Author: News Desk

India has moved closer to securing long-term uranium supplies through a major agreement with Kazakhstan’s state-owned uranium producer Kazatomprom. The deal, valued at more than US$4 billion, has received overwhelming shareholder approval and is now being seen as one of the most significant nuclear fuel arrangements in Asia in recent years. The agreement covers the supply of natural uranium concentrates (U₃O₈) to India’s civilian nuclear programme, ensuring a steady flow of fuel for future reactor operations. Strategic shift in energy security thinking The deal reflects a broader shift in India’s energy strategy, where nuclear fuel security is becoming a core…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 594-kilometre Ganga Expressway, one of India’s largest greenfield expressway projects, completed in under three and a half years. The six-lane corridor, expandable to eight lanes, connects Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh to Prayagraj in the east, significantly improving connectivity across the state. Transforming connectivity across 12 districts The expressway spans 12 districts and is expected to benefit more than 8 crore people by reducing travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from around 11 hours to nearly six hours. This major reduction in travel duration is set to improve access to healthcare, education, trade…

Hospitality group Ennismore, in partnership with Accor India and InterGlobe Hotels, has announced the signing of The Hoxton Bengaluru City, marking the brand’s first property in India. The hotel is scheduled to open in November 2026. The property will be located on Richmond Road in Bengaluru, positioning itself in one of the country’s most active urban and commercial districts. Design rooted in local character with global style The hotel will feature 149 rooms across multiple categories, including Roomy and Biggy rooms, along with four premium HOMEY suites located on the upper floors. These suites, each about 55 square metres, are…

Airtel Money, the mobile financial services arm of Bharti Airtel’s African operations, is moving closer to a public listing that could value the business at up to $10 billion. If achieved, it would rank among the largest IPOs on a European exchange in recent years. The expected valuation range being discussed is between $7 billion and $10 billion, based on people familiar with the matter. London becomes frontrunner for IPO location London has now emerged as the most likely destination for the listing, replacing earlier expectations that the company might choose an exchange in the United Arab Emirates. Other European…

India is set to receive its fourth unit of the S-400 Triumf air defence system from Russia, with delivery expected by mid-May 2026. The handover follows pre-dispatch inspections conducted by Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel in April. The final, fifth system under the existing contract is expected later this year, completing the full induction of five S-400 squadrons. Strengthening India’s long-range air defence network The S-400 system remains a central pillar of India’s layered air defence framework. It is designed to detect and engage multiple types of aerial threats, including fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and certain ballistic missiles. Depending…

Eveready Industries India has commissioned a new manufacturing plant with an investment of around ₹200 crore, marking a major step in its global expansion strategy. The facility, located in Jammu, focuses on producing alkaline batteries, a fast-growing segment driven by demand for high-performance electronic devices. With an annual installed capacity of up to 456 million batteries and peak output of around 360 million units, the plant significantly boosts domestic manufacturing capabilities. It is currently India’s only operational alkaline battery manufacturing facility, reducing reliance on imports and supporting the government’s “Make in India” initiative. The plant is also expected to generate…

Anant Ambani has proposed an unusual conservation solution, relocating dozens of invasive hippos from Colombia to India to prevent their planned euthanasia. The animals, often called “cocaine hippos,” are descendants of those imported in the 1980s by drug lord Pablo Escobar for his private zoo. After his death, they were left in the wild and multiplied rapidly. Today, the population has grown to around 200, posing serious threats to local ecosystems, biodiversity, and even human safety. To control the crisis, Colombian authorities plan to euthanize about 80 hippos as part of a broader population management strategy. Ambani has proposed relocating…

India is reviewing whether to limit how many airport projects a single company can win in its upcoming privatisation drive covering 11 airports. The move comes amid rising concern that too much concentration in one operator’s hands could distort competition in civil aviation and create systemic risks. Officials involved in the process say the government is actively discussing how to design bidding rules that keep the market competitive while still attracting strong private investment. Market concentration fears shape the debate The trigger for the discussion has been growing unease about dominance in airport operations and how it could affect resilience…

Bihar is often seen as a state known for migration, farming, and limited industrial growth. For many years, its image has been tied to workers leaving home in search of better opportunities elsewhere. But there is another side to Bihar’s story. Over the decades, Bihar has produced several successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who built major companies in India and around the world. Their journeys show that Bihar is not only a source of labor but also a birthplace of ambition, enterprise, and wealth creation. Anil Agarwal Born in Patna, Anil Agarwal is the founder of Vedanta Resources, one of…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to expand its astronaut corps beyond military test pilots, marking a significant step toward building a sustained human spaceflight programme. According to a report by The Times of India, a committee on astronaut selection and management has recommended that the next batch of astronauts include both military personnel and civilian specialists from science and technology backgrounds. Mixed Selection for Next Astronaut Batch The proposed second batch is expected to include around 10 astronauts, with six drawn from military aviation roles and four selected from civilian STEM fields. This represents a clear shift…