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Govt expenditure on big infra projects to drive growth in 2025-26: Report

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New Delhi, Jan 13: The Centre’s capital expenditure in big-ticket infrastructure projects such as highways, railways and power development and investments in critical sectors such as defence are expected to propel India’s economic growth in the financial year 2025- 2026 and beyond, according to a report by financial services firm Prabhudas Lilladher (PL).

“We are already witnessing an uptick in momentum in railways, defence, power, data Centers, etc., the execution of which will accelerate growth in FY26 and beyond,” the report states.

The government allocated a massive Rs 11.1 lakh crore for infrastructure projects in the budget for 204-25 and this is expected to be increased further in the forthcoming budget for 2025-26.

The anticipated measures to pump-prime the economy could provide the much-needed push to stimulate demand and support long-term growth, the report states.

The report states that the forthcoming budget will be instrumental in shaping the economic recovery, with expectations of a growth-driven focus aimed at boosting middle-class spending with inflation having eased.

In addition, sectors such as healthcare, tourism, discretionary consumption, and financialisation are poised to benefit from the recovery, according to the report.

The report’s observations on the economic revival are supported by the surge in industrial growth which touched a 6-month high of 5.2 per cent in November, up from 3.5 per cent in October of the current financial year (2024-25), according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics on Friday.

The increase also marks a significant rise over the industrial growth of 2.5 per cent recorded a year before in November 2023.

The growth rate of the manufacturing sector, which accounts for more than three-fourths of the index of industrial production (IIP), accelerated to 5.8 per cent during Nov 2024 from 4.1 per cent in October. This augurs well for employment generation as the sector plays a key role in providing quality jobs to the young graduates passing out from the country’s engineering institutes and universities.

The figures on use-based classification show that the production of capital goods, which comprise machines used in factories, went up by a robust 9 per cent. This segment reflects the real investment taking place in the economy which has a multiplier effect on the creation of jobs and incomes going ahead.

There was also a double-digit surge of 13.1 per cent in the production of consumer durables such as electronic goods, refrigerators, and TVs during November 2024 reflecting the higher consumer demand for these items amid rising incomes.

Business

After Meta, Google to report child sexual abuse content directly to Indian authorities

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New Delhi, Sep 22: After Meta, US tech giant Google will report content flagged as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to the Indian authorities, contrary to the long‑standing global practice of routing such reports through a US non‑profit organisation.

Meta announced a similar change last week after Indian officials pressed major tech firms in recent weeks to speed up reporting, citing concerns that the existing system delays reports considerably.

Google “invests significantly to detect, deter, remove, and report child sexual abuse material,” a company spokesperson said, describing the change as part of the company’s “ongoing discussions with the government of India.”

Meta and Alphabet’s Google used to send tips to the US‑based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) which then relayed them to local law enforcement, according to reports.

Such a practice could cause dangerous delays in cases where children may be at immediate risk as reports pass through an intermediary before reaching domestic police who can act on the ground.

The US nonprofit that erstwhile used to receive such reports first hand runs CyberTipline portal that recorded nearly 21.3 million reports from around the world of suspected child sexual exploitation in 2025.

India remains the largest market by user count for both Meta’s Facebook and Google’s YouTube. Meta’s shift in policy comes after weeks of friction with New Delhi, including an apology last month by CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the spread of child sexual abuse material on the company’s platforms.

Technology and law enforcement officials in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere have urged platforms to bolster detection and reporting. However, most countries continue to route reports through the US nonprofit as the primary international clearing house.

The Central government, in July, directed Google to take down multiple Firebase web development accounts that were impersonating the websites and mobile apps of major public- and private-sector banks and other financial institutions.

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Sensex, Nifty open marginally higher over crude price correction

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Mumbai, Sep 22: The Indian equity markets inched up slightly on Tuesday morning, tracking positive global cues and correction in global crude prices.

As of 9.20 am, Sensex added 64 points, or 0.10 per cent, to reach 74,914 and Nifty gained 34 points, or 0.15 per cent, to reach 23,449.

Main broad-cap indices outperformed gains of the benchmark indices, as the Nifty Midcap 100 added 0.33 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 advanced 0.4 per cent.

Sectoral indices on NSE traded in green except Nifty IT down 1.09 per cent and FMCG down 0.01 per cent. Nifty realty was the top gainer, up 1 per cent, followed by chemicals, up 0.64 per cent.

“With precious metals stabilising and fixed income returns becoming attractive, investors can now opt for a multi-asset strategy,” an analyst said.

WTI crude trading in the $92–$93-a-barrel range and a stronger rupee provided additional comfort on the broader macroeconomic front.

Global risk sentiment has improved, with US equities posting strong gains and Asian markets largely positive, while softer crude prices have eased some pressure on oil-importing economies.

In the previous session, Nifty surged 0.29 per cent and closed at 23,414. Immediate support is placed at 23,250–23,300, while resistance is seen at 23,550–23,600.

In the previous session, Bank Nifty closed at 56,470, up 0.20 per cent. Immediate support is placed at 56,000–56,300, while resistance is seen at 56,800–57,000, said analysts.

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index gained 0.22 per cent, and Shenzhen added 0.62 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei added 1.38 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.41 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi added 1.89 per cent.

The US markets ended in green overnight as Nasdaq gained 2.26 per cent. The S&P 500 added 1.49 per cent, and the Dow Jones added 0.71 per cent.

On September 21, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold equities worth Rs 576 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 2,800 crore.

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FM Sitharaman meets JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in Mumbai

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Mumbai, Sep 21: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday met Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., during the 11th edition of the JPMorgan India Investor Conference in Mumbai.

According to the Finance Ministry, Dimon interacted with the finance minister on the sidelines of the conference, which brought together investors, policymakers and corporate leaders to discuss India’s economic outlook and investment opportunities.

FM Sitharaman also addressed participants at the event and took part in a fireside chat with Sajjid Chinoy, Head of Asia Economics at JPMorgan.

“Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., interacts with FM Sitharaman during the J.P. Morgan India Investor Conference in Mumbai, Maharashtra,” the finance minister posted on social media platform X.

” FM Sitharaman addressed the gathering and participated in a fireside chat with Sajjid Chinoy, Head of Asia Economics at JPMorgan, during the 11th edition of the J.P. Morgan India Investor Conference in Mumbai, Maharashtra,” the finance minister added.

The meeting comes as JPMorgan said in a recent report that a combination of tax reforms and regulatory measures had enhanced the attractiveness of equities for domestic investors, helping sustain robust inflows despite relatively muted market returns over the past two years.

The brokerage noted that changes in the taxation framework for long-term capital gains, debt mutual funds and certain insurance products have improved the relative appeal of equities.

It said these measures, alongside rising participation through systematic investment plans (SIPs), are supporting a continued shift of household savings toward financial assets.

According to JPMorgan, domestic investors have increasingly emerged as a stabilising force for Indian markets, offsetting bouts of volatility triggered by foreign portfolio investor outflows and global uncertainties.

The report highlighted that retail participation has remained resilient even during periods of modest benchmark returns, signalling a structural change in investment behaviour.

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