Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The Nifty opened with a gap-up but faced selling pressure before recovering from the 22,300 support zone and closing slightly negative. Despite weakness in the IT sector, momentum indicators suggest a short-term upside toward 22,800–23,000.

TOURISM

OYO’s New Bet - Religious Tourism 🛕

What Happened?

OYO’s founder, Ritesh Agarwal, sees massive potential in religious tourism, estimating it could generate $150-200 billion in the next 3-4 years. 

Speaking at TiE Con Mumbai 2025, he highlighted that 20% of OYO’s revenue already comes from religious destinations like Banaras and Tirupati.

With lakhs of pilgrims traveling daily, demand for quality stays is rising. 

Even smaller hubs like Kanyakumari and Somnath are seeing new hotels pop up, signaling a shift in the tourism industry.

Why It Matters?

Pilgrimages draw millions, yet infrastructure has long lagged.

Now, with modern hospitality brands stepping in, longer stays and better services are turning religious trips into full-fledged travel experiences.

Numbers Tell The Story

During Prayagraj’s Kumbh Mela, over 5 lakh people booked OYO stays. 

As more hotels replace dharamshalas, India’s tourism economy gets a boost.

This trend mirrors global religious travel hubs like Mecca and Vatican City, where hospitality thrives.

For startups and investors, it’s a golden ticket. More hotels = more jobs, real estate growth, and tourism income. 

Zoom Out

OYO is riding this wave, and as Agarwal’s numbers suggest, there’s still plenty of room for new players to enter the game.

Agarwal also pointed to Ayodhya’s economic boom, thanks to the Ram Mandir.

Locals are cashing in through hotels, restaurants, and real estate, showing how tourism fuels wealth.

PAISON KA KHEL

Adani’s $4.1 Billion Mumbai Makeover 🏗️

Gautam Adani’s real estate arm is set to transform Mumbai’s Motilal Nagar, a 143-acre expanse in Goregaon, with a ₹36,000 crore ($4.1 billion) facelift. 

This ambitious project involves redeveloping Motilal Nagar I, II, and III, aiming to rehabilitate 3,372 residential units, 328 commercial units, and 1,600 slum tenements. 

This victory marks Adani’s second major Mumbai venture, following the redevelopment of Asia’s largest slum, Dharavi. 

Tanishq Shines Brighter in the US  🇺🇲

Indian jewelry giant Tanishq is making waves in the US, adding two new glittering stores in Redmond, Washington, and Cumming, Georgia.

These mark the brand’s fifth and sixth locations in the country, catering to both South Asian traditions and modern American tastes.

The Redmond store, spanning 3,640 sq. ft, flaunts over 5,000 exquisite designs, while the Georgia outlet, covering 3,270 sq. ft, brings heritage and elegance to Atlanta’s dynamic retail scene.

GROWTH GULLY

🏦 Crush Loan: 5 genius hacks to pay off your home loan faster and stay stress-free!

🌞 Shine Bright: Unlock the secret of frozen belly fat for a confident new you 

🧘‍♂️ Meditate Right: Find the perfect meditation style to calm your mind and boost focus

🪴 Nerve Boost: Fix your nervous system and feel unstoppable—here’s how! 

😳 Ad Legends: 20 iconic commercials that changed marketing forever

INTERNET

Is Starlink Finally Coming to India? 🛰️

What Happened?

Bharti Airtel has shaken hands with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet to India.

However, there’s a small catch—SpaceX is still waiting for the government’s green light.

Under this partnership, Airtel will distribute Starlink equipment through its stores and help connect businesses, schools, and remote villages. 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is still figuring out whether to auction satellite spectrum (as telcos demand) or assign it directly (as Musk prefers).

The Impact

For India, this could be a game-changer.

• Super-fast internet in remote areas: Millions of Indians in rural regions struggle with slow connections. Starlink could bridge this gap by offering high-speed satellite internet.
  
  

• Airtel’s role in the deal: With its massive reach, Airtel could make Starlink’s expensive hardware more accessible.
  
  

• Telcos vs. SpaceX drama: Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea want a level playing field—meaning they don’t want Starlink to get cheaper spectrum than they do.  

Zoom Out

The Indian government has already backed Musk’s view that satellite spectrum should be assigned, not auctioned, but TRAI is still ironing out the details.

Meanwhile, Airtel and SpaceX are gearing up to beam down high-speed internet—but only if regulators give them the final go-ahead.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Trump’s Tariff: Doubling Down, Then Backing Off 🤦

President Donald Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%, only to reverse course hours later. 

The initial escalation was in response to Ontario’s 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S.

However, after Ontario Premier Doug Ford suspended the electricity surcharge, cooler heads prevailed, and the tariffs remained at 25%.

EPA Axes $20 Billion in Green Grants 🪓

The EPA has pulled the plug on $20 billion in climate grants, calling the program a mismanaged “scheme.”

Originally part of a $27 billion fund under Biden’s climate law, the money was meant for clean energy projects. 

EPA chief Lee Zeldin cited fraud risks and lack of oversight, leaving nonprofits and solar initiatives in limbo.

Critics call it a climate setback, while supporters say it’s a win for accountability.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Ola Electric Hits the Brakes on Costs 💸

What Happened?

Ola Electric pulled off a major pit stop.

The company announced it has successfully wrapped up its Network Transformation and Opex Reduction Program—a fancy way of saying, “We’re cutting costs big time!”

And by how much? A whopping ₹90 crore per month.

What changed? 

Ola streamlined its distribution network by shutting regional warehouses and shipping vehicles and spare parts directly from the factory to stores. 

It also automated its vehicle registration process, reducing wait times and improving efficiency.

Thanks to these moves, Ola Electric now expects to break even in its automotive segment (EBITDA) by Q1 FY26—a huge milestone in its journey toward profitability.

Why It Matters

First off, saving ₹90 crore every month is no small feat—that’s ₹1,080 crore a year saved.

But it’s not just about cutting costs; these changes are also making life easier for customers.

• Faster deliveries: The average delivery time for vehicles has dropped from 12 days to just 3-4 days. Blink, and your new Ola scooter might already be at your doorstep.
  
  

• Lower inventory: Vehicle inventory has been slashed from 35 days to 20 days, reducing storage costs and making the supply chain more efficient.
  
  

• More sales, less hassle: Ola Electric’s daily registrations have shot up to 800+ per day, surpassing their average daily sales from earlier this year. People clearly like the new, streamlined experience.