Rediff

The Reserve Bank of India has issued new Domestic Money Transfer (DMT) Directions, 2026, allowing walk-in bank customers to remit up to Rs 50,000 to a beneficiary's account via NEFT. These guidelines aim to harmonise existing instructions and facilitate small-value fund transfers, especially for individuals lacking formal banking access. The directives also cover cash pay-in and pay-out services through Business Correspondents and ATMs, while mandating robust safeguard systems for secure and tim

Indian stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher for the second consecutive day, driven by robust foreign fund inflows, better-than-expected Q2 corporate earnings, and a sustained moderation in crude oil prices.

India is ranked as a Rising Contender in AI by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), indicating high readiness but lower disruption exposure. The report highlights India's strength in its large pool of AI specialists and IT-services workforce. While not yet an AI Pioneer, India is leveraging its talent advantage, with government initiatives like Yuva AI for ALL and IndiaAI FuturesSkills aiming to upskill citizens and broaden access to AI education. The report emphasizes that execution and talent deploy

India has prohibited the export of lithium-ion battery black mass to bolster domestic recycling capabilities and enhance the recovery of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. This move aims to ensure feedstock availability for local recyclers, reduce import dependence, and strengthen supply chains for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies, aligning with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Andhra Pradesh has successfully converted 526 out of 714 investment projects received since June 2024, achieving a conversion rate of nearly 74 per cent by project count. These projects represent investments worth Rs 17.2 trillion with an employment potential of 1.93 million jobs, showcasing the state's commitment to translating investment commitments into on-ground projects.

ITC's non-cigarette divisions, including FMCG, agri, and paperboards, delivered strong growth in Q2FY27, significantly increasing their contribution to overall earnings and net revenues. This performance helped offset the continued pressure on the core cigarette business due to high taxation and declining volumes.

Seven of the top 10 best-performing Indian smallcap stocks over the past year, linked to the US data centre boom and AI infrastructure, are now facing a valuation test as enthusiasm for AI investment shows signs of cooling on Wall Street. Analysts warn that the rally in these Indian counterparts may have left valuations increasingly stretched, with any pullback in US capital expenditure potentially weighing on their share prices.

Indian stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied significantly in early trade, driven by robust foreign fund inflows, better-than-expected Q2 results, and a sustained moderation in crude oil prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,097.33 points, while the 50-share NSE Nifty rallied 274.30 points. Track Sensex, Nifty on November 11.

India's unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 years and above saw a marginal improvement, dipping to 5.1 per cent in the July-September 2026 quarter from 5.4 per cent in the previous quarter, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The decline was primarily driven by a fall in rural unemployment, while urban joblessness remained largely stable.

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has officially launched its initial public offering (IPO) roadshow, aiming to raise up to USD 64.35 billion by offering 825 million shares at an expected price range of USD 70 to USD 78 per share. The company plans to list its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol 'ANT'.

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra stated on Tuesday that India possesses a compelling AI opportunity, citing the nation's software talent, systems integration expertise, and vast domestic market for AI applications. He believes this potential could give renewed interest in Indian equities more staying power.

Cognizant has announced the formation of the 'Claude Frontier Capability Group', comprising over 25,000 professionals dedicated to implementing Anthropic's Claude AI for clients. This initiative, coupled with a new managed services model, aims to help enterprises integrate AI from pilot to production, addressing the challenge of delivering business value from frontier AI capabilities.

Electric passenger vehicle registrations in India surged by nearly 75 per cent year-on-year in October, significantly cushioning the 14.6 per cent contraction in the overall passenger vehicle market. This growth was particularly beneficial for manufacturers like Tata Motors and Mahindra, whose EV sales helped offset sharper declines in conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle registrations.

Lohum's subsidiary Vidyuta has secured government approval under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) for a 20 KTPA cathode active material manufacturing facility, involving a Rs 500 crore investment. This initiative aims to boost domestic production of critical lithium-ion battery components, reducing import reliance and strengthening India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem.

Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) have achieved nearly 60 per cent of their FY27 annual capital expenditure (capex) target of approximately 8.43 trillion during April-October, broadly aligning with the previous financial year's performance. This significant spending, up 13 per cent year-on-year, is a crucial component of India's investment-led growth strategy.

The Indian rupee and government bonds are expected to face volatility in Samvat 2083, influenced by geopolitical developments in West Asia, crude oil prices, domestic inflation, and foreign capital flows, leading to cautious investor sentiment.

A 27-year-old man was arrested by Kashigaon Police in Thane for allegedly calling the Delhi Police control room and threatening to destroy India's economy. The accused, Nikhil Sudarshan Sharma, who appeared mentally unstable, was apprehended after tracking his mobile number.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the state's ambitious shift from mobile phone assembly to advanced microchip manufacturing, data centres, and artificial intelligence. He highlighted significant investments and growth in the digital economy, attributing the transformation to the double-engine government's alignment with national initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. Adityanath also criticised previous administrations for hindering the state's potential

Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has advocated for a bamboo-based economy to drive sustainable development, create rural livelihoods, and offer green alternatives to plastic. Speaking at a summit, he highlighted bamboo's crucial role in climate change mitigation, its potential to empower local communities, and its benefits for farmers.

'Wages have not risen. Rural wages have stagnated. The growth was 0.7 per cent last year. For casual and irregular labour, the wage growth is negative.'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded UPI on its 10th anniversary, highlighting its role in India's digital transformation. Launched by NPCI in 2016, UPI has become the world's largest real-time payment system, witnessing a massive surge in transaction volume and value, demonstrating its success in empowering people with swift, seamless, and secure digital transactions.

'It is not because of the war in West Asia, which began on February 28.' 'Petroleum product prices are already going through the roof. They are bound to have a serious inflationary impact.' 'A country's leadership is tested in trying times. It is here that the current leadership is failing.'