News for 'India Foreign Service'

Sensex, Nifty close almost unchanged in choppy trade

Sensex, Nifty close almost unchanged in choppy trade

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed on a flat note in a choppy session on Wednesday as gains in PSU banks and auto shares were offset by losses in IT stocks.

India Inc's profits relative to capital employed at 14-yr high

India Inc's profits relative to capital employed at 14-yr high

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

Companies are squeezing more profits from their operations relative to the capital they put to work, the highest now since 2011. Profit after tax relative to capital employed came in at 10.47 per cent in September, shows data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), higher than the 8.41 per cent seen in September last year. This is the highest since March 2010.

'Viksit Bharat cannot truly become a reality unless...'

'Viksit Bharat cannot truly become a reality unless...'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

'The real question is how best to leverage technology to deliver better services, all the way to the last mile, where we still haven't been able to get across the financial literacy that can enable us to unlock the potential of the entire country.'

Trump invites India to join Gaza Board of Peace?

Trump invites India to join Gaza Board of Peace?

Rediff.com18 Jan 2026

The invitation comes as the US administration moves forward with formalising the "Board of Peace" structure linked to Trump's broader Gaza roadmap.

Budget themes paint it as a reformative exercise

Budget themes paint it as a reformative exercise

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

The 2026-27 Budget, seeking to harmonise the government's imperative to grant certainty while ensuring a rational tax policy, had several notable announcements to usher in halcyon days, says Mukesh Butani.

PM pressured to hand over people's data as part of US deal, alleges Rahul

PM pressured to hand over people's data as part of US deal, alleges Rahul

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Rahul Gandhi claims the Indo-US trade deal will compromise the data security of 1.5 billion Indians, alleging Prime Minister Modi is surrendering India's data resources to the US. He warns of potential job losses in the IT sector due to AI and the importance of controlling India's data pool.

Which Sectors Bore FPI Brunt In 2025?

Which Sectors Bore FPI Brunt In 2025?

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

FPIs net sold equities worth Rs 1.7 trillion in 2025 -- the highest annual net sale on record.

'El Mencho', Mexico's most wanted drug lord killed in military raid

'El Mencho', Mexico's most wanted drug lord killed in military raid

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

Mexico is facing widespread violence and travel advisories after the death of drug lord 'El Mencho,' the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military operation.

Sensex climbed 208 points even as investors turned to profit-booking

Sensex climbed 208 points even as investors turned to profit-booking

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty advanced for the third straight session on Tuesday driven by firm global cues and optimism over India-US trade agreement, even as investors turned to profit-booking at higher levels.

Sensex slips below 82K amid widespread sell-off

Sensex slips below 82K amid widespread sell-off

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

Market sentiment is likely to remain cautious as investors position themselves for the upcoming Union Budget and the US Fed's interest rate decision, where expectations are muted.

India calls B'desh envoy, seeks thorough probe into Hadi's murder

India calls B'desh envoy, seeks thorough probe into Hadi's murder

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

India has called on Bangladesh to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, amid rising tensions between the two countries following protests and incidents at diplomatic missions.

Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Highlights of Union Budget 2026-27

'Money Comes Only When Markets Do Well'

'Money Comes Only When Markets Do Well'

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

'Given that India underperformed emerging markets by 28 per cent in 2025, the worst performance in over 30 years, the timing of the sharp STT hike could have been better.'

Brokerage stocks tank over 18% as Budget hikes STT on commodity futures

Brokerage stocks tank over 18% as Budget hikes STT on commodity futures

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Shares of brokerage-related companies nosedived 18 per cent on Sunday after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed raising securities transaction tax on commodity futures to 0.05 per cent from 0.02 per cent in the Union Budget 2026-27.

A long-game Budget

A long-game Budget

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

The Union Budget for 2026-27, presented by Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, which was a first, had an excellent domestic macro backdrop. According to the first advance estimates, gross domestic product (GDP) in constant prices is projected to grow 7.4 per cent in the current financial year, against 6.5 per cent in 2024-25.

STT hike on Futures drags markets down; Sensex crashes 1,547 points

STT hike on Futures drags markets down; Sensex crashes 1,547 points

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty dived sharply by nearly 2 per cent on Sunday after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a hike in the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on derivatives. Reversing the early gains, the 30-share BSE Sensex plunged sharply by 2,370.36 points or 2.88 per cent to slide below the 80,000-mark at 79,899.42 in afternoon trade as the finance minister announced a hike in STT on futures contracts to 0.05 per cent from the current 0.02 per cent.

Net FDI stayed negative in November

Net FDI stayed negative in November

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) remained negative in November 2025 for the third consecutive month, mainly due to high repatriation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its January bulletin.

Sensex falls 344 pts amid profit-taking, foreign fund outflows

Sensex falls 344 pts amid profit-taking, foreign fund outflows

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

Among Sensex firms, Hindustan Unilever dropped the most by 3.20 per cent. UltraTech Cement, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Adani Ports, Titan, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank were also among the laggards. However, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, Bharat Electronics and Sun Pharma were among the gainers.

Stock markets end higher; ITC, banks lead recovery

Stock markets end higher; ITC, banks lead recovery

Rediff.com6 Feb 2026

Stock markets closed higher on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged as expected and proposed allowing banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with certain prudential safeguards to deepen the financing pool for the real estate sector.

Climate activist Harjeet Singh's NGO calls ED allegations 'baseless'

Climate activist Harjeet Singh's NGO calls ED allegations 'baseless'

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

Satat Sampada, the organisation of climate activist Harjeet Singh and his wife, said the allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate against the firm and its founder were baseless, biased and misleading.

At $4.4 bn, Shriram Fin to get India's largest financial-sector FDI

At $4.4 bn, Shriram Fin to get India's largest financial-sector FDI

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

Leading non-banking financial company (NBFC) Shriram Finance on Friday said Japan-based MUFG Bank would invest Rs 39,618 crore, or $4.4 billion, to acquire a 20 per cent stake on a fully diluted basis through a preferential issue of equity shares.

US ends automatic work permit extensions for foreigners, Indians to be hit

US ends automatic work permit extensions for foreigners, Indians to be hit

Rediff.com31 Oct 2025

As per the new rule, foreigners who file to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension, the DHS said in a news release.

Bulls prowl D-Street: Benchmarks see best day in over 8 months

Bulls prowl D-Street: Benchmarks see best day in over 8 months

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

Domestic equities surged on Tuesday, posting their best single-day gains in more than eight months after a long-awaited trade deal between India and the US. The deal, which lowered tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent, significantly improved investor sentiment and lifted a key overhang for the market.

Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman tries to cover all bases, leaves out markets

Union Budget 2026: Sitharaman tries to cover all bases, leaves out markets

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Budget 2026 sticks to fiscal discipline, shuns populist measures despite five key state elections coming up, but ends up rattling stock markets with a higher transaction tax on derivatives trading.

Rupee sees worst single-day fall in 2 months on importer dollar demand

Rupee sees worst single-day fall in 2 months on importer dollar demand

Rediff.com17 Jan 2026

The rupee witnessed its worst single-day decline in around two months since November 21, 2025, due to demand for dollars among importers, said dealers. The maturing short positions in the non-deliverable forwards market further weighed on the local currency.

Sensex jumps 336 points on buying in services, telecom shares

Sensex jumps 336 points on buying in services, telecom shares

Rediff.com11 Nov 2025

Among the Sensex firms, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra, Adani Ports, HCL Technologies, Eternal, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever and UltraTech Cement were the gainers. Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Kotak Mahindra Bank, PowerGrid and Tata Steel were among the laggards.

Heavy sell-off in IT counters; Sensex ends up 79 points

Heavy sell-off in IT counters; Sensex ends up 79 points

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended marginally higher on Wednesday as a sharp decline in IT blue-chip stocks restricted the rally in the markets.

B'desh summons Indian envoy over its missions' security

B'desh summons Indian envoy over its missions' security

Rediff.com23 Dec 2025

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned the violence, citing threats to diplomatic personnel and establishments, and urged India to ensure their safety and security.

Tiger Global Verdict: SC rewrites rules of cross-border taxation

Tiger Global Verdict: SC rewrites rules of cross-border taxation

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

The SC has gone a step further to state that even if one were to not apply the codified GAAR provisions, the judicial GAAR would continue to apply, point out Pranav Sayta and Bhargav Selarka.

'India, Pak, they were going at it': Trump again

'India, Pak, they were going at it': Trump again

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

Meanwhile, Trump said Cambodia and Thailand have started fighting again and "tomorrow", he will make a phone call to those countries.

Activist Harjeet Singh held after ED raids; Pak, B'desh trips under lens

Activist Harjeet Singh held after ED raids; Pak, B'desh trips under lens

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

The Uttar Pradesh excise department arrested climate activist Harjeet Singh for allegedly possessing excess liquor after the ED searched his premises in connection with a foreign exchange violation case. The ED is investigating the misuse of funds received from abroad and Singh's visits to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Indians' Share In US Naturalisation Hits 9-Year Low

Indians' Share In US Naturalisation Hits 9-Year Low

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

As the Trump administration pushes denaturalisation targets, US citizenship trends show a decline in Indian naturalisations and longer scrutiny of immigrants.

FPIs purchase Rs 7,524 crore of debt, highest single day in 7 months

FPIs purchase Rs 7,524 crore of debt, highest single day in 7 months

Rediff.com3 Jan 2026

The first day of the year 2026 was positive for the debt market with foreign investors buying a net domestic debt of Rs 7,524 crore, the highest single-day inflow since May 29 last year.

Texas governor orders freeze on new H-1B visas; Indians likely to be hit

Texas governor orders freeze on new H-1B visas; Indians likely to be hit

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies and public universities to suspend new H-1B visa petitions through May 2027, a move likely to affect Indian professionals. The order comes amid ongoing debate over skilled immigration and potential impacts on academic research and innovation.

Budget 2026: 'Increased Industrialisation Will Lead To More Jobs'

Budget 2026: 'Increased Industrialisation Will Lead To More Jobs'

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

'The trade deficit in some sectors is huge and that is an area of opportunity to localise.'

Govt notifies rules to enable 100% FDI in insurance sector

Govt notifies rules to enable 100% FDI in insurance sector

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

Following the notification allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector, the Finance Ministry has revised norms to remove the requirement that a majority of directors and key management personnel in an insurance company with foreign investment be Indian residents.

India's Problem: Strong Power, Weak Resistance

India's Problem: Strong Power, Weak Resistance

Rediff.com3 Jan 2026

This new year will bring, once again, a repetition of both intent and apathy, expects Aakar Patel.

Iran says forces ready for war; accuses US, Israel of stoking unrest

Iran says forces ready for war; accuses US, Israel of stoking unrest

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

Baghaei also alleged that recent unrest in Iran was fuelled by foreign interference, claiming riots were triggered by "very evident" interventionist remarks by US and Israeli officials.

Maduro's Link to Sathya Sai Baba...

Maduro's Link to Sathya Sai Baba...

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

Long before he became Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro's life intersected with India in a profound personal way.

Why Govt Bonds Won't Enter Bloomberg Index Yet

Why Govt Bonds Won't Enter Bloomberg Index Yet

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

India was being evaluated for a potential weight of around 1 per cent in the index, an allocation that could have translated into $25 billion of inflows, spread over roughly 10 months.