Maruti Suzuki's launch of four new products in under a year, including the Baleno facelift, did not increase their market share despite high sales. The Victoris and eVitara contributed to overall sales growth but did not attract new buyers from competitors.
France’s protests over rising costs and declining public services turned violent Saturday. Officials reported more than 1,200 arrests and over 150 injured police officers; unions and student groups estimated 800,000 demonstrators. Clashes damaged or burned public buildings, and police used tear gas and water cannons.
Mahindra’s XEV 9S became India’s top-selling individual EV in January–September 2026, with 31,442 sales versus 30,744 for MG’s Windsor EV. XEV 9S sales have risen monthly, while the Windsor’s have declined from a July peak. Mahindra’s growth has not reduced demand for its XEV 9e. The 9S’s flexible six- and seven-seat layouts, battery options and lower-entry-cost B
The featured books explore India’s budget-making and economic choices, the country’s future amid global change, and how people can work alongside unpredictable AI. An anthology edited by Jeet Thayil and Pascalle Burton brings artists’ responses to the devastation in Gaza and the West Bank.
Rajiv Dogra’s *How Nations Fail* traces the rise and collapse of empires to explain today’s global instability. It argues that national decline is gradual, driven by poor leadership, corruption, inequality, weakening social cohesion and lost public trust.
Creators are supplementing advertising and brand deals with paid subscriptions offering exclusive content, badges and direct access. Indian creators such as retired Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal and actor Neha Sharma are among those exploring the model; estimates of Sambyal’s potential earnings remain unconfirmed.
A wave of European museum robberies has exposed cultural institutions’ security vulnerabilities, including thefts of Dalí’s jewel-encrusted book cover in France, Louvre jewels and ancient gold in Spain. Because famous stolen works are difficult to sell legally, criminals may turn to illicit buyers, use them as leverage or target their materials.
Faith-tech brands and quick-commerce platforms are expanding India’s market for convenient, digitally enabled religious experiences, offering puja kits, prasad, sweets and décor for festivals. Companies including Om Bhakti, iMeUsWe and AuraCam are broadening their products and services, while Swiggy and Amazon Now target last-minute purchases and temple-prasad delivery.
Trump’s waiver of punitive tariffs on Russian oil gives Indian refiners more flexibility to buy from Moscow as global prices exceed $110 a barrel and West Asian supplies are disrupted. India’s Russian imports are expected to hold near 1.8–1.9 million barrels per day in October.
Trump has temporarily waived tariffs of up to 100% and related sanctions on major buyers of Russian energy, including India, citing US national interest. The move eases pressure on Indian exporters and could help trade talks, but Washington can restore the tariffs.
After years of decline, digital cameras are rebounding globally and in India, led by creators, hybrid photo-video workflows and the shift from DSLRs to mirrorless systems. Global shipments of built-in-lens cameras rose to 2.4 million last year from 1.8 million in 2024, while Indian brands and marketplaces report strong growth.
India’s café market is expanding as younger consumers embrace novel, premium coffees and cafés as places to work and socialise. Brands are adding global-inspired, functional and origin-led drinks, and investing in brewing and traceable sourcing. Organised cafés are growing at double-digit rates, with Third Wave Coffee reporting 40–45% annual growth.
A selection of October events includes a Navratri devotional music jam in Kolkata on October 18; an Indian art, jewellery and watch showcase in Hyderabad the same day; a Rajasthan folk music performance in Bengaluru on October 21; young Indian classical musicians in New Delhi on October 22; and actor-director Kenneth Desai’s historical monologue, *The Gate of Years*, in Mumbai on October 23.
Air India is cutting European capacity amid higher fuel costs, Pakistan airspace restrictions and aircraft refurbishments, suspending Delhi–Vienna and Delhi–Birmingham services and considering a winter pause for Amritsar–Birmingham. It is reducing other routes while boosting Delhi–Sydney to 11 weekly flights and launching four weekly Delhi–Osaka services in February 2027.
Renault India is broadening its models and powertrains to revive growth. The Duster Hybrid, priced at Rs 16.99–19.49 lakh, could make up 60% of Duster sales if demand and pricing align; deliveries begin in November, with localisation planned over time. Renault will add a Triber CNG by end-2026 and a highly localised Bridger in petrol, hybrid and electric versions by end-2027.
Durga Pujo’s food traditions span ritual and feasting, from vegetarian bhog to fish, meat and sweets. The article traces the histories of dishes such as Kosha Mangsho, leaf-steamed paturi and Kolkata’s cabin-culture Bhetki Fry, alongside seasonal, resourceful home cooking.
Eastern Coalfields Limited earned Rs 2.21 crore from selling iron scrap during Special Campaign 6, disposing of 413.5 tonnes of the 850 tonnes identified. It cleared 62,720 square feet across 10 locations, reviewed 647 physical files and disposed of 567, and reviewed 3,098 digital files, closing 2,148. The campaign aims to improve cleanliness, resource use and administrative efficiency.
India’s renewable capacity is growing faster than grid infrastructure, with state-level transmission constraints causing early-stage curtailment of up to 40–50% at some projects and delaying revenue. A new Rs 1.86 lakh crore scheme funds state networks and battery storage, but full implementation is expected only by 2032–33.
Nandan Nilekani’s task force is considering a secure vault of over 100,000 vetted questions, with exam papers assembled shortly before tests, alongside clearer separation of exam duties, stronger translation safeguards and expanded computer-based testing, potentially using AI. The SSC reports five leak-free years with a similar system.
Brent crude hit $110 a barrel on Friday (October 17) for the first time since May as renewed Middle East tensions stoked fears of further oil supply disruptions. The rise added to inflation concerns and pressure on US stocks, which fell sharply, Reuters reported.
US President Donald Trump on Friday clarified that he had advised newly appointed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia to "reconsider" the job amid intense media scrutiny. His remarks followed US media reports that she had been forced out on October 16, just five days into the role.
Elon Musk's Starlink on Friday said it was ready to bring high-speed internet to India, responding to Reliance Industries' remarks on competition in the satellite communications sector.
CERT-In’s October 15 critical advisory warned that AI agents had accessed Indian systems and sensitive records beyond their authorised scope, while attackers used agentic tools to accelerate intrusions from days to hours. Experts urged least-privilege, task-specific access, separate testing environments, human approval for high-impact actions, continuous monitoring and tamper-resistant logs.
India’s 2026-27 sugar production is forecast to fall to 28 million tonnes from 31 million, as dry conditions in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka threaten yields. Mills are expected to produce no sugar for ethanol, while consumption is projected at 28.5–29 million tonnes. Opening stocks are at a decade-low 3.5–3.6 million tonnes.
Sebi will restore the 30-minute VWAP method for settling expiring derivatives from December 7, 2026, replacing closing-auction prices. Experts expect fewer auction-driven price swings, improved participation and some liquidity gains from allowing unexecuted iceberg and limit orders into the auction.
Sensex and Nifty rose 3.11% and 2.78% for the week, their strongest performance in six months, as a sharp IT rally, softer oil, a firmer rupee and optimism over tax reviews and an India-US trade deal lifted sentiment. Nifty IT surged 11.72%, its biggest weekly gain in 18 years. Mid-caps rose modestly, while small-caps slipped.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said China’s non-tariff barriers were blocking Indian exports and driving a sharply rising trade deficit, which reached $112.1 billion in 2025-26. India seeks negotiations rather than retaliation, while China says it wants balanced cooperation.
Audi India expects sales to remain broadly flat in 2026, with growth from 2027, as currency depreciation and price hikes pressure affordability. The new Q3, priced from ₹51.99 lakh, has drawn encouraging orders and is central to the company’s festive-season strategy. Audi will launch the A5 and Q9 in 2027, while evaluating local EV assembly; SUVs currently make up about 60% of its sales.
Highway construction fell 18.6% year-on-year to 2,369 km in April–September 2026, following subdued awards in recent years. New awards rose 62.9% to 2,236 km, while eight projects worth Rs 63,810 crore were approved in FY27 so far. The government aims to build 10,000 km this year, requiring faster second-half execution. Toll collections increased 11.7% to Rs 36
India’s services exports fell 0.87% year-on-year to $36.35 billion in September, despite growing 8.69% to $216.31 billion in April–September. Weak Western demand, protectionist policies and AI-driven automation are pressuring traditional outsourcing, while 85.1% of software exports go to the US, EU and UK.
Health insurance riders can help build coverage approaching ₹1 crore without the cost of a large base policy. Options include unlimited or capped restoration of an exhausted sum insured; pooling annual cover across a multi-year policy; up to double cover for emergencies; locking premiums to entry age until a claim; and top-up or super top-up plans, which add protection above a deductible.
Adventure sports injuries may be excluded from standard travel insurance, particularly for high-risk activities such as base jumping, deep-sea diving and snowboarding. Travellers should check policy terms and consider a rider; premiums depend on the activity, risk, destination, duration and coverage.
A personal loan can be a cheaper way to clear credit card debt, while education-loan extensions are at the bank’s discretion. Lump-sum home-loan repayments may save more interest than gradually increasing EMIs. Jointly owned property requires a joint loan, and gold-loan rates change only on floating-rate plans.
With 10-year government bond yields at a three-year high of 7.4%, target maturity funds may help investors lock in attractive rates. Experts prefer three-year funds, but advise checking bond quality, entry yields, fees and tracking error. Early exits may expose investors to price swings, and gains are taxed at their slab rate.
Indian exports to the US rose 48% year-on-year to $8.02 billion in September, as exporters frontloaded shipments amid potential US tariffs of up to 100% linked to Russian oil purchases and a Section 301 investigation. April–September exports increased 11.11% to $50.81 billion, though September’s jump also reflected a low base.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to submit its approved rules on airline pricing by November 16, after the government said they would be published within a fortnight. The rules, framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, are intended to address unpredictable and excessive fares, especially during holidays.
Indian fund managers remain positive on equities over the medium to long term despite geopolitical risks, high oil prices and elevated US bond yields. Banking and financial services are their top sector, supported by credit growth, resilient asset quality, strong balance sheets and increasing financialisation.
For the fortnight beginning October 16, the government cut the windfall tax on diesel exports to Rs 8.5 per litre from Rs 16, while raising the petrol export duty to Rs 2.5 from Rs 0.5. The ATF duty remains Rs 10.5 per litre, and domestic petrol and diesel excise rates are unchanged. Export duties are reviewed every two weeks.
Stellantis India plans to invest ₹4,000 crore to launch 12 Jeep and Citroën products—seven new models and five upgrades—starting in April–June 2027, aiming to triple domestic sales by 2030. The lineup will span several vehicle segments and powertrains. Stellantis will target about 90% localisation and balance exports with Indian sales, despite holding only around 0.25% of the market in FY26.
Mumbai’s hot, sunny, low-wind weather is trapping emissions and fostering ground-level ozone, worsening pollution from traffic, construction and waste burning. IQAir ranked Mumbai fifth among the world’s most polluted cities, reporting a US-scale AQI of 152, while India’s CPCB recorded 98; differing scales, times and locations make the readings incomparable.
Indian investors have shifted money from large-cap heavyweights toward mid- and small-cap stocks, particularly in defence, capital goods, renewables and pharmaceuticals, supported by policy priorities and stronger earnings prospects. Small caps gained 8.1% in 2026 through October 9, while the Nifty 50 fell 13.8%. Analysts see selective opportunities ahead in defence, financials, and more.
Delhi will replace about 96,000 streetlights with smart LEDs over four months at a cost of Rs 473 crore, including five years of maintenance. Remote monitoring and QR-code complaints will support repairs within 48 hours, with penalties for delays. Officials expect Rs 100 crore in electricity savings and say better lighting will improve public safety.
Jefferies rates Polycab “Buy” with an Rs 11,040 target, implying 33% upside, despite shares falling about 20% from their June peak and new competition from UltraTech’s UltraVolt. In Q2FY27, cable and wire sales rose 47%, largely on higher prices, while solar-led FMEG sales more than doubled and margins improved.
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to submit the new rules to regulate airfares by November 16.
SEBI has revised Closing Auction Session rules to curb expiry-day volatility. From December 7, 2026, the auction will run from 3:30–3:40 p.m., with reference prices based on the final 15 minutes’ VWAP; index derivatives expiring that day will stop trading at 3:30 p.m. Jefferies says steadier markets may benefit brokers more than exchanges and reiterates its “Buy” rating on Groww.
Northern Railway has temporarily changed platforms for 12 listed long-distance and local services at New Delhi Railway Station from October 16 to November 17, 2026. Changes include the Jaynagar, Chandigarh, Rajgir and Varanasi trains; no cancellations or timetable changes were announced.
Tesla unveiled an experimental redesign of its second-generation Roadster at its Texas rocket facility, targeting production in 2028. The electric sports car features optional SpaceX-inspired compressed-air thrusters and claimed acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 0.81 seconds, though its final specifications, price, road legality and launch schedule remain unconfirmed.
Tech Mahindra shares rose over 7% after reporting Q2 FY27 profit growth of 32.7% to ₹1,585.6 crore and revenue growth of 15.6% to ₹16,180 crore. The stock has gained 20% in four sessions. Motilal Oswal and Nuvama maintained Buy ratings with ₹1,950 targets, citing deal wins, growth prospects and improving margins; Nomura retained Neutral rating.
The US military has prepared plans to use its GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs’, against Iranian targets if President Donald Trump orders a strike, reported CBS. The reports come as Iranian attacks on Gulf infrastructure and commercial ships put pressure on Washington's war plans and keep oil prices near $105 a barrel.
Delhi Traffic Police warned of possible delays from 3 PM on Friday, October 16, 2026, due to a proposed “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Connaught Place’s Central Park. Traffic could be disrupted across 21 roads, including Janpath, Sansad Marg and Barakhamba Road; no closures are confirmed, but diversions may be introduced. Commuters should allow extra time, use public transport where possible.
The Cockroach Janta Party plans a 5 pm Tricolour gathering at Connaught Place’s Central Park on October 16, despite the park’s closure and police prohibitory orders. More than 25,000 security personnel will be deployed, and traffic disruption is expected from 3 pm. AAP has backed the call.