MSME NPA levels likely to increase in next 6 months: Survey

Non-performing asset (NPA) levels in the MSME sector are expected to increase over the next six months, according to the latest FICCI-IBA Bankers’ Survey.

RBI provides $16 billion liquidity support, conducts OMO and forex swaps to boost banking sector. Economists predict more liquidity infusion and better portfolio transmission. MPC unanimously cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25% and maintains neutral stance. GDP forecast revised to 7.3% for FY26, inflation projection lowered to 2%. RBI allows rupee to determine its own value.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan dazzled at the opening night of the 5th annual Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, wearing a stunning Dolce & Gabbana gown. She was seen mingling with stars from across the globe, including Dakota Johnson, who gushed about her visit to India and the Maha Kumbh.

Indian Railways has introduced various measures to enhance passenger experience, including simplifying online ticket booking and redeveloping stations. The Railway Minister also shared that special provisions have been made for senior citizens, women, and persons with disabilities, such as automatic lower berth allotment and designated quotas.

The Indian government is taking steps to reduce reliance on China for speciality fertilisers by turning to alternative suppliers in Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, and the United States. Minister Anupriya Patel emphasizes the importance of self-reliance through indigenous technologies and initiatives such as Soil Test-Based Fertiliser Recommendations and Site-Specific Nut.

Delhi is hosting a range of exciting events this weekend, such as the AP Dhillon concert, Delhi Comic Con, and Saras Food Festival. There will also be opportunities for shopping and outdoor experiences at the Winter at the Lawns fair and Christmas Earth Mela.

AI risk expert Stuart Russell warns of the potential job uncertainty in the age of artificial intelligence, with AI taking over professional work and even potentially replacing CEOs. He believes that companies are prioritizing profits over human life, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledges the potential for job displacement.

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has received a fantastic response from the audience, who are calling it a must-watch and praising Ranveer's career-best performance. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, has already earned Rs 6 crore in its domestic release and is expected to be a huge success despite its high budget and break-even target.

Indian equity benchmarks closed higher on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25%. The Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex ended the day higher, but closed the week on a lower note. The Nifty Bank settled higher, while mid-cap stocks closed on a higher note. In today's market action, 1,335 stocks advanced, 1,769 declined, and 88 remained unchanged.

Radhika Gupta, the managing director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, sparked a debate on Indian social media with her tweet about the rising cost of education in the US. She highlighted the impact of currency depreciation and inflation on education expenses and advised people to factor these in when planning for their financial future.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline and most-travelled low-cost carrier, is struggling to cope with the new flight duty rules. Over the past few days, hundreds of flights have been delayed or cancelled. On Wednesday alone, about 200 flights were cancelled. The numbers crossed the 300 mark on Thursday and are still rising. 

Over 17 lakh deceased voters and 6 lakh missing voters have been found in the electoral rolls of Gujarat during the ongoing SIR drive. Additionally, 30 lakh permanent migrants and 3.25 lakh "repeated" voters have been identified. These discrepancies highlight the administrative difficulties faced in the SIR process. The death of a Booth Level Officer has further complicated the situation.

The 2025 Melon Music Awards nominees have been revealed, featuring both K-pop and American pop artists. The Top 10 winners have been announced, with the final Grand Prize winner to be chosen from this list. Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber are nominated for Best Pop Artist. Stay tuned for updates on this highly anticipated event.

Enforcement Directorate attaches assets worth Rs 1,120 crore in alleged money laundering probe against Anil Ambani's Reliance Group companies. Properties, bank balances, and shareholdings of the group have been provisionally attached under PMLA. The ED alleges large-scale diversion of public money through mutual fund investments and Yes Bank lending.

18-year-old Arvid Lindblad, a British-Swedish driver of Indian descent, has joined Red Bull's Racing Bulls squad, making him one of the youngest drivers in Formula 1. With a successful karting career starting at age five and multiple championship wins, Lindblad has impressed F1 officials with his maturity and talent.

India and Russia's 23rd annual summit will witness major announcements and partnerships. Russian investors can now invest in Indian stock market through First India mutual fund, based on Nifty50 Index. The Index has shown a 2.3% return in the past month and a 5.65% surge in the past year. NSE and Sberbank are focused on improving their collaboration.

Finance author Robert Kiyosaki has posted a new warning about a global recession he believes will begin in 2026. In a long message shared on X, the Rich Dad Poor Dad author said recent job losses are an early sign of what’s coming, and urged people to start preparing now.

FM Sitharaman to present a new bill to increase funds for national security and public health. The bill includes a 40% cess on pan masala and will be presented in the upcoming Winter Session. Parliament has also approved a bill to increase duties on cigarettes, with the revenue to be shared with states.

"Dhurandhar, the highly anticipated spy thriller directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has been receiving rave reviews from early viewers. With a gripping storyline, intense action sequences, and stellar performances from the ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal, the film is being hailed as one of the best Bollywood movies of the year.

A video from Las Vegas showing a woman arguing with an Uber driver has gone viral on social media. The argument appeared to have started when the driver claimed the passenger had been at the wrong pickup point for 10 minutes, which caused a delay.

Rahul Gandhi blames the Indian government's monopoly model for the widespread cancellations of IndiGo flights, causing chaos and inconvenience for passengers. The airline is facing multiple problems, including crew shortage and technical issues, resulting in a significant decrease in operations. Gandhi stresses the importance of fair competition in all industries.

IndiGo's mass cancellation of flights has led to chaos with over 400 flights cancelled on Friday and a record-breaking 550 on Thursday. The airline plans to resume normal operations by February 10, 2026, but cancellations continue to rise, causing delays and frustration for passengers across multiple cities in India.

Dozens of delivery riders from India, China, and Bangladesh were arrested in a week-long operation by the UK's Immigration Enforcement teams. The crackdown, called "Operation Equalize," aims to reduce illegal migration and is supported by the government and delivery companies. The workers are facing deportation for working illegally in various sectors.

HSSC has announced the CET 2025 Group C exam results, with 13 lakh candidates taking the July exams. The official website displays scorecards with important details like total marks, category-wise cut-off, and roll number. Shortlisted candidates will move on to post-specific assessments and document verification.

Indian equity indices open lower, Nifty 50 and Sensex down by 0.12% and 0.16% respectively. Bank Nifty also opens lower. Market focus on monetary policy and governor's comments on emerging macro trends. Rate cut, if any, will be the last in this cycle and may impact banks negatively. Early gainers include Eternal, Shriram Finance, Wipro, Infosys, and SBI Life Insurance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India includes ceremonial engagements, defence talks, and summit-level discussions focused on trade and energy ties. The visit began with a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will continue with a reception, official talks, and a joint press statement.

UK universities are under scrutiny for recruiting students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, as the government is cracking down on immigration. Many universities have stopped accepting students from these countries until 2026 and are being pressured to keep visa rejection rates below 5%. This could have a negative impact on their finances, as international students are a key source of revenue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was full of praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a sit-down interview with India Today ahead of his India visit. While speaking about India’s economic, defence and manufacturing growth, Putin described PM Modi as a reliable leader deeply committed to the country. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day visit to India. His jet landed at Delhi’s Palam airport, where Prime Minister Modi personally received him.  Putin then travelled in a white Toyota Fortuner to PM Modi’s official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, ditching his armoured Aurus Senat.

The New York Times is taking legal action against the Pentagon's new rules that limit reporters' ability to publish information without approval. The policy, implemented by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, is being challenged by the Times and other news outlets as unconstitutional. The lawsuit aims to protect the press's right to gather and report information.

Pantone's Colour of the Year 2026 is Cloud Dancer, a soft and warm white symbolizing calm and cleanliness. It reflects the current trend of quiet reflection and is not tied to a specific trend or aesthetic. This choice reflects global trends in society, technology, and culture, highlighting the value of simplicity. It is the first time in 25 years that Pantone has chosen a color adjacent to white.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said that Russia has always been India’s “Sukh dukh ka saathi” (companion in both good and bad times) at the India-Russia Business Forum held in New Delhi on Thursday, ANI reported. The keynote speaker at the event was Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia.

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.