Strong hybrid vehicle sales grew 62.5% in the June quarter, driven by the Uttar Pradesh government's incentives. In contrast, electric vehicle sales have stalled due to range anxiety and costs. Manufacturers are now exploring alternative technologies, such as hybrids and flex-fuel, to bridge the gap. The Indian EV infrastructure remains a work in progress.
Indian women are increasingly joining programs to enhance their chances of securing corporate board positions. These programs, run by academic and private organisations, offer essential skills and networking. Although women's representation on boards has grown since the Companies Act 2013, challenges in diversity and inclusion continue to persist. Specialized technological understanding is crucial for effective board decisions.
The Centre introduced the Unified Pension Scheme offering central govt employees a guaranteed pension of half their average basic salary of the last 12 months for 25 years of service. Effective April 1, 2025, the scheme is fully funded and indexed to inflation, aiming to address concerns over the old pension scheme.
Foreign ministers from all Central Asian countries may gather in India for the first time on August 28-29 to discuss effective counterterrorism strategies and connectivity projects. The meeting is likely to focus on the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port, with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan already sending consignments to India.
Anthony Fauci has been infected by West Nile virus. The former White House medical adviser was hospitalized.
S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite will look to perform in green as all eyes will be on Nvidia, Apple and Tesla, small caps and regional banks' stocks.
