Business News

When Hina Nagarajan took over as MD & CEO of Diageo India in 2021, she faced the tough task of reviving the company after its acquisition from Vijay Mallya. With legal issues, debt, and stiff competition, Nagarajan, the first woman to lead a liquor firm in India, focused on premiumisation and innovation to turn the business around. In this exclusive cover story, BT explores how she is reshaping Diageo India. All this and more in the latest issue of Business Today, on stands now.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid out a bold vision for a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, with the goal of transforming India into a $30-trillion economy and achieving an annual per capita income of $18,000. This ambitious target requires India’s GDP to grow ninefold from today’s $3.36 trillion, while per capita income must rise eight times from the current $2,392 per year. Though these aspirations are high, India has significant tailwinds to propel it toward this goal. In this special issue of Business Today, we not only explore the key trends that could elevate India to developed nation status, but also feature insights from some of the brightest minds on how this vision can become a reality.

Fueled by soaring stock indices that are consistently reaching new highs, a surge of retail investors is flocking to the Futures & Options (F&O) segment—a part of the market known for its high risk and complex products, particularly index options. In our cover story we takes a deep dive into the challenges and risks within the F&O segment, exploring what policymakers can do to enhance safety. While F&O plays a crucial role as a hedging tool, uninformed retail investors face the real danger of getting burned by these high-risk instruments. We also bring you an in-depth report on the latest salvo from American short-seller Hindenburg Research, which was recently show-caused by India’s market regulator. In response, Hindenburg—known for triggering a $150-billion crash in Adani Group stocks with its first report in January 2023—has released a fresh report, this time targeting SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, alleging a conflict of interest in the Adani probe. Buch and SEBI have dismissed the allegations, but the opposition remains relentless. Hindenburg 2.0 has ignited a new controversy that won’t be easily extinguished. All this and more in the latest issue of Business Today, on stands now.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has a sharp focus on infrastructure creation, and cement is a sector that is now being keenly watched. The sector, which was fragmented even a few years ago, has gained momentum. Kumar Mangalam Birla-led UltraTech Cement and Gautam Adani’s Adani Group’s acquisition of Ambuja and ACC in a $10.5-billion deal have paved the way for cement to be one of the industries that would play a key part in building the India of tomorrow. The chase for increased cement capacity is leading to a wave of buyouts by both sides and consolidation in the sector. Additionally, there is a deep dive into the fine print of the Union Budget 2024-25, in which the government announced a major push for employment and skilling by way of employment-linked incentive (ELI) schemes, and support for MSMEs and the middle class. All this and more in the latest issue of BT. On stands now.

The latest high-stakes boardroom drama centers on the clash between the Burman family of Dabur and the board of the ₹6,300-crore financial services firm Religare Enterprises, specifically its Executive Chairperson, Rashmi Saluja. The Burmans are eager to acquire Religare, but Saluja and her board are fiercely resisting the takeover attempt. Adding to the intrigue is the involvement of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), making this a quintessential corporate showdown. In BT's latest cover story, we delve into the complexities of this bitter corporate battle. Can Saluja stave off the takeover? Stay tuned as this riveting story unfolds. All this and more in the latest issue of BT, now available on stands.