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Workers walk in front of the site of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, India, while it is under construction on December 29, 2023. Anushree Fadnavis/ReutersIndian engineering group Larsen and Toubro is constructing the temple within a 70-acre (28 hectares) complex, with the construction expected to cost about 15 billion rupees ($180 million). The government has not provided funds for its establishment and donations of about 30 billion rupees ($361 million) have been collected for the complex. Three sculptors carved murals of Lord Ram, one of which was picked by a panel to reside inside the sanctum sanctorum. The black stone sculpture weighs between 150 – 200 kgs (440 lbs) and depicts the deity as a five-year-old boy.

Persons: Anushree Fadnavis, Larsen, Toubro, Lord Ram Locations: Ayodhya, India, Indian

A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. While India's gold demand has been solid so far in 2023, matching strength in the domestic economy, it appears that some momentum may be coming out of the market. The high price of gold for consumers in China may further crimp demand in the fourth quarter, after the World Gold Council reported a decline in third. The recent price rally is likely to trim demand growth in India in the current quarter. But countering the positive drivers are signs that high prices are undermining demand growth in the key markets of China and India.

Persons: Anushree, they're, Hong Kong, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Reserve, Hong, Hong Kong Census, Statistics Department, Gold, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Delhi, India, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Hong, Central

[1/6] Ola electric scooters are seen outside the Ola Electric Service Centre, in Thane on the outskirts of Mumbai, India, October 25, 2023. Aggarwal's Ola Electric, which he likens to Tesla in the West, is zipping towards a stock-market listing after going from zero to 338,000 e-scooter sales in about two years. But he acknowledged service capacity issues and said Ola was "aggressively" bolstering its service network by adding 100 new centres and hiring more technicians. 'TESLA FOR WEST, OLA FOR REST'Aggarwal often declares, "Tesla is for the West, Ola for the rest", and he's a man in a hurry. "Electric vehicles are new to people so they aren't aware of how to ride the vehicle to maximise optimal output," he said.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, it's, Elon Musk, Aggarwal's Ola, Tesla, Ola, Devendra Ghuge, Aggarwal, Ola EVs, Ravi Bhatia, Bhatia, Japan's SoftBank, Ronald Radhakrishnan, Koradia, Riddhima Talwani, Aditi Shah, Rishika Sadam, Sriram, Arpan Chaturvedi, Anushree, Pandya, Francis Mascerehnas, Varun Vyas, Munsif, Jatindra, Saurabh Sharma, Sumit Khanna, Jose Devasia, Aditya Kalra Organizations: Ola Electric Service Centre, REUTERS, Staff, Reuters, JATO Dynamics, WEST, OLA, West, Singapore's Temasek, Industry, Hero Electric, TVS, EV, Ola, Fayaz Bukhari, Thomson Locations: Thane, Mumbai, India, THANE, HYDERABAD, DELHI, MUMBAI, Chennai, Bengaluru, India's, U.S, China, Kochi, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jose, Srinagar

☆ Afghan embassy in India shuts down citing lack of support, Taliban pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People are seen outside the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi, India, September 29, 2023. An embassy statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday said that period in limbo was over, and the embassy was shutting and the keys had been given to the host government. "Given the constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control, the embassy faced a difficult choice," the statement added. Afghan diplomats in India appointed by Ghani's government have reached third countries and there are none remaining in India, the embassy statement said. "The only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings," the statement said.

Persons: Anushree, Farid Mamundzay, Mamundzay, Shivam Patel, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Taliban, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, New Delhi, India, DELHI, Europe, U.S, Mumbai

☆ Indian capital resumes some activities despite hazardous air, river foam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Kanjyik Ghosh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - India's capital Delhi re-opened schools and some building sites on Monday amid signs of receding air pollution, although it remained classified as hazardous, while a toxic foam besmirched stretches of the Yamuna river flowing through the city. The world's most polluted capital resumed its annual battle on pollution this month, despite government pledges to improve. Monday's air quality index (AQI) of 336 was down from Thursday's level of 509, but still "hazardous", Swiss group IQAir said. Delhi's air pollution gets worse in winter, when wind speeds drop and cooling air traps pollutants spewed by vehicles, industry and farmers burning agricultural waste in surrounding states to prepare for new planting. PM2.5 levels remained above 128 micrograms per cubic meter of air since Sunday in the National Capital Region, according to the federal pollution control board.

Persons: Anushree, IQAir, Ankit Srivastava, Gopal Rai, Kanjyik Ghosh, Shivam Patel, Clarence Fernandez, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Delhi's, Vehicles, National Capital, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Mumbai

☆ Gold eases as firm dollar counters bets on peak US rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Anushree Ashish Mukherjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $1,961.10 . Denting bullion's appeal, the dollar index (.DXY) was up 0.4%, while benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rebounded after a revision of retail sales data showed strong gains in September. Bullion gained over 1% in the previous session after data showed that U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in October. U.S. producer prices fell by the most in 3-1/2 years in October, the latest indication of subsiding inflation pressures. While gold is considered an inflation hedge, rising interest rates dull non-yielding bullion's appeal.

Persons: Bullion, David Meger, Tai Wong, Anushree Mhukerjee, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Companies, U.S . Federal, Treasury, CPI, PPI, High, Investors, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies US consumer prices unchanged in OctoberU.S. dollar eyes worst session in a yearSilver, palladium gain more than 3%Nov 14 (Reuters) - Gold prices gained 1% on Tuesday as the dollar and Treasury yields retreated after softer-than-expected U.S. consumer inflation data fuelled bets that the Federal Reserve may be done hiking interest rates. U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in October and underlying inflation showed signs of slowing. We are expecting a significant deterioration in the data over the course of the fourth quarter, which should weaken dollar and support gold," said Daniel Ghali, commodity strategist at TD Securities. "Over the next six months, we're looking at gold prices to rally towards $2,100 per ounce." Reuters GraphicsBoosting bullion's appeal, the dollar index (.DXY) fell 1.4%, its biggest daily decline in one year, while benchmark 10-year Treasury yields eyed their worst day in eight months after the inflation data.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Austan Goolsbee, Daniel Ghali, Commerzbank, Ashitha Shivaprasad, Emelia Sithole, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: REUTERS, Companies, Treasury, Federal, Chicago Fed, TD Securities, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Novosibirsk, Siberian, Russia, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Explainer: Why is South Asia the global hotspot of pollution?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Sakshi Dayal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The worsening air pollution is an annual problem for South Asian nations as winter approaches and cold, heavy air traps pollution in a thick layer of smog. South Asia has become the global hotspot for air pollution, with studies finding four of the world's most polluted countries and nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the region. WHY IS POLLUTION IN SOUTH ASIA WORSE THAN OTHER PLACES? An increase in the number of vehicles on roads as the region has developed has also exacerbated the pollution problem. Countries across South Asia will have to coordinate efforts if the region's pollution problem is to be solved, collaborating to enhance monitoring and make policy decisions.

Persons: stubble, Anushree, Sakshi Dayal, Michael Perry Organizations: Swiss Group, REUTERS, ., Thomson Locations: DELHI, South Asia, Asia, New Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh's

Spot gold dipped 1.1% to $1,936.09 per ounce by 2:38 p.m. ET (1938 GMT) and was down 2.8% in its worst week in six. Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield and the dollar index (.DXY) headed for weekly gains, making non-yielding gold less attractive for investors. Platinum shed 2% to $842.34, on track for its worst week since mid-2021. Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad and Anushree Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid and Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, Fawad, Bullion, Jim Wyckoff, Ashitha Shivaprasad, Anushree Mukherjee, Tasim Zahid, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Federal, Index, Reuters Graphics U.S, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Kitco Metals, Thomson Locations: East, India, Bengaluru

Down 45% so far this year, palladium is on course for its worst year of losses since 2008, when the financial crash hit demand. Top producer Russia's Nornickel expects the palladium market to swing to a surplus of 300,000 ounces in 2024 from a 200,000-ounce deficit in 2023 due to supplies, boosted by recycling, outpacing demand. Consultancy Metals Focus forecasts above-ground palladium stocks of about 11.64 million ounces in 2023, compared with 12.35 million in 2022 and 12.89 million in 2021 - meaning ample supplies. In March 2022, palladium was trading at more than double the price of platinum, prompting a switch by automakers. However, longer-term Metals Focus is quite bearish on palladium," said Nikos Kavalis, managing director at Metals Focus.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, hastening, Russia's Nornickel, John Meyer, Edward Meir, Nikos Kavalis, Brijesh Patel, Harshit Verma, Ashitha, Anjana Anil, Anushree Mukherjee, Abhijith, Arpan Varghese, Pratima Desai, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Russia, ICE, International Energy, Consultancy, Metals, Thomson Locations: Siberian, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Ukraine, Bengaluru

☆ Indian capital gets a breather as rain brings respite from smog
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

India's weather department has forecast intermittent rain over the city and adjoining areas till early noon on Friday. Meanwhile, air in the financial capital of Mumbai has markedly improved due to showers in nearby coastal areas. This year, attention on the worsening air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup hosted by India. Scientists and authorities were planning to seed clouds in New Delhi around Nov. 20 to trigger heavy rain, the first such attempt to clean the air. Friday's rain comes two days before the Diwali festival, when many people defy a ban on firecrackers, causing a spike in air pollution.

Persons: Anushree, Tanvi Mehta, Rajendra Jadhav, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, India, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Swiss, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Kolkata, India's, Mumbai

☆ Indian scientists hope cloud seeding can clean Delhi's toxic air
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Shivam Patel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Air quality dips in Delhi ahead of winter every year, when cold air traps pollutants from a variety of sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning. The project, estimated to cost 10 million rupees ($120,000) for 100 square kilometres (38.6 square miles), would involve spraying into clouds a mix of salts that include silver iodine, Agrawal said. "We don't expect that big a cloud that will cover entire Delhi, but a few hundred kilometres would be good," he told Reuters. The air quality index in the city was 506 early on Thursday, which is categorised as "hazardous" by Swiss group IQAir. Several countries have used cloud seeding to produce rain, improve air quality and water crops in time of drought, including Mexico, the United States, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Persons: Anushree, Manindra Agrawal, Agrawal, Gufran Beig, SAFAR, Beig, Shivam Patel, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Indian Institute of Technology, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Kanpur, Punjab, Haryana, Mexico, United States, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Mexico

☆ Reeling under toxic air, India's capital shuts schools
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People and vehicles are seen on a road amidst the morning smog in New Delhi, India, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Reeling under hazardous air quality levels, India's capital New Delhi shut down all schools for an extended period on Wednesday, the latest in a series of measures to protect residents from growing air pollution. Air quality levels in the city were over 320 on the air quality index, a level categorised as 'hazardous' by Swiss group IQAir, although it was not as bad as the 400 range hit earlier this week. Schools in the capital city would remain closed from Thursday until Nov. 18 on a winter break, which was originally scheduled for January, the Delhi government said in a notification. Primary schools in the city had already been shut, as part of measures to protect young children against smog and growing air pollution.

Persons: Anushree, SAFAR, Shivam Patel, Manoj Kumar, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Swiss, Delhi, Farmers, Punjab, Haryana

☆ Court stays sacking of Sri Lanka board
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ranasinghe had replaced the board with an interim committee on Monday after a disappointing World Cup campaign, amid protests calling for the resignation of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials. The matter was also discussed in Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday. Sri Lanka's team wind up their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on Thursday. Sri Lanka are currently ninth with four points -- the same as England, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The only control that we have in this tournament is the game tomorrow," Nawaz told reporters.

Persons: Arun Jaitley, Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka, Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan, Pathum Nissanka, Anushree, Roshan Ranasinghe's, Ranasinghe, Shammi Silva, Sri, Sri Lanka's, Naveed Nawaz, Nawaz, Chiranjit Ojha, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Arun, Sri, Pathum Nissanka REUTERS, Sri Lanka Cricket, New Zealand, Christian, Thomson Locations: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Delhi, India, Sri Lanka's, Pakistan, England, Netherlands, Bengaluru

☆ India's top court tells states to stop crop burning as New Delhi's air turns hazardous
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Shivam Patel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Air quality dips every year ahead of winter, when calm and cold winds trap pollutants from sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning. Delhi has stopped local construction, closed primary schools till Nov. 10 and will impose restrictions on use of vehicles next week to fight pollution, but it wants its neighbouring states to control crop residue burning. At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the real time air quality index stood at 306, a level categorised as 'hazardous' by Swiss group IQAir. "We direct the state government of Punjab and adjacent states to Delhi - Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh - to ensure that crop (residue) burning is stopped forthwith," Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana usually burn crop stubble left behind after rice is harvested in late October or early November to quickly clear their fields before planting wheat crops.

Persons: Anushree, Boulton, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, SAFAR, Justice Kaul, Kaul, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, NEW, Farmers, Thomson Locations: Karnal district, Haryana, India, NEW DELHI, New Delhi, Delhi, Swiss, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh

☆ Bangladesh captain Shakib ruled out of final World Cup game
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka - Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India - November 6, 2023 Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan in action as he scores four runs REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan will miss his team's final World Cup match after fracturing his finger during their win over Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Tuesday, and will be replaced by Anamul Haque. Shakib scored 82 in Delhi, helping Bangladesh chase down 280, and took two wickets in a man-of-the-match performance. "He underwent an emergency X-ray in Delhi after the game which confirmed the fracture on the left PIP joint. Shakib, 36, also made the appeal that led to the controversial time-out dismissal of Sri Lanka batter Angelo Mathews who called him a "cheat" on social media. The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup has approved Anamul Haque Bijoy, who has played 45 ODIs, as Shakib's replacement.

Persons: Arun Jaitley, Shakib Al Hasan, Anushree, Anamul Haque, Shakib, Khan, Sri, Angelo Mathews, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Chiranjit, Ed Osmond Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Arun, Sri, Bangladesh Cricket Board, Australia, Thomson Locations: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Delhi, India, Delhi, Bengaluru

☆ India's New Delhi to restrict use of vehicles to curb air pollution - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk on 'Kartavya Path' amidst the morning smog as air pollution levels declined in New Delhi, India, November 6, 2023.REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 6 (Reuters) - India's Delhi city will restrict use of vehicles for a week between Nov. 13 and 20 to curb air pollution, the local government's environment minister said on Monday, as air quality remained in the "severe" category despite mitigation efforts. The rule would allow vehicles with odd number plates to ply on odd dates and similarly vehicles with even registration numbers will be allowed on road on alternate days. Air quality was 'severe' for a third consecutive day in the city on Monday, according to the federal pollution control body, forcing the city government to extend the closure of primary schools until Nov. 10. "There is a possibility that air pollution will rise after the Diwali," Gopal Rai, Delhi's environment minister, said, referring to the Hindu festival on Nov. 12 during which firecrackers, which are banned, are often set on fire, worsening air pollution. Reporting by Shivam Patel; additional reporting by Amlan Chakraborty; editing by Sudipto GangulyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anushree, Gopal Rai, Shivam Patel, Amlan Chakraborty, Sudipto Ganguly Organizations: REUTERS, Sri, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

☆ India developers seek to cash in on soaring EV sales with residential chargers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Ajose Koilparambil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Electric Vehicle(EV) charging units are seen at a parking lot of Sobha city, a real estate property, in Gurugram, India, October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - More developers in India are putting electric vehicle chargers in parking slots of new developments, hoping to boost the value of the property and attract more buyers in a country where the charging infrastructure can't keep up with soaring EV sales. While EVs accounted for just 2.4% of India's vehicle sales in the first half of this year, EV sales grew 137% to 48,000 units during the same period, research firm Canalys says. The world's most populous nation is aiming to make EVs account for a third of total vehicle sales by 2030, but scarcity of public charging stations could derail these ambitions. Sobha has gone a step further and launched two residential projects in Bengaluru with EV charging facilities in all available parking slots.

Persons: Anushree, Canalys, Javed Shafiq Rao, Ravneet Phokela, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Dhanya Skariachan, Miyoung Kim Organizations: REUTERS, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Prestige, EV, Mahindra Lifespace, Brigade, DLF, Ather Energy, Survey, Thomson Locations: Gurugram, India, United States, Bengaluru, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh

☆ Indian farmers carry on burning stubble despite cost to health
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manoj Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But for him, the only alternative to burning crop residues is to join the queue to hire machines to clear his field, which would cost him about $100 for his four-acre farm. More than 85% of Indian farmers are categorised as small, meaning that, like Sharma, they own about four acres or fewer. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has typically accounted for 30% to 40% of Delhi's October-November pollution, according to government air-quality monitoring agency SAFAR. POLITICAL WILL LACKINGAjay Singh Rana, a Haryana farm official, said the number of farms burning stubble in Karnal had dropped to 96 so far this year from 270 last year. ($1 = 83.1750 Indian rupees)Reporting by Manoj Kumar, additional reporting by Anushree Fadnavis; editing by Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anushree, Aashish Sharma, Sharma, SAFAR, Dharamvir Singh, Ajay Singh Rana, Sharma's, Mukhi Ram Sharma, Bajinder Pal Punia, Manoj Kumar, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Central Pollution Control, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Karnal district, Haryana, India, New Delhi, Sharma's, Karnal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Samalkha

☆ Delhi shrouded in toxic smog
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[2/10]Share this photoA man exercises on a playground of the school after primary classes were ordered shut by the Delhi government for Friday and Saturday as the air pollution increased and the air quality index (AQI) plummeted, on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, November 3. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Organizations: REUTERS Locations: Delhi, New Delhi, India

☆ India opposition accuses govt of trying to hack lawmakers' iPhones
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of India's main opposition Congress party, gestures as he addresses the media at Congress' headquarters in New Delhi, India, October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI Oct 31 (Reuters) - Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of trying to hack into senior opposition politicians' mobile phones, after they reported receiving warning messages from Apple (AAPL.O). "Hack us all you want," Gandhi told a news conference in New Delhi, in reference to Modi. In 2021, India was rocked by reports that the government had used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to snoop on scores of journalists, activists and politicians, including Gandhi. The government has declined to reply to questions whether India or any of its state agencies had purchased Pegasus spyware for surveillance.

Persons: Rahul Gandhi, India's, Anushree, Narendra Modi's, Apple, Gandhi, Modi, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jairam Ramesh, Shivam Patel, Rupam, John Stonestreet Organizations: Congress, REUTERS, Apple, Information Technology, Pegasus, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI

☆ Indian gold demand loses lustre in peak festive season as prices rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

India is the world's second-largest gold consumer, and a drop in purchases could limit a rally in global prices . Local gold prices jumped this week to 61,396 rupees per 10 grams, near the all-time high of 61,845 rupees hit earlier this year. In the December quarter, demand is expected to be lower than last year's 276.3 metric tons, Somasundaram said. From January to September, gold demand fell by 3.3% to 481.2 metric tons due to sluggish demand in the first half. In 2023, demand could fall to around 700 metric tons, the lowest in three years, down from 774.1 metric tons a year ago, he said.

Persons: Anushree, Somasundaram, Rajendra Jadhav, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Gold Council, PR, Thomson Locations: Delhi, India, Rights MUMBAI

☆ Indian school for wrestling helps girls chase better life and glory
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Anushree Fadnavis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Driven by dreams of winning medals for their country, two dozen girls and young women train to become wrestlers in a cluster of white one-story buildings set on a dusty track winding through farmland on the edge of a north Indian village. Run by a husband and wife convinced that sport can fuel aspirations and build confidence, the Altius wrestling school in the village of Sisai in Haryana state, about three hours’ drive from the Indian capital, aims to change perceptions. “There is no value of a woman in a village,” Usha Sharma, India’s first female wrestling coach, told Reuters. “In a village, an animal has more value to it than a woman, as an animal gives milk and there is a cost attached to it.”Whether or not they become champions, the girls from humble families receive rare lessons in female empowerment during their training at the residential centre Sharma set up in 2009, along with her husband, Sanjay Sihag, a sports teacher.

Persons: ” Usha Sharma, India’s, Sharma, Sanjay Sihag Organizations: Reuters, “ Locations: Sisai, Haryana

☆ India's festival season to bring some cheer to economy, say economists
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Milounee Purohit | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nearly 75% of economists, 25 of 33, said spending during this year's festival season, which lasts from October through December, will be higher compared to last year. Among those, 21 said slightly higher and four said significantly higher. "From a year-on-year growth rate perspective, it may not be a substantial upside so to speak." Economists generally agree India needs an even higher growth rate to generate enough jobs for millions of young people who enter the workforce every year. When asked what was India's potential economic growth rate over the next 2-3 years, economists returned a median range of 6.0%-7.0%.

Persons: Anushree, Dhiraj Nim, Alexandra Hermann, Milounee Purohit, Anant Chandak, Susobhan Sarkar, Veronica Khongwir, Hari Kishan, Ross Finley, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Reserve Bank of, ANZ Research, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: Delhi, India, Reserve Bank of India

Savings accounts are low interest rate-bearing deposits offered by Indian banks, forming a third of their total deposits. Public sector banks offer interest rates between 2.70% to 4% on savings deposits, while large private banks offer rates between 3% to 4.50%. Savings deposits rate of banks vs RBI's repo rateThe RBI has been nudging banks at meetings to raise savings deposit rates and may need to push them again if required, the same source said. The RBI said in its monetary policy report that while the increase in term deposit rates in the current tightening cycle has exceeded that in lending rates, savings deposit rates have remained almost unchanged. Yes Bank (YESB.NS), Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS) and IndusInd Bank (INBK.NS) are among lenders that have recently said they have no plans to raise savings deposit rates.

Persons: Anushree, Siddhi Nayak, Swati Bhat, Nivedita Organizations: Reserve Bank of India, REUTERS, Rights, Savings, Reuters, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Rights MUMBAI

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