The Times of India

Takes Control Of BMC For 1st Time, But Needs Shinde Sena For Majority

Akshaye Khanna's unforgettable portrayal of Rehman Dakait is reportedly making waves again in 'Dhurandhar 2', the sequel to Aditya Dhar's box-office sensation. Although his character seemed to meet a tragic end in the first installment, the filmmakers are devising innovative flashbacks and reshoots to revisit him. Read on to know more.

Plans Closing Auction Mechanism For Better Price Discovery

Slowdown In Client Spends, AI-Led Productivity Pressures Reduce Need For Junior, Mid-Level Talent | Cos Added 18K Jobs A Year Ago

Nudges Cos To Create More Jobs Locally, Be Part Of Global Value Chain

India's market regulator Sebi is transitioning to a Closing Auction Session (CAS) for stock price discovery, replacing the current volume-weighted average price method. This phased rollout, starting August 2026, aims to enhance transparency and fairness, aligning with global practices and improving derivative settlements and fund tracking.

Rating agency ICRA anticipates the government will target a fiscal deficit of 4.3% of GDP for FY2027, maintaining robust capital expenditure growth. Despite potential revenue shortfalls this fiscal, the focus is shifting to medium-term debt consolidation. Expect a significant rise in market borrowings next fiscal year.

Starting October 2026, all new intra-city public buses manufactured nationwide will be low-floor, featuring a ground clearance of 440 meters. This mandate, aimed at enhancing passenger accessibility, requires buses 9 meters and above to have a floor height of 400 mm, aligning with AIS-216 standards for improved safety and ease of boarding.

Beyond numbers and allocations, this years budget will be read as a signal of intent. For global investors, it will indicate how firmly India is committed to strengthening its role in global manufacturing and infrastructure-led growth.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra welcomed the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's decision to revise base years for CPI, GDP, and IIP. This move will better reflect changing consumption patterns and economic structures, enabling more calibrated policymaking. The updated indicators are crucial for monetary policy and assessing economic momentum.

India is poised to lead South Asia as the world's fastest-growing region, even as global economists anticipate a slowdown in 2026. Despite trade headwinds, India's resilient fundamentals and AI adoption are driving optimism, with South Asia emerging as a bright spot for growth.

US stocks edged higher, nearing record levels as the first week of quarterly earnings season concluded. Selective bank results, including a jump in PNC Financial Services, and a rebound in oil prices supported market sentiment. Investors now anticipate technology and AI-linked company earnings for further direction.

Maharashtra's civic elections saw a significant political shift as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a dominant victory, particularly in Mumbai's BMC. Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP celebrated substantial gains, ending Shiv Sena's long-held control. Uddhav Thackeray's Sena and the Congress faced major setbacks, while Raj Thackeray's MNS and Sharad Pawar's NCP also saw diminished influence.

Reliance Industries reported stable earnings for the December quarter, with a marginal profit increase to Rs 18,645 crore on 11% revenue growth to Rs 2.69 lakh crore. Strong performance in Jio and O2C segments drove EBITDA up 6%.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP workers and thanked Maharashtra's people for the NDA and Mahayuti's sweeping victory in municipal corporation elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed the success to a development-focused agenda, highlighting the alliance's strong performance, particularly in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

India's foreign exchange reserves saw a notable rebound, climbing by $392 million to $687.19 billion in the week ending January 9. This surge followed a significant dip in the prior week.

Delhi-NCR faces renewed pollution crisis as authorities re-implement GRAP-III restrictions. Non-essential construction, demolition, and mining activities are halted. Vehicular curbs target older diesel and petrol models. Essential services and critical projects are exempted, with schools offering hybrid learning. This move aims to combat the 'severe' air quality forecast.

The Ministry of External Affairs has urged around 9,000 Indian citizens, primarily students in Iran, to depart the country due to recent developments. Advisories have been issued for both those in Iran and those planning to travel there. India is actively monitoring the situation and preparing to assist citizens wishing to return home.

Stock markets will observe a rare Sunday trading session on February 1, allowing investors immediate reaction to the Union Budget 2026-27. Both BSE and NSE announced full-day trading, with pre-open from 9 am to 9:08 am and regular trading from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.

Gold prices experienced a slight dip in domestic markets on Friday as profit-taking emerged after international bullion retreated from record highs. A firmer US dollar contributed to the decline in overseas trade. While most major Indian cities saw a marginal increase in gold prices, Chennai recorded a decrease.

Indian households are shifting from traditional savings like gold and cash to market-linked investments such as mutual funds and equities. This trend, accelerated by digital access and financial literacy, sees a significant rise in individual investors, particularly younger demographics and women, seeking inflation-beating returns.

Bengaluru's Yellow Line Metro has enhanced its services by introducing a seventh train, reducing peak hour waiting times to 10 minutes. This upgrade aims to ease congestion for commuters. Additionally, BMRCL has launched mobile-based QR code unlimited travel passes for one, three, and five days, promoting digital ticketing and passenger convenience.

Deloitte India has advised the government to strengthen trade resilience in the upcoming FY27 Budget. Key recommendations include expanding export credit and concessional financing for MSMEs. The firm also suggests allocating funds for critical mineral exploration and overseas access.

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang aims for engineers to code zero percent, leveraging AI assistants like Cursor to tackle complex, undiscovered problems. He believes this 'Purpose vs Task' approach, akin to radiology's evolution, will elevate human roles. While some, like Cursor's CEO, caution against unchecked AI development, Huang remains confident in this human-centric future for innovation.