Week 4 (Sep 22 – Sep 28) (2026/09/22 to 2026/09/28)
India’s capital markets regulator has approved draft papers for Carlsberg India and three other companies, widening an already crowded IPO pipeline. The clearances come as more than 50 firms filed draft offer documents in September, underscoring sustained issuer appetite despite volatility in broader equities.
Nifty valuations have corrected sharply from 2024 peaks and are now close to post-Covid lows, according to Alchemy Capital's Alok Agarwal, signalling a more selective phase for Indian equities. He expects the next leg of market growth to broaden beyond large caps, with mid- and small-caps, AI infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing and select defence names emerging as preferred themes.
The government has prepared a major overhaul of India’s tax administration structure, including a restructuring of the Central Board of Excise and Customs, to support a glitch-free nationwide rollout of the goods and services tax. The move underscores the scale of the administrative reset required as New Delhi prepares to replace a fragmented indirect tax regime with a unified system. Officials are aiming to reduce implementation risk, improve coordination and ensure the new tax architecture functions smoothly from day one.
Asian equities eased in early trade after a volatile session across bonds and foreign exchange markets left investors cautious and defensive. Elevated oil prices, persistent concern over US Treasury yields, and renewed scrutiny of French fiscal stability added to the risk-off tone as traders positioned for upcoming US employment data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s next move.
India’s medal count at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya received a timely lift with bronze medals from the men’s squash team and the women’s sailing team, underlining the country’s growing depth in non-cricket disciplines. The results also reflect India’s broader push to convert competitive performances into podium finishes across technical sports where margins are often decisive.
Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham is moving into film production with Pa. Ranjith's 'Sarpatta Parambarai 2 (Second Round)', the sequel to the acclaimed 2021 boxing drama. The development underscores a growing pattern of technology entrepreneurs backing ambitious Indian cinema, particularly projects with strong cultural identity and franchise potential.
The Reserve Bank of India has cautioned lenders against using abundant liquidity as a trigger for aggressive loan expansion and indiscriminate price competition. The central bank’s concern is that a rush to push credit down the risk curve could inflate near-term returns but leave banks with sticky assets and weaker balance sheets in the years ahead.
A World Bank-linked assessment has warned that automation could threaten 69% of jobs in India, underscoring the scale of disruption facing labour markets across emerging economies. The warning places India among the most exposed major economies, with China cited at 77% and Ethiopia at 85%, highlighting how technology may reshape employment patterns faster than policy and reskilling systems can adapt.
Vishakha Renewables has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus, setting the stage for an initial public offering that aims to raise Rs 1,250 crore. The solar components maker plans to use Rs 900 crore of the proceeds to repay borrowings, while the balance will support broader corporate purposes, alongside an offer-for-sale of 1.81 crore shares.
European equities opened the final quarter under pressure on Thursday as a fresh climb in global bond yields and lingering inflation concerns prompted investors to trim risk. The STOXX 600 fell about 1%, with banks among the weakest performers, while softer oil prices offered only limited relief to a market still focused on the prospect of higher-for-longer interest rates.
Majestic Warrior, Loyal Lover and Lucky Diamond delivered eye-catching performances in a development that will draw close attention from racing and sports watchers alike. The trio’s strong showing underlines the depth of competitive form emerging early in the season and signals that the campaign may already be producing contenders worth tracking closely.
Indian banks cut the weighted average rate on fresh rupee term deposits to 5.67% in August, while the average interest rate on new loans rose to 8.61%, underscoring a widening divergence in funding and lending conditions. The trend was visible across public and private sector banks, with personal loans recording a notable increase in borrowing costs.
The GST Council is set to examine whether an 18% goods and services tax should apply to merchant fees linked to UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, according to a report. The discussion comes as the government prepares to roll out a 0.4% merchant discount rate from October 15, capped at Rs 300, with merchants eligible to claim input tax credit on the GST paid.
India’s gross Goods and Services Tax collections climbed 14.7% year-on-year to more than ₹2.03 lakh crore in September, underscoring resilient tax buoyancy despite a mixed macroeconomic backdrop. Domestic activity contributed about ₹1.38 lakh crore, while import-linked revenues jumped 26% to ₹65,525 crore, signalling firm consumption and trade-related flows.
India’s women’s recurve archery team delivered a landmark gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, marking a major breakthrough for the country in a discipline long dominated by East Asian powers. The result adds momentum to a strong Day 13 for India, with Lovlina, Parveen and Ankush all in contention for gold and the women’s hockey team preparing for a high-stakes final against China.
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson said the national side’s packed schedule of meetings, discussions and team activities helps keep players mentally engaged and ready to adapt quickly. His remarks came after India’s rain-truncated contest against Japan in Sano was reduced to a tense finish, with the wet outfield forcing conditions to dictate the result. The episode underlined how preparation, communication and flexibility remain central to India’s approach in compressed tournament cricket.
Google has introduced Gemini 4 Argon, describing it as its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in a fiercely competitive global AI market. The launch underscores how quickly the battle for model performance, developer adoption and enterprise trust is escalating among the industry’s largest technology firms.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has dismissed concerns that the Merchant Discount Rate on select UPI transactions will be passed on to consumers, saying the charge is borne by merchants and not the government. She also stressed that the levy is not a tax, cess or surcharge, but a payment-processing cost applied only to certain transactions above Rs 2,000.
Axis Bank is preparing to expand its exposure to India’s fast-growing data centre sector, with lending expected to double from the current Rs 8,688 crore over the next three years, according to the business outlook described in the breaking story. The move reflects how the artificial intelligence boom is pushing banks to finance large-scale digital infrastructure, even as the sector’s capital intensity, execution risk and power requirements create a more complex credit profile.
India’s new merchant fee regime for high-value UPI transactions is set to strengthen the country’s largest payment apps, with Bernstein estimating that PhonePe and Google Pay could together generate about $900 million annually by March 2028. The policy may deepen their lead over smaller rivals, while also nudging payment firms to expand into rural markets and pursue higher-value transactions.
Fintech soonicorn Niyo’s parent, Finnew Solutions Pvt Ltd, reported a sharp improvement in operating performance for FY26, with consolidated revenue rising 80% year-on-year to ₹158 crore. The company also narrowed its consolidated net loss by 58.1% to ₹32.6 crore, signalling stronger monetisation and tighter cost control even as the sector remains under pressure to prove durable profitability.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note has climbed to 5.34%, its highest level since 2002 and above the 2007 peak, underscoring a sharp repricing across global fixed-income markets. The move comes as 30-year US bonds hit a 24-year high this week, with investors increasingly focused on elevated oil prices, Middle East tensions, and the risk of further central bank tightening.
The Indian government has extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products, or RoDTEP, scheme for exporters by three months until December 31, providing a short-term policy bridge for the export sector. The move is aimed at preserving cost competitiveness for Indian shipments at a time when global demand remains uneven and exporters continue to face elevated input and logistics pressures.
Air India CEO-designate Tewolde Gebremariam has received security clearance, removing a key procedural hurdle before he formally assumes charge of the Tata Group-promoted carrier on October 1. The clearance advances a closely watched leadership transition at a time when the airline is under pressure to accelerate its turnaround, strengthen operations, and sharpen its competitive position in India’s fast-evolving aviation market.
Anish delivered a composed late surge to finish seventh in a tightly contested final, closing with 11 hits from 15 shots after striking four of his last five at a decisive stage. The result brought India’s campaign to a close with a total of 15 medals, underlining both the depth of the contingent and the narrow margins that shaped several podium bids.
The Bombay High Court has held that circulating a victim’s videos on WhatsApp can fall within the ambit of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act when the conduct is tied to caste-based exploitation and humiliation. The ruling comes in a case where the accused allegedly demanded favours from a victim belonging to an SC/ST community and, after refusal, shared the victim’s videos on the messaging platform.
The government has sharply tightened sugar holding norms for dealers, reducing the stock limit to 1,000 quintals and capping permissible inventory at 15 days from October 15. The revised framework also introduces region-specific limits for Kolkata and Assam, signalling a more targeted approach to market management and supply discipline.
As Lucknow-based Kalhath Institute marks a decade, co-founder Maximiliano Modesti is reflecting on a project that helped reposition Indian embroidery from heritage craft to contemporary artistic language. The institute’s evolution underscores a larger shift in how traditional handwork is being preserved, interpreted and placed into global design conversations.
India’s archers produced a commanding late surge to capture three gold medals at the Asian Games 2026, turning a two-point deficit into a memorable victory under intense pressure. The result underlines India’s growing depth in archery and its ability to finish with composure on the continental stage.
Kannada independent musicians Ashwin Mandoth and Vivek Kiran are set to release 'Neenillade' on October 6, a song framed around the emotional weight of absence in everyday life. The track adds to a growing body of regional indie work that blends personal storytelling with contemporary production and wider digital release strategies.
Eurozone government bonds sold off sharply as a fresh energy-driven inflation impulse pushed investors to price in a longer period of restrictive European Central Bank policy, with rate hikes now seen extending into 2027. French yields climbed to an 18-year high while spreads on French and Italian debt widened, underscoring mounting concern over fiscal resilience, borrowing costs and political risk across the bloc.
India has cut the stock limit for traders to 100 tonnes from 200 tonnes, in a temporary move aimed at tightening oversight of essential commodity inventories and curbing speculative hoarding. The order will take effect on October 15 and remain in force through November 30, signalling a short-term policy push to stabilise supply conditions and contain price pressures.
Axis Bank is preparing to significantly expand its lending to India’s data centre sector, with exposure expected to double from Rs 8,688 crore over the next three years. The move reflects a broader banking push into infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and the country’s rising digital capacity needs. Government support for the sector is also helping improve the financing outlook, though lenders still face execution, concentration and technology risks.
Singaporean collector Peter Lee has highlighted how Indian textiles such as checks and chintz travelled across oceans and became part of a wider cultural language shaped by trade. His reflections place fabric not merely as craft or fashion, but as evidence of the commercial and social exchanges that connected Indian ports with Southeast Asia and beyond. The story underscores how material culture can preserve the history of migration, commerce and taste.
The Kannada family drama 'Premada Oorali', directed by National Award-winner Manoj Kumar, is emerging as an unexpected theatrical success in India’s regional film market. While the film leans heavily on familiar emotional beats and lacks a distinctly modern cinematic edge, audiences appear to be responding to its sincerity, accessible storytelling, and old-school dramatic appeal.
ISG is positioning agentic commerce as a defining shift for automotive and mobility companies, arguing that the winners will be those that embed compliance into the architecture of digital commerce rather than bolt it on later. The consultancy’s thesis arrives as vehicle makers, EV platforms and mobility providers face rising pressure to automate customer journeys without compromising data governance, regulatory controls or transaction integrity.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil hosted water conservation activists from across India at his residence in a gesture that underscored the government’s continuing emphasis on grassroots stewardship of water resources. The meeting highlighted the political and policy importance of community-led conservation at a time when India faces mounting pressure on groundwater, urban supply systems, and climate resilience.
India’s women’s team enters the Asian Games 2026 semifinal with momentum and expectation, but Pakistan stands between Harmanpreet Kaur’s side and a place in the final. The contest carries added weight because of Pakistan’s spin threat, led by Sufyan, and India’s need to manage pressure in a high-stakes knockout setting.
Venu Srinivasan has reportedly asked the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner to examine governance practices at two Tata Trusts and their role in Tata Sons, intensifying an already sensitive internal dispute within one of India’s most influential business groups. The move underscores growing scrutiny over how the trusts exercise influence over the holding company that anchors the Tata empire.
Apple Pay has officially gone live in India, enabling Axis Bank credit card holders to make contactless payments through Visa and Mastercard credentials on Apple devices. The launch expands the country’s digital payments landscape with a secure, private checkout option that does not require PINs or one-time passwords for each transaction.
As Tamil poet Kannadasan’s birth centenary is marked, renewed attention is turning to the rare breadth of a writer who helped define the emotional and philosophical vocabulary of Tamil cinema. Born Muthaiah in Sirukoodalpatti in present-day Sivaganga district, he moved from early atheism and Dravidian politics to a later spiritual outlook that deeply shaped his work.
Genpact chief executive NV 'Tiger' Tyagarajan said artificial intelligence will reduce the workload in the IT services industry and eventually lower the need for incremental hiring. He added that employment growth rates in India’s technology sector have already begun to soften, and future workforce additions will not match the pace seen in earlier years.
Apple Pay has officially gone live in India, enabling Axis Bank credit card holders to make contactless payments using Visa and Mastercard cards on Apple devices. The launch adds a high-security, tokenized payment option to India’s fast-evolving digital commerce landscape, with transactions designed to work without PINs or one-time passwords.
Bengaluru-based theatre company Talab will stage 'Nala Damayanti' at the Bangalore International Centre this weekend, bringing a contemporary theatrical reading of a classic Indian narrative to one of the city’s most visible cultural venues. Written and directed by IIM professor Gaurav Jakhu, the production underscores the growing overlap between academic, literary and performance circles in India’s urban arts scene.
Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in India next month, beginning with integration for Axis Bank credit cards, according to a report. The rollout would mark a significant step into one of the world’s most competitive digital payments markets, with talks also underway with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank to broaden access.
Ixigo-backed intercity bus operator Fresh Bus reported a 2.4-fold jump in operating revenue to ₹63.5 crore in FY26, underscoring rapid scale-up in India’s long-distance mobility market. However, the company’s net loss widened 33% year-on-year, highlighting the continued cost pressure that accompanies aggressive fleet expansion and route-building in a capital-intensive sector.
Small-trader groups have called off their proposed 'No UPI Day' protest after a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, easing a potential flashpoint over digital payments and merchant costs. The decision by the AICPDF and AIMRA signals a temporary truce in a dispute that had threatened to disrupt retail transactions on October 2.
India’s Neeru and Kynan clinched the trap mixed team gold at the Asian Games 2026 with a final score of 34, producing a composed finish after entering the medal round from fourth place in qualification. Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil secured silver with 32, underlining the tight margins in a high-pressure final decided by execution rather than reputation.
At the 72nd National Film Awards, Sumira Roy’s documentary Bhangaar has drawn renewed attention for its intimate look at the Lavate family’s plea for euthanasia and the emotional cost of losing control over one’s final years. In a country where longevity is rising and elder care remains uneven, the film has become a stark meditation on dignity, dependence, and the limits of law and compassion.
A comprehensive archaeological survey is under way in Kasaragod to identify, document and systematically record the district’s historical and material evidence, according to the minister. The initiative places the northern Kerala district at the centre of a broader effort to strengthen heritage preservation, deepen historical research and integrate local findings into the state’s cultural record.