Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Value buying in auto, banking, and IT stocks fuelled a strong market comeback. Adding to the momentum, India’s manufacturing sector hit an eight-month high in March, driving optimism.

TOP STORIES

WagonR Takes the Crown—Again 👑

What Happened?

Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR has once again topped the passenger vehicle sales chart, selling 1,98,451 units in FY25. 

This marks the fourth consecutive year the hatchback has held the title of India’s best-selling car. The WagonR’s mix of affordability, fuel efficiency, and reliability keeps it a customer favorite.

Why It Matters?

With over 33.7 lakh units sold over the years, the WagonR has become an icon of the Indian middle class. Its spacious interiors, practical features, and fuel efficiency make it a go-to choice, especially in a market where affordability drives demand. 

The CNG model’s strong sales performance also reflects a shift toward cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives. 

Maruti’s ability to keep the WagonR relevant—through feature updates like SmartPlay infotainment, safety upgrades, and better engine efficiency—shows why it remains at the top. 

Not So Pleasing

While the WagonR continues to rule the roads, Maruti Suzuki is gearing up for a price hike from April 8, 2025. The WagonR will cost ₹14,000 more, while the Grand Vitara gets the biggest jump at ₹62,000. Maruti says the increase is due to higher costs, new regulations, and added features. 

TOP STORIES

Reliance Jumps into E-Sports with BLAST 🎮

What Happened?

Reliance-backed Rise Worldwide has teamed up with Denmark’s BLAST, one of the biggest e-sports tournament organizers, to enter India’s rapidly expanding gaming industry.

With 600 million gamers—18% of the global total—India is already a gaming giant, and the industry is set to grow from $3.8 billion to $9.2 billion by 2029.

On The Table

The joint venture (JV) aims to merge BLAST’s global expertise with Reliance Jio’s massive reach to bring world-class gaming events to India. Expect big tournaments, high-stakes competitions, and a major push for e-sports as mainstream entertainment.

BLAST brings top-tier experience, having worked with Epic Games, Krafton, and Ubisoft, while Jio provides unstoppable tech and distribution muscle. With the JioGames platform in place, the JV is set to turn India into a global e-sports hub.

Zoom Out

The global e-sports market is expected to hit $16.7 billion by 2033, growing at 22% annually. By that time, India will dominate almost 60% of the market, solidifying gaming as a thriving industry rather than just a hobby.

Plus, the Indian government has officially recognized e-sports as a “multi-sports event”, meaning this isn’t just fun and games—it’s a serious industry with major economic potential.

TOP STORIES

Ashok Leyland Uses a ₹500 Crore Injection 💉

What Happened?

Ashok Leyland has invested ₹500 crore into its UK-based electric bus subsidiary, Switch Mobility, increasing its stake to 93%. The funds are meant to support capital expenses and reduce debt, but a portion might also flow into Switch India.

Why It Matters?

The European market isn’t shifting to electric buses as quickly as anticipated. As of February 2025, EV buses account for just 15.9% of new sales, while 62% are still diesel-powered.

The high cost, range anxiety, and lack of charging infrastructure are holding back adoption.

In response, Ashok Leyland recently shut down part of its Sherburn facility in the UK to cut losses. 

The Indian Idea

In the UK, only 7.3% of road travel happens via buses and coaches, making it tough for Switch UK to gain traction. 

On the other hand, India’s EV market is booming. Switch India is scaling up aggressively, positioning itself as a key player in the country’s public transport electrification.

The company’s recent successes suggest that India, not the UK, may be the real growth driver for Ashok Leyland’s EV ambitions.

GROWTH GULLY

🚀 ₹4.7 LPA to ₹2 Cr: Lessons from a Techie’s FAANG Breakthrough

📈 Trading Secrets: Sivakumar Jayachandran’s 7-step guide to options trading

💡 Content Farming: How to create content that wins without farming it

🏆 Rise & Fall: How a man built India’s first e-commerce empire—then lost it all

💥The $520M Gamble: How one man’s oil bet in 2009 nearly crashed the global market

PAISON KA KHEL

Lupin’s Pills, Pounds and Profits! 💊

Mumbai-based Lupin has dropped £12.3 million (₹135 crore) to acquire UK pharma firm Renascience Pharma.

This deal isn’t just about business but about expanding Lupin’s grip on the UK market with medicines for infections, ear pain, and heart and kidney issues.

Renascience will now be a full-fledged Lupin subsidiary, supplying essential branded drugs. Meanwhile, Lupin’s stock cheered the move, jumping 2.71% to ₹2,009.40. 

Vedanta’s $20 Billion Mission 💸

Vedanta is serving up a $20 billion expansion feast and is hunting for a global partner to share the platter.

On the menu is a $2-$2.5 billion to boost Hindustan Zinc’s production, a $5 billion splurge to make Cairn India’s oil output five times juicier, and a power business doubling its 5 GW portfolio.

Plus, the Anil Agarwal-led empire is breaking into four—Aluminium, Oil & Gas, Power, and Steel—because splitting is trending.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Tesla Pays the Price for Musk’s Controversy 😞

Tesla just hit a speed bump(its worst in three years). Sales nosedived 13% in Q1, with only 336,681 cars delivered worldwide. Investors slammed the brakes too, sending Tesla’s stock skidding 13%.

Why the slowdown? Blame it on stiff competition from China’s BYD and a PR nightmare for Musk. His role in Trump’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) has sparked protests, vandalism, and even a “Tesla Takedown” movement.

UK Wants VCs to Foot the Defence Bill 🪖

The UK government is rolling out the red carpet for venture capitalists, hoping they’ll pump billions into the defence sector.

At a high-stakes meeting led by Defence Minister John Healey, investors were pitched the idea of defence as an “ethical investment”—because nothing says morality like missile funding!

With PM Keir Starmer pledging to hike defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the UK is on a mission to become a “defence industrial superpower.”

MIRCH MASALA

🏰 Taj Mahal Controversy: Man claims Mughal lineage, demands his ‘ancestral’ monument

💥 Siraj Strikes: ‘Miyan Bhai’ haunts ex-team RCB, X explodes with reaction

🔢 Brain Teaser: This 9-year-old’s math problem is harder than you think

🔥 Not Done Yet Kohli confirms ODI run till WC 2027

🐶 Puppy Love! Sunita Williams’ dogs give her the best welcome