Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: Nifty had a bit of a hangover after Saturday’s special Union Budget session! After all the weekend drama, it opened with a 162-point gap down on Monday, tried a little comeback, but couldn’t shake off the weakness.

TOP STORIES

India Becomes a Global Car Bazaar

What Happened?

Nissan has made India its VIP export hub, and guess what? The Magnite SUV is now boarding international flights!

The carmaker has started shipping its left-hand drive (LHD) version to 45 new countries, bringing the total to 65. 

That’s more destinations than your neighbour’s overenthusiastic cousin who’s always posting airport selfies!

By February 2025, over 10,000 Magnites will be cruising in the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America—yes, even Mexico.

Why It Matters?

Nissan’s move boosts local manufacturing, jobs, and the ‘Make in India’ dream.

The company also plans to introduce hybrid, CNG, and electric cars in India by FY26, alongside two new mid-size SUVs.

Their goal?

Selling and exporting 1 lakh units a year—basically, they want to make Magnite as common as chai tapris on every street.

With India now a top Nissan export hub alongside the UK, this is like finally making it to the front row. 

Zoom out

With growing exports and a flood of new models on the way, India’s auto industry is zooming ahead.

So, next time you spot a Magnite abroad, just remember—it might have been ‘Made in India, Exported Worldwide’—just like Bollywood movies and IT engineers!

PAISON KA KHEL

Paytm Goes from Chaiwalas to Samba Shops!

Paytm is heading to Brazil with a $1 million investment in Seven Technology LLC, grabbing a 25% stake.

Seven Tech owns Dinie, a startup that helps small businesses in Brazil get digital financial services—basically, Brazil’s version of Paytm for MSMEs!

The deal will be wrapped up in 45 days, making Seven Tech and Dinie associate companies of Paytm’s parent, One97 Communications.

Paytm says this will help them understand Brazil’s market—because if Indian shopkeepers can go digital, why not Brazilian traders?

NTPC Dodges a ₹1,891 Crore Coal Bill

The Delhi High Court saved NTPC from coughing up ₹1,891 crore to Jindal ITF over a coal transport contract gone wrong.

The court slammed the 2019 arbitral award as “patently illegal” and a “public policy shocker”—basically, a legal horror show.

The drama started when JITF claimed NTPC unfairly ended their coal transport deal at the Farakka plant.

But NTPC argued the contract was rewritten in a way that would make even lawyers scratch their heads. So, the HC agreed and scrapped the whole thing.

TOP STORIES

JSW Infra Docks ₹39,000 Crore in New Ventures

What Happened

The Sajjan Jindal family, the masterminds behind JSW Infrastructure, are planning to sell a 14% stake to raise ₹39,000 crore for their grand expansion plans.

This comes right after their listing in September 2023, and they’re already aiming to go big. 

The money will be used to keep the debt-to-equity ratio at 70:30 while they build ports, improve logistics, and maybe even bid for some privatized terminals. 

Why It Matters

As India’s second-largest private port operator, they’re about to flex with a ₹30,000 crore investment into port expansions and a ₹9,000 crore into logistics.

They’ve got some seriously cool projects on the horizon – like Jatadhar and Keni ports, which will be ready by 2028 and 2029. 

Oh, and did we mention they’re aiming for a 12-15% boost in EBITDA by FY26?

Their plan is to increase revenue by 10% and up their EBITDA margins, which will come from third-party cargo.  

Conclusion

With their eye on ports, logistics, and maybe even shipbuilding (yes, ships!), they’re making sure their business doesn’t just sail but sets sail in every direction.

The stake sale is just the beginning of what could be a very profitable voyage.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Russia, France, and the US push India’s small modular reactors

Russia’s Rosatom has officially thrown its hat into India’s nuclear ring, offering decades of SMR (Small Modular Reactor) expertise, possibly setting up shop in India’s coastal areas.

With India eyeing 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047, this might just be the shortcut to hitting that target.

And it’s not just Russia, France is bringing its own “nuclear finesse” with advanced modular reactors.

With ₹20,000 crore allocated for SMR research, India’s nuclear ambitions are clearly going full throttle.

Barclays’ glitch Leaves Customers Scrambling, Balances Still in Limbo

Barclays’ tech meltdown has left UK customers caught in a banking black hole, but don’t worry, they’re fixing things—sort of.

The glitch, which started on payday Friday, caused chaos for online banking and payments. 

Some customers are still waiting for their balances to reflect reality.

While payments were delayed, and people were scrambling to make tax returns, Barclays is confident no one will be “left out of pocket.”

TOP STORIES

Record Jet Fuel Use as Kumbh Takes Off

What Happened:

January 2025 saw jet fuel consumption hit an all-time high in India, reaching 780,000 tonnes.

This wasn’t just any spike—it was the Maha Kumbh Mela causing the rise.

With over 45 crore devotees (including 15 lakh from abroad) travelling to Prayagraj, the skies were packed. 

Why It Matters:

In just one week, Prayagraj’s airport saw 30,172 passengers and 226 flights.

That’s a lot of take-offs and landings! Railways were busy too, ferrying over 50 lakh passengers. 

However, things got a bit crazy with airfares to Prayagraj jumping higher than expected. The government had to step in and ensure prices stayed in check.

Zoom out

This surge in jet fuel consumption is more than just a one-off event. It’s a sign that more and more people in India are flying.

With a growing middle class and rising travel demand, fuel consumption has shot up by 9% compared to last year. 

The country’s aviation industry is expanding fast, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

MIRCH MASALA

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