The rooftop solar programme, announced by the finance minister in the interim Budget, can be a "gamechanger" and the State Bank of India (SBI) looks at it as an opportunity for its home loan business, the bank's chairman Dinesh Khara said on Wednesday.

In a fireside chat with Tamal Bandyopadhyay, consulting editor of Business Standard, at the third edition of the India Mortgage Leadership Conclave in Mumbai, Khara said, "We look at it as an opportunity.

India is close to finalising a first-of-its-kind trade deal that could see a small group of European nations invest as much as $100 billion over 15 years in exchange for easier trade access to the world’s most populous nation, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The European Free Trade Association, which comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, made a commitment to invest in India as part of a trade pact that’s in the final stages of negotiations, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are still ongoing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to respond to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Rajya Sabha on February 7. President Droupadi Murmu delivered her address to the joint sitting on January 31, marking the start of the Budget session. After PM Modi's address, the Lok Sabha adopted the motion of thanks, where he highlighted the government's achievements and criticised Opposition parties.

In his address, PM Modi expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) success in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.

India saw a single-day rise of 157 Covid-19 infections while the number of active cases was recorded at 1,496, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday.

Two new deaths -- one each from Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh -- have been reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.

Shares of TRF were locked in the 20 per cent upper circuit at Rs 328.40 on BSE in Wednesday's early trade after the company withdrew its merger with Tata Steel.

The plan was called off as TRF said it has seen its business performance improve in the last few quarters.

In the past two trading days, the stock of the Tata Group firm has zoomed 29 per cent. Currently, it is trading at its highest level since September 2022.

Congress MP Manish Tewari has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha seeking a discussion on the border situation with China in the Lower House on Wednesday.

The MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency sought suspension of Zero Hour, Question Hour, and other businesses of the day.

Shares of State Bank of India (SBI) hit a record high of Rs 670, gaining 3 per cent on the BSE in Wednesday's intraday trade, amid heavy volumes. In the past two trading days, the stock of the largest state-owned lender has rallied 4 per cent on the back of strong growth outlook over the medium-term. The stock price of SBI surpassed its previous high of Rs 660.40 touched on December 20, 2023.

As many as 10.26 million equity shares of SBI changed hands cumulatively on the NSE and BSE in the first 32 minutes of trade.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reaffirmed the cohesion within the INDIA bloc, addressing Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar's political manoeuvre.

Addressing a press conference in Jharkhand's Gumla, Rahul Gandhi emphasised the continued involvement of key members, including Mamata Banerjee, within the alliance framework.

A group of start-up founders has written to the PM, the FM, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), urging a review of the regulator's directive that ordered Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL) to cease major banking services after February 29.

The letter, endorsed by a dozen entrepreneurs, features names such as Yashish Dahiya of Policy Bazaar, Deepak Shenoy of Capital Mind, Murugavel Janakiraman of Bharat Matrimony, Rajesh Magow of MakeMyTrip, and Ritesh Malik of Innov 8, among others.

National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday issued notice in a plea filed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), which sought directions to enforce its merger with Sony, according to a report by Moneycontrol.

It said that the tribunal had granted Sony two weeks to file its reply and listed the case for hearing on March 12. On January 30, NCLT had issued a similar notice on a plea filed by Mad Men Films seeking the implementation of the merger with Sony. Mad Men Films is a shareholder of ZEEL.

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