ePaper | THE ECONOMIC TIMES

  • The Economic Times
  • The Times of India
  • Mirror
  • Maharashtra Times
Front pagePure PoliticsPure Politics & Around the WorldThe Edit PageCompanies: Pursuit of ProfitEconomy & CompaniesET Markets
More
Economy: Macro, Micro & MoreDisruption: Startups & TechBrands & CompaniesSports World Play
Economy: Macro, Micro & MoreDisruption: Startups & TechBrands & CompaniesSports World Play

1Front page

Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez said the company remains confident about its growth prospects in India, highlighting the absence of any new headwinds and the positive impact of government incentives, tax relief, and lower inflation in food and oil.

Until generative artificial intelligence (AI) came into the picture, it was a quiet marathon for Zerodha every time it launched a new feature. Senior developers measured each line, made it precise and often rewrote it until it felt right.

Taking a cue from rival Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel has reached out to the government seeking conversion of more than ₹41,000 crore adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues into equity. If approved, the government will get a 2-4% stake in India’s second-largest telecom operator.
Tata Sons has asked Air India to aggressively pursue growth on international routes and intensify competition with foreign carriers, especially after becoming a bigger entity following the merger with Vistara.
In a rare acknowledgement of India’s strategic importance, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc’s global chief executive officer Kris Licht said the country stands out as a growth driver even as global economies remain vulnerable to potential shocks.
Pakistan on Thursday said it may suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the 1972 Simla Agreement, and warned that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water sanctioned under the Indus Waters Treaty will be considered an “act of war.”

2Pure Politics

With reports of attacks on Kashmiris poured in from several states and some extremist groups threatening Kashmiris to leave Uttarakhand and other places, J&K parties urged the governments of all states and UTs to come forward with unwavering commitment to protect the Kashmiri students and citizens who find themselves far from home.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information on each of the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, even as search operation in the forest area of Baisaran continued for the third consecutive day.

A day after the Congress came out in support of the Centre over the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday demanded a comprehensive analysis of security lapses and accused the BJP of “exploiting” the tragedy to sow discord and mistrust.
Two days after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Meghalaya government on Thursday asked security agencies to intensify vigilance along the 443-km-long international border with Bangladesh, officials said.
The Air Force is currently undertaking a major exercise to hone its skills for precision air strikes deep inside enemy territory, with frontline assets like Rafale fighter jets involved in a complex wargame that factors in heavy electronic warfare as well.
A day after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to take harsh steps against Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Wednesday that the perpetrators of the gruesome killings in Pahalgam and their handlers will be pursued “till the ends of the earth” and punished with a severity beyond their imagination.
In a show of unity, leaders from all political parties on Thursday backed firm action against terrorism and flagged serious security lapses at an all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
India has informed Pak of its decision to suspend IWT. The decision was detailed in a letter from water resources secretary Debashree Mukherjee to her Pak counterpart Syed Ali Murtaza.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
With India announcing suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, work is set to be expedited across a series of hydropower projects off the Chenab-Jhelum-Indus axis from Kiru to Kwar — projects held up for years due to IWT.
The all-party meeting, convened by J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, on Thursday passed a resolution condemning the Pahalgam attack on tourists and supported the steps taken by the Government of India against Pakistan.
National Investigation Agency is probing six cases under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against the banned The Resistance Force (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.

3Pure Politics & Around the World

Businesses across multiple industries are increasing prices, cutting financial guidance and warning of growing uncertainty as US President Donald Trump’s trade war pushes up costs, up-ends supply chains and stirs concerns about the global economy.

A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan has been detained by Pakistan Rangers after he accidentally crossed the Punjab border and talks are on between the two forces to secure his release, officials said on Thursday.

The Supreme Court on Thursday mooted inclusion of an “enabling” provision vide which it would be compulsory for a single contestant, in an uncontested election, to secure a minimum percentage of votes.
A dozen US states are challenging President Donald Trump’s “immense and ever-changing” global tariffs in court, alleging he illegally bypassed Congress by issuing duties under an emergency economic law.
The Assam Police on Thursday arrested AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, following his controversial remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack. He has been taken to the Nagaon police station.
China on Thursday demanded that the US revoke all unilateral tariffs and denied there were talks on reaching a trade deal, maintaining a defiant stance despite President Donald Trump’s recent easing of criticism of the country.
Russia attacked Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July and just as peace efforts are coming to a head.
A soldier of the special forces of the Army was killed on Thursday in an encounter in Basantgarh area of Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. The deceased has been identified as Havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA special forces.
The head of the International Monetary Fund urged countries to move “swiftly’’ to resolve trade disputes that threaten global economic growth.
Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek was transferring personal data to a cloud services platform without users’ consent while it was still available for download, South Korea’s data protection authority said on Thursday.

4The Edit Page

Absence of terrorist attacks should never be mistaken for end of terrorism. This was underscored on Tuesday in Pahalgam.

Scriptures stipulate that dharm, or righteousness, is to be followed for obtaining arth, wealth, and this is the only sure path towards the goal of kaam, pleasure, happiness.

One of the celebrated stories of post-liberalisation capital markets is the coming of age of retail investors. When FPIs sold record amounts of Indian shares last year, it was the average Indian who stood like a rock. But investment bankers just don’t want them. At least not in the IPO market.
We are all still reeling from Pahalgam. But this is an opportune time for India to decisively target the flow of arms and funds to Pakistan.
GoI’s decision to ban some cough syrup brands to under-4 children, and Punjab government’s prohibition on selling energy drinks to minors, are good ways to safeguard the health of our young.
There’s utter serenity in quietly floating in a swimming pool. Face up, body almost submerged barring the face and toes, making micro moves to keep floating, this is true detachment from the world that even the Buddha would envy.
If there’s one lesson that Prof Trump of Mar-La-Go University is teaching us effectively, it’s that true enterprise isn’t about avoiding problems — it’s about creating them, then swooping in to save the day.
Before Narendra Modi’s rush back to New Delhi from Riyadh due to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, much of his visit to Saudi Arabia was about security — defence and energy.

5Companies: Pursuit of Profit

Pakistan on Thursday shut its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated airlines, forcing Air India and other homegrown carriers to cancel or divert some flights, inflating costs due to longer detours.

InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of the country's largest airline IndiGo, on Thursday announced the appointment of former administrator US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot Michael Whitaker as an Independent Director.

The Suraksha Group will invest ₹5,500 crore in the completion of about 20,000 homes of Jaypee Group in Noida and Greater Noida and expects to deliver all the homes by 2027, said a senior executive of the Mumbai-based conglomerate which has taken over stalled projects including those of Jaypee Infratech.
Adani Cement-owned ACC’s consolidated net profit fell a little more than 20% year-on-year to ₹751 crore because of a tax credit in the comparable period and lower operating margins.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Thursday conducted searches on premises linked to Gensol Engineering Ltd and quizzed its co-founder Puneet Singh Jaggi in a case of alleged forex violation, sources in the know told ET.
The telecommunications industry recorded 3.48% sequential growth in adjusted gross revenue (AGR) in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, on the back of strong mobile subscriber additions, growth in wireless data usage and tariff increases by private telecom operators.
Adani Energy Solutions reported an 87% jump in profit after tax for January-March quarter at ₹714 crore, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Creditors to Manoj Gaur-promoted Jaiprakash Associates (JAL) have approved issuance of request for resolution plans for the debt-laden holding company of the real estate, cement and EPC group, setting in motion a formal process to find a buyer for the company.
In a relief to pharma companies, including Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Zuventus Healthcare, the Delhi High Court on Thursday held that the government’s April 15 notification that prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of all fixed-dose combinations (certain cough syrup brands) for those below four years of age will apply prospectively.
India’s top advisory board on drugs will soon decide if people can continue to get medicines at their doorstep. The issue has come under scrutiny with the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), that represents 12.40 lakh chemists and distributors across the country demanding withdrawal of a government notification that allows doorstep delivery of drugs.
KKR-backed Hero Future Energies (HFE), the Munjal family promoted green energy producer, has mandated four investment bankers, including Bank of America and Nomura for its proposed IPO, while the Hero MotoCorp-backed Ather Energy prepares to open its initial share sales Monday.
Lupin on Thursday said it has received approval from the US health regulator for its generic version of Tolvaptan tablets indicated for a certain type of kidney disease.
To ensure timely access to life saving orphan drugs, the government has exempted mandatory sampling and testing of orphan drugs at port offices. Instead the drug regulator has said that the consignment will be released by the port offices on the basis of legal undertaking submitted by the importer of these drugs.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has produced a list of nine firms, down from the previously empanelled 20, for conducting forensic audits in corporate fraud cases.

6Economy & Companies

The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) has directed cryptocurrency exchanges to enhance their Know Your Customer (KYC) processes by June 30, in accordance with provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

India will soon put in place safety assessment and rating mechanism for trucks and commercial vehicles on the lines of Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) which is the country’s own four-wheel star rating system, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said.

Air India is in talks with U.S. planemaker Boeing to acquire around 10 737 MAX jets after Chinese customers started rejecting deliveries amid a trade war with the United States, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

7ET Markets

A look at some of the latest stock recommendations by analysts. These stocks are expected to return between 13% and 43% as per analyst price targets.

Private sector lender Axis Bank reported a decline in its March quarter profit at Rs 7,117.5 crore as loans expanded at a rate slower than the broader industry.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bought 57.5 tonnes of gold in FY25, adding to its stock of safe haven assets even as the yellow metal prices surged more than a third through a period of volatility in global financial assets.
The Reserve Bank of India may have found lapses in the operations of microfinance company Spandana Sphoorty Financial, which announced an abrupt top management rejig earlier this week, two people aware of developments alleged.
Sebi has imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh on Future Retail for alleged delay in disclosing arbitration proceedings and interim order by Singapore International Arbitration Centre(SIAC).
Axis Bank clarified on Thursday that a number of employees were asked to leave due to performance-related issues, explaining that this was part of the lender’s regular appraisal process. The layoffs do not reflect stress in the lender itself.

8Smart Investing

Leveraged equity exchange-traded funds have seen a surge in inflows this month as some investors seek to position for amplified gains when markets recover from a selloff induced by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has cleared the sale of 18 commercial units at Kohinoor Square in Mumbai to the Gajra Brothers and associated parties for about ₹315 crore.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped the penalty amount for FEMA violations at ₹2 lakh, down from a percentage of the amount in breach of the laws earlier in an easing of regulations.
SBI Life has reported a flat growth of 0.3% in net profit during the fourth quarter, with faster growth in the non-participating business denting profitability.
A risk-adjusted parameter measuring the performance of equity mutual funds shows that the majority of these schemes are struggling to beat their benchmarks.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has announced relief measures for the families of those killed in the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives.
SBI Card on Thursday reported a 19% year-on-year fall in net profit for the March quarter because of a spike in credit costs. Profit after tax for the fourth quarter stood at ₹534 crore compared to ₹662 crore.
Pressure on the Indian rupee is likely to ease amid a weaker dollar index due to tariff-related uncertainties, along with foreign inflows in domestic stocks and bonds given softening inflation, according to Nomura.
Prestige Hospitality Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prestige Estates Projects, has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to raise up to ₹2,700 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

9Economy: Macro, Micro & More

Pakistan has suspended all trade ties with India including through third countries, completely halting the two-way commerce which slowed since 2019 after the Pulwama attack.

India has started working on a specific insurance product for nuclear power plants as it looks to sharply expand commercial production of nuclear energy to 100 GW by 2047 from 8 GW currently.

No tax deduction can be claimed for settling legal proceedings under four laws including Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992; the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956; the Depositories Act, 1996; and the Competition Act, 2002.
The insurance regulator is reviewing an industry proposal to let insurance repositories offer claims-related services to policyholders.
India is open to modifying its electric car manufacturing policy to factor in possibly lower import tariffs under the India-US trade agreement.

10Disruption: Startups & Tech

Content creators seek out more in-person experiences to tap new revenue streams.

Google’s Chrome web browser could be sold for as much as $50 billion, the CEO of rival search engine DuckDuckGo testified at the Justice Department’s antitrust trial against the internet giant.

The government expects to add about 15,000 more graphics processing units (GPU) to its common compute cluster under the IndiaAI Mission, taking the total to 29,000 GPUs, said a senior official.
Mid-tier IT services company Persistent Systems continued to outperform the industry with 20th consecutive sequential quarter revenue growth backed by an increase in large deals and clients along with.
Tech Mahindra saw tariff-related uncertainties delaying a large hi-tech sector deal renewal in the fourth quarter when the Mahindra Group company reported nearly flat sequential revenue growth, in line with India’s IT industry performance.
As India looks to apply emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, it is important to have a resilient ecosystem where critical data can be stored in the country, said Meity secretary S Krishnan.
Peak XV Partners, the rebranded entity that split from Silicon Valley’s marquee venture capital firm Sequoia Capital two years ago, is set to raise its first independent fund with a target corpus of $1.2-1.4 billion, said three people familiar with the matter.
The unlisted bond distribution market is likely to come under scrutiny of the Securities and Exchange Board of India in the wake of the crisis at all-electric cab hailing startup BluSmart Mobility, said industry insiders.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS), the engineering services arm of L&T Group, posted an 8.8% on-year decline in net profit to ₹311 crore, which also declined 3.5% sequentially weighed down by increasing operational expenses as well as softness in North America markets.
Silicon Valley-headquartered data and AI company Databricks is investing $250 million in India over the next three years towards local R&D, talent development and enterprise adoption of AI, the company said on Thursday.
Blue Ocean Games, a venture fund backed by South Korean gaming giant Krafton, has launched a $30 million fund to support indie game developers globally, with a strong focus on emerging talent from India.

11Brands & Companies

Devyani International (DIL), franchise operator of KFC and Pizza Hut in India, has acquired an 80.7% stake in Sky Gate Hospitality, the parent company of Biryani by Kilo, it said in a stock exchange filing on Thursday.

Lodha, listed as Macrotech Developers, reported a 71% rise in net profit for the just-ended fiscal year at ₹2,770 crore.

Demand for beer increased about 10% in 2024-25, higher than in the previous financial year, even as sales of spirits across segments including whiskey, brandy and rum tapered off, indicating a gradual shift towards lower alcoholic products.
Hindustan Unilever plans to ramp up investments to push volumes, even if it means lower margins, as consumer demand is expected to improve during April-September compared to the second half of FY25, managing director Rohit Jawa said on Thursday.
Nestlé India has reported a 5.2% year-on-year decline in standalone quarterly net profit, driven down by commodity costs.
Korean electronic component makers are setting up factories in India for the first time as its large buyer LG Electronics scales up operations in India for exports. Samsung is likely to follow suit, said two persons aware of the company’s plans.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending of NSE-listed companies saw the highest year-on-year jump in four years at 15.7% in fiscal 2024 on the back of strong profit growth, according to a study that analysed the numbers from 1,394 companies.
​It’s hard for a bulk purchase of 42 swanky apartments in a prime NCR location to fly under the radar. Harder still when all the title deeds are traced back to friends and relatives of a 2016-batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

12Sports World Play

Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur ran a blazing 200m race as he smashed the 200m national record, clocking 20.40 seconds to win the gold medal on the final day of the National Federation Senior Athletics Competition on Thursday.

Andrew Flintoff has revealed he thought his “face had come” off during the horrific car crash. The former England all-rounder suffered serious facial injuries and broken ribs during an accident while filming for television programme Top Gear in 2022.

The unrelenting Josh Hazlewood fashioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first win at home this season with an extraordinary penultimate over as his team prevailed over Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs in a seesaw affair on Thursday.
Fireworks exploded from the roof. Red smoke filled the air. Family members applauded as players, one by one, lifted the trophy.
ET Print Edition: All you need to know
In today’s fast-paced world, reading a newspaper while having a cup of tea is a distant dream. Realising the hardship faced by newspaper lovers nowadays, Economic Times has come up with a unique initiative called ET Print Edition.

The ET Print Edition is a digital experience of the Economic Times newspaper, which is published daily. It helps you get the enormous amount of valuable information published in the newspaper daily in the digital form.

So, you get acquainted with all national and international affairs of the world while you are on the go. The best part is you can access the digital copies of our daily published stories in the print, anytime, anywhere.

What is ET Print Edition?

  • ET Print Edition is a replica of the Economic Times newspaper in the digital form. All the ET newspaper stories are presented in a format that is easy to read. The vital news from India and around the world is just a click away.
  • It has a toolbar that helps you jump from one page to the other without scrolling. The site opens up with a 'Front Page' followed by 'Pure Politics', and so on. It gives you all the important news of the day.

How can you access ET Print Edition?

  • All the Economic Times Prime members can access the ET Print Edition for free and enjoy its benefits
  • Free users on the Economic Times website can access limited content of the ET Print Edition. To get complete access to ET Print Edition, the users need to become a ET Prime Member.

What are the most significant features of ET Print Edition?

ET Print Edition is a digital avatar of the Economic Times newspaper. It has gained immense popularity amongst avid readers in no time. Here’s why it’s being loved by several readers.

  • Delivered to Your Email Inbox Every Morning: The Print Edition in digital form is sent to your email inbox at around 7 am in the morning when the subscribers of the print copy of the newspaper receive it. You can go through the daily news while having breakfast!
  • Accessible on Different Devices: No matter what gadget you are more comfortable with, ET Print Edition will be available on it. Whether it is a laptop or your smartphone, you can access the ET Print Edition with ease.
  • Archive Option Available: There is a specific feature, which can help you read the stories published in the past weeks. The 'Archive' option lets you read all the news published after April 25, 2022.
  • Sharp, Interactive Design For Better User Experience: The news stories come in a properly formatted design, which is not only easy to browse but convenient to read on all devices.

The Economic Times