Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Indian stock markets closed higher on Monday, with the Sensex rising 295 points (0.37%) and the Nifty gaining 114 points (0.47%), led by strong buying in auto, oil & gas, and FMCG stocks, while the banking sector lagged.

TOP STORIES

India’s Biggest Ever IPO

What Happened

Reliance Jio is dialling up something big. The telecom giant is planning to go public in 2025 with an IPO that could raise a jaw-dropping ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 crore.

If things go to plan, Jio could become the 6th largest telecom company in the world, beating out old-timers like Airtel and Deutsche Telekom.

Hmm, not bad for a company that entered the game just in 2016.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about bragging rights or headlines. Jio’s growth has redefined what internet access looks like in India. Thanks to its ultra-low prices, about one-fourth of global data rates, more Indians are online than ever before.

• In just nine months, Jio rolled out 5G to 96% of census towns. That’s fast.  

• Financially, they’re no slouch either — Q3FY25 saw profits rise 26% year-on-year, clocking ₹6,861 crore.  

Zoom Out

Today, Jio boasts 490 million users, each gobbling up over 30 GB of data a month — proving that Indians love scrolling, streaming, and sending reels.

The company’s also knee-deep in 5G, having filed over 350 patents across 5G and 6G. Yes, 6G — they’re already working on the future while we still buffer on 4G.

TOP STORIES

Starlink, Jio & Co—Better Keep It Local!

What Happened

The Indian government has just dropped a legal hammer on satellite communication (satcom) services. The new rules demand that all user data and connections stay within India’s borders—no detours through foreign servers allowed. 

• The Department of Telecom (DoT) now requires legal interception, local monitoring, and strict surveillance capabilities from all satcom providers.

• Oh, and providers must also “Make in India” at least 20% of their ground systems.

Why It Matters

This is a big deal because India is gearing up to let regular folks use satcom services. But with that comes the fear of misuse, especially by bad actors (terrorists).

The government wants eyes everywhere: special zones within 50 km of borders, real-time tracking, and no shady rerouting of Indian user traffic. 

Basically, if your satellite phone tries to flirt with a foreign gateway, it’ll get ghosted. Even websites blocked in India must remain blocked in space, too.

Zoom Out

Satcoms firm dreaming of launching in India, it’s time to set up shop locally, play by the rules, and keep data homebound. With licenses already handed to Jio and OneWeb, and Starlink still waiting at the door, the race is on.

TOP STORIES

IHCL Eyes Bigger Future

What Happened

Indian Hotels Company Limited, the group behind Taj Hotels, is going all in with a ₹1,200 crore investment plan for the financial year 2026.

After already spending ₹1,000 crore in FY25, the hotel giant is now focusing on boosting its premium Taj brand, upgrading assets, and launching new properties.

Driving The News

And the numbers are looking just as fancy as their suites. In FY25, Indian Hotels posted a 53 % jump in net profit, reaching ₹2,038 crore.

Revenue rose by 23 % to ₹8,334 crore. Even their catering arm, TajSATS, brought in a delicious ₹716 crore, making up around 10 % of total revenue. 

The company signed 74 new hotels and opened 26. And here is the smart part—over 95 % of the new deals followed the asset-light model, meaning they manage properties without owning them.

Zoom Out

India’s hospitality sector is booming, and IHCL is clearly making the most of it. With tourism rising and people back to booking weddings, vacations, and conferences, the hotel group is seeing strong demand both in India and abroad.

Industry reports predict better days ahead, with average room rates expected to cross ₹10,000 per night and occupancy touching 70% by 2026.

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PAISON KA KHEL

Mahindra & Mahindra’s Fast Lane 🛣️

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is cruising ahead with a roaring 22% rise in profit for Q4, raking in ₹2,437 crore! With revenue climbing to ₹31,609 crore(up 24%), the company’s SUV game is stronger than ever. 

M&M sold 253,028 vehicles, a solid 18% jump from last year, and its SUVs are the real stars, driving 90% utilisation. 

India’s First Offshore Decommissioning Success

In a major milestone, Shell, Reliance, and ONGC have completed India’s first offshore decommissioning project in the Tapti gas field, located 160 km off Mumbai.

After production stopped in 2016, the joint venture safely removed five platforms, 38 wells, and pipelines. 

The project took years of careful planning and execution, setting a new standard for energy projects in India. The success shows how collaboration and local expertise can drive India’s future in energy transitions. 

DID YOU KNOW

🎰 FedEx’s Lucky Break: FedEx was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1974. Its founder, Fred Smith, took the company’s last $5,000 to Las Vegas and turned it into $32,000 playing roulette, saving the company.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Flights Go the Long Way as Tensions Rise

After the deadly attack in Kashmir, tensions between India and Pakistan have forced airlines to change routes. Air France, Lufthansa, and others are now avoiding Pakistani airspace. Flights like Lufthansa’s from Frankfurt to Delhi are taking an hour longer. 

Air India fears a loss of ₹5000 crore or 600 million dollars if this continues for a year. Pakistan, on the other hand, is losing money from overflight fees while its reserves are just 10.2 billion dollars, enough for two months of imports. 

Skechers Ties the Knot with 3G Capital 👟

Skechers is being bought by 3G Capital in a $9.4 billion deal. 3G Capital will pay $63 per share, which is 30% more than Skechers’ recent stock price. After the news, Skechers shares jumped over 25%.

Shareholders can choose between cash or $57 per share plus an equity unit in a new company. In 2024, Skechers made a record $9 billion in revenue. Despite the US tariffs, the company is moving forward with strong growth. 

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