Yogi Adityanath Dismisses PM Rumors: Focus on Uttar Pradesh

Amazon has made a surprising move to buy TikTok, the popular short-video app, as reported by the New York Times. Although Amazon's bid has raised some eyebrows, many involved do not seem to take it seriously. The future of TikTok is uncertain due to a law that requires its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app by January 19, 2024. The U.S. government is concerned that TikTok’s ownership could lead to data privacy issues. Former President Trump has delayed the enforcement of this law temporarily, allowing TikTok to continue operating while various parties explore options to acquire it.

Indian Railways is seeing a revival, with a 5% rise in passenger traffic and a 1.68% increase in freight loading for the financial year 2024-25. A total of 715 crore passengers traveled, showing a notable growth from 680 crore in the previous year, though still below the pre-Covid levels of 2019-20. The earnings from passengers reached ₹75,750 crore and freight services brought in ₹1.71 lakh crore. Coal remains the most transported item, making up over 50% of freight. Notably, the Eastern Railway zone achieved significant growth, marking a positive trend for the railways in India.

Vikas Gupta from OmniScience Capital predicts a strong financial year 2026, with double-digit earnings growth expected. Key sectors driving this growth include banks, housing finance, power, and infrastructure. While there are concerns about US tariffs possibly leading to inflation and economic slowdown, Gupta believes the market should focus on solid companies rather than uncertainties. He mentions that despite India's higher valuations compared to other emerging markets, it remains a top growth destination. Investors are advised to consider sectors like banks and defence while being cautious about FMCG stocks.

The Lok Sabha has approved President's rule in Manipur, following serious violence in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that there has been no violence in the last four months and emphasized ongoing discussions with the Meitei and Kuki communities for peace. This action, which can last up to six months, is necessary to stabilize the situation after ethnic clashes led to over 260 deaths since May 2023. While various political leaders support the resolution, they also express concerns about restoring peace and democracy in the region, highlighting the need for dialogue and inclusivity.

Forbes has released its World's Billionaires List for 2025, revealing that there are over 3,000 billionaires worldwide with a staggering total wealth of $16.1 trillion. Notably, half of these billionaires come from just three countries: the United States, China, and India. The U.S. leads with 902 billionaires, followed by China with 516, and India with 205. While India's billionaire count has increased slightly, their total wealth has decreased from last year, primarily due to losses faced by notable billionaires like Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. This report shows that wealth concentration remains high in a few nations.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has applauded the rapid growth of AI adoption in India, stating it is "outpacing the world." His comments come as Studio Ghibli-style images gain immense popularity online, especially among Indian users, after the introduction of new image generation features in ChatGPT's GPT-4o model. Altman emphasized India's importance as OpenAI's second-largest market, noting the tripling of users in just a year. He expressed excitement about the creativity emerging from India and believes it should lead the AI revolution. Altman's efforts to connect with Indian audiences include sharing animated images related to cricket, showcasing the cultural synergy between AI and India's passion for the sport.

India’s largest car manufacturer is set to increase prices on seven models starting April 8 due to rising input costs and new features. SpiceJet is resuming its flights to Nepal after receiving necessary approvals, marking a return to pre-pandemic operations. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has issued a warning to a bank for not complying with custodian activities. Meanwhile, real estate firm Macrotech Developers has accused its sibling's company of using forged documents. Additionally, Hindustan Copper has partnered with CODELCO from Chile, and Hindustan Zinc reported a 4% rise in metal production. The article highlights several developments in various sectors, demonstrating India's dynamic business landscape.

Mohammed Siraj stole the spotlight in the IPL 2025 match on April 2, delivering a striking performance against his former team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). With three wickets for just 19 runs, he was named Player of the Match as Gujarat Titans (GT) triumphed over RCB by eight wickets. Siraj's return to Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he played for seven years, was emotional for both him and the fans. His impressive bowling, which included dismissing key RCB players, sparked a wave of memes on social media, with fans humorously reflecting on his past with the team. Siraj expressed gratitude for his journey with RCB while embracing his new role in GT.

India has a unique opportunity to boost its agricultural exports to the United States, despite new tariffs imposed by President Trump. According to agricultural economist Ashok Gulati, while India faces a 26% tariff, competitors like China and Vietnam have even higher tariffs, giving Indian exporters a relative advantage. For instance, China faces a 34% tariff, and Vietnam's tariff is a staggering 46%. This means that Indian products like seafood and rice can still thrive in the US market. Gulati believes that India's competitive edge will help it capture market share from countries that are hit harder by these tariffs.

Zomato, the popular online food delivery platform, has laid off up to 600 employees from its customer support team just a year after hiring them. This decision comes as the company faces slow growth in its core food delivery services and increasing losses from its subsidiary, Blinkit. The layoffs, affecting staff in Gurugram and Hyderabad, were reportedly based on poor performance and punctuality. Employees received one month’s salary as compensation but were terminated without prior notice. The situation has caused concern among current employees, with discussions about the layoffs gaining traction on social media.

Starting from April 1, 2025, American Express will change its Platinum Travel Credit Card rewards. They are adding new gift vouchers from The Postcard Hotel and Air India, but removing Flipkart vouchers. Cardholders can now redeem 20,000 Membership Rewards (MR) points for a Rs. 10,000 voucher from The Postcard Hotel or Rs. 6,000 from Air India. However, the MR points needed for Taj vouchers will increase, meaning cardholders will get less value for their points. While the new options are an improvement, many will miss the Flipkart vouchers and be disappointed by the reduced value for Taj. Cardholders received a short notice about these changes, leaving little time to adapt.

The Supreme Court has decided not to release YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s passport for now. The court stated it will review his request after two weeks, following an investigation into his controversial comments about parents and sex made on a YouTube show. Ranveer, known as BeerBiceps, promised to maintain decency in his content and requested that the passport condition be changed, as it impacts his job. He has also been granted temporary protection from arrest in various FIRs filed against him. Recently, he apologized for his remarks and committed to creating content more responsibly.

Kusha Kapila, a popular influencer turned actor, has launched her shapewear brand, UnderNeat, inspired by Kim Kardashian's successful SKIMS. The brand aims to achieve rapid growth in India’s emerging shapewear market, offering stylish and affordable products priced 30-40% lower than SKIMS. Targeting young adults who shop at brands like H&M and Zivame, UnderNeat promises light-to-medium control shapewear. This venture reflects a rising trend in India where digital creators are transforming their influence into business opportunities. Kapila's launch signals the growing crossover between entertainment and entrepreneurship, following the footsteps of other Indian creators.

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is set to see its share price rise for the fourth consecutive session on April 1, following a significant contract worth ₹62,700 crore from the Defence Ministry. This contract includes the supply of 156 light combat helicopters, with 66 going to the Indian Air Force and 90 to the Indian Army. Additionally, a contract for leasing an aircraft for pilot training was also signed. Analysts from ICICI Securities have upgraded HAL's stock rating to 'buy' and set a new target price of ₹5,000. Currently, HAL's shares are 26.41% below their 52-week high of ₹5,675.

Byju's, once the world's largest ed-tech company, faces tough times as founder Byju Ravindran shares a motivational message on social media. He emphasizes resilience, saying, "Broke, not Broken. We will rise again." The company's value soared during the pandemic but has since crashed due to the return of physical classes and financial troubles. Byju's defaulted on $19 million owed to the BCCI, leading to insolvency proceedings in the Supreme Court. Despite the challenges, Ravindran calls for a comprehensive investigation into alleged mismanagement, hoping to clear the company's name and rebuild its reputation.

Starting from April 1, 2025, several important financial rule changes will affect UPI users, credit card holders, and pensioners in India. One significant change is the new income tax slabs introduced in the Union Budget 2025, which exempts individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh from income tax. Additionally, UPI transactions will not be allowed from inactive mobile numbers, ensuring safer transactions. Credit card rewards are also set to change, impacting various bank customers. Moreover, the Unified Pension Scheme will replace the old system, benefiting many government employees. These changes aim to streamline financial processes and enhance security.

Rishabh Nahar from Qode Advisors predicts that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may cut interest rates by 75 basis points in FY26, depending on inflation and global trends. He believes that domestic sectors like infrastructure, banking, and manufacturing will benefit from government investments and reforms. Despite challenges in the FMCG and IT sectors, domestic demand remains strong. Nahar also warns of potential risks from global economic factors, including a possible recession in the US, which could affect growth. Overall, he sees a mixed outlook for various sectors going forward.

ITC Ltd., a major Indian conglomerate, is making headlines with its recent acquisition of Century Pulp and Paper from the Aditya Birla Group for Rs 3,498 crore. This strategic move aims to boost ITC's growth in the paper business by increasing their production capacity from 8 lakh MT to 12.8 lakh MT per annum, enhancing efficiency and reducing operational risks. The acquisition will allow ITC to better serve customers and tap into key raw material sources. The deal is pending necessary approvals, including from the Competition Commission of India. This significant step signals ITC's commitment to expanding its operations in the paper and pulp sector.