The Economic Times

India's top private banks are reducing their employee numbers significantly. This workforce contraction occurred after substantial hiring in the previous fiscal year. Technology-led efficiencies are enabling banks to expand operations without increasing staff. Some midsize lenders, however, have increased their headcount during this period. Banks are accelerating AI and automation deployment across their operations.

Most Indian companies show a persistent gender pay gap, with women earning less than men. Only a small percentage of companies reported progress towards pay parity in the recent fiscal year. New labor codes strengthen legal foundations against wage discrimination for equal work. Structural career drivers and representation in high-value roles remain unchanged for women. Women are concentrated in junior roles and underrepresented in core business functions.

The apex court also directed the special court in Mumbai dealing with money-laundering cases to decide within two weeks on the CBI's plea seeking further investigation into a sixth transaction involving Rs 1,574 crore.

Indian consumer companies are increasing festive marketing budgets by up to 20% as demand shows signs of strengthening and dealers build inventory ahead of the key consumption season. Automakers, FMCG and electronics firms are boosting advertising and consumer engagement despite margin pressures from higher input costs and rupee depreciation.

Leaders still have to raise the sails. That is the real shift: from optimiser to navigator. Optimising assumes conditions are stable enough to fine-tune around. Navigating assumes disruption will arrive without warning and the job is to hold course regardless.

India's fair trade regulator CCI has approved Prudential Corporation Holdings' stake acquisition. This acquisition involves a significant equity shareholding in Bharti Life Insurance Company. UK-based Prudential plc will acquire a majority 75 percent stake for Rs 3,500 crore. The transaction requires Prudential to reduce its holding in an existing venture. Post completion, Prudential's Indian operations will include majority-owned Bharti Life Insurance.

Regional Rural Banks saw gross loans rise 10.3 percent to Rs 5,78,349 crore. Their performance under Priority Sector Lending targets remained strong, achieving 91.7 percent. Agriculture and allied activities formed the largest credit component, accounting for 77 percent. MSME lending focused on micro enterprises, supporting rural entrepreneurs and small businesses. RRBs also extended significant credit to weaker sections and inclusive development areas.

Gaja Alternative Asset Management secured Rs 165 crore from anchor investors on Tuesday. The company's Rs 550 crore initial public offering opens for subscription on Wednesday. The IPO includes a fresh issue of Rs 450 crore and an offer for sale. Proceeds will fund debt repayment, new fund seeding, and general corporate needs. Shares are scheduled to list on BSE and NSE on August 26.

Indian equities extended losses as fading Middle East peace hopes, elevated crude prices, rising US yields and weak global cues intensified risk-off sentiment. Sensex fell 493 points and Nifty 133 points, while technical indicators pointed to further downside.

Crude prices, rising US yields and weak global cues kept Indian equities under pressure. Analysts remain bullish on Aeroflex Industries and JG Chemical, citing strong technical setups, key support levels and potential upside targets despite near-term market risks.

Ashok Leyland's June-quarter has an unusual contradiction. The company sold 48,763 commercial vehicles, its highest-ever first-quarter volume, and revenue from operations rose 10.43% to Rs. 9,634 crore. Yet, the operating EBITDA was Rs. 970 crore, almost the same as a year earlier. The Q1 FY 27 result must, therefore, be understood not in terms of greater demand, but in terms of why the record volumes and revenue did not lead to an increase in operating earnings.

United States President Donald Trump stated no talks are happening with Iran. He affirmed the naval blockade remains fully in effect and operational. The Strait of Hormuz is open and functioning, he also mentioned. All water mines in the strategic waterway have been removed or detonated. These remarks come amid heightened tensions and uncertainty over easing the standoff.

Quote of the Day by Sydney Sweeney: Sydney Sweeneys quote, I honestly don't think I have one specific style. One day, I could be wearing a workout track suit, and another day, I could be wearing overalls and a tank top. Or I love a slip with corset. It just honestly depends on where I am in the world and what I'm doing and how I'm feeling that day, explores the importance of individuality and personal expression through fashion. The quote suggests that personal style does not have to follow one

Quote of the day by Toni Morrison: Nobel laureate Toni Morrison inspired people to look beyond themselves. Her words emphasized making a difference through actions that help others. Morrison, a celebrated author, explored Black American experiences and injustice. She became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Quote of the day by Matthew Perry offers a timeless message about resilience, adversity, and the courage to begin again. Everyone eventually reaches crossroads where the future is unclear and the easiest choice may appear to be surrender. But those moments can also become turning points. Fighting back does not guarantee an immediate victory, nor does it promise that every challenge will disappear.

State Farm is distributing five billion dollars to eligible policyholders. This large financial payback initiative stems from reduced vehicle repair costs. Drivers can expect credits averaging one hundred dollars per insured vehicle. Eligibility requires an active private passenger auto policy during 2025. Distributions are being processed electronically and via mail.

The Bombay High Court cancelled bail for nightclub owners in Goa. This decision relates to a devastating fire that claimed twenty-five lives last December. The owners and a business partner must now surrender within two weeks. They can seek fresh bail from the trial court during this period. The court also addressed applications concerning forgery charges for nightclub permissions.

Education loan applications are increasingly coming from smaller Indian cities. Tier II and III cities now represent over eighty-six percent of loan requests. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra show the highest volume of these applications. Job training and MBA programs are the most financed courses by students. This trend indicates growing ambition and a focus on career outcomes in smaller towns.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated El Nino's impact on kharif production is unlikely to be significant. Rainfall has been adequate for crops across most of the country this year. The shortfall in kharif sowing has narrowed considerably and is expected to reduce further. Deficient rainfall in some regions will not affect overall kharif output at this stage. The government is also preparing new Seeds and Pesticides Management Bills.

Psychologists have long explored the idea that humans have aninternal timing system that helps the brain perceive and organize the passage of time. The internal-clock theory does not suggest that there is literally a tiny clock inside the brain; rather, it describes how the mind may process and estimate time.

Sebi has barred merchant banker Corporate Capital Ventures from taking new assignments for one month due to multiple compliance lapses, including failing to update IPO track records, misleading office location disclosures, and neglecting mandatory NISM certifications for key management personnel.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB can cost Rs 77,800 on Flipkart using an exchange offer and bank discount.Flipkart has listed the iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB at Rs 1,47,900, with eligible buyers able to bring the effective price down to Rs 77,800 through an exchange offer and Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card discount. The deal includes up to Rs 63,100 exchange value for an eligible iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the flagship features a 6.9-inch OLED display and triple 48MP cameras.

The Bihar Public Service Commission has revealed plans for teacher recruitment, offering 32,388 vacancies. Applications for the TRE-4.0 will begin on September 1, 2026. Applicants must adhere to specific educational qualifications and age limits for each role. The selection process includes written exams followed by interviews. Successful candidates will enjoy competitive salaries alongside a range of employment benefits.

In January, Congress passed an appropriations bill, which became law, that specified funding for more than 200 projects and activities.

Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered Imran Khan's transfer to a hospital from jail. He faces numerous corruption and other charges since losing power in 2022. His family expressed concerns about his deteriorating health and access to him. Most convictions have been suspended or overturned while appeals are pending. Khan denies all allegations of wrongdoing in these cases.

Maharashtra's Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 will take effect on August 28. This legislation prohibits religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or inducement. Unlawful conversions involving minors or vulnerable groups face severe penalties. The law mandates police to register complaints regarding alleged unlawful conversions. It aims to regulate religious conversions across the state.

Fourteen-year-old Texas student Samvith Mahadevan has developed a portable chemical nose that uses sensors and machine learning to detect traces of common food allergens. His invention, The Allergent, has shown 94% to 97% accuracy in tests involving allergens such as peanuts, eggs and tree nuts.

Banana peels carry real nutritional and bioactive value that most people throw away without a thought. From feeding plants and soothing skin to fighting acne and enriching compost, these seven uses are practical, cost free, and backed by solid research. It is one of the easiest zero waste habits to start.

Dinosaurs first appeared roughly 230 million years ago and eventually became the dominant land animals, holding that status until an asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago, causing a mass extinction of species. Mammals during the age of dinosaurs thrived in ecological niches perfect for small body sizes like insectivores and seed eaters.

Godrej Industries Group is entering the private credit market with a new fund. The company aims to raise up to two thousand crore rupees for this venture. This new alternate investment fund will focus on mid-market companies. Financing will be secured by hard collateral and comprehensive covenant protection. The fund targets high net worth and institutional investors for capital.

As private credit, venture debt and co-investments gain traction, Indias family offices and institutional investors are increasingly diversifying portfolios in search of differentiated sources of alpha.

The annual general meeting of Tata Sons faced an unforeseen adjournment caused by a lack of quorum. This rare incident followed the exclusion of a vital trust that required permissions to participate. The implications for chairman N Chandrasekaran's potential reappointment are now in question as he remains a director until an official meeting can reconvene. Legal reviews of this situation are actively underway.

In today's advanced warfare, winning hinges on information mastery and swift decision-making. To achieve success in multi-domain operations, shortening the OODA loop is vital. Essential components such as surveillance, C4I2, and electro-optics must work together seamlessly to bolster operational superiority. Moreover, robust interoperability and cybersecurity are key for stable network-centric engagements, necessitating close collaboration among military, industry, and academic sectors for futur

Wyoming buried 1,124 wind turbine blades in a Casper landfill after cutting each into three pieces, but a Missouri plant near St Louis has found a way to process around 250 blades a month by turning them into cement feedstock and kiln fuel. With 43 million tons of blade material projected for disposal by mid-century, both approaches remain a start rather than a solution.

RBI faces challenges forecasting demand for banknotes as currency in circulation continues to grow at double-digit rates despite rising digital payments. Deputy Governor SC Murmu said cash remains widely used, particularly in rural areas, among low-income groups and small businesses.

The Yamuna Pushta elevated expressway alignment has been revised to extend closer to Noida International Airport. The eight-lane road will now span approximately 50km and connect with the Faridabad-Jewar Greenfield Expressway. The revised route is designed to accommodate the expected rise in traffic after the airport becomes operational and ease pressure on existing roads. The project, estimated to cost Rs 4,000 crore, aims to improve connectivity between Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and the airp

IOS update 26.6 1: Apple has released iOS 26.6.1 and iPadOS 26.6.1 with security fixes addressing vulnerabilities across Audio, ImageIO, IOGPUFamily, Kernel, Telephony and WebKit. The issues could have exposed sensitive information, caused system crashes, enabled arbitrary code execution, corrupted memory or allowed network traffic interception. Apple addressed the vulnerabilities through improved checks, input validation, memory handling, locking and state management.

A strengthening El Nio could disrupt global supplies of cocoa, coffee and sugar through drought, heat and excessive rainfall. Forecasters see a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event, posing fresh risks to major producing regions.

Pony.ai's overseas robotaxi plans now exceed four thousand vehicles. The company reported significant revenue growth in its second quarter. Robotaxi services contributed one-third of total revenue for the first time. Pony.ai anticipates exceeding its full-year robotaxi revenue target.

Three mainboard IPOs from 2026, Omnitech Engineering, SEDEMAC Mechatronics and Shadowfax Technologies, have emerged as multibaggers, gaining over 100 per cent from issue prices. With 44 mainboard debuts raising Rs 67,185.6 crore so far, analysts say sustained momentum will depend on earnings execution and broader secondary market performance.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI is backing a $750 million expansion of Managem Group's gold mining operations across Africa. The company aims to increase annual gold production from 2,13,000 ounces in 2025 to 5,00,000 ounces by 2030, as rising gold prices and growing African demand for domestic reserves make the continent increasingly important to the global gold market.

Virat Kohli's international cricket debut marked a significant career milestone. He has amassed over 28,000 runs and 85 centuries in his career. Kohli holds unique records, including most 150-plus scores by a non-opener. He is the only player with 20,000 international runs in a decade. Kohli also achieved a clean sweep of ICC awards in 2018.

A medical board confirmed Twisha Sharma died by suicide after a court-ordered second postmortem. The CBI filed a chargesheet against her husband and mother-in-law for alleged torture. The forensic opinion stated death resulted from ante-mortem hanging, which was suicidal in manner. No injuries suggesting assault or struggle were found on the deceased's body. This medical opinion forms a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Jaipur Nagar Nigam's official complaint portal has gone viral for having dropdown menus listing civic problems in plain conversational Hindi, from 'Dog pagal ho gaya hai pakadwana hai' to 'Gaadi wala paise mangta hai.' The internet has largely praised the portal for making government services accessible to everyday residents.