Mint Podcast

EPF is a great retirement savings tool, but many people struggle with withdrawals due to account errors. In this episode, we break down the 5 key checks you must do to ensure your EPF account is correct and hassle-free!Topics Covered:✔️ How to log in and check your EPF details✔️ Verifying your personal and employment details✔️ Ensuring proper fund transfers & consolidation✔️ Checking your EPS eligibility and contributions✔️ Updating KYC and bank details for smooth withdrawalsAvoid EPF Withdrawal Problems! Watch till the end to secure your savings.

Watch the full episode on YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmaPoEbt-cU&t=10s

This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started.

📉 Market Holiday

A reminder: Indian stock markets are closed today, April 10, for Mahavir Jayanti. Trading resumes tomorrow.

🌍 Global Trade Truce — Or Just a Timeout?

In a dramatic turn, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on new tariffs and rolled back the “reciprocal tariff” rate to 10% for most non-China trade partners. “No other president would’ve done what I did,” Trump declared, defending his hardline strategy that’s rocked global markets.

But China wasn’t spared — tariffs on Beijing were jacked up to 125%, with Trump accusing China of “disrespecting” world markets. China retaliated swiftly, slapping 84% tariffs on US goods. The EU and Canada also joined the tit-for-tat, announcing new levies.

Markets cheered the truce — or at least the pause. Wall Street roared:

• S&P 500 jumped 9.5%

• Nasdaq surged 12%

• Dow climbed nearly 3,000 points

Over 30 billion shares changed hands, making it the busiest trading day ever. Still, with talks expected to drag and China still targeted, this could just be the eye of the storm.

🏦 RBI Cuts Rates as Growth Wobbles

Amid the global chaos, the Reserve Bank of India cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 6%, the second such move this year. More notably, it shifted its policy stance to “accommodative”, signaling further support if the economy slows.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra warned of mounting uncertainties, with India’s FY26 growth forecast cut to 6.5% from 6.7%.

Why now? Trump’s tariff war threatens global demand. While India’s inflation is cooling (below 4%), the rupee faces pressure as China devalues the yuan, risking India’s export competitiveness. Oil prices have dropped to $60 per barrel, but a currency war could be next. RBI’s “managed float” strategy may soon be tested like never before.

📈 BlackRock Bets Big on Adani

In a bold endorsement, BlackRock — the world’s largest asset manager — picked up nearly one-third of a $1 billion bond issue by Adani Group’s promoter firm, Renew Exim.

Despite a lingering US bribery case involving Adani promoters, BlackRock’s entry signals investor confidence. Most of the proceeds will fund Adani’s ₹5,000 crore acquisition of ITD Cementation, with the rest going toward a ₹5 trillion capex spree across green energy, ports, airports, and more.

On Wednesday, Adani closed its open offer for ITD, acquiring 21% from the public. Post-deal, Renew Exim will control 67.45% of the company.

Meanwhile, Adani Green Energy refinanced $1 billion in debt — its first major capital move since the DoJ allegations, proving the group is not just navigating headwinds but accelerating through them.

⚡ JSW Powers Up with O2 Deal

JSW Neo Energy, a subsidiary of JSW Energy, has completed its largest-ever green acquisition, buying O2 Power for ₹12,468 crore.

Backed by EQT (51%) and Temasek (49%), O2 Power brings 4.7 GW of renewable capacity, including 1.3 GW of operational assets and a robust project pipeline.

This deal takes JSW’s total installed capacity to 12.2 GW, with renewables now forming 54%. CEO Sharad Mahendra said this move puts them “significantly ahead” of their 2030 targets.

O2’s portfolio includes 3,722 MW tied up under high-credit PPAs, with another 974 MW awaiting contracts. JSW expects strong operational synergies and a solid value payoff from the acquisition.

Take a front row seat as Mint speaks to the top real estate industry leaders on how technology is re-imagining and disrupting the industry.

Hosted by Vandana Ramnani, Editor - Real Estate, Brick by Byte explores how PropTech can impact the entire value chain, especially in areas such as price discovery, cleaner land titles, and reduction in construction timelines.Partnered with  @nucleusofficeparks6760  Watch the full episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPAmYD0CCRQ&list=PL2A-r6Y8n7poGcoyMUSK8qdRacRj7Vmsp&index=1

The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, gained on Tuesday, rebounding from steep losses witnessed in the previous session, amid positive cues from global market peers. Broader markets too rejoiced, while all sectors ended on a positive note. Investors added nearly ₹8 lakh crore on April 8th. As both the Sensex and Nifty ended the day in the green after sharp drops of 4,000 and 1,000 points on Monday, many are wondering whether this is a classic dead cat bounce or is the cat alive, kicking, and ready for a few more leaps?In this exclusive interview, Nilesh Shah, the MD of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd while talking to Abhishek Singh, Deputy Editor of Mint shares his insights into how the Indian markets and the economy are placed after Sensex and Nifty fell by 4000 and 1000 points respectively on Monday, 7th April.

Watch the full episode on YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuFhr8eYgFs&list=PL2A-r6Y8n7prviOoxUrtbPs4XgX8AovG1&index=2&t=117s

Bandhan Life is among a very few life insurance companies which sell a higher number of term insurance plans than ULIPs or traditional policies. They sell term plans to self-employed too. In an interview with Mint, Satishwar B, Managing Director and CEO, Bandhan Life, sheds light on difference between term and other life insurance products and how to expand its coverage for better protection of Indian families.

This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started.

US-China Tariff War Escalates

The US-China trade tensions hit a boiling point as the White House confirmed a 104% tariff on Chinese imports, effective April 9. While President Trump says he’s “waiting for China’s call,” Beijing isn’t backing down, calling the move “blackmail.” Global markets, oddly, bounced back slightly on hopes of negotiations—but signs of a resolution remain slim.

Apple’s Satcom Partner Eyes India

Globalstar, the satellite partner behind Apple’s emergency SOS feature, has applied to enter India’s growing satellite market. With just 31 satellites compared to Starlink’s 7,000+, Globalstar is eyeing a niche play. But competition is heating up, with players like Jio, OneWeb, and Amazon Kuiper racing for spectrum. India’s satcom sector could grow nearly 10x by 2028.

BoAt Sets Sail for IPO—Again

India’s popular wearables brand BoAt is gearing up for a ₹2,000 crore IPO. After shelving its 2022 plans, the company has confidentially filed papers under SEBI’s revised norms. The issue includes a ₹900 crore fresh issue and ₹1,100 crore offer-for-sale. Proceeds will fund R&D, product upgrades, and debt reduction—potentially making this one of the year’s most anticipated listings.

India’s Big Shipbuilding Ambition

India is charting a new course in shipbuilding, teaming up with South Korea’s Hyundai and Japan’s Mitsui. Cochin Shipyard is close to sealing a deal for a new Kochi facility, with land provided by the government. The goal? Boost India’s share in the $100 billion global shipbuilding market from less than 1% to a top-5 position by 2047, backed by a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund.

Apollo Hospitals Bets Big on NCD Care

Apollo Hospitals is investing ₹6,000 crore to expand its urban footprint and fight India’s rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The two-phase plan will add 3,500 beds across cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai. Apollo’s “Health of the Nation” report reveals 27% of 2.5 million screened individuals had multiple NCD risk factors. The healthcare giant is pushing for nationwide screening and preventive school health programs.

On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries, along with increased tariff rates on multiple nations running trade surpluses with the United States, potentially disrupting the global economic structure and sparking broader trade conflicts. Speaking at the White House, Trump displayed a chart illustrating the new tariff rates: 34% on imports from China, 20% on the European Union, 25% on South Korea, 24% on Japan, and 26% on India. He noted that India faces a 26% "discounted" tariff, while it imposes a 52% tariff on U.S. goods. For insights into India’s response to these tariffs, watch Hindustan Times' Abhishek Singh in conversation with Executive Editor Shishir Gupta.

Watch the full episode on YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Can3jAVm_HE&list=PL2A-r6Y8n7prviOoxUrtbPs4XgX8AovG1&index=4&t=173s

Retirement or long-term savings are on most people's mind, especially considering the uncertain environment and inflation right now.

Many go with simplistic calculations like the 4% withdrawal rule to check how much corpus they need to accumulate. However, these calculations have some basic flaws. In this episode, Mint Money editor Neil Borate offers an alternate solution - one that runs several simulations to check if your corpus will sustain you. Here's the link for the calculator mentioned in the video: https://samasthiti.in/retirement-calculator/

This is Nelson John, and I'll bring you the top business and tech stories, let's get started. 

India’s Markets, Oil, Trade & Travel: A Week of Highs and Lows

India’s stock markets were rocked this week after US President Donald Trump unleashed a wave of tariffs, sparking fears of a global trade war. The Sensex logged its worst single-day fall in 10 months—plunging nearly 3%—with mid- and small-cap stocks faring even worse. But experts say it’s more global panic than a local crisis, and history suggests such crashes are often followed by strong rebounds.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices crashed too, falling over 11% last week to a four-year low of $64.62 per barrel. That’s nearly 30% down from a year ago. The plunge is driven by weaker global demand due to trade tensions, even as oil supply surges from OPEC and US producers. For India, which imports 85% of its oil, this is a mixed blessing—cheaper crude improves the trade balance and reduces inflation, but the benefits aren’t reaching consumers yet. The government hiked excise duty by ₹2 per litre on petrol and diesel, absorbing the gain to support revenue.

India’s exports to the US are also feeling the heat. A new report warns that Trump’s tariff hike—part of his “America First” push—could shrink India’s exports by over $5.7 billion in 2025. Sectors like gems, jewellery, electronics, auto parts, and seafood are most vulnerable, with gold and electronics alone staring at losses nearing $3.5 billion. While pharma and textiles may escape unscathed, India risks losing competitiveness to countries like Mexico and Vietnam.

Adding to household pressure, LPG prices have been hiked by ₹50 starting April 8. Ujjwala beneficiaries will now pay ₹550 per cylinder, while unsubsidized customers face an ₹853 bill. The government says the excise hike on fuels won’t affect pump prices for now, but cooking gas users are feeling the pinch.

On a brighter note, India’s booming hospitality sector is gearing up for a splash in the public markets. Prestige Hospitality Ventures, a part of Prestige Group, is set to raise ₹2,000–2,500 crore via an IPO. With eight hotels currently and 15 more in the pipeline, the brand is banking on rising travel demand and luxury tie-ups to expand its footprint nationwide.

From market mayhem to IPO buzz, India’s economy is weathering shocks—with some silver linings in sight.

Artificial Intelligence or AI is the current revolution, disrupting industry like never before. On Mint's series with  @salesforce  India, we explore all aspects of how AI is impacting businesses and what it means for the workforce.In this episode Abhishek Singh, Deputy Editor, Mint is joined by technology and product leaders from Salesforce - Saloni Borar, VP, User Interface/User Experience, Vinod Shah, VP, Software Engineering, Parul Jain, VP, Software Engineering and Vaijayanth M K, VP, Product Management

Watch the full episode in YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILG_6a8XEWI