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Mumbai, Apr 30: As global M&A activity rebounded strongly in 2025, Indian dealmakers are increasingly turning to transactional risk insurance to navigate complexity, manage execution risks, and drive deal certainty, according to the latest insights from Marsh’s Transactional Risk Insurance 2025: Year in review report.

Globally, M&A deal value surged nearly 37% year-on-year to approach USD 5 trillion, with a sharp rise in large and mega deals. This trend is mirrored in India, where growing deal sizes, cross-border activity, and regulatory scrutiny are accelerating demand for structured risk solutions. Marsh recorded a 34% increase in global transactional risk insurance limits to USD 91.6 billion, alongside a 37% rise in policy volumes, reflecting the increasing role of insurance as a core component of deal-making.

Key India insights

In India, transactional risk insurance is gaining traction across both private equity and strategic corporate transactions, particularly in sectors such as technology, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy, where deal sizes and regulatory considerations are intensifying.

• Deal complexity: Larger and more complex deals are driving demand for higher insurance limits and multi-layered coverage structures
• Buyer shift: Corporate buyers now account for a larger share of insured transactions globally (54%), a shift increasingly visible in India as corporates pursue strategic acquisitions
• Claims trends: Claims frequency and severity are rising globally, signalling a maturing market and reinforcing the need for early engagement and robust deal structuring

Additionally, pricing trends have shifted, with premium rates increasing across regions, including Asia (up 8% year-on-year), indicating a transition toward a more disciplined underwriting environment.

Sanjay Kedia, CEO & President, Marsh India, said, “As India continues to position itself as a global investment hub, the ability to effectively manage transaction-related risks will be critical. We are seeing growing awareness and adoption of transactional risk solutions among Indian dealmakers, especially as cross-border transactions and regulatory complexities increase. This trend is expected to accelerate further in 2026 as businesses seek greater resilience and confidence in deal execution.”

Aditya Samag, Private Equity and M&A Leader, Marsh India, said, “India is witnessing a clear shift toward larger, more complex transactions, particularly in high-growth sectors such as technology, healthcare, and infrastructure. In this environment, transactional risk insurance is no longer optional—it has become a strategic tool for investors and corporates to enhance deal certainty, manage regulatory exposures, and remain competitive in auction processes.”

Looking ahead, India is expected to remain a key growth market for M&A, supported by strong domestic fundamentals, investor confidence, and increasing cross-border interest. However, global geopolitical uncertainty and evolving regulatory frameworks may continue to influence deal activity and risk strategies.

Transactional risk insurance is therefore expected to play a critical role in enabling deal certainty, bridging valuation gaps, and protecting against downside risks in India’s evolving deal landscape.

Washington, Apr 30 (BNP): Several companies in the United States are increasingly focusing on small modular reactors (SMRs) as a next-generation option in nuclear energy, according to a report by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

 Pic Credit: Pexel

The report highlights that SMRs are being developed to address long-standing challenges in the nuclear sector, particularly high construction costs and lengthy approval timelines that have limited new capacity additions.

The United States currently has nearly 98 gigawatts of installed nuclear power capacity, but expansion has remained limited over recent decades due to financial and regulatory constraints.

Unlike conventional nuclear plants, which generate between 550 MW and 1,500 MW per unit, SMRs are compact systems typically producing up to around 300 MW. Their modular structure allows major components to be built in factories and transported to sites for assembly, potentially reducing both construction time and overall costs while offering greater deployment flexibility.

Mumbai, Apr 30 (BNP): The Indian rupee slipped to a fresh all-time low in early trade on Thursday, falling 32 paise to 95.20 against the U.S. dollar.

The currency came under pressure due to sustained strength in the U.S. dollar and a sharp rise in global crude oil prices. Brent crude, trading around $122 per barrel, added further strain on India’s import-heavy economy, increasing demand for the dollar from oil importers.

Forex traders said persistent foreign fund outflows and concerns over elevated energy prices also contributed to the weakening bias in the rupee. Market sentiment remained cautious as global economic uncertainties continued to influence currency movements

Chandigarh, Apr 30: Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG), a pioneer and one of India’s most trusted brands in safety and security solutions, today announced the launch of NX Pro Ncrypt, India’s first facial recognition‑enabled home locker, at Smart Home Expo 2026. The Group also showcased its smart connected home ecosystem powered by Advantis IoT9, highlighting how design‑led innovation and intelligent technology are redefining safety and everyday living for modern Indian homes.

Aligned with this vision, Godrej Enterprises Group also announced an investment commitment of 100 crores over the next three years to accelerate the development of digital, connected, and consumer‑centric security solutions, enabling greater personalization, enhanced privacy, and everyday convenience.

The newly launched NX Pro Ncrypt marks a first for the Indian market by introducing facial recognition technology into the home locker category. The solution integrates facial recognition, biometric fingerprint access, and digital PIN into a single system, allowing users to choose between single‑mode or dual‑mode security. Built on advanced AES encryption, facial data is converted into secure digital templates rather than stored as images, significantly strengthening privacy and data protection. 

GEG also launched a fully integrated ‘Made in India’ connected home app experience powered by Advantis IoT9, showcasing how homes can intuitively respond to their residents. The moment a user unlocks the door using biometrics, the environment adapts automatically to the user’s pre-sets. The lights adjust to personal preferences, the air conditioner sets itself to the ideal temperature, and the space configures seamlessly to the individual, no manual inputs. Creating a home that understands. 

Mr. Pushkar Gokhale, Business Head, Security Solutions Business, Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “At Godrej, we believe security should not feel complicated or distant, but reassuring, accessible, and built around our customers. As modern Indian consumers embrace smarter, more connected lifestyles, safety solutions must go beyond being strong and reliable to deliver thoughtful design, intuitive usability, and superior experiences.

With India’s first facial recognition‑enabled home locker and our connected home ecosystem powered by Advantis IoT9, we are eliminating friction from everyday living, creating homes that anticipate needs and respond seamlessly to the those who occupy it. Rooted in design‑led innovation and advanced technology, these solutions are built to keep pace with evolving Indian homes, reinforcing our commitment to trusted, future‑ready security that places convenience, customer experience at the centre.”

In addition, the Group also unveiled India’s first ‘Made in India’ web‑based access solution for connected hospitality locks, designed to simplify guest access through a secure weblink, eliminating the need to wait in queues for the reception for check-in or check-out thus enabling a faster, contactless and convenient check‑ins. This solution can be a game changer re-defining the future of Hospitality. 

Together, these innovations reaffirm Godrej Enterprises Group’s role as a technology‑first leader, shaping the future of safety, secured access, and smart living across homes and hospitality spaces in India.

Mumbai, Apr 30 (BNP): Indian equity markets came under significant selling pressure in early trade on Thursday, as a sharp rally in crude oil prices above $120 per barrel unsettled investors and triggered risk-off sentiment.

Benchmark indices opened sharply lower, extending losses as the session progressed. The decline was driven by a combination of factors, including surging global oil prices, weak international market trends, and continued foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows from domestic equities.

Higher crude oil prices raised concerns over inflationary pressures and increased input costs for key sectors such as aviation, automobiles, logistics, and manufacturing. This led to broad-based selling across frontline stocks, with major index constituents facing downward pressure.

Investor sentiment remained cautious amid global economic uncertainty, prompting traders to reduce exposure to equities in early deals. Market analysts noted that volatility could persist in the near term if oil prices remain elevated and global cues stay weak.

Chandigarh, Apr 30 : IndusInd Bank has announced the appointment of Mr. Ganesh Sankaran, Head  Wholesale Banking Group, and Mr. Jagdeep Mallareddy, Head  Consumer Banking, as Additional Directors in the category of Executive Directors (Whole-time Directors) of the Bank.

 Mr. Ganesh Sankaran is a seasoned banking leader with over three decades of experience across wholesale banking, retail credit and SME segments. He has held senior leadership roles at leading private sector banks and has been instrumental in building businesses and driving large-scale transformations. Prior to joining IndusInd Bank, he has been associated with Axis Bank, Federal Bank and HDFC Bank.

Mr. Jagdeep Mallareddy brings over three decades of experience in the financial services sector, with exposure across retail banking, lending, and credit, operations and risk management. Prior to joining IndusInd Bank, he was a part of leadership at Piramal Finance Limited and has also held senior leadership roles at Axis Bank.

Their appointments are for a period of three years, subject to the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank’s shareholders. Upon their appointment taking effect, both will also serve as Key Managerial Personnel of the Bank. In the interim, Mr. Ganesh Sankaran and Mr. Jagdeep Mallareddy have been designated as Executive Director  Designate with effect from April 24, 2026, until their appointments come into effect.

Nearly 9 in 10 Indians Are Planning or Have Booked Their Summer 2026 Holiday with Hidden Gems Topping Their Travel Wishlists

Indian Travellers Are Choosing Smarter Summer Holidays from offbeat destinations to flexible travel dates and last-minute bookings

Delhi, Apr 30: Despite a backdrop of uncertainty, summer travel is still on for many, with 77% of Indians confident about travelling in the next 3 months. In fact, nearly 9 in 10 Indians are planning or have already booked their Summer 2026 holiday. With only about 38% yet to book their summer holidays, but are actively looking, showing sustained desire for travel despite ongoing uncertainty.

However, planning is becoming increasingly complex. This evolving approach is being shaped by a few key considerations:

• Airfare trends, with nearly half of travellers (48%) factoring in fluctuating flight prices

• Overall trip value, as 45% weigh total travel costs more carefully

• Travel advisories, influencing decisions for 34% of travellers

• Operational disruptions, such as airport closures, are impacting 32% of plans

However, there are early signs of more informed planning, with 58% believing July offers cheaper flights compared to August, highlighting a growing awareness of when to travel for better value.

As travellers navigate these trade-offs, planning is becoming more dynamic than ever. Rather than locking in early, many are keeping an eye on price movements and exploring alternative destinations before committing

Neel Ghose, Travel and Destinations Expert, Skyscanner India, said, “Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most intent-driven travel seasons we’ve seen in India, but what’s changing is how that intent is translating into action. Travellers are not stepping back; they are adapting within constraints. Instead of cancelling, they are staying flexible on where they go, with many willing to switch destinations in response to changing costs and conditions.

We’re also seeing a clear shift in mindset from ‘where everyone is going’ to ‘where else can I go’. This growing openness to alternative and lesser-known destinations signals a more confident and value-aware traveller, one who is more open to switching plans if it improves the overall experience. With these pressures shaping decisions, travellers are looking for smarter ways to unlock value without compromising on the trip. Tools like Skyscanner’s ‘Whole Month’ search are helping travellers make smarter decisions by making it easier to compare options, track fares, and identify better-value travel windows.”

Outsmart Travel Planning Hurdles

As travel intent remains strong, planning is becoming more dynamic. Rather than cancelling trips, travellers are increasingly adapting, switching destinations, adjusting timing, or rethinking how to get the most out of their travel budgets.

Features like Skyscanner’s Price Alerts are helping simplify these decisions by allowing travellers to track fare changes and book when prices are right.

Outsmart Destination Choices and Summer Crowds

This shift is already visible in destination choices and travel pattern:

• 81% are open to lesser-known destinations

• 60% are actively seeking quieter, less crowded places

• 9 in 10 say it is important that their holiday spend benefits local communities and small businesses

A significant behavioural shift is underway, as travellers move away from crowded hotspots towards more meaningful, offbeat and community-driven experiences.

[See the top most popular and cheapest destinations for Summer 2026 below in the appendix.]

Zostel, a hostel network available on Skyscanner, is already seeing this shift in action.

Aviral Gupta, CEO of Zostel and Zo World, said, “At Zostel, we’ve been watching this shift happen in real time. Offbeat destinations across our network grew 88% year-on-year, and a significant 60% of those guests were first-time travellers, many of them from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Smaller-town India is no longer just a backdrop for travel stories; it’s where the story begins. Partnering with Skyscanner on this report only reinforces what we see on the ground every day. The Indian traveller is smarter, bolder, and more curious than ever.”

Outsmart Flexible Travel Planning

While travel intent remains strong, flexibility is also reshaping how plans are executed. Although 58% of travellers have fixed travel dates due to work or school commitments, 30% are choosing to switch destinations rather than cancel trips, showing how adaptability is becoming central to travel planning.

As travellers balance fixed schedules with evolving preferences, the findings point to a clear shift towards more flexible, value-led decision-making, where being open to alternatives is becoming the defining factor in making summer travel plans work.

Outsmart Group Travel Planning Hurdles

Planning group summer holidays is known to be effortful. On average, Indians spend over 15 hours coordinating a group trip, with nearly half saying it is more stressful than major life events such as moving house or planning a wedding.

The biggest challenge often lies in aligning preferences, budgets and schedules, making group travel one of the most time-consuming parts of the journey. As a result, travellers are increasingly looking for ways to simplify decision-making and reduce friction when planning together. The Skyscanner app has multiple travel planning tools to help travellers compare options and find the best deals available.

Beyond Planning: The Emotional Side of Travel

But beyond the planning, travel remains an emotional experience shaped by the moments, sounds, and memories that stay with us long after the trip ends. Complementing these insights from the Smarter Summer Report, Skyscanner has also curated a summer soundtrack, in collaboration with musician and artist Mayur Jumani, created from familiar sounds of travel, from planes taking off to security check in, luggage trollies, and airport announcements, bringing the rhythm of the journey itself to life.

The campaign will be launched on Skyscanner India’s official Instagram on 1st May.

As always, travellers are encouraged to stay informed and keep up to date with local government travel advice before booking and compare live prices as they plan.