News Nook: Jun 12, 2025

 Indian Sector Specific News:

A) BFSI:

1) Rising Cyber Threats in India’s BFSI and Government Sectors

• India is now the second most targeted country globally for email threats, with BFSI and government sectors facing rising AI-driven phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks.
• Legacy system vulnerabilities and cloud expansion are widening the attack surface, prompting calls for proactive, AI-based security measures and stronger cyber hygiene.
• Source: Trend Micro 2025 Cyber Risk Report, via Vishwas Sinha

2) SEBI Mandates Verified UPI IDs for Market Intermediaries from October

• From 1 October 2025, SEBI-registered brokers, mutual funds, and portfolio managers must use standardized, verified UPI handles with authentication icons to collect investor payments.
• The move aims to reduce payment fraud and enhance investor trust, with tools like "SEBI Check" enabling verification of intermediary UPI IDs.
• Source: Mint

3) NSE Gets SEBI Approval to Launch Monthly Electricity Futures

• NSE will introduce monthly electricity futures to deepen power markets, offer price-hedging tools, and attract climate finance aligned with India’s net-zero targets.
• The initiative supports structural reforms under the Electricity Act, 2003, and is seen as a major step toward integrating financial markets with clean energy transition.
• Source: Economic Times

B) Automobile:

1) Maruti Suzuki Dzire Scores 5-Star Safety at Bharat NCAP; Baleno Falls Short

• Maruti Suzuki Dzire became the company’s first car to earn a 5-star rating at Bharat NCAP, excelling in both adult and child occupant protection categories.
• The Baleno, despite being a top-selling premium hatchback, scored 4 stars in adult protection and just 3 in child safety, highlighting mixed results across models.
• Source: Moneycontrol

C) Pharma:

1) India’s Pharma Sector Eyes Innovation-Led Future

• India’s $50 billion pharma industry, exempted from US tariffs, is poised to reach $130 billion by 2030, driven by cost advantages, global demand for generics, and policy support.
• Challenges like API dependence, quality control, and talent gaps prompt a strategic shift towards R&D, digital health, and high-value therapies.
• Source: DrishtiIAS

D) Telecommunication:

1) India Advances Global AI-Native Telecom Standards

• India hosted the 3rd ITU FG-AINN meeting in New Delhi, showcasing leadership in AI-native telecom networks and launching the Build-a-Thon 2025 to co-create practical solutions.
• India proposed to host ITU’s PP-30 conference and nominated Ms. M. Revathi as Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, reinforcing its commitment to digital leadership.
• Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

E) Energy:

1) Private Fuel Retailers Gain Ground Amid Price Freeze by PSUs

• Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy are undercutting PSU fuel prices by up to ₹3/litre, increasing their market share as state-run firms maintain high pump prices despite falling global crude rates.
• PSUs are using inflated margins on petrol and diesel to offset ₹41,266 crore in LPG-related losses, while private players benefit from pricing flexibility and zero LPG burden.
• Source: The Economic Times

2) India’s Natural Gas Demand Set to Double by 2040: PNGRB

• PNGRB projects India’s natural gas consumption to surge 60% by 2030 and double by 2040, driven by rising CNG usage in transport, households, and industries.
• City gas distribution is poised to overtake fertilizer as the top gas-consuming sector by 2030, with LNG imports expected to more than double to meet demand.
• Source: Economic Times

F) Agriculture:

1) Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan Nears Conclusion, Empowering Over 1 Crore Farmers

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized crop diversification, tech-driven farming, and policy-making with farmer input during a Kisan Chaupal in Delhi.
• The campaign, which has reached over 1.08 crore farmers nationwide, concludes in Bardoli, Gujarat, with virtual participation from 2,170 agricultural scientist teams.
• Source: PIB

G) IT:

1) Indian IT Faces Growth Headwinds as Q4FY25 Disappoints, FY26 Outlook Muted

• Tier-I IT firms reported sequential revenue declines in Q4FY25 amid tariff tensions and weak discretionary spending; FY26 guidance remains cautious, with Tier-II firms like Coforge expected to outperform.
• Despite pressure on margins, cost controls may provide stability; a recovery is expected only in H2FY26, hinging on macro clarity and deal conversions.
• Source: Republic Business

H) FMCG:

1) FMCG Growth to Stay Subdued Through FY26 Amid Cautious Consumer Sentiment

• Kantar’s Manoj Menon expects FMCG growth to remain tepid at 5–5.5% in FY26, with only modest recovery toward FY27 as urban demand stays weak.
• Survey findings indicate household budget stress and low spending optimism, despite macro stability; rural revival and monsoon could aid late FY26 rebound.
• Source: CNBC-TV18

Indian Economy and Government Initiatives:

• Despite a slight dip to 6.3% in FY26, India remains the fastest-growing major economy, driven by strong consumption, demographics, and government capex. Structural reforms since 2015—like GST, Make in India, and FDI liberalization—have sustained growth momentum beyond global trends.
• India’s average GDP growth under Modi government stands at 6.2% (7.1% excluding pandemic years), but job creation and private investment remain persistent challenges. While inflation has averaged 8.1%, food price stability has improved due to better supply chain management.

Indian Stock Market Update:

• The Sensex crashed 823 points and Nifty fell 253 points on June 12, wiping out nearly ₹6 lakh crore in investor wealth, as broader markets also declined sharply.
• Rising geopolitical tensions, especially between the US and Iran in the Middle East, triggered global risk aversion and weighed heavily on Indian equities.
• Both BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices dropped over 1.3%, signaling broad-based weakness across sectors and investor segments.
• Global cues from weak Asian and European markets further pressured sentiment, with fears of regional instability impacting foreign fund flows.

Bonus Briefs:

• US markets opened higher as softer-than-expected May CPI data raised hopes of a potential Fed rate cut, with core inflation rising just 0.1%.
• The Nasdaq led gains with a 0.4% rise, boosted further by optimism from renewed US-China trade negotiations and a rare earth deal.
• Falling Treasury yields reflected growing market confidence in a Fed pivot later this year, contingent on continued inflation moderation and labor market trends.