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EquityPandit

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STARTUPS

Pine Labs Raises $285 Mn in New Funding Round

Pine Labs raised $285 million in new funding from public market crossover investors, together with Marshall Wace, Baron Capital Group, Duro Capital, Moore Strategic Ventures, and Ward Ferry Management. Its existing investors Temasek, Lone Pine Capital, and Sunley House Capital have also taken part in this funding round. Pine Labs valuation is pegged at over $3 billion, however, the company did not disclose details. Pine Labs said this is the ‘first close’ of its ongoing funding round. The current round of financing also includes important secondary transactions from the company’s founder, employees, and early shareholders, Pine Labs said.

“This is a thrilling phase in our journey as we enter newer markets. We excel in enterprise merchant payments and now want to scale new frontiers in the online space as well, at the same time continue to power the credit and commerce needs of our offline merchant partners,” said Amrish Rau, Chief Executive Officer at Pine Labs.


“We are very excited to be a part of the technological transformation that Pine Labs is driving on the ground in payments and the multiple interactions and efficiencies it is able to create by providing faster, cost-effective consumer access to a broader range of financial products such as buy-now-pay-later, where it is driving a pioneering effort on behalf of the financial system. We are also excited about an Indian business being able to drive regional and potentially global adoption of its intellectual property and this represents significant optionality for the future,” said Amit Rajpal, CEO & portfolio manager at Marshall Wace Asia.

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ECONOMYINDIA

PM Modi Urges Steel Industry to Cut Import Reliance

Dhruva Kulkarni

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that raw material security remains a major concern for India’s steel sector. Speaking at the India Steel 2025 event via video conference, he urged the industry to reduce reliance on imported coal and accelerate greenfield mining projects.

Calling steel the backbone of development, Modi said the sector is crucial to India’s $5 trillion economic vision. He highlighted India’s position as the world’s largest steel producer and one of the fastest-growing markets, emphasising the growing domestic demand driven by infrastructure, automotive, and defence sectors.

Citing the $1.3 trillion National Infrastructure Pipeline, Modi said the government’s development push is generating consistent steel demand. He also noted that Indian-made steel was used in the country’s first captive aircraft.

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Looking ahead, the Prime Minister outlined goals of producing 500 million tonnes of steel by 2047 and exporting 25 million tonnes. He also called for manufacturing advanced ships in India and stressed the need for high-grade steel and stronger R&D efforts.

He urged collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and meet rising global standards.

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ECONOMY

UP Residents Face Higher Power Bills

Dhruva Kulkarni

Electricity bills in Uttar Pradesh are set to rise this month as UPPCL has increased the fuel surcharge for the first time in nearly five years. Consumers will now pay an additional 1.24% on their April power bills.

With this revision, power bills will fluctuate monthly—similar to petrol and diesel rates. For instance, if your March bill was Rs 1,000, you’ll now pay Rs 12.40 more as a fuel surcharge.

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The hike comes after UPPCL allowed power distribution companies to determine the Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge (FPPPA) each month under the Multi-Year Tariff Regulation-2025. This is the first time companies will collect the surcharge directly from consumers.

However, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Consumer Council has opposed the move. Its President, Awadhesh Verma, claimed UPPCL still owes Rs 33,122 crore to consumers and should have settled that amount before raising tariffs.

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ECONOMY

RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar Gets One-Year Term Extension

Dhruva Kulkarni

The Centre has extended the tenure of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar by another year, effective from 3rd May 2025.

Sankar was first appointed as deputy governor in May 2021 for a three-year term. He received his first one-year extension in 2024, his second consecutive extension.

An official notification from the Secretariat of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) stated, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Shri T Rabi Sankar as Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, for a period of one year with effect from 03.05.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”

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He joined the RBI in 1990 and has served in several departments. Before becoming deputy governor, he was Executive Director at the central bank.

The RBI’s top leadership includes Governor Sanjay Malhotra and four deputy governors — T. Rabi Sankar, M. Rajeshwar Rao, Swaminathan Janakiraman, and Poonam Gupta. The government appoints all.

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ECONOMY

South Korea’s Early Trade Data Signals Export Decline After Tariffs

Dhruva Kulkarni

South Korea’s preliminary April trade data offers an early signal of how Donald Trump’s protectionist push is affecting global trade.

In the first 20 days of April, exports fell 5.2% year-over-year — a sharp turnaround from the 5.5% rise recorded in March.

The data, adjusted for working-day differences, showed exports to the US and China declined by 14.3% and 3.4%, respectively. In contrast, shipments to the EU rose 13.8%, while Taiwan saw a 22% increase.

The numbers come shortly after the US imposed a 25% tariff on auto imports and a 10% duty on other goods earlier this month. This follows metal import tariffs announced in March. The drop in exports underlines the vulnerability of South Korea’s export-driven economy.

Key sectors were hit hard — auto exports fell 6.5%, steel declined 8.7%, and oil products sank 22%. However, semiconductor exports rose 10.7%, offering a rare bright spot.

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Overall imports dropped 11.8%, resulting in a trade deficit of $100 million. The US remains South Korea’s sixth-largest trading partner, and its trade surplus with the US surged 25% in 2024 to $55.7 billion — a key factor behind Trump’s tariff decision.

Automobiles and auto parts comprise a large share of South Korean exports to the US and are particularly at risk. The new auto tariffs could seriously impact the sector, which sent nearly half of its $70.8 billion in vehicle exports to the US last year.

South Korean officials, including Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, are heading to Washington this week to initiate trade talks. However, uncertainty looms with national elections set for 3rd June.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Korea kept its benchmark interest rate at 2.75% but flagged growing downside risks. Governor Rhee Chang-yong cited deteriorating trade conditions and political uncertainty as major concerns, warning of possible negative growth in the first quarter.

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ECONOMY

India’s Oilmeal Exports Fall 21% to Rs 12,171 Crore in FY25; Volumes Down 11%

Dhruva Kulkarni

India’s oilmeal exports declined by 21% to Rs 12,171 crore in FY25, driven mainly by an 11% fall in overall export volumes, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).

During the last financial year, India exported 43.42 lakh tonnes of oilmeals, down from 48.85 lakh tonnes in FY24. The decline was primarily due to reduced shipments of rapeseed and castorseed meals, SEA said in a statement.

Regarding value, exports dropped from Rs 15,368 crore in FY24 to Rs 12,171 crore in FY25, reflecting lower international demand and decreased volumes, SEA Executive Director B V Mehta confirmed.

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Among major buyers, Bangladesh remained the largest importer of Indian oilmeals despite political challenges. The country imported 7.42 lakh tonnes in FY25, 17% lower than the 8.93 lakh tonnes imported the previous year.

South Korea emerged as the second-largest buyer with 6.99 lakh tonnes of oilmeals imported in the fiscal year, representing a 16% drop from the previous year. Thailand followed as the third-largest importer, buying 4.48 lakh tonnes in FY25 — a 25% fall from 6.33 lakh tonnes in FY24.

The drop in exports across key markets indicates shifting demand dynamics and possible challenges for Indian exporters, particularly in maintaining momentum amid global uncertainties.

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