Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Kotak Mahindra Bank will require customers to complete mandatory two-factor authentication using OTP or MPIN for selected transactions starting April 22, 2026. The change covers government, statutory, payment gateway, and other merchant payments, with the bank citing added protection for tax-related transactions. Customers are urged to keep their contact details updated to avoid failed verifications.
The government has made 150 hours of on-the-job training mandatory for ITI trainees, cutting classroom training time. States and union territories are required to provide accidental insurance, travel, and accommodation. ITI performance evaluation will now include OJT as a grading parameter, shifting skill development toward job readiness with a more structured training framework.
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FACSI has asked the Centre to give micro and small enterprises stronger support in the 2026 27 Union Budget, calling for GST relief, easier credit, and faster access to finance. It also wants a dedicated advisory council for MSMEs and simpler GST return processes, arguing that reducing compliance and funding friction could boost survival and growth.
Indian companies are cutting back on overseas bond issuance as domestic liquidity improves and a weaker rupee makes local borrowing more appealing. With funding costs and currency dynamics turning in favor of onshore markets, issuers are favoring local fundraising over foreign capital. The shift signals how quickly corporate debt strategies are responding to market conditions.
Singer Zayn Malik has cancelled scheduled public appearances, including an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, while he recovers from an undisclosed medical condition. Reports indicate he has also stepped away from other promotional plans for his upcoming album Konnakol, such as fan interactions and meet-and-greet events, leaving fans wondering about his recovery.
The Election Commission of India has denied permission for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s proposed rally in Bhawanipore ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, drawing an angry response from the Trinamool Congress. Banerjee questioned alleged bias, pointing to how quickly permission was reportedly granted for PM Narendra Modi’s rallies, intensifying the campaign’s political tension.
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Maharashtra has set an ambitious target of ₹30 lakh crore in investment to position itself as a global investment hub. The plan leans heavily on infrastructure, logistics, and clean energy, with major projects like Vadhvan Port expected to strengthen trade. The state says integrated planning and clearer regulations will help attract capital and support sustainable growth and better living standards.
Two West Papua marsupials—the pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider—have been rediscovered after 6,000 years, ending the belief they were extinct. The find is celebrated scientifically, but framed with unease: being found again may bring conservation pressure, public attention, and new risks, reversing the “freedom” they had while unseen.
CBSE has announced an assessment scheme for Class 10 students whose board exams were cancelled in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. The new plan outlines how students will be evaluated despite the cancellation, offering clarity for affected families in the region.
Vladimir Putin warned that Russia may “cut off Ukraine from the sea” after Kyiv’s underwater drone strike hit two tankers tied to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea. Moscow said it will consider retaliatory measures against ships linked to countries supporting Ukraine and plans to expand strikes on Ukrainian ports and vessels approaching them.
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The Jharkhand High Court has directed withholding a district officer’s salary until a retired clerk receives his pension and retirement benefits, which were delayed for 13 years because his service book was missing. The court said earlier orders were not followed by the transport department, and it imposed the action to force compliance and ensure the employee’s dues are paid.
Global steel demand is forecast to grow only 0.3% in 2026, dragged down by China, even as India is expected to stand out in the demand rebound in 2027. Steel prices are still climbing due to higher raw-material costs, tighter supply, and geopolitical risks. Aluminium is gaining, while copper, zinc and nickel edge lower amid volatility.
The Finance Ministry has revised recruitment examination and result-declaration timelines for public sector banks to streamline processes and boost transparency. Under the new sequence, SBI will announce results first, followed by nationalised banks, and then regional rural banks. The change is intended to reduce candidate attrition and support better workforce planning across these institutions.
YRF Entertainment has appointed Saugata Mukherjee as its new Head of Content, aiming to reshape its creative direction for films and series. Mukherjee previously developed content strategy at SonyLIV and HBO Max, bringing a streaming-first mindset to YRF. Executive Producer Yogendra Mogre will continue in his role as the company begins this next phase.
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Snap is rolling out paid storage plans for its Memories feature, which saves snaps and videos. Free users receive 5GB, while Snapchat+ offers 250GB and Snapchat Platinum provides 5TB. If Memories exceed the free limit, users get 12 months of temporary storage to download content before deciding whether to upgrade.
Research by Jacob N. Shapiro suggests support for extremist groups in Pakistan is strongest among the middle class. The study argues that while poorer people are more visible among perpetrators of terrorism, middle-class households can better buffer themselves from its negative effects. As a result, they may provide more financial and social backing to extremist networks.
Microsoft is reportedly set to conduct its first voluntary employee buyout in its 51-year history. The company is also changing how it grants stock for annual rewards, according to the report. Instead of requiring managers to tie stock directly to cash bonuses, Microsoft plans to separate these incentives—signaling a shift in internal compensation strategy.
David Dhawan has reacted to backlash after the Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai teaser used AI-generated visuals, including a startling opening with two babies talking. Fans worried more AI would appear in the film. The rom-com starring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur is slated to release on May 22.
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SEBI’s August 17 circular allows Indian desi PE and VC funds to invest in foreign companies even without an Indian “connect.” Previously, since October 2015, offshore investments required an Indian subsidiary. Investors are welcoming the change and are now watching for the re-opening of ODI limits, which could further expand overseas dealmaking.
New CEOs in India are putting employment contracts under a microscope, pushing for detailed terms on roles, severance, and equity. With higher performance pressure and tighter regulatory scrutiny, executives are increasingly seeking legal and consulting support to negotiate both entry and exit. At the same time, companies are growing more willing to meet these demands to secure and retain top leadership talent.
A 22-year-old daughter of a senior IRS officer was found dead at her home in southeast Delhi’s East of Kailash. Police allege she was raped and strangled using a charging cable before being killed by a domestic helper recently fired from his job. Investigators are piecing together the timeline and circumstances behind the attack.
The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has published provisional answer keys for its Group C and Group D recruitment exams. Candidates can review responses to estimate scores. Objections can be submitted throughout April 2026. The Group D recruitment covers 5,489 vacancies and Group C has 723 posts, with Question 31 in the Group C paper cancelled.
Indian Railways has kicked off the RailParcel pilot across seven cities to improve parcel movement by rail. AION-Tech’s ETO Motors has been onboarded as the logistics partner, handling first and last-mile delivery. The initiative aims to streamline end-to-end parcel logistics and strengthen rail-based shipping efficiency in the pilot locations.
France has chosen Scaleway, a homegrown cloud provider, to host its Health Data Hub, replacing Microsoft Azure. The switch comes after new laws requiring sensitive health data to sit on sovereign infrastructure. Scaleway will secure health records for millions of French citizens, reinforcing the country’s push for data sovereignty over major foreign cloud services.
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating multiple money laundering cases in poll-bound West Bengal, targeting alleged corruption, chit fund scams, and recruitment irregularities. ED claims involvement of senior ministers, MLAs, and state officials. Probes are ongoing into political consultancy firms, teacher recruitment, coal smuggling, and alleged irregularities in municipality jobs as elections approach.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for New Delhi, forecasting around 43°C on Wednesday. Maximum temperatures are expected to remain between 42°C and 44°C, fueled by clear skies and hot winds. The heatwave is also likely to persist for several more days, with conditions expected to continue until April 24.
The Iran US conflict is pushing polymer and resin prices up roughly 60%, with freight rates reportedly rising as much as 10x. Even with a ceasefire in place, supply disruptions, shipping delays, and logistics snarls are squeezing MSMEs, weakening India’s plastics exporters and clouding export competitiveness.
Delhi’s Municipal Corporation has launched the SWAGAM portal to regularise properties in 1,521 unauthorised colonies. Residents can apply online, while help desks and a team of 700+ professionals provide on-ground support. Regularisation certificates are expected within 45 days, and notably, the process does not require physical verification.
Nasscom Foundation has partnered with IBM to upskill more than 87,000 marginalised youth nationwide through the IBM SkillsBuild programme. The initiative offers free, future-ready training in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics and professional skills, with mentorship and hands-on learning to help participants gain real workplace readiness.
Sadbhav Infra’s proposed remerger with its parent, Sadbhav Engineering, has reignited investor anger. Announced in October 2019 due to rising debt and dwindling profitability, the move effectively overturns the 2015 asset-ownership pitch that attracted investors at listing. For Sadbhav Engineering, the same restructuring is a clear win.
The US Visa Bulletin for May 2026 shows minimal movement for Indian applicants, with long backlogs persisting across both family- and employment-based green card categories. Key cutoffs appear largely unchanged, signaling continued oversubscription. Meanwhile, the EB-5 unreserved category is drawing sharper demand, and officials are warning it could see retrogression or additional limits later this fiscal year.
Vodafone Idea is weighing whether bankruptcy could be better than continuing with a lifeline that includes a fresh equity issuance to the government. The move would raise state ownership to roughly 49%, reshaping control and future funding prospects as the telecom faces mounting financial stress and investor uncertainty.
Bitcoin is holding close to the 74,600 level near $75,000, while Ethereum stays supported above $2,300 despite a volatile market backdrop. With traders watching for momentum shifts, the latest technical read suggests relative strength rather than a breakdown, even as broader crypto prices remain jumpy.
RBI’s foreign exchange curbs are triggering a profit-taking cycle in India’s government bond market. As hedging costs surged to 12-year highs, overseas investors reportedly pulled out ₹222 billion, pushing the benchmark 10-year yield to 7.15%. The move has lifted borrowing costs to a two-year high, amplifying pressure on fixed-income sentiment.
Helium, a 2025-founded D2C air conditioner startup by IIT Kanpur alumni, has raised $2 million from India Quotient. The fresh funding will first go toward scaling manufacturing, building inventory, and strengthening go-to-market efforts. Helium’s initial compact AC is designed to cool up to 100 sq ft using a 2,700-watt system that can run on a 1 kW solar panel.
SEBI has reportedly approved a major flexibility tweak for IPOs: companies may revise the fresh issue size by up to 50 percent without refiling the draft offer document. The change is designed to help firms raise capital more easily during volatile market conditions, easing a current rule that forces refiling if size changes exceed 20 percent from the original plan.
The RBI has proposed curbs on banks and NBFCs investing in Alternative Investment Funds, capping any single regulated entity’s contribution to 10% of a scheme’s total corpus. The move tightens concentration risk and changes how financial firms allocate money into AIFs, with potential ripple effects for funding strategies and investment flows.
Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has unveiled a new model positioned to dramatically cut costs while supporting an unusually large one million word context window. The release is expected to improve real-world usability and open doors for broader commercial deployments. DeepSeek also rolled out two variants, V4-Pro and V4-Flash, with different parameter and performance profiles.
India’s finished steel consumption grew 7-8% to about 164 million tonnes in FY26, powered by strength in infrastructure and manufacturing. Alongside demand, crude steel output increased by over 10.7% to 168.4 million tonnes, signaling momentum across the production chain and setting the tone for the year ahead.
India’s foreign exchange reserves fell to $646.67 billion, down about $2 billion from a previous record high, ending a three-week growth run. The dip coincides with sharp rupee volatility, with the currency oscillating between roughly 83.03 and 83.36 per dollar during the reported period, highlighting pressure even as reserves remain near peaks.
India’s drugmakers are warning that a government directive restricting surplus ammonia supply to fertiliser firms could trigger a raw material crunch for pharmaceuticals. Since ammonia is a key input for API production, limited alternative sourcing may disrupt manufacturing, raise the risk of medicine shortages, and hit export commitments.
ONGC has cancelled multiple tenders for jack-up rigs, triggering alarm across India’s offshore drilling industry. Rig operators are reportedly considering withdrawing assets from the country, which could slow or disrupt domestic oil production and jeopardize future exploration plans. The move highlights how procurement decisions are now directly affecting capacity in the offshore sector.
The Uttarakhand High Court has quashed a 31-year-old government order that had halted the hiring of contract workers at ONGC. The court ruled the original notification was issued without proper consultation and said it lacked a strong factual basis. The decision directly reshapes ONGC’s contracting and hiring practices after ONGC itself approached the court.
India has approved ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbons to be blended into aviation fuel to lower emissions and reduce dependence on imported oil. The government did not set near-term blending targets, but it plans to add 1 percent sustainable aviation fuel to international flights by 2027. The step mirrors global aviation efforts toward carbon-neutral growth.
India’s GST collections surged 26% in September, reaching over Rs 1.47 lakh crore, the finance ministry said. The monthly mop-up has stayed above Rs 1.40 lakh crore for seven consecutive months, signaling sustained tax collections amid the ongoing push to grow compliance and stabilize revenues.
DRDO chief Samir Kamat says space is set to become the deciding factor in future conflicts, leaving India to rapidly close capability gaps. He calls for a whole-of-nation push as DRDO partners with startups, MSMEs, and academia, while urging a major jump in R&D spending. The defence R&D budget is set to double, aiming for sovereign space tech and resilient assets.
Employment in India’s unincorporated sector climbed to 128.1 million in 2025, driven by small businesses adding 7.5 million new jobs. Services led the expansion, with trade and manufacturing also contributing. Gross value added rose alongside stronger rural performance. Businesses increasingly adopted digital tools, boosting reliance on internet-based operations, while average emoluments and labour productivity improved.
Fresh business surveys spanning Australia to the US point to worsening sentiment on economic growth, with pessimism increasing alongside sharply accelerating price signals. The surveys suggest the Iran war’s ripple effects may be amplifying uncertainty and costs, leaving businesses cautious on near term demand even as inflation-like pressures build. The widening gap between expectations and reality is raising concern.
Budget 2026 reportedly pushes the revised Income Tax Return (ITR) deadline to March 31, 2026, but the benefit applies only starting Assessment Year 2026-27. For AY 2025-26, the extension is not available. Taxpayers can still file revised ITRs to correct mistakes, add missed income, or reflect changes in tax laws within a new 12-month window after the tax year ends.
Bengaluru lab-grown diamond jewellery brand ONYA has raised Rs 5.5 crore in a pre-seed round led by Zeropearl VC. The fresh funding is set to drive ONYA’s offline retail expansion across India, signaling a push beyond digital acquisition toward a wider physical footprint for lab-grown diamond shoppers.
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