News Nook: Jul 14, 2025

Indian Sector Specific News:

A) BFSI: 

1) India to Soon Implement New CKYC Rules for Easy Financial Access

• The government is bringing new rules to make KYC (Know Your Customer) simpler and digital, so people won’t need to submit the same documents again and again for banks, insurance, or investments.
• All major regulators like RBI, SEBI, IRDA, and PFRDA will follow one common KYC rule to help people easily use financial services across sectors without repeated checks.
• Source: Financial Express

2) Jane Street Deposits ₹4,843 Cr, Asks SEBI to Lift Trading Ban

• Jane Street, a US trading firm, has paid ₹4,843 crore into a special account and asked SEBI to remove the trading ban placed on it for market manipulation.
• SEBI had earlier accused the firm of manipulating prices in Indian markets to earn over ₹36,500 crore; the regulator is now reviewing their request.
• Source: Economic Times 

B) Automobile:

1) Used Car Sales in India to Grow Twice as Fast as New Cars in FY26: Crisil

• India’s used-car market is expected to grow 8–10% in FY26, more than double the growth rate of new car sales, driven by rising digital usage, better financing access, and demand for quicker vehicle ownership.
• The used-to-new car sales ratio has jumped to 1.4x from under 1 in five years, with used car volumes projected to cross 6 million units this fiscal; however, high operating costs are still keeping many organized players in losses.
• Source: Zee Business

C) Pharma:

1) Indian Pharma Must Shift Mindset to Build Strong Quality Culture: Dr. Tom Thomas

• Dr. Tom Thomas emphasized that Indian pharma companies need a deep cultural shift to embed quality at every level, as global scrutiny rises and compliance alone is no longer enough to ensure long-term growth.
• Leadership, employee engagement, digital systems, and a “Right First Time” approach are key to reducing non-compliance, with only about 30% of Indian pharma companies currently being fairly compliant.
• Source: Pharmabiz

2) Trump Threatens 200% Pharma Tariff, But Wall Street Stays Calm

• Donald Trump warned of a 200% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals to push drugmakers to manufacture in the U.S., but a proposed grace period has eased market worries.
• Investors aren’t panicking—pharma stocks are slightly up, with the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index gaining ~1% this week, signaling that companies may adapt without major disruption.
• Source: Hindustan Times

D) Telecommunication:

1) Siemens Bags ₹773 Cr Order for Nagpur Metro Phase 2, Shares in Focus

• Siemens has won two orders worth ₹773 crore from MAHA-METRO to supply advanced signalling and telecom tech for Nagpur Metro Phase 2; the 42-month project spans 43.8 km and 32 stations.
• The deal includes Communication-Based Train Control systems to boost punctuality, safety, and efficiency, strengthening Siemens’ role in India’s urban mobility growth.
• Source: Economic Times

2) Airtel, Jio, Vi Unveil Updated Entry-Level 5G Plans: July 2025 Edition

• Jio leads with the cheapest 5G plan at ₹198 (14 days, 2GB/day, OTT+Cloud perks), Airtel starts at ₹349 (28 days, 2GB/day, Xstream access), and Vi begins at ₹299 (28 days, 1GB/day), expanding 5G to more cities.
• While Jio offers truly unlimited 5G with no cap, Airtel and Vi apply a Fair Usage Policy, slowing speeds after 300GB/month of high-speed usage.
• Source: Telecomtalk 

E) Agriculture:

1) Govt Cracks Down on Fake Fertilizers, Orders Strict Action: Agriculture Minister

• The Agriculture Minister has instructed officials to take tough action against counterfeit and poor-quality fertilizers to protect farmers and ensure soil health.
• Authorities will intensify inspections, monitor supply chains, and penalize violators to curb the spread of substandard agri-inputs across the country.
• Source: Indian Chemical News

F) Energy:

1) India Overhauls Drilling Policy to Attract Foreign Oil Giants

• India will roll out its biggest policy revamp in two weeks to draw global oil firms like Exxon, Shell, and Chevron, offering protection against sudden tax and incentive changes that previously deterred foreign participation.
• The move aims to boost domestic exploration as India imports 90% of its crude and over half its gas, despite being the world’s third-largest oil consumer at 5.5 million barrels/day.
• Source: S Dinakar, Business Standard

2) India’s Russian Crude Imports Hit 11-Month High Amid Global Tensions

• India imported 2.08 million barrels per day of Russian crude in June 2025 — the highest since July 2024 — as refiners stockpiled supplies amid the Israel-Iran conflict, despite an overall 6% drop in total crude imports.
• Russian oil, offered at discounted rates since 2022, remains India’s top source for the third straight year, with over half the volume handled by three major refineries that also export to G7+ nations.
• Source: Economic Times

G) FMCG:

1) Marico Targets ₹20,000 Cr Revenue by 2030, Eyes 2x Growth in 5 Years

• FMCG giant Marico, known for Saffola and Parachute, plans to double its revenue to ₹20,000 crore by FY30 through innovation, digital-first brands, and strong expansion in foods and premium personal care.
• The company’s food business crossed ₹900 crore in FY25, digital brands reached ₹750 crore run-rate, and new segments now form 22% of India revenue—expected to grow to 25% by FY27.
• Source: India Retailing

H) Infrastructure:

1) Airport Boom Propels Real Estate: Plot Prices Jump up to 118% in 4 Years

• Residential plot prices in airport-adjacent micro-markets like Yamuna Expressway, Panvel, North Bengaluru, and South Hyderabad surged 84%–118% between FY21–FY25, outpacing citywide averages, driven by improved connectivity, job zones, and urban development.
• Apartment prices rose 69%–90% in these zones, with Square Yards calling airports “economic engines” amid India’s plan to scale from 140 to 300 airports by 2047, boosting demand in surrounding real estate.
• Source: Sunainaa Chadha, Business Standard

Indian Economy and Government Initiatives:

• The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has proposed a ₹10,000 subsidy per unit to revive 50 lakh idle rural biogas plants, aiming to reduce LPG dependency and promote clean energy with an estimated ₹5,000 crore government outlay recoverable within two years.
• India’s tax system maturity is reflected in a fivefold rise in income tax refunds and a cut in processing time from 93 to 17 days, driven by digital reforms, real-time TDS reconciliation, and a policy shift prioritizing prompt refunds to boost liquidity and taxpayer trust.

Indian Stock Market Update:

• Sensex fell 247 points to 82,253.46, and Nifty slipped 67.55 points to close at 25,082.30, marking the fourth straight day of losses for Indian equities.
• IT index declined 1%, while pharma, consumer durables, media, realty, and PSU banks gained between 0.5%–1%.
• Major Nifty losers included Jio Financial, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro; top gainers were Titan, IndusInd Bank, ONGC, SBI Life, and Eternal. Midcap and smallcap indices each rose 0.5%.

Bonus Briefs:

• The Q2 2025 Global Outlook report revises the 2025 growth forecast down to 2.34%, citing rising tariffs and persistent trade policy uncertainties.
• Gold prices rose as markets reacted to escalating global trade tensions following Trump’s new tariff announcements, with investors watching Fed policy signals closely.
• Canada re-enters the tariff spotlight amid heightened trade frictions, adding to global market volatility and economic policy uncertainty.