Pioneer in short
Rupee breaches new low
The Indian rupee on Monday hit a record low against the US dollar, dropping to an intra-day low of 90.80 before settling at 90.74 (provisional), down 25 paise from its previous close. The decline was driven by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal, strong dollar demand from importers and persistent foreign fund outflows. Analysts said the rupee’s vulnerability stems from a demand-supply imbalance in the forex market, with importers’ dollar requirements and capital outflows remaining key concerns. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said India and the US are “very close” to finalising a framework trade deal, while comprehensive bilateral trade talks continue. The rupee’s slump comes despite a better-than-expected trade balance. In domestic markets, the Sensex fell 54.30 points to 85,213.36 and the Nifty declined 19.65 points to 26,027.30, with foreign investors selling equities worth INR1,114.22 crore. India’s forex reserves rose to $ 687.26 billion, while Brent crude traded at $ 61.25 per barrel. Analysts predict a near-term bullish bias for $-INR, with key resistance at 90.95 and support at 90.50, signaling volatility.
Nitish sparks outrage in public
A newly appointed AYUSH doctor in Bihar was left shocked after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down her hijab while handing over her appointment letter at an official event on Monday. The incident occurred at Samvad, the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, during a ceremony to distribute appointment letters to over 1,000 AYUSH doctors. A video of the moment has since gone viral on social media. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the recruits included 685 Ayurveda doctors, 393 homeopaths and 205 Unani practitioners. While most appointment letters were issued online, 10 candidates received them directly from the Chief Minister. When Nusrat Parveen approached the stage wearing a face-covering hijab, Kumar reportedly expressed displeasure before pulling the veil down.
She was quickly escorted away by an official, while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appeared to intervene. Opposition parties, including the RJD and Congress, criticised the incident, sharing the video online and questioning the Chief Minister’s conduct.
NCLT clarifies WhatsApp data rules
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday clarified that its earlier order in the WhatsApp privacy case applies to all user data collection and sharing for non-WhatsApp purposes, including both advertising and non-advertising uses. The clarification came after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) sought clarity on the scope of remedial directions issued in November. NCLAT reiterated that WhatsApp and Meta cannot claim unilateral or open-ended rights over user data, stressing that users must retain control over what data is collected, for what purpose, and for how long. Any non-essential data collection or cross-platform use, including advertising, requires explicit and revocable user consent. The tribunal said providing opt-in and opt-out choices at any stage protects user rights.
