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Inasmuch as one would like to pat the selection committee for facilitating Indian cricket skip a few steps ahead by naming Shubman Gill as captain of the men in blue one-day international team, the committee refused to state its position on the status of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma vis-a-vis their selection for the 2027 World Cup. Ajit Agarkar was right in saying that that October 2025 is not the right time to take an affirmative call for an event that’s going to happen in October-November 2027. Surely Agarkar and his committee could no way have “blocked” Virat and Rohit’s seats well in advance to leave the other contenders short-changed. The selection committee may or may not remain the same after next year’s BCCI AGM but a matter of vital importance is whether Virat and Rohit would continue to be picked for all one-day internationals — in all 21 ODIs after the three-match series in Australia. India is scheduled to play South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka (all a three match series at home till November 2026 and England and New Zealand, all a three-match away series) and indeed by end of 2026, a few more cricketers would be pressing hard for a place in the one-day team for the World Cup. India’s Test team will be occupied with a five-Test series at home in January-February 2027 before the scheduled WTC final in London, after which the focus will be on a round of a 50 over matches/tournaments. The million $ question is whether the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir will allow the Virat-Rohit thorn to be in their flesh for that long.
After successfully pushing through GST-2 reforms, PM Modi had been looking for innovative ideas for governance. It was this search for ideas to further fuel his Viksit Bharat that led to him to interact with about 85 secretary-level officers of the government on October 6. About two dozen secretary-level officers heading various ministries and departments actively participated in the discussions. It is learnt officers were thrilled with the personal interaction they had with the PM. Three days after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan was already acting on their suggestions. On October 9, he wrote to the secretaries and asked them to roll out their ideas. Among the key points of action was promoting “indigenous development” of digital and social media platforms. The directive on digital platforms is significant as the number of internet subscribers in India as on March 2025 stood at 969.1 million, with most using foreign platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. Significantly, PM Modi pushed for use of local platforms coinciding with the launch of Arattai, the messaging app developed by Tamil Nadu-based Zoho Corporation. Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X that he was switching to Zoho’s homegrown office suite software. Likewise, Home Minister Amit Shah too switched his official email service to Zoho Mail. In his letter, the Cabinet Secretary had also dissuaded ministries/departments from avoidable litigation and filing unnecessary court cases and wasting resources. Officials were also told to reorient PhD programmes to promote innovation and development of new ideas, and technologies, through topics that fit the emerging needs of the country – and conceptualise awards at the international level to recognise excellence in various fields. Overall, the ministries have been asked to promote “Atmanirbharta” and reduce imports.
In the last 14 India-West Indies Tests there were 25 centuries and all but two of them were by Indian batsmen. Making hundreds against the West Indies has become almost routine but the remarkable feature is that the Indian youth brigade is coming regularly to the party these days. Shubman Gill, just 26, who made his fifth Test century in just 12th innings as captain, was only a few innings behind Alastair Cook (9) and Sunil Gavaskar (10) in recording the feat. Even Sir Donald Bradman took 13 innings to make that fifth hundred as captain of Australia. Having also assumed responsibility as captain on the tour of England, Gill has five hundreds in the calendar year in his 10 Test centuries overall as he emulates Virat Kohli in making merry when hitting a purple patch of batting form. Pushing him hard in making Test centuries is the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal whose hunger for runs has become a lot more famous than his satiating his physical hunger by helping out at a Pani Puri stall outside the tented ground that was his home in Mumbai. The anger he showed in seeing his captain turn his back on him as he sought a quick single when in his 170s is evidence of how run-hungry Jaiswal is. Not yet 24, he joins South African Graeme smith as a quick collector of seven Test centuries as opener. Run making may get more difficult when Team India plays tougher opposition like South Africa in a home series, but the fact remains that there is a youth brigade that is making India proud again since the halcyon days of Gavaskar in 1971 when the breakthrough victory came in the Caribbean.
In a watershed year for Indian cinema, Kannada and Malayalam industries are leading the charge with blockbuster epics that blend cultural depth with universal spectacle. Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has shattered records, amassing Rs 500 crore worldwide, fuelled by its raw portrayal of Karnataka’s ‘Bhoota Kola’ rituals and environmental folklore. Shetty’s dual role as the fierce Panjara— a forest guardian clashing with modernity—delivers visceral action and spiritual resonance, backed by immersive folk music and stunning Udupi landscapes. The film’s grassroots appeal exploded through dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, turning rural myths into pan-Indian anthems and earning global acclaim at festivals like Busan. Hot on its heels, Malayalam’s Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra released on August 20, 2025, surged past Rs 300 crore in just six weeks, heralding a superhero saga rooted in Kerala’s matrilineal heritage. Director Dominic Arun masterfully fuses high-octane VFX with emotional intimacy, as producer Dulquer Salmaan crafts a universe where heroine Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) wields ancestral powers against cosmic threats. Priyadarshan’s nuanced turn — from vulnerable orphan to empowered icon — fills a void in female-led genre tales, while spicy dialogue controversies sparked viral debates, boosting theatre footfalls. Salmaan’s bold vision promises spin-offs, blending local lore with Marvel-esque flair. This duo’s dominance underscores a broader renaissance: Gujarati’s Chhello Show 2 breached Rs 100 crore with its heartfelt immigrant saga; Marathi’s Dashaavtar hit Rs 50 crore via satirical family dramedy; and Tamil’s Coolie topped Rs 250 crore in labour-rights thriller mode. Smart OTT tie-ups, dubbed releases, and culturally authentic narratives propel these beyond regional silos, outshining Hindi’s faltering Param Sundari and Sunny Sankari ki Tulsi Kumari. As indigenous voices claim centre stage, Indian cinema evolves into a vibrant mosaic....
IndiGo seems to have cracked it. Their experiment to introduce direct flights between Manchester and Mumbai on July 1, seems to have more than enough takers. Emboldened by such a good response the airline has chalked up plans to add one more destination, Mumbai-London from October 26, making it the 45th destination. IndiGo has direct flights to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai, and now it will be in direct competition with the established British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air India. IndiGo continues its code-sharing as a partner carrier with some European and Middle Eastern airlines. The tremendous traffic growth — both business and regular travellers, the latest signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK, surge in India–UK activities on all fronts, including culture, has prompted IndiGo to offer this direct service, say aviation insiders. IndiGo will provide a trendy, competitive lower price at Rs 22,000 upwards for return tickets. IndiGo aims to attract budget travellers on its long-haul service. In addition to direct flights between Mumbai-London, it will also commence direct flights between Manchester-Delhi from November 15. It will certainly be good tidings to the residents of Delhi, north India, Gujarat, and Central India. with the vast network it operates from Delhi, being its headquarters. Mumbai serves as a hub for western India pockets. It is contemplating increasing its 3-day a week frequency to its current Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule between Manchester to Mumbai, thus probably making a service of 9 flights freely in a week from Manchester.
Recruitment scam seems to be the new normal. Now, the state of Odisha is rocked by the Sub-Inspector Recruitment Scam. The Opposition parties, BJD and Congress, have been staging demonstrations against the ruling BJP government demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024. It is said that the written examination for recruitment of sub-inspectors conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board was postponed after Berhampur Police busted a major recruitment racket with the arrest of 114 aspirants and three middlemen from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on September 30. Subsequent investigation revealed the role of an “organised criminal syndicate” was in place to subvert the entire examination process and give job to people who were willing to pay speed money. Sources say such a scam cannot happen without the blessings of senior government officials. It is alleged that each Sub-Inspector post was being sold for Rs 25 lakh. Informed sources say the scam could be worth around Rs 200 crore. So far Vanik Coaching Centre in Odisha is in focus. In the last 15 months, 16 recruitment exams have been cancelled at the last moment, leaving job aspirants frustrated. The BJP-led government by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi says the recent recruitment scam in police is the legacy of the previous Naveen Patnaik’s BJD government. When Short Post contacted DGP Y B Khurania he refused to comment saying, “he was going on leave”.
The idiom aging like an old wine seems apt for the 56-year old Bobby Deol. Finally, he has stepped out of the shadow of his father Dharmendra and brother Sunny Deol. For an actor who almost became a recluse and took to drinking, the comeback has proved all his detractors wrong. What changed his life was an innocent question by his children: why is daddy home and not going to work? This is what he said in an exhaustive interview to Times Now‘s Navika Kumar. He went out looking for a job and he was lucky. A web series came his way and his role as Baba Nirala in Aashram (2020) made audiences sit up again. Then came Animal (2023), where his near-silent performance stole the spotlight despite limited screen time. Suddenly, Bollywood’s “forgotten Deol” was the industry’s most talked-about star. Bobby made his debut in Barsaat (1995). With hit films like Gupt, Soldier, Badal and Bichhoo he had carved a niche for himself as the romantic action hero. His downfall started some time in 2010 as a lot of new faces emerged who were versatile. Now cut to current days, he seems breezing with confidence… zipping in and out of film sets or TV news studios. Sure, Bobby has bounced back but diehard industry watchers have a piece of advice for him. “Now, that films are coming the way, he should pick and choose…he should strike a fine balance between art and commerce…that’s a craft he needs to master”.
In the intensely competitive ecosystem of Kollywood, traversing 22 years and reaching Lady Super Star status is no mean feat …in the same demanding profession where beauty, fitness and a modicum of acting talent combine to make a star. Forty-year old Nayanthara has achieved this milestone, still holding steady as one of the highest paid heroines (Rs 7 crore per film) pan India. Before she turned into the legend Nayan, she was Diane Mariam Kurian, dad Kurian Kudiyattu from the armed forces and mother Omana Kurian who bestowed her beauty and grace. Maybe she carried her military disciplined upbringing to her profession. But Nayan, went through some stormy and controversial romantic hookups too…her dalliance with a married Prabhu Deva, her brief affairs with Simbu and Arya provided much chomping fodder to the media, hungry for titillating bits and bytes. From her first film, Manasinakkare in Malayalam in 2003, to playing Sarat Kumar’s lead in Aiyya in 2005 …pairing with Rajinikanth in Chandramukhi which put her in orbit …soon Vijay, Ajitt, Suriya, Vikram, Simbu, Dhanush and Arya were her co-stars. Nayan’s name guaranteed a good box office run. She carried a mythological, Mookuthi Amman on her shoulders and turned a craze among women; the director is now ready with Mookuthi Amman 2. Vignesh Shivan, her husband came into her life with his directed film Naanum Rowdy Thaan, a relationship that merged into marriage in 2002, a much-hyped wedding… Netflix filmed and marketed it. Her twin boys, Uyir and Ulagh keep her busy, even as she still works in films with the same zeal in heroine-oriented roles. Nayan’s cosmetics start-up is sought after by fashionistas.
Jindal (India), part of the BC Jindal Group, is all set to expand its Howrah steel plant in West Bengal with Rs 1,500-crore investment. Already operating two plants in the state producing a range of steel-based downstream products, the group will significantly enhance its production capabilities with this addition. The Jindal Group’s latest investment aligns with its broader plan to scale up steel production across India, aiming to invest Rs18,000 crore over the coming years to enhance overall manufacturing capacity. The new Rs 1,500-crore downstream facility in West Bengal, with an annual capacity of 0.6 million tonnes, is expected to boost the company’s existing capacity by 60%, significantly increasing production of coated flat products, pipes, and crash barriers. According to the company, the commissioning of the new cold rolling complex marks the completion of a key phase in the expansion project, raising Jindal India’s total downstream steel capacity from 1 million to 1.6 million tonnes annually. Currently, Jindal India operates two advanced West Bengal facilities specialising in cutting-edge colour coating, galvanising, and galvalume technologies, further strengthening its position in India’s steel sector. Beyond West Bengal, the company, through its subsidiary, Jindal India Steel Tech is setting up a greenfield steel manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha. JISTL plans to invest a total of Rs 15,000 crore in Odisha in three phases by 2030, with the current Rs 3,600 crore investment marking the first phase of the project.
Each time Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) attempts to appease Lord Ayyappa, something horribly goes wrong. With elections around the corner, first municipality in December 2025 and assembly elections in early 2026, the CPM-led LDF has been doing its best to appease Lord Ayyappa. The Kerala government held a Global Ayyappa Sangamam on the banks of river Pamba last month, in the name of commemorating the platinum jubilee of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages Hindu temples across the state. The meets agenda also included promotion of pilgrim tourism and exploration of investment opportunities. The meet failed miserably when the Opposition Congress-led UDF and BJP opposed the meet. It ended in a whimper with very low attendance. The hype behind the meet led to the focus shifting to release of Ayyappa devotees arrested in the 2018 Sabarimala protest against the Supreme Court judgement permitting women of menstruating age to worship at the shrine. While devotees and people at large ignored the Supreme Court ruling, the LDF took special interest in implementing the Apex Court order by forcefully taking young women to the shrine with full police protection. This act left LDF not only alienating the Hindus in the state but also families of CPM cadres. The Left-oriented cadres, at least on paper may be atheists, but not their families.
IndiGo seems to have cracked it. Their experiment to introduce direct flights between Manchester and Mumbai on July 1, seems to have more than enough takers. Emboldened by such a good response the airline has chalked up plans to add one more destination, Mumbai-London from October 26, making it the 45th destination. IndiGo has direct flights to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai, and now it will be in direct competition with the established British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Air India. IndiGo continues its code-sharing as a partner carrier with some European and Middle Eastern airlines. The tremendous traffic growth — both business and regular travellers, the latest signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK, surge in India–UK activities on all fronts, including culture, has prompted IndiGo to offer this direct service, say aviation insiders. IndiGo will provide a trendy, competitive lower price at Rs 22,000 upwards for return tickets. IndiGo aims to attract budget travellers on its long-haul service. In addition to direct flights between Mumbai-London, it will also commence direct flights between Manchester-Delhi from November 15. It will certainly be good tidings to the residents of Delhi, north India, Gujarat, and Central India. with the vast network it operates from Delhi, being its headquarters. Mumbai serves as a hub for western India pockets. It is contemplating increasing its 3-day a week frequency to its current Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule between Manchester to Mumbai, thus probably making a service of 9 flights freely in a week from Manchester.
Jindal (India), part of the BC Jindal Group, is all set to expand its Howrah steel plant in West Bengal with Rs 1,500-crore investment. Already operating two plants in the state producing a range of steel-based downstream products, the group will significantly enhance its production capabilities with this addition. The Jindal Group’s latest investment aligns with its broader plan to scale up steel production across India, aiming to invest Rs18,000 crore over the coming years to enhance overall manufacturing capacity. The new Rs 1,500-crore downstream facility in West Bengal, with an annual capacity of 0.6 million tonnes, is expected to boost the company’s existing capacity by 60%, significantly increasing production of coated flat products, pipes, and crash barriers. According to the company, the commissioning of the new cold rolling complex marks the completion of a key phase in the expansion project, raising Jindal India’s total downstream steel capacity from 1 million to 1.6 million tonnes annually. Currently, Jindal India operates two advanced West Bengal facilities specialising in cutting-edge colour coating, galvanising, and galvalume technologies, further strengthening its position in India’s steel sector. Beyond West Bengal, the company, through its subsidiary, Jindal India Steel Tech is setting up a greenfield steel manufacturing plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha. JISTL plans to invest a total of Rs 15,000 crore in Odisha in three phases by 2030, with the current Rs 3,600 crore investment marking the first phase of the project.
Public plots meant for public transportation utilities are increasingly being given up for commercial development by the government authorities. State’s transport minister Pratap Sarnaik invited developers to take up 13,000 acres of depot lands across prime locations in Mumbai for commercial development by offering them on 98-year-long leases. Sarnaik believes that this kind of commercial development would infuse fresh funds into the loss-making state transport department. Mumbai iconic public transportation utility, the BEST has already given up three of its depots for commercial development. The BEST had commissioned global financial consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers to identify strategies for commercial development of land held by its depots, staff quarters etc. The BEST has already developed three depots, Mahim, Yari Road and Kurla – out of its 27 depots in Mumbai for commercial development and another three – Bandra, Dindoshi and Deonar – are in the pipeline. The BEST’s depots at Dharavi and Kala Killa depot, are also being offered to Adani to be clubbed along with Dharavi redevelopment. This is not including the 45 acres of railway land (scaled down from 100 acres of land earlier) being handed over to Adani for Dharavi redevelopment. The BMC has already handed over 53 hectares of land reclaimed for the Coastal Road project to a corporate body for development. Incidentally, even as all this is being usurped when the state government took almost 33 hectares or 80 acres of prime forest land to develop into a car shed for the city’s upcoming Metro network. Not surprisingly urban policy analysts like Hussain Indorewalla noted that “Public agencies see themselves not as stewards of public land acting in public interest, but as asset managers and private landlords rolled into one.”
Come October 8, 2025, when PM Narendra Modi dedicates Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai International Airport facility to the world, more airports will quickly follow. To be imminently commissioned facilities include Jewar in UP (Oct 30), Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh (Dec 30) alongside the Lucknow and Ahmedabad (Adani Airport) facilities all ready for international take-offs. The common factor binding these airports, also 11 other major airports currently underway, is the sole Project Management Consultant — Saga Global Consultants. SGC successfully bid for and secured PMC rights through distinct tendering processes. In fact, this Mumba-based specialised engineering firm, founded by the former PSU chief, turned preferred choice over even Engineering India Ltd, a public sector undertaking conferred Navratna status. For the man behind the low profile Saga’s success — SK Jain — former ED of BPCL and Chairman of Indian Petroleum Corporation major aviation projects in India and internationally have seemingly been a walk in the park with even the Adani operated MIAL expressing its appreciation, “… for improving operational readiness during a major airport expansion” at the Mumbai Airport Fuel Farm (MAFFFL). The already commissioned Delhi International Airport Fuel Farm ((DAFFPL) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, Kotoka International Airport in Ghana, Port-Au-Prince (PAP) in Haiti and Accra Air Force base in Ghana are merely “been-there-done-that” experientially executed airport facilities under Saga’s distinguished past accomplishments list already. Way ahead includes over 100 new major and minor airports to be commissioned in quick time for India with the just commenced Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels & Services Ltd airport facility project setting a completion timeline of merely eight months from now.
Copper is a high-utility commodity. Its use cuts across activities. To be sure, copper finds application in an array of functionalities in a household — be it a traditional one or a modern house. India held a pride of place in the international sphere in terms of copper production. So much so, India was a net exporter of copper. That was a few years ago. Things have got tipsy-turvy now. Ever since the closure of the Sterlite’s copper plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, the domestic supply shortage has increased. That the closure of the Sterlite plant was more due to politics than economics was, however, a different matter. The fact is that the country is experiencing a huge copper shortage. The unfolding geo-politics has added a new dimension to the copper story. The supply restrictions by China have only compounded the problem. So much so, copper theft has risen these days. There are reports of copper wire being stolen from AC compressors in residential terraces. This does not augur well. Who is to be blamed? The blame game won’t address the issue. A practical outlook to issues is what we need. Not the game of one-upmanship, to be sure.
Mumbai’s importance as the nation’s economic capital will increase by a quantum leap when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the first phase of the greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on 8 October. The airport, when fully operational, is estimated to generate business worth Rs 1 lakh crore rupees through various activities in and around it. The nearby JNPA port and the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor will be the two important drivers to boost the economy of Maharashtra and India. After several hiccups, the NMIA will witness the first commercial flights in December. The airport has been built at an investment of about Rs 20,000 crore. Once all the four terminals are completed, the total approximate investment will be of Rs 1 lakh crore. The second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, has secured its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 30 September. The joint venture project will be developed in phases by NMIA. Adani Group has 74% stake and the balance 26% is with the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), completely owned by the State government. According to the schedule available, the PM will land at the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the afternoon and will spend almost two hours there. Modi will first visit the terminal building and then address the inaugural function, opening a new chapter in India’s efforts to become self-reliant.
The Odisha government is focussing on the maritime sector to boost trade and industrial growth in eastern India. To start with, it has envisaged big investment in setting up a new greenfield deep-sea port at Bahuda in Ganjam district. Once completed, Bahuda will emerge as India’s 14th major port, developed as a satellite port of Paradip, aligning with the government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The Bahuda Port will serve as an anchor for port-led industrialisation, logistics parks, and manufacturing clusters across Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. The project is projected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 25,000 people while catalysing industrial and infrastructure growth in eastern India. The proposed port with a capacity of 150 MMTPA will be equipped to handle dry bulk ships ranging from 40,000 to 150,000 DWT and container vessels of up to 6,000 TEUs as per sources. Infrastructure plans include four docks, it will also have areas designated for port-led industrialization having robust connectivity through both road and rail networks. The project will be executed through a Special Purpose Vehicle with Paradip Port Authority (PPA) serving as the lead partner. Sources say a tripartite agreement has already been signed between the Odisha Maritime Board, PPA and Sagarmala Finance Corporation to facilitate the development of the port. It is also understood that Visakhapatnam Port Authority is expected to join the project at a later stage as per sources. Odisha is envisioning expanding its port capacity from the current 😯 MMTPA to 500 MMTPA by 2047.
Technology has shrunk the world into the palm of our hands. In the era of globalisation and digitalisation, some people might feel grateful. Some others might curse all the technological advancements. Starting from paying the milk vendor in the morning to booking an Ola ride after work, everything is at our fingertips. It is easy nowadays. But when we look at the flip side of the coin, the story appears different. People are getting replaced by Artificial intelligence, mass layoffs are a reality. When asked about the current situation, recruiters simply point to the lack of skill in these people! To fix this, Indian Institute of Technology Madras has come up with a NIPTA initiative – National Internship, Placement Training and Assessment. It is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry. All final and third-year engineering students can participate in this 12-week programme, which will cover all future competencies and award a certificate to students based on their performance level in the examination. Even though this move aligns with the Institute’s motto of ‘IITM for all’, not every student will get a placement or opportunity after this course, nor can a certificate validate one’s talent. In the end, initiatives like NIPTA may guide the path. Yet, consistent self-growth and adaptability alone will truly decide who thrives in tomorrow’s world.
The greatest fear as the findings of the probe into the Air India crash are awaited is that the manufacturer would somehow fix the blame on pilot error or human error to account for the tragedy. Selective leaks from the preliminary report carry plenty of evidence of where the probe may be headed as Boeing’s reputation, already in tatters after the crashes of the Boeing Max aircraft, is set to hit a nadir. Diversionary tactics of shifting the blame to the pilot have been spotted, including in a visit to the father of one of the pilots of the ill-fated Boeing Dreamliner by personnel attached to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) that was way out of protocol. They were guilty of insinuating to Pushkar Raj Sabharwal that his son Captain Sumeet Sabharwal may have turned off the plane’s fuel switches. That they came pretending to offer condolences made the story even worse. The preliminary investigation report released in July had noted that both the airplane’s fuel switches moved from “run” to “cutoff” position within a second of each other moments after the take-off from Ahmedabad airport. The report also suggested there was confusion in the cockpit without clarifying whether the pilots had deliberately moved the switches. It would suit the aviation industry to blame the event on human error while also serving Boeing’s legal woes in compensation to victims which could be scaled down if this was not an accident, the first for the Dreamliner series, caused by mechanical failure. The Supreme Court had also described portions of the AAIB report as “unfortunate and irresponsible” as they allowed (misleading) media narrative to take shape besides compromising the dignity and privacy of victims’ families.
Mumbai is undergoing a massive scale up of its housing sector housing including for its 41% slum dweller population. This includes over 910 buildings undergoing redevelopment that could add up 44,277 new homes by 2030, as per real estate analyst Knight Frank report. About 809 high rises (above 40 floors) have been approved in the city that currently has about 252 skyscrapers and another 416 under construction as per a Bombay High Court appointed expert committee on high risers. Besides these, about 541 acres of land is being used for rehousing Dharavi residents including 124 acres of the Deonar dumping ground and 254 acres of salt pan land, that essentially helps prevent flooding by sponging water. A recent report found about 6021.50 acres of land in Mumbai, almost 17.71% of its total habitable land, belonging to the state and central government, being unlocked for development. This includes about 2,068.59 acres being used for rehousing slum dwellers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. Experts though are far from convinced about this model of development. “Mumbai’s development is entirely unplanned and piecemeal, lacking coordinated growth in roads, water supply, and sewerage systems. It is not supported by essential social infrastructure like schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds, or even trees, and therefore does little to make the city more liveable,” notes architect and urban planner Alan Abraham. “Instead, it risks creating a saturated, overbuilt Mumbai that will ultimately be unsustainable,” he adds.
This one is quite known for hill temples. This has two hill temples – one for Lord Yoga Narasimhan and another for Lord Anjaneya. The temple for Lord Narasimhan is a part of the 108 Divya Desam temples. The temple town of Sholinghur near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu has a plant of Brakes India, once a part of the composite TVS group. Grapevine has it that a jasmine extraction plant is being planned here. The proposed plant is reported to be blessed by this organisation. Jasmine extracts have huge export opportunities for making perfumes, medicines etc. Tamil Nadu Agri budget also has announced the setting up of such facilities. It is learnt that Brakes India plant in Sholingur has thousands of employees. They are encouraged to cultivate jasmine and other natural ingredients in their lands for supplying to the extraction plant to produce aroma diffusers, essential oils and cosmetic intermediaries for tapping the big export market in Europe. Brakes India is promoted by the TSF Group, whose heritage dates back to 1911. The 10000-plus employee company led by Sriram Viji has manufacturing plants in 21 locations and earned a revenue of $910 mn. The group’s interests span the automotive and financial services sectors. Well, this new plant has the blessings of the Lords, it appears.
With the authorities certifying the Mumbai Metro-3 Aqua Line safe for operations, a red-letter day will dawn soon in the metropolis as lakhs of commuters will be able to save precious time day in and day out. The average Mumbaikar is accustomed to spending at least five hours daily, commuting between home and the place of work. The journey in overcrowded suburban trains and overloaded BEST buses becomes more arduous. All that will be past as henceforth, the travel between SEEPZ in Andheri (E) and Cuffe Parade at the extreme end of south Mumbai will be less than 30 minutes, in AC comfort. The service frequency will run a train every three minutes. The Aqua route will be completely underground save one station. While its 26 stations will be below ground, the Aarey Colony station will be at grade. This means it will be at ground level and hence visible. Metro Line 3 will utilize a critical Tunnel Ventilation and Environmental Control System (TVE) to ensure passenger comfort and safety, including 24×7 cooling, fresh air supply and smoke extraction during fire emergencies. This technologically advanced system lowers tunnel temperatures, removes harmful gases and controls smoke in the world’s most modern underground rail network. The line’s commissioning had been planned much earlier but the COVID pandemic and allied developments have delayed the project.
Face the stark truth. Every step that Donald Trump takes will be against Latinos or Indians. All this talk about “My good friend Modi” is beginning to grate in the ears. And in one fell swoop, the U.S. President has now hit Indians in the stomach with his punitive annual fee of $1,00,000 (nearly Rs 90 lakhs) on H-1B visas. The move will hit all those who take these visas to work in the U.S. but consider the fact that Indians take over 70% of such visas granted every year in the H-1B visa lottery (Chinese less than 2%) and you know who the worst hit will be. It is becoming easy to see through this good-cop-bad-cop act that Trump was running with his aides like Navarro and Lutnick berating India at every turn while the U.S president speaks lovingly of India and its PM Modi. The trade talks may have been resumed but the U.S. well knows that India will not let two red lines be breached. Opening the agriculture sector is a no-no forever while the buying of Russian oil will go on till everything else is agreed upon and a trade deal is on the table ready to be signed. No amount of posturing is going to change the fundamental position that Trump has taken against India and with Pakistan, partly because Pakistan played up to him and even invested in his family cryptocurrency business. Trump may not forget in a hurry the image of Vladimir Putin inviting Narendra Modi into his limousine in China even if he himself did share a limo ride with the Russian President in Alaska. If anyone believes things can be sorted with Trump and the U.S. soon, they may have other thoughts coming up.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has finally cracked a whip on several state governments to comply with airport safety measures which is often taken for granted, particularly one relating to the bird-hit menace. In 2024, bird hit cases in the country rose to 1,278 cases compared to 528 cases in 2019. DGCA’s new resolve is to strengthen India’s respective airport director’s repeated safety warnings often taken casually by most state governments. DGCA now wants to regulate critical safety measures to eliminate bird hit possibilities in and around the airports. DGCA has requested all state Chief Secretaries to ensure strict time bound enforcement of rules which prohibits activities that attract birds and animals. To ensure “real compliance” Kidwai has asked respective Chief Secretaries to set up a compliance monitoring mechanism and send him quarterly reports. This means Odisha and other states will now have to seriously start mapping and take actions on unauthorised slaughter houses, meat shops, dairies, garbage dumps, tree pruning, lamp post removal obstructing flight path and unauthorised civil constructions next to the airport in and around 10 km radius of the airport. For Odisha, DGCA’s intervention is rather God sent because for long this issue was never addressed seriously. Sources say, the recent DGCA initiative to institutionalise a compliance monitoring mechanism with quarterly reports to DGCA is now having a cascading effect on respective state’s chief secretaries, commissioners and district collectors.
India’s longest sea bridge, the 21.8 km long Atal Setu has started showing signs of wear and tear within 20 months of its inauguration. Following viral videos showing potholes on the Rs 17,000 crore bridge, senior officials visited and levied a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Daewoo-Tata Infrastructure Projects, the contractors for the project. The contractors have also been asked to redo the entire distressed stretch between 14-16 km with Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and asphalt concrete post-monsoons at their own costs. Though the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has attributed the stress to “weather extremities due to monsoons” and “continuous traffic flow”, it raises questions about the quality of India’s infrastructure growth story. Another landmark project, Mumbai’s coastal road costing over Rs 14,000 crore, which was inaugurated in March 2024, has also started showing up uneven patches even as flooding has led to closures on its underpasses during heavy downpour, which it was supposed to withstand. Incidentally, the potholes on the regular Mumbai roads have been registering a tale of corrupt practices that led to over 6758 potholes registered during monsoons this July including on its cement concrete roads. The BMC spent over Rs 154 crore this monsoon just to fill up potholes including its costly cement concrete roads. The BMC had pushed for cement roads as a solution to prevent potholes but now with even cement roads throwing up potholes in Mumbai, citizens are in a fix. Mumbai’s shoddy infrastructure has been attributed to corrupt practices.
It is a politically-sensitive commodity. Not surprisingly, it has often found itself in the spotlight? Over the last week, almost all newspapers carried flashy advertisements from cement majors such as JK Cement, Adani Cement, Ultra Tech Cement and the like wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his birthday. Not just that. These ads also lauded him for the GST cut — from a heavier 28% to a lighter 18% — which will go a long way in benefitting people across the canvass. The tax reduction, they argued, will not only benefit consumers but also industries as it would boost cement demand and beef up the distribution network. Sounds like a win-win situation? There is a catch, however. Cement in India is never known to be sold at the MRP (maximum retail price)! Several summers ago, an ad was circulated by a company claiming that it was selling cement with no ash content in it. Upon verification, it was found that none of the cement carries ashes in it! Marketing can play the perfect tool to make or mar a perception. Well, we are talking about the GST cut. Enterprises have the uncanny knack of turning any situation to their advantage. Grapevines have suggested that the cement makers have quietly upped their prices so that they are ready to bring them down when the GST 2.0 kicks in on September 22. What do we make of this? Well, more the changes, things look — nay remain — the same!
Is he in or is he out? This question keeps popping up time and again. But none is willing to clarify. If he is like any normal employee, none will venture to speculate. But he is MS Dhoni, the Captain Cool. Not surprisingly, everyone is letting his/her imagination run amok. After Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the IPL franchise was born in 2008, Dhoni was appointed as Vice-President (Marketing) of N Srinivasan-headed The India Cements Ltd (ICL) in 2013. CSK was initially a division of ICL, which was the original franchisee owner of CSK. If grapevine is to go by, Srinivasan had reportedly given Dhoni a blank cheque to write his remuneration! In the past, Dhoni used to visit ICL plants across the country and address employees and dealers alike. In fact, in 2022, he unveiled the new premium cement brand, Conkrete Super King. Much water has flown under the bridge since then. Birla-owned UltraTech bought out N Srinivasan and his family in ICL. With ICL sold to UltraTech, Srinivasan has become the Chairman of CSK, which was hived off into a separate entity when the conflict of interest issue was raging. His daughter, Rupa Gurunath, too, has now become a Wholetime-Director of CSK. Given this backdrop, intense speculation is on whether Dhoni is still associated with ICL? There has been no official communication thus far either from UltraTech or MSD. The iconic Coromandel Towers, the corporate office of India Cements, in the meanwhile, is sporting the UltraTech brand along with ICL’s Sankar Cement, Coromandel King and Conkrete Super King. EWS, the holding company of N Srinivasan and family, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. and other firms have since moved to their new address in Adyar in the heart of the city. Season or no season, one thing is clear Dhoni remains a hot topic!
The Singur movement not only altered Bengal’s industrial trajectory but also marked one of the biggest power shifts in the state’s history — from the Left Front to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. Yet, the Nano car exit in 2008 left an enduring scar, branding Didi as “anti-industry” despite her repeated efforts to change that perception. Seventeen years later, the narrative seems to be coming full circle, with electric vehicle manufacturer Cynosure announced plans to launch a four-wheeler priced below Rs 1 lakh from Sugandha in Hooghly district — just 17 km away from Singur, where Ratan Tata’s dream project had collapsed in 2008. Cynosure revealed its plan at the launch of its electric three-wheeler in Kolkata and the prototype of the car would be unveiled after Diwali, with a commercial rollout targeted for January 2026. According to co-founder Sampurna Ghosh, the fully battery-operated vehicle will seat four passengers, including the driver with an aim to make personal cars affordable for the middle and lower-middle-class families. Sources said that the car’s final name would be decided by the chief minister. Political observers have pointed out that the announcement carries political undertones just ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, as it can be recalled that in 2008, Tata Motors withdrew from Singur after completing 80% of the factory, blaming Mamata then opposition leader. The project later shifted to Gujarat. Didi has since maintained that her fight was against the Left’s forcible land acquisition policy, not against Tata.
To PM Narendra Modi’s clarion call, ‘Make in India’ may we add, Make for India. When the ideologically arid opposition protests lack of employment and opportunity, there are many products and services incubated by entrepreneurs who dream big and realise these dreams. Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe is one such successful dream that has fed thousands of hungry patrons growing by the day. Of course, one cannot easily forget the bomb blast there on March 1, 2024. The café was founded by Raghavendra Rao and his wife Divya (a CA by profession) in 2021 as a quick service restaurant. The name ‘Rameshwaram’ was chosen by the founders to pay tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as it was his birthplace. Today it is Bengaluru’s landmark where the aroma of pure ghee roasted Dosas, cushion soft idlis, taste enhancer chutneys and filter coffee bring in droves from 6 am to 1 am and caters to people across all stratas. This veg south Indian fast food chain with a daily turnover of around Rs 5 crore reportedly commands a valuation of Rs 18,000 crore as its gross margin is 70%. More. It seems its hygiene and cleanliness also add to valuation. This fast chain is indeed giving tough competition to the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and many more. What is even more fascinating is the level of automation and the training of the chefs. The steaming boilers cook up to 500 mini idlis in one batch ..and the deftness of the chef who pours batter for 8 dosas at a time is a sight to watch .Rameshwaram Cafe is one of a kind …think global (in terms of automation tech, good quality, consistent service and fast delivery )and reach local. The Rao couple have built a shrewd food business with astuteness. It will not be surprising if they go for an IPO.
The task ahead for the state-owned aluminium behemoth, the National Aluminium Company (NALCO) is cut out, after it parted ways with Rio Tinto as it refused to share proprietary smelter technology. NALCO is now looking out for a new partner. Sources say finding a new partner will delay its 0.5 mtpa greenfield aluminium smelter plant by 6-8 months. The buzz is that at least two Chinese companies (GAMI and CHINALCO), a Russian major RUSAL and Dubai Aluminium Company are in the fray to bag the Rs 17,000 crore order to provide smelter technology. Interestingly, CHINALCO is also the single largest shareholder in Rio Tinto, a British-Australian MNC. All the four companies are keen to partner NALCO as it has chalked up ambitious expansion plans. Sources say, NALCO has plenty of options to pick up a global partner. For now, the speculation is NALCO aims to commission its aluminium smelter and captive power plant by 2030. The total cost of NALCO’s expansion plan is pegged at Rs 30,000 crore which includes new refineries, smelter, mine operations and captive power plants of 1080 MW. NALCO will use a mix of debt and internal accruals to fund the expansion besides, also exploring possibilities of roping in Coal India and NTPC for power plant projects.
It seems Anil Agarwal-run Vedanta Group’s wait to mine nine million tonnes of bauxite annually to feed its Lanjigarh refinery in Odisha is now getting longer. That’s because the consent for giving the go ahead is in the hands of the local tribal community. This is evident because the Union Environment Ministry has postponed its decision on Vedanta’s proposal to divert over 700 hectares of Odisha forest for bauxite mining at Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. It may be mentioned that the Odisha High Court has made it clear that affected communities must be taken into confidence before giving clearance to Vedanta Group. Sources say, the key trigger for postponing decision making pertains to concerns raised by local tribes before the Odisha High Court. In fact, the Odisha High Court has flagged allegations of fraudulent Gram Sabha resolutions supporting Vedanta’s mining project. This is why the High Court is insisting on community consent before giving green signal. Additionally, it also needs to settle issues concerning overlapping compensatory afforestation sites, submit detailed soil erosion control plans, address ecological concerns since the mining project falls under elephant’s habitat area which requires a secured pathway for elephant’s movements.
At the top level, ICICI Bank UK seems to witness a lot of people movement. The latest to quit is Sanya Puri, branch head, ICICI Bank UK Plc Manchester after nearly 14 years of service with the bank in Manchester where she started as operations officer. Puri, who started her career with HDFC Bank moved to the UK in 2011. She has now moved out of the banking space to venture into the information technology arena. The 39-year old has joined 42Gears Mobility Systems (UK) Ltd as their Associate Director – Channel Sales for UK and Europe market. The company has a customer base in more than 170 countries and has pioneered cloud solutions. Sanya joins this sector as Manchester is now recognised as the big hub of Tech innovation in the UK. She follows several top leaders at ICICI who have either resigned or have not returned to India on completion of their term in the UK to explore different opportunities in the corporate world in the UK. Sanya, B Com from Panjab University did her MBA in marketing and finance from Amity University. Her successful track record of overseeing and managing a large portfolio of clients is expected to hold in good stead in the new assignment.
An advertisement about a proposed real estate project in Neral in Raigad district of Maharashtra has triggered a fierce debate with its critics calling it “a Halal Township.” After a controversy snowballed, the builder has taken down the ad. Saying that it was planned to be developed around 100 km from Mumbai, the ad has invited various political and legal lashings. The controversy erupted after the promotional advertisement described it as a “Halal Lifestyle Township.” The audio-visual campaign features a hijab-clad woman. The project will provide an environment for like-minded families, with prayer spaces, community gatherings and a safe atmosphere for children, the developer has promised. However, there are adverse murmurs from within the Muslim community, too. For instance, All India Muslim Jamaat National President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has criticised the use of the word ‘Halal’ in the project and said that it was an attempt to “spread hatred” in society. By using such a name, an attempt is being made to send out a particular kind of message, and that the builders and people involved in this are not working to unite society, rather to spread hatred and create division, he complained. The video was first shared by Priyank Kanoongo, former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The Maharashtra government has been issued a notice over the matter, he has said.
Odisha is now preparing for the biggest leap in the aviation space thanks to the backing of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. He wants to make flying affordable even for those wearing ‘chappals’. In months ahead Odisha government is keen to promote sea planes at Chilika and Hirakud dam. In fact, the minister had announced the creation of the Chilika Water airdrome. It also wants to start heli-taxi from Bhubaneswar-Puri as well apart from pursuing Puri International airport which has already received Centres go-ahead. In terms of spread, the Odisha government is planning to develop 14 airports and 15 heliports across districts who are without air connectivity and also convert 22 unused airstrips by upgrading it suitably. The Odisha government also wants to have a world class aviation flying school and training centre at Dhenkanal for tribal girls including UAV training and aero-sports. The Odisha government has already signed a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agreement with Mumbai-based Air Works, to establish a state-of-the-art facility at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. Sources say this facility will also be used for skill development training and jobs for Odisha youth. In the past 14 months, Odisha has been connected with 15 new destinations already
Pay Rs.500 and cry for an hour in “a safe, non-judgmental space to express emotions.” You can do this at a venue where ‘warm lighting and calming ambience’ will be present. You will be provided with tissues and a cup of tea amidst ‘emotional support music.’ This facility has been advertised by the Cry Club, which has been receiving good response from Mumbaikars. One can visit the therapy at upmarket Linking Road in Bandra West. The concept is not novel. A Healthy Crying Club has been present in Surat, the diamond city of India, since 2017. Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad also are reported to be hosting informal vulnerability circles inspired by Ruikatsu, a Japanese concept on which the concept is based. Ruikatsu means ‘tear activity’ or ‘tear-seeking.’ It has been designed as a wellness trend. Undergoing this, one is encouraged to perform an intentional act of crying. The crying person experiences relief from stress, improvement in emotional health and enhanced mental well-being. According to the Crying Club website, ranting, crying and hugging are encouraged. But you can’t just walk in. You have to buy an online ticket and carry valid identification evidence that you are an adult. This will also allow you to buy alcohol, ‘if available.’ Plus, your behaviour must be decorous. People pay and join the sessions to unburden themselves. The sessions are advertised on the website or tickets are available on BookMyShow.
Growing up is a process. But it isn’t an easy task. It involves quite a challenge. How to navigate the growth challenges? That thought is exercising the minds of the top honchos (read the promoters) of this organisation. This iconic enterprise stood as a shining star in the industrial landscape of Tamil Nadu. Somewhere along, however, it fell into bad times and almost went into oblivion. But the arrival of a new promoter changed the fortunes of this Chennai-based Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd completely. New promoter J Rafiq Ahmed got KICL relisted, helped the company become debt-free, brought investment from a Qatar firm connected to the ruling family, got the organisation to quickly move into areas such as non-leather footwear, drones, publishing, food, waste management et al. Well-meaning Ahmed is a man in a hurry. The man lays much store by empowering women in rural areas. Alert to time sense, he feels that his organisation has to move into the fast lane not just to catch up what it has lost but also to move ahead of others. A robust system is critical as the organisation glides into higher growth orbit. Not surprisingly, he has drafted the service of a top-notch global consultant to put in place an organisational structure which absorbs and addresses the growth challenges. A robust organisation is essential to its sustainability in the long run. The focus is now on putting the systems in place so that the organisation runs without let or hindrance and sans individual bias.
The Paris-headquartered Calderys, a refractory solutions company with presence in over 30 countries, has chalked out big plans for India. It is committed to invest over $100 million in Odisha to cater to both India and APAC countries. At Bhuinpur, Khorda district, Bhubaneshwar it is setting the world’s largest single site production hub for refractories production and steel casting fluxes. The six-phase project has already seen the completion of the first leg of Refractory manufacturing at Bhuinpur, Khorda district. As per reports, full-fledged production at its Khorda plant will begin in the second half of 2026. Calderys APAC Region, Sr Vice President & MD Ish Mohon Garg says “India’s $ 2 billion refractory market is poised to double by 2030, driven by surge in infrastructure, manufacturing and energy projects”. When asked what made Calderys consider Odisha for investments, Garg praised Odisha’s top end bureaucracy saying “we were hypnotised by Odisha, particularly the speed of action, decision making and clarity of thought without any follow up. Everything was wrapped up in three months, thanks to efficient IAS bureaucrats like Hemant Sharma, Bhupendra Singh Poonia at IPICOL and Collectorate & District Magistrate of Khorda and others”. He assured that Calderys will provide cutting edge refractory solutions to its customers. He said the first production line of acidic monolithics refractories having exceptional chemical resistance and thermal stability has already commenced and sales have started for the domestic market. Odisha’s economic growth seems unstoppable. After steel, aluminium, mining, semiconductor forays, the state is now focusing on refractories.
After steel, aluminium and mining leadership, Odisha is now focusing big time on niche semiconductor business. It now wants to contribute to the national semiconductor ecosystem. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet has approved the U.S. chip major Intel-backed 3D glass semiconductor manufacturing unit in Odisha with an investment of Rs 1,943 cr. The plant will be set up by Hetrogenous Integration Packaging Solutions Pvt Ltd with an annual production of 5 crore units. Apart from this a silicon carbide semiconductor plant will also be set up at Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs 2,066 cr by SiCem Pvt Ltd in collaboration with Clas-SIC Wafer Fab, UK to manufacture 9.6 million Silicon carbide chips per year which will be used in missiles, satellites, telecom towers, rockets, railway engines, solar power, fast chargers and others. Immediately, Odisha focus area will be chip assembly and training and workforce development meeting infrastructure needs. Odisha seems confident to take the leap first by chip assembly followed by chip manufacturing, backed by government incentives. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan feels Odisha will emerge as a semiconductor hub because of “PM’s purvodaya vision of Look East Policy.” He said chip manufacturing process is part of PM’s election promise to double Odisha’s income. Sources say, though actual investment will take time to materialise, however serious assessment has already begun where Odisha stands particularly with regard to the availability of engineering talents from IITs, National Institute of Science Education & Research which compliments semiconductor start-ups. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav feels with these plants Odisha will be able to attract the best of brains to Odisha.
Odisha’s KIIT-KISS University promoter Achyuta Samanta is on an image building exercise. It may be recalled that for last one year Samanta, founder of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University and ex-Biju Janata Dal MP, has been mired in controversy over alleged suicide of a Nepalese girl student in his campus and forcible eviction of 1,000 Nepali students from KIIT campus. This move caused a diplomatic embarrassment as India and Nepal enjoy a good relationship. Recently, he invited Hon’ble Justice N Santosh Hegde, Former Judge of the Supreme Court and Former Lokayukta of Karnataka, to KIIT & KISS as chief guest to talk on “Fall in social values and its consequences”. While talking on the subject Justice Hegde heaped praises on Samanta’s contribution to KISS/KIIT institutions. He lauded the generous dedication and remarkable contributions of Dr Samanta, towards humanity and the upliftment of society. Justice Hegde said in his lifetime he has visited 1,861 institutions, yet had never seen anything like KIIT. He praised the exceptional educational infrastructure, cleanliness, and discipline maintained across the campuses. He also noted that KISS Deemed to be University—the higher education wing of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences—is the only university in the world exclusively for indigenous scholars. Justice Hegde compared Samanta with Atlas – the Greek mythology figure who carries the entire load on him, saying Samanta’s institution is second to none. This open praise from an impeccable Justice Hegde has indeed bolstered the tarnished image of Samanta but it has also set tongues wagging.
They are different. And, the play the long-haul game. They do it without much ado. For all that, they have chosen to remain a family owned. Well, Johnson Lifts Pvt Ltd is today an over Rs3000 crore company, commanding a market share in excess of 20% in the Indian organised elevator space. Moving people up and down safely day in day out is their primary focus. To be sure, that’s a 24X7 exercise for them. Selling — nay installing a lift– is one thing. But servicing them till it’s life time — that could be anywhere between 15 and 20 — years is quite an onerous task. That’s where Johnson Lifts has earned the name and reputation for. Not surprisingly, Johnson Lifts finds itself in places like the New Parliament building and the Ram Mandir Ayodhya. Today, Johnson Lifts in an important constituent of the modern infrastructure growth in India. In the emerging geo political dynamics make in India assumes greater focus. And, Johnson Lifts has already achieved a localisation over 90%. A debt free and a family owned enterprise with well spread production network and robust R&D spend is now pining to become an India multinational enterprise. With a headcount over 9000 people, the Chennai based Johnson Lifts has quietly gone on a mission mode.
For the Odisha government, the top priority is to ensure uninterrupted supply of bauxite, the feedstock for Vedanta’s aluminium refinery plant. It does not want a situation that aluminium giant led by Anil Agarwal closes shop in Odisha for want of raw material. This explains why environmentalist activist Medha Patkar and her team were barred for the second time from entering the six gram panchayat at Odisha’s Rayagada district Sijimalli hills, about 350 km from Bhubaneswar, a few days ago. Also, the organisers of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and Maa Mati Mali Suraksha Manch have also been barred from entering the area during this period. The rumour is, Odisha’s tribal chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi couldn’t care less about tribal agitation. Sources say, it’s a done deal having BJD legacy earlier which had issued a 50-year bauxite mining lease in favour of Vedanta at Sijimalli hills covering an area of 1,549 hectares, BJP is now doing carry forward job. This explains why the Majhi government is now getting ready to hand over Vedanta the Sijimalli hills which have approximately 311 million tonnes of bauxite. The handover would displace about 100 families covering 18 villages spread over two districts Rayagada and Kalahandi. For now, Majhi government’s focus is clear– it wants smooth sailing of mandatory environment and forest clearances through public hearings and not encourage any kind of protest or lobbying which will derail Vedanta’s bauxite mining project in Odisha.
Call it election fervour or a pilgrim’s progress, PM Narendra Modi has single-handedly opened up the Temple Parikrama to India’s devotion driven pilgrims. It’s a debatable point to talk about our country being more aware of the Himalayan Shrines and Kasi sacred spots, even the Buddhist temple trails. Has the same importance not been given to the Southern edifices of stunning and amazing temple architecture, the sagacity of the Royal lineage of Cholas and other kings who designed and built temples as the focal point of all cultural, artistic and socioeconomic aspects of life? Every visit of the PM has now showcased these divine wonders. The media has carried the visuals not just pan India but globally. This focus has indirectly enhanced tourism. After multiple visits, Modi is expected to visit Tamil Nadu again on August 28-29 to go to Thiruvannamalai and the majestic Arunachaleswarar Temple. This holy site holds great importance for the Ashram of Saint Ramana Maharshi. Modi is expected to host his Mann Ki Baat from the Chidambaram Temple (the astonishing rock sculptures here portray the 108 Karanas of Bharata Natyam. The Navagraha (nine planets) circuit is perhaps the most inspiring and informative …from Suryanar Koil to Saturn’s abode at Thirunallar (the only Navagriha place which is on the outskirts of TN). There are numerous myths and scientific lores…for example, the Sun’s rays resplendently light up the inner sanctum of Suryanar Koil on Makar Sankranti day …like the SUN temple at Konarak. The mythology and significance of the pantheons is not explained to the tourists. The Vatican has developed audio wearables for every sanctum for guiding the tourist. Maybe our PM can intervene and make it a truly spiritual and fulfilling visit to the Navagraha circuit.
Trade unionism seems to have lost focus in India. It has failed to reform itself to keep pace with economic reforms and globalisation, and changing job scenarios. It is also facing the biggest leadership crisis. The poor public and industry response to the nationwide strike call by 10 central trade unions on July 9, 2025 once again exposed the irrelevance of such an action in a country where the informal sector employs nearly 44 crore workers today, representing 85% of the total workforce. The informal sector encompasses a wide range of activities and workers, including those in agriculture, construction, small factories, domestic work, and various other self-employed and micro-enterprise roles. Workers in this sector don’t enjoy job or wage protection. As a result, the old-style trade unionism has become irrelevant in the present-day scenario. The so-called central trade unions exist mostly in the public sector where they play some constructive role in the collective bargaining, especially for periodical wage settlement. The shrinking public sector is a matter of concern to them. However, they could do little when the government decided to hand over the control of IPCL, a highly profit-making public sector enterprise to the Ambani group’s Reliance Industries. Trade unions also made no attempt to prevent total privatisation of BALCO in favour of Anil Agarwal-promoted Sterlite Industries (now Vedanta) . Of course, the prestigious VSNL to the Tata Group. Between 2014 and 2024, the government disinvested from as many as 179 central PSEs without any resistance from the trade unions. This explains why workers do not trust trade unions. Today’s trade unions lack the leadership of those in the 1970s such as Sripad Dange, BT Ranadive, Satish Loomba, George Fernandes, Mahesh Desai. Few will disagree that currently, the trade union movement in India lacks proper leadership and focus, particularly in the face of economic reforms and globalization.
Kolkata-based tech giant RS Software (India) Ltd has taken its first step into developing a global payments integration platform to ease international trade flows, following its pivotal role in building India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in 2015. The company is set to invest over Rs 100 crore over the next five years to further strengthen its payments network across India — an ambitious move aligned with India’s rising influence in the fintech space. With the government entering into several bilateral agreements to enable members of the Indian diaspora to use UPI for payments abroad, RS Software is actively working with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to integrate these international payment systems. The integration of bilateral payment platforms is currently underway across 10 countries, including the UAE, Singapore, and France. RS Software MD & CEO Raj Jain confirmed the development, noting that UPI’s growing global footprint has opened the door for India to collaborate with other nations on digital payment interoperability. According to Jain, RS Software has been instrumental in executing many of these bilateral integrations alongside NPCI. The company sees immense opportunity in addressing longstanding challenges in cross-border transactions, which in 2024 reached a total value of $162 trillion. These transactions often suffer from high fees, sluggish settlement times, and lack of transparency. Jain feels there is the need to make low-value cross-border payments simpler and more efficient. To closely focus on the next phase of development, the company recently appointed Samik Roy as COO. Roy will be overseeing the integration of international digital payment systems and expanding the company’s global footprint.
In a landmark deal, Tata Motors announced its intention to buy the commercial vehicle business of Iveco group of Italy. The transaction is valued at approximately $4.4 billion. This supposedly strategic acquisition is ostensibly designed to catapult Tata Motors into the league of truly global commercial vehicle manufacturers, significantly expanding its capabilities, reach and resilience in a dynamic global market. What does this signify? A quick trip down time machine will put things in perspective and help understand the changing times and emerging market dynamics. Once upon a time, Iveco had a very strong partnership with Chennai-headquartered Ashok Leyland Ltd. (ALL), the flagship company of the Hindujas. The Italian group had both technical and financial relationship with Ashok Leyland, an arch rival of Tata Motors in the domestic market. Somewhere along, the alliance between Iveco and Ashok Leyland ended for assorted reasons. The Indian dream of the Italian group could not travel to its logical destination. Ashok Leyland subsequently aligned with the Japanese firm to roll out Hino model engines. Given this backdrop, long-time watchers of the automobile industry in India are expecting the acquisition of the commercial vehicle business of Iveco by Tata Motors to seriously alter the domestic playing ground. How will this play out in the coming days? Well, the fingers are crossed at the moment.
Guess who played a very active role in the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK? Param Shah, Group Head — Strategic Communications & Government Relations Arvind Ltd. Shah who has Ph D in management had joined the Ahmedabad-based company some time ago. The reason he could significantly contribute to the FTA is because of his earlier role as director at FICCI UK and Europe. Shah, under the guidance and leadership of Baroness Parashar, submitted the memorandum, and it has been meaningfully incorporated into the final India-UK Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) that marks a historic leap in the bilateral partnership. It may be mentioned that final CETA eliminates tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, directly supporting value-added manufacturing. Before FICCI UK, he was Head, Gujarat State Council, FICCI from 2009 till 2017, followed by his UK stint. Recognising his immense industry knowledge and networking edge, Arvind’s vice chairman Kulin Lalbhai created this role to woo him back to India from the UK. Shah is expected to look after all seven group companies. Insiders say this is a role that involves both Global and India-related work of the companies. Before Shah entered the scene, Lalbhai used to handle this portfolio. Shah’s will also help the Group’s non-business entities, including Ahmedabad University, CEPT University, Ahmedabad Education Society, and ATIRA’s Government and Corporate Affairs related matters.
The century old Registered Post service of the Indian Postal service is being discontinued. It is being merged into a smarter and efficient — Speed Post, according to a circular issued by the Department of Posts. For over a century the registered letter was looked upon as a symbol of credibility, assurance and formality. Whether it be a job offer, legal notice, bank notices, government intimation or a personal letter, Registered Post was not just a service but a part of people’s lives. The Department has given operational streamlining, improved tracking facility and customer convenience as the reason for its merger with Speed Post. As per the circular, all functional guidelines mentioning Registered Post must be amended by July 31, 2025. Terms like Registered Post and Registered Post with Acknowledgement Due — once the very heart of postal communication will be replaced by Speed Post. The launch of the combined service starts from September 1, 2025. Although the transformation may appear trivial when compared to the new age private courier apps and instantaneous tracking services, it has a profound cultural and administrative transformation. Although the Department of Posts assures that speed post will now include all aspects of Registered Post, such as tracking and acceptance of receipt, the issue remains whether it will be able to restore the same measure of trust and ceremonial importance. The age of digital information has already eroded the significance of hard copy letters, but Registered Post was able to maintain its position due to its application in official and legal transactions.
USA President Donald Trump has blinked first under the incessant stare of Indian PM Narendra Modi over the bilateral tariffs issue. The Union Commerce minister Piyush Goyal led trade delegation to USA returned back in a huff over American attempts to brow beat India into the formers’ one-sided tariff pact. “Goyal and delegation negotiated hard and long till he got the cue from PM Modi to break off talks and return home. Not even a day after the Indian trade delegation returned to India, Trump’s crestfallen team went into a huddle and has decided to send a team of U.S. delegates to India to retrieve the situation and still thrash out a trade and tariffs pact,” a person familiar with the developments told shortpost.in. They will be on our turf now with Goyal strategically making public our disinclination to accept American dairy and agro products on American terms. Massive de-dollarization is taking place in the world after many nations emulated India to deal only in their respective currencies internationally which has impacted the U.S. badly. Ascending gold prices (10 gm) crossed Rs 1 lakh price barrier with silver set to reach Rs 1.5 lakh per kg and countries are focussed on their precious metals reserves. With the hegemony of the U.S. dollar all but vanquished, India looks forward to a more balanced trade and tariffs deal with the U.S. even as it exports reliable and durable technology to the world. An Indo-French and Indo-German collaboration in technology, Russian tie-up for fifth generation fighter jets and more has ushered India into the Big Four of the world both economically and politically.
A recent issue of The Economist has a solar plexus hitting writeup about advertising and Artificial Intelligence. The whoosh after this sucker punch was the subject of the annual Holy Grail meet at Cannes where adland titans revealed and predicted a doomsday status to creativity. The crystal balls revealed that human intelligence is overwhelmed by AI. But such “bare all” events are significant as Cannes proved. In this cockroaches and computers head on collision who will survive, who will be eliminated? Surprisingly, the legendary cockroach endures to see yet another epoch, because its survival instincts are too strong. TikTok, Meta and Google put on their fiercest Halloween masks to shock and shake the professionals in denial. Sam Altman, the Moses of AI predicted that 95% of marketing as we know may be AI delivered. The 5% is the surviving cockroach that shall still burrow into the $ 1-trillion ad spend annually on “workmanlike campaigns”. AI is definitely going to impact the landscape …some advertisers are shifting their communication onto billboards. Chennai’s iconic Gemini Circle proved this point in more ways than one. A huge billboard shows a very apt, creative copy (though oldies may be shocked) superimposed on the anatomy of unmistakable bums. The copy then fires …“let Elon Musk explore Mars. Our Mission is Uranus”. Discover a whole new world of colorectal care. The name of this clinic is even more creative — Assana Colorectal & Gut Wellness Clinic. A few years back, such an ad may have brought a smirk to the genteels, who do not discuss rectal troubles, pain in the arse including piles in a group. They called it anal fixation and anal retentive to be dealt with behind bathroom doors. AI has not killed the cockroach…yet.
Odisha’s ambitious metro rail project — Bhubaneswar Metro Rail — has failed to take off. The project launched on January 1,2024 with much fanfare by the then BJD chief minister Naveen Patnaik is still at the drawing board stage. The latest news is that the BJP-run Odisha government has officially scrapped the previous tender and contract awarded to Ceigall India and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the design and construction of Bhubaneswar Metro project due to protracted delays and coordination setbacks. This move throws the project’s immediate future into uncertainty, even as the Odisha government asserts its commitment to revive the ambitious urban transport initiative with a revised blueprint. Ceigall India has indicated plans to pursue compensation legally for the contract termination. It is learnt that the Odisha government has now questioned the viability of the then BJD government’s fully state-funded project stating that currently no official proposal had been sent to by the state to the Centre. A Detailed Project Report submitted by the BJD government indicated the metro project would be financed internally. Political analysts are asking why Mohan Charan Majhi government did not pursue the financing issue with the Centre since it had one year’s time. State’s housing & urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra clarified that his government will submit a revised plan to the Centre with a request for central assistance.
The big news is the Odisha government is now going beyond temple tourism, Buddhist circuit visits, wild life, MICE etc. Its big focus now is to showcase the natural beauty of Mahanadi river at its 25 km Hirakud dam, supporting sustainability, environment preservation and meeting tourist expectations. Hirakud Dam built across the Mahanadi River is the longest earthen dam in the world. Behind the dam extends a 55 km long lake, Hirakud Reservoir. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence. The Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located here. Several species of migratory birds visit the reservoir during winter. Nearly 20-25 species of birds are seen in the reservoir. The Odisha government has chalked up plans to transform Hirakud Dam. Soon the tourists will see floating hotels, caravan parks, laser shows, hot air balloon rides, recreation plazas, adventure sports making it an absolute happening place all this while protecting the fragile ecosystem. To fund the project, the state government has opted for the Centre’s interest free loans scheme falling under SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment). The Odisha government officials are confident that their Hirakud tourism hub plan will attract private sector investment.
This is an annual ritual. Such annual events used to trigger quite an excitement. Well, the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) held its 189th annual general body meeting on the evening of July 25 in Chennai. Vellayan Subbiah, Executive Chairman of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd., a Murugappa group company, addressed the meeting as the chief guest. His coming was indeed significant. Does it reflect a change ? A trip down memory lane will put things in perspective and help one understand the larger implications of the presence of Vellayan Subbiah at the MCCI annual general body meeting. In mid-90s when the global automobile giants were readying to enter India, especially Chennai, a section of leading industrialists in Chennai wanted L Lakshman of Rane group and MCCI past President to steer industry body ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry ) as its President. Ostensibly, he was preferred because of his stature in the auto component industry. But two leading groups – the MA Chidambaram and Murugappa – were pitching for their not so popular family member, heading a firm to be the president of ASSOCHAM. The move by the other side to work for the election of Lakshman as the president of ASSOCHAM reportedly upset these two groups. Consequently, 8 companies each belonging to these two groups moved out of MCCI. The Madras Chamber of Commerce, being the oldest chamber in the country ,was one of the promoters of ASSOCHAM. Given this backdrop, Vellayan Subbiah as Chief Guest at the MCCI annual meet has set tongues wagging. Well, the MCCI mandarins have reasons to cheer as it may signal the end of the turf war that MCCI saw three decades ago.
The Kolkata-based Hindustan Motors Ltd plant which once rolled out the iconic Ambassador cars has been leased out by the West Bengal government to Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd to manufacture rail coaches. The 40 acres of its long-defunct land has been leased out for 99 years. The Rs 126-crore deal will see the plant produce Vande Bharat and Metro train coaches. Hindustan Motors, part of CK Birla Group, began operations in 1957, producing both the Landmaster and Ambassador cars. The latter becoming a symbol of Indian roads for decades. The plant, which ceased operations in 2014 after a “suspension of work” notice post-Lok Sabha elections, struggled for survival amid growing competition and dwindling production; from 700-750 cars per month to 250-300. Even though the then Left Front government supported by making it mandatory, the use of Ambassador cars as taxis it failed to revive the plant. Titagarh Rail Systems, already operating a wagon unit nearby, has bagged major contracts to manufacture Vande Bharat and Metro coaches. And this plant’s strategic location — just 3 km from Delhi Road and close to rail lines — makes it an ideal expansion site. During the company’s 25th anniversary three years ago, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had hinted at land allocation, which has now received official cabinet approval. However, concerns persist over legal and compensation issues for former workers. The Supreme Court recently upheld a Calcutta High Court verdict allowing the state to reclaim 395 acres from Hindustan Motors for public use, including this project. This development brings a ray of hope to Hooghly, a district that has witnessed major industrial exits over the years—from Tata’s Nano in Singur in 2008 to Hind Motors shutdown in 2014 and Dunlop’s closure in Sahaganj.
The big news is Elon Musk’s Tesla, the global electric vehicle (EV) giant, is smelling serious business opportunities in India. Tesla finally made a symbolic official entry into India on July 15 with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurating the showroom located in BKC, Mumbai. On display was Tesla’s imported luxury premium Model Y from its China factory. Sources say, this will act as a foundation when Tesla decides to bring in low cost models for the Indian market at a later stage. For now, Tesla has priced its SUV’s around Rs 60 lakh. Other models will be rolled out over the next 12 months. Does this development mean serious competition for players marquee brands like BMW, Mercedes, VinFast and BYD? Sources say, “For Tesla it’s early days. What is known as of now is the economy model will be introduced once they get good hang of the market.” Apart from Mumbai, Tesla’s second showroom will be opened in New Delhi by end-July. The reasons why Tesla is focusing on its EV luxury segment through its Mumbai and Delhi show rooms now is to rev up demand for China made SUVs, assess business opportunity to justify India’s own production base eventually. For now, Tesla’s job is to focus on India’s demand and build brand awareness.
Migration of India’s well-placed millionaires has now become a concern area for India. As per Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2024, 4,300 millionaires will leave India by the end of 2025 indicating nominal slow down. In 2024, 5,100 Indians moved their houses from India opting to work in Dubai, London, Europe, USA, Singapore and others. This year, though there is a ‘wee bit ‘ slowdown of high networth individuals’ (HNIs) migration, what comes out loud and clear from the report is that for these HNIs, India is no longer where their heart is. They think that greater opportunity, freedom, and stability lie elsewhere. The HNIs have chosen Singapore, Middle East, Dubai, London, Europe and America and other countries as their destination of work, leisure and stay. The worrisome part is, there is now an increasing trend to renounce Indian citizenship as well. As of 2023, over 216,000 Indians holding Indian passports have already surrendered their citizenship. Sanjaya Baru, ex-Media Advisor to Dr Manmohan Singh, in his latest book Secession Of The Successful explores why India as a country increasingly becoming nationalist but the elite and successful are quite happy to migrate to other countries, a trend which is now increasing. He says Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have become Non-Returning Indians. According to him, individuals are leaving India because India has not created an environment to retain the talent. The dichotomy is India’s HNIs chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai” while opting to live and work overseas but not returning to India for good. The challenge for any government is to improve the civic and urban life facilities making it worthwhile for people to come back.
Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE) of the Amalgamations group appears to have used `the naked licensing’ argument to press its claim for the iconic Massey Ferguson brand when it was engaged in legal battle with its over 65-year-old partner AGCO Corporation of the U.S. Of course, both have settled their dispute out of court and TAFE has been confirmed the owner of Massey Ferguson in India and two other countries. The term “naked licensing” in the context of trade mark laws refers to the practice of granting a licensee the right to use a trademark without demonstrating any control or supervision of the trade mark. In this instance, though TAFE has been using the Massey Ferguson brand for over six decades, AGCO had taken virtually no interest or contributed to its development in India. Apparently, this has proved a significant legal roadblock for AGCO to claim the ownership of Massey Ferguson brand in India. Also, TAFE has been strategic in its relationship with AGCO Corporation over the years. Its decision to invest in AGCO (it has over 16% shareholding in the U.S. company) has given TAFE the negotiating edge in effectively sealing its ownership for the Massey Ferguson brand in India. From hindsight, it could be argued that TAFE did well in consistently persuading AGCO Corporation to pare its holding in TAFE gradually from 49% a few years ago to less than 21%. The strategy, assiduously initiated by TAFE over the years, appears to have emerged victorious in the end. If proof is required, the out-of-court settlement is there for all to see.
How credit worthy is the Malayalee! Obviously, with banks depending on credit information bureaus like TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, and CRIF High Mark, Keralites are just not satisfied with their own creditworthiness. This has seen many flocking to private lending agencies like Muthoot Finance, Muthoot Fincorp, Manappuram Finance etc. These private agencies offer their services at much higher interest rates but with less intensive scrutiny and speedy disposal of applications. Experts here say that lack of creditworthiness is also used as a ruse by banks to dissuade current account holders from moving over to other banks with better offers. Recently, a case surfaced of an individual who applied for a housing loan. The application was rejected for want of the required credit score. On close scrutiny, it was revealed that the applicant had earlier taken a two-wheeler loan which was finally settled. But before closing the loan, the loanee had defaulted once which was settled, including meeting the penalty. This is a clear case of the credit information bureaus not updating its stats on a real-time basis and thus depriving an applicant of a housing loan. In this case who is at fault? This has been just one of the many cases highlighted by the Kerala media in recent times. Perhaps, it was because of such news reports that the senior-most Deputy Governor of the RBI, M Rajeshwar Rao, was prompted to say at a conference organised by CIBIL that “We must aspire to have more frequent updates. Real-time or near real-time credit reporting will improve underwriting precision, enable timely reflection of borrower actions like loan closures or repayments and deliver a superior experience.” Sure, all this will entail additional costs because of investments in technology but the benefits will far outweigh the cost.
Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world, has chalked up plans to enter 10 new destinations including four domestic locations in India. UK’s Manchester and Amsterdam are the first two cities identified by IndiGo to start direct flights thus paving the way to enter the European market. Elbers is confident that by 2030 IndiGo global ranking will change, and it will not be labelled as LCC in the European market. He doesn’t see any conflict with its code-sharing partner airlines. Elbers also put to rest the rumours by stating that the direct flight to Manchester will depart/arrive from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Andheri. Yes, IndiGo has a huge hub at the second airport coming at Panvel, Navi Mumbai. The reason for sticking to the city airport is because the new airport as of now lacks adequate connectivity. Meanwhile the Indian diaspora is very happy with IndiGo’s direct flights connecting Mumbai and Manchester. Direct flight is an economic booster as it will save time and money. A study indicates an extra £11.8 mn a year will be spent by additional Indian visitors to the region as a result of the three-times-a-week service between Manchester. Experts say cost, time, and productivity savings worth £9 mn a year will be unlocked. About 234,000 people travel from Manchester airport’s catchment to Mumbai every year. Roughly 70,000 of them flew via Manchester. It is estimated that the new route will increase the overall number of people who travel between Manchester and Mumbai by 21,000 per year.
Lead realtor executing the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), the Gautam Adani group will extend its footprint in Mumbai city with several more slum clusters actively taken up for redevelopment. Well-placed sources say projects in line include Goregaon located Motilal Nagar in the western suburbs, to be followed by the Bharat Nagar slum cluster in the BKC business district. Thereafter, the Kurar slums will be taken up followed by the ghettos in Malwani region in the western suburb of the Mumbai metropolis. “The DRP special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up for the Dharavi recast entails a contractual clause allowing lead developer (Adani) first right of refusal for any slum cluster redevelopment in Mumbai, going ahead. Naturally, even CMs of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh evinced interest in replicating the model for slum redevelopment for their respective political domains, the roadmap to make Mumbai slum-free is on accelerated mode with CM Devendra Fadnavis mandating an eight-year timeline for make the city totally free of slums,” according to a source. Notwithstanding the eight-year deadline to transform 45% of Mumbai’s land mass housing 50% of its population in slum clusters may probably need a couple of years of extension for the target human rehabilitation within a decade. Considering the fact that the Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) was able to provide only 2.5 lakh free homes to slum dwellers over 28 years, the emphasis on real time redevelopment of all slums in the next decade is certainly an ambitious plan but, not undoable.
The number of IPOs on SME Platforms of Exchanges have been declining for some time now. Investors are not showing much of the interest especially in QIB categories. Ditto: HNIs and Retail category investors. Merchant Bankers even after getting the approval want to be fully sure about the success of the public issue and therefore there is delay in opening the issue. It has been also observed that on the day of listing there is huge selling happening which is creating downward pressure on the price of the stocks. Recently few companies got listed at discount to the IPO price and this is further keeping the investors away from the primary market. According to Ajay Thakur, the brain behind BSE SME Exchange, who has now set up his own outfit TGI SME Capital Advisors, “In the first six months of the current calendar year SME Platforms have observed lacklustre performance as response from all categories of investors were lukewarm. However, from last week of June things have started looking up. Most of the SME companies are getting listed at a premium and naturally there is heavy selling on the day of listing. But, the good development is that one is not seeing the euphoria like we saw in 2024. This indicates that Investors are maturing and the expectations are reasonable. Greed is the biggest killer for everyone whether investors or intermediaries or anyone. Intermediaries also need to do proper due diligence before SME companies can tap the capital market.
After 65 years, this tractor company will be a fully Indian organization. Chennai-based Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd. (TAFE) will buy out its partner AGCO Corporation of the U.S. in the company. The American firm has 20.7% in TAFE. This will be bought for a consideration of $260 million. The two were engaged in a legal fight over Massey Ferguson brand. The two have now hammered out a comprehensive out-of-court settlement that is sure to bring the curtain down on the spat between the two. Though TAFE holds 16.3% in AGCO, it has decided to stay out of the board and remain a long-term investor. Significantly enough, this comprehensive agreement confirms TAFE as the sole owner of the iconic Massey Ferguson brand in India and two other countries. Two things emerge out of this agreement. For one, it makes TAFE a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Amalgamation group, a 100% Indian firm at that. For another, the decision to stay out of AGCO board gives TAFE the leeway to chart its own business strategy in the international marketplace. Well, the agreement should do a world of good to both TAFE and AGCO.
TRENDS & VIEWS
Editor’s Note: Short Post Noticed By People Who Matter
Four years have zipped by and we are crossing another milestone on 31st January 2025 – it’s our 4th Anniversary. It feels good.
Looking back at the 1460 days, I must say Short Post has made its mark with people who matter via 4000 stories published in the areas of politics, business, entertainment and sports. All made possible by the unflinching commitment and dedication of our senior editors, most of whom have been part of this journey from Day One.
Small pack, big impact is in essence the story of Short Post which was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. It shows our conviction. In all humility, I can say, we have created a new niche in the news segment space like Hindustan Unilever which created a new segment, when it launched CloseUp Gel.
Yes, we have created a brand (in a limited sense), created demand (readers) and created supply (senior journalists). But we are facing teething problems like all start-ups. What makes us happy and confident is the recognition of our efforts. For instance, we have an arrangement with the OPEN Magazine, part of the $4.5 billion Kolkata-based Sanjiv Goenka-RPG Group. This arrangement sees around 10 Short Post stories posted on OPEN Magazine website every week. This arrangement is testimony that our content has been well received! Also, I may add that the Maharashtra government has recognised Short Post and has allowed our senior editor to cover the Assembly sessions. Ditto: Odisha.
Our goal is to ensure that Short Post becomes a habit. I would like people to keep checking their smartphones to know the latest Authentic Gossip. As regards AI and the fear of it disrupting all businesses including media. On that, personally, I have no such fear as I am confident AI cannot smell news particularly Authentic Gossip. That’s the place we are well entrenched.