India’s economy is set to grow at 6.7 per cent in FY26, driven by a cyclical recovery and steady market performance, a new report said on Thursday.

Cyclical recovery refers to the phase in an economic cycle that follows a recession or slowdown, during which economic activity, consumer spending, and business investments start to rise.

Over the past five years, India has witnessed strong earnings growth, with the NIFTY index recording a 20 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to a Lighthouse Canton report.

As the economy moves forward, the next phase of growth will depend on key factors such as government capital expenditure, tax benefits for the middle class, and improved consumer demand.

These elements are expected to support earnings recovery and market confidence in 2025, the report said.

Southern heartthrob Allu Arjun's son, Allu Ayaan turned 11 today on April 3, 2025.

Commemorating the occasion, Allu Arjun dropped a picture of the star kid on his Instagram handle, along with a heartfelt note that read, "Many many happy returns of the day to the love of my life...Happy Birthday my Chinni Babu #AlluAyaan."

His better half, Sneha Reddy also used social media to wish her son on his birthday. Sharing a compilation of Allu Ayaan's precious moments, Sneha Reddy wrote on the micro-blogging site, "Happy birthday to the most adorable, loving soul — our little foodie with the biggest heart and the fastest feet! Whether you’re planning our next family trip, or making us all laugh around the dinner table, you’re the magic that holds us together. Keep dreaming big, loving hard. We’re so proud of the amazing boy you are."

The Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), has issued a 14-day strike notice to the management of the Samsung factory in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur.

This follows the withdrawal of a month-long protest by the union on March 7.

The Sangam is demanding the reinstatement of 23 suspended workers, recognition of their union, and a formal wage agreement.

They have also challenged the legitimacy of a newly-formed group - the Samsung India Welfare Federation - which, according to the Sangam, has signed a wage agreement with the company.

The strike notice, jointly signed by Sangam President E. Muthukumar and Secretary P. Ellan, urged the company to withdraw complaints against the suspended workers and reinstate them immediately. The notice also emphasised that the Sangam represents the majority of the workforce and should be formally recognised by Samsung.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Chandigarh Police to investigate the case of alleged assault of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by Punjab Police personnel and complete the probe within four months.

The army officer was allegedly assaulted by 12 Punjab Police personnel in Patiala over a parking dispute.

The bench of Justice Harpreet Singh Brar instructed the Chandigarh Police to set up a Special Investigation Team within three days, and also specified that no Punjab Police officer should be part of the SIT to ensure a fair and transparent probe.

Col Bath, an officer posted in Delhi, moved the High Court last week, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the Punjab Police allegedly delayed filing a first information report (FIR) regarding his assault on him and his son by 12 policemen, including four inspectors.

One person was killed while three others were injured when a speeding car lost control and rammed into a group of pedestrians in Chennai's Teynampet area on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Babu, a resident of Nandanam.

Three others sustained severe injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.

Abis Ahmed, who was driving the car, has been arrested.

India’s job market is undergoing a significant transformation, with white-collar gig jobs witnessing a 17 per cent rise year-on-year (YoY) in FY25, a new report said on Thursday.

Currently, over 6.8 million professionals in India are part of the white-collar gig workforce, with a majority (66 per cent) working through company-led models, including corporates, MNCs and startups, according to a report by Foundit.

The remaining 34 per cent are placed through consultants, staffing firms or freelance platforms.

The gig economy has expanded across multiple industries, with IT software and services remaining the dominant sector, contributing 32 per cent of gig hires in March.

In a bid towards transparency in the judiciary, all the Judges of the Supreme Court have agreed to make a declaration of their assets.

When the apex court is functioning at a strength of 33 judges at present, 30 judges have submitted their declarations of assets so far, as per the information available on the official website.

The Supreme Court ought to function with a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Institutional investments in India's real estate sector saw a strong start to 2025, with total inflows reaching $1.3 billion in the first quarter, a new report said on Thursday.

This marks a 31 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, driven largely by domestic investors, according to the report by Colliers India.

Domestic investments played a significant role in this growth, contributing $0.8 billion, which is a 75 per cent rise on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

These investments were mainly directed toward industrial, warehousing and office spaces. The office segment alone attracted $0.4 billion, making up one-third of the total investments.

A team of Canadian researchers has identified three novel genes linked to rare childhood diarrhoea.

The rare condition called CODE (congenital diarrhoea and enteropathies) disrupts the function of cells in the intestine, causing diarrhoea. It also prevents infants from absorbing the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.

The team from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) conducted genome sequencing on 129 infants with suspected CODE.

The scientists characterised the function of novel CODE genes using advanced computational methods and zebrafish models

The analysis was remarkably successful, providing a diagnosis for 48 per cent of cases.

Industry experts on Thursday welcomed the exemption of Indian pharmaceutical exports from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs while also stressing the need to strengthen domestic manufacturing.

The experts cited the importance of the cost-effective and life-saving Indian generic medicines as the reason for the exemption.

The White House factsheet issued on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs on imports from India said that pharmaceuticals were exempt.

Indian drugs, especially the generics, help hold down the costs of the US healthcare system, which is already one of the most expensive in the world.