Author: news.ayen.in

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (February 23, 2026) — The Kerala government on Monday formalised agreements with three central public sector undertakings (PSUs) to implement a 2,000 crore rupee logistics master plan at the Vizhinjam International Seaport. The memoranda of understanding (MoUs), executed in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, are designed to transform the deep-water transshipment port into a comprehensive economic hub. The initiative ensures that while port operations remain under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, critical backend infrastructure will be maintained under public sector oversight.

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Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Development

The master plan involves the state-owned Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) and three major central entities: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), and the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC). According to a release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), this partnership aims to safeguard national maritime interests and prevent the monopolisation of cargo handling.

The 2,000 crore rupee investment is allocated across three distinct strategic sectors:

• Energy and Bunkering: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd will invest approximately 700 crore rupees to establish large-scale bunkering facilities. This infrastructure is intended to fuel mother ships calling at the port, positioning Vizhinjam as a primary energy hub in the Indian Ocean.
• Multimodal Connectivity: CONCOR will commit roughly 600 crore rupees to develop rail-linked infrastructure. This includes the creation of inland container depots and container freight stations to facilitate the efficient movement of cargo across the national network.
• Warehousing and Cold Chain: The Central Warehousing Corporation will invest about 700 crore rupees to develop a 50-acre multimodal logistics park. The facility will feature cold storage and export-oriented units, providing a critical link for the region’s agricultural and industrial exports.

Public Sector Oversight and Economic Impact

By integrating these central PSUs, the state government intends to guarantee fair pricing for traders and ensure that the logistics ecosystem remains competitive. The CMO noted that these projects will be fully funded by the respective PSUs, ensuring the development of world-class infrastructure without placing a financial burden on the state exchequer.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Ports, V. N. Vasavan, and VISL Managing Director, Dr Divya S. Iyer, alongside senior leadership from the participating central companies. The move marks a shift from focusing exclusively on port construction to building a broader, port-led industrial ecosystem.

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Sources

• The Hindu: “Kerala signs ₹2,000-crore public sector logistics pacts for Vizhinjam port” (February 23, 2026)
• Business Standard: “Kerala signs MoUs with central PSUs for ₹2,000 cr Vizhinjam logistics plan” (February 23, 2026)
• United News of India (UNI): “Kerala to unveil Rs 2,000 crore public sector logistics masterplan” (February 23, 2026)
• Press Information Bureau (PIB): “Port Development and Inland Waterways in Kerala” (February 13, 2026)

NEW DELHI (February 23, 2026) — The initial public offering (IPO) of Gaudium IVF and Women Health, a prominent provider of fertility services, was fully subscribed on its second day of share sales on Monday. According to data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the offering saw significant traction from retail and non-institutional investors, comfortably surpassing the total number of shares available by midday.

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Subscription Data and Investor Categories

As of 12:30 hours, the company received bids for 28,563,948 shares against an offering of 14,620,340 shares. This indicates a subscription rate of 1.95 times the initial volume. The demand was primarily driven by smaller-scale investors, while institutional interest remained subdued during the early stages of the bidding process.

The breakdown of the subscription by investor category is as follows:

Investor Category	Subscription Rate
Retail Individual Investors	2.81 times
Non-Institutional Investors	2.56 times
Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs)	0.01 times (1%)

Company Background and Market Context

Gaudium IVF and Women Health operates within the rapidly expanding reproductive healthcare sector in India. The capital raised through this public listing is expected to fund the company’s expansion and the enhancement of its clinical infrastructure.

Whilst retail and non-institutional segments showed robust appetite for the shares, the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) portion typically sees increased activity towards the final day of an IPO, a common trend in the Indian capital markets.

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Sources

• National Stock Exchange (NSE) Live IPO Data (February 23, 2026)
• Press Trust of India (PTI) / Economic Times: “Gaudium IVF’s IPO gets fully subscribed on day 2” (February 23, 2026)

NEW DELHI (February 23, 2026) — Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated on Monday that the central bank is closely monitoring the 590 crore rupee fraud recently uncovered at IDFC First Bank, clarifying that the incident does not pose a “systemic issue” to the nation’s banking sector. Speaking at a press briefing following the customary post-budget address by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the RBI Central Board, Governor Malhotra emphasized that the regulator is “watching the development” as the bank proceeds with recovery efforts and internal investigations.

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Details of the Chandigarh Branch Irregularities

The fraud, which was publicly disclosed by IDFC First Bank on Sunday, involves unauthorized transactions at a single branch in Chandigarh. According to regulatory filings and statements from the bank, the fraudulent activity was confined to a specific set of accounts belonging to the Haryana state government.

As noted in reports by The Economic Times and The Hindu, the discrepancy was discovered after the Haryana government requested the closure of an account and a subsequent balance transfer, only to find that the reported figures did not match the bank’s records. Preliminary internal reviews suggest the fraud was committed through collusion between certain employees and external entities using forged physical cheque transactions.

Impact on Bank Operations and Governance

In response to the discovery, IDFC First Bank has taken several immediate measures:

• Personnel Suspension: Four officials suspected of involvement have been placed under suspension pending a full investigation.
• Forensic Audit: The bank has appointed the advisory firm KPMG to conduct an independent forensic review, a process expected to take four to five weeks.
• Legal Action: A formal police complaint has been filed, and the bank is pursuing civil and criminal action against the responsible parties.
• Recovery Measures: IDFC First Bank has issued recall notices to other financial institutions to lien-mark funds in suspicious beneficiary accounts, as stated by Managing Director and CEO V. Vaidyanathan.

State Government and Market Response

Following the disclosure, the Haryana Finance Department issued an immediate directive to de-empanel both IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank for state government operations. According to a circular from the department, all state boards, corporations, and universities are required to transfer their funds and close their accounts with these lenders immediately.

The news had a significant impact on the equity markets on Monday. Shares of IDFC First Bank fell by as much as 20 percent, their steepest decline since March 2020, resulting in a loss of approximately 14,438 crore rupees in market capitalization. Despite the market reaction, CEO V. Vaidyanathan maintained that the issue remains an isolated instance, noting that the affected deposits represent approximately 0.5 percent of the bank’s total deposit base.

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Sources

• The Hindu: “RBI watching development around IDFC First Bank fraud, no systemic issue” (February 23, 2026)
• The Economic Times: “RBI sees no systemic risk in Rs 590-crore fraud” (February 23, 2026)
• Press Trust of India (PTI): “IDFC First Bank discloses Rs 590 crore fraud” (February 22, 2026)
• Times of India: “IDFC First Bank fraud case: RBI ‘watching development’” (February 23, 2026)

NEW DELHI (February 23, 2026) — Cottonseed oil cake futures rose by 1 percent on Monday, driven by increased market participation and a strengthening demand for cattle feed. On the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), prices for the March delivery contract settled at 3,335 rupees per quintal, representing a 33 rupee increase from previous levels.

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Market Dynamics and Open Interest

The uptick in prices coincided with speculators creating fresh positions in the market. According to data from the NCDEX, the March contract saw an open interest of 55,850 lots. Market analysts stated that the widening of positions by participants was a direct response to a surge in domestic demand, particularly from the livestock sector.

Cattle Feed Demand Drives Gains

Cottonseed oil cake, a vital byproduct of the cotton ginning process, serves as a high-protein ingredient for cattle feed. Market observers noted that the current price appreciation is primarily influenced by the increased requirement for nutrient-dense feed. As noted in market reports, the rise in futures reflects a bullish sentiment among traders who anticipate sustained demand in the coming weeks.

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Sources

• National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) Market Data
• News Agency Feed: “Cottonseed oil cake futures rise on fresh bets” (February 23, 2026)