News Nook: Aug 20, 2025

Indian Sector Specific News:

A) BFSI: 

1) AKP Banking & Finance Digest – August 18, 2025

• RBI, SEBI, IFSCA, and IRDAI rolled out major updates this week, including new AI guidelines for banks, draft FEMA guarantee rules, KYC amendments, SEBI rules for brokers/advisers, and IRDAI’s new capital study for insurers.
• Business and sector news highlight ICICI Bank lowering minimum balance, Paytm getting RBI’s nod for payment aggregation, S&P upgrading ratings of 10 big financial institutions, and India’s credit-to-deposit ratio staying below 80%.
• Source: AK & Partners – Banking & Finance Weekly Digest, August 18, 2025 (Mondaq)

2) Sebi likely to introduce intraday limits for index options trading

• Sebi may soon put an intraday exposure cap of ₹1,500 crore on weekly expiry days for Nifty and Sensex options to stop excessive positions and wild trading activity, especially after retail investors suffered heavy losses.
• The move follows Sebi’s crackdown on US hedge fund Jane Street and aims to improve market stability, though experts say it will mainly impact large traders, not most retail investors.
• Source: Mint

3) Sebi cracks down on 886 entities for market manipulation

• Sebi has taken action against 886 entities between April 2024 and June 2025 for unfair trading activities like price rigging, volume manipulation, and front-running.
• The regulator also investigates companies for misreporting financials, as false numbers can mislead investors and affect stock prices.
• Source: ET Markets

B) Automobile:

1) Auto sector drive: Nitin Gadkari sets 5-year goal to make India no.1 globally

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said India aims to become the world’s number one automobile industry in five years, with the sector already growing from ₹7.5 lakh crore in 2014 to ₹22 lakh crore today.
• He highlighted that logistics costs have fallen from 16% to 10% of GDP, and the express industry is set to double by 2030, creating up to 7.5 million jobs and contributing heavily to GST and customs revenues.
• Source: Times of India

C) Pharma:

1) Strengthening pharmaceutical self-reliance

• The government is boosting India’s pharma sector through schemes like PLI for bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals, leading to higher domestic production of APIs, reduced import dependence, and massive investments in new plants and R&D.
• So far, over ₹43,000 crore has been invested under these schemes, creating large-scale production capacity, generating sales worth lakhs of crores (including major exports), and supporting global recognition of Ayush medicine through WHO collaborations.
• Source: PIB

2) Alembic Pharma gets USFDA nod for Macitentan Tablets

• Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received USFDA approval to launch Macitentan Tablets (10 mg), a generic version of Actelion’s Opsumit, used for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults.
• The drug has a US market size of about $1.18 billion, and with this approval, Alembic’s total USFDA-approved ANDAs now stand at 224.
• Source: Express Pharma

D) Telecommunication:

1) Govt pushes 4G expansion in rural India

• The government informed Parliament that multiple initiatives are underway to expand 4G mobile network coverage to remote and far-flung villages across the country.
• These efforts aim to improve digital connectivity, bridge the rural-urban divide, and ensure people in remote areas have access to mobile services.
• Source: Mathrubhumi

E) Agriculture:

1) Govt ensures fair MSPs for farmers

• The government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) every year for 22 crops, including 14 kharif crops, based on cost of production, demand-supply, global prices, and other economic factors.
• Since 2018-19, MSPs have been set at least 1.5 times the cost of production, ensuring farmers a minimum 50% return over their costs.
• Source: PIB

F) Energy:

1) Indian refiners resume Russian oil imports

• Indian Oil and BPCL have restarted buying Russian Urals crude for September and October after discounts widened to about $3 per barrel, making it more attractive.
• The move comes after a pause in July due to smaller discounts and U.S. criticism, but the resumed imports could now reduce supplies available to China.
• Source: Economic Times

2) Vedanta chief calls for self-reliance in oil & gas

• Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said India must produce at least 50% of its oil and gas needs domestically to ensure long-term energy security.
• He highlighted that while India has made strong progress in renewables and coal, significant untapped potential in oil & gas should also be developed.
• Source: PSU Connect

Indian Economy and Government Initiatives:

• BJP said India will be least affected by US tariffs, citing its strong domestic consumption-driven economy.
• S&P said India’s proposed 2-tier GST structure could simplify taxes, lower rates, and boost revenues in the long run.
• PM Modi’s proposed GST revamp aims to scrap the 28% slab, shift goods to lower brackets, and make everyday items cheaper.

Indian Stock Market Update:

• Sensex rose 213 points to 81,858 and Nifty crossed 25,000 to close at 25,051, marking the market’s fifth straight day of gains.
• IT and FMCG stocks like Infosys, TCS, HUL and Nestle led the rally, while Nifty Bank slipped slightly.