India and Canada will begin discussions on their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) next week, following an announcement made by PM Modi and Canadian PM Carney two weeks ago. The agreement will encompass trade in goods and services, investment, agriculture, digital trade, mobility, and sustainable development.
Key companies across various industries, including IT, energy, chemicals, and infrastructure, made significant announcements on December 4. Updates include new contracts, collaborations, plant operations, and expansions. Companies to watch include HCL Technologies, Tata Power, RailTel, Diamond Power Infrastructure, and more.
Supreme Court orders states to ease work pressure on booth level officers during electoral roll revision, following concerns raised by actor Vijay's party about BLO suicides and FIRs. States directed to provide additional staff and exempt BLOs from duty during the process.
Danny Denzongpa, the famous villain in Hindi cinema, is also a successful businessman. He owns a brewery and a chain of hotels in Sikkim, with a net worth of Rs. 250 crore. His success highlights the importance of looking beyond the surface and recognizing hidden talents.
The Trump administration on Thursday rolled back the work-permit window for asylum-seekers. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is cutting the validity of work permits, known as Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), from five years to 18 months. The change, announced Thursday, will also affect several noncitizens.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian-language copy of the Bhagavad Gita. PM Modi later shared the moment on X, writing that the Gita’s teachings inspire millions of people around the world.
The parliamentary standing committee on consumer affairs criticized the department for uneven disbursement of funds under the price stabilisation fund. The panel suggested strengthening monitoring systems and conducting periodic reviews to improve the scheme's effectiveness.
Suzlon Energy CEO JP Chalasani plans to build three AI-enabled smart factories in Karnataka and Gujarat, with a third site to be finalized soon. The company will also upgrade all 15 existing factories with digital systems. The new factories are expected to generate 3,000 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs in rural areas.
DGCA reviews operational disruptions at IndiGo, with 170-200 flight cancellations per day due to revised FDTL rules. IndiGo cites transitional challenges, winter season constraints, and FDTL compliance for surge in cancellations.
India's power demand decreased in November due to lower temperatures and a rise in renewable energy generation. However, the country recorded its highest peak power demand since FY16 and electricity prices declined, leading to increased supply liquidity. Despite fluctuations, power demand is expected to rise by 1-3% this fiscal year due to economic growth and rising disposable income.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has instructed IndiGo to address disruptions caused by cancelled flights. IndiGo has admitted to errors in implementing flight duty time limits and plans to stabilize by February 10. The airline will reduce operations and has asked for exemptions to minimize inconvenience while ensuring safety. Progress reports will be submitted every 15 days.
Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, has pivoted its flagship brand from a fantasy gaming platform to a second-screen sports entertainment app. This change was prompted by the nationwide ban on real-money gaming, which greatly impacted the company's revenue and profits.
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Reliance Industries' credit rating to 'A-' with a stable outlook, citing its strong market position and healthy earnings. The company's rating is two notches higher than India's sovereign rating, thanks to its robust balance sheet and US dollar revenue. RIL is projected to boost cash flow through its consumer businesses, enhancing its profitability.
JSW Steel has formed a joint venture with JFE Steel for Bhushan Power and Steel, which will improve its margins and financial flexibility. The deconsolidation of BPSL will directly impact its bottom line and improve leverage ratios.
India and Russia have set a goal to boost their bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Currently, the trade is imbalanced, with India exporting only $4.8 billion and importing $63.8 billion. To achieve this, they are aiming to align standards and reduce barriers.
RBI has proposed that credit institutions and credit information companies update their credit reports on a weekly basis to ensure the accuracy of credit information. This is to facilitate faster data submission and error rectification. The submission will only include incremental data and full credit information should be submitted within three days of the next month.
BAT to sell 7-15.3% stake in ITC Hotels via block deals, worth Rs 6,600 crore. BAT CEO says stake not strategic, proceeds to support deleveraging plan. This is the third stake reduction in ITC group companies in two years. ITC has 39.85% stake in ITC Hotels. BAT affiliates to offload shares through bookbuild process.
MeitY exempts film, advertising, and allied creative sectors from 10% labelling rule in draft deepfake regulations after consulting with stakeholders who expressed concerns about its impact on creative freedom and production workflows. Final regulations aim to balance regulation of synthetic content with practicalities of high-end media production.
Indian Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh met with Russian Agriculture Minister Oxana Lut to discuss boosting bilateral trade, addressing market access issues, and promoting collaboration in research and education.
The Year in Search 2025 report showed Indians searched for sports, AI, cinema, travel, and more. Women's cricket and "nano banana" related to AI image generation were top searches. The Maha Kumbh and practical queries like "Earthquake near me" and "Air Quality near me" were also popular. Celebrities like Saif Ali Khan and Dharmendra were among the most searched personalities.
Putin and Modi's collaboration is not targeted at any country, but to protect their own interests. Some are trying to limit India's global influence due to its ties with Russia. Putin praised Modi's leadership and believes India should not be treated as before. He hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict and discussed trade between India and Russia.
Luxury Time, an SME IPO, plans to raise Rs 18.74 crores through a mix of fresh shares and offer for sale. The IPO price is Rs 78-82 per equity share, and allotment is on December 9 with a listing on December 11. The company relies heavily on a Swiss supplier and the top 10 customers, and the funds will be used for new retail stores.
The Indian rupee reached a new all-time low against the dollar but recovered slightly with RBI's intervention. Kunal Sodhani of Shinhan Bank confirms RBI's support at different levels. IPO inflows may have also contributed to the currency's stability.
Suzlon Energy's group CEO JP Chalasani plans to set up smart factories to boost efficiency and meet the company's target of commissioning 1,500 MW in FY26. Despite competition from solar-plus-BESS, Suzlon remains on track to add 25% of the country's 6GW target.
IndiGo under fire for lack of preparation in implementing new flight duty and rest norms, leading to disruptions and cancellations. Pilot groups urge DGCA to ensure sufficient staff for safe operations. ALPA India raises concerns about management and regulatory oversight. IndiGo pilots reveal crew shortages and long working hours as main causes of disruptions.
Nishant Kumar, MD at GuarantCo and Head of Coverage at PIDG, stresses the importance of credit enhancement in developing India's local debt capital markets. The partnership with NSE aims to create an ecosystem for credit-enhanced bonds to be listed.
IndiGo is struggling with a crisis as they cancel 300 flights due to crew shortage caused by new duty-time rules. This has resulted in a decline in on-time performance and share prices. The CEO is addressing the issue and the DGCA has demanded an explanation while pilots' associations blame the airline's planning for the chaos.
InMobi, an adtech-to-consumer-tech company, has raised $350 million in debt and is buying back a majority of SoftBank's stake, increasing founders' combined holding to over 60%. This will decrease SoftBank's stake to less than 7% and value InMobi at $1 billion.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a proposed Health and National Security Cess that will apply to demerit goods like pan masala. The cess aims to discourage consumption of products with health risks and will be calculated based on production capacity.
India and Canada have begun discussions on a CEPA to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. The talks will cover various aspects, including trade in goods and services, investment, agriculture, digital trade, mobility, and sustainable development. Both countries are committed to a new agreement and will send high-level delegations in the coming year.
Google released its top trends for its annual 'Year in Search' for 2025, with 'Meaning' being the standout category. Indians searched for terms like ceasefire, mock drill, mayday, pookie, 5201314, stampede, Ee Sala Cup Namde, nonce, latent, and incel, revealing a year of deep introspection and interest in global events.
Bank of America Securities predicts that the Indian equity benchmark Nifty 50 will reach 29,000 by 2026, offering an 11.4% upside. The report suggests that large cap stocks will outperform small/sid caps, and there are opportunities in financials, IT, chemicals, jewelry, consumer durables & hotel sectors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India is set to strengthen ties between the two countries, with plans to restructure energy trade and boost Indian exports. Deals on missile systems, fighter jets, and nuclear energy are expected to be finalized. The visit also aims to increase trade to $100 billion by 2030 and overcome obstacles through a proposed free trade agreement.
Yami Gautam, wife of director Aditya Dhar, spoke out against paid film PR on social media, calling it a "monster of a trend" and urging the Bollywood community to take a stand. Her post received support from followers and fellow actors, with Hrithik Roshan emphasizing the importance of authentic journalism for the industry's growth.
Nokia and Bharti Airtel have teamed up to offer Airtel's network capabilities through Nokia's Network as Code platform. This will allow for the creation of new 5G applications and commercial models. Airtel's network APIs will be accessible through a subscription, simplifying the process of building advanced solutions.
India faces a growing challenge in the form of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that hinder its exports. These barriers, which go beyond tariffs, include health rules, product standards, and inspections. To address this issue, India must make standards reciprocal, use counter-measures when necessary, and take action in trade talks.
The meaning of this Chinese internet slang term was widely searched by people on Google this year. Here's what 5201314 means and all about its origin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India on Thursday, his first since the Ukraine war, has caused increased security measures and traffic blockages in New Delhi. The Delhi Police are collaborating with over 50 members of the Russian security team to secure routes and the hotel where Putin will stay.
Harvard-trained gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi advises including blueberries, unsweetened Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, walnuts or flaxseeds, fatty fish, leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables, and avocados in the diet to combat belly fat. These foods are rich in antioxidants, fibre, and healthy fats, and can help reduce visceral fat, inflammation, and improve metabolic health.
The Indian textile sector is struggling due to ongoing tariff negotiations with the US. Major companies are facing challenges with muted exports and are turning to foreign manufacturing units for growth. The 50% tariff imposed by the US has caused a decline in textile exports.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank aims to grow its gold loan portfolio to ₹4,000 crore in 2-3 years, with a focus on increasing secured loans to 70% of total assets. The bank has experienced a 565% growth in this portfolio, driven by high gold prices and new RBI regulations. It plans to expand gold loan services to 90% of branches and sees potential in non-southern markets.
Luana Lopes Lara, a former ballerina, has become the world's youngest self-made woman billionaire at 29 years old. She co-founded Kalshi, a regulated exchange and prediction market firm, which recently announced a Series E funding round of $1 billion. Lara's success was inspired by her parents and her experience as a ballerina in Austria.
S&P Global Ratings has upgraded India's insolvency regime from Group C to Group B, citing the creditor-friendly framework of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). While recovery rates have improved, delays and unpredictability persist. Recent Supreme Court rulings have strengthened creditor rights, but challenges from other stakeholders continue to pose obstacles.
Morepen Laboratories received a show-cause notice for alleged GST rule violations and excess refund of Rs 1,17,94,03,452. The company has responded stating that the refund was claimed as per GST Act and the notice has no merit. The company's stock has seen a decline in the past month, 6 months, and one year. In Q2 FY26, the company reported a net loss.
BEML, a defence PSU, secures a Rs 157 crore order to produce switch rail grinding machines for Loram Rail Maintenance India, ensuring safer and smoother train operations. Additionally, they received a Rs 414 crore order for trainsets for the Bangalore Metro project.
Madhuri Dixit, a Bollywood legend with over 70 films and renowned for her dancing abilities, is an Indian cinema icon. Her career has brought her great wealth, including a beautiful sea-facing apartment in Mumbai. Her home's minimalist design, adorned with colorful accents and prized paintings, reflects her and her husband's modern taste.
IIM Kozhikode will release CAT 2025 answer key today on the official website. The exam had 86% attendance on November 30. Candidates can download the provisional answer key and raise objections from December 8 to 10. Final answer key will be released after considering valid objections. The question paper had 68 questions in total, with 24 in VARC.
Indian equity benchmarks closed higher on Thursday, with the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex both ending the day in the green. The Nifty Bank, however, settled lower. The small-cap and mid-cap stocks also closed the trade on a lower note. Out of 3,214 trading stocks, 1,381 advanced while 1,746 declined. Tech Mahindra was the top gainer, while IndiGo was the biggest loser.
An Indigo flight from Madinah to Hyderabad was diverted to Ahmedabad due to a bomb threat received by the airline. The flight, carrying 180 passengers and 6 crew members, landed safely and all passengers were evacuated for security checks. The threat was traced back to an email and authorities conducted a thorough search of the aircraft. No suspicious objects were found.
Suzlon Group will establish three AI-powered blade factories in Gujarat, Karnataka, and a yet-to-be-determined location to meet the rising demand for wind equipment in India. These smart factories will be funded by the company's internal accruals and will generate 3,000 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs. Suzlon's goal is to enhance productivity, quality
Lenskart Solutions, listed on November 10, is trading near its listing levels. Despite IPO valuation concerns, Ambit Institutional Equities rates it 'Sell' with a target price of Rs 339, while Jefferies rates it 'Buy' with a target price of Rs 500. Ambit thinks it's overvalued compared to peers, but Jefferies sees potential for growth.