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Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Did BTS just prove that fandom is more powerful than industry validation? In this first episode of Overthinker's Anonymous, Richa and Renil unpack BTS's decision to opt out of the Grammy Awards, the record-breaking success of Arirang, and the rise of ARMY as one of the world's most powerful fan-driven ecosystems. From brand equity and digital communities to music, marketing, and cultural influence, they explore how BTS may be redefining success in the modern entertainment industry. -- About Overthinker's Anonymous: This podcast brings you the interesting scoop into trending business news, pop culture, marketing, and a lot more off the beaten track. Tune in with your hosts, Richa and Renil, to get a front-row seat into what's making waves in the modern world today. -- Music attribution: 'Sky Is The Limit' by Anno Domini Beats/Anno Domini Nation © 2004 - today. All Rights Reserved.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Markets adjust to new closing auction mechanism Markets witnessed a volatile trading session as investors adjusted to the new closing auction mechanism introduced for stocks with futures and options contracts. Snapping a four-day winning streak, the BSE Sensex fell 210 points to close at 78,428, while the NSE Nifty declined 159 points to settle at 24,615. Despite sharp intraday swings, trading remained orderly, suggesting that market participants are gradually adapting to the new framework. Turnover in the closing auction session also remained healthy. The NSE recorded more than ₹1,540 crore in turnover on the second day of the mechanism, up from ₹1,276 crore on Monday, while the BSE saw turnover of ₹9.35 crore. Dabur defends product purity amid FSSAI action While financial markets were adjusting to a new trading regime, the consumer goods sector was grappling with regulatory scrutiny. Dabur India has defended the quality and purity of its products after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibited the sale of certain food products over the use of “100 per cent” claims. The FMCG major said it has never made misleading claims and has already begun updating product labels, advertisements and website content to remove the “100 per cent” wording. According to the company, most affected products have either completed the transition or are in the process of doing so. Dabur also said it is engaging with the regulator and seeking legal advice on the way forward. India's app economy hits record high From product labels to digital subscriptions, changing consumer behaviour is becoming increasingly visible across sectors. India's mobile app economy posted its strongest quarter yet, with revenue reaching a record $345 million during the April-June quarter of 2026, according to data from Sensor Tower. The figure marks a 35 per cent year-on-year increase, driven largely by spending on AI applications, video streaming platforms and other digital services. Non-gaming apps alone generated nearly $240 million in revenue, growing more than 50 per cent from a year earlier. The latest numbers suggest India is steadily evolving from being the world's largest app-download market into one where consumers are increasingly willing to pay for digital services. Centre moves to reintroduce MDR on UPI for large merchants As digital adoption accelerates, attention is also turning to the payment infrastructure that powers this growth. The Centre has initiated amendments that could reintroduce Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI payments made by large merchants. The proposal is part of the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament. Alongside this, the government has proposed extending tax benefits for foreign companies supplying machinery to contract manufacturers until 2041, a move aimed at boosting domestic electronics manufacturing and supporting investments from global technology players. The proposed measures are expected to strengthen India's manufacturing ecosystem while also reshaping the economics of the country's rapidly expanding digital payments network. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From the Centre summoning Meta over the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post and Maruti Suzuki expanding its Gujarat manufacturing capacity, to Sarvam AI unveiling plans for a trillion-parameter AI model and the government highlighting the benefits of ethanol blending, here are the top business, technology and policy stories shaping the day.    

From Parliament passing a tougher anti-paper leak law and Cognizant cutting its full-year revenue forecast despite strong quarterly growth, to Russia charging Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and Adani Enterprises posting a quarterly loss after a one-time US settlement, here are the key developments shaping business, technology, markets and policy today.

From Meta's apology over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video and Hindustan Unilever's profit decline, to the Delhi High Court ordering the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank and Tata Sons extending Air India's turnaround timeline, here are the key developments shaping business, technology, markets and policy today.

From the Bank of Baroda data breach and sweeping reforms to India's examination system, to stricter anti-paper leak laws and a strong rebound in the stock market after easing geopolitical tensions, here are the key developments shaping business, markets, education and policy today.

From a Cabinet reshuffle placing Pralhad Joshi at the helm of the Education Ministry, and escalating tensions in West Asia threatening energy supplies, to a proposed overhaul of the US H-1B visa system and fresh tariff pressures on India's gems and jewellery exports, here are the key developments across policy, geopolitics, immigration and trade. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Infosys Q1 FY27 profit rises 12.2% to ₹7,769 crore; revenue jumps 14%, names CEO designate Infosys reported a 12.2 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹7,769 crore for the first quarter of FY27, while revenue rose 14 per cent. The company also named Ashiss Kumar Dash as CEO designate, with the veteran executive set to succeed current CEO Salil Parekh when his term concludes in March 2027. Infosys said clients remain cautious on technology spending amid ongoing disruption from artificial intelligence, prompting it to trim the upper end of its FY27 revenue growth guidance to 3 per cent from the earlier 3.5 per cent. SEBI weighs risk-based margin framework to boost cash market participation SEBI may soon seek public comments on a proposal to replace the existing 20 per cent upfront margin requirement for cash market trades with a risk-based framework. Under the proposal, brokers would collect margins based on risk assessed by clearing corporations rather than a fixed threshold. The move is aimed at improving liquidity and encouraging broader participation in the equity cash market. Gujarat reels under torrential rains; 1,200 rescued amid widespread flooding More than 1,200 people have been rescued and nearly 1,500 shifted to safer locations after torrential rain triggered flooding across several districts in Gujarat. Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Tapi and Dangs are among the worst-affected districts, while authorities have ordered schools in Ahmedabad to remain closed until Friday. Rescue and evacuation operations continue, though no major industrial disruptions have been reported so far. Adani Group eyes starting an airline, say sources The Adani Group is considering launching a new airline, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move would mark a strategic shift for the conglomerate, which already operates eight airports across India. While no final decision has been taken, sources said the group is evaluating whether entering the airline business makes commercial sense in a sector known for intense competition and thin margins. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

Centre plans sweeping aviation reforms to ease airline entry The Centre is preparing a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at lowering barriers for launching new airlines and encouraging greater competition in India's aviation sector. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is reviewing key regulatory provisions, including the 0/20 rule, licensing requirements, ownership structures and pilot availability as part of a broader effort to simplify market entry while retaining safety and regulatory oversight. The proposed changes come at a time when the domestic aviation market has become increasingly concentrated following the collapse or consolidation of several carriers over the past decade. Policymakers believe a review of the existing framework could facilitate the entry of new airlines, improve competition and attract fresh investment as passenger traffic continues to grow rapidly. Blockade of Bab el-Mandeb to push up crude oil prices, threaten product supply, lift freight rates Fresh concerns have emerged over global energy supplies after the Houthis threatened to block Saudi Arabia's crude oil cargoes passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Refiners and trade sources say such a move could disrupt the availability of crude oil and refined petroleum products while increasing freight rates, potentially adding further pressure on India's already elevated energy import bill. The concerns are reflected in rising oil prices, with Brent crude trading at $93.82 a barrel and WTI at $86.68 by Wednesday evening. Industry participants warn that reduced traffic through both the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, considered two of the world's most important energy choke points, could trigger a further increase in crude prices. Trump's generic drug tariffs: Indian pharma says US consumers will pay the price Indian pharmaceutical companies have expressed concern over US President Donald Trump's proposal to impose tariffs on generic medicines. Under the proposed framework, tariffs would remain at zero from August 1, 2026 before increasing progressively to 200 per cent from August 2029. Industry representatives say tariffs exceeding 100 per cent cannot be absorbed by manufacturers and would ultimately be passed on to American consumers through higher drug prices. Namit Joshi, Chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, said the assumption that a large-scale generic drug manufacturing ecosystem could be established in the United States remains a remote possibility. Rain deficit shrinks to 21% as wet spell intensifies in West, North-West The southwest monsoon continued to strengthen across Central, North-West and East India, helping reduce the country's cumulative rainfall deficit to 21 per cent despite the weakening of the low-pressure system that triggered the latest spell of rain. The most significant improvement was recorded in East and North-East India, where the rainfall deficit narrowed to 32 per cent. Central India and North-West India emerged as the strongest-performing regions with deficits of 13 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. The South Peninsula, however, continued to trail the national trend, with a rainfall shortfall of 26 per cent. The improvement in rainfall offers relief for the agricultural sector and supports expectations of better water availability across several regions as the monsoon progresses. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

The government is considering allowing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) to subscribe to the National Pension System (NPS), as part of a broader push to attract foreign capital into India. The move follows a series of recent measures by the Government and the Reserve Bank of India aimed at improving dollar inflows and strengthening the rupee. The policy push comes amid headwinds from rising crude oil prices and foreign portfolio investor outflows linked to geopolitical tensions in West Asia. As of June 2026, assets under management under the NPS stood at ₹17.27 lakh crore, with state government employees accounting for the largest share, followed by central government employees, the corporate sector and individual subscribers. Maruti Suzuki to hike prices by up to ₹30,000 across models from August India's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, has announced a price increase of up to ₹30,000 across its vehicle portfolio beginning August 2026. The company said the decision has been driven by the continued rise in input costs. According to a regulatory filing, the extent of the price hike will vary across models. The increase is intended to partially offset higher production expenses, reflecting the pressure automakers continue to face from escalating material and manufacturing costs. WTO urges India to deepen trade reforms as New Delhi flags global trade barriers The World Trade Organization has called on India to accelerate reforms aimed at reducing trade costs, simplifying regulations and strengthening integration with global markets. The recommendation was made during India's eighth Trade Policy Review at the WTO. While acknowledging India's strong economic growth trajectory, the WTO Secretariat said achieving the country's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision would require addressing structural challenges such as regulatory complexity, infrastructure gaps and high trade costs. India, meanwhile, highlighted growing geopolitical tensions and rising non-tariff barriers as key obstacles affecting its export potential. Retailers clocked 6 per cent average sales growth in June year-on-year: RAI India's retail sector recorded an average sales growth of 6 per cent in June compared to the same period last year, according to the Retailers Association of India. The data points to resilient consumer demand despite a cautious spending environment. Growth was led by food and grocery, which rose 10 per cent year-on-year, followed by quick-service restaurants at 9 per cent. Footwear sales increased by 8 per cent, while consumer durables and electronics registered 7 per cent growth, indicating steady demand across key consumption categories. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

Govt reaches out to CJP amid raging protest; JP Nadda holds talks with 2-member team The Centre has initiated talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) amid escalating protests in New Delhi. A two-member delegation of the outfit met Union Health Minister JP Nadda after protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. According to the party, Nadda assured the delegation that he would discuss their demands with the government leadership, including their call for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. India's core sector growth rises to five-month high of 5% in June India's core infrastructure sector expanded 5 per cent in June, marking its strongest growth in five months. The growth was led by higher production of cement, electricity and iron ore. The latest data has been released under a revised index with 2022-23 as the new base year, while iron ore has been added to the basket of core industries, taking the total number of sectors to nine. No plan to remove LTCG tax on equity investments, Finance Ministry tells Parliament The Finance Ministry has clarified in Parliament that there is currently no proposal to abolish long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax on equity investments for domestic investors. The clarification follows the government's recent move to exempt certain foreign portfolio investors from LTCG tax on investments in government securities, a measure aimed at boosting foreign inflows and supporting the rupee. TN CM Vijay's swan song ‘Jana Nayagan' to hit screens July 23 amid record bookings Jana Nayagan, the final film of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay before entering full-time politics, is set for a worldwide release on July 23. The film will reportedly be screened across nearly 8,000 screens globally, with over 3,500 shows planned in Tamil Nadu. Strong advance bookings have already signalled massive audience anticipation for the release. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

In this podcast, businessline's Lokeshwarri SK, Senior Associate Editor, speaks with Bhavesh Jain, MD and CEO of TransUnion CIBIL, on India's evolving credit landscape. The conversation focuses on several trends in consumer credit including the rapid growth of gold loans, how the share of credit cards in loan portfolios is declining and the growing clout of women borrowers. Jain explains that the factors behind growing gold loans include ease of access, quicker disbursal, and the reliability of gold as collateral for both borrowers and lenders. He also discusses shifts in borrower behaviour, regional growth patterns, and credit stress levels, offering a clear, data-led view of how retail credit demand is expanding and what lenders are tracking closely. Tune in for more insights on India's credit market.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From India's semiconductor push under ISM 2.0 and a suspected ransomware breach linked to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, to a ₹62,500 crore mobile manufacturing scheme and tighter OTT regulation, here are the key developments across technology, cybersecurity, manufacturing and policy. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From rising Iran–US tensions and TCS's AI expansion, to higher retail inflation and deepening India–New Zealand ties, here are the key developments across geopolitics, technology and the economy.

Stay updated with today's key developments across geopolitics, technology, economy and global relations. This update covers escalating Iran–US tensions, including renewed concerns over the Strait of Hormuz and warnings of military retaliation, alongside Tata Consultancy Services' expanded push into artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. It also highlights expectations of retail inflation rising above the Reserve Bank of India's 4 per cent target, even as interest rates are likely to remain unchanged, and India and New Zealand elevating ties to a Strategic Partnership with plans to fast-track a Free Trade Agreement. Tune in for clear, concise insights on geopolitical risks, technology strategy, inflation trends and evolving global partnerships shaping the current landscape.

Welcome to The Morning Report, brought to you by Renil S Varghese—your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point.

Welcome to The Morning Report, brought to you by Renil S. Varghese—your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point.

Welcome to The Morning Report, brought to you by Renil S. Varghese—your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point.

Welcome to The Morning Report, brought to you by Renil S. Varghese—your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From rising Iran-US tensions and a likely Cabinet reshuffle, to Venezuela's earthquake relief efforts and Chennai's monsoon preparedness, here are the key developments across geopolitics, politics and civic preparedness. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From Amazon's $13-billion AI and cloud investment in India and higher passport fees from July 1, to fresh biofuel trials, proposed changes to foodgrain allocation under the National Food Security Act, here are the key developments shaping business, technology and policy today. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From the government's stake sale in IRFC and fresh India-US trade negotiations, to a ransomware attack at Bajaj Auto and Infosys' optimism on the AI opportunity, here are the key developments shaping markets, technology and policy today. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From the government's stake sale in IRFC and renewed India-US trade negotiations, to Bajaj Auto's ransomware attack and Infosys' bullish outlook on the AI services market, here are the key developments shaping business, technology and policy today. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From Kunal Shah's move from CRED to Meta and the monsoon's renewed advance across India, to Moody's warning on water stress risks and the debate over ethanol adoption, here are the key developments shaping business, policy and sustainability today. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Coal Gasification guidelines to be finalised in two months Coal gasification guidelines will be finalised within two months, according to Union Coal Minister Kishan Reddy. The Centre's incentive scheme is expected to unlock fresh investments in projects aimed at reducing India's reliance on imported fuels and chemicals. The programme has a total outlay of ₹46,000 crore. It targets gasification of 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030, boosting energy security and cutting imports of key products such as LNG, urea, ammonia, and methanol. India Boosts Oil Imports from Russia and UAE in June India significantly increased crude imports from Russia and the UAE in June, as refiners moved to secure supplies ahead of full normalisation of flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Russian imports rose to 2.66 million barrels per day so far in June, up from 1.91 million in May, maintaining its position as India's top supplier. UAE supplies remained near record highs, while Venezuela emerged as the fourth-largest supplier. Imports from the United States, however, saw a sharp decline. Ahead of IPO, Zepto cuts customer acquisition costs Quick commerce firm Zepto has sharply reduced customer acquisition costs ahead of its planned IPO, boosting its path to profitability. Its draft prospectus shows digital marketing costs per order dropping from ₹33.75 in FY25 to ₹4.31 in FY26, and further to ₹1.01 in the March 2026 quarter. The company attributes this to repeat customers and its Everyday Low Prices strategy, reducing reliance on heavy promotional spending and improving overall unit economics. UK PM Starmer may resign amid leadership speculation UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could step down as early as Monday, according to media reports. However, government sources have dismissed the claim, stating that he remains focused on governing. The speculation follows mounting political pressure in recent months, which intensified after Labour rival Andy Burnham's recent electoral gain, potentially setting the stage for a leadership challenge. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

From a delayed monsoon straining water supplies in Mumbai and Pune, to States competing for a space-tech investment, a rethink on Tamil Nadu's second airport, and fresh risk warnings from the NSE ahead of its IPO—here are the key developments across weather, policy and markets. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From the government's Telegram curbs and the legal challenge around them, to a revival in IPO markets, and a record surge in defence production—here are the key developments across policy, markets and defence. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

Stay updated with today's key India and global economic developments. This update covers India-US trade talks at the G7 summit, BigBasket's leadership change amid rising quick commerce competition, and government action on Telegram to curb NEET-UG exam fraud. It also highlights Tamil Nadu's fiscal stress, with rising debt, widening deficits and pressure on State finances flagged in a new white paper. Tune in for quick, clear insights on geopolitics, business, policy action, and State finances shaping India's economic outlook.

Stay updated with today's key global and India economic developments. This update covers a potential US–Iran peace deal that could ease oil supply concerns, India's export growth alongside a widening trade deficit, and fresh policy measures to attract foreign capital.It also tracks the launch of Noida International Airport in the NCR as part of a broader infrastructure push. Tune in for concise insights on geopolitics, trade, policy, and infrastructure shaping the economic outlook.

As India and the United States race to conclude the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement, critical questions remain over tariffs, market access, agriculture and India's bargaining leverage. In this episode, BusinessLine's Amiti Sen speaks with Prof Abhijit Das, an independent trade policy expert, on whether the proposed deal is truly "fair and balanced" or tilted in Washington's favour. Prof Das argues that India could be lowering its WTO-compliant tariffs while the US retains higher duties through alternative mechanisms such as Section 301 investigations. He also raises concerns about the impact on Indian agriculture, manufacturing and long-term policy autonomy, while questioning claims that the agreement would automatically boost investments or strengthen the rupee. On the uncertainty surrounding US trade policy, Das delivers a stark assessment: "In a Trumpian era, there is no certainty, no guarantee that the US will comply with its side of a deal." He adds that even if protective clauses are built into an agreement, there is no assurance that future tariff actions will not emerge under different pretexts. The conversation also explores the legality of Section 301 tariffs under WTO rules, India's options if negotiations falter, and whether New Delhi should have adopted a tougher stance to strengthen its hand at the negotiating table. (Host: Amiti Sen; Producer: Siddharth MC)

Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

US blockade strikes third ship with Indian crew An Indian crew-manned, Guinea-Bissau-flagged asphalt tanker, MV Jalveer, was attacked by the American military off the coast of Oman. This is the third ship with an Indian crew to be targeted in the last four days. While there were no casualties on Thursday, an earlier attack killed three Indian seafarers. The government said it has strongly taken up the matter with the US. This is the first public acknowledgement of the US Navy targeting ships with Indian crew. A Palau-flagged oil tanker, Marivex, carrying 24 Indian seafarers, was disabled by US forces on June 8. All crew members were safely rescued. On June 10, the US struck another Palau-flagged tanker, Settebello, killing three of the 24 Indian sailors on board. Following the attack on Wednesday, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks and handed him a demarche, or diplomatic note of protest. 75 IPOs unlock $31 billion worth of shares by Sept-end Shareholder lock-ins in 75 recently listed companies are set to expire between June and September, opening a fresh window for private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) investors to monetise holdings through block deals, with exits expected to be staggered amid volatile market conditions. Data compiled by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research show shares worth about $31 billion becoming eligible for trading by September 28. The lock-ins for Meesho expired this week, opening up 3,083 million shares, equivalent to 68 per cent of its outstanding equity. Aequs's lock-in expiry opened 146 million shares on Tuesday. Next week, 923 million shares of Vishal Mega Mart and 344 million shares of ICICI Pru AMC become eligible to trade. Other unlocks for June include Wakefit Innovations, Corona Remedies, Nephrocare Health Services, Oswal Pumps and Sai Life Sciences. These expiries come at a time when volatility in equity markets has slowed the pace of fresh listings, making secondary transactions a key exit route for pre-IPO investors. While half of these companies are still trading at a premium, almost all are in the red from their highs since listing. Petrol blended with 22-30% ethanol exempted from central excise Petrol with ethanol blending between 22-30 per cent will be exempted from Central Excise Duty. Finance Ministry has issued multiple notifications for that. However, Oil Ministry said that roll out of higher blends will only be done after extensive testing and consultation. As on date, petrol with blending up to 10 per cent is exempted from Central Excise Duty. For unbranded petrol, Central Excise Duty is ₹11.90 per litre, while for branded it is ₹13.10 per litre. The price of petrol (including ethanol blended petrol) has been market determined with effect from June 26, 2010. Since then, oil marketing companies (OMCs) take appropriate decisions on pricing of petrol based on, inter alia, international product prices and domestic market conditions. According to a notification, there will be NIL duty for 22 per cent ethanol blended petrol consisting, by volume, of 78 per cent motor spirit, (commonly known as petrol), on which the appropriate duties of excise have been paid and of 22 per cent ethanol on which the appropriate Central tax, State tax, Union territory tax or Integrated tax, have been paid. It should conform to the Bureau of Indian Standards specification Similar provision will be made for 25 per cent, 27 per cent and 30 per cent ethanol blended petrol. Automakers move to cut prices on British-built luxury cars ahead of India-UK FTA implementation Luxury automakers are beginning to pre-empt the proposed India-UK free trade agreement by slashing prices on British-built imported cars, creating expected customer savings ranging from about ₹8 lakh on the MINI Cooper S to ₹75 lakh on the Range Rover SV, and as much as ₹3.32 crore on the McLaren 750S Spider as companies move early to capture demand ahead of a formal treaty implementation. For brands such as Bentley, Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce, the agreement could potentially trigger price reductions ranging from ₹1 crore to more than ₹3 crore depending on engine size and model specifications. But the proposed pact is also creating an unusual inversion in India's premium automobile market: while some of the country's most expensive petrol-powered supercars and luxury SUVs are suddenly becoming dramatically cheaper, premium electric vehicles and hybrids remain excluded from the benefits and will continue attracting steep import duties for years. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

MF equity inflows fall 40% m-o-m to one year low amid uncertainty Volatility in equity markets and concerns over economic growth dampened inflows into mutual fund schemes, including SIPs, in May. Equity inflows fell to a one-year low, dropping 40 per cent month-on-month (m-o-m) to ₹22,908 crore in May from ₹38,440 crore in April, as investor sentiment was hit by a market downturn driven by persistent foreign portfolio outflows and heightened volatility, according to AMFI data released on Wednesday. Hybrid schemes inflow nearly halved m-o-m to ₹10,560 crore ( ₹20,565 crore), while debt funds registered an outflow of ₹96,949 crore as against an inflow of ₹2.47 lakh crore in May. Meta and Reliance Industries partner to develop 168 MW, AI-enabled data centre in Gujarat Meta Inc is set to have its own 168-MW capacity AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar set up by Reliance Industries in India within two years. The new data centre, separate from the 1 GW data centre announced by Reliance in 2025, will act as part of Meta's global infrastructure, supporting its core business and AI compute needs. As the first built-to-suit data centre capacity in India for Meta, the project underlines India's emergence as a global hub for AI infrastructure. Meta will lease capacity from the facility, expanding the company's global infrastructure, supporting its core business and AI compute needs while Reliance Industries will provide end-to-end services for the data centre lifecycle. Starlink licensing in India stuck amidst geopolitical strains Industry experts estimate geopolitical developments to have soured Starlink's chances of getting licensing approvals in India, even as the company rubbishes “unsubstantiated claims” of a regulatory freeze. Following news reports that the Indian government had frozen approvals for Starlink's commercial operations, Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Company Business Operations stated on X, “Starlink remains in active and productive discussions with the Government of India contrary to misleading stories based upon unsubstantiated claims from anonymous sources.” However, industry stakeholders speaking to businessline said Starlink's approval procedure which was considered smooth-sailing until last year has hit a rut in terms of security checks. Many attributed this to the geopolitical developments, particularly in terms of the India-US relations. Zoho launches hardware play with designed-in-India server Nathu La Eyeing tech sovereignty in the data hardware space and in a step to build the full enterprise technology stack, Zoho has launched its indigenously designed server Nathu La. Zoho says with Nathu La it has achieved equivalent performance, with 12-18 per cent lower power consumption and 20-30 per cent lower total cost of ownership (TCO). In Zoho's marquee style, the R&D work for the server platform was entirely done out of Nagpur by local talent recruited and trained by the company. The centre was set up in 2020 with an eye to play the long game in enterprise hardware. The Nathu La server motherboard and chassis platform is the result of over five years of R&D across hardware, firmware, and systems management. Based on Intel® Xeon® 6 Processors, the server is designed to optimise performance for virtualisation (VM), High Performance Computing (HPC), AI inference, and storage applications. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

1. Government forgoes over ₹1.23 lakh crore during 78-day fuel price freeze The government provided nearly ₹1.23 lakh crore in support to state-run oil marketing companies to freeze fuel prices for 78 days following the West Asia crisis, top officials said on Tuesday. Concurrently, the Fertiliser Ministry has sought a near-100 per cent increase in subsidy support over its budgeted outlay, that amounts to an additional allocation of approximately ₹3.4 lakh crore. The substantial fiscal cushion provided to the energy sector underscores the intensity of the external shocks hitting India's import bills. “Oil Marketing Companies are still incurring ₹650 crore per day loss for selling fuel at lower rate than the prevailing global crude prices,” said a senior official. The financial cushion was necessary even though oil marketing companies raised retail petrol and diesel prices four times since May 15, totalling a hike of ₹7.50–₹8 per litre. Previously, the government had reduced excise duty on both fuels by ₹10 a litre on March 27. 2. TCS signals hiring slowdown; AI agents to match human workforce Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will have as many AI agents and workers as its human workforce within the next three years, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said on Monday, underscoring the company's growing focus on artificial intelligence as a key driver of future growth. Speaking at TCS' 31st Annual General Meeting, Chandrasekaran said, “I predict that over the next three years, TCS will have as many AI agents as human employees.” Highlighting the scale of AI adoption within the company, he added, “The day is not very far when TCS will have equal number of AI agents or AI workers as their physical workers.” Chandrasekaran noted that TCS is already investing extensively in AI agents across internal operations, solution frameworks and external operations as part of its broader strategy to capitalise on the rapid evolution of enterprise AI. 3. Telcos oppose separate authorisation for V2V, V2X communications Telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have opposed the separate service authorisation for Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, particularly where such communication could be enabled through existing licensed telecom networks (through cellular networks or through localised road-side infrastructure deployed for intelligent transport and road-safety applications). In a submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the telcos said that the regulatory framework for spectrum assignment for V2I/C-V2X services should be based on licensed, interference-protected and IMT-integrated use of the 5.9 GHz band, rather than a fragmented or licence-exempt model. 4. Zepto co-founders questioned by ED in FEMA case Zepto co-founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in April in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case, with investigators examining their overseas investments, audited financial statements, shareholding patterns, loans and guarantees, and income-tax returns to ascertain contravention of law. Zepto, the quick-commerce firm which is coming with an IPO, disclosed this in its updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus (UDRHP). At the same time, Zepto wrote in its draft IPO document that they have not received any further communication from the ED after submitting documents and information sought. “We cannot assure you there will not be future inquiries or that these could escalate to investigations, legal proceedings or any possible penalties,” they disclosed. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

In a major win for telcos, Bombay High Court on Monday quashed the government's one time charge for spectrum, stating that the Centre has failed to justify any authoritative power in levying the charges and altering the financial terms of the telecom licenses as an afterthought. A division bench of Justices Shreeram V. Shirsat and Manish Pitale also directed the government to set aside demand notices and return any related bank guarantees furnished by the telcos. It upheld Bharti Airtel's and Vodafone Idea's arguments that the Centre holds no power to retrospectively impose a one-time spectrum charge in 2012 for spectrum held above 6.2 MHz from the year 2008 onwards. India's EV inventory falls to single digits as waiting periods loom, ICE vehicle stocks rise A sharp surge in demand for EVs has pushed dealer inventory levels down sharply to low single digits, with select higher-end variants of models such as the MG Windsor EV, Tata Nexon EV, Tata Punch EV, Mahindra BE 6, Mahindra XEV 9e, Bajaj Chetak and Ather's 450X and Rizta scooters beginning to see waiting periods as fuel-price hikes accelerate consumer preference for electric mobility and other fuel-efficient vehicles, according to dealers and automakers who spoke to businessline. Dealers and automakers said fuel-price hikes are accelerating consumer preference for EVs, CNG cars and smaller fuel-efficient vehicles, while simultaneously leading to rising inventories of higher-displacement petrol and diesel vehicles as buyers are increasingly moving away from ICE models. FY27 Disinvestment proceeds cross full FY25 collections in 2 months; Miscellaneous Capital Receipts exceeds 23% of BE The government's Mop-up under ‘Miscellaneous Capital Receipts' (MCR) crossed more than 23 per cent of the budget estimates in just little over two months of FY27 driven primarily by robust earnings from disinvestment. Significantly, earnings from disinvestment in just two months exceeded those during full fiscal of FY25 and nearly 72 per cent of full fiscal of FY26 . Union Budget has pegged MCR at ₹80,000 crore. According to the budget document, these include receipts on account of management of equity investments and public assets through various mechanisms. Put simply, MCR primarily includes disinvestment (sale of minority share holdings and strategic disinvestment) and asset monetisation. Data from DIPAM shows government offloaded parts of its stake in three CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises) — Central Bank, Coal India and NHPC and mobilised ₹12,165 crore. Govt cuts PM Ujjwala subsidy as domestic LPG cylinder cost surpasses ₹1,600 Government has reduced the number of cylinders for which a Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) household can avail subsidy from nine to four. The subsidy amount remains unchanged at ₹300 per 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder. The decision comes amid the disruption in Strait of Hormuz, West Asian conflict almost completely choking-off LPG supplies coming out of West Asia via the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) which have pushed up benchmark Saudi CP prices, resulting which reflected in the domestic cylinder cost rising past ₹1,600 and losses of PSU oil marketing companies (OMCs) hitting ₹700 a cylinder. Praveen Mal Khanooja, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), said on Monday that PMUY households will receive ₹300 a cylinder on the first four refills each year -- ₹1,200 per beneficiary a year. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)

From rising LPG prices due to West Asia disruptions and new edible oil packaging norms, to CBSE tightening its re-evaluation system and Tata Steel facing delays in its UK green steel project—here are today's key updates across energy, education, and industry. Get today's top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.