Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Hindustan Unilever has appointed Priya Nair as its next CEO and managing director, effective August 2025, signaling another milestone for women at the helm of India’s corporate world. Yet the article stresses that female leadership at top levels remains rare, with ongoing hurdles around hiring, retention, and career progression slowing broader change across sectors.
JD(U) has named Shrawon Kumar as its legislative party leader in Bihar, following a move by party legislators to authorize national president Nitish Kumar to make the appointment. Kumar, a long-time associate of Nitish Kumar and a seventh-term MLA from Nalanda, is from the Kurmi community, a significant OBC group in Bihar.
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Discount brokerage Zerodha has shut down its creator media initiative, Zero1 Network, citing regulatory uncertainty around financial influencers. The firm will move content production in-house to keep tighter control and avoid compliance risks. The decision follows recent Sebi steps aimed at curbing unlicensed finfluencers and tightening rules for financial advice in India.
Newly discovered documents trace the first telegraph link between India and England on 23 June 1870, showing early messages and the excitement that came with the breakthrough. The findings spotlight how fast communication transformed expectations on both sides, turning a long-anticipated link into a real, working network—captured in historic correspondence.
Headlines may scream war, but the Strait of Hormuz is still operating, leaving the 2025 oil scare looking less like a true supply rupture and more like a price mirage. With shipping continuing and market reactions already discounting worst cases, oil traders—and India’s energy planners—are positioning for a faster cooling of prices than in 2022.
As oil prices climb and geopolitical tensions drive institutions toward safety, markets remain volatile and many stocks have fallen sharply. Yet retail investors are still buying across segments, even as declines in some areas range from 25% to 60%. With about 65% of small caps in the red, their concentration raises a critical question: is this sell-off nearing a floor?
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CleanMax plans to supply renewable electricity to Shell’s LNG terminal in Gujarat and technology centre in Karnataka. The Gujarat site will be powered by a 16.83 MW solar and wind hybrid project, while Karnataka’s 13.2 MW hybrid plant will feed Shell’s Bengaluru operations. The move aims to improve reliability and energy stability for Shell’s facilities.
Tata Motors has started delivering its heavy-duty electric truck, the Prima E.55S, to BillionE Mobility. The automaker has also bagged an additional order for 250 electric prime movers. Together, the fleet is set to power long-haul freight across multiple Indian states, pushing faster adoption of electric logistics for inter-city routes.
The RBI is widely expected to keep interest rates and its policy stance unchanged amid global uncertainty, including the US Israel conflict that could lift energy prices. With fiscal concerns still in play, policymakers will watch the rupee and possible capital outflows, weighing support measures that stabilize the currency without an aggressive immediate move.
Inox Clean Energy is set to acquire US-based Boviet Solar in a deal valued around $750 million, aiming to accelerate its entry and expansion in the American solar market. Boviet Solar is described as a major player among US solar equipment makers, making the acquisition a potential shortcut to scale and market presence rather than building from scratch.
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Indian exporters are urging the government to remove the cap on interest subvention, saying the current support is too low to withstand rising global trade uncertainty. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations wants the scheme revised to offer stronger relief, particularly for firms hit by higher borrowing costs and unstable export demand.
India and the US have reached an interim trade agreement framework aimed at improving market access and cutting trade barriers. The government says the deal is designed to safeguard domestic sensitivities while also tackling non tariff barriers. It further highlights cooperation in technology and energy, setting the tone for deeper bilateral trade engagement.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization says international flights will restart from Mashhad Airport starting Monday, kicking off a phased reopening of Iranian airspace. The plan prioritizes transit flights and airports in Iran’s east, with travelers able to buy tickets for international routes to and from Mashhad as services ramp back up.
Trump’s ultimatum and Iran’s retaliation threats have rattled global markets, pushing crude oil higher while investors rush out of risk. With tensions escalating and economies under strain, currencies like the rupee face pressure from both the oil channel and foreign portfolio flows. The key question now is which force dominates next—and how deep the decline could go.
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RBI’s retail CBDC, the e rupee, began as a pilot in 2022 and signaled a major shift in India’s digital payments journey. The trial is aimed at shaping how a government backed digital currency could work for everyday transactions, from payment convenience to settlement and usability, before any wider rollout decisions are made.
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus “golden visa” has attracted nearly NZ$4 billion in committed and pipeline investment within its first year after an overhaul. Of that total, NZ$1.49 billion has already been invested, while NZ$2.415 billion remains in the pipeline. The government says the influx of wealthy migrants and growth capital is meant to lift productivity and create jobs.
SWITCH Mobility has completed deliveries of 100 electric buses to the government of Mauritius, marking India’s largest electric bus export to date. The shipment, described as more than a logistical achievement, is framed as a major boost for cleaner urban transport and sustainable development, reinforcing SWITCH Mobility’s push toward eco-friendly mobility solutions overseas.
Max Healthcare says hospital infrastructure alone won’t guarantee better patient outcomes, even as it expands capacity. The company has added a new facility in Saket, taking bed strength to about 6,500. It targets domestic patients and international medical tourists while using brownfield economics to control costs and narrow India’s private tertiary care bed gap.
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A Gujarat-based NGO is urging the government to regulate nutraceuticals such as health supplements under drug regulators, not food safety authorities. The group alleges uneven product quality and unregulated pricing, arguing the current framework leaves consumers exposed. If accepted, the proposal could bring tighter standards and more transparent costs for nutraceuticals nationwide.
Global oil prices jumped after the US-Iran conflict, and Indian retail traders rushed into crude derivatives. March saw a sharp spike in futures and options volumes, even as trading tightened and margin requirements increased. Despite higher costs, traders leaned into short-tenure positions, turning volatility into rapid, high-frequency bets on crude moves.
Budget 2026 reshuffled India’s capital-market approach by raising the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) to curb speculative activity. At the same time, it doubled the GIFT IFSC tax holiday to 20 years, reinforcing a push for long-term global capital. The move also points toward India’s first offshore IPO pathway through the GIFT IFSC ecosystem.
US President Donald Trump said Washington has complete control over its naval blockade measures against Iran, describing them as effective. He cautioned that Iran’s reported regional actions—including targeting multiple countries—could amount to a serious mistake. The comments underscore heightened US pressure and signal that the blockade could remain a central tool as tensions continue to rise.
India’s PM-eBus Sewa scheme, backed by INR 57,613 crore, is set to prioritize cities with no organized bus services—aiming to bring electric commutes to tier 2 and tier 3 towns. As manufacturers scale up and states push decarbonized public transport, the big question is how financing and charging infrastructure bottlenecks will be solved fast enough to deliver buses on the ground.
Tesla is ramping up its India presence by expanding both its Supercharger network and service centres. The new Supercharger stations are planned along major highways to connect major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Tesla also notes home charging is available across 28 states, aiming to build an end to end charging ecosystem for customers.
Astronomers have identified exoplanet L98-59d, a super Earth about 1.6 times Earth’s size and roughly 35 light-years away. The planet is described as a scorching world with rivers of molten lava and surface temperatures around 1,900°C. The discovery adds another extreme target to study how rocky planets behave under intense heat.
GMR Airports, which operates five major airports including Delhi and Hyderabad, is sharpening its strategy to grow non-aeronautical revenue while building an expansion playbook for upcoming facilities. The market is taking notice: the company’s stock jumped this week after reporting a 45% year-on-year rise in gross income, highlighting momentum beyond passenger volumes alone.
Excitel’s fixed broadband push is built on an asset-light model: it reaches customers in underserved areas by piggybacking on partner networks. The strategy aims to accelerate market entry while keeping focus on the make-or-break area—customer support. The question is whether this lean setup can compete for share where Airtel and Jio’s dominance is hardest to dislodge.
Jawaharlal Nehru University will introduce a five per cent supernumerary quota for children of its teaching and non-teaching staff. The quota will apply across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from the next academic session starting in 2026-27. JNU says it will add seats specifically for this purpose while keeping the existing seat matrix unchanged.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit India from April 19 to 21, with shipbuilding—especially LNG tankers—at the center of talks under Make in India. The effort focuses on technology transfer and scaling up production, while collaboration may also expand into semiconductors, civil nuclear energy, and defense manufacturing to deepen the countries’ strategic partnership.
EU wheat prices are easing even as Iran war worries continue to hover over grain markets. Traders say Middle East tensions no longer provide the same cost support, while farmers’ reluctance to sell—driven by inflation—keeps supply tight. Import demand from Algeria and Turkey and Morocco’s expected crop rebound are adding further counterweights.
India’s coal stocks have crossed 200 million tonnes, enough to cover 90 days of demand, marking a notable rise from earlier levels. The government also says coal production hit one billion tonnes for the second straight year. With reforms and auctions underway, officials claim the push is to cut import dependence and strengthen self-reliance in minerals.
India’s medical tourism has slipped below its pre-Covid high, with industry citing geopolitical tensions, slow or delayed visas, and tougher competition from other Asian destinations. Leaders argue the way back is to sharpen high-tech capabilities and ensure reliable patient care. They also point to improving ties with Bangladesh as a potential boost to international arrivals.
Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE has backed returning its Google news content case to its general superintendence for formal administrative proceedings. The interim chief said the latest probe should reflect how Google’s behavior has evolved since the investigation began in 2019, paving the way for deeper scrutiny of the company’s conduct around news licensing and distribution.
HDFC Bank has alerted customers after card swipes were linked to overseas capital account transactions. The move comes as some residents used cards to make international transfers while unaware they could be violating foreign exchange and banking regulations. Reports suggest certain customers may have done it to dodge TCS or sidestep limits on overseas forex remittances.
Arvind Kejriwal has shifted to a Type-VII government bungalow at 95, Lodhi Estate. The Centre provided the accommodation after court directions, citing his position as AAP’s national convenor. The move marks a new residence for the AAP supremo and former Delhi chief minister amid ongoing legal and administrative decisions over government housing.
SoftBank-backed AceVector Ltd has filed updated IPO draft papers with SEBI, signaling renewed momentum toward listing. The proposed offering includes a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 300 crore, with the company positioning the capital raise as part of its growth plans in India’s digital commerce ecosystem. Final details will depend on SEBI’s review.
India’s pharmaceutical exports fell 23.17% in March, a sharp reversal attributed to the West Asia conflict disrupting both shipping routes and air transit hubs. With Dubai and Abu Dhabi impacted, freight costs rose and losses are estimated at ₹2,500–₹5,000 crore. The hit threatens the smooth flow of essential medicines to global markets despite earlier FY26 growth.
Nasscom’s new chairperson Srikanth Velamakanni says AI is triggering a structural shift across India’s technology sector. He points to near-term challenges such as adjusting hiring practices, while stressing major opportunities as demand for tech talent accelerates. Geopolitics may complicate timelines, but the industry is preparing for widespread AI adoption.
The RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, citing persistent West Asia tensions. While its GDP and inflation forecasts stay within targets, the central bank warned that potential supply chain disruptions could still pressure inflation and weigh on growth. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, markets responded positively to the policy decision, reflecting confidence in the current stance.
GIFT City’s first IPO withdrawal, tied to XED Executive Development’s ₹110 crore offering, is raising questions about how smoothly issuers can list in India’s international finance hub. KYC hurdles, limited institutional participation, and restrictions on domestic investors are pushing potential companies to rethink timing and plans—turning a major growth narrative into a cautionary test case.
InCred Alternatives has closed its inaugural special situations credit fund at Rs 1,500 crore, drawing a diverse investor base. The close lifts its private credit assets under management to over Rs 4,000 crore, with the fund already 75% deployed. It plans to back established companies in sectors such as auto and power, aiming to ride India’s expanding private credit market.
Jindal Stainless Ltd has entered the retail market with Jindal Infinity, a new stainless steel rebar designed to offer superior corrosion resistance and longer durability. The company aims to reach builders and consumers more directly while expanding manufacturing capacity and its distribution network to handle rising demand for higher-performance construction materials.
A South Delhi Hyatt Regency property was assessed at about INR 2,600 crore in 2021 during post-Covid lender restructuring talks. Three years later, the valuation fell sharply to below INR 1,000 crore when a one-time settlement proposal was put forward. The reported gap raises questions over how asset values were recalculated to reshape negotiations with banks.
A new survey finds a sharp mismatch between what Gen Z wants and what many workplaces are prepared to deliver. Only 36% of HR leaders feel fully equipped to manage Gen Z talent. Gen Z is more focused on learning, progression, and work-life balance, while 49–59% say they leave for lack of growth. Even internship-to-job conversions lag.
With West Asia fighting escalating, Morbi and Thangadh ceramic clusters are struggling as propane supplies tighten. Since the war began, a shortage of the fuel has disrupted production, leaving many units shut or operating at reduced capacity. Industry sources say losses are mounting quickly, threatening jobs and the viability of smaller workshops reliant on consistent gas supplies.
India’s IPO boom has turned unforgiving: out of 198 IPOs since 2024, only 64 are still trading in the green and just 35 have delivered sustained gains. With the IPO index down about 8%, the data shows that quick enthusiasm often collapses when market cycles shift, leaving many early buyers stuck with losses.
Ahead of RCB’s IPL 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli impressed during the nets session in Bengaluru. Reports highlight a sublime batting display featuring classic drives, slog sweeps, and lofted hits, signaling strong form and confidence. With RCB aiming to set the tone early, Kohli’s practice session has raised anticipation for Friday’s match.
India’s real estate sector saw capital inflows jump 72% to a record $5.1 billion in January to March, according to CBRE. Real estate developers accounted for roughly 42% of the inflows, while REITs followed closely at about 40%, with REIT investments exceeding $2 billion—highlighting strong investor appetite.
Amazon is renaming roles at its Ring and Blink units, replacing traditional job titles with “builder” and “builder leader.” The company says the change is meant to build a more adaptable culture centered on customer value, with compensation and growth paths staying the same. Still, some employees worry the new wording could signal future promotion changes.
Kabeer Biswas’ new venture M has secured ₹102 crore in a seed round led by Peak XV Partners, with major participation from Blume Ventures and fintech unicorn CRED. MCA filings show Peak XV led with ₹46.4 cr, Blume put in ₹37.1 cr, and CRED invested ₹18.6 cr. The startup has already raised ₹83.5 cr and plans to issue ~55K Series Seed CCPS to investors.
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