Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: On April 1, Nifty and Sensex continued their decline as investors nervously awaited U.S. President Trump’s tariff deadline. The Nifty IT, Pharma, and financial stocks led the sell-off, while India VIX spiked 9%, signaling rising market volatility.

TOP STORIES

India’s Big Leap into Nuclear Power 🪫

What Happened

India’s nuclear energy scene is set for a major transformation. Big players like NTPC, Tata Power, Adani Power, and NPCIL are eyeing new sites for nuclear plants. 

This comes as part of the government’s goal to generate 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047. The government is also working on changes to laws, like the Atomic Energy Act, to allow private companies to join the nuclear power game.  

Why It Matters

Nuclear power can help India reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and move towards cleaner energy.

NTPC has already identified over 20 possible sites for nuclear plants, and NPCIL is aiming to set up more reactors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. 

The government’s roadmap for 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 is gaining momentum. Also, the ₹80,000 crore MoU between NTPC and Madhya Pradesh shows that there’s serious money flowing into nuclear energy.

Zoom Out

With these investments, the private sector is expected to play a bigger role in India’s nuclear energy future. The move could also bring new technology, more jobs, and help India meet its clean energy targets.

TOP STORIES

Govt Plans to Spread the E-Bus Love 🚌

What Happened?

The Indian government is thinking of cutting down the per-unit subsidy for electric buses under the PM E-Drive scheme. 

Under the PM E-Drive scheme, cities like Surat, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have already requested over 15,000 e-buses, way past the 14,028 target. 

However, instead of expanding the ₹4,391 crore budget, the government is looking to stretch its funds by reducing the per-bus subsidy, currently set at ₹20-35 lakh.

Why It Matters?

Picture this: You’re at a buffet, and instead of refilling the trays, the host starts serving smaller portions so everyone gets a bite.

That’s exactly what’s happening here. A lower subsidy means cities might have to cover more costs, which could slow down the adoption of e-buses. 

And with the newly formed Delhi government expected to put in a big order, plus Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata waiting in line, the demand is only going up.

But on the flip side, it could allow smaller cities to finally get in on the electric transport revolution.

Not Just Buses

It’s not just about buses either—the PM E-Drive scheme (which replaced FAME) also
wants to fund e-trucks and e-ambulances.

By 2030, India is expected to need 10,565 e-trucks, with over 7,000 of them being heavy-duty tractor-trailers (35-55 tonnes GVW). To manage costs, the government plans to cap subsidies for these vehicles at 25% of their retail price, ensuring support while keeping the budget in check.

TOP STORIES

Ola Skips Monthly Sales Report 🛵

What Happened?

Ola Electric has chosen to stay silent on its March sales figures, citing registration delays. However, data from the government’s Vahan portal recorded 23,450 new vehicle registrations for Ola in March— a significant jump from February’s 8,653.

Despite this increase, competitors Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors left Ola in the dust. Bajaj topped the electric two-wheeler charts with 34,863 new registrations, a whopping 62% jump from February.

TVS wasn’t far behind, clocking in at 30,454 registrations—a 61% rise.

Why It Matters?

Ola’s registration hiccups could dent its financials. The company’s revenue recognition depends on vehicle ownership transfer, meaning the delayed registrations may push revenue into the next financial year.

Worse, Ola risks losing out on government subsidies. 

Under the PM E-Drive scheme, electric two-wheelers registered in FY25 qualify for a ₹10,000 subsidy. However, if the backlog clears in April, the subsidy drops to ₹5,000 per unit, effectively halving the benefits.

The Important Numbers

Meanwhile, Ola’s stock has tumbled nearly 13% since the registration issues surfaced, compared to a 9% decline in the BSE auto index.

Investors are concerned about the company’s mounting losses—₹564 crore in Q3 FY25, up from ₹376 crore a year ago.

GROWTH GULLY

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🤖 Smarter AI: A simple guide to using ChatGPT-4o’s image model

PAISON KA KHEL

Banks Rush for Cash in March 🏃

March was a crunch time for banks, with liquidity tighter than a pickle jar lid. To keep up with soaring credit demand, banks issued ₹2.25 lakh crore worth of Certificates of Deposit (CDs)—a whopping 79% jump from last year’s ₹1.26 lakh crore.  

Despite the RBI’s liquidity boost, banks still faced a daily deficit of ₹1.52 lakh crore, pushing CD yields up to 8.05%. With outstanding CDs soaring to ₹10.58 lakh crore, banks are scrambling for cash, much like students cramming the night before an exam.

ITC Bags Century for ₹3,498 Crore 📄

Aditya Birla has sold Century Pulp and Paper (CPP) to ITC for ₹3,498 crore, shifting its focus to real estate. For ITC, already a heavyweight in the paper industry, this deal strengthens its market position.

CPP, India’s largest single-location paper manufacturer since 1984, now joins ITC’s portfolio.

Meanwhile, Aditya Birla Real Estate (ABREL) is making waves in luxury housing, pulling in ₹3,000 crore from its Gurugram project—proving that when one chapter closes, another builds skyscrapers.

GLOBAL NAZARA

OpenAI Doubles Its Worth with $40 Billion Funding 📈

OpenAI has just raised a record $40 billion, doubling its value to $300 billion, thanks to some serious investor interest. The big funding round, led by SoftBank, follows the viral success of its Ghibli-style image feature, which saw 1 million users in just an hour!

SoftBank kicked in $7.5 billion, with other investors like Microsoft joining the party. This is the largest funding round ever for a startup, proving that AI isn’t just the future—it’s happening now.

Huawei Pays The Price of Innovation 💰

Huawei had a year of mixed fortunes—like a student who studies all night but still forgets the main answer. In 2024, the telecom giant’s revenue surged 22% to $118.2 billion, yet its net profit nosedived 28% to $8.6 billion. 

Why? Heavy R&D spending—$25 billion, to be exact—plus no extra cash from selling off businesses. With 113,000 employees in research, Huawei is betting big on innovation, especially as global trade restrictions tighten.

MIRCH MASALA

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📜 The Untold Story: How betrayal led a king to sainthood and a historic calendar

😆 ROFL Alert: The ultimate prank & meme collection from April Fools’ Day!