The World Bank's "World Development Report 2026" urges developing countries to adopt low-cost AI tools to accelerate progress in healthcare, education, and judicial services. The report highlights AI's potential to boost productivity and improve public services, while noting that jobs in high-income countries are more at risk from automation than those in developing nations.
Metals and mining conglomerate Vedanta aims to achieve $10 billion in group Ebitda by FY27, a significant increase from $6 billion in FY26, and plans to reduce its overall debt by more than 20,000 crore during the same period, according to CFO Ajay Goel.
India's industrial production expanded at a slower pace of 4.9 per cent in April, primarily due to tepid growth in the energy sector amidst the West Asia crisis. This data marks the first release under the newly revised base year of 2022-23 for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Public-sector banks (PSBs) in India have reported an 11.2 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit, reaching a record 1.98 trillion in FY26, marking their fourth consecutive year of profitability, driven by sustained business growth, improved asset quality, and strong capital positions.
'The market is currently neither cheap enough to be exciting about nor expensive enough to worry about.'
HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar's total salary for the financial year 2025-26 surged by nearly 66.9 per cent to $18.13 million, primarily driven by long-term incentives and stock options, placing him at the top among his Indian IT sector peers.
India's trade deficit reached a six-month high of $31.98 billion in July, driven by a sharp increase in imports, particularly crude oil, electronic goods, coal, and fertilisers. Both merchandise exports and imports recorded their second-highest levels during the same period.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied in early trade, primarily driven by strong buying in IT stocks after Tech Mahindra reported a significant 28.4 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit for the June quarter.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is investing Rs 5,000 crore over five years to enter the automotive components sector, focusing on electric vehicle (EV) motors, safety systems, and connected-vehicle technologies, aiming to become a Tier-I auto supplier.
Indian IT stocks have seen a significant decline of up to 33 per cent year-to-date in 2026, largely due to artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting traditional outsourcing models, leading analysts to predict a challenging FY27 for the sector despite some cushion from rupee depreciation.
Shares of power generation-related companies surged on Wednesday, with the BSE Power index hitting a new high of 8,497, driven by strong demand, robust order books, and significant capital expenditure announcements from key players like Hitachi Energy India, Adani Green Energy, and CG Power and Industrial Solutions.
China has deployed 72 "robot employees" across Beijing's municipal parks to perform various tasks like cleaning, patrolling, guiding visitors, and pest control. This initiative is part of China's "Robot Plus" strategy, driven by an ageing population and labour shortages, and showcases the growing domestic service robot market. These AI-powered robots enhance efficiency and visitor experience in popular attractions like the Summer Palace and Zizhuyuan Park.
Haryana is set to host a grand felicitation ceremony on August 7 for its athletes who excelled at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will present cash awards totalling Rs 13.47 crore to 10 medal winners and 13 participating athletes, reinforcing the state's commitment to sports development and recognising international achievements.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel formally received the Commonwealth Games flag, symbolising the official commencement of preparations for Ahmedabad to host the global sporting event in 2030.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Ltd reported a significant 34 per cent year-on-year increase in Profit After Tax (PAT) to Rs 5,455 crore for the June quarter, driven by strong performance in its Auto and Farm segments despite challenging macro-economic conditions.
The Indian government has defended its E20 ethanol blending programme, stating that extensive testing and field experience show no evidence of abnormal engine wear, corrosion, or reduced vehicle life, despite a potential 2-6% reduction in fuel economy.
Indian IT services firms are expected to report a soft Q1 FY27 performance due to a challenging macro environment, the impact of AI, and geopolitical uncertainties, leading to reduced discretionary spending and slower decision-making cycles, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, placing multiple technology demonstration payloads and commemorative items, including a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, into low Earth orbit, marking a significant entry into the global orbital launch market.
'Applying AI to change the lives of Indians and at population scale -- just like we did with DPI [digital public infrastructure] -- is really where it's going to go.'
'Banking is the only sector that can see double-digit growth in FY27.'
An Indian-American US Army surgeon in an innovative procedure removed a golf ball-sized tumour developed at the base of the brain by sending an endoscopic device through the patient's nose. Major Jagatkumar Patel, an anterior surgeon at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre near Washington, DC, along with neurosurgeon Army Lt Col Charles Miller, carried out the surgical procedure on Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Andy Archer, who lived with the tumour for 15 years.
The diagnostics sector is projected to significantly outperform other healthcare segments like pharmaceuticals and hospitals in Q4FY26, driven by increasing volumes, stable realisations, and a domestic focus that insulates it from geopolitical risks.
Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, reported a 37.3 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to 8,167 crore for Q1 FY27, driven by the addition of high-paying premium customers, despite missing Bloomberg consensus estimates.
HDFC Bank shares plummeted over 5 per cent, wiping out Rs 64,685 crore from its market valuation, after its June quarter earnings disappointed investors, particularly on the net interest margin (NIM) front.
In her address to the nation on the eve of the country's 80th Independence Day, the president stressed that just as government and society remain united to ensure national security, everyone must contribute through joint and concerted efforts to safeguard the present and future of students.
Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.
Total automobile retail sales in India surged by 25.89 per cent year-on-year to 25,91,138 units in July, driven by GST rationalisation, ease of retail finance, and favourable festival timing, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). This marks the first time all vehicle categories recorded their best-ever July sales.
Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, warns that cheaper Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models could lead to 'massive capital destruction' in US markets, highlighting the rapid growth of Chinese LLMs and the increasing debt funding for AI capex in the US.
Tata Steel more than doubled its Indian capacity through acquisitions and expansion, strengthening cash generation as it pursued a costly restructuring of its European operations.
India's services sector growth reached a five-month high in April, with the HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index rising to 58.8, primarily driven by robust domestic demand and a shift from international to local suppliers amidst the West Asia crisis.
Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) is expected to benefit from higher room rates, rising occupancy, and strategic acquisitions, with analysts projecting double-digit revenue growth for FY27 driven by strong domestic demand and a favourable demand-supply dynamic.
Skyroot Aerospace is set to launch the maiden test flight of its orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1, from SDSC-SHAR on July 18, marking a significant milestone for India's private sector in the global launch business.
Indian stock markets witnessed a significant rally, with the Sensex climbing 964.58 points and the Nifty reaching 24,330, driven by strong buying in blue-chip stocks, particularly in the IT and banking sectors, amidst optimism over Q1 earnings and a shift towards large-cap investments.
It is because dealing with a regulatory system that is largely headed by retired IAS officers then becomes relatively easy, points out A K Bhattacharya.
In response to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the NTA has initiated a significant security upgrade, floating a Rs 7.5 crore tender for comprehensive, round-the-clock security services to protect its critical infrastructure and confidential examination materials.
The biggest challenge to widespread deployment is no longer AI. It is the financial and commerce infrastructure that was built decades ago for deterministic software and human interactions -- not autonomous AI agents.
ICICI Bank has successfully raised $1 billion through a five-year senior unsecured US dollar bond, marking its first public dollar bond issuance since 2017 and the largest single-tranche US dollar bond issuance by an Indian issuer so far this year.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed lower due to significant selling in HDFC Bank and Axis Bank shares, driven by margin-related concerns and escalating US-Iran tensions, which also pushed crude oil prices higher.
Eternal's quick commerce platform, Blinkit, significantly outperformed in Q1 FY27, with net order value (NOV) rising 19.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter, indicating strong market share gains driven by increased monthly transacting users and transaction frequency.
LIC is the only brand in the Brand Finance India 100 2026 report that has a top five rank in both brand value and brand strength.
