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Congress’ wait to join the Tamil Nadu Cabinet continues

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu iThe Congress on Saturday (June 20, 2026) hit out at the government over "rapidly depleting savings due to high inflation" and said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is busy "shopping" from other parties while the common person cannot afford the necessities.Editorial | Fuller expression: on India’s inflationCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that households are perishing under the weight of the Modi government's "mismanagement of the economy".In a post on X, Mr. Kharge said, "Rapidly depleting savings due to high inflation. Unaffordability, betrayal of aspirations, inequality, fall in global credibility, youth anger galore!" "Households perish under the weight of Modi Govt's mismanagement of the economy!" the Congress chief said."Retail Inflation — 16-month high. Food Inflation — 4.78%, tomatoes vanish from plates. Medical inflation above 15%. Rupee sinking to the pits. Foreign investors shunning us. No Jobs for youth, unemployment zooms," Mr. Kharge said."BJP busy shopping from other parties, but the AAM AADMI can't afford basic necessities!" he said. Published - June 20, 2026 01:23 pm IST

The HinduJun 20

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Economy

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outbreakindiaforeign

India initiates precautionary surveillance following Hantavirus outbreak on global Cruise Vessel

Finance industry veteran Uday Kotak said on Tuesday that India must reduce its reliance on foreign investment and prioritise building a robust domestic base of long-term risk capital to become truly economically self-sufficient, as reported by PTI.Addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event, Kotak remarked that a truly self-reliant nation is one that “does not need to depend on somebody else's money or power.”Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to celebrate weddings in India rather than overseas, Kotak said the message had a deeper significance. "A true, truly Aatmanirbhar, self-reliant country is the one which does not need to depend on somebody else's money or power," he said.People also askAI powered insights from this story•5 QUESTIONSUday Kotak is concerned that India relies too heavily on foreign investment and urges companies to prioritize building a robust domestic base of long-term risk capital for true economic self-sufficiency.Kotak suggests India has financialised too early because many companies are excessively focused on short-term gains like quarterly earnings and stock prices, rather than building businesses with a longer-term perspective of three to five years.Uday Kotak advocates for strengthening India's economic balance sheet and P&L by boosting domestic production, increasing exports, and reducing dependence on imports.Domestic investors and the increasing role of mutual funds are helping India rely less on foreign investments. Greater participation by retail investors in mutual funds fosters a stronger domestic equity culture and creates a dependable source of long-term risk capital.Sunil Bharti Mittal supports Prime Minister Modi's appeal and believes it's the right time for India to "double down" on investing within the country, rather than being obsessed with importing items like gold.Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty triggered by the West Asia conflict, Modi had appealed to people to avoid destination weddings abroad, limit foreign travel and opt for work-from-home, a pandemic-era practice, wherever possible.Kotak, who is the founder of private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank, said the global environment is becoming increasingly fragmented, with countries prioritising their own strategic interests, making it imperative for India to strengthen its domestic economic foundations.Calling it a "provocative" statement for a finance professional, Kotak said, “India has financialised too early.”He said many companies have become excessively focused on quarterly earnings, stock prices, and employee stock option gains, rather than building businesses with a three- to five-year perspective."I would strongly urge companies to not be excessively focused on the short-term stock price... but think about building a company three to five years," he said.Kotak said India had relied heavily on foreign portfolio investment (FPIs) for many years and only after the pandemic did domestic investors begin to play a larger role in capital markets.He urged companies to reinvest profits rather than simply managing large treasury portfolios."Corporate India has got a phenomenal tax rate. What have you done with it? Are we reinvesting or running corporate treasuries?" he asked.Kotak said governments are generally poor allocators of capital and suggested that policy support should focus on encouraging fresh investments through additional investment allowances rather than relying solely on existing tax incentives.He also stressed the need for India to strengthen its economic "balance sheet and P&L" by boosting domestic production, increasing exports and reducing import dependence."We need our balance sheet and P&L to be able to produce, or there will come a time when we will find it difficult to buy," he said.While acknowledging that India’s overall economic position has strengthened considerably, with a reduced current account deficit and healthier foreign exchange reserves, Uday Kotak

LiveMintMay 12

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Health Ministry to Observe Pan-India Fire Safety Week in Healthcare Facilities from Tomorrow

3 min readRanchiMay 3, 2026 11:23 PM IST Durgacharan Banra alleged when he had brought his pregnant wife Binita Banra – a community health worker from Hathisiring village, to the hospital Wednesday, she was “healthy and walking normally”. (Express Photo/Image enhanced using AI)An Adivasi health worker and her newborn son died during delivery at a community health centre in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district, with the procedure allegedly conducted using mobile phone flashlights during a power outage. A probe has been ordered after the family alleged negligence. The incident occurred at the Community Health Centre in the Rajnagar police station area.Durgacharan Banra alleged when he had brought his pregnant wife Binita Banra – a community health worker from Hathisiring village, to the hospital Wednesday, she was “healthy and walking normally”. She remained stable through Wednesday night and Thursday, but late at night, when he briefly stepped away, nurses allegedly shifted her to the delivery room, he claimed. “When I returned, a nurse came panicking and asked if I was with the patient. I was with my father’s sister and my older paternal aunt. I rushed to the delivery room and saw there was no doctor and no electricity. The nurses were forced to conduct the delivery without power. I used my mobile phone flashlight while they were doing the delivery,” he alleged He claimed that he urged nurses to conduct a surgery, but his requests were ignored. “She kept getting weaker and losing energy. Finally, the baby came out breathless and at the same time, my wife also lost her life,” he said. Banra further alleged that after the deaths, staff shouted at him and asked him to leave. “After some time, I booked a vehicle and took my wife the same night. Despite her deteriorating condition, she was neither given adequate treatment nor referred in time to a higher facility, and demanded strict action,” he alleged, adding he would approach the police. The deceased is survived by two daughters. Following the incident, officials reached the hospital and assured an inquiry. Seraikela-Kharsawan Deputy Commissioner Nitish Kumar Singh said a committee has been formed to probe the incident and a report is expected soon. “The committee is conducting an investigation, and we will be able to share the findings by tomorrow evening. As per the preliminary inquiry, the woman died due to postpartum haemorrhage. The baby was found entangled in the umbilical cord, leading to choking during what was a normal delivery. This is what the preliminary report suggests. A detailed report will be released once the investigation is complete,” he said. Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Tags: newborns death

Indian ExpressMay 3

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