Business

New Delhi: The Indian Railways has once again revised the rules regarding the preparation of train reservation charts. According to the latest update, the first reservation chart for a train will now be finalized at least 10 hours before departure from the originating station, an increase from the previous 8-hour timeline. Why the Change? For many passengers, securing a confirmed reservation has become a challenge. Often, travelers book tickets in the hope that the chart will confirm their seats, but frequently their tickets remain on the waiting list, forcing them to return home after carrying luggage to the station. Earlier, the chart was prepared 4 hours before departure, causing significant inconvenience. The Railway Board had adjusted this timing in July this year, and now it ha...

New Delhi: E-commerce company Meesho, which recently debuted on the stock market, saw its shares surge to the upper circuit in early trading, climbing nearly 95% above its issue price. The stock hit ₹216.35, with the company’s market capitalization reaching around ₹98,000 crore. UBS has initiated coverage on Meesho with a “Buy” rating, setting a target price of ₹220. The brokerage highlighted Meesho’s asset-light business model, low working capital requirements, and consistent positive cash flow, which distinguish it from many other internet companies. UBS projects strong annual growth of 30% (CAGR) in Net Merchandise Value (NMV) from FY25 to FY30. By FY30, contribution margin and adjusted EBITDA margin (as a percentage of NMV) are expected to rise to 6.8% and 3.2%, respectively. Rob...

Mumbai: Investors who subscribed to the ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC) IPO are eagerly awaiting their allotment results, which are expected today, 17 December 2025. The IPO, a subsidiary of ICICI Bank and the second-largest AMC in India, had a total issue size of ₹10,602 crore and is set to list on the BSE and NSE on 19 December 2025. Grey Market Premium (GMP) Surges:Before the allotment, the grey market premium (GMP) climbed to approximately ₹368 per share, indicating that the IPO could list at around ₹2,500 per share, well above the issue price of ₹2,165. While GMP signals potential short-term gains, long-term returns will depend on market conditions and the company’s performance. Checking Allotment Status:Investors can check their allotment in multiple ways: 1....

New Delhi: Delhi commuters are set to get a New Year gift as the Bharat Taxi App is scheduled to launch on 1 January 2026, offering a government-backed alternative to Ola and Uber. Developed on a cooperative model, the app aims to benefit both passengers and drivers, with drivers receiving over 80% of the fare while passengers enjoy normal pricing even during peak hours. Cooperative Model Benefits:The app will be operated by Sahkar Taxi Co-operative Limited, emphasizing a driver-owned and passenger-friendly system. The service will include cars, autos, and bikes, and is expected to bring a significant shift in Delhi’s taxi sector by prioritizing the interests of both drivers and riders. Trial Success and Driver Participation:The trial phase in Delhi has been completed successfully, w...

Mumbai: A penny stock under Re 1 is making waves on the NSE, delivering spectacular returns and hitting the upper circuit almost daily. The company, Auri Grow India Limited, is engaged in agriculture, agri-tech, and export-oriented operations, and has caught the attention of investors with its rapid growth. Exceptional Returns:While the Nifty 50 gained just 0.36% in a month and 0.63% in a week, Auri Grow India delivered a 70.59% return in the past month and 22.54% in the last week alone. The stock has been consistently closing at its upper circuit, reflecting strong investor demand. On 16 December, the stock closed at Rs 0.83, and today morning it reached Rs 0.87, again hitting the upper circuit. Why the Stock is Surging:The recent surge is driven by a Letter of Intent (LoI) from Hon...

New Delhi: India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, has made a significant mark on the international aviation front. During the July–September 2025 quarter, IndiGo carried more international passengers than Air India and Air India Express combined—marking the first time the carrier has overtaken the Tata Group-owned airline in international traffic. According to DGCA data reported by TOI, this surge comes in the aftermath of a tragic Air India flight accident in Ahmedabad on 12 June, which claimed 260 lives. Following the incident, Air India cut approximately 15% of its long-haul flights, slightly denting passenger confidence in the airline. During the July–September period, IndiGo transported 4.136 million international passengers, while Air India and Air India Express combined car...

New Delhi: The National Pension System (NPS) has undergone significant reforms aimed at making it more flexible and attractive for subscribers across the government, private, and NPS-Lite schemes. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced changes that enhance retirement planning and provide greater control over withdrawals. Here are 10 major changes that NPS subscribers should know: 1. Investment Age Extended to 85 Years:Subscribers can now continue investing in NPS until the age of 85, up from the previous limit of 75. This applies to both government and non-government subscribers, allowing more time to accumulate wealth for retirement. 2. Reduced Annuity Requirement:Previously, subscribers had to use 40% of their accumulated corpus to purchase an ...

New Delhi: India is rapidly emerging as a major hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI), and global tech giant Google has announced a multi-million-dollar investment to advance AI initiatives across healthcare, agriculture, education, and sustainable development. The announcements were made during the Lab to Impact event, held in collaboration with the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The largest portion of $8 million will be allocated to four AI Centers of Excellence—at IISc Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Roorkee—to drive projects in healthcare, agriculture, education, and urban governance. Targeted AI Initiatives: Wadhwani AI will receive $4.5 million to develop AI solutions for health (Health Vaani) and agriculture (Agrivaani/Garuda). To promote linguistic diversity, I...

New Delhi: Lalit Keshre, co-founder and CEO of Groww, the parent company of BillionBranes Garage Ventures Limited, has officially joined the list of Indian billionaires. Since Groww’s public listing, Keshre’s net worth has soared, making him one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in India, with his 9.06% stake valued at over ₹9,448 crore. His journey from a farmer’s family in Lepa village, Madhya Pradesh, to the top echelons of the Indian startup ecosystem is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and entrepreneurial vision. From Village School to IIT Bombay:Born in a small farmer family in Lepa village, Khargone district, Keshre spent his early years with his grandparents, facing financial constraints. Despite limited educational resources, he attended the only English-medium school in ...

New Delhi: The local stock markets ended lower on Tuesday, reflecting concerns over foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, the rupee hitting record lows against the dollar, and weak global cues. The BSE Sensex fell 533.50 points (0.63%) to 84,679.86, while the NSE Nifty 50 dropped 167.20 points (0.64%) to 25,860.10. During intraday trading, Sensex briefly touched 84,620.61, down 592.75 points. Sectoral Performance:Among Sensex constituents, Axis Bank recorded the largest decline of 5.03%. Other laggards included Eternal, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, UltraTech Cement, and Bajaj Finance. On the upside, shares of Titan, Bharti Airtel, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Asian Paints witnessed positive momentum. Stocks Showing Strong Buying:Analysts noted strong buying activity ...