Discoms post ₹2,701 cr profit in FY25 after years of losses

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 18, 2026 | Business

The Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses have reduced over the years, signalling a transformation.

Power distribution utilities in the country collectively recorded a profit of ₹2,701 crore in FY25 after having incurred losses for several years, an official statement said on Sunday.

Distribution utilities as a whole have been reporting losses for past several years since unbundling and corporatisation of State Electricity Boards.

The utilities collectively posted a loss of ₹25,553 crore in FY24 and a loss of ₹67,962 crore in FY14, the power ministry said in a statement.

Commenting on the profit in FY25, Power Minister Manohar Lal said this marks a new chapter for the distribution sector and is a result of several steps taken by the ministry to redress the concerns of the distribution sector.

“India is driving not only its growth but also the growth of the world, with the energy sector playing a significant role in this,” Lal said.

He said the government is committed to the required reforms in the sector so that the power sector can support India’s growing economy and play its part in the journey towards Viksit Bharat.

The ministry said the result of reforms is evident not just in the PAT posted by distribution companies (discoms) after so many years, but also in other performance indicators.

The Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses have reduced over the years, signalling a transformation.

The AT&C losses have reduced from 22.62 per cent in FY 2013-14 to 15.04 per cent in FY 2024-25.

Further, signalling much improved cost recovery, the Average Cost of Supply–Average Revenue Realized (ACS–ARR) gap has narrowed from ₹0.78/kWh in FY14 to ₹0.06/kWh in FY25.

Reforms such as the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge) Rules have led to a 96 per cent reduction in outstanding dues to generating companies—from ₹1,39,947 crore in 2022 to just ₹4,927 crore by January 2026—while bringing down distribution utility payment cycles from 178 days in FY 21 to 113 days in FY 25.

Some of the transformative initiatives in the distribution sector include Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS): Enhancing financial viability through infrastructure modernization and accelerated smart metering.

In addition to the different policy initiatives, extensive engagements with states and UTs have emphasised reforms in the distribution sector.

These include discussions led by Power Minister Manohar Lal during the Regional Conferences of Energy Ministers of States/UTs in 2025 – Gangtok, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Patna.

Published on January 18, 2026

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Trump says “time to look for new leadership in Iran,” after Khamenei blames US for unrest

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 18, 2026 | Business

US President Donald Trump on Saturday called for an end to 37-year rule of Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime, saying, “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” as anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic escalate, driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship and mounting public anger over governance.

In an interview with Politico, the US President stated that they criticised Tehran’s leadership, saying they rely on violence and repression to maintain control. “What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before,” Trump said, as quoted by Politico.

“In order to keep the country functioning–even though that function is a very low level–the leadership should focus on running his country properly, like I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control,” he added. The US President further noted that “leadership” is built on respect, not “fear and death”.

Trump further denounced Khamenei personally, calling him “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people,” and described Iran as “the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership,” as reported by Politico.

His remarks come shortly after Khamenei, in a series of posts on X, blamed Trump for the unrest and casualties in Iran.

The leader of the Islamic Republic also accused Trump of misrepresenting violent groups as reflecting the will of the Iranian people, calling it “an appalling slander”.

“The US President introduced the groups who committed acts of vandalism, arson, and murdered people as ‘the Iranian nation.’ He uttered an appalling slander against the Iranian people. We find the US President guilty for this slander,” Khamenei said. “The US President sent a message to the seditionists saying he would support them and provide military support. In other words, the US President himself was involved in the sedition. These are criminal acts,” he added.

Trump’s remarks mark a continuation of the increasingly tense rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, highlighting the deepening divide over Iran’s domestic unrest and governance.

According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), nationwide protests in Iran have entered their twenty-first day, with internet blackouts and heavy security crackdowns continuing across the country.

Confirmed reports from HRANA state that 3,308 people have died so far during the protests, with an additional 4,382 cases still under investigation. So far, 2,107 individuals have been recorded with serious injuries, and authorities have confirmed the arrest of at least 24,266 people.

Meanwhile, Khamenei, for the first time, acknowledged that “several thousand people” have lost their lives during the unrest.

Published on January 18, 2026

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IDBI Bank SC, ST and OBC Employees Forum seeks protection of rights, careers

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 18, 2026 | Business

The forum said many young and aspiring graduates and post graduates had quit Government and PSB jobs to join IDBI Bank in early 2004.
| Photo Credit:
ADNAN ABIDI

The IDBI Bank SC, ST and OBC Employees Forum has requested President of India, the Centre as well as management of the bank to protect rights, careers, and dignity of thousands of SC/ST/OBC employees by absorbing them into leading PSU banks/Fls or other public sector units.

A memorandum submitted by the employees forum to the President sought her ‘urgent and compassionate intervention in safeguarding jobs of thousands of socially and economically backward employees and their families likely to be severely impacted by proposed privatisation of lDBl Bank.’

Forwarded to PM, FM

A copy of the memorandum has been forwarded to the Prime Minister; Union Finance Minister; Governor, Reserve Bank; Secretary, DIPAM; Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment; and to Chairpersons each of National Commissions for Scheduled Castes; Scheduled Tribes; and Backward Classes.

The forum said many young and aspiring graduates and post graduates had quit Government and PSB jobs to join the bank in early 2004. They had fond hopes of assuring themselves of career prospects, salary hikes and better perquisites. They are shocked to hear about the bank’s moves on merger/privatisation. With uncertainty looming large, it’s very difficult lo get matching jobs elsewhere in case the merged bank slaps a VRS offer.

Switch-over option

The memorandum requested that in the event that privatisation is finalised, all existing OBC/SC/ST employees be provided a one-time switch-over option to other public sector banks, with a listed series of safeguards.

These should ensure transfer with same service conditions; no implied loss of seniority, pay, or service benefits; retention of reservation protection and promotion rights; and a posting near current place of work to minimise disruption. These would make for a ‘humane and constitutionally respectful’ initiative to protect interests of those who joined the bank under assurance of public sector job safeguards, the memorandum said.

Promulgation of law

Importantly, the employees forum also urged the Centre to consider a statutory framework or amendment that ensures SC/ST/OBC reservation protection continues for employees of any public institution that undergoes privatisation or disinvestment in future. A law may be promulgated mandating reservation and inclusion of social justice clauses in MoUs with private buyers during PSU sales.

Government has followed SC/ST/OBC reservation during recruitment before disinvestment happens. Thus existing employees from these categories enjoy protected status under constitutional provisions. lDBl Bank has been a pillar of inclusive bonking and notion-building, the forum recalled. SC/ST/OBC employees are not merely employees but representatives of Government’s vision for equality, opportunity, and upliftment.

Published on January 18, 2026

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HDFC Bank Q3 Results: मुनाफा 11.5 परसेंट बढ़कर 18000 करोड़ के पार, सोमवार को फोकस में स्टॉक

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 18, 2026 | Business

नेट इंटरेस्ट इनकम (NII) या बैंक को अपने दिए उधार पर इंटरेस्ट के तौर पर हुई कमाई 32615 करोड़ रुपये रही, जो पिछले साल इसी अवधि के 30653 करोड़ रुपये से 6.4 परसेंट ज्यादा है. बैंक ने ग्रॉस नॉन-परफॉर्मिंग एसेट्स (GNPA) 35179 करोड़ रुपये बताया, जबकि पिछले साल यह 36019 करोड़ रुपये थी. इससे पता चलता है कि GNPA में भी सुधार आया है, जो पहले के 1.42 परसेंट के मुकाबले 1.24 परसेंट पर आ गया है. नेट NPA 11981.8 करोड़ रुपये रहा. यह पिछले साल 11588 करोड़ रुपये था. नेट NPA रेशियो भी 0.46 परसेंट के मुकाबले घटकर 0.42 परसेंट पर आ गया है.

कितना रहा ऑपरेटिंग खर्च?

बैंक का इस तिमाही का ऑपरेटिंग खर्च 18771.04 करोड़ रुपये रहा. इसमें से अगर न्यू लेबर कोड को लागू करने के चलते करीब 800 करोड़ रुपये के असर को अलग रखें, तो यह खर्च 17970 करोड़ रुपये बैठता है. यह पिछले साल के मुकाबले थोड़ा ज्यादा है. कोर कॉस्ट-टू-इनकम रेशियो 39.2 परसेंट पर बना रहा. बैंक ने हाल ही में एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर भावेश जवेरी के रिटायरमेंट का भी ऐलान किया. जवेरी ने बोर्ड को बताया कि वह बैंकिंग सेक्टर के बाहर मौके तलाशना चाहते हैं और दोबारा नियुक्ति के लिए आवेदन नहीं करेंगे. वह 18 अप्रैल, 2026 को अपने पद से रिटायर हो रहे हैं.

बैंक की कैपिटल पोजीशन भी मजबूत है. बैंक 31 दिसंबर, 2025 तक 19.87 परसेंट के टोटल कैपिटल एडिक्वेसी रेशियो (CAR) के साथ अच्छी तरह से कैपिटलाइज्ड, जो रेगुलेटरी जरूरत से काफी ज्यादा है. टियर-1 कैपिटल 17.8 परसेंट और कॉमन इक्विटी टियर-1 17.4 परसेंट पर है.

शेयरों का कैसा रहा हाल?

35000 करोड़ का दांव, 12000 लोगों की नौकरी… ऑटो सेक्टर की इस दिग्गज कंपनी का बड़ा है प्लान

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Trump denies offering Federal Reserve chair post to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 17, 2026 | Business

US President Donald Trump
| Photo Credit:
EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/REUTERS

U.S. President ‍Donald
Trump on Saturday said he ‌never offered to nominate JPMorgan
CEO Jamie Dimon for the job of Federal Reserve chair,
contradicting a ⁠report this week.

In a post on Truth ⁠Social, Trump blasted a Wall Street
Journal report that ‌said he ‌offered the Fed chair ‍post to Dimon.
Trump also wrote ‍that he plans to sue JPMorgan over the next two
weeks for allegedly “debanking” ⁠him over the January 6, 2021,
attack on the ⁠U.S. Capitol.

Published on January 17, 2026

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Finance secretary urges LIC to go mobile-first to achieve insurance for all

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 17, 2026 | Business

Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju has urged Life Insurance Corporation of India to strengthen digital marketing and adopt a mobile-first approach to help achieve the national goal of “insurance for all”.
| Photo Credit:
Manvender Vashist Lav/PTI

Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju on Saturday asked LIC to continue adopting digital marketing and a mobile-first approach to ensure the realisation of the national goal of “insurance for all”.

Life Insurance Corp (LIC) has a consolidated AUM of Rs 57.23 lakh crore and an yield of 8.9 per cent on policyholders’ funds, supported by a strong solvency ratio, a finance ministry statement said.

Growth incentives

This corpus may be used for incentivising growth of startups and alternative investment funds. The importance of improving persistency ratios, particularly among low-ticket policyholders, through concerted push and continuous follow-up was underlined, it said.

Systemic role

Nagaraju said LIC is not just an insurance company but a Domestic Systemically Important Insurer (D-SII) and this designation by the insurance regulator IRDAI carries a profound responsibility as LIC’s stability is synonymous with India’s financial stability.

Product shift

Speaking at the LIC’s strategy meet in Mumbai, the secretary also highlighted the transformation of LIC’s product portfolio, with a strategic shift to high-growth non-participating products.

The continued adoption of digital marketing and a mobile-first approach was urged to ensure the realisation of the national goal of insurance for all, Nagaraju said.

Published on January 17, 2026

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