Author: News Desk

Shares of Sapphire Foods and Devyani International are in focus after both companies approved a long-awaited merger. These two companies are the main franchise partners of Yum Brands in India. The merger announcement was made after market hours on Thursday, so both stocks are expected to react when markets open on Friday, January 2. As per the approved share swap arrangement, shareholders of Sapphire Foods will receive 177 shares of Devyani International for every 100 shares they hold. Based on current market prices, Devyani shares are trading near ₹147 and Sapphire shares around ₹261. This means the deal value is…

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) marked a historic milestone on New Year’s Day, recording a staggering 1,61,683 passenger journeys across its integrated network, which includes Metro rail, electric feeder buses, and Water Metro. This represents the highest single-day ridership since the system began operations. Of the total, 1,39,766 passengers travelled on Metro trains, which ran extended services until 2am, while feeder buses operated until 4am, carrying a record 6,817 passengers. Water Metro also saw heavy patronage, with around 15,000 passengers using eco-friendly services on key routes, including Mattancherry-High Court and Vypeen-High Court. The day also saw KMRL achieve its highest-ever…

British private equity firm Apax Partners is poised to acquire a 25% stake in Bengaluru-based ready-to-cook breakfast staples maker iD Fresh Food for close to ₹1,300 crore, valuing the company at approximately ₹4,500 crore. The deal reportedly edges out rivals including Carlyle, Kedaara, Permira, ChrysCap, Multiples, and Verlinvest, making it one of Apax’s first pure-play consumer investments in India. Founded in 2005 by PC Musthafa and four cousins, iD Fresh has built a strong presence in the market with its preservative-free, home-style packaged batters for idli and dosa, supported by a controlled logistics network that sets it apart from brands…

India has crossed a major digital milestone with its broadband user base surpassing 1 billion, marking one of the fastest expansions of internet connectivity anywhere in the world. The achievement reflects the combined impact of affordable data tariffs, deep smartphone penetration, improved telecom infrastructure and aggressive network rollouts by service providers over the past decade. Industry data shows that broadband growth has been driven not just by urban centres but also by rural and semi-urban India, where 4G networks, fibre connectivity and government-led digital initiatives have significantly widened access. The rapid expansion of mobile broadband, in particular, has played a crucial role, making internet access…

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has selected L&T Technology Services Limited as the lowest bidder for the Telecommunication System contract for Kochi Metro Phase 2. KMRL had invited bids for the contract with a 730-day completion timeline. Technical bids were opened on 17 November 2025, with three firms submitting proposals. The technical evaluation was completed on 30 December 2025, followed by opening and evaluation of financial bids the same day. L&T Technology Services emerged as the lowest bidder. Financial Bid Values Scope of WorkThe contract includes the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the telecommunication system for Phase…

Artificial Intelligence is often misunderstood as a threat to human intelligence, but in reality it represents a transition phase in how people work, believes Deepu Xavier, co-founder of hiring-tech startup ZappyHire. Drawing parallels with the shift from typewriters to computers, Deepu says AI should be seen as an enabling tool rather than a replacement for human thinking. Speaking about ZappyHire’s journey, he recalled that when the company was founded, AI was not yet a mainstream concept. The idea emerged from observing how hiring relied heavily on manual, repetitive processes. This led to a simple but powerful question: why can’t interviews themselves be…

The Ministry of Railways announced that India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will begin operations between Guwahati and Kolkata, marking a significant step in modernising the rail network. Following the success of Amrit Bharat trains for non-AC passengers, the Sleeper variant will offer AC-class travellers enhanced comfort and convenience for long-distance journeys. As of 26th December, 164 Vande Bharat services are operational nationwide. This year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 42 railway projects, inaugurated 13, and laid foundation stones for 21 others, collectively valued at over ₹25,000 crore. Major infrastructure milestones include the completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link,…

‘Bandar Apna Dost’, an AI-generated YouTube channel based in India, has garnered widespread attention for its massive earnings and automation-driven content strategy, earning over ₹38 crore in revenue. Launched with minimal human intervention, the channel uses artificial intelligence to generate scripts, voices and visuals, producing content that resonates with a broad online audience while raising fresh debates around AI’s role in creative industries. The channel’s automated workflow involves generative text and speech tools to create engaging videos on a wide range of topics. This has enabled rapid content production and monetisation at a scale that traditional creators often struggle to match. However, its success…

India’s health authorities have banned the manufacture, sale, and distribution of oral nimesulide formulations exceeding 100 mg for human use, marking a major regulatory step against the widely prescribed painkiller. Government Decision and Health RationaleThe move comes after safety concerns raised by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which highlighted the drug’s link to liver toxicity, potentially fatal in certain cases. In a notification issued on December 30, the government said prohibiting higher-dose formulations was necessary in the public interest. Regulatory History and Expert ReviewNimesulide has previously faced multiple restrictions in India. Its use in children under 12 was…

The Ministry of Defence on December 30, 2025, signed contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for the procurement of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines for the Indian Army and Navy, and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The agreements were inked in New Delhi at South Block in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Under the first contract, over 4.25 lakh CQB Carbines with accessories, valued at ₹2,770 crore, will be supplied by Bharat Forge Ltd and PLR Systems Pvt Ltd. These indigenously manufactured carbines will replace legacy small arms, offering a compact design, high rate of fire, and enhanced…