• Bilkul Bazaar
• 9:00 PM |  02  Sept – 03 Sept 2026

 National Business News Highlights

1. India records 7.8% Q1 growth; government defends GDP numbers
India’s economy grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, with the government rejecting suggestions that methodological changes mechanically boosted the growth figure.

2. RBI faces record ₹9.7 lakh crore liquidity surplus
A huge inflow of foreign-currency deposits has pushed India’s banking-system liquidity surplus to a record ₹9.7 trillion, creating a new challenge for the RBI to absorb excess rupee liquidity.

3. India’s services sector shows cautious recovery
The services PMI rose to 54.1 in August, while employment growth reached a 15-month high. However, overall business activity remains relatively subdued.

4. India-US trade deal awaits preferential terms
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India will finalise the trade agreement with the US once Washington offers terms that are preferential compared with those given to India’s competitors.

5. India and Belgium target doubling bilateral trade
India and Belgium announced measures to deepen economic cooperation, including trade, critical minerals, clean energy and technology. The two countries aim to significantly expand bilateral trade over the next five years.

6. Zerodha gets SEBI approval to enter investment banking
Zerodha Corporate Advisors has received SEBI approval to enter the merchant-banking business, allowing it to manage IPOs and undertake corporate-finance and issue-related activities.

7. La Caisse buys 24% of Altius Telecom for ₹12,100 crore
Canadian institutional investor La Caisse has acquired a 24% stake in Altius Telecom for ₹12,100 crore, ahead of Altius’ proposed transition to a listed InvIT.

8. Ceigall India wins ₹5,300-crore transmission order
Ceigall India has secured a ₹5,300-crore transmission project in Gujarat involving a 765/400 kV substation and about 300 km of transmission lines.

9. Maharashtra emerges as major data-centre investment destination
Maharashtra has received investment interest of more than $300 billion in data centres and currently accounts for about 66% of India’s data-centre capacity.

10. E-commerce and quick-commerce companies prepare for festive surge
Online retail, quick-commerce and logistics companies are ramping up hiring ahead of the festive season. Meesho expects its ecosystem to enable more than 10 lakh jobs, while Amazon has created over 160,000 seasonal opportunities in India.

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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS UPDATES

1. US trade deficit jumps 24.4% to $88.6 billion
The US trade deficit widened sharply in July, driven by record imports of capital goods including computers and semiconductors as businesses continue investing heavily in AI.

2. Oil climbs towards $97 as Middle East tensions intensify
Brent crude rose to around $97 a barrel, with concerns about disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz adding pressure to global energy markets.

3. Germany’s industrial giants call for longer working hours
Major German industrial companies are pushing for a return towards a 40-hour working week, arguing that high labour costs are hurting the country’s global competitiveness.

4. German companies face growing pressure from Chinese rivals
A German industry survey found 83% of industrial companies feel increasing competitive pressure from Chinese firms. Businesses are responding with innovation, cost reductions and expansion into new markets.

5. Shell and Chevron pursue new Ghana oil opportunity
Shell and Chevron have signed a preliminary agreement with Ghana concerning potential production rights in the South Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points oil and gas block, signalling continued international investment in African energy assets.

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💬 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“AI is moving fast, so every country has to move faster.”
— Jensen Huang, CEO, Nvidia

Huang urged India to move faster in AI, saying the country’s established IT industry gives it a strong starting advantage in building a local AI economy.

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