Business & Economy

Digital fraud in India is rising at an alarming pace, prompting warnings from RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. He emphasized that this issue has become a nationwide challenge and urged all stakeholders to work together to curb it. Banks Must Follow Rules in Letter and Spirit Addressing a program in Mumbai on Friday, Governor Malhotra urged banks and financial institutions not to treat regulations as mere formalities. “It is essential to understand the true purpose and intent behind the rules,” he said. Highlighting the risks of digital banking, he warned that lack of proper security, hidden charges, incomplete customer information, and unethical loan recovery practices could cause serious harm. Collaboration and Technology Are Key Governor Malhotra stressed that while digitalizati...

When we think of salt, the image of plain, white granules often comes to mind. But in the hills of Uttarakhand, Shashi Bahuguna Raturi is redefining how people see this humble ingredient. Famous as the “Namakwali”, Shashi has turned finely ground Himalayan salt into a thriving business that now earns millions of rupees annually and reaches customers abroad. From Kitchen Hobby to Global Brand Shashi’s love for traditional hill cuisine inspired her entrepreneurial journey. With the support of her son, she launched her venture in 2018. According to her younger son Suvendu, “Many local women used to grind salt at home and share it freely. We called her ‘Namakwali.’ At 58, we decided to turn our mother into a businesswoman. We asked these women to make the most of their kitchen mortars an...

India’s foreign exchange reserves suffered a major setback in the first week of the new year, falling by $9.809 billion after four consecutive weeks of growth. Sharp Decline in Forex Reserves Mumbai: The new year began with a jolt for India’s foreign exchange reserves. During the week ending January 2, 2026, the country’s reserves declined by $9.809 billion, reversing the previous week’s gain of $3.29 billion. The total reserves now stand at $686.801 billion. For context, India’s reserves had previously reached a record high of $704.885 billion during the week ending September 27, 2024. Foreign Currency Assets Fall Significantly Data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicates that India’s Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs) saw a sharp drop of $7.622 billion in the same w...

The United States may impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from India, China, and Brazil, particularly targeting countries purchasing Russian oil. However, China could again receive preferential treatment, highlighting the starkly different approaches the U.S. is taking toward India and China. India, China, and U.S.: A Divergent Approach New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed a bill allowing the United States to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries buying Russian oil, including India, China, and Brazil. Following the news, Indian stock markets experienced a sharp decline. Analysts warn that such high tariffs could make exporting goods to the U.S. nearly impossible for India. However, experts point out that India is likely to feel the brunt of these measures mo...

On Friday, gold and silver prices witnessed a strong upward trend once again. Gold is approaching its all-time high, while silver saw a significant surge. Gold and Silver Rally Continues New Delhi: The momentum in precious metals continued on Friday as both gold and silver recorded impressive gains. Gold edged closer to its all-time high, while silver crossed ₹2.42 lakh per kilogram once again. According to the India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA), the price of 24-carat gold rose by ₹1,349 to ₹1,37,122 per 10 grams from Thursday’s ₹1,35,773. The previous all-time high in the spot market for gold was ₹1,37,956 per 10 grams, recorded on December 26, 2025. Similarly, 22-carat gold rose to ₹1,25,604 per 10 grams from ₹1,24,368, while 18-carat gold moved up from ₹1,01,830 t...

Mumbai: Investors who relied solely on equity mutual funds faced disappointing returns last year, while gold and silver delivered eye-popping gains. Gold returned over 74% in 2025, and silver more than doubled with a 160% return. This surge has renewed investor interest in multi-asset allocation funds, which combine precious metals, equities, and debt in a single portfolio. Why Multi-Asset Funds Are in FocusWhile gold and silver soared, equity markets struggled, leaving pure equity mutual fund investors at a disadvantage. Experts now recommend diversifying across multiple asset classes to capture returns while managing risk. Multi-asset funds allow investors to benefit from high-performing commodities like gold and silver while maintaining exposure to equities and safer debt instruments...

New Delhi: India’s domestic stock markets have witnessed a sharp downturn over the past five days, with the Sensex dropping nearly 2,200 points and the Nifty falling by 2.5%. Investors now brace for further volatility next week, hinging on a crucial U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected today on the legality of heavy tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The verdict could either trigger a market rally or exacerbate existing instability in India. Potential Windfall if Tariffs Are Struck DownIf the Supreme Court cancels these tariffs, India could emerge as one of the biggest beneficiaries globally, as Trump had imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, severely affecting trade. Investors are particularly concerned about another looming threat: a recently approved U.S. bill could impose 50...

New Delhi: The domestic stock market witnessed a sharp decline today, marking the fifth consecutive day of losses. Although the market opened positively in the morning, a statement from the U.S. Commerce Secretary triggered a massive sell-off in the afternoon session. The BSE Sensex plunged over 650 points, while the Nifty50 slipped below 25,700 points. The Trigger: India-U.S. Trade Deal Statement According to the U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the long-pending India-U.S. trade deal could not be finalized because Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly did not call U.S. President Donald Trump to approve the agreement. Lutnick claimed that the deal required India’s direct confirmation to be completed, which did not happen. This disclosure sent shockwaves through the market. ...

New Delhi: After a one-day fall, gold and silver prices are back on the rise today. On Thursday, silver in Delhi’s bullion market had plunged by ₹12,500, while gold fell ₹900. However, trading resumed with gains for both precious metals. Silver Sees Strong RecoveryOn MCX, silver surged by nearly ₹4,000. The 5 March delivery of silver had closed at ₹2,43,324 per kg in the previous session and opened today at ₹2,45,600. During early trading, it touched a high of ₹2,47,247 and a low of ₹2,43,670. By 11:35 AM, silver was trading at ₹2,47,160 — up ₹3,836 or 1.58% from the previous close. Gold Also GainsGold prices also moved higher today. The 5 February delivery of gold had closed at ₹1,37,742 per 10 grams in the previous session and opened at ₹1,37,997. Early trading saw a low of ₹1,37,7...

New Delhi: Scientific advancements are transforming agriculture, and China is once again at the forefront. Chinese scientists have developed a breakthrough hybrid rice variety capable of cloning itself through seeds, meaning farmers will no longer need to purchase new hybrid seeds for each planting season. A Game-Changer for Rice CultivationAccording to the South China Morning Post, experts are calling this discovery revolutionary. Traditional hybrid rice requires farmers to buy fresh seeds every season to maintain high yields, a major barrier for cost-effective cultivation. With this new variety, farmers could drastically reduce costs while retaining the high-yield traits of hybrid rice across generations. Up to Four Times Higher YieldThe most remarkable feature of this hybrid rice ...