Business & Economy

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: The way India pays has transformed dramatically over the past few years. From cash to cards, and now to UPI (Unified Payments Interface), digital payments are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for both consumers and merchants. According to a recent study by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, UPI now accounts for 80% of all digital transactions in India. Explosive Growth in Digital Payments Between 2021 and 2025, digital transactions surged nearly 11-fold, driven by greater fintech participation and improved digital infrastructure. The number of UPI QR codes deployed rose from 9.3 crore to 65.8 crore, making adoption easier for merchants. Similarly, third-party app providers increased from 16 to 38, strengthening the overa...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: The Indian home loan market is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with young buyers increasingly taking the lead in property purchases. Easy access to the internet and digital tools has enabled Millennials and Gen Z across cities and villages to buy homes and apply for loans more efficiently than ever before. Millennials and Gen Z at the Forefront In the past, most Indians would purchase homes near retirement. Today, 90–95% of homebuyers are Millennials and Gen Z, according to a recent report on home loan trends. Affordable interest rates and easier access to credit have accelerated this shift, making homeownership achievable for younger generations. About the Report The report, titled “How Bharat Finances Its Housing Dreams: A Consumer Insigh...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: Online shoppers are being warned to stay vigilant as e-commerce platforms continue to face scrutiny for product quality. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹5 lakh fine on Snapdeal for selling toys that did not meet the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), violating consumer rights. Substandard Toys on the Platform CCPA found that Snapdeal allowed the sale of toys that failed to comply with the mandatory Toy (Quality Control) Order, 2020 and BIS norms. The investigation revealed that the platform depended solely on self-declarations from sellers and did not conduct independent verification, resulting in potentially hazardous products being listed online. Snapdeal had earned ₹41,032 in fees from the sale of su...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: While many students focused on campus placements, Varun Raheja from Indore chose a different path — experimenting with solar drying and composting. Today, he is the founder of Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd, a company that manufactures solar dryers and is transforming the post-harvest ecosystem for farmers, generating an annual revenue of ₹14 crore in FY 2024-25. Turning a Traditional Concept into Innovation Solar drying is not new in India. For generations, households have used sunlight to dry papads, pickles, and other produce. Varun applied this age-old principle to develop solar dryers that reduce post-harvest losses for farmers, increasing their income. According to industry data, Indian farmers lose over ₹1.5 lakh crore annually due to post-h...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: The local stock market witnessed a respite from the ongoing downtrend on Monday, with both benchmark indices closing in the green. The BSE Sensex surged by 650.39 points (0.79%) to close at 83,277.15, while the NSE Nifty advanced 211.65 points (0.83%) to end at 25,682.75. The rally was driven by strong buying in power, banking, and finance stocks, coupled with a stable rupee and steady crude oil prices amid ongoing US-Iran talks, which supported market sentiment. The Sensex rebounded after three consecutive sessions of losses. Out of the listed shares on the BSE, 2,565 declined, 1,747 gained, and 184 remained unchanged. Among Sensex constituents, Power Grid led the gains with a 4.45% rise. Other notable gainers included HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, NTPC, ITC, A...

New Delhi, India: The U.S. dollar has remained the dominant currency in global transactions despite a decline in its value last year, while the Chinese yuan has remained stagnant for the past three years. In international trade, the U.S. dollar accounts for roughly half of all transactions, reinforcing its strong global position. According to SWIFT data, the dollar’s share in international payments has risen to 50.5%, the highest since 2023, marking an 11.6% increase over the past four years. This means that nearly one in every two global transactions is conducted in dollars. Global Currency Rankings in Transactions: Euro (EUR): 21.9% British Pound (GBP): 6.7% Canadian Dollar (CAD) & Japanese Yen (JPY): 3.4% each Chinese Yuan (CNY): 2.7% Despite China’s trade sur...

New Delhi, India: The five-day India AI Impact Summit has kicked off today at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi, bringing together leaders from top technology companies worldwide. The summit, running from 16–20 February, is expected to witness announcements of investments totaling $100 billion. Among the participants are several Indian-origin leaders who head international companies, proudly representing India on the global stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet the CEOs of 35–40 companies during the event. Key Indian-Origin Leaders at the Summit: Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google & Alphabet: Born in Chennai on 12 July 1972, Pichai studied at IIT Kharagpur before completing further education at Stanford University. He joined Google in 2004 and became CEO in 2015, taking over Alph...

New Delhi, India: Ice cream maker Kwality Wall’s (India) debuted on the NSE today, listing at a sharp discount and causing significant losses for investors. The company was demerged from Hindustan Unilever (HUL) last year, with the demerger effective from 1 December 2025 and the record date for eligible shareholders fixed on 5 December 2025. Listing DetailsThe issue price of Kwality Wall’s shares was ₹40.20, but they listed at ₹29.80 on the NSE—a nearly 26% discount. The company’s market capitalization at listing stood around ₹7,000 crore. During trading, the shares dropped to ₹28.31. By 11 AM, the stock was trading at ₹31, about 23% below the issue price but 4% above the listing price. Open Offer by Magnum Ice Cream CompanyKwality Wall’s informed the exchange that The Magnum Ice Cre...

New Delhi, India: Young professionals are redefining financial transparency, and a Bengaluru-based data engineer provides a striking example. In a recent Instagram video, @thinking.mori revealed her monthly income and detailed expenses, showing how a high-earning professional manages her finances. Income and Major ExpensesShe earns ₹3 lakh per month, of which slightly over ₹2 lakh goes toward essential expenditures such as rent, utilities, and investments. Her monthly rent for her apartment is ₹20,000, which includes electricity, water, and Wi-Fi. She also pays ₹5,000 to her domestic helper, bringing her basic living costs to ₹25,000. A significant portion of her expenses is dedicated to an EMI of ₹30,000 for an apartment she bought for her parents. She explained, “I know a house is ...

New Delhi, India: Following trade deals with the United States and the European Union, the Indian government is preparing to provide greater flexibility for Chinese investments. According to sources cited by ET, the government is reviewing Press Note 3, which currently requires prior government approval for foreign direct investment (FDI) from countries sharing a land border with India. BackgroundPress Note 3 was introduced in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent opportunistic takeovers of domestic companies, particularly by Chinese firms. Under the existing rules, FDI proposals from countries sharing a border with India require approval from both the Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs. Proposed ChangesSources indicate that the government is considering ...