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Groww CEO Lalit Keshre enters billionaire ranks

Lalit Keshre, cofounder and chief executive of investment platform Groww, has joined India’s growing list of tech billionaires following the company’s exceptional stock market debut.

Keshre, 44, holds 55.91 crore shares in the company with a 9.06% stake. With Groww’s stock touching a record ₹169 on Wednesday, his holding is now valued at about ₹9,448 crore, placing him near the $1-billion milestone.

Groww’s shares have surged over 70% in just four trading sessions since being listed on November 12 at ₹100 apiece. The rapid climb has pushed the company’s market capitalisation beyond ₹1 lakh crore.

Four former Flipkart executives Keshre, Harsh Jain, Ishan Bansal and Neeraj Singh, Founded Groww in 2016.

Keshre, who grew up in a farming family in Lepa village in Madhya Pradesh, cleared the Joint Entrance Exam and went on to earn dual degrees in technology from IIT Bombay. He later joined Flipkart as an early product manager, where he helped build the company’s marketplace business before leaving to launch Groww with his colleagues.

The soaring stock price has also significantly lifted the fortunes of the other founders. Harsh Jain’s 41.16 crore shares are currently worth about ₹6,956 crore, Ishan Bansal’s 27.78 crore shares are valued at roughly ₹4,695 crore, and Neeraj Singh’s 38.32 crore shares amount to around ₹6,476 crore.

Also Read: External Affairs minister meets Qatar leaders

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External Affairs minister meets Qatar leaders

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Doha, Qatar, on 16 November 2025 and met the country’s top leaders. He held talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and also called on Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The discussions focused on strengthening India–Qatar relations, particularly in trade, energy, investment, and people-to-people ties. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including issues in the Middle East.

Jaishankar appreciated Qatar’s guidance and expressed India’s interest in exploring new areas of cooperation. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$ 14 billion in 2023–24.

Also Read: Tata Motors PV shares fall 7% despite profit surge

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Ira Bindra of Reliance among top global CHROs

Ira Bindra, Head of Human Resources at Reliance Industries, has been recognized as one of the world’s top HR leaders. She is ranked 28th on N2Growth’s 2025 Leaders40 CHRO list, which celebrates the most influential Chief Human Resources Officers globally.

Reliance is the only Indian company featured this year, making Bindra the first woman from India to achieve this distinction. In her role, she leads the HR strategy for around 360,000 employees across diverse sectors, including energy, telecom, retail, media, and green technologies. Her work focuses on shaping company culture, enhancing talent development, and driving organizational growth.

Before joining Reliance, Bindra held senior HR roles at Medtronic and spent 19 years at General Electric, gaining extensive experience in global talent and business management. She holds an MBA from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands and a History degree from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University.

The Leaders40 list by N2Growth is a prestigious global recognition that highlights HR leaders who act as strategic partners to CEOs and boards, influencing company performance, culture, and growth. According to Tony Morales, Co-Chairman of N2Growth, today’s top CHROs play a critical role in shaping organizational strategy while fostering a positive workplace environment.

Also Read: Reliance announces 1-GW AI data centre in Andhra

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India, Canada partner on critical minerals, green energy

India and Canada are working to deepen their economic partnership, focusing on critical minerals, clean energy, and aerospace trade. The 7th Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment in New Delhi brought together India’s Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Maninder Sidhu to discuss stronger cooperation.

Bilateral trade reached US$23.66 billion in 2024, with goods trade up 10% from last year. Both countries also plan to expand investments, creating jobs in each nation.

The ministers agreed to develop long-term supply chains for critical minerals, boost green energy projects, and collaborate in aerospace technologies. They also emphasized resilient supply chains in agriculture and stronger people-to-people ties.

Further discussions with business leaders are planned next year to keep the momentum going.

Also Read: Maruti recalls nearly 40,000 Grand Vitaras for fix

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Prem Watsa names Fairfax’s new leadership

Prem Watsa, often called “Canada’s Warren Buffett,” has confirmed that his son Ben Watsa will be his successor at Fairfax Financial Holdings. The announcement is highlighted in Watsa’s upcoming book The Fairfax Way, where he outlines plans to ensure stability and continuity at the company.

Fairfax, founded in 1985, has grown into a US$35-billion global insurance and investment group with major exposure to India. The firm has invested nearly US$7 billion in Indian companies, including GoDigit Insurance, Thomas Cook India, Quess Corp, CSB Bank and the Bengaluru airport.

Ben Watsa has served on Fairfax’s board since 2014 and manages Marval Capital, a fund focused on Indian equities that has delivered strong returns. Prem Watsa emphasised that he is not stepping down immediately but wants shareholders to know that the company has a robust succession plan and that its long-term investment culture will continue under the next generation.

Also Read: Godrej Consumer buys Muuchstac for ₹450 crore

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ED arrests Jaypee Infratech MD in ₹12,000 cr fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Manoj Gaur, Managing Director of Jaypee Infratech Ltd, in connection with an alleged ₹12,000-crore money laundering and cheating case involving homebuyers.

Probe was initiated against Gaur after allegations emerged that funds collected from homebuyers were diverted to Jaypee projects, causing significant financial losses to thousands of investors awaiting possession of their flats.

The ED had conducted searches in May 2025 at 15 locations linked to Jaypee Infratech Ltd, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), and related entities. During the raids, officials seized ₹1.7 crore in cash, along with financial documents, digital records and property papers belonging to the promoters and their family members.

The searches were carried out in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

According to the FIRs, Jaypee Wish Town and Jaypee Greens failed to deliver apartments and plots sold around 2010–11. Protests by homebuyers in 2017 led to multiple FIRs being registered.

JAL, the flagship firm of the crisis-hit Jaypee Group, has interests in construction, cement, power, real estate, and hospitality sectors.

Also Read: SpiceJet adds 5 planes, daily flights rise to 176

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Trump signs bill to end 43-day US shutdown

The US government reopened on Wednesday after being shut down for 43 days, the longest closure in American history. President Donald Trump signed a funding bill approved by both the Senate and House of Representatives, ending weeks of political gridlock.

The House passed the bill 222–209, with a few Democrats supporting it and two Republicans opposing it. The shutdown had left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay and disrupted airport operations, public offices, and social services.

President Trump said the deal “sends a clear message that we will never give in to extortion” and added that it was “an honour to get our country working again.”

The budget deadlock began over a dispute about health insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats wanted to extend these credits, saying their expiry would raise insurance costs and affect millions of Americans.

Economists estimate the shutdown cost the US economy around $11 billion, some of which may never be recovered.

With the new bill in place, federal workers will soon receive back pay, and all government departments are returning to normal operations. However, debates over healthcare funding and budget priorities are expected to continue in Congress.

Also Read: India urges rich nations on climate finance at COP30

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Neville Tata, Bhaskar Bhat join Tata Trust

The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust has inducted Neville Tata, son of Noel Tata, and former Titan chief Bhaskar Bhat as trustees. Their three-year terms begin on November 12, 2025, marking a key development in the leadership of the Tata philanthropic arm.

Bhaskar Bhat, who spent over four decades with the Tata Group, is best known for steering Titan Company as its Managing Director from 2002 to 2019. Under his leadership, Titan grew into one of India’s most admired lifestyle companies.

Neville Tata, 32, represents the younger generation of the Tata family. A graduate of Bayes Business School in London, he began his career with Trent Ltd in 2016. He played a major role in expanding the affordable fashion brand Zudio and later led the Star Bazaar hypermarket division.

Their induction comes soon after changes in the broader Tata Trusts framework, including the exit of trustee Mehli Mistry. The move is seen as part of an ongoing restructuring to bring in fresh leadership and ensure continuity across generations.

The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust holds around 28% of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. Along with the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which owns about 24%, it controls a majority stake in Tata Sons, making these appointments significant in shaping the group’s long-term direction.

Also Read: Adani Group enters battery storage with India’s largest project

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Berkshire’s Warren Buffett goes quiet

Warren Buffett, the iconic investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has announced that he will stop writing his famous annual letters to shareholders. At 95, he is stepping back from public updates but will continue sending a shorter Thanksgiving message.

Buffett’s chosen successor, Greg Abel, is set to take over as CEO by the end of the year. In his farewell note, Buffett reflected on his decades-long career, his personal friendships, and shared practical lessons on business and life.

His annual letters have long been valued not just for company insights but also for Buffett’s clear, humble wisdom. This marks the end of a notable era while ensuring a smooth transition of leadership at Berkshire Hathaway.

Also Read: US, India ‘pretty near’ trade deal, tariffs could ease

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Britannia CEO resigns after 13 years

Britannia Industries has announced a major leadership change, with Varun Berry stepping down as Executive Vice-Chairman, Managing Director and CEO after over a decade at the helm. His resignation, submitted on November 6, was accepted by the company’s board on November 10.

Berry joined Britannia in 2013 as Chief Operating Officer and became Managing Director the following year. During his tenure, he steered the company’s transformation from a biscuit-focused brand into a diversified food enterprise with a strong presence in dairy, bakery, and snacks.

The board has appointed Rakshit Hargave as the new Managing Director and CEO, effective December 15, 2025, for a five-year term. Until then, Natarajan Venkataraman, Executive Director and CFO, will serve as interim CEO.

Britannia said the transition reflects a “planned leadership succession” aimed at sustaining growth, expanding regional presence, and advancing its vision of becoming a “global total foods company.”

Berry’s exit marks the end of a defining chapter in Britannia’s growth story, while Hargave’s appointment signals a fresh phase focused on innovation and new market opportunities.

Also Read: BBC Chiefs quit over Trump speech edit