Category: News

  • Amit Shah’s Key Directions to Improve Safety and Traffic in Delhi

    Amit Shah’s Key Directions to Improve Safety and Traffic in Delhi

    On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Delhi Police to make fighting interstate gangs their top job. He asked them to be tough and serious about this issue during a big security meeting in Delhi. The meeting included Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other important officials.

    Shah said police should work hard to break up drug trafficking networks. He emphasized that they need to tackle the drug problem straight away and make sure no one can get away with it.

    He also raised concerns about illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Rohingya people. Shah said it is vital for national security to take strict action against those who help these immigrants enter and live in India. He insisted that these unauthorized individuals must be found and sent back to their countries.

    Amit Shah asked the police to help solve traffic jams in the city. He told police officers to visit local areas, listen to people’s complaints, and work on quick solutions to ensure smooth traffic.

    Additionally, he told the Delhi government to prepare a plan to handle waterlogging issues during monsoon. He also mentioned that from now on, permission from Delhi Police will not be necessary for construction projects. Lastly, he encouraged the Delhi government to hire special prosecutors to speed up cases from the 2020 riots.

  • Indore Students Expelled After Hostage Incident Over Holi Celebration

    Indore Students Expelled After Hostage Incident Over Holi Celebration

    Four student leaders from the Government Holkar Science College in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, have been suspended after they held around 150 staff members hostage. This happened because the college denied their request to celebrate a Holi festival. The students were planning an event called “Holkar Ka Holi Fest” on March 7, which included DJ performances and a fun water dance, for which they wanted to charge an entry fee of ₹150.

    The college administration turned down their request for the event, but the students did not listen. They put up posters around the campus promoting the festival on February 23, even though they hadn’t received permission from the principal. After the posters were taken down by college authorities, the students protested, and on February 24, they closed the door of Yashwant Hall from the outside and cut off the power.

    During this protest, around 150 people, including female professors, were trapped for about 30 minutes. The principal, Anamika Jain, said an investigation found the four students guilty of serious misbehavior. As a result, they were expelled and told to collect their transfer certificates. The college, which was founded in 1891 by the Holkar rulers of Indore, is currently under investigation by the district administration.

  • Bombing at Pakistan’s Jihad School Leaves 4 Dead, Including Leader

    Bombing at Pakistan’s Jihad School Leaves 4 Dead, Including Leader

    A suicide bombing at a religious school in Pakistan, known as the “University of Jihad,” killed four people on Friday. The blast happened during Friday prayers when many people gathered at the school in Akora Khattak, which is about 60 kilometers east of Peshawar. Among those who lost their lives was Hamid ul Haq, the head of the school.

    Police chief Abdul Rasheed confirmed that Hamid ul Haq was likely the target of the attack. Thirteen others were injured in the explosion. The bomb went off in the front row, where many people were preparing to pray.

    The school is home to around 4,000 students who receive free food, clothing, and education. It is known for teaching a strong and fierce interpretation of Islam and has produced many fighters for the Taliban. Notable figures like Mullah Omar and Jalaluddin Haqqani, who led violent groups, once studied there.

    The school has been at the center of militant activity for years, training many young people who then engage in conflicts in Afghanistan and beyond. Instead of shutting down these schools, the Pakistani government has generally allowed them to continue operating, largely because of their ties to various political parties.

    Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, violence has increased in border areas with Pakistan. Last year was especially deadly in Pakistan, with over 1,600 people killed in attacks. The Pakistani government blames Afghan leaders for not taking action against militants who launch attacks from Afghan soil, a claim that the Taliban government denies.

  • February Stock Market Struggles: What’s Next for Indian Equities

    February Stock Market Struggles: What’s Next for Indian Equities

    February was a tough month for Indian stocks. The Sensex, a major stock index, dropped over 4,000 points, which is a 5% loss. That’s a huge blow, and the total value of all companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) fell by more than Rs 40 lakh crore in just one month.

    The Nifty index, another big player, had its longest monthly losing streak since it started in 1996. It lost money for five straight months. Since reaching its highest point last September, both the Nifty and Sensex have dropped about 15%. Smaller indexes like the Nifty Next 50 and Nifty Midcap 150 dropped even more, by 26% and 21%, respectively. Even smaller companies faced tough times, with drops of 26-27%.

    Although the Nifty hasn’t officially entered a bear market yet, 30 out of its 50 stocks are already struggling, with big drops in names like Tata Motors, Adani Enterprises, Trent, and Hero MotoCorp—each down over 40% from their peaks.

    A big reason for this sell-off is that foreign investors are pulling their money out. So far in 2025, they’ve sold $12.2 billion worth of Indian stocks after selling $12.3 billion in the last quarter of 2024.

    Dr. V K Vijayakumar from Geojit Financial Services pointed to global issues like trade wars as causes for the market panic. He explained how trade tariffs announced by President Trump were causing uncertainty that affected the stock market.

    On the other hand, Chris Wood, an expert from Jefferies, believes this drop is more about technical issues instead of serious economic problems. He thinks the sell-off is due to adjustments in stock values, rather than a major economic crisis.

    According to Merisis, the big sell-off seems to be slowing down, mainly focusing now on the top-performing Nifty and Nifty 100 stocks. They think this might be the beginning of recovery, with possible positive movements in the next 4 to 6 weeks.

    Amidst all this chaos, some investors still see good signs. Alok Agarwal from Alchemy Capital Management mentioned that company earnings have improved compared to earlier quarters. He noted that even if the earnings reports aren’t fabulous, they’re better than they’ve been in a while. He mentioned that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is actively trying to support the economy.

    Investors are currently in a tricky spot. Some experts worry that there could be more drops if overall economic data gets worse. Others feel a bounce back is possible soon. The next few months will be key to seeing if this downturn will continue or if the market will stabilize in hopes of a recovery. Manish Jain from Mirae Asset advises investors to be cautious and not to jump in quickly until things look better.

    Disclaimer: The views and opinions in this article are those of the experts and do not reflect the opinions of NiftyStat.

  • Kernex Microsystems Scores Big: Rs 325.33 Crore Safety Project Announced

    Kernex Microsystems Scores Big: Rs 325.33 Crore Safety Project Announced

    Kernex Microsystems is in the spotlight this Friday! The South Eastern Railway has given them a big thumbs up with a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for a massive project worth Rs 325.33 crores. This project is about making trains safer by setting up a system called Kavach along 688 route kilometers in the Kharagpur and Chakradharpur areas.

    Kavach is an advanced safety system designed to stop train crashes by preventing trains from passing red signals, speeding, or colliding with each other. The whole project needs to be completed in 1,000 days. Kernex Microsystems is leading a group, called the Kernex-MRT consortium, to work on this project.

    Recently, Kernex Microsystems reported a profit of Rs 7.14 crores in the third quarter of FY25, which is a nice change from a loss of Rs 3.50 crores in the same time last year. Their total earnings reached Rs 36.81 crores, which is an increase of 342.7% from last year. However, compared to the previous quarter, it dropped by 10.7%.

    On the stock market, Kernex Microsystems shares closed at Rs 852, up by 4.7%. Although the stock has gone down 40% this year, it has shot up by 208% over the last two years. The company’s total market value is Rs 1,428.7 crores.

  • Tuhin Kanta Pandey: New SEBI Chairman as Stock Market Faces Challenges

    Tuhin Kanta Pandey: New SEBI Chairman as Stock Market Faces Challenges

    Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been named the new chairperson of SEBI (the Securities and Exchange Board of India) for three years. He will take over from Madhabi Puri Buch, who is the first woman to lead SEBI. Pandey’s appointment was approved by the Cabinet on February 27.

    Pandey steps into this important role as the Indian stock market is experiencing low performance because many foreign investors are pulling out their money. This year alone, these investors have taken out over Rs 1.13 lakh crore.

    Tuhin Kanta Pandey is an experienced officer from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), having joined in 1987. Before this role, he served as the Finance Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Revenue. He played a big part in significant decisions, like selling Air India and listing LIC on the stock market.

    As Finance Secretary, his job was to advise the Finance Minister and manage important finances for the government. Now, as the head of SEBI, he brings his knowledge of finance and economic management.

    Education-wise, Pandey holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University and an MBA from the UK. Throughout his career, he has taken on many important roles, including working in health and transport sectors. He has also worked as a District Collector and has been involved in key projects for the government.

    This new position at SEBI marks an exciting chapter in his career!

  • JD Vance Criticizes UK on Free Speech Amid Controversial Arrests

    JD Vance Criticizes UK on Free Speech Amid Controversial Arrests

    At a recent press conference, US Vice President JD Vance openly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about problems with free speech. During the Munich Security Conference on February 14, Vance stressed the importance of free speech in Europe.

    He said, “We have a special relationship with the UK and our European friends, but there have been issues with free speech. This affects not only British people but also American technology companies and citizens.” He mentioned that they would discuss this topic further at lunch.

    Vance also talked about the case of a military veteran named Adam Smith-Connor. Smith-Connor was arrested for quietly praying near an abortion clinic, which raised Vance’s concerns about the rights of religious people in the UK.

    Vance described the situation: “A British government charged Smith-Connor with the terrible crime of standing 50 meters from an abortion clinic and praying silently for three minutes. He wasn’t bothering anyone; he was just praying by himself.”

    In response, Prime Minister Starmer defended the UK’s commitment to free speech, saying, “We’ve maintained free speech for a long time and will continue to do so.” However, doubts linger after the UK government took strict actions against riots in the summer of 2024, which included using facial recognition and asking social media to control harmful content.

    Recent reports also suggest that the UK may arrest and extradite US citizens for online comments that could lead to violence.

  • India Demands Transparency and Reform in UN Security Council

    India Demands Transparency and Reform in UN Security Council

    India has called for more openness in how the UN Security Council and its working groups operate. Speaking at a recent UN meeting, Ambassador P. Harish explained that when requests to add people to the UN’s blacklist of terrorists are denied or delayed, the reasons are often kept secret. He referred to this lack of information as a “disguised veto,” meaning it acts like a veto but isn’t officially recognized as one.

    Harish stressed the importance of reforming the Security Council to make it work better and be more transparent. He pointed out that while decisions to add individuals to the terrorist list are shared publicly, the reasons for rejecting these listings remain hidden, limiting accountability. This lack of transparency is especially concerning given that China, a close ally of Pakistan, often blocks India’s attempts to blacklist Pakistani terrorists.

    Harish also lamented that while many countries agree on the necessity for reform, little progress has been made. He urged all UN member states to stop just talking about reform and take action instead. He emphasized that the path to real change begins with clear plans and timelines.

    Additionally, he mentioned that when peacekeeping missions are planned, the concerns of countries providing troops and police need to be considered. As the largest contributor of peacekeeping forces, India believes this is crucial.

    He urged the Security Council to remove outdated issues that no longer matter today and to engage more meaningfully with all UN member states. Simply summarizing the Security Council’s activities in reports isn’t enough; those reports should be more thorough and help member countries understand how the Council is functioning.

    Harish concluded by saying the Security Council needs major changes to fit today’s world. Its current structure has not changed much in 80 years and doesn’t reflect contemporary realities. To effectively carry out its mission and meet people’s expectations, the Council must be reformed to serve its purpose better.

  • Mexico Sends Drug Lords to the U.S. Amid Tariff Pressure

    Mexico Sends Drug Lords to the U.S. Amid Tariff Pressure

    Mexico has sent 29 dangerous drug cartel members to the United States, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who was involved in the murder of a U.S. drug agent in 1985. This move comes as Mexico’s leaders visit Washington to discuss the threat of big tariffs on all Mexican exports, set to start soon.

    The prisoners were taken from various jails in Mexico to board planes bound for different U.S. cities. Among them were high-ranking members of major Mexican drug gangs, including people who planned horrific crimes. Caro Quintero, once the leader of the Guadalajara cartel, was free for almost ten years after a court set him loose. He returned to crime until he was caught again in 2022.

    U.S. officials, including Attorney General Pamela Bondi, promised to punish these criminals to honor the brave law enforcement agents who risk their lives fighting against drug cartels. This historic action marks a significant change in Mexico’s cooperation with the U.S. regarding drug trafficking.

    Caro Quintero’s return to the U.S. means he might face new charges, including for the murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. The extradition process this time bypassed the usual legal steps, making it easier for the U.S. to prosecute him.

    The action against these drug lords has raised concerns about how drug gangs might react against the Mexican government in response to this cooperation with the U.S.

  • India and EU Discuss Key Trade Agreement Amid Global Tariff Threats

    India and EU Discuss Key Trade Agreement Amid Global Tariff Threats

    New Delhi: India and the European Union (EU) are meeting to talk about a new free trade agreement (FTA). This meeting is important, especially since US President Donald Trump has threatened to place high tariffs on goods coming from the EU, which can impact trade for many countries.

    EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in New Delhi with 20 other EU leaders. This is their first big visit since they started their new jobs last year. They will be meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other important ministers like S. Jaishankar (External Affairs), Piyush Goyal (Commerce), and Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance).

    Von der Leyen has called India a “strategic ally,” especially during these times of global competition. She said, “In times of conflict, you need trustworthy friends. For Europe, India is one of those friends.” They plan to discuss how to strengthen their partnership.

    India will bring up the issue of new laws in the EU like a carbon tax and rules against deforestation that could affect small Indian businesses. The EU wants to help its smaller businesses sell more products, and they should also help Indian businesses in return.

    Important trade talks will take place during this visit, leading into a series of discussions scheduled in Brussels in mid-March. These talks were paused for six months and are now resuming. Both sides hope for friendly discussions, especially because of the potential tariffs from the US.

    Hours before Von der Leyen’s arrival, Trump announced plans for big tariffs on EU goods, claiming the EU is hurting the US economy. He plans to charge 25% on cars and other products. The EU has said they will respond strongly to these tariffs.

    Von der Leyen’s team aims to build better ties with India, focusing on trade and security. They will discuss high-tech areas like telecommunications and artificial intelligence at their meeting.

    Both sides also want to work together more on defense matters, with talks about sharing information and joint exercises between the Indian Navy and the EU navies.

    Von der Leyen started her visit by honoring Mahatma Gandhi. After their meeting, Jaishankar praised the importance of strengthening ties between India and the EU. While discussing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, India made it clear it believes that dialogue between Russia and Ukraine is the best way forward.

    The EU is India’s biggest trading partner, with trade between the two exceeding $137 billion this year. They have been discussing a free trade agreement since 2007 but only resumed talks in 2022 after many years.