The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p

The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded senior bureaucrats in Delhi, including the Chief Secretary, for the delayed payment of dues to construction workers impacted by the city's construction ban aimed at reducing pollution. The court had ordered that workers should be compensated during the ban, which was imposed on November 18, but only partial payment had been made. The government had promised ₹8,000 to over 90,000 workers, but many had only received ₹2,000 as an immediate relie

Oil prices have shown remarkable stability, remaining in a narrow range since mid-October, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fluctuating around $70 per barrel. This rangebound trend has been characterized by a significant drop in volatility, with recent levels at their lowest since August. Despite ongoing geopolitical risks, such as the tensions between Iran and Israel and the potential impacts of a second Donald Trump presidency, traders have remained cautious. The market's curren

Devendra Fadnavis is poised to begin his third term as Maharashtra's Chief Minister, with an oath-taking ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. This follows a period of suspense over the leadership of the newly-formed BJP-led Mahayuti government, which secured a sweeping victory in the recent state elections. Today, the BJP core committee officially finalized Fadnavis as its choice for Chief Minister, bringing an end to the uncertainty surrounding the post. Hi

In its ongoing efforts to reform public policies, the NDA government has now turned its focus on the education sector. Following changes in policies related to sand and liquor, the government is now preparing to revive an initiative aimed at reducing student dropouts in government junior colleges. IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh has announced plans to reinstate a government-funded mid-day meal scheme, initially introduced by the TDP in 2018. The program was designed to encoura

In response to growing concerns over liquor shops charging more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for bottled liquor, the Andhra Pradesh government has introduced strict corrective measures. A new Government Order (G.O.) has been released, which imposes a fine of Rs 5 lakh for the first offense if liquor stores are found violating MRP regulations. The government aims to ensure that consumers are not charged unfair prices and that liquor sales are conducted with transparency. The n

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to maintain the status quo on the benchmark repo rate at 6.5% in its upcoming meeting from December 4 to 6. Despite India's GDP growth slowing to 5.4% in the July-September quarter, economists suggest that inflation concerns will likely take precedence, making a rate cut unlikely in December. Retail inflation rose to 6.2% in October, exceeding the RBI’s target range of 2-6%. Though a repo rate cu

As of October 2024, the Union government's fiscal deficit for the financial year 2024-25 stands at 46.5% of the total budgetary target, amounting to Rs 7.5 lakh crore. This is in line with the government's fiscal consolidation strategy, which aims to bring down the fiscal deficit to 4.9% of GDP for the year, an improvement from the previous fiscal year's target of 5.6%. The fiscal deficit gap, which represents the difference between government expenditure and revenue, is

Norwegian diplomat and former UN Environment Programme Executive Director Erik Solheim has strongly criticized the US government's recent report regarding the Adani Group, calling it a case of "American overreach." The report alleges that certain individuals linked to the Adani Group discussed bribes to secure solar energy contracts in India, but Solheim pointed out that the allegations lack evidence of actual bribe payments or involvement from the Adani Group’s top leader

In a recent initiative to transform Andhra Pradesh into a technology hub, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu introduced a comprehensive new IT policy designed to promote Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence. During a review meeting, Naidu revealed plans to build an iconic Deep-Technology structure in Amaravati, aimed at harnessing the latest advancements in technology. The state government also announced a seed funding scheme under the Start-Up Policy to support SCs, STs, BCs, minorities, a

On the 75th anniversary of the adoption of India's Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his commitment to performing his duties within the Constitution's framework. In his speech at the Supreme Court during Constitution Day celebrations, he clarified that his actions have always aligned with constitutional provisions without overstepping boundaries. Modi addressed opposition claims that efforts were underway to undermine the Constitution and asserted that his governme

Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, who is also overseeing the Panchayat Raj and Forestry Departments, has raised concerns over the whereabouts of two luxury BMW cars that were seized during a sandalwood trafficking bust. The vehicles were confiscated during the TDP government's tenure (2014-2019) following a major sandalwood smuggling operation. After their seizure, the high-end BMW cars were allocated to officers within the Forestry Department—one to the Special

The government of Andhra Pradesh, under the leadership of the NDA camp, is addressing pressing issues left by the previous administration, including the growing loan app culture. These loan apps are increasingly becoming a threat to the public, with many individuals falling victim to their deceptive practices. In a significant statement in the Assembly, Home Minister Anitha spoke out about the severe consequences of loan apps, which initially attract users by offering easy loans wit

The 1990 Immigration Act brought significant changes to the H-1B visa program and employment-based green cards, imposing caps of 65,000 and 140,000 annually, respectively. These restrictions were implemented without considering the growing demand for skilled labor fueled by technological advancements. The arbitrary cap on H-1B visas quickly became insufficient as more than 70% of graduate students in tech fields at US universities were international students. In response to the escalat

The tyrant rule of YCP is far gone but the repercussions of the same are still very much persistent in the social fabric. Proving this point right, a Vijayawada TDP leader committed suicide after being put through hell by certain men from the YCP ecosystem. Going into the story, Karampudi Ravindra is a native of Vijayawada and he is reportedly active in TDP. However, his life went to hell when he was targeted by a group of YCP leaders over unpaid dues. Reportedly, Ravindra had R

Gannavaram’s ex-MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi, who made headlines for his controversial switch from TDP to YSR Congress, is now facing scrutiny from the AP government over allegations of irregularities in gravel mining activities. Vamsi, who once held significant political power in the region, now finds himself at the center of a potential investigation that could have serious consequences. The government has initiated vigilance on Vamsi and has indicated that a CID investigation may be

Donald Trump’s presidential appointments of Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz mark a decisive shift in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to China. Rubio, tapped as Secretary of State, and Waltz, named National Security Advisor, represent a hawkish approach to international relations, one that sharply contrasts with

The serious comments made by Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan against the lackadaisical attitude of the police and their alleged soft stand towards YSR Congress party activists seem to have stirred up action within the Naidu government. Hours after Kalyan's remarks, the government took strict action against Kadapa superintendent of police Harshavardhan Raju for being lenient towards a YSRCP activist involved in abusive social media postings a

Donald Trump’s recent vow to stop renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind farms, on the first day of his potential presidency has raised alarm bells across the clean energy sector. In a statement that shocked industry leaders, Trump promised to “make sure that ends on day one,” referring to the offshore wind farms that are seen as a key component of the Biden administration’s green energy agenda. The pledge sent ripple effects through the stock market, wi

The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House in 2024 raises important questions about the future of India-US relations. A second Trump presidency could bring significant shifts across several key areas, including trade, immigration, military cooperation, and broader diplomatic engagement. During his first term, Trump’s “America First” agenda and his transactional approach to foreign policy led to major policy changes such as tariffs on foreign goods