Business Standard - December 27, 2024

In this issue

December 27, 2024

The architect of economic reforms

MANMOHAN SINGH 1932-2024

3 mins

MPC Stance May Be Behind H1 Demand Slowdown: FinMin

A combination of monetary policy stance and macroprudential measures undertaken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may have contributed to demand slowdown in the first half (April-September) of FY25, which among other factors led to lower economic growth, the finance ministry said in its latest monthly economic review.

2 mins

RBI flags unsecured lending, pvt credit

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has flagged concerns over rising delinquency and leverage in unsecured loans, calling for enhanced vigilance despite a moderation in credit growth.

2 mins

After false start, 10-min food delivery back on road

India's instant food delivery platforms have witnessed a revival this year, following the failure of similar initiatives by Swiggy and Zomato in 2023.

2 mins

CCI Considers Sector Specifics to Intervene: Report

The Competition Commission India (CCI) takes into account sector-specific characteristics and the larger economic and policy backdrop to intervene carefully when necessary, the antitrust watchdog said in its annual report.

1 min

Indians grab toys, tech, gold beyond groceries

India's love for convenience and quick deliveries soared in 2024, with consumers expanding their orders beyond groceries to include everything from makeup and toys to vacuum cleaners.

1 min

It's new manufacturing golden age for India

Tata Group plans to create 500,000 manufacturing jobs over the next five years as it scales operations across sectors, N Chandrasekaran, chairman of the conglomerate, said on Thursday in his New Year message to employees, asserting that it was a new manufacturing \"golden age\" for India.

1 min

Mankind inks pact with Innovent for cancer care

For the first time, Mankind has partnered a Chinese firm for novel biologics

1 min

IndusInd Bank to sell ₹1,573 crore of non-performing microfinance loans

Private sector lender IndusInd Bank is seeking to offload ₹1,573 crore of non-performing microfinance retail loans, amid mounting stress in the microfinance sector.

2 mins

Gensol secures ₹897 crore solar project contract

Gensol Engineering on Thursday said it has secured a ₹897-core contract from NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) for the development of 225 MW grid-connected solar projects.

1 min

Jubilant FoodWorks inks pact to buy Coca-Cola India products from Apr

Jubilant FoodWorks has signed a pact with Coca Cola India to purchase its portfolio of sparkling beverage products, a move that will allow the Indian firm to serve Coca Cola and other products of the US giant at the outlets of its franchise restaurant chains such as Domino's Pizza, Dunkin Donuts.

1 min

Portrait of a technocrat as

A leader who unleashed economic reforms that laid the foundation of India's future

10+ mins

ULI platform disburses ₹27K cr loans

Unified lending interface (ULI), the RBI's UPI-like digital public infrastructure in lending space, has facilitated disbursal of over 600,000 loans amounting to ₹27,000 crore.

1 min

Bank profits up for 6th straight yr; bad loans continue to dip

Growth in interest expenses outpaces interest earnings

2 mins

Call for NBFCs to diversify funding sources

Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) need to further diversify their sources of funding as a risk mitigation strategy, as their dependence on banks remains high despite some moderation in recent times, the RBI said in a report.

1 min

TReDS to spin MSME flywheel: A million strong in two years

TREADING NEW GROUND: A BIGGER ROLE FOR TReDS

2 mins

Exporters seek ₹750 crore scheme for $25 bn fillip

Ahead of the FY26 Union Budget, exporters urged the finance ministry to approve a US-focused marketing scheme worth ₹750 crore to generate an additional $25 billion in exports to the US over the next three years.

1 min

Modified policy to revive ageing oilfields expected to be out in 2025

The government may notify the modified version of the policy on enhanced recovery (ER) and improved recovery (IR) for oil and gas in 2025, officials said.

2 mins

CSR spending by CPSEs surges 19% to touch 4-year high in FY24

Survey shows top 10 CPSEs contributed 56.72% of CSR expenditure

2 mins

₹ hits new low as importers stock up $ at month-end

Falls to 85.27 against greenback, depreciates 2.42% so far this calendar year

2 mins

Russian Hit May Have Downed Azeri Plane

News reports say aircraft could have been struck by Russian air defence; don't speculate, wait for probe report: Moscow

2 mins

The Deadliest Tsunami Set Off Work to Be Ready for the Next Big Wave

The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, one of the deadliest events in recorded history, was an enigma to many survivors.

3 mins

Trump Team Has To Make First Move To Improve Ties: Russia

Russia is willing to work with Donald Trump's incoming administration to improve relations if the US has serious intentions to do so but it is up to Washington to make the first move, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

1 min

Assad Loyalists Kill 14 Policemen in Syria

Forces loyal to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad killed 14 police members and wounded 10 others, according to the caretaker government, as the country experiences its worst violence since the autocrat's toppling early this month.

1 min

AI as a humane force

The rush of AI-related books, essays and news headlines flooding our world nowadays left me wondering what yet another book on AI could offer me.

3 mins

GST at crossroads

The tax has reached a turning point in its evolution where reforms must focus on rethinking its design

4 mins

People on the move

Slowing domestic migration needs careful study

2 mins

Unhealthy picture

Worrying signs in unincorporated sector

2 mins

Why cricket analogy is serious business

One of the best explanations of strategic thinking I stumbled on is about cricket.

3 mins

Mass Market Velocity

Bajaj rises to the top in e-scooters by tapping the lower end of the market. Can it stay there?

4 mins

28% OF LS SEATS HAD NO WOMAN CANDIDATE IN 2024

The Election Commission of India on Thursday released 42 statistical reports for the Lok Sabha (LS) elections 2024.

1 min

Indian crypto investors ride Bitcoin, altcoin wave

The majority of crypto investors in the country have invested in mainstream virtual digital assets (VDAs) such as Bitcoins, altcoins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Ethereum, followed by non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and stablecoins, a compilation of year-end reports of crypto majors CoinDCX and CoinSwitch revealed.

2 mins

China Approves World's Largest Dam Over Brahmaputra River

China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam, stated to be the planet's biggest infra project costing $137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in riparian states - India and Bangladesh.

3 mins

Centre orders probe into ride-hailing apps over alleged price discrimination

Consumer protection watchdog CCPA will investigate ride-hailing apps for allegedly charging different fares for identical rides on Android and Apple devices, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday.

1 min

IPO Mopup Likely to Top ₹2 Trillion Mark Next Year

Fund mobilisation through initial public offerings (IPOs) will continue to rise in 2025 and the total amount is expected to breach the ₹2 trillion mark, investment banking firm Pantomath Group estimates.

1 min

Derivatives volume drops 37%

Stricter trading norms help cool off speculative activity in December so far

2 mins

Multiple triggers for Vedanta stock

Vedanta’s stock is experiencing multiple positive triggers, primarily driven by favorable aluminium and zinc price trends. The company's demerger plans, while modified, are expected to unlock value and improve capital allocation. Key projects coming online in the next 12-18 months, including alumina refinery expansion and captive mines, are poised to significantly boost earnings.

2 mins

MP High Court stays Burmans' Religare open offer

In a strange turn of events, the Madhya Pradesh High Court's Jabalpur Bench has stayed the Burman family's open offer to acquire an additional 26 per cent stake in Religare Enterprises, and the company's annual general body meeting.

1 min

India Third-Best Performing Major Market in 2024

The domestic market capitalization has soared 18.4 percent to $5.18 trillion in 2024, adding $806 billion.

1 min

Markets settle flat in muted trade

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat in listless trading on Thursday amid a lack of near-term triggers and unabated foreign fund outflows.

1 min

Wait for NAV, price on exchange to converge before investing

Indian investors seeking to diversify their portfolios through overseas exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are paying a premium.

2 mins

IndiGo stock takes off on rating upgrade

Elara Capital gives 'buy' rating after IndiGo's highest-ever traffic in November

3 mins

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