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Nikhil Kamath invests  ₹137 crore in THIS company, bets on clean energy

Nikhil Kamath invests ₹137 crore in THIS company, bets on clean energy

Mint3 days ago
Nikhil Kamath, online trading platform Zerodha's co-founder and a prolific investor, has this time bet on India's solar manufacturing space with a ₹ 137 crore investment in photovoltaic (PV) module company Goldi Solar for an unspecified stake, according to a PTI report.
In an official statement on the infusion, Gujarat-based Goldi Solar said that it will use the funding for expansion activities, the report added.
On his part, Nikhil Kamath in a statement said that this investment comes as he sees 'massive opportunity' in India's renewable sector. 'Renewable energy in India is a massive sector, and there is an equally massive opportunity to build global-scale companies right here on our home ground,' he stated.
In the last year (2024), Goldi Solar has increased its solar PV module manufacturing capacity from 3 gigawatts (GW) to 14.7 GW. The company in its statement said it is also developing its solar cell manufacturing expansions in Surat, Gujarat.
Incorporated in 2011, Goldi Solar added that it 'will continue to introduce high-efficiency solar PV modules and cells incorporating emerging technologies to meet the country's growing clean energy needs', the report added.
As per the PTI report, Nikhil Kamath's investment in Goldi Solar comes at the time that competitor Vikram Solar has begun the processes for its ₹ 2,000 crore initial public offering (IPO). The moves comes amid rapid growth in domestic solar demand.
The Indian government is targeting 280 GW of solar power by 2030, and has also policy interventions on the import duties on foreign modules, and incentives for local manufacturers under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. All this has reportedly spurred actions and development in the sector.
According to a Storyboard18 report, Nikhil Kamath has invested across sectors in startups such as NourishYou, LehLah, InCred Holdings, PeeSafe and Subko Coffee Roasters, among others.
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Why Pakistan and China should be on alert after India test-fires Agni-V missile
Why Pakistan and China should be on alert after India test-fires Agni-V missile

First Post

time17 minutes ago

  • First Post

Why Pakistan and China should be on alert after India test-fires Agni-V missile

India's military prowess was successfully demonstrated once again as the country test-fired its Agni-V missile on Wednesday from Odisha. With a strike range of 5,000 km and multi-target technology, it is a formidable weapon that can be used against Pakistan or China. Notably, Islamabad has only the Shaheen III missile, with a range of 2,500 km, which can compare to India's India put its military might on display on Wednesday (August 20) as it successfully test-fired the Agni-V intermediate range ballistic missile from Odisha's Chandipur. According to the defence ministry, the 'launch validated all operational and technical parameters'. The test, which is part of routine user trials aimed at ensuring the system's readiness, also serves as a warning bell to Pakistan, as the missile has the range covering the entirety of Pakistan and even has the ability to reach even the remotest parts of China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, India's test-firing of the Agni-V comes just around three-and-a-half months after Operation Sindoor and follows the previous test of Agni-5 in March last year. About the Agni-V The Agni-V is the fifth variant of India's long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile. India has a long history with the Agni series of missiles, dating back to 1989. At the time, India had test-fired Agni-I, an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, with a range of around 1,000 km. Subsequently, India has been developing the Agni missile and the fifth variant was first tested in 2012, with subsequent tests conducted in the following years. The last test was conducted in March 2024 when the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was testing the missile after it was equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing it to strike multiple targets with a single launch. The Agni-V missile has a maximum payload of around 1,360 kilogrammes and a range of 5,000 km — this puts Pakistan, Turkey and even China within the missile's target range. However, some experts note that India's is downplaying the missile's range, stating that it actually has the capability of striking 8,000 km away. The Agni - V missile being successfully launched from the Wheeler Island in Balasore, Odisha. PTI What makes the Agni-V missile even more intimidating is that it launches from a sealed canister that reduces the time needed for launching. An Indian Express report explains that the canisterisation also gives the missile a longer shelf life, protecting it from the harsher climatic conditions. The Agni-V also has the potential to be launched via a submarine. Furthermore, its top speed stands at around Mach 24. The Agni-V is also India's first inter-continental ballistic missile, a guided missile that is designed to deliver nuclear warheads, although they could also deliver other payloads. With the Agni, India has joined the club of seven countries: United States, Russia, China, France, Israel, UK and North Korea that possess this technology. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indian defence scientists are also working on future versions of the Agni-V missile with bunker-busting capability, giving it the ability to strike heavily fortified targets. A warning for Pakistan India's test-firing of the Agni-V missile will put Pakistan on alert, as it has a range that covers the entirety of the country. Notably, open source intelligence analyst Damien Symon shared a map showcasing what the tested range of Agni-V looks like and it covers a large area of land. Reports indicate India has just carried out a test launch of the AGNI-5 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, using NOTAM data, here is a map outlining the missile's 4,790 km tested range — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) August 20, 2025 In fact, an Islamabad-based think tank has issued a warning against the Agni-V missile. The Strategic Vision Institute noted that the Agni-V missile could destabilise the region and carry 'serious repercussions' for global security. 'Developments of missiles with ranges of 8,000 km and above and possessing nuclear capability are a clear manifestation of power projection globally and hegemonic designs,' the SVI said, adding that such weapons would put Washington, Moscow, Brussels, Beijing and other major cities within striking range. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, the Agni-V trial comes months after Operation Sindoor in which the Indian Armed Forces' proved their military prowess against Pakistan and its China-and-Turkey-supplied weapons. Moreover, the only missile in Pakistan, which could contend against the Agni-V is the Shaheen III. It is a two-stage, solid-fuelled medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional payloads to a range of 2,750 km. This range allows the missile to target Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, which is the sole reason for its development according to General Khalid Kidwai, the former head of the Strategic Plans Division. There's also reports that Pakistan is secretly developing a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the United States. India's Agni-V missile is part of the country's vast missile arsenal, which includes the surface-to-surface missile 'Prithvi'. File image/Reuters India's missile arsenal The Agni-V missile is just one of the many in India's missile stable. India has the BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile. It has a range of between 300-500 km depending on which variant and launch platform is used. The missile carries a conventional warhead weighing 200-300 kg. Another important missile for India is the short-range ballistic missile Prithvi with a range of 350 km. There's also the Nirbhay, which is India's first indigenously-produced cruise missile. It is similar in appearance to the US Tomahawk and the Russian Club SS-N-27. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition to these, India also possesses the short-range ballistic missile Pralay as well as the Scalp missiles, which were used in Operation Sindoor. Scalps are air-launched cruise missiles with stealth features, designed for long-range deep strikes. Known as Storm Shadow in Britain, these missiles can be operated at night and in all weather conditions. With inputs from agencies

US $250 visa fee may cost economy $29 bn in lost tourism spend
US $250 visa fee may cost economy $29 bn in lost tourism spend

Time of India

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US $250 visa fee may cost economy $29 bn in lost tourism spend

You Might Also Like: Could Trump's Big Beautiful Bill drive away World Cup tourists from the US? Congress and the US tourism industry are at odds over the newly approved $250 'visa integrity fee.' While the Congressional Budget Office ( CBO ) projects it could generate about $2.7 billion annually, industry officials warn it will deter international visitors and harm the broader CBO's estimate is based only on direct fee collections from roughly 11 million annual applicants. But Tourism Economics , a division of Oxford Economics, found the fee could discourage 5.4% of visitors, translating to nearly one million fewer trips each year. That would cut visitor spending, tax revenue, and jobs in the tourism sector. A CBO spokesperson told Forbes, 'By longstanding tradition, the Congressional Budget Office does not incorporate macroeconomic feedback effects into its traditional cost estimates.'Industry representatives argue that lawmakers overlooked the impact on key markets such as India and Brazil. 'Congress made the mistake of assuming that this worldwide visa integrity fee would not have a big impact on visitors from countries like India or Brazil,' Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the US Travel Association, told Forbes. He noted India is one of the fastest-growing inbound markets, with Indian tourists spending $13.3 billion in the US in 2024. 'Applying a $250 fee to a country where travel is growing is mindboggling. It will absolutely deter travel—that's what our research has found,' Hansen refund provision attached to the fee is also drawing scrutiny. Under the Big Beautiful Bill, the State Department 'may reimburse' the fee after the visa expires, but most visitor visas are valid for 10 years. 'The idea that you're going to give the government money and then wait around 10 years and remember to ask for it back, even if you followed the rules, is just absolutely crazy,' Hansen said. The CBO itself acknowledged that few applicants would claim refunds, and the State Department would need years to create a processing fee comes as international tourism to the US faces broader headwinds. A June report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projected the US will be the only major market to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025, with losses estimated at $29 billion. WTTC President Julia Simpson said, 'While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the US government is putting up the 'closed' sign.'Compounding the challenge, Congress cut funding for Brand USA—the country's marketing agency—from $100 million to $20 million. Hansen called the decision 'another error,' stressing that the program is central to shaping international perceptions of the US as a travel destination.

Surat based Abril Paper Tech Ltd to Launch IPO on BSE SME Platform
Surat based Abril Paper Tech Ltd to Launch IPO on BSE SME Platform

Business Standard

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Surat based Abril Paper Tech Ltd to Launch IPO on BSE SME Platform

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