Diversity Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In a bid to stem the alarming opioid crisis, India's apex drug regulator plans an overhaul of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to sharply raise punishments and fines that would deter illegal diversion of habit-forming pharmaceutical opioids, according to two government officials in the know and documents reviewed by Mint.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The Union Budget may promote adventure tourism as a new source of revenue for states, aiming to formalize the segment. Also, the budget is likely to announce schemes worth ₹500 crore to promote tourism, according to two government officials aware of the development.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India is planning a second national gene bank for crops in Keylong, Himachal Pradesh, as insurance against climate change, natural disasters and future food risks. The new facility will back up India’s vast plant genetic wealth and complement the country’s existing gene bank in New Delhi.

After a two-year run of stellar gains, US traders are signalling far more modest returns for gold and silver in 2026, possibly driven by lower central bank purchases, a stronger dollar, and moderating safe-haven demand, according to experts.Analysts and financial planners are warning domestic investors to brace for bouts of volatility next year, with corrections in silver likely to be sharper, even though expectations could shift with changes in global macro conditions—such as interest rate moves or rising economic uncertainty.Trader bets on Comex, the world's most diverse derivatives marketplace, show they expect the most liquid gold futures contractto rise 3.4% and silver 3% by December 2026 from Wednesday’s (24 December’s) closing of $4,503 and $71.68 per troy ounce (31.10 gm), respectively, per Bloomberg data.In 2025, Comex generic gold and silver futures rose 67.8% and 127%, respectively, from 1 January to 24 December, the data showed.Indian gold and silver prices tend to mirror international prices as most domestic demand for both metals is met through imports.Even as the Nifty 50 gave 12% returns in the current fiscal year (FY26) through 19 December, gold ETF (exchange-traded funds) prices surged 45% to ₹11,400 per gm while silver doubled to ₹200 per gm in the same period, based on the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi’s) formula for ETFs using global benchmark London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) prices, excluding GST.In the previous fiscal, gold and silver ETFs gave 35% returns, while the Nifty returned just 5%.Sensing the warning signs, analysts and financial planners have called for caution, especially as Indian investors continue to diversify portfolios through gold and silver ETFs.Amol

India’s fertilizer subsidy has long weighed heavily on the exchequer. The revised budget allocation for it in 2024-25 stood at ₹1.83 trillion. Nitrogen-based urea absorbed over 65% of it, while phosphatic and potassic fertilizers claimed the rest under the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) regime.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh (UP) are selling their produce to mills in neighbouring Haryana, attracted by the latter’s higher state advised price (SAP).

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The other day I was reading journalist Akshaya Mukul’s Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India (2015) at a cafe in south Delhi, when a stranger at the adjacent table asked if he could take a look at the book. A 20-something Gen Z-er, he was surprised to see a detailed history of the publishing firm.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Financial services stocks in India could benefit from strong tailwinds in 2026, driven by rising incomes, digital penetration, and structural reforms.​ Healthy credit growth, improving asset quality, margin expansion from lower interest rates, and stable deposits, position banks and NBFCs for earnings upgrades. One company that has managed to ride the tailwinds and grow dramatically over the years is Bajaj Finance.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. MUMBAI : Fireside Ventures has closed its fourth consumer-focused fund at $253 million with a more diverse base of investors, or limited partners (LPs), to continue backing early-stage startups in India, a top official at the investment firm said. “In this fund, we have a 50-50 split between domestic and global investors.

Fitch Ratings said in a note. Post the higher-than-anticipated tariffs imposed the US administration, the rating agency projected that US growth in 2025 is likely to be slower than the 1.7 per cent that it had projected in March. According to Fitch Ratings, tariff hikes will result in higher consumer prices and lower corporate profits in the US. «Higher prices will squeeze real wages, weighing on consumer spending, while lower profits and policy uncertainty will act as a drag on business investment,» Fitch said. «Upward pressure on goods prices from tariffs — in the context of a recent large jump in US households' medium-term inflation expectations — means the Fed is likely to become more cautious about further rate cuts in the near term.»

Southern University in Louisiana was awarded $600,000 for its "Project Farm to Feminine Hygiene", a bold effort to develop natural alternatives to synthetic sanitary products. Using regenerative cotton, wool, and industrial hemp, the project also planned to launch educational programmes and support local fibre farmers by building a processing facility. But that vision has been cut short. On 7 March, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on X that she was revoking the funding, claiming the grant was meant to study “menstrual cycles in transgender men.” It wasn’t. The actual documentation mentions transgender people only once—acknowledging that they, too, may menstruate. The single-line reference was enough to trigger a misinformation storm.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, shared the news on X, stating, “By Monday afternoon, our fact-checking program in the US will be officially over. That means no new fact checks and no fact checkers.” He added, “In place of fact checks, the first Community Notes will start appearing gradually across Facebook, Threads & Instagram, with no penalties attached.”

VVP-II) with a substantial financial outlay of Rs 6,839 crore, aiming to foster comprehensive development in villages located near international land borders. This Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Centre, is set to operate from the financial years 2024-25 to 2028-29. The scheme will cater to villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders other than the Northern border, which were previously covered under the first phase of the programme. The focus will be on select strategic villages across 15 States and Union Territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and West Bengal. As per the government, the programme's primary objectives include creating better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities for residents, ensuring secure and prosperous borders, and curbing trans-border crime.

India Fintech Foundation (IFF)—the proposed self-regulatory organisation (SRO) for the fintech industry, also known as the SRO-Fintech Development Foundation (SROFT-DF). Present at the the launch event was Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, Shri NS Viswanathan, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and Non-Executive Chairman of Axis Bank and Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT. Kant formally unveiled the IFF logo, marking the official inauguration of the Foundation. The proposed SRO aims to bridge the regulatory gap by enabling innovation while ensuring responsible conduct and consumer protection. The chief guests emphasised the need for inclusive fintech growth anchored in effective industry-led self-regulation. Viswanathan will serve as Chairman of the IFF Board, guiding the long-term vision of the proposed SRO.

World Trade Organization said new tariffs announced by the U.S. along with those introduced at the start of the year could lead to a contraction of around 1% in global merchandise trade volumes in 2025. «I'm deeply concerned about this decline and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that lead to further declines in trade,» Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement on Thursday. She warned that the tariffs have the potential to create significant trade diversion effects. The WTO administers 74% of global trade, down from around 80% at the beginning of the year due to recent tariffs, according to the organisation. World leaders have warned of the potential negative economic consequences of the tariffs. «President Trump's announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, including the EU, is a major blow to the world economy,» European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Harvard President Alan Garber has spent the past few weeks trying to keep his school from becoming the next Columbia. As he watched Trump pull federal funds from his school’s Ivy League peer over antisemitism concerns, and impose far-reaching demands, Garber made a flurry of moves of his own.

India and Chile on Tuesday decided to start negotiations on a mutually beneficial comprehensive economic partnership agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font for wide-ranging talks focusing on boosting bilateral ties in diverse areas. Boric is on a five-day state visit to India to explore ways to shore up bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including trade and defence. «Today, we have directed our teams to begin discussions on a mutually beneficial comprehensive economic partnership agreement,» Modi said in his media statement after the talks. Partnership in the field of critical minerals will be explored, he said. The prime minister said work will also be done to establish resilient supply and value chains.

The deposit protection limit is the maximum amount of money the FSCS protects if a depositor's bank, building society, or credit union becomes insolvent. It has remained at £85,000, per person, per institution since 2017. FCA and PRA ditch plans to progress with diversity and inclusion targets The proposed increase accounts for inflation over the past seven years and aims to reassure consumers about the security of their deposits in UK-authorised financial institutions. If implemented, the new limit will apply to firms that fail from 1 December 2025. PRA deputy governor for prudent...

Here are four common career myths that freshers should stop believing:

travel vlogger recently shared a video on Instagram, urging people to explore Delhi rather than rely on negative opinions. Posting under the username 'Bella & Her Backpack,' she highlighted the city's vibrant experiences, including historical sites, local markets, and diverse cultures. She recommended visiting areas such as Hauz Khas, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar, and Safdarjung Enclave.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Employment among working-age women in urban India has increased by around 10 percentage points over the past six years. Now approaching the 30% mark, it still remains relatively low compared to our peer countries and has considerable scope for improvement.