India’s sugar export outlook is facing fresh pressure as tight opening stocks, ethanol diversion and weather risks threaten export availability. Sugar production for 2026-27 is forecast to rise, but historically low beginning stocks could limit the surplus available for overseas shipments. Around 3 million tonnes of sugar have reportedly been diverted towards ethanol, while exports have remained limited. Chetan Butani, Business Today, brings the latest developments on government policy and the possibility of tighter export controls. With the festive season approaching, domestic supply remains a key priority, while El Niño conditions and below-average monsoon rainfall add further risks to sugarcane production.
Maharashtra is planning a legislative and blockchain-based framework to enable the tokenisation of land and other immovable assets, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said at the Global Fintech Fest 2026. The proposed framework aims to improve liquidity by making traditionally illiquid land assets more productive, rather than encouraging speculation. Fadnavis said Maharashtra could become the first Indian state to establish such a legal framework. He also highlighted the potential of agentic AI to transform financial services, while stressing the need for human oversight. The state is building an ecosystem around fintech, AI, data centres, startups and advanced technology, with Mumbai positioned as a future global finance hub.
Gold and silver remain in focus as investors assess the next major move in precious metals. With gold trading around ₹1.5 lakh per 10 grams and silver near ₹2.4 lakh per kg, the key question is how soon they could revisit their previous peaks. Navneet Damani, Head of Research, Commodities, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, shares his outlook for gold and silver, highlighting the impact of the rupee, customs duties and global prices. He expects gold to remain positive and sees a potential move towards ₹2 lakh–₹2.1 lakh per 10 grams on the domestic front over the next 12 months.
Symphony is stepping beyond its core air-cooler business with a major push into new consumer durable categories. In this exclusive conversation, Symphony CMD Achal Bakeri shares the company’s plans to launch room air-conditioners in India from the December quarter through an asset-light ODM manufacturing model. Bakeri also outlines Symphony’s calibrated entry into BLDC ceiling fans and air purifiers, with product ranges, markets and channels to be scaled based on consumer response and commercial performance. The expansion will leverage Symphony’s existing cooling, distribution and service networks, while product development, inventory, branding, channel readiness and working capital will be funded through internal accruals. What does the new strategy mean for Symphony’s growth ambitions? Tune in as Achal Bakeri decodes the company’s BISP strategy and the road ahead.
Gold and silver remain in focus as the festive season approaches, with investors weighing the outlook for prices and the right strategy to follow. In this edition of Money Today, Navneet Damani, Head of Research – Commodities at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, discusses the factors driving precious metals, the impact of global rates, inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, and the outlook for the next three, six and twelve months. The conversation also explores whether gold and silver can reclaim their previous highs, how investors should approach fresh accumulation, and the preferred investment routes for long-term investors. From physical gold and silver to ETFs, the discussion also highlights the costs and considerations around jewellery purchases and why investment decisions should align with individual needs and objectives.
Gold and silver have remained in a consolidation phase, but both metals have recently started moving higher. In this market outlook, investors get insights into how to approach gold and silver over the next three, six and twelve months. Navneet Damani, Head of Research, Commodities, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, explains the outlook for precious metals as the festive season approaches, when domestic demand typically strengthens. The discussion also looks at the US rate cycle, inflation, elevated oil prices and global uncertainty. The expert believes gold and silver prices are likely to remain elevated and sees the current sideways movement as an opportunity for medium-term investors to accumulate gradually.
More arrests have been made in the Delhi PG tragedy, with police taking PG operator Sudhanshu and labour contractor Sanoj into custody. PG operator Shubham Tyagi remains absconding. The total number of arrests in the case has now reached five, including building owner Hariram Gupta, his wife Urmila Gupta and their son Mahesh Gupta. Following the tragedy, the Delhi government and MCD have intensified action against unsafe buildings and PG operators. An adjacent dilapidated building has also been demolished. Meanwhile, the government has proposed tighter PG regulations, including rent caps, mandatory registration, CCTV cameras, security measures and restrictions on deposits and notice periods.
A gesture by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has triggered a political row inside the state Assembly. While speaking during a debate linked to the 1976 Emergency and MISA, Vijay made a hand gesture that critics interpreted as mimicking someone being struck. The DMK demanded that the remarks be expunged, but the Speaker rejected the demand amid an escalating ruckus. DMK MLAs were subsequently removed from the House, with the party criticising the Speaker’s conduct. Former Chief Minister MK Stalin called Vijay’s gesture disrespectful, while even Vijay’s ally, the CPI(M), questioned it. The controversy has now intensified the political clash between Vijay and the DMK.
Chongtham Vikram Singh, a 54-year-old music teacher and accomplished guitarist from Manipur, died after he was allegedly assaulted outside his home in Kilokri village, Delhi. According to police, Singh had stepped out around midnight and asked a group of youngsters at a nearby dhaba to lower the noise. An argument reportedly escalated, after which he was allegedly assaulted. Singh ran towards his home and was rushed to Holy Family Hospital, where he was declared dead the following morning. Police have arrested suspects in connection with the case. His family is seeking a fair and impartial investigation. Singh had spent two decades in Delhi and ran a music school.
The Eiffel Tower was temporarily shut after employees staged a protest over allegations that female staff were asked to step aside during a private visit by a nearly 100-member BAPS delegation. French politicians condemned the reported incident, with Paris authorities promising an investigation. BAPS has said it takes the concerns seriously and maintained that the visit was organised in coordination with Eiffel Tower authorities. The group also said no one was denied access and apologised to anyone who felt hurt or inconvenienced. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has also distanced itself from the controversy. The delegation was in Paris for the inauguration of a major Hindu temple.
Textile stocks are back in focus as the Centre may extend the customs duty exemption on raw cotton beyond October 31, potentially until December. The move could provide relief to textile manufacturers facing elevated input costs and support sentiment across the sector. Arvind Ltd, Raymond, Raymond Lifestyle and Vardhman Textiles are among the stocks witnessing action, while KPR Mill is also in focus. Although some stocks have given up their early gains, the latest policy development could keep textile counters on investors’ radar. Watch the full market update for the latest action in textile stocks and understand how a possible extension could impact manufacturers.
Novartis is making a strategic move in India’s fast-growing cardiology segment with the acquisition of Minipress XL for around ₹1,250 crore. The brand generated ₹228.6 crore in revenue over the last 12 months, raising questions about the valuation and long-term potential of the deal. Buisness Today’s Neetu Chandra Sharma explains the strategic rationale behind the acquisition, including the brand’s established prescription base, prescriber loyalty and growth potential. Novartis is effectively paying around 5.5 times annual sales, making this a significant bet on an established revenue-generating asset rather than building a product from scratch. Watch the full analysis of Novartis’ latest pharma acquisition.
Twenty-five years after 9/11, questions surrounding Omar al-Bayoumi and his alleged links to two future hijackers continue to draw scrutiny. Declassified FBI files, court records, financial records and other evidence have fueled allegations about Saudi-linked support for Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar before the attacks. Bayoumi has maintained that his assistance to the two men was innocent, while Saudi Arabia has rejected allegations that he acted as an intelligence operative. A US civil case has allowed claims involving Bayoumi and Saudi diplomat Fahad al-Thumairy to proceed, but this does not amount to a criminal conviction. Here’s what the evidence and unanswered questions reveal.
Punjab’s drug crisis has triggered a fresh political controversy after Gulzar Singh of Sangrur died by suicide after allegedly consuming poison. Days earlier, Singh had confronted state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the availability of ‘chitta’, a term commonly used for illicit drugs in Punjab. His family alleges that he faced pressure to apologise after the confrontation. Opposition parties have accused the Mann government of failing to tackle the drug menace and have demanded action against Cheema along with a CBI probe. An abetment to suicide case has been registered, but Cheema has not been named in the FIR. The NHRC has also sought an Action Taken Report.
India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13, bringing together major powers including China, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others. But as geopolitical tensions rise, the bigger question is whether BRICS is strengthening India’s strategic autonomy—or increasingly serving China’s interests. Delhi wants BRICS to remain a “non-West” platform rather than an anti-Western bloc, while balancing ties with the US, Quad, Russia, Iran and the Gulf. From trade and de-dollarisation to China’s growing influence, India faces a delicate balancing act. Can New Delhi shape BRICS—or risk allowing Beijing to shape it?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects worth over ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, including three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. But his speech quickly turned political. Taking aim at his critics, PM Modi invoked the phrase “Naraz Fufa Ji” for those who always find something to complain about despite development. He also launched a “Jhooth Ki Goonj” attack, accusing the Opposition of trying to mislead Gen Z and saying the youth can see through the noise. The remarks come just days after Modi used similar phrases at SRCC, including “Naraz Fufa” and “Dimaagi Naxal”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the Global Fintech Fest, highlighted India’s remarkable fintech transformation and UPI’s journey over the past decade. He said UPI, which completed 10 years on August 25, has moved millions of Indians into the formal banking and digital payments ecosystem and has now become a major driver of India’s fintech growth. PM Modi said UPI processed more than 24 billion transactions in August alone and is now live in 11 countries. He described its international expansion as only the first step, saying the next goal should be to connect UPI with the payment systems of other countries. Citing India-Singapore as an example, he called for similar payment linkages with countries where Indians live in large numbers and where India has significant trade relations.
A road being built as part of the ₹4,400 crore Ram Van Gaman Path project has come under scrutiny after cracks and damage appeared in the Nawabganj area of Prayagraj, even before the project was completed. The 210-kilometre road is being developed to connect Ayodhya with Chitrakoot. Videos of the damaged stretch went viral on social media, following which the contractor began repair work. The contractor’s engineer attributed the damage to heavy rains and inadequate drainage, while Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said roads can cave in during heavy rainfall and can subsequently be repaired. With a major road project still under construction, the damage has raised questions over construction quality, drainage and accountability. The road is poorly constructed, with damaged sections, broken dividers, large potholes, and cement washed away during rains, making it extremely dangerous. Several accidents and fatalities have occurred due to its poor condition, yet the concerned authorities have failed to take effective action. This is a serious case of negligence and suspected corruption. We demand strict action against the contractor. The bridge is practically useless, with cracks all over the road and serious concerns about corruption and poor-quality construction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the completion of more than 2,800 kilometres of India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor, calling it a historic achievement for 21st-century India. Speaking in Vadodara, Modi said the project is transforming the country’s logistics and transportation ecosystem, becoming a lifeline for a rapidly developing India. He contrasted the project’s earlier delays with the pace of execution after 2014, saying not a single kilometre had been completed in the preceding years. Modi said the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors now form a key backbone for trade and commerce, with more than 430 freight trains operating daily. He also highlighted faster movement of goods, with journeys that once took 30 hours by truck now taking around 10–12 hours on the freight corridor, strengthening India’s logistics efficiency.
Home insurance remains one of India's most overlooked financial safeguards, despite rising risks from floods, earthquakes, fires, theft, and building collapses. In this Money Today insurance masterclass, Deepak Uniyal, Co-Founder and CEO of Insurance Samadhan, explains what a home insurance policy covers, including the building structure, furniture, appliances, jewelry, cash, and tenant belongings. The discussion examines how homeowners should calculate adequate coverage using rebuilding cost, construction cost, and property value. It also explores natural disaster riders, temporary accommodation benefits, third-party liability, documentation requirements, surveyor assessments, and important exclusions such as war, civil unrest, poor approvals, and prolonged vacancy.
UP Textile Conclave 2026 | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the state’s transformation and investment-led growth at the UP Textile Conclave 2026. He said UP’s GSDP and per-capita income have tripled over the past nine years, while women’s workforce participation has also increased threefold. Yogi said the state has received investment proposals worth ₹50 lakh crore, with ₹15 lakh crore already reaching the ground and another ₹7.5 lakh crore ready for groundbreaking. He said these investments have helped provide employment opportunities to more than 65 lakh youth. Yogi also highlighted UP’s expanding manufacturing base, 96 lakh MSME units, multimodal connectivity, a 75,000-acre land bank and investor-friendly policies. He pointed to UP’s growing role in mobile manufacturing, electronics, defence production and private industrial parks as key drivers of future growth.
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