The Centre is planning to merge smaller public sector banks with larger banks such as Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, and SBI by FY27. Emirates NBD’s India unit is likely to acquire a 51% stake in RBL Bank. Only about 20% of stocks are cheap today, and even that comes with legitimate concerns, as 50-60% of stocks trade in an overvalued zone, said Maran Govindasamy.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Coinbase makes a fresh bet on CoinDCX at a $2.45 billion valuation, eyeing India and the Middle East as the next crypto frontier. Logistics firms race against the festive clock as Diwali deliveries go into overdrive. India to get a new credit rating agency after nearly a decade, shaking up the scorecard. And Paytm cleans house with a major internal restructuring.

LG Electronics India made a stunning stock market debut with a 50% premium — the best since Zomato’s 2021 listing — while Andhra Pradesh pulled off a major win by securing Google’s $10 billion data centre investment in Visakhapatnam through deft policy moves. Meanwhile, Piramal Finance and KKR are exploring exits from their insurance investments, the government is turning to quick commerce apps to ensure GST rate cuts reach consumers, and new EPF withdrawal rules promise more clarity but longer wait times. As Bihar gears up for elections with women voters in focus and Indians spend big on luxury overseas travel, the pre-Diwali mood is buoyant.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, get the latest from India’s tech and startup world. Google plans a $15 billion AI hub in Visakhapatnam, creating over one lakh jobs and strengthening India’s AI infrastructure. The government is tracking GST price cuts in real-time using quick-commerce platforms, ensuring festive savings reach shoppers. Meanwhile, Lenskart’s grey market valuation hits $10 billion ahead of its IPO, and BHIM reports revenue and expenditure figures after its spin-off from NPCI.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group scrambles to repay $1.2 billion in debt, India’s IPO pipeline grows with Orkla India eyeing a billion-dollar listing, Pegatron expands its India footprint, the government weighs big insurance reforms, and Delhi records its cleanest October air in nearly a decade. All this and more in today’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Interview with Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu who talks about India’s Swadeshi tech movement, the importance of registering IP locally, and Zoho’s efficient approach to AI development. They also cover MEITY Secretary S. Krishnan’s vision for India as a global product nation and Foxconn’s massive Rs 15,000 crore investment in Tamil Nadu, creating 14,000 jobs.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group scrambles to repay $1.2 billion in debt, India’s IPO pipeline grows with Orkla India eyeing a billion-dollar listing, Pegatron expands its India footprint, the government weighs big insurance reforms, and Delhi records its cleanest October air in nearly a decade. All this and more in today’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Prosus steps up its travel tech game by acquiring a 10.1% stake in Ixigo and eyeing more, aiming to become the largest shareholder. Meanwhile, MeitY emphasises India’s global tech ambitions with a focus on building best-in-class products and fostering AI innovation. We also hear from Graphcore’s CEO Nigel Toon on their Rs 10,000 crore investment to create a major AI engineering centre in Bengaluru. Plus, former UK PM Rishi Sunak takes on advisory roles at Microsoft and Anthropic.

The government exists for all but the social sector is the only one that exists to represent the needs of those that need. It contributes to the well-being of 70-80 crore people in the country. Not just that but this sector, every year, manages $15-20 billion of private philanthropy. In today's episode, we dive into understanding how the social sector landscape is transforming through a strong focus on collaboration and advancing the public good. We dive into how a new generation is being equipped and empowered with both purpose and practical skills by professionalising Development Management to drive impactful social change across the country.

Indian markets are poised for a steady start this Friday after the Nifty ended near the 25,200 mark. The Gift Nifty is hinting at a muted opening but renewed Modi-Trump camaraderie could buoy market sentiment. Meanwhile, global cues remain mixed as Asian markets track Wall Street losses. The spotlight today is on TCS’s better-than-expected Q2 earnings and its ambitious AI plans, alongside Tata Elxsi’s steady quarterly performance. Also LG Electronics IPO creates history as it becomes the first-ever IPO in India to cross Rs 4 lakh crore mark in subscription. Tune in for all this and more in today’s Market Minutes — your morning podcast bringing you the top stories to kickstart your trading day, from stocks in the news to macro trends and global market cues.