Tuesday, November 26
The Indian rupee appreciated 5 paise to 83.19 against the US dollar supported by positive domestic equities and foreign fund inflows. However, the Indian currency remained under pressure due to a strong American currency and rising crude oil prices. The dollar index was trading higher at 102.49. Global oil price benchmark Brent crude fell to USD 77.88 per barrel. In the domestic equity market, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty were trading higher. Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the equity market.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) increased its surveillance activities in 2023 as domestic air traffic surpassed pre-covid levels. In 2023, the DGCA conducted its highest ever number of surveillances, with 5,745 actions taken, a 26% increase from the previous year. Based on these checks, 542 enforcement actions were taken, a 77% increase from 2022. The DGCA intensified its safety oversight efforts to enhance safety standards in the aviation industry and ensure compliance with safety regulations. These efforts included enforcement actions, such as suspensions and financial penalties, on airlines and individuals for non-compliance.
The CBI has filed a closure report on alleged irregularities in the allotment of Kilhoni coal block to Nippon Denro Ispat Limited. The agency's four-year probe did not find enough evidence to file a charge sheet. The CBI enquiry revealed that the coal ministry's notification was not in conformity with the guidelines for coal mining or the allocation letter issued to NDIL. The FIR alleged that NDIL, along with unidentified public servants, cheated the Government of India in a criminal conspiracy.
Investor interest in hospitals peaked this year with investments by private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) firms rising by over 15 times to cross Rs 30,000 crore over a 4-year period from Rs 1,921 crore in pre-Covid 2019. This comes even as there is a slowdown in overall funding globally, with PE and VC investments declining 38% in India in 2023, the latest data from research firm Venture Intelligence showed. The hospital sector was red hot this year, with large hospital chains such as Manipal and Max attracting bulge-bracket investment firms as demand for private healthcare surged post the pandemic.
