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India's ₹10,000 crore startup FoF 2.0 expands scope, targets deep tech

The Rs 10,000 crore Fund of Funds 2.0 for startups will have an expanded scope, with the corpus divided into four segments, including dedicated support for deep-tech and manufacturing startups, according to a DPIIT notification. The second tranche of Fund of Funds was approved by the Cabinet in February. It is aimed at mobilising venture capital (VC) and support deep tech, tech-driven innovative manufacturing startups, and early-growth stage enterprises. The FoF 2.0 has been designed to continue the momentum of investments in startups, with an expanded scope over Fund of Funds Scheme (FFS 1.0). "Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 will have an expanded scope with segmented approach to target key segments for real innovation," the notification by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said. The scheme will contribute to the corpus of SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) for investing in equity and equity-linked instruments of entities recognised a

AI transforming healthcare, but human empathy is irreplaceable: Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital health are transforming the field of medicine, even as she emphasised that human empathy can never be replaced in patient care. Addressing the first convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot to the graduating students, the President noted that the medical landscape is transforming rapidly. "Today, Artificial Intelligence, robotics and digital health services have rapidly changed the face of the medical world," Murmu said. She urged the young medical professionals to remain prepared to adopt these latest technologies to enhance their knowledge and skills, and to treat illnesses more effectively. However, she also stated that such new technological tools can "never replace human empathy". "Your gentle words, a reassuring smile, and the willingness to listen to a patientas concerns can often prove far more effective than medication alone," th

India restricts glufosinate imports for six months with price cap

The government on Monday imposed curbs on imports of Glufosinate and its salts, a herbicide used in agriculture sector, for six months. "The import of Glufosinate and its salts... shall be restricted where the combined amount of the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value and applicable anti-dumping duty, calculated on a per kilogram basis, is less than Rs 1,154," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. It said the restriction will be in place for six months.

Oil jumps above $100 as US readies Iran blockade, stoking supply fears

Prices for physical crude barrels are trading at significant premiums to futures, with some grades already at record highs of about $150 a barrel

Opec cuts Q2 global oil demand forecast by 500,000 bpd on Iran war

Global oil demand is projected to average 105.07 million bpd in the second quarter, OPEC's report said, down from the 105.57 million bpd forecast in last month's report

Dollar firms as US-Iran talks fail, blockade fears lift safe-haven demand

The dollar has tended to benefit when tensions between Iran and the US have flared, given its ‌status as a safe haven and the limited exposure of the US to imported energy-price inflation

RMZ plans $35 bn investment, eyes IPO to fund AI, data centre push

Co-location data centres allow customers to house their own servers, with the operators ‌providing power, cooling, security and network connectivity

UP forms panel after Noida workers' protest turns violent, seeks resolution

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a high-powered committee to address the issues arising out of the factory workers' protest in Noida and to ensure coordination with all stakeholders, officials here said on Monday. The move comes after protests by factory workers in Noida demanding a wage hike turned violent, with incidents of arson, vandalism and stone pelting reported from various areas. According to the officials, the committee has been formed on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and has already reached Noida to initiate dialogue with the workers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to resolve the situation at the earliest. An official order issued by the state government stated that the panel will work towards removing industrial discord in Gautam Buddh Nagar and ensure smooth functioning of industrial activities through consultations and coordination. The committee will be chaired by the industrial development commissioner, while senior ..

Southwest monsoon season rainfall likely to be below normal, says IMD

India is likely to receive 80 cm of rainfall during the season - the long period average (1971-2020) of the seasonal rainfall over India is 87 cm

Goldman Sachs profit jumps 18% on strong dealmaking, equities trading

Global markets have been roiled by the Iran war as rising crude oil prices fan inflation fears and exacerbate worries about a recession

AI without safeguards can amplify weaknesses in finance sector: RBI DG

Adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) without safeguards can amplify existing weaknesses and create new problems in the financial sector, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Swaminathan J has said. Delivering the CUB Shri V Narayanan Memorial Lecture at the SASTRA University, Thanjavur, he said artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how financial institutions serve customers, process documents, assess credit, monitor risks, and strengthen oversight. "The speed of that change is remarkable. The real question before us is not whether finance will become more intelligent but whether it will remain fair, accountable, inclusive, and humane," he said in the lecture delivered on Saturday. AI-enabled systems can make customer interaction simpler, more intuitive, and responsive. It can also help improve credit delivery, he said. "Used responsibly, AI can supplement traditional methods by drawing insights from a wider set of patterns in transaction behaviour, repayment flows and busines

SC seeks Centre, EC's response on plea for biometric voter verification

The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre, Election Commission and others on a plea seeking to implement finger and iris biometric identification system at polling stations to prevent duplicate voting. While agreeing to hear the plea, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made clear that the prayer sought in the petition can't be considered for the current state Assembly elections in some states. "However, whether such a recourse deserves to be followed before the next parliamentary election and/or state assembly elections needs to be examined. Issue notice," the bench said. The top court issued notice to the Centre, the poll panel and several other states seeking their responses on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. Upadhyay, who appeared in person, told the bench that the prayer sought in the plea would prevent bribery and proxy voting. The bench observed that it would require major changes in the rules and would incur

BJP to elect its first CM in Bihar on Tuesday as Nitish Kumar set to quit

BJP leaders in Bihar on Monday said that the name of the party's "first chief minister" in the state will be known on Tuesday, with Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan like to arrive here to facilitate the power transition. Chouhan, whom the BJP headquarters in Delhi had on Sunday named the 'central observer' for the election of the new legislature party leader, will be visiting the state on a day when JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, the longest-serving CM of Bihar, is expected to put in his papers. Kumar, who turned 75 last month and was sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP a week ago, is expected to visit Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation immediately after his last cabinet meeting scheduled at 11 am, where he is likely to make a formal announcement of relinquishment of the post. "Shivraj Singh Chouhan ji will be coming to Patna tomorrow and BJP legislators will be electing their leader in his presence," the party's Bihar unit president Sanjay Saraogi told reporters here. Interestingly,

Here Where We Live Is Our Country: What is Judaism without Zionism?

As debates over Zionism intensify, a new book revisits the Jewish Labour Bund, offering an alternative vision of Jewish identity rooted in "hereness" and solidarity

Display steady credit behaviour for 3-6 months for easier card approval

Repay loans on time, keep credit utilisation below 30%, and avoid too many applications within a short period

Islamabad talks: Vance leads US delegation in direct negotiations with Iran

Direct negotiations between the United States and Iran have officially commenced in Islamabad to find a lasting solution to the West Asia conflict, Pakistan's state media and a government official said. "After Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with delegations from the United States and Iran, formal round of direct negotiations between Iran and the United States has officially begun on Saturday evening," a senior official of the Shehbaz administration told PTI. "Iran and the United States sit at one table -- landmark peace negotiations between Iran and the United States have begun in Islamabad, where both sides are sitting face-to-face for the first time after heightened tensions," Pakistan TV said. It further said the arrival of high-level delegations, Pakistan's effective diplomacy, and positive statements from global leaders have strengthened hopes for a ceasefire and lasting peace in the region, while the world watches closely for the outcome of these

Asha Bhosle admitted to hospital due to chest infection, says family

Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday evening after suffering cardiac arrest, sources said. The 92-year-old singer also had pulmonary issues, they said. Bhosle, with a career spanning eight decades, is known for her versatility. She is the younger sister of the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. Some of Bhosle's popular songs are 'Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko', 'Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar', 'Intaha Ho Gai Intezar Ki', among others.

Iraq elects Kurdish politician Nizar Amidi as president amid war fallout

Iraq's parliament voted Saturday to elect Nizar Amidi, a political official with one of the country's two main Kurdish parties, as president, five months after a parliamentary election that didn't produce a bloc with a decisive majority. His election comes as Iraq is reeling from the fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Iraq became caught in the middle of the conflict, with Iran-backed militias launching attacks on US bases and diplomatic facilities as well as on critical energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, the US and Israel carried out airstrikes targeting the militias, some of which killed members of the Iraqi military. The war and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz also largely halted the oil exports upon which Iraq's economy depends. Amidi, a member of the political bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, beat out a roster of candidates that included Iraq's current Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, who was the pick of the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party. By ...

Experts welcome Delhi EV's policy, flag need for strict enforcement

Environmental experts have largely welcomed the Delhi government's draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026, particularly its focus on battery recycling and lifecycle management, while cautioning that its success will depend heavily on enforcement. Radhe Shyam Sharma, head of the Department of Environmental Studies at Delhi University, described that including "battery recycling" in the policy as "one of the most consequential parts", noting that it shifts attention from vehicle adoption to the environmental risks associated with battery disposal. "This is one of the most consequential parts of the policy, as it moves beyond vehicle adoption to address battery lifecycle management through provisions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), collection centres, standard operating procedures, and traceability systems," Sharma said. The draft policy places strong emphasis on creating a structured battery recycling ecosystem, with the Environment Department tasked with enforcing Battery

Trump warns he 'won't accept' fertiliser price hikes for US farmers

The US president posted on social media that he is monitoring fertiliser price and "will not accept" any increase in costs for farmers. Fertiliser costs have increased globally because of natural gas supplies being stranded due Iran's control of the Strait of the Hormuz. Iran has used the strait as strategic leverage in its ongoing war with the US and Israel. But Trump's post was targeted at a domestic audience. "I am watching fertiliser prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran," he posted.