Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The markets wrapped up FY25 with a modest 5% gain, closing the year on a cautious note. Here’s what lies ahead for FY26 and what investors should watch out for.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

Indians Are Ditching Sugar to Stay Cool ❌

What Happened?

This summer, Indians aren’t just battling the heat—they’re also cutting down on sugar. Sales of low-sugar and no-sugar drinks doubled in 2024, pushing the market to ₹700-750 crore. 

From coconut water to fruit-flavored sparkling drinks, healthier options are flying off the shelves.

The Big Game

Big brands like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are adding more sugar-free drinks, while smaller brands like Polka Pop and Paper Boat are growing fast with natural juices and prebiotic sodas.

Polka Pop, for example, is already making 150,000 bottles a month and expects to grow 5X by 2025.

Even giants like Tata, Bisleri, and Reliance’s Campa Cola are joining the trend. Pepsi says 53% of its sales in 2024 came from no/low-sugar drinks—up from 42% in 2023.  

Zoom Out

India’s ₹60,000 crore soft drink market is changing. More people are checking labels, avoiding sugar, and picking healthier options. The no-added-sugar juice category grew 10.4% last year, and brands are racing to meet demand.

TOP STORIES

Mother Dairy’s ₹600 Cr Bet on Fresh Produce 🍅

What Happened?

Mother Dairy, renowned for its dairy products and the beloved Safal brand, is stirring the pot with a substantial ₹600 crore investment. 

The company plans to establish two new fruit and vegetable processing plants: one in Itola near Baroda, Gujarat, with an allocation exceeding ₹400 crore, and another in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment ranging from ₹150-200 crore. 

Why It Matters

Mother Dairy already has three processing plants in Ranchi, Bengaluru, and Delhi, handling 2 lakh tonnes of produce a year. These new plants will boost production and ensure fresher products reach more people.

And it’s not just about fruits and veggies. The company is also experimenting with new products, like its idli-dosa batter, which is currently selling at Safal outlets. Depending on demand, they might expand this with an investment of ₹5-10 crore.

Zoom Out

With all this expansion, Mother Dairy is aiming for a ₹17,500 crore turnover in 2024-25, up 15-16% from last year’s ₹15,000 crore.

Plus, the company is also working on a ₹500+ crore milk processing plant in Nagpur, expected to be operational by 2026.

TOP STORIES

MSMEs, EVs & Billions in Funding 💰

What Happened?

Shriram Finance Ltd is setting ambitious goals, aiming to cross ₹3 lakh crore in assets by the 2025-26 financial year. The company expects 15% loan growth, more than twice the projected GDP growth rate of 6.5%.

Currently, they are wrapping up this year with over ₹2.5 lakh crore in assets, already exceeding their 15% growth guidance by hitting 18% credit growth. 

Why It Matters

Shriram is making big moves in small business lending and green financing, two sectors that can reshape India’s economy. MSMEs contribute 30% to India’s GDP, and access to financing can fuel job creation and expansion for thousands of businesses.

Meanwhile, its commitment to electric vehicle financing aligns with India’s push for a cleaner, greener future. As demand for EVs rises, Shriram Finance is positioning itself as a key player in sustainable lending.

The Funding Funda

On the funding side, the company’s ability to raise billions in international capital highlights strong investor confidence. Access to foreign funds allows it to scale up operations without relying solely on domestic lending.

• $306 million from ADB, JICA, and Exim Bank under its Social Finance Framework.

• $500 million through an External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) loan, backed by SACE, an Italian credit agency.

• $1.2 billion raised via a syndication facility in December 2024.

GROWTH GULLY

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📉 Job Regrets: 11 mistakes professionals wish they avoided early

🤖 Code or Not? What Replit’s CEO thinks about the future of coding

PAISON KA KHEL

Alpha Wave Bites In For Haldiram 😋

After Temasek’s 9% scoop, UAE’s Alpha Wave Global is set to grab a 6% bite of Haldiram for ₹5,160 crore ($600 million). This snack-sized deal values the Indian snack giant at ₹86,000 crore, making it India’s biggest private equity consumer deal.

With a total 15% promoter dilution, Haldiram’s namkeens are now attracting global investors faster than Indians at a Diwali sale! However, unlike Temasek, Alpha Wave won’t get a board seat.

Govt Takes 49% Stake in Vodafone Idea! 🤝

The Indian government is set to become Vodafone Idea’s biggest shareholder, converting ₹36,950 crore of unpaid spectrum dues into equity. This move will nearly double its stake from 22.6% to 49%, but the company’s promoters will still run the show.

To seal the deal, Vodafone Idea will issue 3,695 crore shares at ₹10 each within 30 days of regulatory approvals. The price was set based on recent trading averages.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Musk Sells X… to Himself for $33 Billion 👏

Elon Musk just made a $33 billion deal with himself! He sold X (formerly Twitter) to his AI company, xAI, in an all-stock move, proving that sometimes, the best buyer is… you.

Musk says this fusion of X’s massive audience with xAI’s brainpower will unlock “immense potential.” Meanwhile, xAI is now worth $80 billion, making it the nerdy sibling that overshadowed X. Fun fact: Musk originally bought X for $44 billion in 2022. 

So, either the price of free speech dropped, or even Musk can’t escape bad investments.

Bengaluru Skies Get Busy 🪂

Bengaluru has finally joined the drone delivery club! Skye Air launched its ultra-fast service in Konankunte and Kanakapura Road, promising to zip medicines and goods across in just seven minutes—faster than your food delivery guy finding your address.

Gurugram led the charge, hitting 1 million deliveries in a year, pushing Bengaluru to play catch-up. These drones, flying at 120 meters, carry up to 10 kg and drop packages like a sci-fi movie—minus the explosions.

MIRCH MASALA

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⛽ Pump Fraud: Man loses ₹1 lakh in petrol scam

🔌 Underwater Blackout: China’s internet ‘kill switch’ raises global concerns

🎭 Beyond Borders: Pakistani TV dramas connect where politics divides