer financial aid, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Motilal Oswal is optimistic about the future of HDFC Group, especially HDFC Bank. The brokerage predicts strong growth for the bank due to its sustainable and profitable expansion strategy. HDFC Life Insurance and HDFC AMC also show promise with their expanding product portfolios. However, HDB Financial Services is viewed with caution despite improvements in margins and asset quality.
Indian Railways has extended two special train services connecting Telangana with Bihar and Bihar with Karnataka to meet the increasing demand for train travel. These trains will continue operating for several weeks with multiple trips and provide additional seats for passengers during the busy season. They will stop at major stations and offer various coach options.
US President Donald Trump used a 25-minute address to the nation on Thursday to once again question the integrity of the 2020 US presidential election, announce the release of what he called new classified documents linked to China, and urge Congress to pass stricter voting laws.
Wipro's Q1 earnings saw a stagnant net profit and a decrease in IT revenue compared to last year, resulting in a 15-quarter low operating margin due to higher employee costs and lower utilisation levels. However, the company reported a rise in large deal bookings and declared an interim dividend. While the stock has slightly increased in the last five trading sessions.
PM Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several important highway projects in North India today, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway which will reduce travel time between Delhi and Katra to 6 hours. Other projects include the Ambala-Kala Amb Highway, Jind-Gohana Greenfield Highway, and IT City to Kurali Greenfield Highway.
Indian Railways is set to launch its first hydrogen-powered train today, along with two new train services and 75 redeveloped railway stations. The train will run on the Jind-Sonipat route, covering 356 km daily and stopping at 13 stations. PM Modi will also inaugurate the Kartoli-Ambala City Express and Chheharta-Varanasi Sant Ravidas Express.
Piramal Finance aims for strong growth in FY27, with focus on gold and microfinance loans. Despite some stress in secured book, company closely monitoring. Gold loans showing promising growth, 200 branches to open. 50-60 rural branches for microfinance. Approval for Rs 4,000 crore fundraising to support expansion. Q1 results positive.
The Gates MRI and Serum Institute of India have partnered to produce M72/AS01E, a promising TB vaccine pending Phase III trial results. This could be the first new TB vaccine in a century and a major breakthrough. SII will invest over $100 million to enhance manufacturing and was chosen for its track record in producing affordable and high-quality vaccines.
Sebi proposes a unified Common Advertisement Code to regulate financial services advertising, replacing six existing frameworks. The code aims to strengthen compliance and accountability through stricter regulations on celebrity endorsements and post-issuance reporting within 24 hours.
Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd, a joint venture between NTPC and NPCIL, has invited bids for a Rs 28,000-crore package for the Mahi Banswara nuclear power project in Rajasthan. This is the largest nuclear-island tender under India's indigenous reactor programme and covers the primary core infrastructure for four 700-MW pressurised heavy water reactors.
The Centre is considering reintroducing MDR on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000 for large merchants to cover increasing operational costs. The proposed MDR will not exceed 0.5% and smaller businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore may be exempt. A decision is expected in a month, despite industry body PCI's plea to reconsider the zero-MDR policy.
The Indian government aims to raise the country's food processing level to 25% by 2031, leading to increased value addition, exports, and investments. Plans for a national processing mission or PLI scheme are in the works, along with the creation of a 'Bharat' brand to promote Indian processed foods globally. The focus should shift from production to value creation and improving nutrition.
Brakes India and Wheels India's first shipment to the UK after CETA boosts confidence in European market for Indian automotive industry. UK currently accounts for 3% of exports, expected to rise with new deal. Indian auto component industry competitive in global supply chain, with $1,370 million trade deficit. Preparing for electric vehicle transition and promoting localization.
Kharif crop sowing down by 16% due to delayed monsoon, only 48% of normal acreage covered. Agriculture Minister prepares contingency plans for deficient districts. Cumulative rainfall below average, with June at 40% deficit and July at 4% above benchmark. Wide productivity gap in crops, with focus on quality.
AI is rapidly transforming business strategy and product development, but the reliability of AI systems depends on the quality of data. IDC projects that AI spending in India will grow significantly, highlighting the need for trusted, high-quality data. Data governance is now seen as an enabler of intelligent operations, providing visibility, traceability, and accountability for AI systems.
The power ministry is collaborating with stakeholders to ensure energy security for data centre developers. A proposed roadmap will align investments with transmission expansion, discom readiness, and green power availability. Plans for reliable power, dual-grid connectivity, and grid stability are being evaluated to support the expected surge in data centre capacity, driven by the rise of AI.
SBI Funds Management's IPO, the biggest public issue of the year, was subscribed 41.66 times, with bids worth over Rs 3 lakh crore. Retail participation was high, while QIBs bid for 140.11 times the reserved shares. Domestic financial institutions and foreign institutional investors were major bidders.
The June quarter saw a significant decrease in new project announcements, with only 663 projects compared to an average of 1,370 in the previous twelve quarters. Private sector investments in data centers and nuclear plants dominated, while the government sector and electricity and information technology sectors also saw changes.
Suzuki is preparing to launch its new entry-level electric vehicle, based on the Vision e-Sky concept, which will have a similar size as the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso. The production model will have updated exterior features and a spacious interior. The release date has been delayed, but it is expected to have a 20-25 kWh battery and a range of 270 km. Its availability is uncertain.
Indian government increases export taxes on diesel and aviation fuel by ₹7 per litre, starting July 16, due to US-Iran tensions and possible supply disruptions. Goal is to keep more fuel in domestic market with high global prices. Regular review and adjustment based on market conditions.