A new passport featuring US President Donald Trump has created a lot of buzz online. Many people believed it would become the new standard US passport, but that is not the case. The special passport is only a limited-edition commemorative version. It will be available only at one passport office in the United States and only while supplies last.
Indian car buyers are no longer solely interested in petrol or electric vehicles, with a rise in interest for all powertrains. CNG has become the default choice for middle-class families, with Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga and Dzire leading the sales. SUVs continue to dominate the market, with diesel being the preferred fuel for higher-priced cars and especially SUVs.
India firmly rejects the idea of a common BRICS currency and prefers trade settlements in national currencies. The country is against the introduction of any such currency scheme and advocates for internationalizing the Indian Rupee. The group, now expanded to 11 nations, focuses on promoting balanced trade, cross-border investment, and affordable financing for MSMEs.
Kinetic Watts & Volts, a subsidiary of Kinetic Engineering, is set to launch their new electric scooter, Kinetic DX, in 100 dealerships nationwide in October. With an investment of ₹300 crore, the company aims to sell 15,000 units this year and reconnect with a new generation of riders.
RBI's neutral policy stance calls for a balanced approach to fixed income investments. Short-term investments are best placed in money market and liquid funds, while target maturity funds are recommended for the long term. Dynamic bond funds offer a balanced risk-return profile, while money market funds provide liquidity and capital preservation.
The Centre is working on a revised Model BIT to protect investors while safeguarding India's interests. This will speed up the process of resolving disputes through international arbitration. The government is also looking to offer more flexibility for Indian investors abroad. While FDI inflows have been rising, there is still a need for more investment.
Wood Mackenzie predicts an end to cheap US natural gas, with prices reaching $5 per mmbtu by 2035 due to increasing demand from data centers, power plants, and LNG exports. This will be a major change for global gas markets, as prices have been stable at $2-4 per mmbtu for the past 10 years. Despite higher production and LNG capacity, prices are expected to stay in the $3-5 range.
The parliamentary standing committee on chemicals and fertilisers has recommended creating a contingency plan and minimum stocking norms for a strategic fertiliser reserve to address global supply disruptions. They also propose advance procurement, gas allocation coordination, and a regional reserve for DAP and MoP.
South Coast Railway has announced a new weekly special train between Prayagraj and Visakhapatnam, starting from August 14, 2026. The train will operate for a limited period and will strengthen direct rail connectivity between North India and the east coast. It will cover major stations and provide connectivity across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
The NSE and BSE, along with SEBI, have suggested a more stringent system for authorised persons (APs) of brokerages. This involves increased financial requirements and compulsory training on securities, risk management, and anti-money laundering. APs must reveal their bank and demat accounts, social media accounts, and undergo unexpected audits.
A parliamentary panel has recommended that the government reconsiders market-based pricing for essential medicines, citing concerns over affordability and transparency. The panel suggests statutory amendments and cost audits to detect price distortions caused by monopolies. However, the government defends the current regime, stating that DPCO 2013 does not allow for cost-based pricing.
The EACPM's study on Budget speeches in India reveals a shift towards public capital expenditure, digital infrastructure, and domestic manufacturing. While a positive narrative is linked to stronger economic growth, it may not necessarily predict future growth. This evolution reflects the changing economic priorities of the country.
In July 2026, EV retail sales in India reached an all-time high of 327,901 units, a 66.2% increase from the previous year. EV penetration rose to 1 in 8 vehicles sold, driven by record two-wheeler sales and growth in passenger, commercial, and three-wheeler segments. However, supply shortages of popular models continue to constrain passenger EV growth.
Hero MotoCorp to triple EV production capacity to 45,000 units per month by FY27 due to strong retail demand. Current capacity at 30,000 units, expected to reach 45,000 by end of fiscal year. Expansion driven by robust retail demand, expected to boost revenue as product portfolio expands. New electric motorcycles and scooters also planned for launch.
Akasa Air celebrates its fourth anniversary by launching 'Akasa Elevate', a rewards platform for members to earn and redeem points for flights and services. The program offers tier-based benefits and unique features like elite-tier benefits for bookings through travel agents and retrospective point claims for flights since April 2026.
The Finance Ministry's proposal to impose fees on UPI and RuPay debit card payments has sparked concerns over the influence of the "Trump factor" on India's digital payments policy. While the government justifies it as necessary for the UPI ecosystem's financial sustainability, experts fear it may be a response to US pressure.
The Aqua Line metro in Noida and Greater Noida has become a crucial mode of daily travel. NMRC is expanding the network with two new extensions, awarded to L&T, which will provide smoother interchange options and connect Sector 142 to Botanical Garden and Depot Station to Boraki MMTH.
The upcoming week in the primary market will be filled with 5 mainboard IPOs and 3 SME issues, along with 8 IPO listings. Molbio Diagnostics, Dhoot Transmission, Milky Mist Dairy Food, Shiprocket, Behari Lal Engineering, Fascinate Textiles, Sham Foam, and Pramodini Medicare will all be open for subscriptions.
India's urban freight sector is vital for the economy, but its heavy use of diesel trucks has caused issues like congestion and emissions. Experts urge a switch to cleaner vehicles and better efficiency. The government's PM E-DR aims to address this problem.
France has proposed to sell 114 Rafale fighter jets to India, with a promise to produce 94 of them in India. The deal, worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore, will boost business for Indian companies and strengthen the strategic alliance between the two nations. The proposal also involves the incorporation of domestic weapons and the creation of a complete MRO system in India.
The Chennai Metro is expanding with three new corridors, covering 118.9 km and adding 128 stations. This will improve connectivity to the airport, railway stations, IT hubs, and fast-growing suburbs. The expansion is more than halfway complete, reducing travel time for commuters and benefiting the IT corridor and major employment centers.
Indian Railways to upgrade rail connectivity in Bihar's Seemanchal region with 764 km of projects. This will improve passenger and freight movement, strengthen connections with neighboring countries, and enhance the passenger experience. Katihar Junction will also be transformed into a major rail hub.
Macquarie maintains 'Outperform' rating and raises target prices for Trent, PB Fintech, Marico, Avalon Technologies and UNO Minda citing demand resilience, capacity expansion, improving profitability and multi-year growth visibility. Strong operating performance and demand trends at Trent, earnings momentum and profitability at PB Fintech.
India's IPO pipeline remains packed with several large companies across various industries such as financial services, power, technology, chemicals, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing. SEBI has approved IPOs for companies like Avaada Electro, Oravel Stays, Credila Financial Services, and Dorf-Ketal Chemicals India, with proposed issue sizes running into thousands of crores.
Jefferies, a global brokerage house, has given a 'Buy' rating to three large-cap stocks - ONGC, PB Fintech, and Bharti Airtel - with a potential upside of up to 30%. ONGC's earnings have improved, but production remains a concern, while PB Fintech's revenue growth has improved despite higher expenses. Bharti Airtel's subscriber growth remains a key support.
Scientists have used AI to create full viral genomes, a major step in synthetic biology. This could transform the battle against drug-resistant infections, but also raises concerns about safety and security. 285 top designs were selected from millions, but experts stress the importance of careful governance for safe use.
Etsy Inc is cutting 12% of its employees, mostly in product and engineering, as part of a restructuring plan to enhance decision-making. CEO Kruti Patel Goyal confirmed the layoffs and stated that the company denies AI as the reason but acknowledges its impact. Laid-off workers will receive severance pay and healthcare support.
Maharashtra government approves deployment of sovereign AI solutions from Sarvam AI for government departments with a two-year outlay of Rs 11.26 crore. The package includes Indus, a sovereign AI workspace for 2,500 state government users, Samvaad voice and WhatsApp-based agents, and Saaras and Bulbul speech models. The Indus platform offers drafting and file noting assistance.
Indian Navy strengthens coastal defence with launch of INS Machilipatnam, the seventh of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The vessel is equipped for underwater surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, low-intensity maritime operations, and mine warfare capability.
India urged to protect its UPI policies from US pressure and focus on long-term sustainability of its payments ecosystem. The think tank GTRI warns against introducing merchant charges to address trade complaints and instead suggests alternative funding models, such as targeted budgetary support and charges on high-turnover merchants.
The Western Railway has extended the Dadar-Bhusaval Special Train to improve connectivity and provide extra capacity for passengers travelling on the Mumbai-Bhusaval route. The weekly service will run every Friday until 2026, stopping at major stations in Maharashtra and Gujarat. This will ease passenger load and improve access to destinations.
PNB Housing Finance aims to boost affordable and emerging housing loans to 50% of its portfolio by FY28, with a projected 60% growth in FY27. Disbursements declined in Q1 but are predicted to rise by 18-20%. The company's focus is on retail housing finance, with improved margins expected through portfolio diversification.
Hero MotoCorp reported a 29% increase in standalone net profit for the June quarter, surpassing Bloomberg consensus estimates. Revenue from operations also rose 36%, with strong growth in its premium, electric mobility, and global businesses.
Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in Hyderabad, India to meet the increasing demand for AI and cloud services. The region has three availability zones and supports mission-critical workloads, strengthening India's sovereign-ready AI infrastructure. Early demand has been seen from companies like Adani Group and HDFC Bank.
A Silk Way West Boeing aircraft experienced an emergency in the US, leading to confusion as the pilot declared "Pan-Pan" and requested directions to Houston while unknowingly heading in the wrong direction. The flight was safely diverted to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and landed with a delay of 1 hour and 9 minutes.
The Indo-Russian BrahMos missile is a top defence export for India, known for its supersonic speed, precision strike, and versatility. It has gained global recognition and is viewed as India's flagship weapon. Its unique capabilities make it attractive to countries in Asia and Latin America, despite its higher cost.
The Donald Trump administration has already refunded around $100 billion in tariffs it collected before the US Supreme Court struck down most of those duties, according to a court filing reviewed by Reuters.
JM Financial recommends buying shares of Ventive Hospitality, Neuland Laboratories, and Metropolis Healthcare, with potential gains of 25-35%. The companies are expected to see growth in the hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics sectors due to portfolio expansion, new products, and operational efficiency. Investors should seek advice from a SEBI-registered advisor before investing.
Indian government focusing on developing manufacturing ecosystem for trainer aircraft and seaplanes to meet demand for pilots and regional connectivity. Steps include policy incentives, 5-year roadmap, and Special Purpose Vehicle. Aim to boost pilot training, infrastructure, and domestic production, reduce import dependence, and promote tourism through seaplane operations.
The long-awaited Bengaluru Metro link to Kempegowda International Airport is making significant progress.The 58.19-km corridor, being developed under Metro Phase 2B, will connect Silk Board with KIA and is expected to provide a faster public transport option. The project is scheduled to open in phases, with the entire line becoming operational by 2027.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is ready to increase interest rates if inflation remains high, but believes that factors like tariffs and AI investments may eventually ease it. However, she warns that persistent inflation could become ingrained in pricing and wage decisions, making it difficult to manage.
Samvardhana Motherson, a major auto components company, reported a nearly doubled net profit of Rs 1,032.05 crore in Q1FY27, with a 16.65% YoY increase in revenue. However, on a sequential basis, net profit declined by 31%, while revenue rose slightly by 2.72%. The company's strong balance sheet and disciplined execution helped drive profitability.
Motilal Oswal, a leading brokerage firm, has maintained a 'Buy' rating on ONGC with a target price of Rs 290, citing an upside potential of 21%. The recent Q1FY27 earnings report showed lower-than-expected sales for crude oil and natural gas. However, profitability exceeded expectations due to a rise in contribution from New Well Gas and positive results from ONGC Videsh.
Indian Railways has introduced a new licensing system for Container Train Operators to promote private involvement in rail freight and improve business operations. This framework will enable operators to run container trains nationwide with a single licence.The move is expected to boost businesses, reduce logistics and ease the burden on roads.
Morgan Stanley upgrades PNB Housing Finance's rating due to strong performance in June quarter, favoring it over LIC Housing Finance which faced weaker growth and loss in home loan market. PNB Housing Finance expected to sustain momentum in affordable and emerging housing finance, while LIC remains exposed to slower-growing segments. Brokerage has 'Overweight' rating.
Himachal Pradesh CM approves 78% salary hike for contract and trainee medical officers to improve public health infrastructure and address specialist shortages. This increase aims to attract and retain doctors, especially in remote areas. It follows a 24% raise in 2022 and is part of efforts to enhance technology and facilities.
Goldman Sachs reversed its stance on India's aerospace and defence sector, upgrading Hindustan Aeronautics to 'Buy' and downgrading Data Patterns (India) to 'Neutral'. The brokerage cited easing execution bottlenecks and order visibility for Hindustan Aeronautics, while noting that Data Patterns had already delivered strong stock returns and faced limited near-term catalysts.
Southern Railway has launched weekly special trains between Coimbatore and Jaipur to cater to the increasing travel demand. These fully reserved Weekly Express Specials will connect major cities in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.The trains will run as fully reserved Weekly Express Specials.
The railway has extended the Hyderabad-Gorakhpur special train services through September 2026 to cater to the high passenger demand. With four additional weekly trips in each direction, the train aims to improve seat availability and provide extra capacity. The route covers several major cities, offering better connectivity between Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Juniper Green Energy, a renewable energy Independent Power Producer, raised Rs 1,800 crore through its IPO with a premium of 9% and 8% on the NSE and BSE, respectively. The issue was subscribed 2.81 times overall, with the QIBs section being subscribed 8.90 times. The company plans to use the funds to repay existing borrowings and invest in its subsidiaries.
LIC, India's largest life insurance company, made headlines with its successful IPO in 2022, raising over Rs 20,500 crore at Rs 949 per share. Now, in August 2026, the government has launched an OFS with a floor price of Rs 382 per share, offering a discount to retail investors. The stake sale has been expanded and is expected to garner significant interest.