India is committed to leading WTO reforms while consulting with developing and least-developed countries to promote global welfare. The country is known for its strength and leadership and will continue to represent the Global South. The Minister and WTO Director-General discussed the upcoming MC, dispute settlement, and special treatment for developing countries
NDA has swept the Bihar 2025 election, which also means Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath again, making this his fifth consecutive term. But because the BJP has seen a dramatic surge in its seats this time, rumours are naturally surfacing about whether the party might want its own face to replace Kumar.
Delhi Police have opened a new FIR in the Red Fort blast case after four J&K doctors had their licenses revoked by the National Medical Commission. The blast on November 10 resulted in 12 deaths and increased security around the Red Fort. Three doctors have been arrested, and the investigation has uncovered a possible terror plan involving several locations and suspects.
Andhra Pradesh secures investment commitments worth Rs 5.2 lakh crore, creating over 2.6 lakh jobs in the energy sector. Deals signed for renewable energy, green hydrogen, biofuels, and manufacturing projects. ReNew Energy Global to invest Rs 82,000 crore in multiple green energy projects, bringing total investment in the state to Rs 9.3 billion.
Indian national Jagdish Punetha, accused of extorting people through fake investment schemes, has been extradited from the UAE by Uttarakhand Police's Crime Branch-CID. Punetha, a resident of Silpata, Pithoragarh district, had a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head for allegedly duping people of crores.
Domestic equity markets surged 1.4% as Nifty closed above 25,900 and Sensex gained over 1,100 points. The week saw a mix of strong profits and misses from companies. Top research houses, including Nomura, Nuvama, Jefferies, and Motilal Oswal, shared their latest recommendations and we picked 10 stocks across sectors.
Aaditya Thackeray, responding to the NDA’s big Bihar sweep, took a sharp shot at the Election Commission, suggesting the victory wasn’t as clean as it seemed. Thackeray also questioned whether Nitish Kumar would really stay Chief Minister, saying the BJP’s “style of politics” makes him doubtful.
A massive fire at a Kolkata warehouse was quickly contained by 20 fire engines, with no reported casualties. Authorities are working together to extinguish the flames, with the situation now under control according to the Director General of West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services. The presence of electrical goods in the building resulted in large fumes.
Sunjay Kapur, the ex-husband of Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, passed away this year amidst a Rs 30,000 crore estate battle. His last-known partner, Priya Kapur, was involved in a legal battle with Karisma over the inheritance of their children. The court urged both parties to resolve the matter without any melodrama and questioned the inconsistencies in Sunjay's modified will.
The Trump administration is working on a new rule that could make it harder for immigrants from travel-ban countries to get green cards and other approvals, the New York Times reported. According to the internal documents from the DHS, immigration officers may soon start treating a person’s country of origin as a “significant negative factor” while deciding many immigration requests.
Indian and Canadian officials met in New Delhi to revive their trade ties, which had been stagnant since 2023. This came ahead of the 30th CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, where trade negotiations with international delegates are taking place. The talks have a renewed focus on critical minerals, clean energy, and agriculture, showcasing India's global role.
The NDA in India won the Bihar Assembly elections with a three-fourth majority, led by the BJP as the single-largest party. Women voters played a crucial role in the victory, and PM Modi's popularity seems to have risen. The opposition alliance struggled, with Tejashwi Yadav unable to escape his father's legacy.
British political commentator Sami Hamdi, who earlier faced detention by US immigration authorities because of his pro-Palestinian views, returned to the UK on Thursday. Later, in an interview with the Guardia, Hamidi claimed that what happened to him “was less an attack on me and more an attack on Americans and their rights”.
Atovio Pebble is a sleek and wearable air purifier created by alumni of IIT Kanpur and IIM Indore. It uses advanced anion technology to eliminate 90% of pollutants in your breathing space. With two modes and a rechargeable battery, it's ideal for personal use during commutes, work, or travel.
Ajay Devgn's De De Pyaar De 2, the sequel to the romantic-comedy franchise, opened with a collection of Rs 8.5 crore on day 1. Starring Rakul Preet Singh and R Madhavan, the film follows the drama that unfolds as Ayesha (Rakul) prepares to marry her older partner Ashish (Ajay). Despite a slow start, the film is expected to give tough competition to last week's release and has
Former Fox News commentator Megyn Kelly is facing a huge social media storm after she questioned whether Jeffrey Epstein was even a pedophile.
Washington accuses Alibaba of providing technological support to the Chinese military, citing a White House memo. The memo includes declassified intelligence on how Alibaba supplies the PLA with capabilities that threaten US security. Alibaba denies the allegations, questioning the motivation behind the leak.
Four doctors from Jammu and Kashmir have had their medical registration cancelled by the National Medical Commission due to their involvement in terrorist activities. One of the doctors has a FIR registered against them and they were linked to Al-Falah University, where a car used in a terrorist attack was found. Immediate action has been taken to remove them from the medical register.
President Trump has removed tariffs on food items like beef, tomatoes, and bananas to address concerns about expensive groceries. Democrats have won local elections focusing on affordability. The administration has made trade deals to eliminate tariffs on imports from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Ground beef and steak prices have risen, along with overall food costs by 2.7%.
A deadly explosion at a police station in India's Kashmir claimed the lives of seven people, including police and forensic team officials. The cause of the blast is unknown and five of the injured are in critical condition. This incident comes shortly after a car explosion in Delhi, which was labeled a terror attack by India.
All In Capital, a venture capital firm, aims to complete 45-50 investments from its Fund 2 by FY27. The fund, with a first close in September, expects to close in 2-3 months. The firm is optimistic about AI and deeptech, and is investing in vertical SaaS and B2B tooling startups. Founder Kushal Bhagia is confident in India's talent, infrastructure, and ambition.
Generative AI, powered by large language models, is revolutionizing industries and shaping the future of intelligence. This requires advanced data centres with efficient communication between compute nodes. The demand for data centre power is expected to rise by 165% by 2030, driving significant infrastructure expansion and modernization.
Elastic CEO Ashutosh Kulkarni believes that AI is revolutionizing the search industry, with India being a key market and talent pool. The use of AI allows for more complex and precise search tasks, with potential for multilingual support and AI-driven interactions in food delivery and e-commerce.
With ample wheat stocks and strong crop prospects, the food ministry has recommended lifting the export ban on wheat-based products. They have proposed initially allowing 1 MT of exports, citing surplus and price stability. Industry experts and traders welcome this move, stating it will benefit millers, farmers, and the economy.
Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani has been summoned by the ED for a case under FEMA, after missing a previous summons. He had offered to appear virtually but has now been called to appear in person on Monday. The case involves the Jaipur-Reengus highway project, where the ED found evidence of `600 crore being diverted to Dubai through shell companies.
Vedantu has launched Ved, an AI-powered personal mentor, to improve student outcomes. The platform offers conversational academic help, lecture transcriptions and notes, test analysis, and doubt resolution. Built on insights from master teachers and student data, Ved will be offered for free and is expected to help scale Vedantu's mentorship layer.
The Honda Prelude has made a comeback after 24 years as a front-wheel-drive hybrid with a sportscar soul. It boasts a low, aggressive design, spacious interior, and impressive driving capabilities. Priced around $40,000, it may also be available in India for Rs 80-90 lakh as a C, with a focus on driver enjoyment and fuel efficiency.
Yamaha has launched two premium electric scooters in the Indian market, with prices to be revealed in early 2026. The company is taking a careful approach, focusing on quality and customer experience. The scooters will first be available in select markets and then expand gradually. Yamaha is also seeing growth in the premium segment for combustion engine two-wheelers.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urges India to lead in reforming the global trade body and address ineffective areas while addressing US concerns and raising unresolved mandates. Despite US tariff actions causing disruption, she remains optimistic about the trade system and emphasizes the need for a reassessment of reliance on a single market.
Tata Motors' passenger vehicle division saw a significant increase in profit due to a one-time gain from de-merging its commercial vehicles business. However, the company still experienced a net loss due to struggles in Jaguar Land Rover operations and declining overall revenues.
Sebi's board to review panel's suggestions for public disclosure of assets, stricter investment controls, and new ethics office. Recommendations include digital repository, ban on gifts, and wider definition of "family." Cooling-off period of 2 years for former officials also proposed.
The withdrawal of 14 quality-control orders in India will expand low-cost sourcing options and benefit domestic players in the polymers-to-plastics value chain. This will ease import restrictions and reduce certification delays, aiding manufacturers, especially MSMEs. It will also enhance the country's competitiveness in the man-made fibre apparel market, along with the recent GST cut on MMF.
Marico, a top FMCG company, experienced a slight decline in net profit in the September quarter due to GST challenges. Despite this, revenue rose significantly due to price increases in hair oils. The company expects a rise in consumer sentiment and intends to expand its presence in the food and premium personal care sectors.
The RBI has issued the Trade Relief Measures Directions, 2025 to aid exporters and sustain profitable businesses. It applies to financial institutions and requires eligible borrowers to be involved in export industries and maintain a 'standard' status. Important measures include a pause in term loan payments and reassessment of working capital limits.
Experts advise companies to act promptly in adhering to the recently announced Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, utilizing the 18-month transition period for implementation. This entails revamping consent systems, governance, and international data transfers. Compliance also entails appointing data protection officers, mapping data flows, and enhancing security.
The Supreme Court reprimanded the Punjab government for neglecting infrastructure for the judiciary and misusing central funds. Priority was given to building houses for officials instead of courts. The court questioned the state's decision to create new districts without planning for necessary infrastructure.
Passenger vehicle despatches in India saw a 17% increase in October due to festive demand and GST 2.0 reforms. PVs, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers all saw a rise in sales, with the latter also showing growth in the electric segment. SIAM Director General Rajesh Menon credited the festive season and GST rate cuts for the record-breaking numbers.
Gifts from lineal ascendants and descendants are tax-exempt. Your father can gift a property to your 21-year-old son without any tax implications. The possession of a flat after eight years can be claimed for tax benefits, with a maximum deduction of Rs 30,000 per annum. Retirement benefits such as gratuity and provident fund are exempt from tax, but must be reported in the ITR.
Sebi cautions against buying digital gold from unregulated online platforms, advises investors to request third-party vault certificate and avoid non-transparent platforms. Though popular among millennials, digital gold lacks regulation and poses risks such as counterparty and operational risks.
Indian residents receiving foreign income may face double taxation, but can apply for tax relief under Section 90 or 91. The credit is limited to the amount of tax payable in India and penalties and interest cannot be adjusted. Supporting evidence must be provided and the income must be reported in specific sections of the income tax return with consistent disclosures.
Income plus arbitrage funds are a wise option for those with short-to medium-term surplus. They offer a mix of stable accrual and tax efficiency, with 65% in high-quality debt and the rest in equity arbitrage. These funds provide daily liquidity and lower tax rates, but returns are influenced by market conditions and interest rates.
The committee recommends removing most Quality Control Orders to boost industrial competitiveness and address supply shortages, higher costs, and certification delays. The government has already withdrawn QCOs for 20 products, but action is needed for steel and other remaining products. The committee suggests a major overhaul of the QCO system to benefit MSMEs.
Mutual fund houses saw a 29% rise in cash buffer in October, with debt funds receiving the highest inflow of Rs 1.6 lakh crore in six months. Cash holdings increased by Rs 95,971.58 crore to Rs 4.27 lakh crore, mainly in equity schemes. This was due to market volatility, leading fund managers to invest in longer-term and short-term corporate bonds.
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Pine Labs, a fintech company, experienced a 28% rise in its shares from the IPO price of Rs 221, with a 10% premium upon listing. The stock closed at Rs 252 on the NSE, up 14% from the issue price. The company has prominent clients and is poised to capitalize on the digital payments market.
Andhra Pradesh plans to attract $1 trillion investments in various sectors, including a "Quantum Valley" and drone and space cities, over the next 10 years. The state aims to contribute 160 GW to India's non-fossil fuel energy goal and is focusing on green hydrogen and ammonia.
Reliance Industries has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a 1-gigawatt artificial intelligence data centre in Vizag, along with a 6-GWp solar power project. The company will also develop a greenfield integrated food park in Kurnool, creating thousands of jobs. This is part of RIL's total investment of $25 billion in the state, aligned with its long-term development goals.
Economists predict US tariffs on Indian exports to decrease to 15%-20% by December, potentially resulting in positive macroeconomic effects and a GDP growth of over 7%. However, concerns remain about the impact of trade tensions on employment, consumption, and business confidence. The need for a rate cut is uncertain, given inflation at a record low.
LG India is confident in achieving double-digit revenue and margin growth in the second half of FY26, despite facing challenges from GST transition issues, higher costs, and consumer purchase deferment. The company plans to capitalize on the upcoming winter and wedding season and maintained its market share.
BJP has taken a dig at Congress after sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, trolling Rahul Gandhi for his allegations of "vote theft". The party's social media machinery is in celebratory mode, asking "What will they blame now?" in a mock question paper. People respond with humour, saying "They will blame Trump" and "They might run out of options in TN and WB elections!"
The Indian government has released the DPDP Rules 2025, to be implemented in three phases, giving companies 18 months to comply. The rules mandate specific consent for data processing, detailed data collection descriptions, and mechanisms to withdraw consent. Children's data will receive extra protection, and significant data fiduciaries will have additional responsibilities.