The Ministry of Defence has initiated a Rs 2,000-crore procurement for 10 MALE drones for the Indian Coast Guard. Adani Defence, Solar Industries, and Tata Advanced Systems are expected to bid for the contract, which will enhance surveillance capabilities and provide persistent intelligence with advanced sensors and SATCOM.
Jefferies believes Eternal has entered a new phase where profitability takes precedence over market share, with Blinkit's improving margins and food delivery strength demonstrating that growth and returns can coexist. The brokerage retained its 'Buy' rating, raised its target price to Rs 415 from Rs 400, and sees around 45% upside, citing disciplined execution.
Sonia Gandhi condemns the Modi government's education policies and lack of accountability in the face of student protests in Delhi. She calls for support and protection of students as they demand fairness and reform. Congress president Kharge demands resignations and education reform from the government.
Trump's plan to impose steep tariffs on imported generic drugs has caused worry for Indian pharmaceutical companies heavily reliant on US market. Aurobindo Pharma is most at risk, while Torrent Pharma has the least exposure. Sun Pharma's mix of generic and branded products makes it less vulnerable. However, Macquarie believes the proposal is unfeasible and could have negative consequences.
A seaplane crash near Sucia Island in Washington State leaves 11 survivors. All flights for July 24 cancelled as airline supports passengers, employees, and emergency response. Plane took off from Seattle and was headed for Roche Harbor before making an emergency landing and catching fire. FAA and NTSB investigating cause. Viral videos show plane descending before loud thud.
Maharashtra government introduces Bharat Taxi, a cooperative ride-hailing app. The app offers car, auto-rickshaw, and bike taxi services with Mumbai's black-and-yellow taxi fare structure. The government launched 600 taxis and plans to expand to other cities. The fare has been fixed at ₹31 for the first 1.5 km and ₹21 per kilometre after that, making it a more affordable option for commuters.
Patreon CEO Jack Conte announced the layoff of 93 employees, about 20% of the workforce, in a public blog post. Despite the changes, the platform's core business will remain intact. The membership platform supports creators. Conte explained the need for increased agility and adapting to market changes, highlighting the importance of human creativity and connection over AI.
Motilal Oswal downgraded JSW Energy to 'Neutral' and reduced its target price to Rs 550, citing a 17% rally in the stock price and a 9% cut to the FY28 EBITDA estimate. Despite this, the company remains positive on JSW Energy's strong earnings growth, capacity expansion plan, and execution capabilities. The company's Q1 FY27 earnings exceeded expectations.
The government has imposed penalties of ₹2,732 crore on contractors and concessionaires for delays in National Highway projects, with ₹780 crore already recovered. 1,187 projects are still under construction, excluding those facing termination. NH-39 in Madhya Pradesh faced repeated contractor failures and had to be re-awarded on the EPC model.
UDYAM portal data reveals a rise in MSME employment over the last three years, with Uttar Pradesh leading the pack, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Trading is the top employer in this sector, raising concerns about manufacturing-based job growth. However, some states have witnessed a decline in reported MSME employment.
Sensex and Nifty experienced a tough trading session on Friday morning, with both indices down by over 1%. This was due to negative global cues, high crude oil prices, and rising tension in West Asia. The decline also affected small and midcap shares, with Nifty Smallcap 100 falling 1.4% and Nifty Midcap 100 declining 1%.
Saadia Zahidi, a World Economic Forum veteran, has become the first female director general of IATA, succeeding Willie Walsh. Her experience will aid the industry in adapting to changes and prioritizing safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Zahidi takes charge during a difficult period for aviation, with supply chain issues, decarbonisation goals, and increasing passenger demand.
The Q1 FY27 earnings season highlighted a widening gap between India's two largest IT companies. TCS entered the year with stronger execution, a 24% operating margin, robust AI-led deal wins and continued shareholder payouts, while Infosys lowered its FY27 revenue growth guidance due to softer demand, pricing pressure and AI-driven productivity gains, despite maintaining its margin outlook.
Heavy rainfall has caused disruptions in train services connecting Mumbai, Surat, Valsad, Ahmedabad, and other parts of Gujarat. 15 trains have been fully cancelled, one special train has been rescheduled, and two other services have been partially cancelled or short-terminated.
Southern Railway has announced special express trains for the Velankanni Festival, offering an additional travel option for devotees. These trains will operate on select dates in August and September 2026, reducing rush on regular services and making travel more convenient. The trains will pass through important stations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Godrej Capital, led by MD and CEO Manish Shah, plans to achieve a Rs 5,000-crore gold loan portfolio and Rs 1 lakh crore in assets under management by 2031. The company sees gold loans as a promising segment due to the rise in formal borrowing against gold. Its recent acquisition of Kanakadurga Finance's gold loan business adds Rs 280 crore.
17 Delhi Metro stations are temporarily closed due to security measures following a protest. The closures, in effect since 7:30 am, will continue until further orders. Commuters can use interchange facilities at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat. Train services are normal, but trains will not stop at closed stations.
Cockroach Janata Party leader Abhijeet Dipke expressed gratitude to Sonam Wangchuk for ending his 26-day hunger strike, but announced that nationwide protests will continue. The Centre replaced Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi with Naresh Gangwar amidst ongoing unrest.
Indian benchmark indices are likely to open weak on Friday due to geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in global markets. GIFT Nifty and Asian markets are trading lower. Investors will keep an eye on crude oil prices, gold and silver rates, FII activity, currency movements, and Q1FY27 earnings.
Waaree Renewable Technologies (WRTL), part of the Waaree Energies group, is targeting 11 GW of solar EPC orders in West Asia, while also pursuing 25-26 GW in India. They are also looking into battery energy storage systems, transmission and distribution, and data centres.
Sebi has introduced a new mutual fund-only portfolio management service for high-net-worth investors, with a minimum investment of Rs 25 lakh. This will allow portfolio managers to invest solely in mutual fund products, with simplified compliance and fee structures. Mutual fund distributors will also have to maintain a separate relationship with clients.
GIFT City, a financial hub in India, is gaining popularity among companies for raising funds and establishing operations. It serves as a gateway for accessing global capital at a lower cost, with 70% of external commercial borrowings being routed through it.
Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd's BIG FM has launched One Big World, an AI-powered media and entertainment ecosystem, to engage with consumers through various platforms. The model aims to attract younger audiences and provide measurable outcomes for partners, amidst disruption in the FM radio industry. RBNL plans to leverage its brand and local talent to build a connected content ecosystem.
AI is increasingly involved in cyber attacks, aiding in malware creation and intrusion operations. This has sped up the vulnerability discovery process, resulting in more prompts per user. Data leakage risk has doubled, particularly in Europe and Latin America. Anthropic's Project Glasswing has effectively addressed thousands of high-risk vulnerabilities using its unreleased model.
A parliamentary panel has suggested the gradual implementation of RBI's central bank digital currency to enhance the distribution of food subsidies. The panel proposes utilizing its features like quick transfers, traceability, and limited usage to expand the ongoing pilot program in Gujarat and Puducherry.
The government has allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in e-commerce for exports, with a focus on boosting India's e-commerce exports to $200-300 billion by 2030. This change in policy will allow e-commerce companies to hold their own inventory for export purposes, aligning the FDI framework with India's broader export promotion agenda.
The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026, inaugurated by PM Modi, will focus on hybrid projects, battery storage, floating solar, agrivoltaics, and green hydrogen. With non-fossil capacity at 297 GW and solar tariffs at ₹2.15 per unit, the summit aims to attract investments and strengthen international cooperation in renewable energy.
Mercedes-Benz India stays positive amidst challenges, plans to increase prices by 2% due to weak rupee. Strong first quarter with double-digit growth and focus on multi-powertrain strategy, including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. No policy support needed, keeping an eye on currency fluctuations before making decisions.
Indian exchanges have launched two new indices, the BSE Saatvik 100 and NSE 500 Ahimsa, based on values such as non-violence, compassion, and avoidance of harmful products. These indices aim to attract investors looking for ethical investment options, and have shown promising returns so far.
Adani Power is looking to build its first nuclear power project in Bina and Nigrie, Madhya Pradesh, with a goal of 10 GW capacity by 2035. Investment decisions hinge on government regulations and the company is considering both domestic and international reactor technologies. This foray into the nuclear sector could position Adani Power as India's third-largest nuclear operator.
Brent crude prices reaching $100 a barrel have resulted in supply route disruptions and increased costs for India's crude, freight, tanker, and insurance. This could bring back fiscal pressures for the country, with a 36.6% increase in crude costs in just 19 days. Longer voyages, higher shipping costs, and increased insurance premiums could add up to $8 a barrel.
InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, reported a net loss of ₹238 crore for the quarter due to high fuel prices, rupee depreciation, and West Asia disruptions. However, the loss has narrowed from the previous quarter, indicating improved profitability. Revenue exceeded expectations, but EBITDAR declined and fuel expenses surged.
1989-batch IAS officer Anurag Jain, known for his competitiveness and preparation, has been appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog for two years. With a background in engineering and public administration, and experience in key positions, he is well-suited for the role. His track record includes pioneering legislation, implementing flagship programs, and attracting major investments.
India's export-import trade has been severely affected by the war in West Asia, with shipping rates doubling and container availability decreasing. Equipment shortages and avoidance of Indian ports by some shipping lines have worsened the situation. As the conflict continues to escalate, India must focus on developing its own shipping line and container building capabilities.
India has approved its first dengue vaccine, Qdenga, which is designed to protect against all four dengue virus serotypes. The vaccine has shown an efficacy of 80.2% against confirmed dengue cases and 90.4% against dengue-related hospitalizations. It is expected to be available in India in the first half of 2027 and will be imported from Takeda's unit in Germany.
India plans to convert exhausted coal and lignite mines into clean-energy, industrial, and community assets through a ₹36,398.1-crore mine-closure program. 42 mines have already been closed, with 147 more identified for time-bound closure. 25% of annual closure costs will go towards community development and livelihood activities, with an additional 10% for just-transition measures.
Bollywood celebrities including Imran Khan, Huma Qureshi, Alia Bhatt, R Madhavan, and Shabana Azmi have joined the student protests against the NEET paper leak row, while others like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, and Sidharth Malhotra have chosen to stay silent. Celebrities like Hema Malini and Kangana Ranaut have criticized
Indian airlines are projected to face financial losses in FY27 despite an increase in domestic passenger traffic. The industry is expected to incur a net loss of ₹36,000-38,000 crore due to high fuel prices, aircraft lease rentals, and disruptions from the West Asia conflict. International operations have been significantly impacted, with a 31.6% decrease in passenger traffic.
Kia India has launched the Syros EV, its second locally manufactured electric vehicle, at an introductory price of ₹13.49 lakh. Bookings are open and deliveries will begin from July 30. With a range of 443-526 km, it will compete with Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV, and MG Windsor EV.
North Central Railway (NCR) is implementing a pilot project to introduce body-worn cameras for ticket-checking staff on two trains. The cameras will record both video and audio during ticket inspections, improving transparency and accountability. If successful, the project will be expanded to more trains.
Pune Metro Line 3 offers multiple ticketing options for commuters, including WhatsApp QR, NCMC, and the official Pune Metro app. The line will also have an AFC system and support the "One Nation, One Card" initiative. Ticket vending machines and manual counters will also be available. The line will cover 23 stations and support the NCMC from the first day of operations.
Air India has taken out its Airbus A319 planes from regular service, but they will still be used as backup until they are sold. The airline has six A319s, which will be sold by Skytech AIC without engines. This is part of Air India's plan to upgrade its fleet, making the A319 the second major aircraft type to leave. The planes have been in use for domestic flights since 2006.
Spicejet has acquired three Airbus A320 aircraft from Sky Angkor Air, which will begin operating this week with 180 all-economy seats. This move is part of the airline's strategy to regain market share and grow its domestic network. More aircraft are expected to be added in the near future as the company aims to recover from a decline caused by the departure of its wet-leased fleet.
Force Motors has launched an upgraded version of their Urbania van, priced at Rs 28.7 lakh. The new model has feature upgrades, a powerful engine, and is popular in the premium shared mobility segment. It comes in three wheelbases and eight seating layouts, with safety features, a TFT instrument cluster, and a 9-inch HD touchscreen.
The Adani Group is looking to enter the airline industry and has requested the AAI to relax rules. The government may ease restrictions on airport operators owning more than 10% of an airline, encouraging other business groups to enter the market. This could increase competition, but regulatory supervision is necessary to prevent conflicts of interest.
Bernstein believes Donald Trump's proposed tariffs of up to 200% on Indian generic medicines are more likely to be a negotiating tactic than a lasting policy shift. The brokerage says large Indian pharmaceutical companies remain well positioned due to their existing US manufacturing footprint, operational flexibility and the high cost of producing generic medicines in the US.
India is set to become a key player in the growing global military drone market, as it is projected to spend $25-30 billion on drones and $4-5 billion on counter-drone systems in the next 10 years. Drones are changing the dynamics of warfare, with affordability being a crucial factor and both offensive and defensive capabilities being vital.
Domestic equity market trades lower by midday on July 23 due to caution around global developments and weakness in heavyweight sectors. Nifty hovers above 23,850 level and Sensex trades over 76,350. HEG attracts strong buying, Waaree Renewable Technologies slips despite reporting strong growth.
Bernstein says ICICI Bank has extended its lead over HDFC Bank after the June quarter, outperforming in loan growth, deposits, margins and profitability. While HDFC Bank continues to face pressure from weak retail lending and lower loan yields, the brokerage retained 'Outperform' ratings on both banks.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary received a warning from the NTSB after a passenger was almost sucked out of a Boeing 737 NG operated by the carrier's subsidiary. The NTSB reminded O'Leary of his obligations as a technical advisor and the traumatized passenger has spoken out about the incident. A draft report is expected soon.