India’s Cheetah startup cohort grew to 110 companies in 2026 from 103 a year earlier, with their combined valuation estimated at around Rs 3 lakh crore, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The 2026 ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Cheetah Index defines Cheetahs as unlisted startups founded in 2000 or later and valued between $200 million and $500 million. The index considers these companies potential unicorns over the next five years.

The index identified 43 new Cheetahs during the year. Meanwhile, 10 companies advanced to the Gazelle category, three moved directly to Unicorn status, and six listed on public markets.

FinTech emerged as the largest sector, accounting for 17 Cheetahs, followed by SaaS with 16 and e-commerce with 12.

Artificial intelligence (AI) accounted for eight companies, while electric vehicles and aerospace & defence accounted for eight and five Cheetahs, respectively.

Bengaluru remained the leading hub with 36 Cheetahs, followed by Delhi-NCR with 25 and Mumbai with 16. Together, the three regions accounted for 77 of the 110 companies.

Pune had eight Cheetahs after adding four during the year, while Ahmedabad had three and Jaipur had two.

ASK Private Wealth Co-Founder, CEO and MD Rajesh Saluja said the latest cohort reflected growing diversification beyond traditional technology sectors. He highlighted electric mobility, CleanTech, Aerospace & Defence, and AI as increasingly prominent areas.

Hurun India Founder and Chief Researcher Anas Rahman Junaid said the growing presence of capital-intensive and engineering-led businesses marked a shift in the composition of India’s emerging high-growth companies.

The index forms part of the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Cheetah-Gazelle-Unicorn Index. For the first time, the organisation has published the three cohorts as separate reports.

The Cheetah cohort has nearly doubled since 2021. Companies tracked since then have secured 52 promotions to Gazelle status and 15 promotions to Unicorn status. In addition, six Cheetahs from the previous year entered public markets in 2026.

India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency offers strategic opportunities to expand exports, attract investments, strengthen manufacturing and technology partnerships, diversify supply chains, and enhance BRICS’ influence in the global economy, according to an article.

The global economic landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as emerging economies increasingly shape trade, investment, development finance, and international economic governance. BRICS stands at the centre of this transformation. The grouping has evolved from an alliance of five major emerging economies into a much broader platform that represents the aspirations and economic interests of the Global South, the article published on the European Times news website observed.

The article highlights that India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” comes at a pivotal moment. BRICS@21 now has a significantly broader geographic and economic footprint, with an expanded membership that includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, along with 10 partner countries.

For India, this expansion creates a major opportunity to strengthen exports, attract investment, diversify supply chains, promote technology partnerships, and contribute to a more inclusive and multipolar global economic order.

The partner countries—Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam—further expand BRICS’ global outreach.

BRICS brings together manufacturing powerhouses, major energy exporters, agricultural producers, large consumer markets, technology hubs, and rapidly developing economies. This diversity creates significant economic complementarities. Manufacturing economies need energy and raw materials, while commodity-producing countries seek technology, investment, and industrial diversification. At the same time, large and growing consumer markets create opportunities to trade manufactured goods, pharmaceuticals, food products, services, and technology.

This diversity gives BRICS a strategic advantage as companies and countries work to build more resilient supply chains amid geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and growing economic uncertainty, the article stated.

BRICS has increasingly emerged as an important platform for South-South cooperation and has gained greater influence in the global economy. The grouping emphasises sovereign equality, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and consensus-based engagement. Its cooperation extends beyond trade and increasingly covers finance, technology, infrastructure, health, agriculture, energy, climate action, and digital transformation.

The article also underscores the significance of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which India hosted in New Delhi on May 14–15 under its Chairmanship. The meeting reinforced the grouping’s broader agenda and emphasised stronger strategic cooperation across political, economic, financial, cultural, and people-to-people dimensions. The participating countries also called for a more democratic, representative, and accountable international system, the article further stated.

BRICS is moving beyond its traditional role as an economic grouping and becoming a platform through which emerging economies seek a stronger voice in global decision-making, the article contended.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that India continues to increase its imports of Russian energy, with purchases setting new records every month.

“I don’t want to give you any figures for understandable reasons, but every month we have a new record,” Peskov said during a virtual briefing with Indian journalists ahead of the BRICS Summit, which India will host in the national capital this week.

He also said India and Russia were gradually resolving the issue of accumulated rupee payments in bilateral trade.

Peskov said Russia and India were discussing closer cooperation in rare-earth exploration. He added that the two countries had also put Russia’s potential sale of its Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet to India on the bilateral agenda.

Peskov said Western pressure, rather than any desire to abandon the dollar, had driven the BRICS shift towards greater use of national currencies.

He stressed that using national currencies does not amount to a de-dollarisation policy. “We do not want to claim any de-dollarisation policy. We’re simply doing what better corresponds with our national interests,” Peskov told the media.

He said some countries were using their national currencies as instruments of political pressure. “If they don’t let us use their money, we use our own money,” Peskov said.

Russia began using national currencies after Western restrictions blocked its access to the dollar and euro. Peskov said Russia does not seek “de-dollarisation” and remains open to any acceptable method of payment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, where he will discuss security, the economy, finance and culture.

Putin will also hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Trade and economic cooperation will form a major part of their discussions, Peskov added.

India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” comes at a pivotal moment. The bloc now includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with 10 partner countries. This expanded membership gives BRICS a significantly broader geographic and economic footprint.

For India, the expansion creates a major opportunity to boost exports, attract investment, diversify supply chains, strengthen technology partnerships and help build a more inclusive and multipolar global economic order.

The 10 partner countries — Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam — further expand BRICS’ global outreach.

Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple’s chief executive officer after nearly 15 years at the helm of one of the world’s most valuable technology companies, marking the end of a major era for the iPhone maker.

Cook’s final day as Apple CEO is August 31, 2026. Starting September 1, longtime Apple hardware executive John Ternus will take over as chief executive. Cook, however, is not leaving Apple completely.

He will become executive chairman of the company’s board and continue to play a strategic role. Apple announced the leadership transition in April after its board unanimously approved the succession plan.

Cook became Apple CEO in August 2011, succeeding co-founder Steve Jobs. His leadership style differed significantly from Jobs’ product-driven approach. Cook focused heavily on operational efficiency, supply-chain management, global expansion and building Apple’s services business.

During his tenure, Apple expanded its product ecosystem with successful launches and growth in categories such as the Apple Watch and AirPods. The company also made a major shift toward designing its own processors, with Apple silicon becoming an important part of its Mac strategy.

Apple’s financial growth under Cook has been extraordinary. The company’s market value increased dramatically during his leadership, reaching around $4 trillion and approaching the $5 trillion level. Apple also sold more than three billion iPhones during Cook’s tenure, while its services business became an increasingly important source of revenue and profit.

Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after 15 years, handing over to John Ternus, marking the end of a transformative era. Under Cook, Apple’s market value surged over 2,000%, reaching $4 trillion, and the company returned more than $1 trillion to shareholders. Apple grew its workforce to 166,000 people across 535 stores in 27 countries. The company shipped 3.1 billion iPhones and now boasts over 2.5 billion active devices globally. Cook expanded Apple’s product offerings with successes like the Apple Watch and AirPods while also spearheading in-house chip development, boosting profit margins from 40% to close to 50%.

Despite these gains, challenges loom, notably Apple’s dependence on Chinese manufacturing and growing regulatory scrutiny; the EU has imposed $19 billion in penalties, and global regulators continue probing antitrust issues. The services segment grew significantly to 1.5 billion paying subscribers, though recent missteps in AI have raised concerns.

Apple has begun outsourcing AI technology to partners like OpenAI and Google. Cook, with a total compensation of $880 million and an estimated net worth of $3 billion, will remain as executive chair. His successor inherits both an immensely successful company and pressing strategic challenges. Tim Cook served as Apple’s CEO from August 2011 to August 2026, following Steve Jobs’ departure.

Over his 15-year tenure, Cook transformed Apple from a $108 billion company into a $416 billion one. Under his leadership, Apple sold over three billion iPhones, which continue to comprise half of the company’s revenue. Manufacturing expanded significantly, with India now producing 25% of all iPhones, though China continues to handle most of the manufacturing despite declining sales. Apple’s service offerings, virtually non-existent in 2011, emerged as the company’s most profitable segment.

New product categories like the Apple Watch and AirPods surpassed Mac sales, while the company’s $3,499 headset failed to gain traction. Transitioning to in-house chip development revitalized the Mac business to $33.7 billion annually. However, Apple faced regulatory challenges, including $19 billion in fines from Europe. Cook also grappled with unmet company promises over a two-year span. He exits the company with $880 million in earnings and a 0.02% stake in Apple, handing the reins to John Ternus.

Despite those achievements, Cook leaves Apple at a challenging time. Artificial intelligence has become the central battleground for major technology companies, and Apple has faced criticism over the pace of its AI development. The company is working to improve Apple Intelligence and Siri while competing with rapidly advancing AI products from rivals.

John Ternus will now be responsible for guiding Apple through this next phase. Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and currently serves as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. He has been involved in the development of several important Apple products and has spent most of his career within the company. His extensive hardware and engineering experience makes him a natural successor as Apple looks toward its next generation of products. Apple announced Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus will become Apple’s next CEO.

Ternus will also face immediate expectations from investors and consumers. Apple is preparing for its next major product event on September 9, just days after the leadership transition. The company is expected to introduce a new iPhone lineup, while reports and speculation have focused on new hardware and Apple’s broader strategy for the coming year.

Cook’s move to executive chairman means the transition is not a complete break from his leadership. He is expected to remain involved in selected strategic matters, while Ternus assumes responsibility for Apple’s day-to-day operations. Apple announced Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus will become Apple’s next CEO.

The change marks a significant turning point for Apple. Cook leaves behind a company that is substantially larger and more diversified than the one he inherited in 2011. Ternus now has the difficult task of protecting that success while convincing customers and investors that Apple can remain at the forefront of technology in the age of artificial intelligence.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued observations on the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) draft papers for its initial public offering (IPO) and now awaits a response from the exchange’s lead managers, according to a report.

Business Line reported that SEBI issued its observations on NSE’s draft papers as the exchange moves closer to its long-awaited public listing.

NSE and its appointed merchant bankers will now respond to the regulator’s observations before SEBI takes a final decision on the IPO proposal, the report added.

The development comes a day after SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the regulator was close to approving NSE’s draft papers, signalling further progress in an IPO process that has faced delays for nearly a decade.

NSE filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI in June. The proposed offer-for-sale (OFS) covers up to 148.9 million equity shares, each with a face value of Re 1.

The proposed share sale represents around 6 per cent of NSE’s paid-up capital. The IPO does not include a fresh issue of shares, meaning the selling shareholders will receive all proceeds from the offering.

NSE has pursued a public listing for years but regulatory concerns, including matters linked to the co-location and dark fibre cases, delayed its plans.

The listing proposal gained momentum earlier this year after NSE received a no-objection certificate from SEBI. Following the regulatory clearance, the NSE board approved the IPO plan.

Last month, SEBI in-principle agreed to settle applications filed by NSE in connection with the co-location and dark fibre matters for Rs 1,491.21 crore.

According to the report, the unlisted market currently values NSE at around Rs 5 lakh crore.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that NSE is exploring the ‘Permitted to Trade’ (PTT) route. The mechanism could allow investors to trade NSE shares on the exchange even as the company remains formally listed on the BSE.

NSE’s IPO would rank among India’s most closely watched market listings. Investors are tracking the regulatory process closely as the exchange moves towards a potential public debut after years.

Taxpayers who earn business or professional income and do not require a tax audit must file their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for assessment year (AY) 2026–27 by Monday, August 31. The Income Tax Department has urged taxpayers who have not yet filed their returns to complete and verify them before the deadline.

“Over 7 Crore ITRs have already been filed for AY 2026-27! August 31, 2026 is the due date for filing ITRs for AY 2026–27 for taxpayers with business or professional income who are not subject to audit,” the Income Tax Department said in a post on X.

“Don’t wait till the last minute. File your (non-audit) business or professional income ITR today,” the department said.

Taxpayers filing ITR-3 or ITR-4 should select the appropriate form, report their income accurately and reconcile their financial information with the Annual Information Statement (AIS) to avoid errors and late-filing consequences.

Individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who earn income from a business or profession generally file ITR-3 if they do not qualify to file ITR-1, ITR-2 or ITR-4.

Eligible resident individuals, HUFs and firms other than Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) can file ITR-4, also known as Sugam, when their business or professional income meets the conditions of the presumptive taxation schemes under Sections 44AD, 44ADA or 44AE.

Missing the deadline can trigger late-filing fees and interest on outstanding tax. It can also delay refunds and result in the loss of certain tax benefits.

Taxpayers can file a belated return for AY 2026–27 until December 31, 2026, or before the completion of assessment, whichever comes earlier. However, late filing can prevent taxpayers from carrying forward certain losses, including eligible business or capital losses.

Under Section 234F, taxpayers whose total income exceeds Rs 5 lakh can incur a late-filing fee of Rs 5,000. For taxpayers whose total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh, the late-filing fee remains capped at Rs 1,000.

Taxpayers with unpaid tax must also pay interest under Section 234A at 1 per cent per month, or part of a month, on the outstanding tax amount.

Individuals and other eligible taxpayers who earn business or professional income and want to opt out of the default new tax regime in favour of the old tax regime must also file their returns by the applicable due date.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday visited the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book as he conveyed India’s solidarity with Nepal following the loss of hundreds of lives and widespread destruction caused by devastating flash floods.

Singh expressed condolences to people affected by the disaster, which also claimed the lives of foreign nationals, including Indians.

In a post on X, the Defence Minister said, “Went to the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi and expressed my condolences by signing the condolence book. On behalf of the Government and people of India, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Nepal and their Government, on the loss of precious lives and large-scale devastation caused by the flash flood on 26 August 2026.”

“This tragic natural calamity has affected citizens of Nepal along with a number of foreign nationals, including Indian nationals. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in this disaster,” he added.

Singh also wished injured people a speedy recovery and reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting Nepal’s relief efforts following the deadly floods.

“We hope for speedy recovery of those who were injured. As a close friend and partner, and ‘Sukh Dukh Ke Saathi’, India has always stood by Nepal. In this trying time also, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Nepali brothers and sisters and are committed to support Nepal’s efforts for search, rescue and rehabilitation,” he added.

The death toll from the devastating floods in Nepal has crossed 900, with authorities continuing to recover bodies from riverbanks across several districts.

According to the latest update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Monday, authorities have recovered 903 bodies. Southern Chitwan district has recorded the highest number, with 272 bodies recovered so far. Authorities in the district have struggled to manage the large number of bodies.

The massive flood that struck Nepal’s Rasuwa region originated in the Tibetan region of China on August 26. The floodwaters swept through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River and caused widespread destruction across Nepal.

India has meanwhile sent more than 68.5 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Nepal. It has also deployed specialised tunnel rescue teams and forensic experts to assist the country with relief and recovery operations following the devastating flash floods.

The death toll from the Nepal flash floods reached 616 on Saturday morning, while hundreds remain missing, local media reported, citing officials.

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, police had recovered 233 bodies in Chitwan, 158 in Nawalparasi East, 48 in Gorkha, 47 in Nawalparasi West, 45 in Dhading, 41 in Nuwakot, 31 in Tanahun and 13 in Rasuwa, according to Nepalese daily The Kathmandu Post.

Meanwhile, authorities continue search and rescue operations across the affected districts. Police are coordinating with residents and other agencies to locate missing people and help those stranded by the floods.

Rescue teams are moving people from high-risk areas to safer locations. They are also clearing roads blocked by flood debris and landslides to restore access and support relief operations.

The massive flash flood that struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday originated in China’s Tibetan region. The floodwaters surged through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River and caused widespread destruction across Nepal.

Rescue teams continue to recover bodies from riverbanks in several downstream districts along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West.

Officials expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue teams continue their operations.

Meanwhile, the Nepal government has agreed to accept assistance from international search and rescue teams. Earlier, the Balen Shah government had rejected foreign assistance, saying Nepalese rescuers could handle the operations and that it would not allow rescuers from other countries to enter the effort.

However, The Kathmandu Post reported that the administration reversed its decision within a day and agreed to seek limited international assistance and foreign expertise for rescue operations.

Indian nationals account for the highest number of missing people, according to the Nepal Tourism Board‘s latest records.

India sent its third assistance flight to Nepal on Friday, carrying an 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team.

The flight also carried 10 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, including portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets.

On Thursday, India also delivered a second consignment of 37.5 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies, medicines and food packets to Nepal to support relief and rescue operations following the deadly floods.

The Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) flagship citizen-centric initiative, Sanchar Saathi, helped recover 77,692 lost or stolen mobile handsets in July, crossing the 75,000 mark in a single month for the first time since its launch, the Communications Ministry said on Friday.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia welcomed the achievement, saying the milestone reflects growing public trust in the platform and stronger coordination among the DoT, telecom service providers (TSPs) and police departments across states and Union Territories.

“DoT, through the collaborative efforts, is capturing the feedback of stakeholders for continuous enhancements in the ecosystem focused on an increase in recoveries,” the ministry said.

The DoT’s Digital Intelligence Unit and field units worked closely with local police to trace lost or stolen devices and return them to their owners. Monthly handset recoveries rose 201 per cent between April 2025 and July 2026.

Sanchar Saathi now provides citizens with the name of the police station handling their case through SMS, email, the web portal and the mobile application, the ministry said.

The initiative also shares details of SIM cards inserted into lost or stolen handsets with police authorities. These details include alternate mobile numbers that can help police improve recovery efforts.

Sanchar Saathi also advises citizens through SMS to factory-reset recovered handsets to protect them from potential malware.

Citizens can report lost or stolen handsets through the Sanchar Saathi web portal or mobile application in a few simple steps. After receiving a report, the system blocks the handset across India’s telecom network, preventing anyone from misusing the device.

When someone attempts to use a reported handset, the telecom network detects the activity and sends alerts to the citizen and the concerned police station. Police can then trace the device and facilitate its return to the rightful owner.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed introducing a red front-of-pack warning label for processed foods and beverages that contain high levels of sugar, salt or fat, allowing consumers to make more informed choices.

“The warning label shall indicate the applicable declaration, such as ‘HIGH FAT’, ‘HIGH SUGAR’, ‘HIGH SALT’ and/or ‘HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE’ … to enable consumers to readily identify products high in the specified nutrients,” Reuters reported, citing an FSSAI filing in the Supreme Court.

The FSSAI submitted the proposal as the Supreme Court hears petitions from health activists seeking warning labels similar to those used in several Western countries. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court directed the FSSAI to expedite the introduction of such labels.

Major food companies, including Nestle, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, have opposed the move, which could affect sales of products that fall under the proposed warning system.

During its previous hearing, the Supreme Court criticized the FSSAI over delays in implementing mandatory warning labels for packaged foods. While hearing a public interest litigation, the bench stressed that transparent nutritional disclosures can help protect citizens, particularly young children, from health risks such as obesity.

Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran expressed strong dissatisfaction with the regulator’s pace of action and questioned whether authorities were giving sufficient priority to public health.

The bench warned that the court could issue further directions if the executive failed to act independently.

The Supreme Court also rejected arguments that front-of-pack warning labels could unfairly target traditional Indian packaged snacks. The bench said commercial interests cannot take precedence over public health concerns.

The court gave the FSSAI two weeks to establish a clear framework for the proposed labels. The judges also highlighted the aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods to young consumers and said consumers need clear visual warnings on product packaging to understand potential nutritional risks.