The Morning Brief

Andhra Pradesh (AP) is in the spotlight with N. Chandrababu Naidu back in power. Known as the "CEO" Chief Minister, Naidu is on a mission to attract investments and eliminate political opposition. Allegations of politics are rampant too. In just a month, Naidu has demolished YSRCP’s under-construction central office. He has also released white papers criticising the Jagan administration's handling...

Electric vehicle sales are slowing down in India, following a global trend they had bucked until as late as June. Champions of the EV story like Tata Motors are revising their sales guidance downwards, even as challenges of limited charging infrastructure and range loom large. Host Anirban Chowdhury analyses the problem and discusses possible solutions with Rajeev Singh , leader, consumer industry...

French alcobev manufacturer, and part of the largest luxury group in the world Moët Hennessy is planning to expand its India focus. After being in the country for over two decades, the company now has their own sparkling wine production facility in India, and an Indian managing director, for the first time ever - Ipsita Das. The company’s sharper India focus is in keeping with the country’s fast-g...

India’s capital markets regulator Sebi has asked online brokerages to move away from any kind of slab pricing to their clients and levy one, uniform charge. It has sweeping implications for fintech startups in the online stock brokerage space. Companies like Zerodha, Groww, and Shoonya, known for their zero brokerage models, face potential revenue disruptions and valuation shifts. As SEBI continue...

Adani group’s recent acquisition spree in the cement space has reshaped the competitive landscape by challenging Aditya Birla Group’s long-standing lead with UltraTech cement. Aditya Birla Group has continued its aggressive expansion strategy through its recent buyout of India Cements indicating its intent to continue being a market leader. As both companies increase their production capacities ag...

Did you know Siemens is the world's largest industrial software company? The Morning Brief podcast explores how this German giant, known for smart cities, cutting-edge green factories, and innovative energy solutions, is transforming to meet today's challenges. Host Arijit Barman sits down with Siemens' Global CEO Roland Busch as they discuss industry, innovation, and the future of industrial soft...

In the second part of this eye-opening episode of The Morning Brief, we delve into the disturbing case of child labor at Som Distilleries in Madhya Pradesh. Around 100 minors worked 12-hour shifts in hazardous conditions, disguised in school uniforms and exposed to harmful chemicals, until a government rescue intervened. Shockingly, operations resumed shortly after suspension. Why did local author...

India has enacted three new laws to replace its colonial-era criminal laws, marking a significant shift in its criminal justice system. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaces the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaces the Indian Evidence Act. This overhaul aims to cre...

PVR Inox, India's largest multiplex chain, is at a critical juncture amid a challenging year for the film industry. Despite a sluggish start to 2024, impacted by weak content, heatwaves, elections, and the IPL T20 tournament, analysts are optimistic. A Nuvama Equities report forecasts improved ad revenues and margins for FY25, potentially benefiting PVR Inox, which secures 30-35% of its ad revenue...

VC firms in India have been shifting their strategies, mirroring the cautious approach of private equity peers. The growth-at-any-cost mentality has faded post-2021. VCs are now focusing on startups with clear paths to profitability. Is this shift a temporary response to the funding winter, or a fundamental change in Indian venture investing? Are VCs now content with modest returns instead of high...

From planning the perfect destination to capturing Instagram-worthy moments, travel thrills us all. Travel not only reduces stress but also boosts happiness, a trend backed by the Mastercard travel report showing 97 million passengers through Indian airports in just the first three months of 2024! Join ET's Prachi Verma on this episode of The Morning Brief as she dives into the latest travel trend...

Remember the market chaos during the last election? A massive upswing after the exit polls, followed by the biggest plunge in four years. Investors rushed to capitalise on the dip, but a technical glitch delayed transactions, causing missed profit opportunities. Imagine your screen freezing during a critical trade, or not being able to access your demat account when the market is volatile. Market...

Trigger warning: This episode contains mentions of death, addiction and substance abuse. Listener discretion is advised. This episode of The Morning Brief podcast dives into the tragic hooch incident in Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu, which took 55 lives and left over 200 people battling for survival. We tell the story through the eyes of those who lost their loved ones and others who are hoping upon ho...

Government-run Jan Aushadhi Kendras and chains like Generic Aadhaar offer medicines at a fraction of market prices, but pharma giants warn of quality risks. So, why is the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) advocating for the promotion of generic medicines despite quality concerns? How do pharmacy chains like Generic Aadhaar ensure the quality and affordability of their generic drugs? In the la...

Nvidia has dethroned Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable company! Tune into The Morning Brief podcast to explore its meteoric rise, its dominance in the AI sector, and the strategic brilliance of CEO Jensen Huang. With a $3.335 trillion market cap and GPUs in high demand, Nvidia’s stock has soared 182% this year.  What sets them apart and their future prospects in the AI-driven world? Ho...

Women investors are breaking the mold with gold. As more affluent women take charge of their wealth, they diversify into varied asset classes like listed equity, structured debt, and hermes bags as revealed in a recent study by Waterfield Advisors. In the latest episode of The Morning Brief podcast, host Apoorva Mittal explores this trend with insights from Nupur Garg , founder of Winpe, Suhasini...

Get ready for what could be the biggest IPO in India this year! Hyundai Motor India, the nation's second-largest automaker, is hitting the market. The car maker may raise between ₹21,000 crore to ₹25,000 crore. The listing could surpass LIC's record-breaking IPO of ₹20,600 crore! Why is India  crucial for Hyundai's growth and how could this mega IPO pave the way for more global giants to enter the...

India’s medical entrance exam NEET-UG 2024 is at the centre of a major controversy. Allegations of paper leaks, dubious marks, and inconsistencies surround one of the world’s largest competitive exams by number entrants, affecting millions of aspiring doctors. In the latest episode of The Morning Brief podcast, host Prachi Verma explores the uproar with insights from TOI’s Manash Pratim Gohain , D...

India’s government bond market is on the cusp of a massive transformation. Last September, JP Morgan announced the inclusion of Indian government bonds in its Emerging Market Bond Index, marking a major milestone after a decade of discussions with Indian authorities. In today's episode of The Morning Brief podcast, host Bhaskar Dutta dives into what this means for our economy, the potential influx...

Over the last three months, India faced at least 56 deaths from 25,000 heat stroke cases, with 5,000 occurring in May alone. Shockingly, this data excludes severely affected states like UP, Delhi, and Bihar. In the first part of this episode, we explored the devastating effects on agriculture, labor, and daily life. In the second episode, we focus on the challenges of detecting and tackling heat w...

Heat is scorching India, with temperatures in northern regions reaching unprecedented levels of 50 degrees Celsius. Delhi has seen highs of 52.9 degrees, while early monsoon drizzles in Bombay bring uncomfortable humidity. This escalating crisis threatens India's economy, with projections indicating a 4.5% GDP reduction by 2030 due to rising heat. Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affe...

Rahul Gandhi's comeback in India's blockbuster general elections defied every exit poll and expert prediction. Once the target of the ruling party and its IT cell’s jokes, Gandhi walked across the country..literally..twice..into many more hearts than people had given him credit for. From bearing the dynast cross to taking countrywide barbs in his stride to leading an opposition that snatched unbel...

After a whirlwind seven-phase election spanning from April 19 to June 1, India has delivered a stunning verdict. Against all exit poll predictions, BJP faced a crushing defeat in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, while regional giants like Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and the DMK-INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu rose to prominence. With BJP falling short of the 272-seat magic mark, coalition politics is back af...

The epic 7-phase election has concluded, and India’s choice will soon be revealed. Join us as the Economic Times' political bureau recounts their in-depth coverage from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in our special election series – Polls On My Pod. In this final episode, hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Nidhi Sharma take you behind the scenes, sharing untold stories and experiences from their travels across c...

Remember the sensation that was India's Most Wanted with Suhaib Ilyasi in the late 90s and early 2000s? Or maybe CID was your go-to for crime and comedy? Today, true crime has exploded onto streaming platforms, becoming one of the hottest genres. In this episode of The Morning Brief podcast, we dive deep into its deliciously murky world, exploring why it’s the flavour of every season. Also, the ri...