Author: News Desk
Priyanka Kulkarni, aged 34, leveraged her nine-year personal visa journey and technical experience at Microsoft to found Casium, an AI-driven startup designed to simplify the employment-based US visa process. Casium’s technology allows employers and applicants to navigate H-1B, O-1 and EB-1A filing processes by inputting candidate data, after which the AI analyses qualifications, generates tailored visa strategies, and automates draft documentation, reducing timelines from typical three-to-six-month procedures to under ten business days in many cases. Kulkarni’s startup highlights a growing intersection of immigration and technology, addressing pain-points such as data drag, policy shifts, and high costs through automation, error-checking, and workflow integration. With…
Cricket superstar Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma stand as one of India’s wealthiest celebrity couples, with a combined net worth exceeding ₹1,300 crore. Kohli’s wealth, estimated at around ₹1,050 crore, comes from his IPL contracts, match fees, endorsements, and expanding business ventures, including his apparel brand, restaurant chain, and startup investments. Sharma contributes approximately ₹255 crore through acting fees, brand endorsements, her production house Clean Slate Filmz, and a successful fashion label. Kohli’s income is supported by his BCCI Grade A+ contract, earning ₹7 crore annually, along with match fees of ₹15 lakh per Test, ₹6 lakh per…
India’s primary market is gearing up for a landmark phase with the next wave of IPOs poised to shake up capital markets. According to data compiled by The Financial Express, more than 80 public issues have already come to the market in 2025, raising over ₹80,000 crore thus far. As the year draws to a close, the IPO pipeline remains energetic. The next 10 weeks alone are expected to see another ₹41,000 crore raised, driven by high-visibility filings from fintech, consumer goods, and education tech companies. Firms like Groww, Lenskart, and PhysicsWallah are already in focus. Groww is planning an IPO around ₹6,500 crore, aiming to scale its brokerage and investment platform operations. Experts say that…
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has firmly denied a Washington Post report suggesting government influence over its investments in the Adani Group. In a statement issued on October 25, 2025, LIC clarified that every investment decision is made independently, following board-approved policies and detailed due diligence. The insurer emphasized that neither the Department of Financial Services nor any other body has any role in its investment choices. LIC highlighted its track record of disciplined fund management, noting that the value of its holdings in India’s top 500 companies has grown tenfold since 2014—from ₹1.56 lakh crore to ₹15.6 lakh crore. The…
India has seen the shutdown of 11,223 startups so far in 2025, a sharp 30% rise compared to 8,649 closures in 2024, according to Tracxn data shared with financialexpress.com. The year is not even over, highlighting the challenges facing the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The closures span multiple sectors. Healthcare booking platforms lost 762 startups, investment tech saw 579 shut down, internet-first brands lost 817, fashion tech recorded 840 closures, HR tech saw 846, and education IT lost 549. Prominent names that shut down this year include Hike, Beepkart, Astra, Ohm Mobility, Code Parrot, Blip, Subtl AI, Otipy, Log 9 Material, and…
The government will launch a simplified GST registration system starting November 1, 2025, offering automatic approvals within three working days for most new applicants, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Thursday. This initiative is part of the GST 2.0 reforms approved earlier by the GST Council, aimed at making compliance easier and reducing human intervention in the registration process. Automatic registration will apply in two situations: for applicants identified by the system through risk and data analysis, and for those who self-assess that their monthly output tax liability will not exceed around ₹2.5 lakh. Sitharaman said nearly 96% of new…
Kitex Garments Limited, one of the world’s biggest makers of infant clothing, is entering a new phase of growth. Based in Kerala, the company is investing heavily to expand capacity, strengthen its global presence, and launch its trusted brand in India’s growing domestic market. Sustainability remains at the heart of everything it does. Chairman and Managing Director Sabu Jacob says, “For more than three decades, our strength has come from our commitment to quality. That’s what guides us as we grow in an ever-changing world.” Building Global Trust Founded in 1992, Kitex quickly became a major exporter of infant apparel…
Billionaire investor Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), has reportedly invested about Rs 90 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions ahead of its upcoming IPO. The investment comes just before Lenskart’s debut in the public markets, with the IPO expected to open for subscription next week. The company plans to raise around Rs 2,150 crore through a fresh issue of shares. Additionally, existing promoters and investors will sell 13.22 crore shares, as outlined in the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP). Those participating in the offer for sale (OFS) include Lenskart’s founders Peyush Bansal, Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet…
Contrary to previous claims by Kerala’s Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, Lionel Messi and the World Cup-winning Argentina squad will not be visiting Kerala next month. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed their November schedule, which does not include India. Argentina’s November Schedule The AFA stated that the national team, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, will travel to Spain for training before heading to Luanda to play a friendly against Angola on November 14. After the match, the team will return to South America to continue preparations until November 18, when the FIFA World Cup concludes. Match in Kerala Postponed Sponsor…
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Thursday that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared procurement proposals worth ₹79,000 crore to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian armed forces. The exact timeline for these acquisitions has not yet been disclosed. For the Indian Army, approvals were granted for the Nag Missile System (Tracked) Mk-II (NAMIS), the Ground Based Mobile ELINT System (GBMES), and High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) equipped with Material Handling Cranes. The NAMIS (Tracked) is expected to bolster the Army’s ability to neutralize enemy combat vehicles, bunkers, and other fortifications, while the GBMES will provide continuous electronic intelligence…