7 top Indian firms add Rs 96,200 crore in market value

Mumbai, Nov 30, 2025
The combined market value of seven out of the ten most highly valued Indian companies rose by Rs 96,200.95 crore last week, helped by an overall positive mood in the equity markets.

The broader indices also supported the gains, with the BSE Sensex climbing 474.75 points, or 0.55 per cent, during the week and touching a new all-time high of 86,055.86 on Thursday.

Among the top gainers, Bajaj Finance added Rs 20,347.52 crore to its valuation, taking its market capitalisation to Rs 6,45,676.11 crore.

HDFC Bank reported an increase of Rs 13,611.11 crore, pushing its valuation to Rs 15,48,743.67 crore.

ICICI Bank also saw a strong rise of Rs 13,599.62 crore, lifting its market worth to Rs 9,92,725.97 crore.

Hindustan Unilever added Rs 7,671.41 crore during the week, taking its valuation to Rs 5,79,644.16 crore.

State Bank of India posted gains of Rs 6,415.28 crore to reach Rs 9,04,185.15 crore, while Infosys added Rs 6,273.15 crore, with its valuation now at Rs 6,47,961.98 crore.

On the losing side, Bharti Airtel recorded the sharpest decline, slipping by Rs 35,239.01 crore in market value.

LIC’s valuation dropped by Rs 4,996.75 crore, and TCS saw an erosion of Rs 3,762.81 crore during the week.

In the list of the ten most valued companies, HDFC Bank remained in second place overall, followed by Bharti Airtel, TCS, ICICI Bank, SBI, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, and LIC.

Meanwhile, the Nifty index displayed strong bullish momentum this week, rising 134 points to register a new all-time high of 26,310.

“On the weekly chart, the index has successfully retested its cup-and-handle pattern and extended its upward move,” experts said.

Additionally, Nifty has formed a bullish hammer near its lifetime high, suggesting sustained buying interest and the potential for further upside.

“On the daily timeframe, Nifty posted a decisive close above the crucial 26,200 resistance level, ending the session at 26,202 and demonstrating strong follow-through strength,” market watchers mentioned.(Agency)

Two CRPF jawans sustain burn injuries in J&K’s Pulwama

Srinagar, Nov 30, 2025
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans sustained burn injuries on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district and were shifted to the hospital in Srinagar city for specialised treatment.

Officials said that two CRPF personnel stationed at Murran, Pulwama, sustained burn injuries and were shifted to the hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment.

“These two jawans had initially been taken to the District Hospital Pulwama before being referred to SMHS in Srinagar for further management.

“The personnel suffered burn injuries after an incident involving a heating appliance at the camp. One of them sustained multiple burn injuries, while the other received minor burns. Both are stated to be stable at present. Cognisance of the incident has been taken, and further investigation initiated,” officials said.

CRPF, alongside Jammu and Kashmir Police, is discharging security and law and order duties. The troops of the CRPF are posted throughout the Valley and in the Jammu division to carry out anti-terrorist operations in coordination with the local police.

The Army guards the 740-km-long Line of Control, while the BSF guards the 240-km-long international border.

The Army and the BSF are deployed to prevent infiltration from across the border, prevent cross-border smuggling and check the drone activity initiated by terrorist outfits from across the border with the assistance of the Pakistan Army.

In the hinterland, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF are deployed on anti-terrorist operations against terrorists, their over ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers.

Drug smugglers, drug peddlers and those involved in hawala money rackets and other unlawful financial activities are also on the scanner of the security forces.

It is believed that funds generated by these unlawful activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is part of the revised strategy on part of the security forces aimed at dismantling the complete support system of terrorism rather than just focusing on the elimination of the gun-wielding terrorists.(Agency)

Root questions need for pink-ball Test in Ashes: A series like this, does it need it?

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025
England batter Joe Root questions the necessity of a pink-ball Test in the Ashes as England prepares for their day-night clash against Australia in Brisbane.

Day-night Tests were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council in 2015, with the aim of encouraging more people to watch Test cricket. Australia and New Zealand contested the first-ever day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval in South Australia from November 27–29 in 2025, which the Aussies won by three wickets within three days.

Australia have an outstanding record in the day-night Test, hosting 13 of the 24 played worldwide and winning 12 of those, while England have won two of their seven, including three defeats in Australia. Moreover, England’s only home pink-ball Test ended in a heavy defeat against the West Indies in August 2017.

Asked whether he believed the Ashes needed a day-night Test, former England captain Root told BBC Sport, “I personally don’t think so. It does add to things. It’s successful and popular here, and Australia have got a good record here as well. You can see why we’re playing one of those games.

“Ultimately, you know from two years out it is going to be there. It’s part and parcel of making sure you’re ready for it. A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”

Root, who has played in all seven of England’s pink-ball Tests, identified the change of conditions once the floodlights come on. “At different phases of the day it can feel quite placid; you can feel out of the game with the ball and things can turn around. Similarly with the bat, recognising those moments and utilising them as best you can.”

Root made a duck and an eight at Perth Stadium as England were defeated in two days to go one-nil down in the series. His record in Australia is the only real flaw in an otherwise brilliant Test career. Root has 13,551 runs in the format, making him the second-highest scorer in Test history, behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s 15,921.(Agency)

Kriti Sanon calls playing Mukti in ‘Tere Ishq Mein’ most layered and tricky’ character she has ever played

Mumbai, Nov 30, 2025
Kriti Sanon has opened up about her role in “Tere Ishq Mein,” calling her character Mukti the most layered and tricky she has ever played.

Taking to her Instagram handle, the ‘Heropanti’ actress shared a video highlighting the rave reviews for her performance in the film and expressed her gratitude, saying, “My heart is full.” In the caption, Kriti expressed heartfelt gratitude for the audience’s response to her performance.

She described her role as Mukti as her most layered character to date, emphasizing the complexity and nuance involved. Sanon wrote, “My Heart is Full..The best feeling for an actor is when the audience connects with every little emotion in between the unspoken words of your character. Mukti is probably the most layered and tricky character I’ve played, and when every beat of her heart reaches yours, it becomes ISHK! Thank you for all the ISHK.”

“Tere Ishq Mein,” directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav, also starred Dhanush in the lead role. The film follows Mukti, a young woman portrayed by Kriti Sanon, who falls in love with the intense and rebellious Shankar, played by Dhanush. However, circumstances separate them before their romance can fully blossom. The romantic thriller was released in cinemas on November 28 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Kriti had earlier opened up about stepping into the layered and demanding world of her character Mukti. She revealed that shooting the pre-climax and climax scenes for Tere Ishq Mein had been both physically and emotionally draining.

“Mutki’s character has a very diverse graph, what she starts from, what she ends up becoming, her choices, her decisions.. there are a lot of layers to what she is doing. A lot is sometimes not said, a lot of justification, a lot of things why she is doing what she is, not said in words.”

“There are a lot of really intense scenes, the pre climax and the climax, which are very very long. That was very draining and we shot it for about 5-6 days. Both physically and emotionally those scenes were extremely draining. At times when I went back home it stayed with me, I felt extremely drained. That scene is the peak of emotions and probably the most intense bit of the film, and it pulled me down the most.”(Agency)

‘Heartwarming to see deep connection to sacred Buddha relics’: PM Modi recalls Bhutan visit

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck meet PM Modi

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his reflections on his recent visit to Bhutan, highlighting how the people there expressed gratitude to India for sending sacred Buddha relics to their country — a gesture he described as a moment of pride for him.

Addressing the 128th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, he said, “A few weeks ago, I visited Bhutan. Such trips provide opportunities for different types of interactions and discussions. During this trip, I met the King of Bhutan, the current King’s father, who has also been a King himself, the Prime Minister and others.

In the course of the tour, I heard everyone mention one thing; everyone was expressing gratitude to the Indians for sending Buddhist relics there… the sacred relics of Bhagwan Buddha. Whenever I heard that, my heart swelled with pride.”

PM Modi visited Bhutan from November 11 to 12, during which he joined Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk in seeking blessings from the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha amid a rousing welcome given by the local monks at Thimphu’s Tashichhodzong.

The relics were sent for exposition as a special gesture from the people of India to Bhutan to honour the Fourth King’s 70th birth anniversary and the Global Peace Prayer Festival organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

Buddhism is a shared heritage between India and Bhutan. A number of Bhutanese pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sikkim, Udayagiri, Sarnath and other Buddhist sites in India.

The Prime Minister said that similar enthusiasm for the sacred relics of Bhagwan Buddha has been observed in many other countries.

“Just last month, these sacred relics were taken from the National Museum to Kalmykia, Russia. Buddhism holds special significance there. I was told that a large number of people, even from remote parts of Russia, came over to see them. The relics have also been taken to Mongolia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Huge enthusiasm has been witnessed everywhere. Even the King of Thailand visited to have Darshan,” he said.

“It is heartwarming to see such a deep connection to the sacred relics of Bhagwan Buddha across the world. It gives one joy to hear how such initiatives become a medium to connect people across the world,” PM Modi added.(Agency)

INS Sahyadri crew holds joint yoga session with Philippine Navy in Manila

Manila, Nov 30, 2025
The crew of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri on Sunday conducted out a joint yoga session with Philippine Navy personnel at Manila.

In a statement shared on X, Indian Navy Spokesperson stated, “The crew of INS Sahyadri, during port call at Manila, Philippines, conducted a joint Yoga session with Philippine Navy personnel, promoting health, mindfulness and reflecting India’s message Wellness, Unity and Harmony.”

On November 27, INS Sahyadri made a port call at Manila as part of the ship’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific. INS Sahyadri arrived in Manila to a warm reception, following a successful Passage Exercise (PASSEX) conducted with the Philippine Navy.

“A warm welcome to INS Sahyadri on her arrival in Manila! Following a successful Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Philippine Navy, this harbour visit will feature professionally enriching interactions and engagements with the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard on issues of mutual interest, deepening our maritime cooperation and enduring friendship,” Embassy of India in Philippines posted on X.

Indigenously designed and constructed, INS Sahyadri is a Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and a shining example of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.

During the joint exercise, both the Indian and Philippine navies undertook tactical communication drills, navigation manoeuvres, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills, and flying operations, refining professional synergy and mutual understanding, according to the statement released by Ministry of Defence.

The harbour phase would also include cross-deck visits and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges. In addition, cultural interactions such as friendly sports, joint yoga sessions, and aid to an orphanage are also planned during the visit.

The ship is currently on an operational deployment in the Indo-Pacific, participating in various multilateral and bilateral naval exercises with friendly foreign countries, which include MALABAR-2025, AUSINDEX-2025, JAIMEX-25, and a maiden bilateral exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy.

⁠In a statement, Ministry of Defence stated, “The visit of INS Sahyadri underscores India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Philippines and highlights the growing cooperation between the two navies in the maritime domain. It is a step towards promoting peace, security, and stability in the vital Indo-Pacific region, in line with India’s Act East Policy and the vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).”(Agency)

Woman kills husband over dispute in Bengal’s Malda

Kolkata, Nov 30, 2025
A woman allegedly killed her husband over a dispute in the Bamangola area of West Bengal’s Malda district, the police said on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Biswajit Sarkar.

The accused, identified as Pampa Roy, has been arrested, the police said.

During preliminary investigation, it came to the fore that Sarkar and Roy, who had a love affair, got married six years ago and were blessed with a daughter.

The couple’s daughter has turned four this year.

According to locals, Sarkar, a toll plaza worker, and Roy quarrelled frequently over several issues.

On Saturday night, a similar dispute arose between the couple when Sarkar came back home from work.

When Sarkar returned home at 8.30 p.m., Roy prevented him from entering the house, leading to an argument.

As Sarkar pushed Roy aside to enter the house, Roy, enraged over the act, stabbed him in the stomach with a knife.

After the attack, Sarkar fell on the ground, bleeding profusely and screamed for help.

Hearing Sarkar’s voice, neighbours rushed to the house and rushed him to Malda Medical College and Hospital.

After the incident, the Bamangola police station was informed. The police went to the hospital and the house to investigate the incident.

After gathering information during the probe, the accused wife was arrested.

Sarkar breathed his last late Saturday night at the hospital, while undergoing treatment there, the police added.

The police are investigating the reason for the murder.

“Prima facie, it appears that the crime was committed in the heat of the moment. However, neighbours also said that the husband and wife frequently fought over a host of issues. Therefore, an investigation has started to find out whether the crime was premeditated. A case has been registered, and the accused woman has been arrested,” said a senior officer of Malda district police.(Agency)

KKR star Andre Russell announces IPL retirement, to join franchise as ‘power coach’

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025
West Indies all-rounder and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) power hitter Andre Russell announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of the mini auction slated for December 16 but added that he would join the three-time champions as the power coach.

The Windies batter announced his decision via a video message he shared on his social media with a caption, “Hanging up my IPL boots… but not the swagger. What a ride it’s been in the IPL — 12 seasons of memories and a whole lot of love from the KKR family.”

“I’ll still be smashing sixes and taking wickets in every other league around the world. And the best part? I’m not leaving home… you’ll see me in a new role, in KKR’s Support Staff, as the POWER COACH of 2026. New chapter. Same energy. Forever a Knight.”

In 12 IPL season, Russell played 140 matches, scoring 2651 runs at a strike rate of 174.18 and took 123 wickets at an economy of 9.51 with a best bowling figure of 5 for 15.

He made his IPL debut in 2012 with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) before moving to KKR in 2014. He then went to play 133 matches for the Kolkata-based franchise, winning two titles (2014 and 2024) along the way.

“I had some amazing times and great memories. Hitting sixes, winning games, MVP and all of those things. But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots. When I made this decision, I just felt like ‘Yes, this is the best decision.’ I don’t want to fade out. I want to leave a legacy, and it’s best to retire when fans ask, ‘Why? You still have some more in you; you still could go for a bit longer,’ rather than say, ‘Yeah, you should have done it years back.’

“We are part of the Instagram world, so when you’re going through your feed, you keep seeing yourself in different jerseys and, you know, friends, team-mates sending you stuff and, like, ‘You’re looking good in this jersey. What do you think’ and I’m like, ‘Hmmm, I look weird in that jersey’. And it’s just those thoughts that’s been going through my head.

“I had a few sleepless nights. There have been a lot of conversations between me and Venky Mysore, and also Shah Rukh Khan, about another chapter in my IPL journey, and they have shown me respect and love, and they appreciate whatever I have been doing in the field, and to be in a setup where I’m familiar, that matters to me a lot.

“So Kolkata, I’ll be back. I’m here now just to say that I’ll be a part of the KKR support staff. When I heard that name, you know, coming from Venky, I said, you know, ‘power coach, hmmm’. That describes Dre Russ. That describes Andre Russell, because the power that I possess when I bat, the energy that I show in the field, with the ball in hand, I can help in any department.”

Russell had been retained ahead of the mega auction before last season for Rs. 12 crore, but KKR released him after a poor outing in IPL 2025. He scored just 167 runs in 13 innings and picked up eight wickets.(Agency)

Karan Veer Mehra shares how Vishal Bhardwaj, Rajkumar Hirani and Omung Kumar shaped his understanding of cinema

Mumbai, Nov 30, 2025
Actor Karan Veer Mehra has opened up about the filmmakers who have deeply influenced his creative journey.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, he praised Vishal Bhardwaj, Rajkumar Hirani and Omung Kumar, calling them storytellers who have shaped Indian cinema in their own remarkable ways. Reflecting on their distinct styles and impactful narratives, Karan expressed admiration for how each of them has contributed to elevating the craft of filmmaking and inspiring artists like him along the way.

The ‘Pavitra Rishta’ actor revealed, “I have always wished to work with Vishal Bharadwaj sir. He is a magician when it comes to layered characters and raw human emotions. The way he extracts intensity from his actors and builds poetry even in tragedy is something I deeply admire. As a performer, I am hungry for roles that challenge me, and he is the master of that zone.”

For Hirani, Karan Veer added, “Hirani sir has the rare ability to make cinema socially relevant yet entertaining. His films make people laugh, cry and think at the same time. He believes in goodness even in conflict, and I feel an actor becomes better when guided by that kind of storytelling.”

The ‘Bigg Boss 18’ winner, who is currently collaborating with filmmaker Omung Kumar on an upcoming project, praised the director for his vision and sensitivity. “Omung sir sees beauty even in pain and triumph in struggle. He is a perfectionist with a very emotional lens, and I’m grateful I get to experience his process. He brings out honesty from an actor without ever raising his voice — that’s a rare quality.”

He concluded by saying, “Every actor has a bucket list. For me, this is my dream trio — directors who move hearts, shake minds, and celebrate performance.”

Work-wise, Karan is gearing up for his next big release “Sila,” directed by Omung Kumar. In the film, the actor will portray the character Zehraak, while further details about the movie remain under wraps.(Agency)

1st ODI: Pant misses, Ruturaj comes in cut as South Africa opt to bowl first against India

Ranchi, Nov 30, 2025
South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.

The visitors arrive hoping to carry their momentum from the Test series into the ODIs, while the hosts see this as a chance to silence critics questioning their white-ball credentials. With injuries forcing changes, India now have an unexpected opportunity to assess their depth in the 50-over format.

Despite a fairly stable batting order, India must cope without Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, creating space for new combinations. Their last ODI outing in Australia was marked by the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, still the marquee names in the only format they play these days, so naturally, much of the spotlight will fall on them again throughout the series.

South Africa, meanwhile, aim to intensify India’s challenges. Although they lost their previous ODI series in Pakistan earlier this month, the return of several frontline players makes them a far stronger outfit now.

With Gill sidelined due to the neck injury he picked up in the first Test in Kolkata, KL Rahul steps in to lead the Indian side, while South Africa’s regular skipper Temba Bavuma has been rested, with Aiden Markram captaining.

Stand-in Protea skipper Markram, upon winning the toss, spoke of the team combination and said, “Spent a couple of evenings, dew at night time and it’ll be slightly easier to bat at night. Different personnel, the dressing room is at a good place with a lot of energy and fun. It’s an important series, the end role the 2027 WC, still a bit of time, but we’re up against one of the best teams in the world. Just one spinner in Subrayen, I will bowl a bit – Temba and Maharaj have been rested, four seamers for us today.”

India captain Rahul said that they had been looking to bowl too. When asked of the team’s mindset and combination heading into the game, said, “The preparation has been good, the energy is there with a lot of players coming back, we want to enjoy ourselves in the middle. That’s what the chat has been, we need to use every opportunity we get in the ODI team, this is a great chance to challenge our skills against a very good team. Three spinners and three quicks for us today.

Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman.(Agency)

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