The Economic Times

Energy giant Chevron is expected to announce its expansion plans in Venezuela soon. Company officials and the Energy Secretary will visit Venezuela on Wednesday for this unveiling. This announcement follows Washington confirming a partnership to utilize Venezuelan oil production. The US government is actively pursuing initiatives to boost Venezuela's output. These developments signal a significant shift in energy sector engagement.

India plans to construct 100 new airports over the next decade. This expansion aims to enhance regional air connectivity under the UDAN scheme. The government will invest approximately thirty thousand crore rupees for this ambitious project. Civil aviation is identified as the nation's fastest-growing economic sector. The hub-and-spoke model is being adopted to improve passenger convenience.

Banks are increasingly selecting microfinance institutions for loans instead of individual borrowers, leading to a reclassification of microfinance loans as part of retail portfolios. Despite this trend, non-banking financial companies focused on microfinance (NBFC-MFIs) received considerable debt support from banks recently. However, the overall microfinance sector saw a decline in its borrower base, with higher loan amounts being distributed to a lesser number of borrowers.

Meghalaya is developing a creative economy focused on film production and digital content. The state's Film Tourism Policy 2025 offers incentives for productions and local talent. Its OTT platform 'Hello Meghalaya' supports regional content creators and their monetization. Bollywood professionals expressed interest in Meghalaya's locations and emerging creative pool. This strategy aims to create a comprehensive creative value chain for economic growth.

MyBranch has launched its coworking spaces in eight cities across Northeast India, offering an impressive 40,000 square feet of adaptable work environments. In response to the growing demand for flexible business solutions, this expansion allows firms to quickly set up local teams and operations. More organizations are favoring these efficient spaces over traditional office settings, unlocking new opportunities for regional growth and diversity.

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank appointed Carol Furtado as interim chief executive officer. This appointment follows the sudden resignation of MD and CEO Sanjeev Nautiyal. Nautiyal stepped down from his position citing health grounds and requested early retirement. The Reserve Bank of India has approved Furtado's interim appointment for three months. The bank will now begin the process to find a permanent successor.

Coal India's August production saw a 5.7 percent decrease compared to last year. However, the company's coal offtake rose by 5.5 percent during the same period. Cumulative output between April and August also declined by 4.5 percent. Supplies to the power sector grew, and non-power sector supplies increased. The company is preparing to ramp up production as the rainy season ends.

Five small-cap mutual funds recorded Sharpe ratios above 0.75, indicating strong risk-adjusted performance. Bandhan Small Cap Fund led with a ratio of 1, followed by ITI, Invesco India, Mahindra Manulife and Bank of India Small Cap Fund.

Suman Ray will assume the role of Executive Director at the Reserve Bank of India. His appointment is effective from September 1, 2026, as announced by the central bank. Previously, Ray served as the Regional Director for Maharashtra and has extensive experience. He will now oversee the Department of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation. Ray brings over three decades of dedicated service to the RBI.

Samir Arora-backed Helios Mutual Funds AUM crossed Rs 15,000 crore in August 2026, growing 200% year-on-year. Equity schemes account for over 95% of assets, reflecting strong investor confidence despite volatile markets and the fund houses expanding distribution network across India.

An employee earning Rs 50,000 as monthly basic salary can build a substantial retirement corpus through regular EPF contributions and compound interest.

Five debt mutual funds delivered higher one-year returns than conventional fixed deposits, led by Bank of India Credit Risk Fund with a 17.68% return. Aditya Birla Sun Life Credit Risk Fund, DSP Credit Risk Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Plan and Bandhan Gilt Fund also featured among the top performers.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), representing over 90% of Indias banking workforce, has announced strikes on September 11 and September 28-30, followed by an indefinite strike from October 26 if its demands are not resolved.

TVS Motor Companys total sales rose 21% year-on-year to 6.17 lakh units in August 2026. Two-wheeler EV sales surged 137% to 59,453 units, while international sales grew 29% and three-wheeler sales increased 34%.

ITR deadline: By the end of August 31, 2026, over 7.8 crore individuals completed their income tax return submissions. Those who did not file on time have until December 31, 2026, to submit a belated ITR, incurring possible late fees. Notably, failing to meet this deadline also prevents taxpayers from opting out of the new tax regime, with business income earners unable to revert to the old regime post-deadline.

Ashok Leyland reported a significant 38 percent year-on-year increase in total sales for August 2026. Domestic sales saw a substantial rise of nearly 43 percent during the same period. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales in the domestic market grew by 55 percent. This growth reflects strong performance in the commercial vehicle sector for the company. The company's total sales reached 21,038 units in August 2026.

India's power consumption rose 12.85 percent in August, reaching 169.01 billion units. High humidity levels increased cooling appliance usage across many regions. Peak power demand also jumped to 258.27 GW last month. Experts predict steady power demand through September due to continued humid conditions. Projected weather patterns may further influence power demand and consumption.

8th Pay Commission news: The Department of Personnel and Training is advocating for revisions to the Terms of Reference for the 8th Pay Commission. Employee associations are urging the inclusion of pension revisions for those who retired before January 1, 2026. Historically, previous pay commissionsnamely the 7th, 6th, 5th, and 4thhave had their Terms of Reference modified by the government to address various concerns, including extended coverage and scope.

Indian authorities raided an illegal operation in Mumbai last week. They seized nearly eighty thousand dollars worth of faked food export products. This illicit warehouse systematically altered expiry dates and nutritional information. Popular brands like PepsiCo and Nestle were among those affected. The investigation highlights ongoing challenges in food safety enforcement.

Nissan India reported a 147% domestic sales increase in August. Sustained demand for Magnite and Gravite models boosted these volumes. The newly launched Tekton SUV also contributed to the automaker's strong performance. Nissan began exporting the Tekton to South Africa, Bhutan, and Nepal. These exports align with the company's global manufacturing and export strategy.

BookMyShow Live has invested in Belgian company Stageco's staging equipment. This move expands their production infrastructure for large-scale concerts and festivals. The new equipment will be deployed across Indian cities in the coming months. This investment supports India's growing live events market and global touring productions. BookMyShow Live aims to own reusable production assets for future events.

HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan will depart after his term ends next month. New chairman Rajiv Kumar sought aggressive changes and executive replacements. Jagdishan resisted some proposals and decided not to seek reappointment. The bank now faces a swift search for a new leader. This departure adds to recent turmoil and stock market struggles.

Sumadhura Group has acquired 52 acres in Red Hills, North Chennai, for a 400 crore Grade A industrial and logistics park. The project will offer 1.2 million sq ft of warehousing space, create around 2,500 jobs and is expected to be completed by December 2028. The expansion comes as Chennais Grade A warehousing demand grows, with 4.1 million sq ft absorbed in H1 2026.

HSBC Mutual Fund's RedHex Hybrid Long-Short Fund has impressively reached a whopping Rs 1,000 crore in assets under management within just two months. This unique investment strategy has drawn in nearly 1,950 individual investor folios, providing an innovative blend of fixed income, equity arbitrage, REITs, and INVITs aimed at optimizing risk-adjusted returns. The fund's rapid growth illustrates an increasing interest in diverse mutual fund options.

Today's gold rate: On September 1, 2026, gold prices dipped slightly in major Indian cities, with notable jewelry chains like Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers, and Joyalukkas maintaining stable rates for 22k gold. Furthermore, the India Bullion and Jewellers Association released updated pricing for numerous gold purities. Alongside, silver also observed a decrease compared to the previous day's close, reflecting current market trends.

ALPA India highlights pilot attrition as a critical flight safety concern for Air India Group. The association urges the Tata Group to review pilot retention and working conditions. Experienced pilots are considered valuable safety assets, not just manpower. Fleet transitions require robust training and careful management of cockpit experience. An independent review is requested to assess safety systems and pilot well-being.

All 219 equity mutual funds delivered positive SIP XIRRs over the last five years, with 165 funds generating double-digit returns. HSBC Midcap Fund topped the list with a 22.70% XIRR, while ITI Small Cap Fund and Bandhan Small Cap Fund followed closely. The analysis highlights how disciplined SIP investing can compound wealth over time.

NRIs have the opportunity to gift money to their Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) without incurring immediate tax obligations. However, it's important to note that any income generated from these gifted amounts will be taxable for the NRI donor. The HUF must diligently keep records of all transactions as this documentation is essential in proving the legitimacy and source of the gift, ensuring NRIs avoid potential tax disputes in the future.

Indias premium mattress buyers are moving beyond size, price and firmness to ask about foam density, pressure relief and durability. Circadia, the premium sleep brand from 50-year-old Mumbai based manufacturer Foam Home, argues that the harder advantage in a digital market is manufacturing depth: structural design, materials expertise and the ability to explain both.

Maruti Suzuki crossed 1 million units in cumulative sales during the first five months of FY27, while Hyundai Motor India reported its highest-ever August domestic sales, rising 23.6% year-on-year. Tata Motors also posted strong commercial vehicle growth, with domestic sales up 33%. The performance highlights robust demand across Indias passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle markets in August.

India has resumed talks with Zambia to explore investment opportunities in critical minerals. Officials from India's Ministry of Mines held preliminary discussions with Zambian officials recently. India is also evaluating investment opportunities in several other countries for mineral supplies. The nation seeks raw materials to meet rising demand from its growing economy. Africa, and Zambia specifically, can play an important role in meeting India's needs.

Maruti Suzuki reported a 21.3% rise in total sales for August 2026. Domestic passenger vehicle sales drove this significant growth, increasing by 34.8%. Utility vehicles were the primary growth driver, with sales surging 46.3% in the period. Exports saw a decline of 7.4% during the same month. The company crossed one million units sold within the first five months of FY27.

Driven professionals can acquire vital business acumen without disrupting their careers. An online MBA offers the necessary flexibility for those who wish to elevate their career trajectories. This degree fine-tunes analytical and managerial skills ready for immediate application in the workplace. OP Jindal Global Universitys online MBA provides both academic recognition and hands-on learning experiences, enabling professionals to earn while they study.

Tata Motors reported a forty-nine percent growth in total commercial vehicle sales. Domestic commercial vehicle sales increased by thirty-three percent in the same period. International business volumes saw a substantial two hundred twenty-seven percent year-on-year growth. This performance reflects strong market demand for their commercial vehicles. The company announced these sales figures on Tuesday.

Railways has approved the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0 across 712 route kilometres in the Moradabad Division. The rollout will strengthen railway safety infrastructure through the indigenous Automatic Train Protection system. Kavach 4.0 provides an additional safety layer for train operations, helping prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), automatically apply brakes when required and control train speed in critical situations.

InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy are merging to create an AI-enabled insurance distribution platform with over 6,600 crore in premiums, 600,000+ digital partners and coverage across 98.57% of Indias pincodes. The combined business will operate under the InsuranceDekho brand, with Ankit Agrawal as CEO, and will offer motor, health, life and commercial insurance products.

India's insurance regulator is proposing a Public Insurance Registry for data sharing. This digital infrastructure will connect insurers, intermediaries, and policyholders for better underwriting. Policyholders can view all their policies and make common service requests easily. Insurers will gain access to anonymized industry-wide claims data for analysis. The registry aims to improve transparency and facilitate informed, low-cost insurance purchases.

ET Wealth Reader's Query: I would like to understand what happens to my rights over inherited agricultural land in India if I acquire foreign citizenship. Will I still be able to inherit my familys agricultural land, and are there any restrictions on holding, transferring, or disposing of such property after becoming a foreign citizen?

Tata Elxsi and Sarla Aviation will collaborate on India's first indigenous electric aircraft. The Shunya eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry six passengers and one pilot. This partnership will accelerate the development of flight-critical systems for the new aircraft. Sarla Aviation targets the Shunya's first flight within the next eighteen to twenty-four months. The collaboration aims to advance urban air mobility and related applications.

Frustrated with repeated water leakage issue in top floor flat homeowner requested building to appoint Dr Fixit and Asian paints to fix it; Karnataka RERA directs builder to permanently fix defects at its own cost. Read the article to know how the homebuyer partly won the case.

DDEL is the leading industrial pipe fabrication player in India and among the top five globally. It welds steel, stainless steel and other alloy pipes of different diameters for applications across multiple sectors.

India's UPI processed transactions near record highs in August, reaching 29.8 lakh crore. The platform handled a fresh record of 24.51 billion transactions, a significant jump from July. This impressive performance was bolstered by festive activity and expanding consumer adoption across the nation. Industry experts highlight the importance of resilient digital infrastructure for continued growth.

As part of the engagement, Beicip-Franlab will undertake seismic interpretation, geological and reservoir studies, prospect ranking, resource assessment and field development planning across priority assets, including new and existing fields like Hazarigaon and Rudra in Northeast.

An IndiGo flight bound for Delhi returned to Goa after takeoff. A technical issue was detected in one of the aircraft's engines shortly after departure. The pilots followed standard procedures and safely landed the plane back at Manohar International Airport. The aircraft is currently undergoing necessary maintenance checks and repairs. Operations will resume after all required safety clearances are secured.

Central government employees may receive arrears from January 1, 2026, after the 7th Pay Commission's term ended on December 31, 2025. But the eventual arrears could depend on when the 8th Pay Commission is implemented.

A motor insurance claim was rejected by HDFC General Insurance over driver's license concerns. The West Bengal Consumer Commission found insufficient evidence of deliberate policy violation. The insurer was directed to pay Rs 3.5 lakh with interest and Rs 1 lakh compensation. The commission emphasized that a fake license does not automatically absolve insurers of liability. Policyholders must exercise reasonable care when hiring drivers for their vehicles.

Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 42% jump in total vehicle sales. SUV sales grew fifty percent year-on-year in the domestic market. The company sold over one lakh vehicles including exports in August. Commercial vehicle domestic sales also registered a 22% growth.

HFCL has secured a significant export order valued at USD 244 million. This agreement is for supplying high-quality optical fibre cables to a global corporation. The supply contract spans three years, concluding in December 2029. Deliveries are scheduled to commence from the calendar year 2027 onwards. This order follows previous export wins for the telecom gear manufacturer.

The estimated dearness allowance for central government employees has soared to 64%, driven by the July 2026 AICPI-IW reading of 153.2. This index, compiled monthly by the Labour Bureau from retail price data across India, leads to a biannual revision of DA in January and June. Final details regarding the salary increase will be revealed following the government's official announcement.