New Delhi: Consumers may have to pay more for LED televisions starting January, as rising memory chip prices and a weakened Indian rupee are expected to push TV prices up by 3-4%. This development poses a significant challenge for TV manufacturers, who rely heavily on imported components. Rupee Depreciation Adds PressureThe Indian rupee recently crossed the ₹90-per-dollar mark for the first time. Only around 30% of an LED TV is manufactured domestically, while critical components like open cells, semiconductors, and motherboards are imported. With the rupee weakening, the cost of these imports rises, directly impacting retail prices. Memory Chip Shortage Intensifies the ProblemThe global memory chip shortage, driven by surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI servers, ha...

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a significant step by appointing Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin as the party’s National Executive President, effective 14 December 2025. Known for his organizational skills, grassroots connect, and administrative expertise, Nitin Nabin’s elevation is expected to strengthen BJP’s position both in Bihar and national politics. At a relatively young age, he has become the party’s youngest National Executive President. Political Career and AchievementsNitin Nabin has been elected four times as MLA from the Bankipur constituency, continuing the political legacy of his late father, Naveen Kishore Prasad Sinha. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, he defeated RJD candidate Rekha Kumari by 51,936 votes, subsequently becoming a minister in the Nitish Kumar-...

New Delhi: India is set to strengthen its trade ties with Russia, with plans to expand exports across 300 identified products. The initiative comes as both nations aim to mitigate trade concerns following U.S. tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump, which affected Indian exports. The selected products include engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and chemicals. A senior official told PTI that this move is part of efforts to achieve a $100 billion bilateral trade target by 2030. Currently, India exports only $1.7 billion worth of these products to Russia, whereas Russia imports a total of $37.4 billion in the same categories. The significant gap highlights the immense growth potential for Indian exporters. Increasing exports to Russia is also expected to...

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for dense fog in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Noida and Ghaziabad, urging residents to exercise caution. Night temperatures are expected to drop to 8.2°C, according to the IMD. Meanwhile, the air quality in Delhi has deteriorated sharply, reaching the ‘Severe Plus’ category, with AQI crossing 450. On Monday morning, Ashok Vihar recorded an AQI of 500, indicating extremely poor air quality. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities and take necessary precautions, as air pollution levels are likely to remain high in the coming days.

India’s textile sector is not merely an industry—it is the heartbeat of millions of livelihoods, a repository of tradition, and a driver of technological progress. Over the past 11 years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the sector has witnessed visionary reforms, policy support, and structural transformation, fostering new confidence, opportunities, and global recognition. Supporting Farmers: The Foundation of the Value ChainThe textile value chain begins in the fields. Recognizing this, the government prioritized protecting farmers from market uncertainties, middlemen pressures, and price fluctuations. Between 2004-2014, government agencies procured 173 lakh cotton bales, which surged to 473 lakh bales during 2014-2024—an unprecedented 173% increase. Cotton MSP (Min...

New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched the Karmayogi Housing Scheme-2025 exclusively for government employees. The brochure for the scheme will be released on December 19, and registrations for flats will start the same day. Under this scheme, 1,169 new flats are available across one BHK, two BHK, and three BHK configurations, with government employees eligible for up to 25% discount. The scheme is open to employees of the Central and State governments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), public sector banks, local bodies, autonomous institutions, and universities. Location and PricesAll flats are located in Narela, spread across pockets A1 to A4 and Pocket-9. 1 BHK: 320 flats priced between ₹45.37 lakh and ₹45.71 lakh; after discount, prices range from ₹34....

Haryana-based engineer Sumit Giri took a bold step by quitting his corporate job to start a vermicompost (earthworm compost) business—and the results have been phenomenal. In the financial year 2024-25, his company achieved a revenue of ₹45 lakh. From Engineering to Marketing to EntrepreneurshipSumit Giri’s journey began in the field of electrical engineering, earning his B.Tech from Karnal University. He then spent seven years working in marketing for a French company. Extensive travel and an irregular lifestyle during this period took a toll on his health, prompting him to rethink his career. In 2021, motivated by the desire for a stable routine and more family time, Sumit began exploring business ideas that required low investment but had consistent demand. His research led him to...

New Delhi: Domestic stock markets continued their upward momentum on Friday, marking a second consecutive day of gains. Positive global cues and strong buying in metal stocks propelled both key indices higher. The BSE Sensex rose 449.53 points, or 0.53%, closing at 85,267.66, after touching an intraday high of 85,320.82. The NSE Nifty advanced 148.40 points, or 0.57%, to finish at 26,046.95, reclaiming the 26,000 level. Among Sensex constituents, shares of Tata Steel, Eternal, UltraTech Cement, L&T, Maruti, and Bharti Airtel closed higher. In contrast, Hindustan Unilever, Sun Pharma, ITC, and Asian Paints saw declines. Stocks Showing Strong BuyingInvestors showed strong interest in Transformers & Rectifiers, Anant Raj, Hindustan Zinc, Hindustan Copper, GMR Airports, Choice...

New Delhi: The threat of climate change has intensified, demanding urgent and large-scale action in India. A new report by McKinsey Global Institute warns that if global temperatures rise by 2°C, India—and the broader China region—will need to spend over $200 billion annually (around ₹18.6 lakh crore) by 2050 on climate protection. Currently, India spends just $15 billion (≈₹1.3 lakh crore), covering only 13% of the required expenditure, leaving most of its population exposed to heatwaves, floods, droughts, and other climate hazards. The report, Advancing Adaptation: Mapping Costs from Cooling to Coastal Defense, provides a detailed analysis of the costs required to protect against climate-related risks. Globally, 4.1 billion people face climate threats, yet only 1.2 billion have adequa...

New Delhi: December has seen increased volatility in the Indian stock market, driven by a trio of concerns that have spooked foreign investors. According to market analysts, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have intensified their selling compared to November, primarily due to the delay in the US-India trade agreement, a rising trade deficit, and negative sentiment surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India. Asian markets have also experienced profit-taking, which has weighed on India’s performance. FIIs are securing gains after strong returns in markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in 2025. The Nikkei, Hang Seng, KOSPI, and Shanghai indices have delivered dollar returns of 27.5%, 29.5%, 73.7%, and 16% respectively so far this year. A k...