The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while receiving the 'India First' award at NDTV’s Indian of the Year ceremony, celebrated the crucial role of India's democracy in shaping the country's growth. He emphasized how democracy has brought forward voices from every part of the nation, not just metropolitan cities, giving equal representation to all sections of society. This inclusiveness, he argued, has been pivotal in driving India’s development. He also noted t

In response to growing protests in Kolkata over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, Bangladesh has called Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, the Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, back to Dhaka for urgent consultations. Rahman, who also serves as the Minister - Political Affairs, is expected to return to Kolkata by the middle of this month, after attending the foreign secretary-level talks scheduled between India and Bangladesh next week. Protests, primarily led by po

On Day 1 of the second day-night Test between India and Australia in Adelaide, Mitchell Starc delivered a stunning performance, claiming three crucial wickets, including one with the very first ball of the day. India, after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss, found themselves under pressure in the opening session, ending at 82-4 by the break. The visitors were still riding high from their commanding 295-run win in the first Test in Perth, but Adelaide has been a fortress for Australi

An extraordinary series of events unfolded on Day 1 of the India vs Australia day-night Test in Adelaide, where KL Rahul was given two lifelines after seemingly being dismissed for a duck. The incident occurred when Rahul, who opened for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, appeared to have edged the ball into the hands of Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey off pacer Scott Boland’s delivery. However, it was later revealed that Boland had overstepped, and the delivery was a no-ball, granti

In October 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) made a significant move by adding 27 tonnes of gold to its reserves, bringing its total gold purchases for the year to 78 tonnes. This marks the highest level of purchases since 2009, when India acquired 200 tonnes from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The RBI's total gold reserves now stand at 882 tonnes. In comparison, India had bought only 16 tonnes of gold in 2023. The RBI's gold purchase comes amid global economic i

India's practice sessions for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia have been closed to fans after a disruptive event during the team’s training in Adelaide. Fans, who were initially allowed to watch the training, became a source of distraction with rude comments directed at the players. The situation worsened during India’s session, where over 3000 fans gathered, overwhelming the practice facility. This caused a chaotic environment with players like

 In a dominant performance at the U19 Asia Cup 2024, India secured their spot in the semi-finals with a resounding 10-wicket victory over the UAE in their final group match in Sharjah. Chasing a modest target of 137, India sailed through to the target in just 16.1 overs, thanks to an unbroken 143-run partnership between Vaibhav Suryavanshi (76*) and Ayush Mhatre (67*). Earlier, UAE, who opted to bat first, were bowled out for just 137, with six overs to spare. Muhammad Rayan was the top

The future of the 2025 Champions Trophy is in jeopardy as tensions between India and Pakistan complicate the tournament's organization. India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan without government approval, which remains pending. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially rejected the idea of a hybrid hosting model that would allow India to play in Dubai, but recently showed some flexibility, reportedl

Oil prices have shown remarkable stability, remaining in a narrow range since mid-October, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fluctuating around $70 per barrel. This rangebound trend has been characterized by a significant drop in volatility, with recent levels at their lowest since August. Despite ongoing geopolitical risks, such as the tensions between Iran and Israel and the potential impacts of a second Donald Trump presidency, traders have remained cautious. The market's curren

In a significant statement made in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the need for peace and tranquility in the border areas as a prerequisite for improving bilateral ties with China. He emphasized that both nations will engage in discussions on de-escalation and managing activities in these areas in the near future. Jaishankar shared that disengagement has been fully completed in eastern Ladakh, particularly in the regions of Depsang and Demchok. J

On Monday, the Biden administration informed Congress about its decision to approve the sale of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related equipment to India, valued at approximately $1.17 billion. This move is aimed at boosting India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, enabling the country to better deter current and future security threats. The sale includes advanced systems such as Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS), infrared

Bangladesh summoned India's High Commissioner to Dhaka after the closure of its visa and consular services in Tripura, India, due to a security incident involving a protest in Agartala. The protest, which occurred against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, led to about 50 people entering the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission's premises. The Bangladeshi government expressed concerns over the lack of local police action to contain the situation, which left mission staff fe

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, providing an update on the current state of India-China relations, which have seen improvement following the tensions that arose from the 2020 military clash in eastern Ladakh. The clash, which resulted in fatalities on both sides, marked a significant deterioration in the two countries' ties, making the situation "abnormal" until recent diplomatic efforts led to progress. Jaishankar explained

The National Pension Scheme (NPS) Vatsalya, launched on September 18, 2023, has seen a positive response from Indian parents looking to invest in their children's future. As of November 17, 2023, the scheme has attracted 66,495 subscribers, with Maharashtra leading the pack with 9,219 accounts. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka follow closely with over 6,500 subscribers each. In total, 18 states have seen over 1,000 accounts opened, demonstrating the scheme’s growing appeal. Th

Bill Gates has found himself at the center of controversy following remarks he made during a podcast with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Gates referred to India as "a kind of laboratory to try things," which has sparked significant backlash, particularly in India. The comments, which were intended to highlight India's progress and its partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have drawn attention to a controversial 2009 clinical trial funded by the Gates Found

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the country's 2025 budget, allocating $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles) to national defence, which accounts for 32.5% of the total government spending. This marks a significant increase from last year’s budget, highlighting the ongoing strain the war in Ukraine has placed on Russia’s finances. The budget sets a new record, with military spending expected to account for over 6% of Russia's GDP. In contrast, expenditu

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to maintain the status quo on the benchmark repo rate at 6.5% in its upcoming meeting from December 4 to 6. Despite India's GDP growth slowing to 5.4% in the July-September quarter, economists suggest that inflation concerns will likely take precedence, making a rate cut unlikely in December. Retail inflation rose to 6.2% in October, exceeding the RBI’s target range of 2-6%. Though a repo rate cu

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has raised concerns over a recent court order in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which directed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque. Owaisi questioned the reasoning behind the survey, pointing out that the petition filed by the Hindu side only sought access to the mosque, not a survey. He argued that the Places of Worship Act prohibits changing the nature of religious places, including mosques, and questioned why a survey was still ordered. Ow

In a rain-affected pink-ball warm-up match in Canberra, Sam Konstas emerged as the standout performer for Australia's Prime Minister's XI, scoring a brilliant century against the Indian side. Despite India's dominance throughout the fixture, Konstas showcased his potential as a promising cricketer, drawing attention to his skills and his confidence in facing top-level bowling. Notably, India’s marquee pacer Jasprit Bumrah was rested from the practice match, meaning Konstas d