Business

New Delhi: India’s economy is sending mixed signals. While the second quarter GDP growth of FY26 came in at a robust 8.2%, outperforming expectations, the Indian rupee has plunged to record lows, with foreign investors continuing to pull money out of domestic markets. All eyes are now on the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which held its meeting on 3 December to decide whether to cut the repo rate, currently at 5.5%, or maintain it. Strong GDP vs Low InflationThe strong GDP growth, driven by improved rural demand and urban consumption, suggests that economic activity is healthy. Meanwhile, retail inflation fell sharply to 0.25% in October, largely due to declining food prices. This combination presents a dilemma for the RBI: traditionally, rate cuts are un...

New Delhi: The Indian rupee has plummeted to its all-time low, raising concerns not just for economists but for households across the country. On Thursday, the currency showed slight recovery, closing at ₹89.89 per US dollar, up 26 paise from its record low the previous day when it first crossed ₹90 per dollar. This year, the rupee has been the worst-performing currency in Asia. Impact on Household BudgetsThe weakening rupee is affecting more than just the stock market or forex traders—it is directly straining household finances. Expenses such as fuel, EMIs, children’s tuition, and travel costs are rising sharply. Families with children studying abroad are particularly hard hit, with tuition fees rising by ₹5–10 lakh annually compared to 2023. For instance, a course costing $50,000, whi...

New Delhi: Indian entrepreneurs are making their mark worldwide, and among them, Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder of BNW Developments, has emerged as a prominent name in the global real estate sector. After establishing his business in Dubai, Aggarwal has now expanded operations to Russia, leveraging growing India-Russia ties amid President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India. Speaking at the India Today Conclave in Moscow, he shared insights into his strategic steps for developing luxury properties in the Russian capital. Humble BeginningsAnkur Aggarwal’s journey from a modest Delhi household to global real estate success is remarkable. Losing his father at the age of six, he witnessed his mother single-handedly manage the family. At just 11, Ankur began tutoring younger children to su...

New Delhi: The Indian stock markets rebounded on Thursday after four consecutive days of decline. The Sensex rose by 158.51 points (0.19%) to close at 85,265.32, while the Nifty gained 47.75 points (0.18%) to settle at 26,033.75. IT stocks led the market rally, with the Nifty IT Index climbing 1.41% by the end of the session. Other sectors witnessing gains included auto, PSU banks, pharma, FMCG, metals, and realty, while energy, media, infrastructure, consumer durables, and oil & gas sectors ended in the red. Mid-cap and small-cap stocks witnessed relatively flat trading, resulting in a higher number of declining stocks compared to gainers. The Nifty Midcap 100 Index slipped 15.85 points to 60,299.80, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 Index fell 41.60 points to 17,607.85. Among the Sens...

New Delhi: IndiGo Airlines continues to face operational challenges, with frequent flight delays and cancellations drawing the attention of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Since late November 2025, the airline has experienced significant disruptions, prompting government intervention. Government Directives and Passenger SupportThe Civil Aviation Minister convened a high-level meeting with senior ministry officials and IndiGo’s top management, directing immediate measures to assist passengers and stabilize operations. The Ministry emphasized close monitoring of the situation and demanded detailed information from the airline. While corrective actions are underway, passengers may continue to face disruptions for approximately two months...

New Delhi: Investors looking to participate in India’s largest Initial Public Offering (IPO) have reason to be excited. Reliance Industries, the country’s most valuable company, has officially started preparations to list its subsidiary, Jio Platforms, on the stock market. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the move could mark India’s biggest-ever IPO. Preparations UnderwayReliance is reportedly engaging in informal discussions with banks to draft the IPO prospectus—a comprehensive document detailing the company’s financials, operations, and strategy. The prospectus is expected to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) soon. While these plans are in the early stages and subject to change, the announcement could come in the first half of 2026, as indicate...

New Delhi: Career aspirations vary widely across the globe, reflecting cultural preferences, economic opportunities, and social status. While some countries see pilots or scientists as the ultimate professional goal, in India, the dream job for most youth is becoming a bank manager. Global Trends in Dream CareersIn countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and South Africa, young people consider real estate careers their dream. In China and Indonesia, becoming a scientist tops the list, while in Japan, many aspire to be fortune tellers. In the UK, aspiring train drivers are popular, while France and South Korea see youth drawn to careers in law enforcement. Germany’s young professionals aim to become professors, while in Italy, being a notary is a coveted role. Pilots are highly sought...

New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh government has allocated 480 acres of land to the Adani Group for a state-of-the-art AI data center in partnership with Google. The project will be established across Vishakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts, with Google’s Indian unit Radenn Infotech India designating Adani Infra (India) Private Limited, Adani Conex India, and Adani Power India as its notified partners. Massive Investment and IncentivesRadenn Infotech India is planning to invest over ₹87,500 crore in setting up the data center in Andhra Pradesh. The company is expected to receive ₹22,000 crore in government incentives over the stipulated period. The initiative aims to establish a one-gigawatt AI data center, capable of consuming power equivalent to roughly 50% of Mumbai’s annual electricity ...

New Delhi: Farmers in Andhra Pradesh are facing severe distress as banana prices crash to a mere 50 paise per kilogram. This comes in stark contrast to Delhi, where the same fruit is being sold at ₹86 per kilogram on e-commerce platforms like Amazon Fresh. Farmers Struggle Amidst Price CrashRecent reports have highlighted that farmers across India are increasingly grappling with falling crop prices. Just as onion farmers in Madhya Pradesh were seen discarding their produce due to prices dropping to ₹1 per kilogram, banana farmers in Andhra Pradesh are unable to cover even their production costs. Despite months of hard work and significant investment, these farmers are left with minimal returns. Jagan Mohan Reddy Voices ConcernFormer Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy too...

New Delhi: After a year of strong gains, gold and silver prices saw a sharp decline today. While gold had surged nearly 60% this year, silver had doubled in value. However, market trends reversed on Wednesday, with gold dropping by around ₹800 per 10 grams and silver tumbling over ₹3,000 per kilogram. Gold Market UpdateGold for February 5 delivery on MCX had closed at ₹1,30,462 per 10 grams in the previous session. Today, it opened at ₹1,30,799 but soon experienced a decline. During early trading, it fell over ₹800 to touch ₹1,29,599. By 12:26 PM, gold was trading at ₹1,29,867, down ₹595 or 0.46%. Silver Market UpdateSilver for March 5 delivery had closed at ₹1,82,352 per kilogram in the last session and opened today at ₹1,82,621. During trading, it dropped over ₹3,000 to reach ₹1,79...