Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

 Paint Wars: Asian Paints Under CCI Lens

India’s Competition Commission has launched a formal probe into Asian Paints over alleged abuse of market dominance. The complaint, filed by Grasim Industries—makers of Birla Opus—claims Asian Paints pressured dealers with exclusivity deals, including perks like foreign trips, to block out new players. CCI’s initial findings suggest anti-competitive behavior, prompting a 90-day investigation. With the decorative paint market heating up and Grasim eyeing ₹10,000 crore in 3 years, this could be a defining moment for how competition plays out in India’s ₹14.4 billion paint sector.

Bike Taxis Cleared, But It’s a State-By-State Ride

The Centre has issued fresh guidelines allowing private two-wheelers to be used for passenger services via aggregators like Rapido, Ola, and Uber. It’s a long-awaited move toward legitimizing bike taxis, which have largely operated in a legal grey zone. States can now regulate, charge fees, and enforce safety compliance—but adoption is optional. While Maharashtra is on board (for EVs only), Karnataka’s recent ban shows the battle is far from over. For Rapido, where bike rides account for half its revenue, it’s a potential game-changer—if states come onboard.

Trump Pushes for Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Donald Trump has claimed a breakthrough in the Gaza conflict, announcing that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire—pending Hamas’ approval. The deal, brokered with support from Qatar and Egypt, aims to stop the 20-month war that has claimed over 56,000 lives in Gaza and 1,200 in Israel. Trump, who recently mediated a separate Israel-Iran truce, urged Hamas to accept the deal, warning that “it will not get better.” The announcement comes just days before Israeli PM Netanyahu’s visit to the US, adding diplomatic weight to the offer.

Trump’s Big Bill Squeaks Through Senate

In a midnight drama, the US Senate passed Trump’s massive tax and spending bill—The One Big Beautiful Bill Act—thanks to a tie-breaking vote from VP JD Vance. The bill locks in permanent tax cuts from Trump’s first term, adds new breaks for seniors and tipped workers, and allocates $350 billion for border enforcement. But it slashes $1.2 trillion from Medicaid and food aid, and could balloon the deficit by $3.3 trillion. With only a narrow GOP majority in the House, the final vote—expected this week—could be Trump’s biggest domestic policy test yet.

India’s ₹2 Trillion Policy Push: Jobs, Innovation & Sports

The Union Cabinet has cleared three landmark initiatives:

₹1 Trillion ELI Scheme to generate 35 million jobs, targeting first-time employees and incentivizing employers up to ₹3,000 per hire.

₹1 Trillion RDI Scheme to supercharge private-sector research in strategic sectors with long-term, low-cost funding.

National Sports Policy 2025, with a bold goal: get India into the Top 5 sporting nations, promote leagues, and attract global events.

Bonus: Tamil Nadu also gets a ₹1,853 crore greenlight for a major highway project to boost southern connectivity.

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