S&P Global Ratings predicted on Tuesday that India’s GDP will increase at a rate of 6.5% in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, demonstrating a robust economy in the Asia-Pacific region despite global uncertainty.

In its most recent quarterly economic report for Asia-Pacific economies, the global banking institution stated, “This assumes that the upcoming monsoon season will be normal and that commodity — especially crude — prices will be soft.”

“Discretionary consumption will be supported by lowering borrowing costs, reducing food inflation, and the tax benefits announced in the nation’s budget for the fiscal year ending March 2026,” it continued.

Trade will be more resilient in nations where a significant portion of exports are services, as tariffs are often imposed on products. This is particularly true for India and the Philippines. Regarding rate cuts, S&P Global Ratings predicted that during the current cycle, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will lower interest rates by an additional 75–100 basis points.

According to the report, “food inflation will ease and crude prices will drop, bringing headline inflation closer to the central bank’s target of 4% in the fiscal year ending March 2026 and fiscal policy is contained.”

It said that “the robustness of our forecasts underscores the resilience of the regional economies” in light of the number of governmental initiatives and outside forces affecting Asia-Pacific. China’s economy will be impacted by the US tax increases on its exports, nevertheless.

“Our November baseline included 10% U.S. tariffs, which implies a roughly 25% effective U.S. tariff on Chinese exports. The effective rate will rise to roughly 35% with the additional 10% charges. Through decreased investment, exports, and other knock-on impacts, that will slow China’s growth,” the research stated.

It further stated that South Korea (mostly due to vehicles), Singapore (primarily due to pharmaceutical items), and Malaysia (primarily due to semiconductors) could be the countries most affected in terms of GDP growth.

Ashutosh Sharma dedicated his “Player of the Match” award to mentor and former India opener Shikhar Dhawan after he led the Delhi Capitals to a thrilling one-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants with an outstanding effort of 66 not out.

Ashutosh’s special video call with Dhawan personally added even more significance to the occasion; the Delhi Capitals posted the footage on social media, and it quickly gained popularity.

He was ecstatic. In a video that DC posted, Ashutosh remarked, “I love you, paaji.”

Before the former declared his retirement from the game, Dhawan and Ashutosh played together at Punjab Kings (PBKS) the previous season. During their time together at Punjab Kings, Dhawan, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this year, served as Ashutosh’s mentor.

Ashutosh’s development as a player was greatly influenced by the former India opener, who was renowned for his poise and leadership. Beyond the Punjab Kings lineup, Dhawan served as a mentor to several young cricket players, helping to shape their careers.

I had learned from the previous year and also missed a few opportunities to complete the game during the previous season. I concentrated and visualized it during the entire year. I thought that anything could happen if I played till the very end of the over. Well done, Vipraj. I urged him to continue striking. Under pressure, he remained remarkably composed. After winning “Player of the Match,” Ashutosh remarked, “I want to dedicate this award to my mentor Shikhar Paaji.”

Axar Patel, the captain of DC, chose to field first after winning the toss. Before Mitchell Starc’s outstanding overs in the final overs helped DC limit LSG to 209/8, LSG openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh made the most of the powerplay overs.

Ashutosh, who entered the game as an Impact Substitute, changed the course of the match by hitting an undefeated 66 off 31 balls while chasing 210, giving DC their most successful run chase in IPL history. Vipraj, 20, meanwhile, struck a brilliant 39 off 15 balls, which was vital in quickening the innings.

According to a recent assessment, India is on pace to surpass big nations and emerge as the global center of consumption. India’s consumption is the fastest growing sector in the world and makes for 56% of the nation’s GDP.

According to a survey by Angel One and Iconic Asset, India’s consumption is expected to quadruple by 2034 during the following ten years. The growing number of nuclear households is one of the main causes of rising consumption. Spending is rising as a result of the nation’s households growing faster than the population.

India is also expected to take the lead in the global workforce expansion, which will increase economic activity even more. India’s remarkable potential for savings is also highlighted in the report. The savings in the nation totaled $12 trillion between 1997 and 2023. This amount is predicted to increase tenfold over the following twenty-five years, reaching $103 trillion by 2047. Significant prospects for higher expenditure and economic expansion will be made possible by this increase in savings.

Consumption will also increase as a result of recent tax cuts included in the Union Budget. According to the research, these tax cuts will free up Rs 1 lakh crore, which might result in an additional Rs 3.3 lakh crore in spending and a 1% increase in India’s GDP.

India is anticipated to follow a global trend in which spending on experiences, clothing, gadgets, and accessories (including jewelry) increases more quickly than spending on necessities.

According to the paper, China and the US both experienced periods of economic boom in which discretionary consumption exceeded basic spending, and India is probably going to experience a similar trend.

“During the period when per capita income rose sharply, consumption spending in the US climbed tenfold. Similar increases in spending can be seen in India when per capita income rises, the survey continued.

Even with the growth of contemporary retail, tiny neighborhood Kirana businesses still account for 92% of India’s retail sales. According to the survey, organized retail has a great chance to grow and gain a bigger market share.The research also emphasizes how India’s youthful population propels consumerism. There are more Gen Zers in India than there are in the US.

Gen Zers will account for every second rupee spent in India by 2035, contributing to the nation’s rapidly increasing spending.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced four significant modifications for the 2025 IPL on the eve of the opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders.

On Thursday, March 20, in preparation for the 18th season of the IPL, the BCCI held a meeting for captains, coaches, and managers at its headquarters.

Representatives from each of the ten IPL teams shared their thoughts and ideas on a range of topics pertaining to the playing conditions at the discussion. The following updates have been included based on a general consensus.

Bowlers will be allowed to use saliva to shine the ball starting in the 2025 Indian Premier League. Following discussions with all ten teams, this decision signifies a return to conventional ball maintenance procedures. Saliva use was formerly prohibited during the COVID-19 epidemic, but it has now been abolished.

Second, the team bowling second will now be able to request a ball change once after the tenth over, which will help with the problems caused by dew during twilight matches.

Whether or not dew is apparent, the bowling captain has the authority to make this request. The umpires are required to swap out the ball for another with comparable wear and tear as soon as the request is made. The replacement ball will not be up to the bowling team’s discretion.

Furthermore, if the ball is judged to be too wet, out of shape, lost, or broken, the umpires have the right to replace it at any point prior to the tenth over. The umpires will assess the request and grant it if necessary if a captain asks for a ball change in the eleventh over because it is out of shape.

As previously said, the umpires will have to replace the ball mandatory if a second request is made after a few overs purely because of dew.

The TATA IPL 2025 season will see the implementation of a new Code of Conduct beginning this season, which will include a suspension point system and demerit points that will last for 36 months.

Lastly, wide-ball reviews outside the off-stump and height-based no-ball reviews have been included to the Decision Review System (DRS). Hawk-Eye technology and ball-tracking will be used in the upgraded system to help umpires make precise and reliable calls.

The eagerly awaited ‘Bihar Utsav 2025‘ is taking place at Dilli Haat, INA, from March 16—31. By providing tourists with a rare chance to get up close and personal with the state’s rich legacy, the festival seeks to honor and revitalize Bihar’s magnificent art, culture, and customs.

Grand celebrations of Bihar Diwas are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, to honor the state’s residents who have made significant contributions to the nation’s capital. As the Chief Guest, Nitish Mishra, Minister of Industries, Government of Bihar, will grace the occasion.

A variety of exciting cultural performances by well-known Bihar artists will be included in the festival, providing an insight into the state’s rich customs and cultural legacy.

Dilli Haat’s Bihar Utsav 2025 is a magnificent display of the state’s rich artistic, cultural, and handicraft traditions. With many booths showcasing beautiful goods made by regional craftspeople, this festival, which runs until March 31, offers a singular opportunity to discover Bihar’s rich cultural legacy.

“Bihar Utsav celebrates the foundation day of our state, and it’s a tribute to our rich heritage,” said Resident Commissioner Kundan Kumar, highlighting the event’s importance. The Department of Industries has put a lot of effort into making this fair a reality and making sure that our small businesses and artists receive the credit they merit.

Bihar’s famous silk, khadi, Madhubani, Tikuli, and Manjusha paintings are among the many handicrafts on display at the festival, along with Swelling embroidery, coin art, and wood and bamboo items. Foodies can also savor the traditional Bihari fare that is offered at the kiosks.

Tassar silk sarees, wooden artifacts, and Madhubani paintings are among the many traditional crafts on display at the event.

The festival’s vendors, who have been putting up stalls at Bihar Utsav for a number of years, thanked the government for its assistance. They stated that the government has continuously helped them by paying for their transportation, giving them allowances, and providing them with free areas to set up shop and sell their goods.

The organizers of the event claim that Bihar Utsav is about more than just exhibiting craftsmanship; it’s also about empowering state artists who frequently don’t get the chance to exhibit their work on bigger stages.

The celebration keeps spreading awareness of Bihar’s diverse cultural heritage while giving local craftspeople a chance to make a living.

Even though Hardik Pandya will miss the Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2025 opener against the Chennai Super Kings on Sunday in Chennai because of a one-match suspension from the previous IPL, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh thinks the all-rounder stands out from the others because he believes in his ability to succeed.

For Pandya, the IPL 2022 winning captain who had a disastrous season in every way, the 2025 competition seems to be crucial.

Even though the five-time winners ended bottom in the points table, the audience jeered the all-rounder in the first half of the 2024 Indian Premier League because MI management had chosen to designate him captain instead of Rohit Sharma after he had joined from the Gujarat Titans.

The team always looks much better with Jasprit on the field, according to Mark Boucher, the former South Africa cricket player who was the head coach of the Mumbai Indians for the last two IPL seasons. He also claimed that his absence for the first IPL 2025 matches isn’t good for the team.

Due to a lower back injury that kept him from bowling in the second innings of the fifth Test match in Sydney, Bumrah is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (previously the National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru. Bumrah hasn’t played since, and he even missed India’s successful Champions Trophy campaign.

“It is immediately not good for Mumbai Indians to be without Jasprit Bumrah. He is perhaps the best T20 bowler in the world, and his ability to bowl in both the powerplay and the last overs makes him a match winner in and of himself. The Mumbai Indians, led by Jasprit Bumrah, will always be a superior team.

“I wish I had Jasprit Bumrah during my debut season, when he was sidelined by a back injury in the 2023 Indian Premier League.” I firmly believe that we might have been a title contender if we had him“, Boucher, a JioStar specialist, stated.

In the IPL, Bumrah has taken 165 wickets in 133 games for MI. According to Boucher, his absence will force MI to change their bowling strategy and four overseas players, with Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar emerging as important contributors.

“They can choose Ryan Rickleton and Will Jacks as bowlers if they think they would wish to add another Indian. They have a lot of possibilities, in my opinion. Since Robin Minz is an unidentified character, I’m very curious to see if they play him. Naman Dhir can also open the batting, so you have him as well.

But from a bowling perspective, Ryan Rickleton will be outstanding. Will Jacks has performed admirably. It’s all about the possibilities, though, as I mentioned. “They may have to sacrifice one of the opening batsmen if they wish to bolster their bowling with the internationals,” he said.

According to a new research released on Thursday, the government’s plans for divestiture and robust domestic inflows are helping the public sector play a significant role in propelling growth for investment banks in India.

Investment banks have a lot of options as the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has set a divestiture target of Rs 47,000 crore for FY26.

According to a report by Emkay Investment Banking, the market has remained busy in recent years due to the initial public offerings (IPOs) of significant PSUs like LIC, IREDA, and ONGC as well as offers for sale (OFS) in businesses like IRCTC, HAL, and Coal India.

The expansion of investment banking in FY26 and beyond is anticipated to be further fueled by upcoming initial public offerings (IPOs) and fundraising initiatives from Bharat Coking Coal, CMPDI, MNGL, IREDA, and other banks.

Strong investor involvement has persisted in India’s equities markets. According to the research, qualified institutional placements (QIPs) raised Rs 1.36 lakh crore in 2024, while 92 initial public offerings (IPOs) raised a total of over Rs 1.62 lakh crore.

According to the research, the market has also received consistent support from the ongoing inflow from systematic investment programs, or SIPs.

An excellent measure of investor confidence, SIP inflows have continuously topped Rs 20,000 crore for the previous 11 months, and have topped Rs 25,000 crore in the last five.

In order to maintain market stability, domestic institutional investors, or DIIs, have been essential. Over Rs 5.7 lakh crore was invested by DIIs in FY25, which improved investor morale and market liquidity.

It is anticipated that the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) major policy measures will improve market liquidity and credit expansion even more.

The financial sector will benefit from the expected reduction in repo rates, the easing of risk weights on NBFC loans, and liquidity measures.

According to the report, measures in the Union Budget that are intended to boost consumption are also anticipated to generate good economic momentum.

Google released an interactive doodle on Wednesday to commemorate the final Half Moon of March.

The Doodle includes a celestial card game that tests players’ understanding of the lunar cycle.

For the game, users must compete against the Moon. Users must match different phases of the moon cycle to get points.

“This interactive Doodle commemorates March’s final half moon! “This monthly recurring card game invites you to compete against the moon to test your knowledge of the lunar cycle,” Google wrote in a blog post.

“Join the celestial card game where players must connect the phases of the lunar cycle to earn points and against the March Half Moon,” according to the announcement.

Victory over the celestial opponent may result in special rewards, making the encounter even more fascinating.
March is the month of the Worm Moon, when the winter ground thaws and insects return.

The Google Doodle game corresponds to the natural shift of the lunar cycle. It challenges players to advance through numerous levels while discovering four new wild cards.

People who finish the challenge can compare their high scores and test their lunar knowledge against peers.

Meanwhile, on March 14, a total lunar eclipse, or “Blood Moon,” occurred. It made the Moon to seem reddish during the eclipse, while the Moon was in its last quarter phase, so it appeared partially lighted.

The equinox is another celestial event that will occur in March. The equinox, which occurs on March 20, is the shortest day length in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, this is the longest day.

“As winter in the Northern Hemisphere ends and spring begins, the daily periods of sunlight continue to lengthen, changing fastest around the vernal (spring) equinox on March 20,” according to the agency.

According to a new report released on Tuesday, the technology sector is adopting a democratized approach to artificial intelligence (AI), allowing for more experimentation and flexibility globally, while many other businesses are going towards a centralized model.

A KPMG International study found that 36% of tech leaders claimed they are still creating AI governance guidelines and promoting creative AI practices in their companies. Based on a poll of 2,450 CEOs from 26 countries, including 490 technology leaders, the report emphasized that a structured strategy will be necessary for the successful application of AI.

This entails risk assessment, cross-functional cooperation, and ongoing learning to optimize AI’s advantages while reducing any possible hazards.

In addition to AI, the research emphasizes how the technology industry is spearheading industry-wide digital transformation. It asserts that in order to stay ahead, the tech sector needs to reconsider its own tactics in addition to leading by example. Technology companies have maintained their growth despite market uncertainties thanks to strategic investments and methodical decision-making.

“With technology rapidly evolving, designing and building solutions in a responsible way is now more important than ever,” said Atul Gupta, KPMG India.

Additionally, he said, it can lessen the likelihood of data breaches and the necessity for expensive security patch retrofits. The growing emphasis on profitability is one of the report’s main conclusions.

More and more tech workers think that in the last two years, digital innovations—especially in AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, and contemporary service delivery models—have greatly enhanced their company’s financial success.

Furthermore, 76% of tech executives stated that they precisely weigh the advantages and disadvantages of new technologies before making an investment. The growing significance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives in technological investments is also clarified by the report.

Approximately 73% of tech executives stated that their investments are closely related to goals for social responsibility and sustainability. Additionally, while making investment decisions, tech companies are paying attention to employee input.

According to the report, establishing robust security measures and guaranteeing data protection are crucial priority in fostering consumer trust as part of their ESG pledges.