The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed acquisition of 11% to 20% of shareholding of the AWL Agri Business Limited by Lence Pte. Ltd. AWL Agri Business Limited (formerly - Adani Wilmar Limited) (Target) is engaged in FMCG business comprising primarily of edible oil, food, FMCG and Industry essential segments (including soaps, cleaners, etc.).
Lence Pte. Ltd. (Acquirer) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wilmar International Limited and belongs to the Wilmar Group. Wilmar Group does not have a direct business presence in India except through the Target and Shree Renuka Sugars Limited (SRS). SRS is engaged in the business of milling, refining and selling of sugar.
The proposed transaction involves acquisition of up to a maximum of 20% of the paid-up equity share capital, and a minimum of 11% of the paid-up equity share capital of the Target by the Acquirer (Proposed Combination). As on date, the Acquirer already holds 43.94% of the paid-up equity share capital of the Target.
Shri Manohar Lal, Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, inaugurated India’s largest and first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system of 3 MWh capacity. This milestone project marks a major step forward in the nation’s journey towards long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions, enhancing renewable energy integration and grid resilience.
The Vanadium Redox Flow Battery is a contemporary technology that has the potential to emerge as one of the alternatives for more traditional lithium ion-based batteries. The development of this advanced battery system will widen the pool of elements that can be sourced and used for making battery systems.
On the occasion, the Minister launched the official logo of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and announced a Rs. 100 crore Call for Proposals for pilot projects to develop innovative technologies for producing green hydrogen from biomass and waste materials.
The NGHM, launched in 2023 with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crore, is not only a national programme but a global solution to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. Highlighting rapid progress under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition programme, the Minister informed that incentives have been awarded for 3,000 MW per annum of domestic electrolyser manufacturing
In addition, Rs. 132 crore has been invested in five pilot projects for green steel, Rs. 208 crore sanctioned for 37 hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and nine refuelling stations, and ₹35 crore provided for the country’s first hydrogen bunkering and refuelling facility at V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
A total of Rs. 100 crore has been allocated for these pilots, in addition to Rs. 100 crore already sanctioned for start-ups under the Mission. The scheme will be implemented through BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) to encourage participation from industries, start-ups, and research institutions.
After waiving all charges for Mandatory Biometric Update in Aadhaar for children, the Unique Identification Authority of India will use behavioural insights to enhance adoption of MBU. UIDAI has partnered with research consultancy Behavioural Insights Limited to help children and youngsters access vital services through the timely updation of biometric in their Aadhaar.
The MoU aims to increase MBU in Aadhaar for 5 year and 15 year olds, and to address behavioural, logistical, and awareness-related barriers to ensure timely updates, enabling seamless access to services and benefits linked to Aadhaar. Tailored behavioural interventions will be designed, tested, and implemented to encourage Aadhaar MBU updates.
Once enrolled in Aadhaar, a child needs to update biometric (fingerprint, iris and photo) on attaining the age of 5 and then again on attaining the age of 15 years. UIDAI has been making continuous efforts to enhance MBU adoption among the target groups.
In a pro-people measure, UIDAI has waived off all charges for MBU for the 7-15 age group, which is expected to benefit around 6 crore children. The waiver of MBU charges for the said age group has already kicked in effective 1 October 2025 and will be in force for a period of one year.
Bihar Legislative Assembly elections concluded with a historic highest ever voter turnout of 66.91% This is the highest voter turnout recorded in the State since 1951. Turnout among male voters is 62.8% and amongst female voters it is 71.6%.
Over the two phased elections in Bihar, more than 8.5 Lakh Polling related Staff, over 1.4 lakh Polling Agents appointed by 2,616 contesting candidates, 243 General Observers, 38 Police Observers and 67 Expenditure Observers were part of the election machinery conducting and observing the elections.
For the first time, 16 delegates from 6 countries namely, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Belgium and Colombia visited and witnessed the poll proceedings as part of the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) this year.
In shooting, Samrat Rana clinched the men’s 10-meter air pistol gold at the ISSF World Championship in Cairo, becoming the first Indian to win an individual air pistol world title. Rana won the men’s 10 meter air pistol gold with a score of 243.7, edging out China’s Hu Kai by just 0.4 points. His compatriot Varun Tomar claimed bronze, completing a double podium for India.
22-year-old Rana became only the fifth Indian shooter to win a world title in an Olympic event, joining the elite list of Abhinav Bindra, Rudrankksh Patil, Tejaswini Sawant, and the mixed team pair of Shiva Narwal and Esha Singh.
Kovalam Beach in Chengalpattu district has been awarded the International Blue Flag certification for the fifth consecutive year. According to an official release, the communication from Blue Flag India to the Chengalpattu Collector conveyed that Kovalam beach had once again met the stringent global standards set by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark
Kovalam Beach first earned the recognition on September 21, 2021, becoming Tamil Nadu’s first Blue Flag-certified beach. During 2024–25, it recorded a footfall of over 5.5 lakh visitors, reflecting its growing appeal as a model eco-beach destination, the release said.
Encouraged by this success, the government has taken up initiatives to secure Blue Flag certification for 10 beaches across the State. Among these are the Palavakkam, Thiruvanmiyur, and Uthandi beaches in the city, the release added.
Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp announced that it has sold its entire stake in US-based chipmaker Nvidia Corp for approximately $5.83 billion, Bloomberg reported. This follows SoftBank increasing its Nvidia stake to around $3 billion by the end of March, amounting to 32.1 million shares.
SoftBank’s history with Nvidia's Vision Fund had been an early investor in Nvidia, building a stake worth about $4 billion in 2017 before fully divesting its holdings in January 2019. TSoftBank has been stepping up investments in OpenAI and chip ventures, including a planned $30 billion injection into OpenAI and a proposed $6.5 billion acquisition of chip designer.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recognised the Self-Regulated PSO Association (SRPA) as a self-regulatory body for the payment system operators (PSO) sector. The body said more PSOs have initiated their membership process and are expected to join the association after formal approval from the RBI.
At present, members of the SRPA include Infibeam Avenues (CC Avenue), BillDesk, Razorpay, PhonePe, CRED, Mobikwik, Mswipe, Euronet, Spice Money, Payworld, Unimoni, Open, In Solutions Global, Payglocal, Zokudo, SabPaisa, OxyMoney, and Concerto Software & Systems. PSOs are entities authorised by the RBI to set up, operate, and manage payment systems in the country.
These systems enable the transfer of funds between individuals, businesses, and financial institutions through various modes such as cards, wallets, and digital payment platforms. An SRO is a non-governmental organisation that sets and enforces rules and standards relating to the conduct of member entities in the industry, with the aim of protecting consumers.
The RBI granted SRO status to the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment in the fintech space and the Finance Industry Development Council in the non-banking financial company sector. Sa-Dhan and MFIN operate as SROs for the microfinance industry, while the Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA) serves as the SRO for financial markets.
India’s unemployment rate eased to 5.2 percent in the July-September quarter of FY26, down from 5.4 percent in the previous quarter, driven largely by stronger rural employment during the Kharif season, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on November 10.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data revealed contrasting trends across regions. Rural unemployment declined to 4.4 percent from 4.8 percent in the April–June quarter, while urban unemployment edged up to 6.9 percent from 6.8 percent, indicating a mild slowdown in hiring in city-based services and manufacturing sectors.
The improvement in rural employment coincided with the Kharif sowing period. The proportion of rural workers engaged in agriculture rose to 57.7 percent in Q2FY26, up from 53.5 percent in the previous quarter. In urban areas, employment in the tertiary sector-including trade, transport, and education-inched up to 62 percent, compared with 61.7 percent in Q1FY26.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) improved slightly to 55.1 percent, from 55.0 percent in the previous quarter, with both rural and urban areas showing small gains. Among women, participation continued its upward trend, rising to 33.7 percent from 33.4 percent a quarter earlier.
Ageas Federal Life Insurance has entered into a strategic distribution partnership with Muthoot Microfin Ltd to expand life insurance coverage across India, with a focus on underserved markets and small business owners. As of March 31, 2025, Ageas Federal Life Insurance has issued over 19.71 lakh policies with assets under management exceeding Rs. 18,956 crore.
The collaboration will leverage Muthoot Microfin’s extensive branch network, approximately 78 per cent of which operates in non-metro regions, to reach individual entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. The partnership aims to address India’s protection gap by integrating life insurance products with Muthoot Microfin’s existing financial offerings.
Under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), P- Quest Group at IIT Bombay has developed India’s first indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) for dynamic magnetic field imaging - a breakthrough that marks a milestone in quantum sensing and has earned India its first patent in this domain.
The QDM which was formally announced on the sidelines of the recently concluded Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC 2025) has promising potential in neuroscience and materials research. It is also poised to transform the non-destructive evaluation of semiconductor chips by mapping magnetic field in 3D layers within an encapsulated chip.
Zydus Lifesciences has received approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for Venlafaxine Extended-Release (ER) Capsules, 75 mg and 150 mg. It is the first approval for the Group from the NMPA. The product will be produced at Zydus’ manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad.
Venlafaxine ER Capsules are indicated for treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said the NMPA has approved its Ryaltris compound nasal spray (GSP 301 NS) for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) in adults and children.
