The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Wednesday announced a set of important reforms aimed at making the Indian financial markets more efficient, inclusive, and investor-friendly.

The decisions were taken during the SEBI's board meeting led by its Chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

One of the biggest changes is that startup founders will now be allowed to keep their employee stock ownership plans (Esops) even after their companies go public.

England quick Brydon Carse is relishing the opportunity to play against India for a home Test debut at the Headingley Cricket Ground in the first of the five-Test series that kicks off the English Test summer. Carse made his debut in the longest format in the tour of Pakistan and continued with the side for their tour of New Zealand. Across five matches, he racked up 27 scalps with a career best of 6-42 against the Kiwis at Christchurch in November.

“Headingley is an unbelievable ground. I’ve played a bit of white-ball cricket there over the last couple of years for England and in The Hundred, but to be able to play a home Test against India is going to be pretty exciting, and I cannot wait to get going,” said Carse in the pre-game press conference.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed a massive illegal land compensation scam involving the fraudulent transfer of forest land and wrongful compensation claims, after searches conducted across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

On June 17, the ED’s Mumbai Zonal Office carried out coordinated search operations at multiple premises linked to the accused.

In a shocking incident, a 23-year-old B.Tech student died allegedly by committing suicide in Bhopal, police said on Wednesday.

The police recovered the body, which was hanging from a ceiling fan, from his rented room in the Patel Nagar area under the Piplani police station in Bhopal.

According to police, the deceased has been identified as Mudit Pateria, a resident of Panna district. He was pursuing B.Tech (2nd year) from a private engineering college based in Bhopal.

The incident came to light after his two roommates returned from the market late on Tuesday. Despite repeated knocks on the door and phone calls, Mudit didn't open the door, which made his roommates inform the flat owner.

Subsequently, when his roommates and flat owner broke the door open, they found Mudit hanging from the ceiling fan. They immediately took him to a nearby hospital; however, he was declared dead on arrival.

Upon receiving information, Piplani police reached the spot late on Tuesday and initiated an investigation into the matter.

In connection with the fatal accident on Atal Path on June 12, the prime accused, Ankur Kumar alias Ankush Kumar, surrendered before the Patna Civil Court on Wednesday.

He had been absconding since the incident, which claimed the life of a woman constable and left two other police personnel injured.

Following his surrender, the court remanded Ankur Kumar to judicial custody.

Silver prices continued their upward rally on Wednesday, touching fresh all-time high on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), supported by strong industrial demand and favourable market trends.

Silver futures for July expiry hit a new all-time high of Rs 1,09,748 per kilogram on MCX, breaking Tuesday’s record.

The September futures jumped even higher, touching Rs 1,11,000 per kilogram. With these gains, silver is now trading nearly 25 per cent above its all-time low of Rs 88,050 per kg.

Analysts believe the metal will remain firm due to supportive fundamentals, especially with a revival in industrial demand.

They suggest that investors consider silver as a medium-term tactical investment.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested Manoj a.k.a. Chakki Shankarlal Salvi, a 21-year-old history-sheeter and a close associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, from Udaipur, Rajasthan. Salvi had been absconding for nearly three years following his involvement in an Arms Act case registered in 2022 by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

This is the state's crackdown on inter-state criminal networks linked to high-profile contract killings and illegal arms trade.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh held a press conference today to address the recent baseless and defamatory allegations made against him by Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia. He was accompanied by AAP Punjab General Secretary Deepak Bali and AAP leader Tarandeep Sunny.

India captain Shubman Gill is set to take up the iconic No. 4 spot in the batting order for the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, beginning Friday. Gill's deputy and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant confirmed the decision during a press conference on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation following Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket.

“I think there is still discussion going on about who is going to bat at No. 3. But No. 4 and 5 are fixed,” Pant said. “I think Shubman will bat at No. 4, and I am going to stick to No. 5 as of now. The rest, we are going to keep discussing.”

With the No. 4 position historically held by legends like Sachin Tendulkar and, more recently, Virat Kohli, Gill stepping into that role marks a significant shift in India's red-ball batting framework. Gill, who had been pushed to No. 3 after struggling as an opener, seems ready to embrace the responsibility of what is often considered the cornerstone position in Test batting.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri spoke to IANS on Wednesday about important issues like the impact of the Israel-Iran conflict, India's fuel supply, and the country's growing economy.

In the interview, he shared how India is prepared to deal with global challenges and how government efforts have helped improve energy access for people across the country.

Here are the excerpts from the conversation: