뉴스

Third ro-ro ferry will be launched within a month, says Kochi Mayor

The new vessel will have the capacity to accommodate 14 trucks, 12 cars, and 50 passengers and has been designed to address the shortcomings of the existing ro-ro fleet

Union Minister launches ‘Samriddhi Kendra’ in Guntur village under Bharat Net Udyami Scheme

Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar says the centre is designed to provide multiple public services under one roof — including a Health ATM for medical diagnostics, a postal office, a Jan Aushadhi Kendra, and FTTH broadband services — and to serve as a model for rural development

Maruti, Tata lead hatchback revival

For nearly a decade, India's carmakers chased the sport utility vehicle (SUV) dream.Higher margins, aspirational buyers and a growing appetite for larger vehicles pushed manufacturers to flood showrooms with sport utility vehicles and compact SUVs, steadily relegating hatchbacks — once the backbone of India's passenger vehicle market — to the sidelines.Also Read: Tata Motors PV launches next-gen Tiago from Rs 4.69 lakh, Tiago.ev from Rs 6.99 lakh with lifetime battery warrantyThe strategy worked. Utility vehicles now account for well over half of all passenger vehicle sales in India and contributed nearly two-thirds of the 4.3 million vehicles sold in FY25.But as economic pressures mount, vehicle prices climb and first-time buyers struggle to enter the market, India's biggest automakers are beginning to acknowledge a reality they may have overlooked: the country's next wave of growth could come from the very segment they left behind.From Maruti Suzuki's renewed commitment to entry-level cars to Tata Motors' ambitious reinvention of the Tiago, hatchbacks are once again finding themselves at the centre of boardroom conversations.Also Read: Small cars strike back: Maruti Suzuki bets on mass mobility while costs squeeze fourth quarter profitsAnd this time, carmakers are betting that small cars no longer have to feel small.The forgotten customerThe shift is being driven by a growing recognition that India's passenger vehicle market cannot rely indefinitely on premiumisation.While SUVs have transformed the industry's revenue mix, they have also pushed average vehicle prices steadily higher, making car ownership increasingly difficult for millions of households.Maruti Suzuki Chairman R. C. Bhargava recently signalled the company's intent to rebalance its portfolio."We are planning to develop both small cars and SUVs. The small car market is growing. India is a country where small cars have a long-term future," Bhargava said.The comments mark a notable shift in tone from an industry that spent years focusing on larger and more expensive vehicles.For Maruti, which built its dominance on models such as the Alto, WagonR and Swift, the renewed emphasis reflects confidence that affordability will remain central to India's mobility story."A large part of the population… need small cars" for basic mobility, Bhargava said.Industry analysts say the opportunity remains substantial."In the small cars segment, there is a much bigger conversion pool that carmakers can navigate. Hence, there is this renewed push towards small cars and that segment," said Hemal Thakkar, Senior Director, Crisil Intelligence."India is a price sensitive market and hence, small cars will stay and customers are looking for upgrades within vehicles. If carmakers can provide small cars with new features and upgrades, then there will be more customers for the small car space," he added.Making hatchbacks aspirational againIf Maruti is signalling a strategic return to small cars, Tata Motors is attempting something more ambitious — making hatchbacks desirable again.The company this week unveiled the next-generation Tiago and Tiago.ev, positioning them as technology-rich products aimed at reviving a segment many in the industry had effectively written off."Hatchbacks remain the gateway to personal mobility for millions of Indian families and yet, for far too long, this segment received scarce attention from the industry, when it genuinely deserved far more," said Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.Calling the new Tiago "not an evolution but a full reinvention", Chandra said the vehicle brings substantially upgraded design, connected technologies and safety features that were once largely reserved for more expensive categories.The next-generation Tiago gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless smartphone connectivity, a dual-screen dashboard, wireless charging and a segment-first 360-degree surround-view camera."The feeling of wow shouldn't be reserved for expensive cars," Chandra said."Today hatchback customers want far more than mobility, they want design, tech, safety and pride of ownership. A car they want to flaunt."The company has also positioned the Tiago.ev as an affordable electric mobility option, offering a lifetime battery warranty and fast-charging capability that can add up to 100 kilometres of range in 18 minutes."Tiago will make EV more accessible," Chandra said.Why affordability is back in focusThe renewed interest in hatchbacks comes as affordability re-emerges as a key concern across the industry.Vehicle prices have risen sharply in recent years because of stricter regulations, higher commodity costs and the addition of new safety and technology features.That has increasingly pushed first-time buyers out of the market.According to Srikumar Krishnamurthy, Senior Vice President and Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited, hatchbacks continue to play a critical role in expanding the customer base."Hatchbacks remain a preferred segment, particularly for first-time buyers and households seeking a second vehicle, as affordability and comfort are key purchase considerations," he said."From an original equipment perspective, a presence across segments also helps improve reach, especially in Tier 2/3 cities."Krishnamurthy added that rising vehicle costs are forcing manufacturers to revisit their entry-level offerings."With input costs rising and vehicle prices expected to increase further, affordability is becoming even more important, especially in the mass-market segment. In response, OEs are looking to reposition entry-level hatchbacks and compact SUVs through new launches and refreshed variants that offer a stronger value proposition to consumers."Beyond SUVsThe industry's renewed focus on hatchbacks does not mean SUVs are going away.Far from it.Utility vehicles remain India's dominant passenger vehicle category and continue to drive growth and profitability for manufacturers.What is changing, however, is the recognition that growth cannot come solely from moving customers up the value chain.To sustain volumes, carmakers need to bring new buyers into the market.That is especially important as India adds millions of young consumers entering the workforce, many of whom are seeking their first personal vehicle but remain highly sensitive to price.Affordable electric hatchbacks could further strengthen the segment's appeal in coming years."Affordable EV hatchbacks could become an attractive proposition as charging infrastructure improves, range-anxiety concerns ease, and the financing environment becomes more supportive," Krishnamurthy said.For much of the past decade, India's hatchbacks were treated as yesterday's story while SUVs became the industry's obsession.Now, as automakers search for their next growth engine, the segment that once put millions of Indians behind the wheel is beginning to look relevant again.The future of India's auto market may still be taller, bolder and SUV-shaped. But increasingly, carmakers are recognising that the road to scale may once again begin with a hatchback.

More about Neelam Kothari’s family bungalow in Lonavala

In a heartwarming video, actress Neelam Kothari took her followers on a nostalgic tour of 'Le Chalet,' her family's beloved bungalow in Lonavala that's been standing for three decades. With its charming two-storey design, whitewashed walls, rustic wooden details, and timeless furnishings, this vintage gem is a tribute to her parents' vision.

Uttarakhand’s Rs 2 lakh housing aid scheme for soldiers’ families: Eligibility, benefits and more explained

Uttarakhand is taking significant steps to support the families of deceased soldiers and war-disabled veterans through its newly announced Housing Assistance Grant. Providing a substantial one-time grant of Rs 2 lakh, this program is designed to aid in the construction or repair of homes, strengthening housing stability for these families.

Anthropic publishes 10,000 word paper suggesting AI can be more dangerous than job cuts

Anthropic has published a 10,000-plus word paper arguing that the real AI danger isn't just job losses, the warning CEO Dario Amodei has been repeating all year. It's recursive self-improvement: AI systems capable of designing and training their own successors. The paper reveals Claude now writes over 80% of Anthropic's code, and floats a coordinated pause on frontier AI development if rival labs agree to verifiably do the same.

PM Modi inspects indigenous defence systems at Surat facility, briefed about desi light tank Zorawar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Larsen & Toubro's Armed Systems Complex in Surat, reviewing advanced defence equipment and indigenous armoured vehicles. He was briefed on 'Zorawar', India's first indigenous light battle tank designed for mountainous terrains and rapid deployment along the LAC.

First "Universal Vaccine" Entirely Designed By AI Tested On Humans

Nearly 40 people participated in the trial between late 2021 and 2023. (Representational)

Greenpeace hands over street design plan to officials in Mysuru

Industry leaders reflect on leadership in times of chaos, disruption and volatility

The Hindu Huddle’s session on ‘The Architecture of Leadership: Designing blueprints for a volatile world’

Anthropic ‘plants’ engineers at NSA despite facing ban by Pentagon

Anthropic has reportedly placed engineers within the NSA to help deploy its advanced 'Mythos' AI for cyber operations, despite an ongoing legal dispute with the Department of War. This 'undercover' collaboration aims to customize AI for national security, with the technology designed for infiltrating foreign networks. The move is controversial given the Pentagon's prior 'supply-chain risk' label on Anthropic.

Uttar Pradesh bird sanctuary designated as Ramsar site, 100th such Indian wetland

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the feat reflects India’s unwavering commitment to protecting natural surroundings and wetlands

India takes big moves to attract foreign investments in bonds: How will this impact stock market?

As India sees incessant FII selloff so far this year, the government and RBI announced a slew of measures to ease foreign investments in government securities, with analysts suggesting that these may provide some short-term support for Dalal Street.India scrapped the long-term capital gains tax on investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in government securities through an ordinance issued on Friday. The government has now exempted FIIs from tax on any interest income from government securities, as well as capital gains arising from their sale, exchange or transfer, according to an official gazette. Separately, while announcing the outcome of the MPC meeting, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra also unveiled a series of measures to boost FPI investments, including expanding the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) to cover new issuances of 15-, 30- and 40-year government bonds.Limits on investments by NRIs and OCIs in equity instruments without Sebi registration are being raised, allowing them to invest larger amounts without regulatory registration. The facility is also proposed to be extended to all Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), bringing them on par with NRIs and OCIs. This came as the RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%What does this mean for Indian stock market?The proposal to increase investment limits for NRIs and OCIs in listed equity instruments without Sebi registration, and to extend the same facility to all individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs), is a significant step toward broadening participation in Indian capital markets, which is expected to improve market depth, liquidity and long-term capital inflows, said Arun Poddar, CEO of Choice International.He highlighted that equally important is the removal of capital gains tax on government securities investments for foreign investors. “This move strengthens the attractiveness of India's bond market and could encourage greater foreign participation in government debt. At a time of heightened global volatility, these measures reinforce investor confidence, support capital inflows, and reaffirm India's commitment to building deeper, more globally integrated financial markets, with the policy rate expected to remain low for an extended period,” he said.The government's move to exempt Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) from capital gains tax on any interest earned from government securities is “highly positive” for the capital markets, said Sumit Singhania, Head of Research at Bajaj Broking. “This fiscal cushion arrives at a crucial time, offering a strong shield to domestic markets as the RBI chief warned of volatile forex markets driven by shifting global sentiments,” he added.The policy is distinctly positive for bond markets and well-capitalized Banks and NBFCs, which benefit from targeted hedging subsidies and systemic stability, according to Archit Doshi, Senior Vice President at PL (Prabhudas Lilladher) AMC. “Conversely, one should be underweight rate-sensitive sectors, which remain highly vulnerable to margin compression, higher inflation expectations, and the threat of the RBI reaching its tightening tipping point,” he said.Rajeev Radhakrishnan, CFA, CIO of Fixed Income at SBI Mutual Fund, also said that the announcements aimed at enabling more dollar inflows are more significant in the near term, even though the overall policy stance has been broadly in line with expectations. “The concessional swap facility should help stabilise short end market rates and the foreign exchange market in the near term,” he said.For equities and debt markets, the measures to attract FII inflows are supportive of liquidity and inflows, while for the rupee, they signal a clear intent to anchor expectations and reduce volatility amid global oil shocks and sustained foreign selling pressure, said Ajit Mishra, Senior VP of Research at Religare Broking.Sachin Bajaj, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Max Life Insurance, also said that the initiatives are expected to support capital inflows, deepen domestic bond markets, and provide support to the Indian rupee over the short to medium term.RBI’s hawkish tone and the Indian stock marketWhile the measures taken to attract FII inflows in the debt market will likely provide short-term support for Dalal Street, analysts advised caution over the RBI’s hawkish policy stance. While the RBI maintained its policy repo rate as per expectations, the tone was much more cautious than in previous meetings.Sachin Bajaj highlighted that the policy emphasised preserving macroeconomic stability amid the prevailing global macroeconomic environment. “We believe there are significant risks to inflation in the coming months due to the pass-through of higher commodity prices to consumers and elevated food prices resulting from a below-normal monsoon. Going forward, there is a risk of an upward revision in inflation projections, and given the evolving global backdrop, we believe the RBI is likely to maintain a prudent, data-dependent approach. Future policy actions will be contingent on evolving growth-inflation dynamics and global developments,” he added.Also read: Explained: Sebi's Rs 15.15 lakh crore revenue inflation allegations against Rajesh ExportsWhile hawkish rhetoric without an accompanying rate hike provides a temporary respite for equity markets, it does not constitute an unequivocal endorsement of investment, particularly in highly rate-sensitive sectors such as real estate, automotive, and consumer discretionary goods, said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director, Head of Equities at Waterfield Advisors.“Should inflation necessitate a rate increase later this year, these sectors are likely to experience pressure on both margins and demand. For investors, the current strategy emphasises capital preservation by focusing on high-quality equities with strong pricing power. This cautious approach is designed to navigate the prevailing geopolitical uncertainties until conditions stabilise,” the analyst added.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Sightsavers India opens 2026 fellowship for ophthalmologists

The 18-month programme is designed to equip early-career ophthalmologists with advanced clinical, surgical, and leadership skills while preparing them to deliver quality eye care in areas of high need

Zorawar tank: The made-in-India war machine built to dominate China on the LAC

India's defence industry has achieved a significant milestone with the indigenous Zorawar light tank, developed in just 19 months for high-altitude Himalayan warfare. Designed to counter China's Type 15, this 25-tonne tank boasts a 105mm gun and advanced missile capabilities. The army plans an initial order of 59 units, with induction expected in 2027.

Nagpur Boys Steal Taps Worth Rs 6.5 Lakh To Buy iPhones For Girlfriends

Luxury designer taps worth Rs 6.5 lakh.

Sealed Windows, Limited Escape Options: Official Explains How Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire Turned Deadly

The building's design made it extremely difficult for occupants to escape, as the structure was completely sealed, accorduing to an official.

'Drones a decisive force': Army chief details how India is boosting defence capabilities | Exclusive

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi also said the army’s restructuring is designed to deliver more decisive battlefield outcomes.

IndiGo suspends ops to 6 int'l destinations

IndiGo has announced the temporary suspension of flights to six international destinations as it adjusts its network amid softer travel demand and rising operational costs.The airline said the move is part of a broader network optimisation strategy aimed at matching capacity with current market conditions while maintaining operational efficiency.Which International Routes Has IndiGo Suspended?According to the airline, services to the following destinations will be temporarily suspended:Hong KongShanghaiHo Chi Minh CityLangkawiKrabiSiem ReapFlights to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Langkawi and Krabi will be suspended from July 1, while services to Siem Reap will be paused from July 3.Read more: HSBC says Asia's largest slum could soon have metro stations, green spaces & 125,000 new homesThe suspension is expected to remain in place until September 30.Why Has IndiGo Suspended These Flights?IndiGo said the decision was driven by a combination of softer seasonal demand and a challenging operating environment.The airline noted that the upcoming quarter typically witnesses lower travel demand, especially on certain international routes.At the same time, airlines continue to face increased operational expenses, making it necessary to review network deployment.In a statement, IndiGo said: "These measured changes are designed to align capacity with current market conditions and demand trends, while ensuring the airline maintains reliability and network integrity across its global destinations."Will IndiGo Restart These Routes?Yes. The airline has confirmed that bookings for all affected routes will reopen from October 1, subject to an improvement in market conditions.IndiGo also stated that it remains prepared to restore services earlier if demand improves and operational conditions become more favourable.Airspace Restrictions Continue To Affect AirlinesApart from rising costs, airlines are also dealing with continuing airspace restrictions that have impacted flight operations and route planning.Several carriers globally have been forced to adjust schedules, reroute aircraft and review international networks due to changing geopolitical and operational challenges.IndiGo said it will continue monitoring the situation closely before making further decisions regarding these routes.IndiGo Retains More Than 1,800 Weekly International FlightsDespite the temporary suspension of six destinations, IndiGo said its international network remains largely intact.The airline continues to operate more than 1,800 international flights every week across its global network.This allows the carrier to maintain strong international connectivity while adjusting capacity where demand is currently weaker.What Does This Mean For Travellers?Passengers planning trips to the affected destinations between July and September may need to consider alternative airlines or adjust their travel plans.However, travellers heading to other international destinations served by IndiGo are unlikely to see any major disruption, as the airline has retained the majority of its overseas operations.The move highlights how airlines are increasingly balancing demand, operating costs and network efficiency as global travel patterns continue to evolve.IndiGo Focuses On Network OptimisationThe temporary suspension reflects a broader trend in the aviation industry, where airlines are becoming more flexible in managing capacity.Rather than operating flights with lower demand, carriers are increasingly redeploying aircraft to stronger-performing routes and adjusting schedules based on market conditions.For IndiGo, the strategy is aimed at protecting profitability while ensuring reliable operations across its growing domestic and international network.Inputs from PTI

RBI issues compounding order for FEMA violations in Myntra Designs case

The order, involving a one-time payment of ₹2.88 lakh, has been passed following a ‘no objection’ from the ED