Coal ministry reviews 15% clause in viability gap funding for coal gasification projects, considering changes in funding model. Three categories of projects receive grants up to Rs 1,350 crore, Rs 1,000 crore, and Rs 100 crore respectively. Cross-ministry collaboration for by-product utilization being discussed. Ministry promoting gasification with Rs 8,500 crore incentive scheme.
BEML, a defence PSU, received a Rs 110 crore order from the Ministry of Defence for Engines. In December, the company secured orders worth over Rs 571 crore, including one for manufacturing Switch Rail Grinding Machines for Indian Railways and supplying additional trainsets for Bangalore Metro.
Vedanta received a positive ruling from NCLT for their demerger scheme, dividing the company into sector-specific entities. This decision was in favor of Vedanta despite previous worries about pending claims. The company's spokesperson expressed satisfaction, calling it a significant step in their transformation. The demerger plan includes four companies within Vedanta Group
Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has become a box office phenomenon, breaking records and receiving rave reviews despite controversies and a long runtime. The film is expected to be the highest grosser of the year, making Ranveer one of the most sought-after stars.
JM Financial, a domestic brokerage house, has reduced the target price for PI Industries by 3.5% and slashed EPS estimates by 4% for FY27-28. This was due to lower guidance from its Japanese partner, Kumiai, for pyroxasulfone sales in FY26. Analysts are concerned about the impact on PI Industries, as pyroxasulfone is a key product for the company.
Aamir Khan Productions announced a documentary on the parents of the little heroes of 'Sitaare Zameen Par', set to release on December 19. The trailer showcases the struggles and triumphs of raising children with disabilities, along with Aamir's bond with the cast. It highlights the need for inclusivity and celebrates the inner strength of both parents and children. It's release is set to clash with that of a big Hollywood number.
Bettina Anderson, a philanthropist and socialite, made headlines when her engagement to Donald Trump Jr. was announced at a White House event. The couple, who have been together for a year, were first seen in 2024 and recently attended a wedding in India. Anderson supports mental health and conservation causes, while Trump Jr. was previously married and engaged to other high-profile women.
Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, the highly anticipated Telugu film released on December 12, 2025, has been a huge success at the Box Office within just 4 days of its release. Starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, the sequel to Akhanda has received mixed reviews from critics but has managed to earn over Rs 80 crores worldwide in its opening weekend.
Tata Power plans to invest Rs 6,500 crore in a 10 GW wafer and ingot project and is in talks with states like Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh for its location. This project is crucial for their solar manufacturing division, which currently has a capacity of 4.9 GW. The company is also looking into small modular reactor projects in the nuclear space.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visited spiritual leader Premanand at his Ashram in Vrindavan for the third time this year. In a viral video, the couple can be seen listening to the guru's advice on humility and devotion.
The Indian government plans to sell a 10% stake in GIC to meet market regulations. They have already sold 3.4% and currently own 82.4%. Officials met with investors in London to gather feedback. India aims to raise Rs 47,000 crore through stake sales and asset monetisation.
Football star Lionel Messi arrived in Delhi for the final leg of his GOAT India Tour, while the city was experiencing severe pollution levels. When Delhi CM Rekha Gupta entered the stadium to share the stage with Messi, the crowd started chanting “AQI, AQI” in reference to the city's air quality.
Australian authorities confirm Bondi Beach mass shooting as terrorist attack by father and son inspired by ISIS. No regard for victims' age or ability, sole intention to increase death toll. Investigation reveals ISIS flags, explosive devices, and overseas travel. 15 dead, 25 injured. Calls for stricter gun laws and tributes to victims.
JM Financial has a positive outlook on TBO Tek, a luxury travel company, citing its strong global partnerships and expanding presence in the luxury travel sector. With a Buy rating and target price of Rs 1,920, the brokerage predicts a 15% potential upside. TBO's strategic partnerships with top airlines, hotels, and travel advisors differentiate it from rivals.
James Cameron, the renowned Hollywood filmmaker, has reached billionaire status with a net worth of $1.1 billion. His highly anticipated film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is projected to earn over $2 billion, cementing his success from blockbuster hits.
Meesho's stock price has been on a roll, rallying 13.3% and rising 74.3% from its issue price. This surge has also led to a sharp increase in the personal stake of co-founder Vidit Aatrey, making him a billionaire. The IPO was subscribed 79.02 times, with the non-institutional investors receiving 38.15 times the subscription. Going forward, profitability will be a key factor to watch for Meesho.
Rob Reiner, a renowned actor and filmmaker, and his wife Michelle were found murdered in their home. In a disturbing twist, President Trump made insensitive remarks about Reiner's death, causing widespread condemnation from celebrities and lawmakers. Trump's comments have been labelled as unacceptable and disrespectful.
Delhi's air quality has improved slightly, with 11 out of 40 monitoring stations reporting "severe" pollution levels and 27 falling in the "very poor" category. The city was in the "severe" category for three days. The overall AQI has improved to 337, but some areas are still highly polluted. Delhi has the worst air quality among major cities, while Hyderabad has the best.
Brothers and nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were deported from Bangkok and taken into custody by Goa Police upon their arrival in Delhi. They will be produced before a Delhi court for a transit remand before being brought to Goa for investigation in connection with a deadly fire. Documents contradict their involvement in the business and they had fled to Thailand immediately after.
Bajaj Auto, a top Indian two- and three-wheeler manufacturer, is struggling in the domestic motorcycle market despite success in exports and electric vehicles. Motilal Oswal maintains a neutral rating with a target price of Rs 9,070 per share. Bajaj plans to regain market share with new launches and restructuring, while also focusing on EV and three-wheeler markets.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised almost $2 million for Ahmed Al Ahmed, a Syrian refugee who tackled and disarmed one of the attackers in the Bondi Beach shooting. The brave act was captured on video and has received recognition from US President Trump and billionaire Bill Ackman. The shooting, which claimed 15 lives, is being hailed as a heroic act and is still under investigation by police.
The IPL auction 2026 is set to be a highly competitive event, with franchises ready with their strategies to secure key players. Overseas all-rounder Cameron Green is expected to be one of the most expensive buys. Power hitter Liam Livingstone, death-overs specialist Matheesha Pathirana, Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and young wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith are also likely to attract big money.
Indian equity indices opened lower on Tuesday, with the NSE Nifty 50, BSE Sensex, and Bank Nifty all opening in the red. Small and mid-cap stocks also opened lower, with the Nifty Midcap down 0.26%. However, the market is expected to find support due to sustained DII buying and improving economic fundamentals. Early gainers include Bharti Airtel, Apollo Hospitals, and Asian Paints.
The ECI will release draft electoral rolls for West Bengal, Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep today, with hard copies distributed to political parties and available on ECI websites to ensure transparency. To check your name online, visit the Election Commission’s website (eci.gov.in) and enter your name along with your EPIC number.
A Reddit user shares a screenshot of a Slack message from their company's HR, highlighting a toxic workplace culture following an update to the leave policy. The new policy discontinues sick leave and introduces two types of leave: annual paid leave and hospitalisation leave.
President Trump has declared fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction and labeled drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, giving the government more power to fight the opioid crisis. However, this has raised concerns about the legality of deadly strikes on suspected drug vessels. Trump has also threatened strikes on land in Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico to combat drug trafficking.
IndiGo has cancelled 51 flights due to fog across major airports, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. IndiGo, yesterday, cancelled over 150 flights due to bad weather conditions. Passengers should check flight status before heading to the airport.
The Noida International Airport (NIA) is set to open soon and is projected to handle 6-8 million passengers in its first year. With a capacity to accommodate 12 million passengers annually, NIA aims to reach 10 million passengers by 2030 and eventually expand to 70 million by 2050. It will provide a fully digital travel experience and have direct bus routes to major cities.
President Trump's Gold Card initiative offers a path to US citizenship for wealthy immigrants through a $1 million gift and $15,000 fee. However, it is subject to visa availability and potential legal and congressional obstacles. It does not create a new immigration category and may not be suitable for mass hiring
A study by Jetri shows a "sync gap" in Indian private education, with students, parents, and educators disconnected in technology, motivation, and emotional safety. While AI is used by students, parents are unsure and teachers need training. The report recommends universal social-emotional learning, purpose-driven learning, and ethical AI to bridge the gaps.
The 2025 SBS Drama Awards will celebrate the best talents from South Korean networks, with nominees including Lee Je Hoon and Han Ji Min. Fans can vote for their favorite couple until December 24, with the ceremony on December 31. The event promises to be a grand finale for the year.
The Noida International Airport, India's first fully digital airport, promises to transform the travel experience with its advanced technology and self-service options. With automated systems and a seamless integration of technology, the airport offers self-bag-drop kiosks and self-boarding gates, reducing the need for manual tasks.
In CY25, India's credit system showed a shift towards micro markets, with NBFCs playing a prominent role in meeting the financing needs of households and enterprises. This was driven by a shift in monetary policy and GST rationalisation, which led to a revival in discretionary purchases.
India's first fully digital airport, Noida International Airport, aims to revolutionize air travel with automation and self-service systems. The airport's clean slate design promises reduced waiting times and predictable passenger flows. Future expansion and multimodal connectivity plans are also in place. IndiGo and Akasa Air will be the launch carriers for this state-of-the-art airport.
The highly anticipated IPL 2026 mini auction is scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, where franchises will bid on players from a curated pool to build balanced squads within financial and squad-size limits. With a data-driven approach, uncapped players and younger talents are likely to be in demand.
NCLT approves Flipkart's move to shift domicile from Singapore to India, allowing consolidation of overseas entities into Indian arm. Move seen as preparation for domestic public listing, seeking clearance under Press Note 3 due to Tencent's stake. Restructuring simplifies holding structure and shows commitment to India, following trend of new-age companies shifting.
India and Canada's chief negotiators will meet virtually this week to discuss the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The negotiations, which were abandoned in 2023, have resumed after a gap of two years. It is yet to be decided whether to continue from where they left off or start over.
Kantar's Media Compass Report for Q3 of CY2025 shows a significant increase in digital-only viewers in India, with 75% of them residing in rural areas. This accounts for 26% of the country's 15+ population. In contrast, linear TV viewership has slightly declined. The report, based on a sample of 87,000 consumers, provides updated reach and frequency metrics.
Merriam-Webster has named "slop" as its word of the year for 2025, reflecting its new cultural meaning as a term used to describe low-quality, AI-generated digital content. The decision was based on a significant rise in dictionary lookups and usage of the term, with other words like "six seven" and "performative" also making the shortlist.
SBI's YONO 2.0 aims to double its user base to 20 crores by reducing costs, accelerating digital credit, and increasing wealth and insurance penetration. It offers simplified KYC and Re-KYC, eliminating the need for repeated verifications. Available in 15 languages, it will have 10,000 floor managers for digital migration. Existing users will be automatically upgraded.
India's finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, revealed that household consumption data indicates a positive change in the country's growth pattern, with the bottom 40% of the population gaining wealth at a higher pace than the top 20%. This has resulted in reduced inequality, particularly in urban regions where the lower income group has seen a rise in asset ownership.
HomiHydrogen, a major electrolyser manufacturer, has invested Rs 400 crore in a new plant in Maharashtra. Despite its capacity to produce 150 MW in one shift and 300 MW in two shifts, the plant remains uncommissioned due to low demand for domestic electrolysers. Founder Siddharth Mayur is worried about the future of domestic manufacturing.
In November, wholesale price inflation continued to decline for the second month in a row, mainly due to lower prices of food, mineral oil, and electricity. The WPI dropped to (-)0.32% from 2.16% in the same period last year, but showed a slight improvement from (-)1.21% in October.
The government has introduced a new bill, Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, to reform higher education. It proposes a single regulator for accreditation and autonomy, replacing existing bodies like UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. The bill also grants the regulatory body the power to penalize institutions and shifts grant authority to the education ministry.
Rob Reiner's son, Nick, was arrested for the murder of his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. The couple had multiple stab wounds in their Los Angeles home. Rob, known for 'This Is Spinal Tap', was born in 1947 and married Michele in 1989. Nick has a history of drug addiction and has been in and out of rehab.
At a time when US President Donald Trump has tightened his stance on immigration and H-1B visas, an Indian-origin entrepreneur has emerged as a new billionaire in Silicon Valley. Jyoti Bansal, who moved to the United States from India with just a few hundred dollars and years on a work visa, has hit the billionaire mark
Sweden is experiencing a rise in gang violence, with minors as young as 12 being recruited by criminal networks through social media. Lenient laws protecting older gang leaders have led to a surge in violent crimes involving young people, causing fear and chaos in communities. The government is proposing legal changes to tackle this problem.
The Indian rupee has reached a new low of 90.73/$ due to weak sentiment and outflows. It has depreciated by 6% this year, the highest in three years. Traders are pushing the rupee down, while RBI intervention has been minimal. Structural reforms and a trade deal with the US are needed to increase capital inflows.
The proposed law to replace MG-NREGA seeks to overhaul the programme by shifting focus to strategic infrastructure creation and a predetermined funding pattern. The new law will no longer be demand-driven and states will share its costs in a 6:4 ratio. The aim is to create a cleaner, more accountable and infrastructure-driven rural employment system in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
India's merchandise exports in November reached a three-month high of $38.13 billion, with a 19.37% year-on-year growth, driven by increased exports to the US and China. The decline in imports, particularly of gold and crude oil, led to a five-month low trade deficit.
India's marine products exports increased by 16% to $5.75 billion in April-November 2025-26, despite being hit by US tariffs. This was due to a surge in shipments to new markets such as China, Vietnam, Belgium, Japan, Russia, Canada, and the UK.