Cisco is witnessing a rise in the use of AI in customer experience by Indian enterprises, but most are in the initial stages of implementation. Only 21% have the required infrastructure for AI workloads, and updating networks is vital for progress.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recommending that the Trump administration increase the travel ban list from 19 countries to 30 or 32 nations, according to a CNN report. Nationals from these countries currently face restrictions on travel to the United States.Â
The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee meeting starts today and the decision on interest rates will be revealed by the RBI Governor on December 5 at 10:00 AM. Economists are split on whether the RBI will keep its neutral stance or decrease rates, due to the opposing factors of high GDP growth and low inflation.
OpenAI's chatbot, ChatGPT, experienced a global outage at around 1 am today, affecting users both in India and in the US. The company has since fixed the issue and is monitoring the recovery. During the downtime, users were unable to access their previous chats and received error messages.
Virat Kohli, who recently retired from Tests and T20Is, will be playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi. This will be his first appearance since 2010. He has confirmed his availability to the DDCA and will play all matches in Karnataka. With an impressive record of 56 centuries and 83 fifties in List-A matches.
Major companies have announced updates in fundraising, regulatory actions, project orders, and partnerships, drawing market attention. The Sensex and Nifty closed weak, with State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks. Canara Bank raised Rs 3,500 crore through Additional Tier-I bonds.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies saw a surge in value, with smaller coins rising over 10%, after a recent sharp drop that wiped out nearly $1 billion in new bets. Positive developments, such as an "innovation exemption" and Vanguard's announcement to allow crypto trading, fueled the rally. However, traders remain cautious as the overall market sentiment remains fragile.
The Trump administration has put a full pause on immigration applications from people in 19 countries that were already under travel restrictions earlier this year, The New York Times reported
The man accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, DC, last week has now been charged with first-degree murder and several other serious gun and assault charges, Axios reported. The details were shared in court documents filed on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump has said that he is cancelling every document that former President Joe Biden signed using an autopen. This includes pardons, commutations, executive orders and any other official papers. He made the announcement on Tuesday in a post on Truth Social.
PRI aims to cater to the evolving preferences of consumers by introducing Xclamation, a premium multi-category range for Gen Z. The sale of Imperial Blue is in line with their strategy of premiumisation, and they anticipate significant growth in the future. The company is also investing in a new malt distillery and advocates for fair taxation policies.
Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, aims to establish 1 lakh EV charging points by 2030 in partnership with 13 operators. They have already installed 2,000 exclusive charging points in 1,100 cities, with a focus on highways and expressways.
The government has no plans to increase the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in public sector banks (PSBs) from 20% to 49%, according to Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. The current FDI caps stand at 20% for PSBs and 74% for private banks, with up to 49% allowed automatically in the latter.
Bata India is defying its legal battle with Crocs Inc. by expanding its Floatz brand, which has contributed 15% of its revenue. The company plans to open more exclusive outlets and expand globally. Despite the ongoing dispute, Bata has invested in new product ranges, including Disney and Marvel-themed editions, and assures that it has not affected its business planning or supply.
The two-wheeler industry saw a 21% rise in sales in November, with all major manufacturers except Bajaj Auto reporting strong double-digit growth. Hero MotoCorp remained the top seller with a 30% increase in sales. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Suzuki Motorcycle India also saw a 23% rise in sales.
In the largest SGS auction of Q3FY26, 13 states raised Rs 29,725 crore, 41.5% higher than initially indicated, reflecting renewed funding needs. Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA, noted that SGS cut-offs have hardened despite a slight decline in tenor, with the 10-year G-Sec softening to 6.51%. Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan, founder of Rockfort Fincap
Wakefit Innovations, India's biggest D2C home furnishings company, is set to take on Ikea in the local market through its IPO and expansion strategies. With plans to open large stores featuring home furnishings in Bangalore and backed by Peak XV, the firm offers a wide range of home solutions. The IPO bidding period is from December 8 to 10, with analysts having mixed opinions on its success.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance suggests making the National Statistical Commission (NSC) an autonomous body with legal provisions to enhance the trustworthiness and accuracy of India's statistics. The committee's 27th report emphasizes that the NSC lacks statutory support and enforcement capability, hindering its full potential.
The government is considering allowing farmers and those in cottage industries to form limited liability partnerships (LLPs) to take advantage of light-touch regulations. A proposed amendment to the LLP Act would allow primary producers to bypass the traditional process of creating producer companies and reduce compliance burden.
Industry body PHDCCI has requested the re-introduction of a 15% concessional tax rate for new manufacturing units in the upcoming Budget. This would provide a major incentive for foreign companies to invest in India. The body also suggested reducing tax rates for individuals and firms, which would increase compliance and tax buoyancy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed the importance of collaboration in tax matters as new financial products and digital economies emerge. She highlighted the significance of beneficial ownership, confidentiality, and cybersecurity.
Bulgarian Gen Z protesters demand government resignation and fight against corruption, sparked by controversial budget plan and decision to adopt Euro. Organized through social media, youth fear taxes, limited opportunities, and corruption may push them to emigrate. Similar protests seen in other countries.
Car manufacturers are offering less discounts this December due to high demand and low inventory levels caused by GST 2.0 price reset. Dealers are operating with tighter supply and discounts are only available on slower-moving models and pre-facelift variants.
Meesho, a SoftBank-backed e-commerce firm, has received a massive response from anchor investors, with over Rs 2,439 crore raised from 60 investors including SBI Mutual Fund, Fidelity Funds, and BlackRock. The company aims to raise Rs 5,421 crore through its IPO, with a price band of Rs 105-111 per share.
President Trump's health has been a topic of debate after reports of fatigue and age-related health concerns. However, the White House released logs showing the President worked up to 12 hours a day last month, with a packed schedule including trade and immigration reforms, international calls, and overseeing renovations.
A video of an Indian woman kissing an underage Polish boy has sparked debates on cultural norms, boundaries, and legal consequences. The woman, believed to be Malayali, faces charges of sexual harassment by Polish authorities. Netizens have conflicting views, with some defending the woman's actions as motherly affection while others criticize it as "dumbness" and "white skin fetish".
Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to India will address the trade deficit, maintain oil trade, and deepen cooperation in nuclear power and defence. Business partnerships and agreements will be signed to increase India's exports to Russia. Discussions will also focus on expanding the Kudankulam nuclear project and potential deals for S-400 missiles and SU-57 stealth fighters.
Apple and Samsung have raised objections to the compulsory installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on new smartphones and suggested promoting it for voluntary downloads instead. The government has clarified that the app is optional, but opposition parties and the industry still have concerns about it being a "snooping app" and creating operational challenges.
RBI likely to conduct OMOs worth Rs 1.5-2 lakh crore by March 2026, say economists. Market participants seek clarity on liquidity management in upcoming policy. Core liquidity surplus expected to dip below 1% of NDTL in Q4FY26, RBI may need to infuse Rs 2 lakh crore to prevent this. Experts predict OMOs worth Rs 2 lakh crore in Q4, RBI may intervene to defend rupee. HSBC expects
FICCI's new president, Anant Goenka, is focused on increasing manufacturing's GDP share to 25%, promoting R&D and innovation, maximizing new-age FTAs, driving sustainability, skilling, and global competitiveness. The economy is expected to grow by 7% in FY26, supported by measures such as tax relief and GST cuts.
Razorpay, a fintech startup, has received a PA-CB licence from the RBI, allowing it to facilitate cross-border payments. This strengthens their vision of a global payments network and commitment to helping businesses go global. The licence also enables Indian businesses to accept payments in 130+ currencies and allows global companies to enter India with ease through a single integration.
The Reserve Bank has designated State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank as 'domestic systemically important banks'. These banks will be required to hold additional capital buffers as a percentage of risk-weighted assets. SBI has an additional CET1 requirement of 0.80%, HDFC Bank has 0.40%, and ICICI Bank has 0.20%. The D-SIB framework, which was first issued in 2014
Nikhil Kamath, founder of Zerodha, is one of India's richest and most influential modern entrepreneurs, with a net worth of $2.5 billion. His luxurious 7,000 square feet apartment in Bengaluru's Kingfisher Towers, known for its exclusivity and high-end residential complexes, reflects his lavish lifestyle.
Banks have increased interest rates on new loans by 14 basis points in October, following a 31 bps cut in rates from July to September. This is expected to boost their profitability, as they shift focus to high-yield areas like retail loans and NBFCs. However, overall lending and deposit rates are still declining, indicating a slow impact.
The CBFC has dismissed claims that Ranveer Singh's film Dhurandhar is based on the life of Ashoka Chakra awardee Late Major Mohit Sharma. Despite objections from the late Major's parents, the board found no similarity between the film and his life. The film includes a disclaimer and is purely fictional. The controversy was fueled by Major Sharma's family and a Pakistani police officer's widow.
Michael and Susan Dell have committed $6.25 billion to create tax-advantaged investment accounts, called 'Trump Accounts', for American children to build long-term wealth. Children born after 2024 and before 2029 will receive $1,000 from the government, with additional contributions allowed from parents and employers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to use his Aurus Senat limousine during his upcoming visit to India. The car has already been in the spotlight, especially after pictures showed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelling with Putin in the same vehicle during their meeting in China for the SCO Summit.
The Indian government has ordered online messaging apps to link their services to SIM cards to prevent cyber frauds. This may inconvenience millions of users who rely on these apps for communication. The new rules require continuous SIM card verification, and if removed or deactivated, the app will stop working. The government hopes this will make chats traceable and reduce cybercrime.
According to a bi-monthly survey conducted by Nabard in November 2025, over 75.9% of rural households expect an increase in income in the next year, the highest level recorded so far. The survey suggests that the GST rate rationalisation and lower inflation have boosted rural consumption demand.
Experts say that while benchmark indices like Sensex and Nifty are at all-time highs, small and midcap indices have underperformed due to expensive valuations. The BSE Midcap index has only risen by 1.3% and the BSE Smallcap has fallen 6.1% in 2025, while large cap benchmarks have risen by 9-10%.
The government has taken measures to improve the quality, transparency, and uniformity of the national skill development scheme, PMKVY. This includes a structured grievance redressal framework and audits to prevent malpractices.
Experts believe that the Department of Telecommunications' SIM-binding mandate to prevent cyber fraud is not feasible due to technical limitations. The Broadband India Forum has raised concerns about the mandate, stating that it may cause disruptions for genuine users and have little impact on sophisticated fraud networks.
India's November purchases of Russian oil were at a 5-month high, making up over 35% of their total crude imports. This was due to early arrivals before US sanctions on Russian oil companies. December imports are expected to decrease due to new sanctions, but Indian refiners are adapting by sourcing from non-designated Russian entities and other countries.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister, is in critical condition and has been put on ventilation. UK and Chinese experts have arrived to monitor her health. Zia, who has been in office three times, was hospitalized on November 23 due to infections affecting her heart and lungs. Prime Minister Modi has shown concern and increased security has been implemented at the hospital.
India needs ₹10,000–15,000 crore investment in PCB manufacturing to reduce import dependence to 50%. Currently, only ₹5,000 crore worth of PCBs are produced domestically, while the demand is estimated at ₹70,000 crore.
The BIF has raised concerns about the SIM-binding mandate, stating it goes beyond the Telecom Act and burdens genuine users without effectively combating fraud networks. Issues of jurisdiction, proportionality, and technical feasibility have also been highlighted, calling for a consultation with all stakeholders.
Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) has secured a $300 million loan from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation for railway projects, marking its first commercial borrowing in three years. This will reduce borrowing costs and strengthen IRFC's international presence.
The government has no intention of raising the FDI limit in public sector banks beyond 20%. RBI approval is necessary for ownership of over 5% of a bank's shares. While the government's shareholding in PSBs has not been reduced, the percentage has decreased due to banks raising capital. PSBs must also meet a minimum public shareholding requirement of 25%.
Omnicom and IPG have merged to create a new #2 advertising network in India, with an estimated Rs 25,000 crore in annual billing. The creative business has been unified under Omnicom Advertising India (OAI) and will be led by Aditya Kanthy as president and MD. Prasoon Joshi will be the chairman of OAI. Omnicom will also have a strong presence in media, with Kartik Sharma as CEO of Omnicom Media
Hawaii has joined other popular travel destinations in charging entry fees to tourists, with four state parks implementing fees in January. The US Interior Department has also introduced charges in national parks, generating funds for maintenance and preservation. Around ten state parks in Hawaii currently charge fees, with higher fees for popular sites.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a Cyber Monday deal for illegal immigrants, offering them $1,000 and a free flight home if they choose to self-deport. The offer also includes forgiveness of any fines and penalties, with the option to return legally in the future.