The Kerala Legislative Assembly has passed a motion urging the central government to completely withdraw the proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. Chief Minister V D Satheesan and CPI MLA K Rajan highlighted concerns that the MDR would increase business costs, harm small businesses, and reduce the appeal of digital payments, while the BJP argued it would not affect general public or small merchants.
Cortex DC, a company of The Chatterjee Group (TCG), announced its entry into the data centre market with plans to develop 2 GW of AI-ready capacity across India over the next seven years. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand for high-performance computing, targeting hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and advanced AI workloads with a focus on speed, scale, and sustainable power.
Active and passive funds offer different advantages across market-cap segments, making a mix of both a sensible portfolio strategy.
The Government of Karnataka has called for enhanced collaboration with the BFSI and FinTech sectors to bolster its technology ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions. This initiative, discussed at an Industry Meet, aims to foster partnerships between government, industry, and academia, particularly through programmes like 'Government First', in preparation for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026.
Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), is launching its initial public offering (IPO) with a price band of 1,065-1,119 a share, aiming to make RIL a net-debt-free company and create long-term shareholder value.
Fintech giant PhonePe has launched 'PhonePe UPI 123Pay', a new service enabling UPI transactions for feature phone users without requiring an internet connection. This initiative aims to bring digital payment capabilities to over 200 million feature phone users, promoting financial inclusion across India.
Experts cautioned that this headcount increase does not necessarily indicate a return of steady demand, which has evaded them over the last few years.
TRAI has proposed a comprehensive draft framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in telecom networks. The guidelines mandate service providers to adopt board-approved AI policies, establish dedicated governance and safety committees, and report serious AI-related incidents to the regulator. Entities will be accountable for AI system outcomes, classify AI risks, ensure human oversight, and maintain inventories of all AI systems.
Global payments solution major Mastercard has fully exited Indian fintech firm Pine Labs, selling its entire 4.31 per cent stake for Rs 933 crore through block deals on the BSE.
A Mumbai sessions court has denied anticipatory bail to three film production executives accused of misappropriating over Rs 3.92 crore during the making of the upcoming film "Naagzilla". The court cited prima facie material and the necessity of custodial interrogation for a detailed investigation into allegations of bypassing Standard Operating Procedures, inflating bills, and taking commissions.
'It is not the market that is a competitor to SIPs . It is your lifestyle.'
Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla stated on Tuesday that investments in artificial intelligence should be driven by potential returns, not by a "fear of missing out." Speaking at the 2026 Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Birla indicated that his group would adopt AI more gradually than previously planned, moving away from an "AI arms race" mentality. He also discussed the varied applications of AI across different business sectors, the challenges of capital allocation, and the impact of geopolitical events on global companies.
Jio Platforms Ltd's Rs 30,213-crore initial public offering (IPO) achieved full subscription within 100 minutes of opening, making it the fastest among India's mega issues, surpassing previous records set by companies like Reliance Power.
India is proposing the Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) for AI Training, a national framework designed to enable startups, researchers, and companies to train AI models using data from hospitals, banks, and public agencies while ensuring privacy and security. This initiative aims to unlock significant AI-driven value for India's GDP by 2030.
NITI Aayog has called for a fundamental overhaul of urban governance in India, advocating for empowered city governments, directly elected mayors with five-year terms, and greater financial autonomy for urban local bodies to manage the country's rapidly growing urban population.
Jio Platforms (JPL) is preparing a capex-light strategy to commercially launch 6G services in the early 2030s through software upgrades, rather than fresh infrastructure investments, according to Akash Ambani, managing director of JPL.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has estimated the financial impact of a recent security breach at approximately USD 6.3 billion, significantly higher than the USD 3 billion in assets frozen to date. Initial investigations suggest a possible compromise of a DevOps engineer's laptop, though no wallet private key leak has been found.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested an Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Rohit Koltakke, in connection with the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) drug inspector exam paper leak, bringing the total arrests to 13. Koltakke allegedly obtained confidential question sets from MPSC under secretary Abhijit Lendve. The leak compromised the integrity of the March 22 screening examination for Drug Inspector posts.
Microsoft has announced a voluntary exit programme for eligible employees in India, the US, the UK, and Canada, providing financial support and career planning resources to those who choose to leave the company. The offer, available to employees at level 70 and below in participating teams, aims to offer flexibility and allow businesses to adjust their workforce.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's Rajya Sabha bypoll affidavit reveals his wife, Laxmi Puri, possesses significantly greater wealth, including higher annual income, movable assets, and bank deposits. The affidavit details their respective financial holdings, income sources, and also mentions Puri's acknowledged past meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, while confirming no criminal cases are pending against him.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued new guidelines for GST officers, mandating year-wise demand breakdowns in multi-year notices, clarifying registration procedures, and streamlining export rules to reduce litigation and improve taxpayer clarity.
HCLTech announced a robust 21.18 per cent increase in its Q2 FY27 consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 5,132 crore, largely propelled by the strong performance and higher margins from its advanced AI operations and a reduced tax burden.
Fino Payments Bank reported a net loss of Rs 21 crore for the second quarter ended September 2026, a significant drop from the Rs 15 crore profit in the previous year. This comes as the bank operates under an interim CEO following the arrest of its former MD & CEO, Rishi Gupta, on charges of GST violations linked to online money gaming.
Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has stressed the urgent need for India's financial sector to proactively address the safety and security risks of artificial intelligence, stating that waiting for problems to materialise is not an option.
India has voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution urging the US to end its economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. The resolution, adopted on Wednesday, saw 130 countries support the call to lift restrictions that have severely impacted Cuba's economy, healthcare, and food production. The article also details a heated exchange between US and Cuban diplomats during the UNGA session.
For the first time, co-working spaces have surpassed the IT/ITeS sector as the largest occupier of office space in India during the January-September period, indicating a significant shift towards flexible workspaces, according to Anarock Research & Advisory.
Microsoft has launched a voluntary exit programme for eligible employees in India, the US, the UK, and Canada. The initiative offers financial support and career planning resources, with eligible employees in India having until December 1 to decide. The package includes severance benefits and health insurance, aiming to provide flexibility for employees and allow the company to adjust its workforce. This comes as Microsoft continues significant investments in India's AI ecosystem.
Ashok Thombre, international business advisor at The Quantico, shortlists some of the most popular government competitive exams in India that attract thousands of aspirants every year.
A businessman in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, organised a mass wedding for 101 underprivileged Hindu and Muslim couples, providing not only the ceremony but also household items. Inspired by his lack of a sister, Vinay Agarwal's initiative has grown significantly since 2018, offering crucial support to families struggling with wedding expenses.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) withdrew Rs 34,843 crore from Indian equities in October, marking the second consecutive month of heavy outflows due to concerns over crude oil prices, global interest rates, and corporate earnings. However, a notable shift occurred towards the end of the month, with FPIs turning net buyers and infusing approximately Rs 6,300 crore between October 26-30.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday (local time) said that the Ukrainian military violated Starlink's terms of service and was using it for offensive drone strikes to "kill people".
Airtel Africa's mobile payments arm, Airtel Money, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange, with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) agreeing to purchase shares worth up to $90 million at the final offer price.
Investors should study the technology behind digital assets, including blockchain networks, wallets and transaction verification, rather than rely solely on recommendations. Understanding the technology could help them assess the risks.
The Haryana Congress has strongly criticised the BJP government's two-year tenure in the state, alleging widespread misgovernance, unfulfilled election promises, a surge in crime, and rampant corruption. Senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, highlighted issues faced by farmers, traders, and youth, demanding accountability and a white paper on the government's performance.
Subscribers do not need to remember their PRAN to log in through this process.
Investors are set to monitor quarterly earnings, crude oil prices, the Jio Platforms initial public offering, and foreign investor activity in the upcoming holiday-shortened week, according to market analysts.
The reduction is primarily driven by high airfares, increased fuel costs, and rupee depreciation, leading to softer passenger demand.
Shriram Finance, a leading Indian NBFC, is aggressively expanding its gold loan and electric vehicle (EV) financing segments, targeting a Rs 20,000 crore gold loan portfolio within two years and expecting significant growth in EV disbursements.
Axis Bank has opened 50 new branches across India, while Abakkus Mutual Fund has surpassed Rs 10,000 crore in AUM. YES Bank launched a new credit card for women, and J&K Bank partnered with HDFC Life to enhance its insurance offerings, showcasing significant growth and strategic developments in the Indian financial sector.
The portfolio could be split between listed and unlisted investments, or structured along sectoral lines.
