Business & Economy

Vedanta Limited is making waves in India’s corporate sector by taking an unconventional approach to employee stock ownership. While most companies reserve Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) for mid- to senior-level executives, Vedanta is giving even shop-floor and mining workers a stake in the company, making them shareholders and part-owners. ₹2,500 Crore in Shares Distributed Over Five Years Under the leadership of Anil Agarwal, Vedanta has distributed approximately ₹2,500 crore worth of shares to employees over the past five years at just ₹1 per share. This initiative has provided substantial financial benefits while also fostering a sense of ownership among employees. By making staff feel like stakeholders, the company has redefined how Indian manufacturing companies reward thei...

Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Eternal—the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit—has announced his resignation, sending ripples across India’s quick delivery sector. Known as the poster boy of India’s fast-growing quick commerce industry, Goyal’s departure has left the industry in shock. From Humble Beginnings to Entrepreneurial Vision Hailing from a middle-class family in Muktsar, Punjab, Deepinder Goyal graduated from IIT in 2006 and joined Bain & Company. One day, while waiting in his office canteen, he noticed long queues just to see the menu. Inspired, he scanned and uploaded the menu online. The idea struck a chord with people and laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Initially, Goyal launched a website called Foodlet, but it did not gain traction. Und...

A new development has emerged in the ongoing investigation of the Air India Boeing 787 crash. An American aviation safety group claims that the aircraft involved had a history of technical failures, raising questions about whether these issues contributed to last year’s tragic accident. Crash DetailsThe Boeing 787, operated by Air India, crashed on 12 June 2025, shortly after departing from Ahmedabad Airport en route to London. The disaster claimed the lives of 260 passengers and crew members. The official investigation is still underway. Technical Failures HighlightedAccording to the Aviation Safety Foundation (FAS), the aircraft had experienced multiple technical issues even before entering Air India’s service. The group submitted its findings to the US Senate Permanent Subcommitte...

After several days of gains, gold and silver prices fell today as investors reacted to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will not impose a new 10% tariff on the European Union. The development eased market tensions, triggering profit-taking in precious metals. On MCX, gold for 5 February delivery opened at ₹1,51,557 per 10 grams, down over ₹3,000 from the previous close of ₹1,52,862. During early trading, it hit a low of ₹1,49,400 and a high of ₹1,53,784, trading at ₹1,49,584 by 10:00 AM—a decline of ₹3,278. Silver also saw a sharp drop, with 5 March delivery silver opening at ₹3,19,843 per kg, down approximately ₹13,000 from the previous close of ₹3,18,492. In early trade, silver touched a low of ₹3,05,753 and a high of ₹3,25,602, and was trading at ₹3,11,533 at 10:11...

After three consecutive days of declines, the Indian stock market opened sharply higher today following positive signals from US President Donald Trump regarding a trade deal with India. The announcement triggered a surge in investor sentiment, pushing key indices upward. In early trading, the BSE Sensex jumped over 800 points, while the NSE Nifty gained more than 250 points. At 9:38 AM, Sensex was trading at 82,741.60, up 831.97 points (1.02%), and Nifty stood at 25,408, up 250.50 points (1%). Sector and Stock MovementsOut of the 30 stocks in the Sensex, 28 advanced, led by Eternal, Asian Paints, SBI, Adani Ports, BEL, Tata Steel, Indigo, Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, ITC, Power Grid, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Kotak Bank, and Infosys, which rose betw...

India is emerging as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, and global financial leaders are taking notice. David Rubenstein, co-founder of the US-based Carlyle Group, has predicted that India’s growth trajectory could enable it to overtake both China and the United States within the next two to three decades. Currently, India ranks as the world’s fourth-largest economy, with the US at the top and China in second place. Speaking to Economic Times during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Rubenstein said, “I believe India could become the world’s largest economy in 20 to 30 years.” He emphasized that India’s growth is uninterrupted by concerns over US-India relations, noting, “President Trump has generally maintained a positive stance toward India and has appointed ...

The Indian rupee plunged to an all-time low against the US dollar on Wednesday, reflecting heightened global uncertainty and sustained foreign capital outflows. The currency opened at ₹91.05 and during intraday trading touched ₹91.74, before closing at ₹91.65, down 68 paise from the previous close. This marks the biggest single-day fall since 21 November 2025. The RBI reference rate for USD/INR was 91.5500, below the closing market level. Factors Behind the DeclineAccording to Abhishek Bisen, Head of Fixed Income at Kotak Mahindra AMC, emerging economies like India are under pressure from volatile capital flows. Additionally, geopolitical tensions are affecting global markets. Recent developments such as the Greenland dispute and US control over Venezuela’s oil reserves have added to un...

Pune-based Entrepreneur Redefines Career PathKalyani Chavali, a chemical engineer from Pune, has transformed her professional journey by swapping laboratory test tubes for cooking pans. She is the founder of Sahrudaya Foods, a startup she launched in 2021. Today, the company generates an annual revenue of ₹24 lakh by providing healthy snacks and sweets to consumers while empowering rural women through employment opportunities. From Lab to EntrepreneurshipOriginally from Hyderabad and raised in Pune, 24-year-old Kalyani had plans to pursue higher education abroad. However, the COVID-19 pandemic altered her trajectory. During this time, she collaborated on a project with a science ashram in Pabal village, Maharashtra, where she met rural women skilled in preparing traditional, nutritious ...

Stock Market Update: Domestic equity markets ended lower on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day of declines amid global uncertainties, weak cues, and continued foreign capital outflows. The BSE Sensex fell 270.84 points (0.33%) to close at 81,909.63, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 75 points (0.30%) to 25,157.50. During volatile trading, the Sensex touched an intraday low of 81,124.45, down 1,056.02 points at one point. Selling pressure was seen across financial, banking, and consumer stocks, while selective buying at lower levels provided some support. Top Movers:Among Sensex constituents, ICICI Bank, Trent, Bharat Electronics, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro, SBI, and Maruti Suzuki were major losers. Conversely, Eternal, UltraTech Cement, InterGlobe Aviation (Indi...

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about a “remarkable” trade deal with India, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good man and a friend. The statement comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries, with U.S. tariffs on Indian imports currently among the highest in the world at 50%. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump said, “I have great respect for your Prime Minister. He is a wonderful person and my friend. We will have a good deal.” His remarks signal a positive outlook for the negotiations, even as no formal agreement has yet been finalized. Support from U.S. AmbassadorRecently appointed U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gore has also reaffirmed confidence in the bilateral relationship and the on...