Business

Initial Trading Sees Drop in Precious Metals:After a one-day rally, gold and silver prices have slipped in early trading today. On the MCX, silver fell by ₹2,500 while gold declined by ₹1,000 per 10 grams. Silver Prices:The May 5 delivery silver contract closed at ₹2,63,018 per kg in the previous session and opened today at ₹2,61,361. During early trading, prices ranged between ₹2,60,128 and ₹2,61,924 per kg. At 9:30 AM, silver was trading at ₹2,60,369 per kg, down ₹2,649 (1.01%). Gold Prices:The April 2 delivery gold contract closed at ₹1,58,755 per 10 grams in the last session and opened today at ₹1,58,000. Early trading saw prices fluctuate between ₹1,57,701 and ₹1,58,173 per 10 grams. At 9:36 AM, gold was trading at ₹1,57,858 per 10 grams, down ₹897 (0.57%). International Mark...

Stricter Guidelines to Protect Bank Customers:Complaints of banks selling products or schemes to customers without their consent are common. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has now taken a strict stance. If it is proven that a customer was mis-sold a financial product or service, banks will be required to refund the full amount paid and compensate any loss suffered by the customer. New Measures Against Mis-Selling:The RBI has proposed new rules to prevent “mis-selling” practices. Banks are advised to avoid offering any incentives or rewards that may lead to customers being sold products against their interest. The draft guidelines cover advertising, marketing, and sales by financial institutions. Key points include: Banks should not call customers without consent, and calls must ...

Seamless KYC for Banking and Finance Transactions:From now on, you won’t have to go through the hassle of repeated KYC (Know Your Customer) updates for banking, insurance, mutual funds, or other financial services. The government is planning to launch an upgraded version of the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCRR 2.0) by the end of February, which will be integrated with DigiLocker. This will allow instant verification of documents directly from government databases. Key Highlights of CKYCRR 2.0: Integration with DigiLocker: CKYCRR 2.0 will be fully linked with DigiLocker, the secure cloud-based platform for storing and verifying official documents. This ensures instant verification through the issuing authorities, eliminating repeated KYC submissions. Streamlined Verification: ...

Nationwide Strike Called by Workers and Farmers:Several workers’ and farmers’ organizations across India have called for a Bharat Bandh today. Major banking associations have also expressed support, raising concerns about potential disruptions in government bank operations. However, neither the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) nor banks have officially declared a bank holiday. Impact on Banking Services:Retail customers are confused about whether banks will remain open. Banks including SBI, UCO Bank, and Bank of Baroda have informed the BSE that operations may be affected due to the bandh. Bank of Baroda stated that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure smooth functioning across all branches and offices, but acknowledges that operations could be disrupted. SBI, the country’s l...

Opportunity for Retail Investors:Retail investors have a chance to buy shares of the government-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) today at a discounted price. The government is selling its 5% stake in BHEL through an Offer for Sale (OFS). While non-retail investors could participate on Wednesday, retail investors can place their bids today. The floor price for the shares has been set at ₹254 per share. In the previous session, BHEL shares closed at ₹260.65 on the BSE, down 5.58%. Strong Institutional Response:Institutional investors showed strong interest on the first day of the sale, bidding over ₹5,650 crore. The OFS was more than twice subscribed on day one. Arunesh Chawla, Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), told X that the gove...

From Jamalpur to Global Plates:Gautam Kumar, a young man from Jamalpur in Bihar’s Munger district, has transformed traditional millet-based and local cuisine into a globally recognized culinary brand. His creations have even reached the table of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earning appreciation from international delegates and billionaires alike. Early Struggles and Determination:Growing up in the narrow lanes of Jamalpur amidst the whistle of passing trains, Gautam never imagined his dishes would one day be served at the highest international platforms. He recalls walking several kilometers to school every morning, often feeling out of place. This sense of not quite fitting in stayed with him, particularly when he decided to pursue cooking—a field then largely dominated by women, and ...

Share Market Overview:The Indian stock market experienced a mixed session on Wednesday, ending the day slightly lower. The Sensex fell by 40.28 points (0.05%) to close at 84,233.64, while the Nifty slipped 18.70 points (0.07%) to end at 25,953.85. Sector Performance:Healthcare and auto stocks led the rally, contributing to positive momentum in the market. Key sectoral gainers included: Nifty Healthcare: +1.62% Nifty Auto: +1.30% Nifty PSU Bank: +1.03% Nifty Pharma: +1.01% Nifty India Manufacturing: +0.76% Nifty Realty: +0.63% On the other hand, IT, PSU Enterprises, and private banks witnessed a decline: Nifty IT: -1.76% Nifty PSE: -0.16% Nifty Private Bank: -0.16% Market Cap Segments:Large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap indices showed relatively flat tr...

New Delhi: India has witnessed rapid growth in its road infrastructure in recent years, surpassing China to become the world’s second-largest road network after the United States. But the question arises: which country boasts the world’s longest straight road? The answer is Saudi Arabia. According to dangerousroads.org, Highway 85 in Saudi Arabia features an uninterrupted straight stretch of 822 km between Arar and Al Nairiyah in the desert, taking approximately nine hours to traverse. The entire highway spans 1,271 km, connecting Jubail on the Arabian Gulf to Qurayyat near the Jordanian border. Saudi Arabia is also home to the world’s second-longest straight road: Highway 10. This 256 km stretch in the Rub’ al Khali desert connects Harat to Al Batha and reportedly took around two ho...

New Delhi: Shares of state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) fell sharply in early trade today, amid the government’s stake sale in the company. On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), BHEL shares dropped nearly 6% to ₹259.30, after closing at ₹276.05 in the previous session and opening at ₹262. The government is selling up to 5% of its 63.17% holding in BHEL through an Offer for Sale (OFS), which is expected to raise ₹4,422 crore. The OFS has been priced at ₹254 per share, representing an 8% discount to the previous close. Under the offer, the government will first sell a 3% stake, with an option to sell an additional 2% if the issue is oversubscribed. The OFS opened today for non-retail investors, while retail investors can bid starting Thursday. BHEL’s financial performanc...

Mumbai: Shares of Silverline Technologies, a leading Indian software and technology consulting company, have been on a remarkable upward trajectory, hitting the upper circuit daily since 27 January 2026. In just one month, the stock has delivered an astounding 69.95% return to investors. The Reason Behind the Surge Silverline Technologies, previously known as Silverline Industries Limited, recently launched its AI-powered web platform “SilverAI” on 2 February 2026. The platform received an overwhelming response from users, registering over 24,000 users within a week. The company projects that 500,000 users will join the platform within 45 days. To attract users, Silverline plans to price its Pro membership at $9 per user per month, while offering free access to all users for the f...