Highlights include Adani Wilmar's shift to high-margin FMCG, Prashant Kishor’s arrest during a protest in Patna, PM Modi's criticism of AAP's rule in Delhi, and the Finance Ministry’s approval of a $3 billion scheme to boost local electronics production.
Indian baby tests positive for HMPV: The first case of Human Metapneumo Virus (HMPV) in India was detected at a private hospital in Bengaluru, when an eight-month-old boy tested positive for the virus. The sample is yet to be tested in a government laboratory.
Prashant Kishor arrested while protesting with BPSC aspirants: According to Bihar police, Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, was detained early Monday morning. He had undertaken a fast-unto-death demanding the cancellation of a recruitment examination held by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). He was picked up by the police from Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
BSP looks for revival in Delhi: To revive the party’s lost political hold, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded senior leaders, including national coordinator Akash Anand, for the Delhi assembly elections.
BJP candidate sparks controversy with comments on Priyanka Gandhi: BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri, fielded against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Minister Atishi, drew heavy flak for his misogynistic comments against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He said he would build roads in the Kalkaji constituency that would look like Priyanka's “cheeks.”
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Nitish declines Opposition’s invite: Janata Dal (United) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday put an end to all speculation of him crossing over to join the INDIA bloc. He said at a political rally in Muzaffarpur that "we mistakenly wandered off twice, but now have returned to the company of an old friend. I will stay with NDA.”
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Finance Ministry approves $3 billion scheme for electronics component production: The Finance Ministry approved a $3 billion (₹25,000 crore) incentive scheme for stimulating local manufacturing of electronics components. The proposal is likely to be approved by the Cabinet later this month.
IT Secretary says laptop imports will slow down gradually: IT and Electronics Secretary S Krishnan said the govt does not intend to request that laptop manufacturers reduce their imports to India right away in the new year since it anticipates that local manufacturing will increase and eventually resemble the success of smartphones.
IT Ministry proposes parental consent for children on social media: In an interview with The Times of India, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, S Krishnan said that the draft rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) law require "verifiable consent" from parents for children to join social media platforms. He dismissed the idea of adopting Australia’s model of banning access for those under 16, citing the need for societal consensus.
Telcos identify problems with govt’s new data rules: Top telecom companies and legal experts expressed their concerns over the new draft data protection rules. They highlighted the potential problems with international calls and data localisation. They also pointed out that the rules could sharply inflate telcos’ compliance costs which will result in tariff hikes.
Wilmar International to focus on high-margin FMCG: Adani Wilmar Ltd, India’s largest edible oil company, has decided to adopt a strategy by leveraging its operations to drive growth in a high-margin FMCG portfolio similar to that of ITC. Wilmar might capitalise on the approach by introducing more global FMCG brands in the Indian market. Wilmar International had recently acquired majority stakes in Adani Wilmar Ltd.
Bangladesh crisis drives global apparel brands towards India: As Bangladesh’s political instability drives global brands like Tesco, Decathlon, and Walmart to explore alternative suppliers, industry leaders urge the government to expedite policy support to capture emerging market share. Apparel exports from India saw an 11.39% rise to $9.85 billion in the April-November 2024 period, reports The Hindu Business Line.
Prime accused arrested in journalist’s murder case: On Monday, the Chhattisgarh Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Suresh Chandrakar from Hyderabad. He is the prime accused in the murder of Bastar-based journalist and YouTuber Mukesh Chandrakar.
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Economic growth outlook weakens despite rise in key indicators: Economic activity showed signs of improvement in Q3 FY24-25, with higher Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions and Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections. But GDP growth is expected to fall below the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 6.6% forecast for the year with manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showing a decline. The Union government’s first advance estimates for gross domestic product (GDP) will be released on Tuesday.
Government reviews customs duties on gold after surge in imports: The Union government is reconsidering customs duties on gold and other items after a sharp increase in imports, which did not lead to the intended domestic value addition. Exports of gems and jewellery dropped, raising concerns over the effectiveness of the July duty cut.
Government to subsidise 80% of electric charging station infrastructure: The Union government will provide an 80% subsidy, which could increase to 100% in exceptional cases, for setting up electric public fast charging stations under the ₹2,000 crore (around $241 million) PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM eDRIVE) scheme.
Ultra-luxury homes see record sales: Ultra-luxury residential transactions in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru rose in 2024, with 13 homes sold for over ₹100 crore ($12 million). Property consultancies Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL) and Anarock Group report that this shift highlights growing confidence in high-end real estate as a stable investment.
Three Coast Guard personnel killed in Gujarat helicopter crash: Three Coast Guard personnel, including Commandant Saurabh, Deputy Commandant SK Yadav, and air crew diver Manoj Pradhan Navik, died in a crash of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark-III in Gujarat, raising concerns over the fleet's safety following a series of similar incidents.
ModiWatch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally at the Japanese Park in Rohini, criticised the Aam Aadmi Party, labelling its decade-long rule as a "disaster" and accusing it of corruption and neglecting Delhi's development.
Delhi Today: A thick cloud cover this morning, then becoming hazy.
Delhi woke up to a not-so-cold Monday morning with temperature recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius, 2.7 notches above the average for this time of the year. Parts of the city also received light rainfall.