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Bapatla SP distributes protective kits to traffic police personnel, aims for 20% accident reduction

Kurnool SP distributes summer kits to traffic police personnel

Cooking oils: India sets standard packing

Bengaluru: India has ordered cooking oil ​makers and importers ​to sell their products only in ​a fixed set of pack sizes, a move the government said on Saturday would help shoppers compare prices ‌across brands ⁠more ⁠easily.The order targets a common pricing tactic in the ​world's most populous nation, where oils sold in odd, ​non-standard sizes leave buyers unable to tell which brand offers the best value for a ​kitchen staple.Read more: Consumer sector beats expectations but faces commodity crunch from Q2, warns BofA SecuritiesHere are the details:⁠Packaging will ‌be limited to nine standard ​sizes ​ranging from 200 millilitres to 20 ⁠litres, replacing the varied volumes currently available.​The rules apply to both domestically ​produced and imported edible oils, and cover major varieties including palm, soybean, sunflower, mustard and groundnut.Companies have been given three months to switch to the new sizes.131552264Packages ‌that declare their contents by volume must also state the equivalent weight, ​a step ​the government ⁠said would further aid price comparison.Containers smaller than 200 millilitres and minor edible oils have been ​exempted to keep affordable small packs on shelves.Read more: RBI says 4% inflation target not in abeyance; future rate action tied to price persistenceThe decision followed consultations with industry associations representing nearly 90% of India's edible oil sector, the Department of Consumer Affairs said.

Mumbai Watermelon Deaths: Poison Found In Fruit But Not In Kitchen, Utensils Or Food, New Forensic Tests Reveal

Zinc phosphide was present in the watermelon and the viscera — but nowhere else in the kitchen. Every surface, utensil and food item tested clean.

RBI's inflation worries move beyond the kitchen

IRCTC disables 3cr user IDs, flags 6cr; scales up AI-based kitchen monitoring

IRCTC has taken significant steps to combat ticket booking fraud by deactivating over three crore suspicious user IDs and placing another six crore under verification. To enhance food safety, the railway's catering arm has expanded its AI-based kitchen monitoring system, utilizing over 2,300 cameras to detect hygiene violations.

IRCTC flags 9 crore user accounts, expands AI monitoring across railway kitchens

IRCTC has taken decisive action against ticket booking fraud, deactivating over three crore suspicious user IDs and verifying six crore more. Simultaneously, an AI-powered kitchen monitoring system, utilizing 2,394 cameras, now oversees 800 kitchens, detecting nine types of hygiene issues to ensure food quality for millions of passengers.

Kitchen in rooms, hospitals next door: Why Delhi's deadly inn was popular among foreigners

Kitchen in rooms, hospitals next door: Why Delhi's deadly inn was popular among foreigners

Malviya Nagar Fire: What Led To The Delhi Blaze That Left Over 20 Dead? What We Know So Far

Investigators are examining whether an electrical fault, a kitchen-related accident or another technical failure may have triggered the fire.

Dharwad: As schools reopen, students welcomed with sweets, flowers, and kits

Thiruvananthapuram Corporation launches ‘Mayor Care’

Mayor V.V. Rajesh inaugurates distribution of school kits for students

Food Regulator Seeks Explanation From Blinkit On Bad Quality Curd Complaint

The complainant allegedly developed diarrhoea shortly after consumption of the curd.

Blinkit in FSSAI crosshairs over curd complaint

From Kitchen To Secretariat: Rise And Fall Of Dulal Pegu & Questions Haunting Assam’s Assembly

Reports allege Dulal Pegu's association with public life began not within the bureaucracy but as a cook at the residence of former Majuli Congress MLA Malching Pegu

How Middle East conflict is rewriting your kitchen math — Explained in 10 charts

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are directly impacting household budgets, driving up prices for everyday essentials like cooking oil, milk, and bread. Soaring global crude oil prices and a weakening rupee are increasing import, fuel, and transportation costs, leading to a domino effect on consumer goods and even healthcare services.

Zepto shares crash 30% in unlisted market despite Sebi nod for IPO. What's cooking?

The unlisted shares of Zepto Limited have fallen nearly 30% over the past month despite the company securing regulatory approval for its IPO, highlighting growing caution among investors amid volatile market conditions.Zepto's shares, which were changing hands at around Rs 52 in the unlisted market a month ago, have dropped to about Rs 40, according to dealers tracking pre-IPO transactions.The decline comes even as the quick commerce startup recently received approval from Sebi to launch its much-awaited public issue. The company had taken the confidential route to file the DRHP but may soon file its papers publicly in June, according to Bloomberg.Analysts said the fall reflects weakness in the unlisted market and a broader reassessment of valuations rather than any company-specific development. The company is being valued at around Rs 38,000 crore in the dealer market.Several companies that had planned public offerings this year have either delayed listings or adopted a wait-and-watch approach because of volatility in equity markets, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around investor demand.The benchmark Nifty has remained under pressure for much of 2026, while foreign institutional investors have continued to remain cautious on Indian equities amid concerns over crude oil prices, global growth and the earnings outlook.The weakness in the secondary market for pre-IPO shares has also affected several startup names, with investors becoming more selective on valuations after a strong rally in the segment over the past two years.Zepto is preparing for a public market debut that could raise around $1.3 billion, or roughly Rs 11,000-12,000 crore, making it one of the largest internet IPOs since the listing of Swiggy.If the issue proceeds as planned, Zepto could become the youngest venture-backed Indian startup to enter public markets, just four years after its founding.The proposed offering is expected to comprise a substantial fresh issue of around Rs 11,000 crore along with an offer-for-sale component by existing investors.The IPO assumes significance because it comes amid intensifying competition in India's fast-growing quick commerce sector.Zepto competes with Blinkit, owned by Eternal, as well as Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Now.The listing is also expected to strengthen the company's balance sheet at a time when the quick commerce industry continues to spend aggressively on expansion, dark stores and customer acquisition.As of late last year, Zepto had around Rs 7,000 crore in cash, significantly lower than the roughly Rs 17,000-18,000 crore cash reserves reported by listed rivals Eternal and Swiggy.The company raised $450 million in October last year at a valuation of $7 billion. Following the fundraise, it accelerated customer acquisition efforts through higher discounts and promotional campaigns as competition intensified across major cities.Zepto had also completed its domicile shift from Singapore to India, a move increasingly adopted by venture-backed startups preparing for domestic listings.The company has appointed a consortium of investment bankers including Morgan Stanley, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Axis Capital, JM Financial, IIFL Securities and Motilal Oswal Financial Services to manage the public issue. The IPO is expected to hit the market in the July-September quarter of 2026.While the recent decline in the unlisted share price may reflect near-term market caution, investors will closely watch the final valuation and broader market conditions when Zepto eventually launches what is expected to be one of the year's most closely watched public offerings.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

Dozens injured after building falls on canteen in Delhi's Saidulajab

At least eight people were rescued from the debris, while four to six more, including a woman who ran the kitchen canteen, were feared trapped.

Silent Tragedy In Nagpur: Man Suffers Fatal Fall, Bedridden Wife Starves To Death In Scorching Heat

Gangadhar Bhongade, 77, a retired defence employee, slipped and fell in the kitchen, while his bedridden wife reportedly died of starvation and dehydration.

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund announces launch of its SIF platform MPOWER

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund announced the launch of ‘MPOWER SIF’ marking its entry into SEBI’s newly notified investment product called Specialized Investment Fund and reinforcing its commitment to bringing differentiated investment solutions to investors.With MPOWER SIF, Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund aims to address the evolving needs of investors, who are looking to complement their existing mutual funds with products that use derivatives and other tools to create different risk return outcomes.Also Read | Smallcap valuations turn favourable as correction creates fresh opportunities: Bajaj Finserv AMC The fund house aims to provide a client experience that seeks to meet the investors aspiration, whilst remaining true to the core premise of creating investment outcomes that are consistent and meaningful.“The launch of MPOWER SIF is a significant step forward in expanding our product suite. As investors and their goals and aspirations evolve over time, there is a clear requirement for investment solutions that offer greater flexibility and use the entire range of tools available to deliver consistent outcomes. This approach is complemented by an investment team with extensive experience anchored by a sound risk management framework,” said Anthony Heredia, MD & CEO, Mahindra Manulife Investment Management.Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund intends to roll out a range of differentiated strategies under MPOWER SIF across equity, hybrid, and fixed income categories, aligned with regulatory guidelines and investor suitability.“MPOWER SIF gives us the flexibility to design more agile and outcome-oriented portfolios by leveraging a wider investment toolkit. This platform will enable us to combine fundamental research with tactical allocation strategies, with the objective of delivering superior risk-adjusted returns across market cycles. We believe it is well suited for investors seeking a more nuanced approach to portfolio construction,” said Krishna Sanghavi, Chief Investment Officer - Equity, Mahindra Manulife Investment Management.Also Read | Should senior citizens continue investing in equity mutual funds after retirement? Expert explainsThe SIF category offers strategies that go beyond conventional Mutual Funds, including long-short approaches, derivatives-based strategies, and more focused portfolio construction, catering to investors seeking a different approach to meeting their investment goals.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in alongwith your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.

RBI warns West Asia war may hit India growth

Mumbai: A prolonged West Asia conflict represents a key downside risk to India's economic outlook according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), even as it projected a lower real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.9% for 2026-27 in its annual report compared with 7.6% estimated for the previous financial year.The central bank said the impact of the conflict is likely to remain contained in the near term but warned that an escalation could derail India's otherwise positive growth trajectory."Going forward, India's growth outlook remains positive, though the West Asia conflict and the attendant risks of elevated energy prices, supply chain disruptions, financial market volatility, uncertainty surrounding global trade policies and weather-related disruptions could pose headwinds to growth and inflation in the short run," the Reserve Bank said.Also Read: Iran war - PSBs asked to stay preparedPositive Macro OutlookIt listed healthy corporate and bank balance sheets, government's continued thrust on capital expenditure and the implementation of trade agreements with key partners as positives to help sustain investment and growth momentum."Nevertheless, in a highly uncertain global environment, continuous assessment of the evolving developments is warranted to frame the appropriate policy response on an ongoing basis," the report said.131398139The central bank said that although portfolio flows exhibited a net outflow in 2025-26, strong buffers in the form of ample foreign exchange reserves and modest external debt liabilities continue to impart strength to the external sector, contributing to overall macroeconomic and financial stability.Adequate food grain stocks, sufficient reservoir levels and stable agricultural prospects despite possible El Nino conditions and above-normal summer temperature will keep inflation aligned to the target in 2026-27, according to the RBI. However, upside risks may emanate from a surge in global fuel and commodity prices amid geopolitical tensions, potential spillovers to input and wage costs and volatility in exchange rates.Also Read: India-US trade pact may be weeks away - US Ambassador to India Sergio GorThe central bank projected consumer price inflation for 2026-27 at 4.6%, with risks tilted to the upside, significantly higher than its revised estimate of 3.7% for the previous fiscal.Pressure on BondsDomestic bond yields could face upward pressure if the global monetary easing cycle stalls or reverses in response to persistent oil price shocks amid fragile conditions in West Asia, it said.Geopolitical risk has re-emerged as the dominant drag on global growth in 2026, according to the RBI. "In IMF's baseline scenario, the global economy is projected to grow by 3.1% in 2026 (as against the earlier projection of 3.3% in January), while global merchandise and services trade volume is expected to decelerate to 2.8% in 2026. Further intensification of the conflict, its prolongation or widening geographical spread, if any, remain the key downside risks to the global economic outlook," the report said."However, the government's commitment to fiscal consolidation, along with the liquidity injection measures by the Reserve Bank, is expected to contain the upward pressure on yields. Equity market dynamics would be conditioned by evolving geopolitical developments, global financial market volatility and foreign portfolio investment flows; a deterioration in risk sentiment alongside strengthening of the US dollar could trigger capital outflows," said the RBI's annual report. "At the same time, ongoing efforts to expand local currency settlement framework are expected to further advance rupee based cross-border transactions."