Top headlines: Modi defends farm laws, S&P retains India GDP forecast

Bengaluru office market to see rent spike, Minister says Centre will vaccinate around 300 million people, and more top headlines of the day

Data giant S&P Global Inc is nearing a deal to buy IHS Markit Ltd, creating a heavyweight in the increasingly competitive market for financial information. More on that story in our evening newsletter.

Modi defends farm laws

A misinformation campaign is underway against recently enacted laws that give farmers the freedom to sell crops for better prices, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as he again defended the reforms that have drawn protests. “There’s a new trend now—earlier decisions of the government were opposed but now rumours have become the basis for opposition. Propaganda is spread even though