India's retail inflation rate dropped sharply in October, giving the central bank leeway to allow easier lending policies, but plunging farm prices sent a stark warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the challenges he faces in rural areas in next year's general election.

Top actor Rajinikanth, who is expected to foray into politics, said Monday that the implementation of the demonetization exercise by the Centre was flawed.

The Tamil superstar, when asked about his view on the impact of demonetization vis-a-vis its second anniversary, told reporters that "the implementation was flawed. It is a matter that should be discussed in detail."

In January 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a revamped crop insurance scheme, his government’s flagship scheme for farmers, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

It would “bring about a major transformation in the lives of farmers”, Modi had said at the time.

Biscuit-maker Mrs Bectors Food Specialities and auto-components maker Sansera Engineering have received markets regulator Sebi’s go-ahead to launch initial share-sale offers.

Mrs Bectors Food and Sansera Engineering obtained “observations” from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on November 9 and November 12, respectively, showed the latest update with the markets watchdog.

After coming out with draft regulations for telecommunications operators to stop pesky calls and texts, the Telecom Authority of India (TRAI) has issued the much-awaited consultation paper to debate whether the over-the-top (OTT) players such as Whatsapp, Facebook and Skype, among others, should be brought under the regulatory regime.

Shares of Tata Motors were down 5% at Rs 185 on the BSE after the company’s British arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) total retail sales fell 4.6% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) at 44,282 vehicles in October.

JLR’s sales in China decreased by 49% Y-o-Y as market conditions remain challenging amid tariff changes and continued trade tensions with the US, which are impacting consumer confidence and automotive purchases.

State-owned engineering giant BHEL said Monday that with the completion of fourth and final 30 MW unit, it has completely commissioned 120 MW Pulichintala Hydro-Electric Project (HEP) in Telangana.

The other three units of the 4x30 MW Pulichintala HEP, commissioned earlier by the BHEL have been operating successfully, BHEL said in a statement.

Drug major Cipla on Monday said it has received final approval from the US health regulator for Valganciclovir tablets used in the treatment of viral eye infection for AIDS patients.

Valganciclovir is used in the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection (serious viral eye infection of the retina) for AIDS patients and for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after organ transplant.

Shares of PNB Housing Finance were up 5% at Rs 978 per share on the BSE in intra-day trade after the housing finance company said that it has obtained refinance sanction of Rs 35 billion from the National Housing Bank (NHB) in October-2018.

The company said the funds will be utilised for the specific sector wise disbursements/end uses as per norms of the respective NHB refinance schemes.

Air India on Sunday grounded its chief of operations Captain AK Kathpalia after he allegedly failed to clear pre-flight alcohol test. Kathpalia was to operate the airline’s London-New Delhi flight on Sunday afternoon.

Sources said that Air India had to call another pilot to replace him and operate the flight (AI-111) which departed after a delay of 55 minutes, causing inconvenience to passengers.

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