Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Foundation has unveiled the Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray at a proposed site in Karjat, near Mumbai. The 100-acre, not-for-profit township will provide a lifelong home to over 5,000 individuals, including orphaned children, senior citizens, and persons with physical and developmental disabilities. The project will feature an orphanage, an old age home, and dedicated care facilities with comprehensive healthcare. Set to be developed in phases, the initiative is expected to support an overall community of approximately 15,000 people, including caregivers, medical professionals, support staff, and their families.

Gaurav Sawant tracks key political developments, beginning with the confrontation between the NDA government and the INDIA bloc over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Following the opposition's Vote Bachao Desh Bachao rally at Ramlila Maidan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to voter roll controversy, stating that the deletion of entries included illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. In response, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged the Election Commission purged 15 percent of India's electorate and demanded prosecution for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, a controversy erupted after cleric Maulana Jarjis Ansari invoked Palestine and warned of bulldozer action under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, drawing demands for police action from Hindu seers and sharp counter-reactions between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party. The broadcast also reports on garment worker protests demanding wage revisions in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the Bhoomi Pujan of the 100-acre Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashram project near Karjat in Maharashtra.

Reliance Foundation founder and chairperson Nita Mukesh Ambani and director Isha Ambani have unveiled the Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray in Karjat near Mumbai. Spread across 100 acres, the proposed township is envisioned as a permanent, not-for-profit institution that will offer a lifelong home to more than 5,000 individuals, including orphaned children, senior citizens, and persons with developmental disabilities. The project will feature healthcare facilities, an orphanage, an old age home, and dedicated care centres. Developed in phases, the township is expected to support a larger community of around 15,000 people, including caregivers, medical professionals, support staff, and their families.

Jio Platforms made a blockbuster debut on Dalal Street, listing at 1,358 rupees per share and delivering a 21% gain to IPO allottees within five days. The landmark debut pushed Reliance Group ahead of Tata Group to become India's most valuable conglomerate by combined market capitalisation. At the National Stock Exchange listing event, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani was visibly moved as the next generation took charge. Anant Ambani expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Digital India vision and pledged full commitment toward achieving a Viksit Bharat. Attention now shifts toward Reliance's expansive retail business as the potential foundation for the group's next major market listing.

An India Today Spot Check investigation uncovers severe food safety and hygiene violations across eateries in Delhi's Paharganj and areas surrounding the New Delhi Railway Station. The report follows an enforcement drive by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. Undercover footage at establishments including Punjabi Dhaba 7876, Royal Flavors, and Madras Hotel reveals widespread non-compliance, with staff operating without hair nets or gloves, pest and rat infestations, and food preparation taking place directly adjacent to open, dirty drains. Staff and management acknowledge bribing officials and treating regulatory inspections as routine formalities, relying on mere licenses rather than maintaining cleanliness. The broadcast also highlights Reliance Industries' record-breaking milestone as Jio Platforms launches India's largest-ever initial public offering of 30,213 crore rupees, marking a massive digital expansion nearly five decades after Dhirubhai Ambani took the parent company public.

Reliance Industries has reached a historic milestone as Jio Platforms is set to debut as India's biggest-ever initial public offering. The 30,213 crore rupee issue was fully subscribed within 100 minutes of opening and closed subscribed 20 times, attracting total bids exceeding seven lakh crore rupees. The anchor book earlier drew global bids worth over 2.5 lakh crore rupees from prominent investors including BlackRock and ADIA. Existing marquee investors like Meta and KKR are not cashing out, with the IPO structured purely as a fresh issue of shares. Scheduled to list on 28 October, the digital flagship is expanding beyond telecom into artificial intelligence, cloud, satellite connectivity, and enterprise solutions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India to advance discussions on the India-US bilateral trade agreement, energy cooperation, and strategic security ties. During the visit, Rubio confirmed that negotiations on the trade deal are approaching conclusion, with outstanding discussions centering on reciprocal tariffs under Section 301, agricultural access, and civil nuclear cooperation under the Shanti Bill. In addition, Rubio toured the Reliance Industries oil refinery complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, to address energy flows, heavy crude refining, and the integration of Venezuelan and US crude supplies. Strategic discussions covered technological infrastructure, satellite communications, counterterrorism cooperation, and Quad maritime domain awareness initiatives. Panelists and experts, including Michael Kugelman, Dr. Ajay Srivastava, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, and former USIBC Managing Director Alexander Slater, reviewed diplomatic approaches to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, critical supply chain security, talent mobility, H-1B visas, and the domestic political timelines impacting bilateral commerce between New Delhi and Washington.

In this debate, foreign policy and geopolitical analyst Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Head of India Practice at Eurasia Group, joins Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, to examine the strategic implications of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Reliance's Jamnagar refinery facility. Chaudhuri observes that Rubio's trip represents a transactional 'business visit' aligned with Trump administration policies, aiming to secure Reliance's backing for an envisioned refinery project in Texas while promoting Venezuelan and American crude to India. The discussion outlines how India's surplus refining capacity and vast domestic consumption provide significant leverage in global hydrocarbon markets, prompting Washington to treat India as a crucial energy partner. Chaudhuri also addresses trade friction, potential punitive tariffs over Russian oil purchases, and the broader strategic and security considerations influencing foreign corporate players like Elon Musk in key domestic technology sectors including satellite communications and defense infrastructure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Reliance Industries' Jamnagar refinery complex, where he was hosted by Mukesh Ambani and Anant Ambani. The visit occurred as global crude oil surpassed 110 dollars per barrel and ahead of a planned US visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Indian markets experienced significant pressure, with the Nifty falling below the 22,600 mark amid broad-based selling across sectoral indices, led by metals and autos, while India VIX gained over 5 percent. In corporate news, HDFC Bank initiated an internal investigation into two senior executives regarding an alleged leak of confidential business strategies, confirming the review via an official statement. Additionally, Jio Platforms' initial public offering saw robust demand, crossing full subscription within 100 minutes of opening. Geojit Investments Senior Vice President Gaurang Shah shared his market outlook, discussing earnings and recommending a subscribe rating on the Jio Platforms IPO for long-term investors.

First images have emerged of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visiting Jamnagar, Gujarat, alongside US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The US dignitaries met Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani, and family members. During the trip, the delegation was given a tour of Reliance's world-class refinery complex, offering a firsthand view of its operations and scale. Reliance Industries confirmed that discussions focused on the global energy landscape and commercial partnerships in conventional and new energy.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Reliance Industries twin refinery complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on the second day of his India visit after holding discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai. The Jamnagar complex, recognised as the world's largest single-location refining facility with a daily capacity of 1.4 million barrels, is capable of processing heavy and high-sulphur crude, including Venezuelan oil. Rubio's visit underscores energy diplomacy as Washington seeks alternatives to Russian supplies and reliable sources of refined fuel, particularly diesel, to ease surging domestic prices and inflation ahead of the November midterm elections. The bilateral engagements also addressed wider cooperation across energy, civil aviation, and strategic initiatives, alongside upcoming interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

This special broadcast of India First, anchored by Gaurav Sawant, covers key national developments across politics, law and order, and business.

Reliance Industries is preparing for what could become India's largest initial public offering as Jio Platforms looks to raise up to thirty thousand two hundred and thirteen crore rupees. The group has reached out across its nearly 4.2 lakh strong workforce to encourage investment, reportedly releasing October salaries fifteen days early and assessing if staff and their families hold Demat and trading accounts. Eligible Jio employees receive a reserved quota with a five per cent discount, while Reliance shareholders have a separate reservation. Priced between one thousand sixty-five and one thousand one hundred and nineteen rupees per share, the offering could value Jio Platforms at over ten lakh crore rupees. With anchor bids opening on October nineteenth and public subscriptions on October twenty-first, the debut also marks a pivotal leadership milestone for next-generation leaders Akash Ambani and Isha Ambani as the group seeks to become India's largest conglomerate by listed market capitalisation.

Reliance Industries subsidiary Jio Platforms is preparing to launch what is slated to be the largest initial public offering in the history of Indian capital markets, valued at an estimated ten point three lakh crore rupees at the upper price band. The issue, opening on twenty-first October with a price band between one thousand sixty-five and one thousand one hundred and nineteen rupees, consists entirely of fresh share issuance rather than an offer for sale. Meanwhile, Reliance Industries responded to public remarks by Elon Musk concerning satellite communication approvals in India, affirming that the conglomerate does not fear competition and welcomes all entrants provided they comply with the nation's regulatory frameworks. In broader market updates, mutual funds have halted fresh lump sum investments and new systemic investment plans in gold exchange-traded fund of funds ahead of the festive season to ease currency pressures, while the Indian rupee opened stronger against the dollar.

The Union Cabinet has approved Fairfax-backed Canada Inc. as the strategic buyer for a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank for 52,878 crore rupees, leaving the Centre and LIC with a combined 34% holding. While the government highlights the winning bid of 81 rupees per share above its fair value benchmark, the United Forum of IDBI Officers and Employees has sought parliamentary scrutiny over valuation and public safeguards. In foreign affairs, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar rather than New Delhi, placing commercial energy interests and Reliance Industries' refining hub at the forefront amid friction over Russian oil purchases. Additionally, Yemeni Houthi rebels are reportedly seeking to manufacture long-range ballistic missiles using components seized from China, while in the US, a 19-year-old was arrested in Illinois over an alleged white supremacist plot targeting a Hindu temple.

Reliance Industries' telecom and digital arm, Jio Platforms, is gearing up for India's largest initial public offering, with an estimated issue size exceeding thirty thousand crore rupees. The IPO price band has been fixed between one thousand sixty-five rupees and one thousand one hundred and nineteen rupees per share, valuing the company at ten point three lakh crore rupees at the upper end. The issue opens for subscription on the twenty-first of October and closes after three days, with listing expected on the twenty-eighth of October. Unlike recent offerings from Hyundai Motor, NSE, and LIC, Jio's issue consists entirely of fresh equity shares with no offer for sale. Jio currently serves fifty-three crore users, processes twenty billion minutes of daily voice traffic, carries over sixty percent of India's data traffic, and operates the world's largest 5G subscriber base outside China. Ahead of the anchor investor bidding round, reports indicate early bids exceeding twenty billion dollars from international investors.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to "Turn approver. You have done a crime, and frankly, you are not the main, main criminal. You made a mistake." Responding to questions on alleged reach-outs from Kumar, Gandhi advised him to resign, stating that the opposition understands the pressure he faces and is defending the Constitution. Addressing the heavy security deployment and barricading across Delhi, Gandhi asserted that authorities cannot contain the minds of citizens, emphasising that the battle is being fought on perception, psychological, legal, and political fronts. He maintained that the opposition is questioning whether elections were conducted fairly and noted that citizens are not intimidated by the government's actions, calling on institutions to uphold constitutional values.

A political war of words has broken out between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress following an online exchange between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Elon Musk. The controversy began over the issue of a Starlink licence in India, where Elon Musk questioned whether Mukesh Ambani is the real boss of India. Rahul Gandhi responded to Musk's post, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey, to mount an attack on Gandhi. The ruling party questioned the exchange, comparing it to historical instances of inviting Babur to India and labelling the exchange as foolishness.

A major security incident was thwarted at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in BKC, Mumbai, ahead of an event scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mumbai Police and security personnel detained two individuals after an accused, identified as Rohan Parekh, attempted to gain access to the Global Fintech Fest using a forged Prime Minister's Office (PMO) identity card. An individual accompanying him as a bodyguard was also found carrying an unauthorized firearm. The suspects were intercepted at the entry gates after security officials raised suspicions over the credentials presented and conducted cross-checks. Both individuals were subsequently arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch and are set to be produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court. Multiple units, including the Crime Intelligence Unit, are investigating the background of the accused, the origin of the forged PMO card, and the motive behind attempting to breach the high-security venue.

The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the deadly fire at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa, which killed 25 people.