Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: On April 24, 2025, the Indian stock market ended lower, snapping a seven-day winning streak, with the Sensex falling 315 points and the Nifty dropping 82 points. The decline was driven by profit-taking in heavyweight stocks, pressure on banking and FMCG shares, and cautious sentiment following a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir.

TOP STORIES

Devyani Digs Into Biryani Biz 

What Happened

Restaurant giant Devyani International (DIL) has snapped up an 80.7% stake in Sky Gate Hospitality, the company behind popular food chain Biryani by Kilo, for a hefty ₹431.31 crore. 

The deal doesn't just include the biryani business – DIL also gets control of two other food brands: Goila Butter Chicken and The Bhojan. This acquisition adds 100 new outlets spread across 40 Indian cities to DIL's already impressive portfolio. 

For context, DIL currently operates over 2,030 stores spanning four countries as the franchise partner for international brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Costa Coffee.

Why It Matters

This move is like watching a global food player finally admit they need some local spice in their life!

DIL Chairman Ravi Jaipuria openly acknowledged the company needed to add "traditional flavors of Indian food" to their menu, dominated by Western fast food.

And they picked their target wisely – biryani remains India's most-ordered dish, with Zomato reporting a staggering 9.1 crore biryani orders last year alone. That's a whole lot of rice and meat!

Zoom Out

The timing is particularly interesting as the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector is expected to bounce back this year after a rough patch.

Bernstein Research predicts consumer demand will gradually pick up in the first half of the fiscal year and significantly improve in the second half, potentially driving mid to high single-digit same-store sales growth across the industry.  

TOP STORIES

Myntra Hits a High with Summer 

What Happened

Myntra is experiencing a travel season boom as vacation shoppers flock to the e-tailer, eager to pick up everything from stylish luggage to last-minute beauty products.

The real star here? Myntra’s quick-commerce service, M-Now, delivers in just 30 minutes, making it a game-changer for last-minute shoppers.

In the past few weeks, trolley bag orders have surged five times, backpacks have doubled, and sunglasses—demand for them skyrocketed by a jaw-dropping 29X!

Why It Matters

The rise of quick-commerce is reshaping the way we shop, especially in non-metro cities, which are now responsible for 60% of Myntra’s travel product demand.

People in these cities are embracing convenience, with M-Now giving them the ability to buy and receive their vacation gear in a flash.  

The travel surge is also significant because it reflects a shift in Indian shopping habits.

With a growing appetite for premium and stylish goods, consumers are willing to spend more on quality travel products and beauty essentials, all while enjoying the convenience of quick delivery.

Final Words

It’s not just accessories that are flying off the shelves. Summer-ready apparel and footwear are also gaining popularity. The demand for these vacation essentials grew 2.2 times year-on-year. 

Myntra’s beauty section is booming too, with customers grabbing lipsticks, perfumes, and skincare products from top brands like Lakme, L’Oreal, and Maybelline. 

TOP STORIES

TCS Bets Big on Bharat with Cloud

What Happened

Tech giant TCS unveiled a bold new strategy for its home market, launching several India-focused platforms, including a "SovereignSecure Cloud" service. 

The company announced these initiatives at its "Accelerating India" event in New Delhi on Thursday, alongside key partnerships with government bodies, RailTel and C-DAC. 

• India is now TCS’s fastest-growing market, contributing $2.6 billion or 8.6% of its $30.18 billion FY25 revenue.
  

• That’s nearly double the domestic revenue earned just three years ago.

Why It Matters

While CEO K. Krithivasan played coy about specific targets, this move aligns with Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran's vision to transform India into a $10 billion market for the company.

The timing couldn't be more interesting. While global IT spending remains sluggish (competitors Infosys and HCLTech are projecting meagre growth of 0-3% and 2-5% respectively for FY26), TCS seems to be finding a goldmine in its backyard. 

Their special sauce? Government contracts, like the massive $1.83 billion BSNL deal signed in 2023.

Zoom Out

The new sovereign cloud is essentially India's version of digital self-reliance, keeping sensitive data within national borders while adding AI capabilities to help government agencies make smarter decisions.

GROWTH GULLY

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💼 Hidden Gold – 4 underrated skills that’ll make you $100K+ next year
🥑 Fuel Up – These 7 foods will kick your energy into high gear—coffee who?

PAISON KA KHEL

Andromeda’s Loan Train Isn’t Slowing Down! 🚆

Andromeda, one of India’s top loan distributors, disbursed ₹1.08 lakh crore in FY25, up 25% from last year. Home loans led the charge with ₹48,000 crore, showing people really are chasing their dream homes. 

The company now targets ₹1.20 lakh crore for FY26, banking on softer interest rates thanks to RBI’s recent cuts. With 470 branches and 25,000+ partners, Andromeda is expanding fast, especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities. In short: more homes, more loans, and hopefully, fewer EMIs that make you cry.

Harley Heaven Could Be Coming to India 🏍️

Indian motorcycle enthusiasts may soon catch a break on their American dream rides!

The Modi government is considering eliminating import duties on motorcycles with engines of 750cc and above, potentially making Harley-Davidsons much more affordable in India.

This proposal aims to sweeten trade relations with President Trump, who previously dubbed India the "tariff king" over these very duties. Current tariffs on motorcycles up to 1600cc have already dropped from 50% to 40%, but this would go further.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Singapore's GIC Makes Five-Star Investment ⭐

Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC is investing ₹752 crore for a 35% stake in five Samhi hotels across Bengaluru and Pune. Of this, ₹603 crore will reduce debt, while ₹149 crore will fund renovations.

The deal covers four operational properties and one under development, including the Trinity hotel, which will be upgraded to Tribute Portfolio by FY28. The investment comes as Indian hotel rates rise 8% year-on-year nationally, with Delhi and Mumbai seeing remarkable jumps of 51% and 28%.

Tech Giants Hit With Massive EU Fines 😯

The EU has hit Apple with a massive €500 million fine and Meta with a €200 million penalty for breaking new digital competition rules.

What did they do wrong? Apple blocked apps from telling users about cheaper deals outside its App Store, while Meta gave users a choice: watch ads or pay to skip them.

These are the first big fines under Europe’s new Digital Markets Act—a clear message that even tech giants can’t bend the rules anymore.

MIRCH MASALA

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💥 Patriarchy, Who? – Anupam Mittal names daughter to shake the system

🍫 Sweet Chaos – How a Dubai chocolate bar is shaking up global pistachio stocks
🕊️ Words Matter – Big B’s cryptic tweet amid terror stirs national outrage

And that’s a wrap. Have an amazing weekend.

We’ll see you again on Monday! 😄