New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has advised e-commerce platforms to self-audit and eliminate dark patterns, said B.L. Verma, Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, in the Parliament on Tuesday.Dark patterns involve using design and choice architecture to deceive, coerce, or influence consumers into making choices that are not in their best interest.In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, during the ongoing session, Verma stated that the CCPA, under the Consumer Affairs Ministry, earlier this month issued an advisory for self-audit by e-commerce platforms to detect the dark patterns on their platforms that will help “create a fair, ethical and consumer-centric digital ecosystem”.“All e-commerce platforms have been advised through the said Advisory to take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms do not engage in such deceptive and unfair trade practices which are in the nature of dark patterns,” Verma said.“Further, all e-commerce platforms have been advised to conduct self-audits to identify dark patterns within three months of the issue of the advisory and take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms are free from such dark patterns,” he added.Verma noted that based on the self-audit reports, “the e-commerce platforms should also give self-declarations that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns in order to ensure a fair digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms”.The advisory follows a meeting convened by the Department of Consumer Affairs in May, with representatives from major e-commerce companies and industry associations, that focused on eliminating deceptive online practices.In November 2023, the CCPA issued guidelines for the prevention and regulation of dark patterns, listing 13 specified dark patterns identified in the e-commerce sector.These dark patterns include false urgency, Basket Sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisements, nagging, trick wording, Saas billing, and rogue malware.“Dark patterns encompass a wide range of manipulative practices such as drip pricing, disguised advertisement, bait and switch, false urgency, etc. Such practices fall under the category of ‘unfair trade practices’ as defined in the Sub-section 47 under Section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019,” the Ministry said.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) The government on Tuesday said it has undertaken a series of administrative measures, including fiscal and trade policy, to control inflation and mitigate its impact on the common citizen.Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha that these coordinated actions are aimed at balancing inflation control with sustained economic growth.These include the augmentation of buffer stocks for essential food items; strategic sales of procured grains in the open market; facilitation of imports and export curbs during periods of short supply; and implementation of stock limits to push more supplies of select commodities into the market, among others.Other measures are retail sales of select food items under the Bharat brand at subsidised rates, and above all, distribution of food grains free of cost to around 81 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, and increasing the disposable income of individuals by exempting annual incomes up to Rs 12 lakh (and Rs 2.75 lakh for salaried individuals with standard deduction) from income tax.Giving more details, the minister further stated that complementing these efforts, the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee raised the repo rate by 250 basis points cumulatively (4 per cent to 6.5 per cent) between May 2022 and February 2023, and thereafter maintained it at 6.5 per cent through January 2025.Consequently, the average year-on-year retail inflation, as measured by the CPI, fell from 5.4 per cent in 2023-24 to 4.6 per cent in 2024-25, the lowest in six years.As per the recent data, retail inflation dropped further to 2.1 per cent in June 2025.Consequent to a broad-based decline in inflation and to promote growth, RBI has brought in 100 basis point cut in policy (repo) rate since February 2025. These coordinated actions are aimed at balancing inflation control with sustained economic growth, said the minister.The Central Bank follows a policy of flexible inflation targeting as its primary monetary policy framework, whereby RBI targets Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation (headline inflation) to be maintained at 4 per cent.Over the past three quarters, the CPI inflation rate has been within the RBI’s tolerance band of 4 per cent (WPI is not a specifically targeted inflation rate for RBI).–IANSna/

Bhopal, July 22 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh is preparing to enter the global digital infrastructure arena with plans to develop a 1 gigawatt AI-ready data centre ecosystem, following a landmark agreement signed during the Madhya Pradesh Business Forum in Barcelona recently during the 13-19 July foreign trip of state Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

He had led the delegation and announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) and Spain-based Submer Technologies, a global leader in immersion cooling solutions for data centres.“Our Chief Minister informed us today about the potential in the data business and the state cabinet cleared a proposal to set up a reliable data centre in Madhya Pradesh,” Kailash Vijayvargiya, state Urban Development Minister and government spokesperson, said here on Tuesday.He further said that without reliable data, no development activity can be conceptualised in the modern era.Chief Minister Yadav emphasised the strategic importance of the collaboration, stating that Madhya Pradesh has earned the trust of global investors through stable governance and industry-friendly policies.He invited international entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in the state, highlighting its readiness to support high-tech ventures. The partnership aims to build next-generation data centres that are energy-efficient, climate-conscious, and optimised for artificial intelligence workloads.Submer Technologies will invest in construction, research and development, and technical infrastructure, while MPSEDC will facilitate land allocation, basic infrastructure, policy support, and regulatory clearances.The proposed facilities will incorporate advanced cooling technologies that significantly reduce power consumption and water usage, aligning with global sustainability benchmarks.Central India is rapidly emerging as a data centre hub, with cities like Indore and Raipur attracting attention for their geographic advantage, low latency, and affordable power. Madhya Pradesh already has data centres in Bhopal and Gwalior.The MoU marks a pivotal moment in Madhya Pradesh’s digital transformation journey. By integrating AI infrastructure with sustainable design, the state aims to position itself as a leader in secure, scalable, and green data services.A delegation from Submer Technologies is expected to visit Madhya Pradesh later this month to identify potential sites and engage with local stakeholders.As the state moves toward becoming a data-enabled economy, the initiative promises to generate employment, foster innovation, and establish Madhya Pradesh as a preferred destination for global digital investment.–IANSsktr/dan

Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited), India’s full stack merchant payments leader serving MSMEs and enterprises, on Tuesday reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 123 crore in Q1 FY26, while the company’s operating revenue grew 28 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1,918 crore.For the June-ending quarter, EBITDA stood at Rs 72 crore, underscoring Paytm’s disciplined approach towards cost structure and driving growth and efficiency through embedded AI capabilities, according to its stock exchange filing.Contribution profit for the quarter increased 52 per cent YoY to Rs 1,151 crore, driven through improved net revenue, increased share of distribution of financial services revenue, and reduced direct expenses.Revenue from distribution of financial services also doubled to Rs 561 crore YoY — representing growth for the payments major.Paytm has extended its leadership in India’s merchant payments landscape, as it continues to add new device subscriptions across MSMEs and enterprises.As of June 2025, total device subscriptions merchants reached an all time high of 1.30 crore, the company said in its regulatory filing.This growth reflects continued demand for Paytm’s Soundbox, All-in-One POS, and card-enabled payment devices, powered by high-quality service and a strong retention-led distribution network.Paytm remains India’s first and only AI-powered omni-channel payments platform, providing an end-to-end seamless payments tech stack including hardware, software and services.As part of its earnings, the company also claimed that it has outperformed traditional capex-led POS provider model and has become a major player in offline enterprise payments within 6 years of starting.Backed by a robust cash balance of Rs 12,872 crore, Paytm is well-positioned to scale its presence across merchant payments, financial services distribution, and AI-powered innovations.“As the company continues to strengthen its full-stack offerings, it remains committed to empowering merchants with scalable, secure, and inclusive digital tools for long-term growth,” Paytm stated.–IANSpk/na

Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) Kajaria Ceramics, one of India’s leading ceramic and vitrified tiles manufacturers, on Tuesday reported a decline of 9.75 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in its revenue to Rs 1102.74 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year (Q1 FY26), compared to Rs 1,221.85 crore in the previous quarter (Q4 FY25).Total income also saw a sharp decline of 9.59 per cent, dropping to Rs 1,115.98 crore in Q1 from Rs 1234.31 crore in Q4 FY25, according to its stock exchange filing.On the cost side, total expenses decreased by 14.84 per cent to Rs 964.71 crore during the quarter, down from Rs 1132.91 crore previously.Despite the drop in revenue, Kajaria Ceramics posted a strong jump in net profit. The company reported a net profit of Rs 110.31 crore in Q1 — marking a significant 155.47 per cent rise from Rs 43.18 crore in the previous quarter.On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the profit rose by 19.50 per cent, compared to Rs 92.32 crore in Q1 FY25.Kajaria Ceramics is known for its wide range of high-quality tile products and strong manufacturing capabilities.The company has an annual production capacity of 93.10 million square meters, spread across nine plants in India and one in Nepal.Its portfolio includes ceramic wall and floor tiles, vitrified tiles, and designer tiles for various spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas.It uses advanced technology, including automation and robotic systems, in its production processes.The company has also received several international certifications for its focus on quality and service.Founded 35 years ago, Kajaria Ceramics has grown into the world’s largest manufacturer of ceramic and vitrified tiles.It also continues to push for sustainability by adopting eco-friendly technologies in its manufacturing.–IANSpk/na

Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) The Indian stock market closed almost flat on Tuesday following mixed reactions, as investors await more clarity on the interim US-India trade deal ahead of the August 1 deadline.The recent movement in the domestic market also reflects the caution, with many investors opting to book profits amid ongoing quarterly result volatility.Sensex settled at 82,186.81, falling 0.02 per cent or 13.53 points. The 30-share index started the session in green at 82,527.27 as compared to last day’s closing of 82,200. However, the stock remained range-bound amid selling in heavyweights like Reliance, SBI, Tata Motors and L&T.Nifty closed at 25,060.90, down 29.80 or 0.12 per cent.The market is experiencing volatility fuelled by quarterly earnings updates. But broader sentiment remains mixed as Participants react to company-specific numbers and await further clarity from global factors, like ongoing US trade negotiations, according to Ashika Institutional Equities.Tata Motors, Reliance, SBI, ITC, Ultratech Cement, L&T Infosys, HCL Tech and Sun Pharma were settled in negative territory from the Sensex basket. While Eternal, Titan, BEL, Hindustan Unilever, Maruti, and Mahindra and Mahindra were the top gainers from the 30-share index.Meanwhile, 33 shares declined, 16 advanced, and 1 remained unchanged from Nifty50.Among sectoral indices, Bank Nifty, Nifty FMCG, and Nifty IT ended the session in red. Nifty Financial Services closed flat.Broader indices followed suit as well. Nifty Midcap 100 closed 364 points or 0.61 per cent lower, Nifty 100 fell 41 points, and Nifty Smallcap 100 settled 64 points or 0.34 per cent lower.Rupee traded lower by 0.08 per cent at 86.36 as domestic capital markets remained weak and the dollar index held flat to slightly positive near 97.86.“Market participants now shift focus to Fed Chair Powell’s upcoming speech, which could influence global currency sentiment. Rupee is expected to remain within a range of Rs 85.75–Rs 86.60,” said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.The market’s attention is on quarterly earnings, which slowed lately after some traction from banking stocks. Positivity noticed on Friday and Monday tapered ahead of the critical August 1st deadline of the US trade agreement.“Upside in Q1 earnings will be the critical point to sustain the current premium valuations. Continued profit booking by the FIIs exerts downward pressure, while steady inflows from DIIs could support a range-bound movement with a positive bias towards Q1 results and the trade deal,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.–IANSaps/na

Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming for finance operations — and India is uniquely positioned to build the category-defining companies that power this transformation. That’s the central thesis of a compelling new essay from Accel investors Anagh Prasad and Eknoor Malhotra, published on ‘SeedToScale’, Accel’s open-source content and community hub for founders.In their piece, “AI is Coming for Accounting. India is Uniquely Positioned to Lead,” the authors argue that the traditionally complex and compliance-heavy world of accounting is on the cusp of a generational shift. Large language models (LLMs) and AI-native systems are now capable of handling core finance workflows — invoice capture, reconciliation, closing books, reporting — not just faster, but smarter.“Accounting is a textbook example of where AI’s capabilities can be productised — reasoning over structured and unstructured data, chaining logic across systems, and adapting to compliance rules — all in a high-volume, high-context environment,” write Prasad and Malhotra.But the real unlock, they argue, isn’t just the technology — it’s India.“India has long been the financial operations back office to the world. Now, we can build the brain,” they write, referencing India’s deep bench of finance talent, decades of operational know-how from BPO and KPO firms, and a new wave of founders trained in AI and enterprise software.The authors frame the opportunity as similar to earlier SaaS inflection points: “Think of what Freshworks did for CRM or what Zoho did for productivity tools. We believe India can build the world’s most valuable companies in AI-for-Finance.”The piece also serves as a call to arms for early-stage founders. Rather than bolting AI onto existing workflows, Prasad and Malhotra advocate for ground-up reinvention: tools that reason, explain, and act—what they call “agents, not forms.”This shift coincides with rising demand among global CFOs to increase reporting cadence, improve accuracy, and cut costs — all while contending with shrinking finance teams. “This is creating a wedge for AI to prove itself — not just as a shiny demo, but as core to business continuity,” they write.Their conclusion is both urgent and optimistic: “The building blocks are in place — what’s needed now is imagination and execution.”For founders, operators, and investors alike, the message is clear: the future of finance will be automated and intelligent. And with the right ambition, India might just build the systems that power it.–IANSna/

Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) Colgate Palmolive India on Tuesday reported an 11.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in its net profit to Rs 321 crore for the April-June quarter of 2025-26 (Q1 FY26), compared to Rs 364 crore during the same period previous fiscal (Q1 FY25).The company’s net sales also dropped by more than 4.4 per cent, falling from Rs 1,486 crore in Q1 FY25 to Rs 1,421 crore this quarter, according to its stock exchange filing.Revenue from operations saw a similar decline of 4.3 per cent, reaching Rs 1,433 crore compared to Rs 1,496.71 crore in the year-ago period.Colgate’s operating margin also fell this quarter, slipping to 31.6 per cent from 34 per cent previous financial year.This reflects a contraction of 240 basis points. The company’s EBITDA also declined by 11 per cent to Rs 453 crore from Rs 508.34 crore in the same quarter previous fiscal.Commenting on the results, Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive India, said that the performance was affected by weak urban demand and rising competition.She also noted that the results were impacted due to a strong base from the previous year, when net sales had grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 per cent between Q1 FY23 and Q1 FY25.Despite the challenges, Narasimhan highlighted that the company continued to invest in strategic areas, including brand building and product innovation.She said that Colgate made good progress in the premium category, which showed strong revenue growth.“The company also used its healthy profit margins to boost brand investment,” she mentioned.In a bid to drive growth through innovation, Colgate introduced new products this quarter.These include the Colgate Kids Squeezy Toothpaste in strawberry and watermelon flavours, designed for children aged 3 to 6, and the MaxFresh Mouthwash Sachet Stick in Fresh Tea flavour for customers seeking freshness on the go.Narasimhan said the company expects conditions to improve in the second half of the financial year and remains confident about its growth strategy.–IANSpk

New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) Indian equities remained resilient in June despite mid-month volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions, backed by robust domestic macroeconomic indicators and a gradual improvement in investor sentiment, a report said on Tuesday.”Nifty 50 rose 3.1 per cent during the month, extending its leadership on a 12-month basis with a 6.3 per cent return. The Small-cap 250 index led the monthly performance with a 5.73 per cent gain and delivered 4 per cent annual returns, highlighting a renewed investor appetite for broader market segments,” said PL Asset Management in its recent report. Meanwhile, the Nifty Mid-cap index registered a 4.1 per cent rise in the month and a 5.6 per cent return over the past year.According to the report, the overall momentum was supported by resilient macro fundamentals and improved breadth across sectors. At the same time, a ceasefire-driven rebound in global equities helped restore investor confidence as well. The report noted that the month saw cyclicals lead outperformances.Digital (5.42 per cent), Infrastructure (4.89 per cent), and Tourism (4.38 per cent) stood out in June, while Healthcare (15.01 per cent), Defence (21.78 per cent), and Finance (14.3 per cent) emerged as the top annual performers.Banking and IT also saw robust gains, supported by a resurgence in credit demand and digital transformation tailwinds, the report highlighted. “June data confirmed the ongoing disinflation trend, with strong tax collections and capital expenditure aiding macro stability. However, external headwinds such as volatile FII flows, tariff-related uncertainties, and monsoon outcomes remain key variables to watch in H2CY25,” said Siddharth Vora, Head – Quant Investment Strategies and Fund Manager, PL Asset Management.Market sentiment has started to rebound meaningfully since late March 2025, with a growing number of stocks trading closer to their 52-week highs than lows.This shift signals a broad-based improvement in participation, supported by the rising Nifty500 Equal Weight vs Nifty500 1-year rolling return spread, which is climbing off a cyclical low—an early sign of improving market breadth and potential reversal or consolidation, the report said.–IANSaps/na

New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) Venture Capital (VC) investment in India rose to $3.5 billion across 355 deals in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025) from $2.8 billion across 456 deals in the preceding quarter, a report said on Tuesday.During the period, fintech remained one of the hottest sectors for investment in the nation, said KPMG in its latest ‘Venture Pulse Q2 2025’ report.“India’s venture capital landscape demonstrated resilience in Q2’25, with funding rising despite global uncertainties. Key sectors like fintech, health-tech, and logistics drew strong investor interest, reflecting confidence in India’s innovation potential,” said Nitish Poddar, Partner and National Leader, Private Equity, KPMG in India.The quarter’s performance underscores the country’s growing role in shaping the region’s startup ecosystem, Poddar added.Meanwhile, global venture capital investment declined to $101.05 billion in the quarter from $128.4 billion in Q1 2025.However, despite the drop, the Q2 remained a relatively strong quarter despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts, trade tensions, and macroeconomic uncertainty, the report stated.The focus on VC investors remained largely on large-scale opportunities, especially in the AI and defence-tech space.According to the report, the US dominates global VC investment in AI, attracting deals worth over $1 billion in the space”The US attracted almost 70 per cent of global VC investment during Q2’25. The AI, defence tech, and space tech sectors accounted for the five largest deals, the report highlighted.Defence-tech-focused AI companies also raised funds in other parts of the world.While defence-tech and AI were the hottest sectors of VC investment during the second quarter of the year, fintech also saw a new wave of interest from global VC investors, the report stated.Meanwhile, VC Investment in Europe holds near steady as investors shift focus to larger and late-stage deals.VC investment in Europe held nearly steady at $14.6 billion in Q2’25, down only slightly from $16.3 billion in Q1’25, despite a drop in deal count from 2,358 to 1,733, the KPMG report said.At the same time, VC investment remained very weak in Asia, despite a slight increase in total investment from $12.6 billion in Q1 2025 to $12.8 billion — still the second-lowest total in over a decade.Deal volume in Asia dropped from 2,663 in Q1 2025 to just 2,022 in Q2 2025, the report noted.–IANSaps/na