Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Inside the Mind of a Successful Fund Manager: A Simple Guide

    Inside the Mind of a Successful Fund Manager: A Simple Guide

    I was born in Mangalore into a family that ran a business, and I’ve traveled a lot during my life. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at Sydenham College in Mumbai and later earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from T.A. Pai Management Institute. This education helped kickstart my career in finance.

    How I Got Here

    My adventure in investing began when UTI Mutual Fund hired me straight from college. At that time, I didn’t know much about how the investment world worked, but I quickly learned to love it. Over the years, I moved up from being a research analyst to a fund manager, learning about many industries from cars to big infrastructure projects. Now, I work at Bandhan AMC, where I manage different investment strategies that aim to build long-term wealth for our investors.

    Funds I Manage

    I currently manage several funds:
    – Bandhan Sterling Value Fund: AUM of Rs. 8,996 crores
    – Bandhan ELSS Tax Saver Fund: AUM of Rs. 6,232 crores
    – Bandhan Multicap Fund: AUM of Rs. 2,219 crores
    – Bandhan Multi-Asset Allocation Fund: AUM of Rs. 1,760 crores
    – Bandhan Transportation and Logistic Fund: AUM of Rs. 476 crores

    (AUM data as of February 28, 2025)

    My Investment Philosophy

    I believe in looking for good deals when investing. I like to buy companies that may be struggling right now but have great potential for the future. My trick is to “buy at the right price” and wait patiently for them to improve. I don’t stick to just one type of business; instead, I try to understand what each company’s true value is and what stage they’re at in their growth.

    What Excites Me About Managing Money

    Managing other people’s money is both an honor and a big responsibility. I enjoy finding opportunities in the market that others might miss. Watching my investment ideas grow and helping others reach their financial dreams is what makes my job so fulfilling.

  • MBBS Student Threatened in Mumbai: Forced to Transfer ₹10,000!

    MBBS Student Threatened in Mumbai: Forced to Transfer ₹10,000!

    A first-year medical student from Sir JJ Hospital in Mumbai was threatened by a group of men who forced him to send ₹10,000. This happened on March 5, as the student was having dinner at a restaurant near his school.

    After eating, a man approached him aggressively and asked, “Are you new here? What are you doing? This is our area, don’t you know us?” The student didn’t recognize the man. The man then led him to a nearby alley and called two more friends to join them.

    They threatened the student, saying he had to give them all his money or they would hurt him. When he said he had no money, they made him call his father, who sent ₹5,000 through an app called PhonePe. The student also borrowed ₹5,000 from a friend.

    The men then asked him to scan a QR code on their payment app and made him transfer ₹10,000 in four payments. After this scary event, the student went to the Dongri police and reported what happened.

    The police registered a complaint against three unknown people, looking into the case under different sections of the Indian Penal Code. They are currently investigating the situation.

  • Three Arrested in Fake Degree Scam: Shocking Details Uncovered!

    Three Arrested in Fake Degree Scam: Shocking Details Uncovered!

    Jaipur: Three men, including the chancellor and the registrar of a private university in Uttar Pradesh, were arrested by Rajasthan’s Special Operations Group (SOG) on Saturday for giving out fake degrees. This happened during the recruitment exam for Physical Training Instructors (PTI) in 2022.

    The police discovered that after catching the chancellor and registrar of Om Prakash Joginder Singh (OPJS) University for issuing over 43,000 fake degrees, they found out that Jagadish Singh (JS) University in Shikohabad, Uttar Pradesh, had also given fake Bachelor of Physical Education (BPEd) degrees to several candidates from Rajasthan who took the PTI-2022 exam.

    According to VK Singh, an officer with the SOG, the JS University was established by Sukesh Kumar in 2015. He is both the chancellor of the university and a principal at Agra Government College. Along with registrar Nandan Mishra and an individual named Ajay Bhardwaj, these three men sold thousands of fake degrees to students over the last ten years for money.

    They issued BPEd degrees to students who never even attended the university but used backdated dates. On Saturday, the police arrested Kumar, Mishra, and Bhardwaj.

    So far, 108 out of 254 JS alumni that took the PTI-2022 exam were found to have fake degrees. These candidates claimed to have received their degrees in 2022, even though the university only accepts 100 students in the BPEd program.

    Additionally, many candidates submitted degrees from JS University during their application process, even if they mentioned a different university before.

    On Saturday, Sukesh Kumar was trying to leave the country when the SOG called him. He was arrested at the Delhi airport. Meanwhile, Ajay Bhardwaj was found to have ties to a notorious paper leak mastermind in Rajasthan. Bhardwaj also wanted to open two more private universities in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, and Meghalaya.

    In January, the University Grants Commission (UGC) stopped the university from giving out PhD degrees due to integrity issues. Following the PTI-2022 verification, the SOG conducted a secret operation and arrested a middleman named Pradeep Sharma, who was linked to both OPJS University and another institution in Uttarakhand.

    As of now, the SOG has arrested 16 people involved in this fake degree scam.

  • Rashid Latif Defends BCCI Amid Champions Trophy Scheduling Controversy

    Rashid Latif Defends BCCI Amid Champions Trophy Scheduling Controversy

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received support as it faces criticism over the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule. Former Pakistan cricket captain Rashid Latif defended the BCCI while criticizing the International Cricket Council (ICC) for making a mistake. Last December, it was announced that all of India’s matches would be held in Dubai because India could not travel to Pakistan for safety reasons.

    During the tournament, which started in March, India was accused of having an “unfair advantage” because they played all their games in one place. On a YouTube show called ‘Caught Behind,’ Latif criticized former England cricketers like Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and David Lloyd for complaining about India.

    Latif acknowledged that there was a scheduling problem but said it wasn’t just BCCI’s fault. He pointed fingers at the other cricket boards for not paying attention during planning. He said everyone should stop whining after the fact, especially since they all agreed to the schedule.

    Latif mentioned that if India had played their match against New Zealand a day earlier, it would have made the semi-final lineup clearer. He emphasized that the cricket boards needed to do their jobs properly instead of enjoying ICC meetings.

    The Indian team had a different view. Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed claims of an unfair advantage, saying they hadn’t practiced in Dubai beforehand. Gambhir pointed out the conditions between the practice location and the match venue were very different. He said that some people just complain without reason. However, fast bowler Mohammed Shami agreed that playing all matches at one venue helped India because they got used to the conditions.

  • NHPC Accused of Exploiting Jammu and Kashmir’s Resources

    NHPC Accused of Exploiting Jammu and Kashmir’s Resources

    On Saturday, Tariq Hamid Karra, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress, criticized the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). He said that NHPC is exploiting the resources of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and acting like the East India Company, a group known for taking advantage of India in the past.

    While discussing the budget in the J&K Assembly, Karra mentioned that NHPC has charged around Rs 300 crore as consultancy fees from local companies over the past ten years. He noted that the NHPC took part in the Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP), which was a joint project with a state-owned company after a power project was successfully built by the J&K Power Development Corporation in 2008.

    Karra raised concerns about why CVPP still pays NHPC consultancy fees of Rs 30 crore every year, even after NHPC took over a small share of the project in 2021. He asked why important positions like the Chairman are not filled by local engineers and why local workers are being treated unfairly in promotions.

    Karra also shared that a lot of mining blocks in J&K were sold to companies from outside the region after 2019. He called attention to how illegal mining is harming J&K’s resources, comparing it to well-known fraudsters who have taken advantage of people and resources.

    He concluded by saying that if a report were made about the financial management of J&K over the past seven years—when there was no elected government—it would reveal a lot of waste and exploitation in the region.

  • India vs. New Zealand: Champions Trophy 2025 Final – All You Need to Know!

    India vs. New Zealand: Champions Trophy 2025 Final – All You Need to Know!

    India is all set to face New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, happening in Dubai. Excitingly, people have placed bets totaling up to ₹5,000 crore on the match! Many believe India is likely to win, according to reports.

    However, there are some serious concerns. It’s been said that dangerous groups, like Dawood Ibrahim’s gang known as ‘D Company,’ are involved in betting on major cricket matches in Dubai. The police in Delhi have caught at least five big gamblers during this Champions Trophy. They found many gadgets and items used for betting while questioning these gamblers, which led them to discover more about the betting happening in Dubai.

    The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, has been doing great. They have won every match so far, including important games against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. They also defeated World Champions Australia in the semifinals to reach the final. This is a special moment for the team, as they last won the ICC Champions Trophy way back in 2013 and lost the final in 2017 to Pakistan. Now, they have a chance to win it all again!

  • Modi Strengthens India-Mauritius Relations with Key Agreements

    Modi Strengthens India-Mauritius Relations with Key Agreements

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Mauritius for two days, starting March 12, to celebrate the country’s National Day as the guest of honor. During this visit, India and Mauritius will sign several important agreements to improve cooperation in various areas. These agreements will focus on sharing information about ships, building capacities, increasing trade, and fighting financial crimes.

    Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the relationship between India and Mauritius has grown significantly over the past decade. Indian military forces and a navy ship will join the National Day celebrations.

    Mauritius has a strong connection with India because about 70% of its population has Indian roots. Over the past 18 years, India’s trade with Mauritius has increased from around $206 million to over $851 million in 2023-24. In the last fiscal year, India exported goods worth $778 million to Mauritius, while Mauritius exported about $73 million worth of goods back to India.

    Since 2000, Mauritius has invested $175 billion in India, making it a key partner. Although recent changes to a tax agreement caused a drop in foreign investments from Mauritius, it remains the third-largest source of foreign investment for India.

    On February 22, 2021, India and Mauritius agreed on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) after nearly 15 years of talks, marking India’s first trade agreement with an African country.

  • Jadavpur University Protests: Students and Teachers Seek to Resolve Issues

    Jadavpur University Protests: Students and Teachers Seek to Resolve Issues

    The Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA) on Saturday asked leftist students who are protesting to think about stopping their boycott of classes and exams. This protest began after a student got hurt on March 1 when West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu’s car brushed against him during a demonstration on campus.

    The acting vice-chancellor of the university, Bhaskar Gupta, who is in the hospital since March 5, urged everyone to help bring back normalcy and continue with academic work. He said, “let’s talk and solve these issues peacefully.”

    JUTA supported the students’ demands to drop police cases made against some protesters related to the March 1 incident. In a statement, they said it was important for students and teachers to have respect for each other and maintain a good relationship, as is the tradition at the university.

    The protesting students, part of leftist groups like SFI, AIDSO, RSF, and AISA, threatened to stop all work at the university’s administrative building if the management didn’t engage in talks with them by March 10. They began an indefinite sit-in protest to make their voices heard.

    Two students were hurt when Minister Basu’s car and a follow-up vehicle passed close to them during the protest. Many students have been skipping classes and exams since the incident, and the university is facing disruptions in operations.

    JUTA urged students to reconsider their boycott so that academic activities could continue. They also called for a fair investigation into what happened that day. The vice-chancellor expressed sadness for the injuries that occurred and hoped that everyone would recover.

    The trouble started when students wanted to speak to the minister about delaying student union elections, which have not happened in the university since 2020. One student leader stated, “We haven’t been able to talk to anyone from the university since the incident. If the acting VC is not well, we want other officials to meet us so we can discuss this.” All the student groups, except for those from the ruling TMC and RSS, are standing together for their rights.

  • Hampi Rape Incident: Police Arrest Two; CM Calls It a Horrific Crime

    Hampi Rape Incident: Police Arrest Two; CM Calls It a Horrific Crime

    Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, spoke out against a serious crime that happened near the Hampi heritage site, where two women, one of them from Israel, were attacked by three men on the night of March 6. He called the incident “a horrible crime” and mentioned that two suspects have already been caught by the police, while they are still searching for the third.

    Siddaramaiah said, “As soon as we heard about the incident, I told the police to act quickly, and they have already arrested two suspects. The investigation is continuing.” Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, also promised strict actions against those responsible for the crime. He mentioned that when the two women and a male friend went out for stargazing, they were approached by the three attackers.

    According to police reports, the group had gone to the Tungabhadra Canal to look at the stars and play music. The attackers first asked for petrol. After an argument over money, they threatened the group with stones. The attackers physically assaulted and raped the two women, while the male friend was pushed into the water. One of the women bravely detailed her experience in her police complaint.

    Sowmya Reddy, a leader from the Karnataka Mahila Congress, highlighted the need for better safety for women and noted an increase in crimes against women in recent years. Congress MP GC Chandrashekhar described the attack as “unfortunate” and assured that state authorities will take action against the criminals.

  • Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Astronauts: Outrage and Solutions

    Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Astronauts: Outrage and Solutions

    US President Donald Trump recently talked about two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been staying at the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024. Their return home got delayed because of problems with the Boeing Starliner. Trump blamed these issues on his predecessor, Joe Biden, and promised that steps were being taken to bring the astronauts back home.

    Trump said he asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to help. The SpaceX Dragon spaceship has been waiting at the ISS since September and was meant to bring them back. Trump claimed he gave Musk the go-ahead about a week ago.

    He said, “I authorized Elon a week ago. There are two people left up there because of Biden and Kamala.” He mentioned that Musk confirmed he could help.

    According to NASA, the SpaceX ship is expected to bring the astronauts back to Earth on March 16. Trump made some surprising comments about Sunita Williams, mentioning her hair after a video of it floating in space became popular. He referred to her as the “woman with wild hair” but also noted, “She has good solid hair.”

    Trump’s remarks caused a stir on social media, with some people calling his comments silly and others accusing him of being disrespectful. Some users pointed out the joke about her hair wasn’t appropriate.

    Can astronauts cut their hair? Yes, they can! NASA representatives said astronauts use special clippers in space. These clippers have a suction feature to gather the hair it cuts so the hair doesn’t float around.

    In conclusion, astronauts keep their area tidy in space, making sure hair is collected after haircuts. A NASA spokesperson confirmed that they use the same razors we have here on Earth for shaving.