Namaste! Aaj ka news roundup, Newswala style!

MARKETS

Markets: The Indian stock market had a mixed day on March 25, ending flat after a volatile session. While Sensex rose slightly to 78,017, IT stocks outperformed, lifting market sentiment.

TECHNOLOGY

India Sends Samsung a $601M Reality Check 

What Happened

Samsung is in hot water — and this time, it’s not because of overheating phones. The Indian government has slapped the tech giant with a whopping $601 million tax demand for allegedly dodging tariffs on telecom equipment imports. 

The heart of the controversy? 

Remote Radio Heads — a crucial part of mobile towers — which Samsung allegedly misclassified to avoid paying 10–20% tariffs.

The bill includes $520 million in unpaid taxes and a 100% fine, with $81 million in additional penalties for seven senior executives. 

Even Samsung’s top brass in India, including Dong Won Chu (CFO) and Sung Beam Hong (Network Division VP), are feeling the heat.

This is Big Money

This isn’t just a speed bump — it’s a roadblock. The demand accounts for 63% of Samsung India’s 2024 net profit of $955 million. 

The company imported these components from Korea and Vietnam between 2018 and 2021, reportedly selling them to Reliance Jio, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom giant.  

A Big ‘Trend’

India is tightening the screws on foreign companies, with Volkswagen also caught in a $1.4 billion import tax tussle. Such massive tax demands could send a worrying message to global investors.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

ONGC: Oil Barrels to Solar Panels 

What Happened

India’s biggest oil explorer, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), is gearing up for a future where oil might not be king. To stay ahead, the company is spreading its bets. 

It’s diving into refining, petrochemicals, trading liquefied natural gas (LNG), and renewable energy. The company plans to boost its renewable energy capacity to 10 gigawatts by 2030 — that’s three times its current capacity. 

ONGC is also exploring its first oil-to-chemicals refinery and booking 3 million tons of regasification capacity on India’s west coast.

Why It Matters

Here’s the deal — lower oil prices mean thinner profits. ONGC’s production costs are rising because the easy-to-drill oil is gone.

With shrinking margins, relying only on crude oil is risky business. That’s why diversifying into petrochemicals and clean energy makes sense. 

Zoom Out

As electric vehicles take over, the demand for petrol and diesel could drop, but petrochemicals will still be needed for everyday products.

LNG trading is another smart move. Importing cheap gas and selling it to city gas retailers can help balance the books when oil prices tumble.

Plus, renewable energy is the future, and hitting the 10-gigawatt target by 2030 shows ONGC is thinking ahead.

HEALTHCARE

What’s Next for Wipro GE?

What Happened?

Wipro GE Healthcare is going all in on India with a massive $1 billion (₹8,000 crore) investment to boost local manufacturing. 

By 2030, the company wants 70% of its medical devices for the Indian market made right here — a big jump from the current 40-45%.

Why It Matters

Why spend so much? Well, India’s medtech market is booming. Experts say it could grow at a 20-23% annual rate for the next five years.

More Indians are getting insured, and government policies — like the National Medical Devices Policy 2023 — are pushing local production.

Right now, India imports about 80-85% of its medical devices. Wipro GE wants to change that by making more products locally. This helps cut costs and protects against global market hiccups. 

The Tariff Threat

Despite the threat of US tariffs on Indian medtech exports, Wipro GE isn’t sweating it. Thanks to its global supply chain, it believes it can dodge the impact. 

The company also exports to 70 countries, with the US and Europe as its biggest buyers.

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PAISON KA KHEL

₹78,213 Crore Up for Grabs 💸

Turns out, Indians are great at forgetting things — especially money. Over ₹78,213 crore is lying unclaimed in bank accounts, and the government is finally saying, “Enough hoarding!” 

Banks, both public and private, will soon introduce a simplified format to help people (or their nominees) reclaim their forgotten wealth. The process, fully online by FY26, aims to be as smooth as Shah Rukh Khan’s dance moves.

*Unclaimed deposits, inactive for over 10 years, are parked in RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund, which swelled by 26% last year. 

Godrej Hits a Grand Slam in Hyderabad 🫡

Godrej Properties just made a splash in Hyderabad, selling over 300 homes worth a whopping ₹1,000 crore at Godrej Madison Avenue. 

With 0.84 million sqft gone faster than weekend movie tickets, the project, launched in January 2025, marks the company’s grand debut in Hyderabad.

Fun fact: Godrej’s Q3 profits soared 161% to ₹163 crore.

GLOBAL NAZARA

Meta’s Pricey Solution to EU Privacy Rules 💵

Meta is rolling out a new plan in Europe — an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram for a price. It costs €10 ($10.50) per month on desktops and €13 ($14) on mobile for Instagram. Adding Facebook brings the total to €17 ($17.50) on desktop.

The move comes as Meta complies with EU regulations that restrict personalized ads without user consent.

With 258M Facebook and 257M Instagram users in the EU, the company is safeguarding its $17.88 per user Q2 revenue. No changes for U.S. users… yet.

India and Singapore Sail Together 🚢

India and Singapore just dropped anchor on a new eco-friendly voyage.

Both nations signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to create a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC), aiming to ditch emissions and embrace digital solutions.

This collaboration will soon sail into an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Since 2022, over 28 stakeholders have joined the GDSC ship. As Singapore flexes its tech muscles, India sees a future as a green marine fuel giant.

MIRCH MASALA

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