Mint Mumbai

India draws up Plan B for oil as Gulf tensions spike

India is exploring contingency plans for crude oil imports as rising tensions in West Asia push global oil prices higher and raise fears of supply disruptions. Oil prices have surged about 7% in the past three sessions following a large US military...

STITCHING TALES OF PROTEST

Disobedient Objects at Delhi’s STIR Art Gallery reimagines fashion as sociopolitical art, spotlighting invisibilised labour, upcycling, and material protest through evocative, research-led textile installations and sculptural garments.

War clouds slam stocks, Nifty dips most since budget

The military build-up in the Persian Gulf and a muddied US interest rate outlook dealt the biggest blow to Indian markets since the Union budget, with investors losing nearly ₹6.8 trillion on Thursday. The benchmark Nifty plunged 1.4% to close at...

How India’s EV adoption is a tale of multiple hues

Solar cell firms eye 50GW capacity at ₹30,000 crore

India’s solar manufacturers are preparing to invest about ₹30,000 crore to build about 50GW of solar cell capacity in fiscal year FY27, racing to comply with new local-sourcing rules that take effect in June. The expansion, led by companies including...

Banks’ insurance boost faces RBI reality check

The regulator’s proposed rules to curb mis-selling of third-party products by banks will likely dent their earnings from insurance policy sales, a ₹22,000-25,000 crorea-year business for lenders. On 11 February, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)...

What’s fuelling the hype around India AI summit?

India’s push for global prominence in artificial intelligence begins today. The AI Impact Summit has driven hotel prices higher in New Delhi, and attendance rates for global heads of state match those seen during the 2023 G20 summit. Why such hype?...

A FAMILIAR, FORMULAIC FOG

From cow dung-stained crime scenes to the mandatory 5-minute murder, the new season of ‘Kohrra’ feels a little too familiar. It’s a smart series with fine actors, but this time, writes Raja Sen, the “slow-burn” might just be a slow crawl.

India’s AI rules and the elusive quest for online safety

India notified its artificial intelligence (AI) rules this week, cutting the deadline for taking down sexual content to within two hours of reporting. For other content, the time given is three hours. Can these moves make social media safer for us?...

Will the latest round of US-Iran talks succeed?

Iran and the US are sitting down to talk again over Tehran’s nuclear programme. What makes these talks different? Iran is on a much weaker footing than in the past. US President Donald Trump, in contrast, is riding high after the successful Venezuela...

In vroom mode

Vehicle sales in January should put smiles on many faces. Overall retail sales, according to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations on Tuesday, grew about 18% from a year earlier to 2.72 million. Not only is the number...

What’s DDGS and what does the deal say?

DDGS is a protein-rich byproduct of ethanol manufacturing using grains like corn and rice. The US mostly uses GM corn for producing ethanol. Therefore, DDGS is a GM-based animal feed used for cattle, poultry, and fisheries. In India, ethanol...

US tariff cuts set to double exports in 4–5 years

With US tariffs sharply reduced and policy uncertainty easing, Indian exporters are gearing up to resume exports at the revised duty rates. Industry executives say the move could double India’s exports to the US over the next four to five...

DRESS UP FOR THE GALLERY

When the art fair comes to the Capital, so does fashion. Lounge puts together a guide for those who want to wear their art on their sleeve with prints, colour, scarves, jewellery stacks, statement pieces, and more.

What’s Claude Cowork and its 11 plugins?

Claude Cowork is a software using which you can automate nontechnical parts of your work. This includes sorting invoices, handling inventories and even maintaining a flow of orders from customers. Adding to Cowork are a set of 11 sector-specific...

Chinese shipments

For all the talk about either restraining or rebalancing trade with China, India’s dealings with it are rising. In 2025, trade reached a record $155.6 billion, up 12%, according to Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong. Within it, Indian exports rose 9.7%, he...

Market upshift?

97,770 1,51,858 After nearly one-and-a-half years of broad weakness, India’s stock market began to flash signs of a revival on Tuesday. The BSE Sensex jumped more than 4% in early trade before closing 2.5% higher at 83,739, while the rupee...

What did the Budget say about artificial intelligence?

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned artificial intelligence in her Budget speech 11 times in total, which was decidedly more than before. Artificial intelligence again was mentioned in connection with the offering of public services,...

Continued focus

Budget 2026—finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth—doesn’t hold big-bang announcements, but promises to provide the boost the Indian economy needs to sustain its high growth. Here are nine focus areas that the budget touched upon. Over to the...

KUTCH BUILDS ON THE ‘BUNGA’

Twenty-five years after the 2001 earthquake, Kutch has transformed tragedy into a blueprint for resilience, blending the knowledge of ‘bhunga’ mud huts with modern engineering to redefine community led rehabilitation.

What is the key challenge for farmers?

Ample rains last year boosted food production during the kharif crop season by 2.3% to 173 million tonnes in 2025-26. But crop prices have been on a decline. In fact, food prices saw deflationary trend from June to December when retail prices were 2.7%...

Will yields soften?

Combined population Share of global GDP (%) Bilateral trade ($ billion) India-EU FTA EU-Mercosur deal It’s not typical of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to abruptly change its schedule of open market operations. So when it did so this week, it...

What is Trump’s board of peace?

The BoP was part of Trump’s vision for post-war Gaza. Outlined in his initial peace plan for the Middle East, it was made public in September. It was then called the “new international transitional body.” In November, the UNSC formally backed the BoP,...

MUSICIANS AMP UP THEIR STYLE

From stage to street, Indian musicians are turning up the volume on style. As concert culture booms, fashion is no longer an afterthought—it is a crucial part of an artist’s identity, persona and performance.

What led to the creation of Nato?

US President Trump (R) with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in Davos. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) was created in 1949 as a bulwark against Soviet expansion and communism. It had 12 founding members: the US, Canada, the UK, Belgium,...

What do the Q3 results of IT majors indicate?

The Q3 earnings indicate that pain points persist for IT services companies, which are now staring at a third straight year of glacial growth. Revenue growth has slowed amid macroeconomic headwinds, cautious client spending, and prolonged...

What is the crux of the issue?

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) found that several walkie-talkie listings on platforms such as Meesho and Amazon failed to disclose the frequency band used, whether a government licence was required, and if the product had obtained the...

What is the current condition of discoms?

After over 10 years of losses, discoms reported a cumulative net profit of ₹2,701 crore for FY25 compared with losses of ₹25,553 crore in FY24, shows power ministry data. The sector, however, continues to be been under stress with a cumulative debt of...

Slippery tax slope

Last week’s Supreme Court judgement holding Tiger Global liable for paying tax on capital gains made on its 2018 sale to Walmart of its stake in Flipkart held through entities in Mauritius might have opened a Pandora’s box. It denies Tiger Global...

SNEH RANA’S COMEBACK

Sneh Rana is basking in cricketing glory like never before in her long career. She was part of the squad that won the World Cup and has landed a ₹50-lakh contract with Delhi Capitals. Rana tells Lounge why she’s called a “rebel”.

Why smartphone firms want to guard their source codes

As India moves to tighten mobile phone security, reports that it may seek forcible access to smartphone makers’ source code for official scrutiny have stirred unease, even as the government has denied proposing any such mandate. Mint decodifies the...

Infosys joinspeers as IT sector sees revival

Infosys Ltd reported betterthan-expected results for the December quarter, adding to early signs of a demand recovery in India’s $283-billion information technology (IT) services industry, even as margin pressures persist. After posting modest...

Budget to lay down India’s blueprint for AI, deeptech

Artificial intelligence (AI) may get the pride of place in the upcoming Union budget, with the Centre crafting a long-term blueprint to support the emerging sector against the backdrop of China’s technology ascent. The finance ministry is steering the...

THE POWER OF STORIES

As attention spans shrink and oral traditions fade, festivals like Udaipur Tales are reviving the ancient ways of live storytelling, bringing together folk performers, contemporary voices, children and first-time narrators.

Why crude oil is ignoring the Venezuela shock

Despite regime change in Venezuela, oil prices are range-bound. While lifting sanctions unlocks the world’s largest reserves, traders are wary of Venezuela’s poor infrastructure and supply glut. Mint explains why the market is ignoring the headlines...

Why Indian firms often challenge drug patents

Natco’s revocation patent suit against Novo Nordisk intensifies the battle between domestic generic giants and global innovators over affordability. As we look ahead at another year of high-stakes battles, Mint unpacks the legal landscape and who wins...

Can gig workers form traditional unions in India?

Gig workers’ unions organised a strike on New Years’ Eve demanding better working conditions. Zomato’s founder Deepinder Goyal said that the strike failed because gig work was valuable. But how do Indian labour laws treat gig workers and their unions?...

Why Elon Musk’s Grok made the IT ministry fret

Ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) ordered Elon Musk’s X to remove sexually explicit Grok-generated AI images in 72 hours, mentioning regulatory tension on AI safety, public safety, and platform accountability. Here’s what...

ART BEYOND SOUTH MUMBAI

Mumbai Gallery Weekend 2026, which opens on 8 January, is stepping out of South Mumbai and discovering new locations, giving audiences across the city a chance to be part of the conversation on contemporary art.

What lies ahead for the real estate sector in 2026

Healthy growth in key real estate asset classes—housing, office and logistics—is expected to continue in 2026, with non-residential segments likely to outperform. While the residential sector slowed in 2025, office and logistics offer greater scope for...

Risks loom, but India has buffers, says RBI

The fate of Vodafone Idea Ltd hangs in the balance, with the Union cabinet on Wednesday clearing a relief plan that punctured hopes, hammered its shares, and shook the company’s fundraising hopes. According to officials familiar with the matter, the...

Will jobs perish and data centres flourish?

The boom in India-born AI models and Indian datasets is likely to drive the growth of data centres. Announcements worth over $50 billion were made this year to establish data centres in India; onground implementations will begin in 2026. Homegrown...

Budget may pitch ₹25,000 cr infra risk guarantee fund

The Centre is working on a ₹25,000-crore safety net for infrastructure projects to ease financing bottlenecks and revive stalled projects, two people familiar with the plans said. The fund, proposed on the lines of credit guarantee schemes for small...

Why are countries offering visas to digital nomads?

Last week, Bulgaria joined a growing list of nations offering digital nomad residence permits, underscoring how remote work is being integrated into immigration policy. The pandemic-era experiment has gone mainstream. Mint breaks down how it works: 1...

A SPORTS YEAR IN A PICTURE

Rohit Brijnath goes beyond the byline to celebrate the planning that goes into sports photography. With their masterful perspective and split-second genius, photographers turn moments of athletic chaos into art.

What airline NOCs signal for Indian aviation

Civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu tweeted that three proposed airlines—Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress— have received no-objection certificates (NOCs). Mint explains what the government’s NOC actually signifies. 1 Is this the...

Has homebuying become more affordable now?

Centre mulls plan to energize India’s wind power engine

The Union government is working on a blueprint to revive the once-buoyant wind power sector by addressing key concerns, including land acquisition hurdles and lack of grid connectivity, said three people with knowledge of the development. The Centre...

What pros & cons does this asset class have?

A key advantage is that it enables fractional ownership of highvalue, illiquid assets such as real estate or collectibles. This lowers the entry barrier and broadens access to asset classes traditionally reserved for wealthy individuals or...

Centre weighs compliance relief for MSMEs in budget

The government is considering easing the goods and services tax (GST) compliance burden for small businesses in the Union Budget for the next fiscal, according to two people familiar with the matter, at a time when US tariffs have disproportionately...

THE SPORTING HIGHS OF 2025

The year in sports has been full of ups and downs. Football and hockey have been underwhelming, but it’s been excitement all the way in archery, badminton, tennis and of course, women’s cricket.

New code to overhaul securities market rules

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday tabled the Securities Markets Code 2025 Bill in the Lok Sabha to consolidate and simplify India’s numerous securities rules, enhance the accountability of regulatory officials, and improve grievance...

Rupee at record lows: What could arrest the slide?

The Indian rupee continued to languish near record lows against the US dollar on Wednesday, touching an intraday low of 91.06, before recovering after a likely Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervention that helped it to close at 90.37. It has lost over...

How India aims to rewrite rules for higher education

The Centre is preparing a sweeping reset of India’s higher education regulatory structure through the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which aims to replace the current regulator-centric model. As a parliamentary panel vets the bill, Mint...

Will water, power trip data centre growth in India?

In 2025, up to $70 billion has been pledged to develop 6 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity in India. While this could power India’s AI ambitions, experts warn that limited freshwater supplies and the need for uninterrupted energy may hurt the...

Crypto kings

Tether ranks as the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency by market value, underscoring how central stablecoins are becoming to the global crypto ecosystem. 90,222 3,116 1 895 2 Why are stablecoins seen as ‘stable’? Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies...

ON A LUCKNOW FOOD TRAIL

Think food and Lucknow, and most will say biryani and kebabs, but there’s more to savour in this historic city. From puri-aloo to everyday veggies, chaats, kachoris, and malai paan,there’s a range of foods to taste.

Hostility premium

103 114 98 102 91 90 A hostile bid for a company may sound ominous, but it’s usually a scare only for its management. So too in the case of US-based film studio Paramount’s offer this week to buy all of Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) for $108 billion...

Dirty air trick: How farmers outsmart vigil

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana are burning paddy stubble late in the day after monitoring satellites pass over, says a study by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iForest), released on 8 December. Mint brings the...

Microsoft steps up India AI game with $17.5 billion

Microsoft Corp. chief executive Satya Nadella on Tuesday marked the year’s second visit to India with a commitment to invest $17.5 billion in data centres, hours after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. That brings Microsoft’s total...

IndiGo crisis: Government vows tough action

The Union government on Monday vowed stringent action against India's largest airline IndiGo, after mass flight cancellations over the past week stranded travellers across the country. However, while the Centre claimed IndiGo had never raised any...

IndiGo to hire 900 pilots, but it’s a tough job ahead

IndiGo is moving to rapidly rebuild its pilot pool after a shortage nearly grounded its network last week, outlining a plan to add 158 pilots by 10 February and 742 more by December next year. Experts, however, say meeting the target will be...

AT HOME WITH MONSTERS

From his earliest films to the new version of ‘Frankenstein’, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro’s work has featured memorable screen monsters. They are often far more humanised than del Toro’s human villains

Falling rupee leaves few Indian winners

The Indian rupee’s recent slide beyond the 90-perdollar mark offers little relief to its exporters, most of which are struggling under the weight of crippling tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration. The only clear winners are the country’s...

What was the thinking behind making the app a must?

Launched in May 2023, Sanchar Saathi, developed and maintained by the department of telecommunications (DoT), allows users to voluntarily report loss or theft of mobile phones and duplication of SIM cards. In March last year, the ministry of...

What are companies offering?

High-frequency trading (HFT) firms such as Quadeye, Graviton Research Capital, NK Securities, Quantbox Research, and Squarepoint Capital are offering performance and joining bonuses to lock in candidates immediately after offers are made during the IIT...

Consumption engine fires up while GST growth cools

India's September tax cuts put the brakes on revenue growth but delivered the consumption boost as intended, government officials said. The Centre and states together collected goods and services tax (GST) revenue of ₹1.7 trillion in November, only...

Is Big Tech’s AGI fixation inflating the AI bubble?

Big Tech is pouring billions into artificial intelligence (AI) in the belief that some form of artificial general intelligence (AGI) or artificial superintelligence (ASI) could emerge by the end of the decade. But critics warn this may be further...

THE DHARAMS WE LOVE

There are so many Dharmendras to love and value, both on and off screen. He had an immense aura but wore it casually, donned many roles and inhabited them all with authenticity. Our tribute to the versatile actor.

TO HOST THE CWG?

Ahmedabad has been chosen as the host of 2030 Commonwealth Games. While it serves as a prestigious moment for India, high costs and overruns have been a major concern in hosting these games. In 2010, when New Delhi hosted the games for the first time,...

Why computers are selling like hot cakes again

Sales of laptops, desktops and tablets had a bad time in India after a pandemic boom. But, since 2024 they are doing brisk business again. Personal computer shipments reached a record high of 4.9 million units in Q2, IDC said. What caused the...

What was the Supreme Court’s order?

In its 19 November order, SC accepted a settlement proposal from the Sterling Biotech promoters Nitin and Chetan Sandesara. SC said all cases filed by Central Bureau of Investigation and by Enforcement Directorate, Serious Fraud Investigation Office,...

Inverted duty fix is next on GST agenda

After slashing goods and services tax (GST) rates in September, the Centre and states are now gearing up to fix the tax system’s next fault line: inverted duty structures. The GST Council has set its eyes upon correcting the anomaly across a range of...

How new labour codes impact your gratuity, PF

The new labour codes have overhauled how wages, gratuity, provident fund (PF), pension and other social security benefits are calculated. These changes impact employees and employers alike. Mint explains who benefits and what happens to take-home...

Major tariff cut for India, says Trump, as trade deal nears

US president Donald Trump said tariffs on India will be lowered “very substantially”, signalling an easing of tensions over New Delhi's Russian oil purchases as the two countries near a trade deal. Mint first reported on 22 September that US tariffs...