Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: ​Indian equity markets concluded the session on April 29, 2025, with marginal gains amid a rangebound and volatile trading day. The BSE Sensex edged up by 70.01 points (0.09%) to close at 80,288.38, while the NSE Nifty 50 added 7.45 points (0.03%) to settle at 24,335.95.

TOP STORIES

No More Nicknames in UPI 💰

What Happened

As per the announcement by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), by June 30, 2025, every UPI app in India must show only the official bank-verified name of the person or business you're paying — not their nickname, shop name, or some emoji-laced alias.

This new rule applies to person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) payments.

Basically, if you're sending money on UPI, the name you see has to be fetched directly from the bank’s Core Banking System (CBS) through NPCI’s “Validate Address API.”

Why? Because right now, many apps let users change how their name appears — which fraudsters love. Imagine sending ₹2,000 to “Zara Official” and later finding out it was some dude named Zubair in Delhi with a Zara-looking QR code.

From now on, UPI apps must shut off all features that allow you to edit the recipient's name. No more fancy labels. Just verified names, straight from the bank.

Why It Matters

According to NPCI, many UPI frauds happen because people trust the display name without verifying who’s really behind it. Now, that risk gets slashed. Users can double-check the actual name before hitting "Send."

Experts like Atul Gupta from Cashfree and Rahul Jain from NTT DATA agree: this change could drastically reduce accidental and fraudulent transfers. 

Zoom Out

UPI has revolutionised how India pays — but the more popular it got, the more loopholes fraudsters found. 

Sure, it’ll take some getting used to. No more cute shop names or inside-joke aliases. But when it comes to money, clarity beats creativity.

TOP STORIES

Trade Tensions Hit MSMEs Hard ⚠️

What Happened

India Ratings just rang the alarm bells: a whopping ₹21,800 crore in loans to high-risk MSMEs and mid-sized companies could be in danger, thanks to the rising heat of a global tariff war 2.0.

Sectors like chemicals, textiles, steel, and industrial machinery are taking the worst hit. In a recent study of nearly 3,000 businesses, the agency found that while mid-corporates are holding up okay, MSMEs are in a much more fragile spot.

Here’s the damage:

• Out of 1,898 MSMEs studied, 6% are in the high-risk zone, juggling massive debt (₹8,100 crore) with razor-thin margins.
  

• For mid-sized companies, 5% are high-risk, with loans totalling ₹13,700 crore.
  

• Overall, 23% of MSMEs are stressed, with interest coverage ratios under 1.1× (translation: they can barely cover loan interest).
  

• In contrast, only 11% of mid-corporates are in similar trouble.

Why It Matters

MSMEs — the backbone of India’s economy — are already juggling tight cash flows and modest capex, and this tariff tussle just adds more weight. Most of them operate with ROEs under 5%, meaning they’re barely generating returns.

The good news? If interest rates come down and liquidity improves, there’s a sliver of hope for these businesses.

Zoom Out

India’s MSMEs were just starting to recover post-COVID, but the timing of this global tariff escalation couldn’t be worse. 

Unless relief measures step in quickly, we may see some serious financial cracks forming in the foundation of India's small-business economy.

TOP STORIES

🚨 IndusInd Bank’s Top Brass Resigns

What Happened

In a stunning back-to-back move, Sumant Kathpalia, MD & CEO of IndusInd Bank, has stepped down — just a day after his deputy Arun Khurana resigned.

The exits come on the heels of a massive accounting scandal involving the bank’s derivatives portfolio.

An external audit by independent professional firm Grant Thornton indicated that the bank was now facing a 2.27% hit to its net worth.

The report submitted on Saturday assessed that the total impact on the profit and loss account at Rs 1,959.98 crore as of March 31 2025

Kathpalia’s resignation letter explicitly cited “moral responsibility” for what he called “acts of commission/omission.” Khurana, who oversaw the area affected, also resigned immediately.

The damage? Since March 10, when the issue first came to light, IndusInd Bank’s stock has tumbled nearly 8%.

Why It Matters

This is more than just a leadership reshuffle. It’s a serious credibility hit for one of India’s major private banks.

For a listed bank to misreport trades over multiple years raises major questions about internal controls and audit rigor.

Zoom Out

The Reserve Bank of India has increased inspection over private banks in recent years — and this could accelerate calls for greater transparency in financial reporting, 

As IndusInd scrambles to restore trust, all eyes are now on who takes over — and how the bank rebuilds confidence after this high-level fallout.

GROWTH GULLY

🛠️ Healthy Life – 10 science-based tips to fix your gut health.
💸 Debt Free – 5 Smart ways to Repay Home Loan Faster
🔥 Get a Job – 8 Hard Skills that you should include in your resume

📚 Eat Right – 14 nutrition myths that are forced down your throat

🚫 Say No - Learn how to say NO with impact

PAISON KA KHEL

Max Healthcare’s ₹6,000 Cr Check-Up 🏥

Max Healthcare’s going full throttle — planning to invest ₹6,000 crore to add 3,700 beds by 2028! They’ve just launched a 300-bed hospital in Dwarka, with three more opening soon in Mohali, Mumbai, and Saket.

The goal? Hit 30 hospitals nationwide — all funded from their own pocket. No loans, just reinvesting profits. And yep, they’re open to buying up other hospitals too. Expansion mode: fully activated.

CtrlS to Build a ₹500 Cr Data Center in Bhopal 🖥️

CtrlS is investing ₹500 crore to build a top-tier data center in Bhopal!

Located at Badwai IT Park, this 12MW facility will boost the region's tech game with AI-ready systems and state-of-the-art cooling and security. It’s also expected to create 200 jobs and generate ₹15 crore in GST annually.

Why Bhopal? With Madhya Pradesh’s new policies, it’s the perfect spot for digital infrastructure. The state’s pushing to become a $2 trillion economy by 2047, and this project is a huge step in that direction.

GLOBAL NAZARA

DHL Hits Pause on Some US Shipments 📦

DHL has temporarily stopped shipping packages over $800 to the US!

Thanks to new customs rules, effective April 5, the threshold for processing formal shipments dropped from $2,500 to $800. This means B2C shipments above that limit are on hold, but B2B shipments are still moving — though expect some delays.

Don’t worry, if your package is under $800, it’s business as usual. DHL’s just adapting to these new regulations, and they're helping customers through the process.

Boeing Sells Digital Business for $10.55 Billion ✈️

Boeing just sold parts of its digital aviation solutions business to investment firm Thoma Bravo for a whopping $10.55 billion!

The deal includes the sale of Jeppesen, a 81-year-old company Boeing acquired in 2000. But don’t worry, Boeing is keeping its core digital services for fleet maintenance and repair.

This move is part of Boeing’s plan to focus on its main operations and improve its financial health after some tough years. Shares rose 1.2% following the news.

MIRCH MASALA

✈️ Flight Chaos – Over 400 departures delayed at Delhi’s IGI airport.
🤵‍♂️ Groom Drama – Bihar Police Physical Qualified Groom Wedding Card.
💸  Raining Money – Man becomes World Richest Man but Only For 2 Minutes.
🐈 Catfishing Pro – Australian Woman Spends Rs 6 Lakh to look like cat.
💪 Muscle Gains – Amul’s High Protein Kulfi Sparks Meme Fest.