India Financial News

virtual digital assets (VDA) has been a rollercoaster. From skepticism to cautious exploration, the narrative has shifted significantly in recent years. As the global virtual digital assets market matures, it’s crucial for India to embrace a well-defined regulatory framework that nurtures innovation while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. At 5 pm today, the Little Theatre at the National Centre for Performing Arts will be screening an evocative film, Lovely Villa: Architecture as Autobiography, directed by Rohan Shivkumar. It is a testament to the fact that every house is a vessel for the experiences of the people who have inhabited it in the past, and those who will dwell there in the future.

IMD has issued a warning of a wet spell in the city, with thunderstorms and hail expected later in the day. Visuals from India Gate showed near-zero visibility in the national capital, with people seeking refuge in night shelters in Safdarjung to escape the harsh weather.

women in the space is rising. From 20% in 2020, women are now close to a fourth of India’s chip design and engineering workforce of more than 220,000. Their share is expected to rise to over 30% by 2027, while the total workforce is expected to increase by 18-20% over this period, according to data sourced by ET from staffing firm Teamlease Digital. Semiconductor companies like Micron and NXP say that the expansion of the sector will open up more opportunities for women. They are investing in supporting and retaining female employees, expanding the talent pool and creating a pipeline of senior women leaders by chalking out career advancement paths. Micron, which has over 4,000 employees, including contractors, in India, has 28% women’s representation across groups and functions, with IT having the highest share at 30%, said Sharmila Khan, country head, people organisation. Functions like procurement, data science, design engineering are also seeing healthy representation, she said.

Joe Biden administration in the United States on Friday slapped sanctions on two Indian companies, Skyhart Management Services and Avision Shipping Services, for being allegedly involved in the transportation of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG), violating American curbs. Skyhart Management Services “is an India-based entity that became the operator of US-designated LNG carrier Mulan shortly before it loaded LNG from USdesignated LLC Arctic LNG 2”, the US State Department said. Avision Shipping Services “is an India-based entity that became the operator of US-designated LNG carrier New Energy shortly before it loaded LNG from LLC Arctic LNG 2”, it said.

ISRO to perform space docking experiment were 15 metres apart and closing in for an «exciting handshake», the space agency said on Sunday. The two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), are in good condition. «At 15 metres, we see each other clearer and clearer, we are just 50 feet away for an exciting handshake,» ISRO said in a post on X. The mission, launched on December 30, aims to demonstrate in-space docking using small spacecraft.

Mani Shankar Aiyar on Saturday night said that deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina should be allowed to stay in India as long as she wants. Expressing happiness that Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri went to Dhaka last month and held discussions with the authorities there, Aiyar told PTI on the sidelines of the 16th Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival that the talks should be continuous and New Delhi needs to establish ministerial contacts with the interim government of Bangladesh. About demands by Bangladesh to extradite Hasina, he said, «I hope we will never disagree that Sheikh Hasina has done a lot of good for us. I am glad she was given refuge. I think we should be her host as long as she wants, even if it is for all her life.» Hasina, 77, has been living in India since August 5 when she fled the country following a massive student-led protest that toppled her 16-year regime.

BCCI in an over two-hour long meeting with under-fire skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday but the Board decided against any knee-jerk response to the debacle that was largely blamed on the poor form of senior players. The meeting was held at a five-star facility in Mumbai and BCCI President Roger Binny and secretary elect Devajit Saikia were in attendance along with Rohit and Gambhir. «There was a detailed discussion on the Border Gavaskar Trophy performance and what all went wrong and the course correction required. But do not expect a hurried decision from the new dispensation of BCCI,» a source privy to developments in the Board told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

India had formally expressed displeasure with the Indonesian government on Subianto's decision to travel to Pakistan from New Delhi, where he will be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations. Pakistan was not part of his plan until he met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, Malaysia was part of his original plan. Indonesia has been among Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member countries that have not backed Pakistan's position on Kashmir at the forum.

restaurant. «And even that could be avoided by showing up early in the morning.» But those days are a distant memory. Across major metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, a new wave of experiential dining has emerged, creating a storm of exclusivity and FOMO or the fear of missing out. With limited seating, these restaurants have naturally cultivated a «book early or miss out» culture that appeals to diners craving unique culinary escapades. For many, the challenge of securing a reservation only heightens the allure.

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that he was not looking for anyone's support and that he worked as per the wishes of the Congress party, speaking out amid public voices of resistance within the cabinet to his ambitions to succeed chief minister Siddaramaiah. The CM is scheduled to present the state budget in March and there is speculation that the party might begin preparations to replace him with Shivakumar in the following months. Shivakumar is also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. A dinner meeting was organised by public works department minister Satish Jarkiholi and another was planned by home minister G Parameshwara, both tall leaders from the Scheduled Caste (SC)/Schedule Tribe (ST) communities. Parameshwara's meeting, however, got cancelled on intervention by the All India Congress Committee general secretary RS Surjewala, reportedly on complaints from Shivakumar.

Parvathy Thiruvothu told me just days back. The actor-activist was recalling those who cautioned her at the start of her career that a woman artiste has a limited 'shelf life'. You cannot last beyond a decade, after which you will be relegated to playing sister, aunt, and mother, they warned her. 'It's now been over 18 years since I entered films,' she added. 'My survival is my answer to those who said [that].' It is a happy coincidence that I ended 2024 on a stage conversing with Parvathy on the theme, 'She Is Writing History,' at the Wayanad Literature Festival, and I began 2025 watching a documentary on Aparna Sen, actor, director, magazine editor, activist, and all-round exemplar in the matter of both survival and history-making. Suman Ghosh's Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen was released in theatres in Kolkata early this month after a positive reception on the festival circuit last year. The juxtaposition of these two women's stories in my mind took me back to my childhood when I first watched Sen's directorial debut, 36 Chowringhee Lane. Many years would pass before it occurred to me that until then I had not sampled the work of an Indian woman director. When 36 Chowringhee Lane was released in 1981, Sen was a rarity. The scenario has improved somewhat, but not dramatically so. Women directors are still not common.

ODI series against England could serve as a dress rehearsal for under-pressure India. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s form under scrutiny, Jasprit Bumrah’s injury and doubts over Mohammed Shami’s return, it is a rare white-ball tournament where India would be considered favourites. The shift in expectations might not be a bad thing for the Indian men’s cricket team in the current circumstances. Before that, India have to make certain decisions regarding their personnel. Here is a role-wise breakdown of the options that the selectors could consider while picking up the squad: OPENERS: ROHIT, GILL, JAISWAL Rohit and Shubman Gill are likely to be the first-choice options going into the tournament. Rohit has been a stellar performer in white-ball cricket. His redball woes notwithstanding, the captain can well rediscover his mojo in the 50-over format. It was his efforts at the 2023 World Cup that helped India get off to flying starts and he will want to do the same in Dubai, where India will play their Champions Trophy matches. Gill, however, needs to be more consistent. While he deserves his place in the starting eleven, he will know that a few bad games could result in Yashasvi Jaiswal getting a look in. In that sense, the Champions Trophy is a big test for Gill as well. Jaiswal is going to be India’s back-up opener to start with. He offers the left-hand option that India miss in the top order.

Neeraj Chopra, along with the support of World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India will be bringing a Continental Tour Javelin-Only competition to the country. While the venue is yet to be finalised, the event is slated to take place in May this year and will see some of the best male and female javelin throwers from around the world — headlined by Chopra — compete on Indian soil for the first time. Speaking on the event, Chopra said, «It has been a longstanding dream of mine to organise and bring a world-class javelin competition to India. With the help of JSW Sports and the Athletics Federation of India, we are making this happen. I am sure that my fellow athletes and the fans in India will both create an experience that will be spoken about for a long time. I am excited to see how big we can make this,» as quoted from a release by JSW Sports Media.

Frequent travellers who swear by “never checking a bag” are not chuffed to be travelling lighter. Gautam Sinha, founder and creative director of artisanal leather brand Nappa Dori that also makes travel luggage, flies frequently within India and to Dubai, London, and Sri Lanka to manage his many stores. He is concerned that it will be a major disadvantage to travellers, and says, “It has been proven by the experience of similar structures in European and American budget airlines that the consumer ends up paying a lot more for a basic flight.” One thing he is sure of: “It will definitely make people think more before they pack now.”

Loan providers and education consultants reported a surge in applications and inquiries, reflecting a growing financial awareness among students and their families. “While education spends have been growing across the entire spectrum of the student lifecycle, overseas education has been one of the sub-segments with significant growth in recent years,” said Amit Gainda, chief executive of Avanse Financial Services (AFS).

It isn’t only Pranos that is bringing in the excitement of nuclear fusion to India. At least two more Indian startups are taking baby steps in the sector. Anubal Fusion, headquartered in Hyderabad, was the first Indian startup to throw the hat into the ring. It has raised a pre-seed round from VC firm Speciale Invest. Hyderabad-based Hylenr has, meanwhile, received a patent for its version of a low-energy reactor which, in theory, could have applications in specific low energy use cases like aboard satellites. The three startups, all at an early stage, are taking different routes to solving the challenges in sustaining fusion.

Shark Tank India has returned for its fourth season on Sony Entertainment Television. The Indian version of the popular American show is also available for streaming on SonyLIV and OTTplay Premium. The format remains the same, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors, hoping to secure funding. In the latest episode, Kiran Shah, an entrepreneur, presented his no-sugar ice cream brand, Go Zero, and sought a Rs 1 crore investment in exchange for equity. Entrepreneur Kiran Shah introduced his no-sugar ice cream brand, Go Zero, to the Sharks. Shah asked for a Rs 1 crore investment in his business. Go Zero has gained significant popularity with its unique products over the last 50 years, and the parent brand, Apsara Ice Creams, is well-known as one of the leading ice cream chains in Mumbai. Seeing a growing demand for zero-sugar products, Kiran and his team decided to expand their business, leading them to pitch the new venture on Shark Tank India. Kiran valued his ice cream business at Rs 100 crore and asked for Rs 1 crore in exchange for 1 per cent equity. With his pitch, he managed to capture the interest of all the Sharks, including Anupam Mittal, who is lactose intolerant. Kiran shared his goal of generating Rs 33 crore in revenue within the year, showcasing his ambitious vision for the brand's growth.

Shaadi.com CEO and Shark Tank India Season 4 judge, Anupam Mittal, recently responded with humor to L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's controversial remarks about work-life balance. Mittal's witty comment on X highlighted the absurdity of the statement, sparking a wave of reactions online. He said, “But sir if husband and wife don’t look at each other, how will we remain the most populous country in the world."

Wang Yi made a surprise visit to the Maldives, during which he held talks with President Mohamed Muizzu and discussed the state of bilateral relations, amid Male's recent warming up to India. Wang, who is also a member of the powerful Political Bureau of the Communist Party, met Muizzu during his stopover in Male on Friday while on his way back from a tour, official media reported. This was the first major visit by a Chinese official to Maldives after Muizzu visited China in January last year, months after his election. During Muizzu's visit, the two countries elevated the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and signed some key agreements.

Former US President Donald Trump's legal battles could soon affect his ability to travel internationally, as many countries have strict entry requirements that bar individuals with felony convictions. With Trump facing 34 felony charges related to his involvement in a hush money scheme during the 2016 election, his criminal record could complicate travel to several nations that enforce such policies. According to Newsweek, G7 countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan, along with others such as Israel and China, have policies preventing convicted felons from entering their borders. These restrictions could hinder Trump’s ability to travel abroad if his convictions stand, raising questions about how this might impact his international dealings, especially if he pursues a second term in office. These entry bans vary across countries. Some, like Canada and Japan, will deny entry to anyone with a felony conviction, while others, such as Brazil and Cambodia, may not check criminal records at the border but could deny entry if a conviction is discovered later.