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Gluten Intolerance Symptoms: How gluten intolerance triggers persistent gastric issues: Gastroenterologist reveals key symptoms to note |
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Gluten Intolerance Symptoms: How gluten intolerance triggers persistent gastric issues: Gastroenterologist reveals key symptoms to note |

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How gluten intolerance triggers persistent gastric issues: Gastroenterologist reveals key symptoms to note

Gluten intolerance is basically when your body doesn’t feel great after you eat gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods like wheat, barley, and rye, so things like roti, bread, pasta, biscuits, all the usual stuff. For some people, eating these can lead to bloating, stomach pain, gas, or just that heavy, uncomfortable feeling.And the symptoms aren’t always just about the stomach. Some people feel tired all the time, get headaches, or even notice skin issues after eating gluten. It’s easy to miss the connection because it doesn’t always happen instantly.So people often keep eating the same foods, thinking it’s just “normal digestion.”If you keep feeling off after meals, it’s worth paying attention. Not guessing, not cutting everything randomly—but actually getting it checked. Because once you figure it out, small changes in what you eat can make a big difference in how you feel every day.“Patients often come to me complaining about prolonged abdominal discomfort and bloating. Many also report issues with bowel obstruction, especially when they consume anything that has gluten in it, which is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. While gluten is receiving a lot of attention nowadays as a food component, it is important for us all to know how true gluten intolerance actually works and when their symptoms warrant a visit to a physician,” Dr. Saiprasad Lad, Consultant – Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Therapeutic GI Endoscopist, S.L.Raheja Hospital – A Fortis Associate, Mumbai told TOI Health.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)

The medical term for gluten intolerance is Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS). With NCGS, when individuals ingest gluten-containing foods, they may develop gastrointestinal symptoms. In contrast, Celiac disease causes physical damage to your intestines and is classified as an autoimmune disorder. Although NCGS does not cause damage to the intestines, it’s important to note that just because NCGS does not demonstrate visible damage to your intestines, you shouldn’t assume that the resulting symptoms are of a mild or insignificant nature.“People who have a gluten sensitivity often experience symptoms you may expect from eating gluten-containing foods, such as abdominal bloating, cramped pains, diarrhoea, constipation, excessive flatulence, and nausea. Symptoms can occur as early as within hours of eating gluten and as late as 24 hours later. Most of these people report feeling fatigued or lethargic, which can affect their ability to perform daily tasks, and/or feel “weighed down,” which can affect productivity and overall well-being,” explains the doctor.

What gluten intolerance can do?

Apart from gastrointestinal symptoms, gluten intolerance shows several other symptoms:Extraintestinal effects: Fatigue, headaches, joint pain, anxiety, depression, and skin rashes are frequently reported, though mechanisms are less clear than in celiac disease.Nutritional and metabolic risks: In people who adopt a gluten‑free diet without medical supervision, there is a risk of lower fiber, higher fat intake, hyperglycemia, and even slightly increased cardiovascular risk due to reduced whole‑grain consumption.A Nordic long‑term follow‑up of people with self‑reported gluten intolerance (but no celiac disease) found that after ~25 years they reported more gastrointestinal symptoms and lower quality of life than healthy controls and even than untreated celiac patients.

Gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease: Are they same?

But here’s where it gets a bit confusing. Gluten intolerance isn’t the same as celiac disease. Celiac is more serious—it’s an autoimmune condition where gluten actually damages the small intestine. With intolerance, it’s more about sensitivity. Your body reacts, but not in that same damaging way. Still uncomfortable though, and very real.Dr. Saiprasad Lad says it is essential to differentiate gluten sensitivity from Celiac disease. In Celiac disease, ingesting gluten causes long-term inflammation that damages the lining of the small intestine and makes it less able to absorb nutrients. Over time, the individual can develop anemia due to a lack of iron, a calcium deficiency, and/or osteoporosis. In very rare cases, an individual can develop intestinal cancer after years of having Celiac disease. Before you eliminate gluten from your diet, make sure you get a proper evaluation including blood tests to screen for antibodies specific for Celiac disease and possibly a biopsy of the intestine. If you try a gluten-free diet before you have received an accurate diagnosis, you may affect the accuracy of further investigation.He adds that gluten isn’t the only cause of the symptoms related to gluten. Some people may also be experiencing symptoms from the group of fermentable carbohydrates known as FODMAPs, which are found in most wheat products, and can produce symptoms similar to those produced by gluten. Temporary inflammation or an imbalance of gut bacteria may contribute to gluten sensitivity that only lasts for a short time.Management of these different diagnostic categories will vary, depending on the diagnosis. Individuals who are diagnosed with celiac disease need to be gluten free for life. Individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity often only require a reduction of gluten, as opposed to a complete removal. These individuals will typically have a better result from working with a registered dietitian, as gluten-free diets often lack fibre and micronutrients.You should never diagnose yourself when you are experiencing ongoing gastric symptoms. You should always go through an organized system to help identify the cause of your symptoms, who will help you maintain long term digestive health.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Saiprasad Lad, Consultant – Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist and Therapeutic GI Endoscopist, S.L.Raheja Hospital – A Fortis Associate, MumbaiInputs were used to explain what is gluten intolerance, how true gluten intolerance actually works and when their symptoms warrant a visit to a physician.

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Israel bombs South Pars: Why does this gas field matter so much to Iran — and the world?
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Israel bombs South Pars: Why does this gas field matter so much to Iran — and the world?

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Israel bombs South Pars: Why does this gas field matter so much to Iran — and the world?
South Pars natural gas field (Agencies)

The already tense situation in the Middle East escalated sharply on Wednesday after Israel struck an Iranian production facility at the South Pars gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar across the Gulf. The attack comes amid a widening regional crisis triggered by a joint US-Israel military operation at the end of February that killed Iran’s long-serving leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.South Pars, the world’s largest gas field, is a key source of domestic energy for Iran, which already struggles with frequent gas and electricity shortages.

Watch

Furious Iran Bombards Saudi Oil Refineries In Retaliation For Israel-US Gas Facility Attack

US President Donald Trump expressed surprise over the strike, saying, “The United States knew nothing about this,” and denied any involvement. However, according to AP reports, Washington had been informed in advance of Israel’s plans to target the offshore gas facility but did not take part in the operation.

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“The ‌United States knew nothing ⁠about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with ‌it, nor did it have any ⁠idea that it was going to happen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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Should the international community intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran?

Since the launch of the large-scale military campaign on February 28, Iran has expanded its retaliation beyond military targets to include oil and gas infrastructure across the region, raising global concerns given the Gulf’s importance in energy supply.Watch: Iran missile hits Qatar’s Ras Laffan, world’s largest LNG hubThe strike on South Pars marks the first time in the conflict that a major fossil fuel production facility has been directly targeted.

What has been targeted in recent days?

On Tuesday, an Iranian drone attack forced the suspension of operations at the Shah gas field in Abu Dhabi. The site produces around 1.28 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and supplies about 20 percent of the UAE’s gas and 5 percent of the world’s granulated sulphur used in fertilisers.On Wednesday, Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field. The field is the largest in the world and a backbone of Iran’s energy system.

Why the South Pars strike matters

The South Pars gas field, the largest known in the world, spans around 9,700 square kilometres in the Persian Gulf.The damage to South Pars could worsen Iran’s already severe energy shortages. The field accounts for up to 70 percent of Iran’s gas production. Initial reports suggest that sections contributing nearly 12 percent of total output may have been affected.The strike has also raised fears of a wider escalation, with both sides now targeting critical energy infrastructure. Experts warn that such attacks could have long-term consequences for global energy markets.Oil prices have already risen after the strike, driven by concerns of supply disruptions. Analysts say that if production facilities suffer major damage, recovery could take years.It is estimated to hold about 51 trillion cubic metres of gas, according to the Guinness World Records.Oil prices have already surged following news of the strike, with Brent crude rising more than 5 percent to over $110 per barrel.The field is shared by Iran and Qatar, with the Qatari side discovered first in 1971.The strike also marks the first reported attack on Iran’s core energy infrastructure.

How the region is reacting

Iran has warned of further retaliation and listed major oil and gas sites in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar as potential targets. Explosions were later reported in Riyadh.Qatar blamed Israel for the attack, calling it a “dangerous and irresponsible” escalation that threatens global energy security. The UAE also warned that the strike poses risks to both regional stability and global energy supplies.

Why repairs may not be quick

Once the damage is done, repair is never straightforward and the aftermath can be long and devastating. Despite its scale and significance, the key question remains: can the South Pars gas field be repaired quickly?

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Iran BLOWS UP Ship Near UAE For Defying Hormuz Ban; IRGC Burns Oil, Gas Facilities In 3 Nations

Past experience suggests recovery may take far longer than expected. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein, rebuilding damaged energy infrastructure proved to be a slow and complex process.The Bush administration had pledged that reconstruction would be funded through oil revenues. However, even with access to facilities and nearly $2 billion spent on oil projects, it took more than two years for production to return to pre-war levels.More recently, efforts to repair Ukraine’s power infrastructure following Russian strikes have also faced major delays, with equipment shortages and logistical bottlenecks slowing progress.These examples highlight that restoring large-scale energy systems after conflict is a difficult and time-consuming task, raising concerns about how quickly South Pars can recover.

Bigger impact beyond energy

Energy production in the Gulf is not just about economics—it plays a key role in political stability and regional relations. Countries depend on energy revenues to support their economies and maintain social balance.The South Pars field has also acted as a bridge between Iran and Qatar in the past. The latest attack has raised concerns about how deeper conflict could disrupt not just energy supplies, but also fragile regional ties.With both sides continuing strikes and counterattacks, the situation risks spiralling further, putting critical global energy infrastructure under increasing threat.

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Stock market crash today (March 19, 2026): Nifty50 opens below 23,300; BSE Sensex plunges over 1,600 points as US Fed keeps rates unchanged
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Stock market crash today (March 19, 2026): Nifty50 opens below 23,300; BSE Sensex plunges over 1,600 points as US Fed keeps rates unchanged

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Stock market crash today (March 19, 2026): Nifty50 opens below 23,300; BSE Sensex plunges over 1,600 points as US Fed keeps rates unchanged
Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market crash today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex crashed in opening trade on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve kept policy rates unchanged. While Nifty50 went below 23,300, BSE Sensex was down over 1,600 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 23,277.35, down 500 points or 2.10%. BSE Sensex was at 75,072.24, down 1,632 points or 2.13%.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The uncertainty surrounding the war has turned worse with Israel hitting the world’s largest LNG refinery in Iran. Brent crude has shot up to $111. This is bad news for oil and gas importers like India. If Brent remains above $110 for an extended period of time, that will have negative implications for India’s macros. India’s GDP growth and corporate earnings in FY27, too, will be impacted. But this scenario need not play out in the fast changing scenario. A prolonged war is no one’s interest. Therefore, a sudden end to the war bringing crude prices sharply down cannot be ruled out. The market has been exceedingly volatile in response to developments on the war front and crude prices. The last three days of recovery in the market is likely to be wiped out if the war escalation continues.”Indian equity benchmarks ended higher on Wednesday, extending their gains through the trading session, even as global markets signalled caution amid rising geopolitical tensions and firming oil prices.However, Wall Street closed sharply lower on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged and indicated just one rate cut for the year, as policymakers assessed risks stemming from elevated oil prices and the ongoing US and Israeli conflict with Iran.Asian markets also came under pressure in early Thursday trade, tracking the weak cues from the United States and reacting to fresh attacks on critical energy infrastructure in the Middle East, which pushed oil prices higher.On the institutional front, foreign portfolio investors remained net sellers, offloading equities worth Rs 2,714 crore on Wednesday. In contrast, domestic institutional investors provided support to the market, purchasing shares worth Rs 3,253 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

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‘Israel violently lashed out’: Trump says US ‘knew nothing’ of South Pars gas field strike; warns Iran after Qatar LNG hub hit
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‘Israel violently lashed out’: Trump says US ‘knew nothing’ of South Pars gas field strike; warns Iran after Qatar LNG hub hit

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‘Israel violently lashed out’: Trump says US ‘knew nothing’ of South Pars gas field strike; warns Iran after Qatar LNG hub hit
‘Israel lashed out’: Trump distances US from gas field strike; warns Iran after Qatar LNG hub hit (AP photo)

US President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that the strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field was carried out by Israel, adding that neither the United States nor Qatar had any involvement.In a social media post, Trump said Israel had targeted a section of the major gas facility “out of anger” over developments in the Middle East, stressing that Washington had no prior knowledge of the attack and that Qatar was “in no way” involved.

Watch

Iran Attacks Ras Laffan, Home To World’s Largest LNG Facility | Gas Plant Damaged

He claimed Iran responded without full information, launching what he described as an unjustified strike on part of Qatar’s LNG infrastructure.Trump warned that Israel would refrain from further attacks on the South Pars field unless Iran escalated by targeting Qatar again. In such a scenario, he said, the United States would retaliate with overwhelming force against the facility, even without Israel’s involvement.While cautioning that he did not want to authorise such large-scale destruction due to its long-term consequences, Trump said the US would act decisively if Qatar’s LNG assets were attacked again.“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran. A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen,” wrote Trump.“Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility. No more attacks will be made by Israel pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar – In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before,” he said. “I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” added Trump.Strikes on energy infrastructure have intensified the conflict, with Israel targeting Iran’s South Pars gas field — the world’s largest natural gas reserve — prompting a sharp escalation from Tehran.Iran condemned the attack, warning of “uncontrollable consequences,” and responded by launching missile strikes on energy facilities across the Gulf. Qatar said Iranian missiles hit its liquefied natural gas sites, causing major fires and extensive damage, though no casualties were reported. The country had already halted production earlier in the conflict, and further damage could delay its return to global energy markets.Iran also targeted key oil and gas facilities in the United Arab Emirates, including the Habshan gas plant and the Bab field, actions Abu Dhabi described as a “dangerous escalation.” Qatar, in turn, ordered Iranian embassy officials to leave within 24 hours.The widening attacks have increased pressure on Gulf states such as Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, which have so far focused on defence despite repeated strikes on their energy assets, military bases and civilian infrastructure.Global energy markets have reacted sharply. Oil prices have surged, with Brent crude rising close to 50% since the conflict began, amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical shipping route for about a fifth of the world’s oil. Iran has restricted passage through the strait, further fuelling supply concerns.Meanwhile, Israel has continued targeting senior Iranian leadership, including the reported killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib and other top security figures. Iran has retaliated with missile barrages on Israel, including strikes that caused casualties in the occupied West Bank.

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Fears of early summer recede, wet spells likely in North till March-end | India News
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Fears of early summer recede, wet spells likely in North till March-end | India News

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Fears of early summer recede, wet spells likely in North till March-end

NEW DELHI: The rapid rise in heat in the first half of March, leading to the spectre of an early and long summer in north India, appears to have halted for at least the next two weeks. While an ongoing weather system is bringing rain to north India, two more are expected to impact the region this month, ensuring that temperatures remain normal to below normal, the met department said.The wet spell, which began around March 14 with a western disturbance, marks a sudden turn in the weather after a particularly dry winter in the region and high temperatures since mid-Feb. It’s bringing not just rain but also much needed snow in the higher hills ahead of summer. Among other things, the forest fire season in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh is expected to be pushed back by weeks. Delhi is set to experience the unusual likelihood of the second half of March being cooler than the first.There’s an ongoing western disturbance that’s going to impact northwest India till around March 21. Another active western disturbance is likely to start impacting the region from around March 23 and a third one from around March 27. We expect temperatures to be in the normal to below-normal range. The heatwaves have subsided,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of India Meteorological Department.

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How do you feel about the unexpected snowfall in the higher hills?

If IMD’s forecast of two more active WDs affecting north India holds true, it would take the number of these wet-weather systems in the second half of March to four. The current WD caused widespread rain and snow, is expected to continue impacting the region for the next two-three days.The chill has returned in the hilly regions, which bear the maximum impact of the weather disturbances.The maximum temperature in Srinagar dropped from 19.4 degrees C on March 14 to a forecasted 11 degrees C on Wednesday as fresh snow-fall in Gulmarg and Sonamarg brought unexpected bonanza for tourists. Last month, Srinagar had logged its warmest Feb on record.The higher reaches of Himachal recorded fresh snowfall while the low and midhills saw light to moderate rain. An alert has been issued for heavy rain and snow on Thursday. Tabo in Lahaul Spiti recorded a minimum temperature of -2.8 degrees C.In Delhi, the day temperature had on March 11 hit a peak of 36.8 degrees C, 8.4 notches above normal. By March 15, the maximum had dropped to 30.1 degrees C. It’s expected to dip to around 27 degrees C by Friday.

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Row over Nora Fatehi song reaches Parliament; govt says it’s banned | Bengaluru News
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Row over Nora Fatehi song reaches Parliament; govt says it’s banned | Bengaluru News

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Row over Nora Fatehi song reaches Parliament; govt says it's banned

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: A row over alleged vulgarity in the Hindi version of a song of an upcoming Kannada film ‘KD: The Devil’ spilled into Parliament on Wednesday, with Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadoria flagging what he described as the harmful impact of unchecked explicit content on OTT platforms and social media.In response, Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the song had already been banned. “A ban has been imposed on the song. The framers of the Constitution placed certain reasonable restrictions, and we should function within those limits. Freedom of speech cannot be absolute, it has to be in the context of the society and culture,” Vaishnaw said.The controversy centres on the smutty track ‘Sarse Ninna Serage Sarse’, written by Kannada director Prem, who has apologised following the backlash. The Hindi version of the song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ was written by Abdul Raqeem who claimed he had only translated it. Featuring Sanjay Dutt and Nora Fatehi, the song was released on YouTube two days ago and quickly went viral for its lyrics that appear to describe a sexual act. Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSCW) has also urged action against what it calls objectionable content in the original Kannada movie track.In her letter to Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), KSCW chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary stated, “Such lyrics provoke the youth towards eve-teasing, especially targeting students and working women.” She urged the chamber to direct the filmmakers to avoid content that “outrages the modesty of women.” In a separate communication to the regional director of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), she requested that the board ensure the “objectionable portions are deleted or suitably modified” before certification.CBFC clarified that it has not received any application for certification of the song and does not regulate such digital content. “This is to clearly state that CBFC has not received any application seeking certification for the song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ from ‘KD: The Devil’ film. It is to be noted clearly that content on digital platforms is not certified by CBFC. There is often confusion about this and CBFC is unnecessarily dragged into matters that are not connected,” it said, adding that “in the case of this particular song all queries should be directed to the platform and the makers of the song.“

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Worrying signs for KKR? Ex-Australia captain says Cameron Green ‘cannot move’ | Cricket News
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Worrying signs for KKR? Ex-Australia captain says Cameron Green ‘cannot move’ | Cricket News

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Worrying signs for KKR? Ex-Australia captain says Cameron Green 'cannot move'

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has raised concerns about the batting form of all-rounder Cameron Green ahead of the IPL 2026 season, saying the youngster is not moving freely at the crease.Green is set to play for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after being signed for Rs 25.20 crore. Despite scoring a century in the Sheffield Shield against New South Wales, Chappell said there are concerns around his overall batting rhythm.As quoted by SEN Cricket, Chappell said Green’s bowling workload may be affecting his batting, and added that his progress will depend on his decision-making and support system.“Bowling has impacted his batting. He can still be one of the great all-rounders of the game because he has the talent, but (it depends on) whether he has got the decision making, the mental skills to go with it, whether he’s getting the best advice on where he is going,” Chappell said.“I saw a very athletic young batsman with a beautiful setup and able to move in any direction, and now I see a batsman who is stuck at the crease, who cannot move, cannot use his athleticism, cannot use his reach to score runs,” he added.Green had a difficult T20 World Cup, scoring 24 runs in three innings, including two single-digit scores, and picking up one wicket. He was under pressure to justify his price tag and secure his place in Australia’s plans.In the series against Pakistan before the World Cup, which Australia lost 3-0, Green scored 93 runs in three innings at an average of 31.00 and a strike rate above 124, with a highest score of 36.His Test record also shows modest returns. Green has scored 1,736 runs in 37 Tests and 59 innings at an average of 32.75, with two centuries and seven fifties. His last century came two years ago in New Zealand, where he scored 174* batting at number four.During the recent home Ashes against England, he managed 171 runs in eight innings at an average of 24.42, with a highest score of 45. At home, his Test average stands at 28.96 after 20 matches, with four fifties in 31 innings.

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After 2 attempts, govt fails to divest IDBI Bank
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After 2 attempts, govt fails to divest IDBI Bank

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NEW DELHI: Ten years later and after two attempts, govt has failed to privatise IDBI Bank, the perpetual problem child, leaving potential bidders fatigued and raising questions over the process as well as future disinvestment plans.It wasn’t the first time that the Centre tried to exit IDBI Bank, with the plan first announced by former finance minister Arun Jaitly in 2016 scuttled by civil servants and bank executives, who cited possible controversy over real estate assets, including some apartments in South Mumbai and other parts.Five years later, the Modi govt again cleared the plan and IDBI Bank was the only privatisation plan, which kept moving, while others kept failing as departments kept blocking them.

After 2 attempts, govt fails to divest IDBI Bk

When the process started, the bank’s shares were trading at Rs 31 and had four players in the fray – Oaktree Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Emirates NBD and Fairfax. Over the next four years they continued with due diligence as the process went through multiple twists and turns. Oaktree was the first to drop out.The bank clearly offered a good opportunity to overseas players to enter the rapidly growing Indian market, and were willing to accept indemnities for past litigations, including a potential $1 billion outstanding tax claims. Some of them were also willing to overlook other challenges such as reservation policies and restrictions reworking staff-related policies for two years. There were also going to be challenges related to employee culture.Those familiar with the sale process said that bidders and transaction advisors estimated the book value of shares at around Rs 55-60, against the reported book value of Rs 67, prompting Kotak Mahindra to back out.The reserve price was fixed at over Rs 94 a share – a 41% premium to book value.Regarding the bids by Fairfax and Emirates NBD, which were rejected, one was said to be at 10% discount to the current book value, while the other was at a 10-12% premium.What complicated the matter for the committee of secretaries, which took a call on rejecting the bids, was the market price of IDBI shares, which soared 59% from under Rs 73 a year ago to over Rs 116 on Feb 27. With a 5.3% public float, it did not take significant volumes to be traded for the share to move up or down and market players raised the price in anticipation of the sale.Not surprisingly, since last Friday the bank’s shares have fallen nearly 19% to less than Rs 75, the closing price on BSE on Wednesday.Bankers are more worried about the impact that the IDBI Bank transaction will have on other disinvestment deals as companies typically do not invest five years on a transaction and would instead go for a smaller private player and ramp up the operations in this period. “It’s a missed opportunity, not just for govt, but also LIC, which was brought in to warehouse the shares and is now stuck with it for a few more years,” said a banker.Besides, barring Air India, the Narendra Modi govt has not moved on strategic sales, despite its stated policy of getting out of public sector undertajings in non-strategic sectors.

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Rajya Sabha bids farewell to 59 MPs; PM says no full stops in politics | India News
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Rajya Sabha bids farewell to 59 MPs; PM says no full stops in politics | India News

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Rajya Sabha bids farewell to 59 MPs; PM says no full stops in politics

NEW DELHI: As the Rajya Sabha bid farewell to 59 MPs, PM Narendra Modi told retiring members there is no full stop in politics, while praising the service of senior MPs like H D Deve Gowda, Sharad Pawar and LoP Mallikarjun Kharge.Addressing the House, Modi said that on such occasions, “we rise above partisan differences, and a shared sentiment emerges”. “In politics, there is no full stop. The future awaits you, and your experience will remain part of our national life,” Modi said.In a lighter vein, Kharge said Deve Gowda once “loved” Congress but had “married” Modi, drawing laughter.Modi lauded the contribution of retiring MPs, calling Parliament an open university, and urged them to remain active. He made special mention of Deve Gowda, Pawar and Kharge, calling them stalwarts who have spent more than half their lives in Parliament.He also praised outgoing deputy chairman Harivansh and highlighted the bicameral system as strengthening decision-making. Kharge called for a review of rules and more sittings, stressing debate is vital. Chairman C P Radhakrishnan said retirement marks the beginning of new roles. TNN

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FCRA amendments to fix validity of foreign contributions
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FCRA amendments to fix validity of foreign contributions

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FCRA amendments to fix validity of foreign contributions

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, proposing to bring clarity in respect of prior permissions by enabling the govt to prescribe the validity period within which foreign contributions may be received and also the timelines for their utilisation.The bill is likely to be introduced in the current session of Parliament. People aware of the development said the bill proposes to introduce comprehensive and time-bound statutory mechanism for the management, utilisation and disposal of foreign contributions and assets of associations or NGOs whose registration has been suspended, cancelled, surrendered, or has ceased. “In the current act, there is no provision for managing such assets. This will bring a lot of clarity. The bill intends to streamline the reporting process and ensure that all organisations adhere to the regulatory framework,” an official said.The bill also proposes to introduce a safeguard to ensure criminal probes under the act are initiated only with the prior approval of the Union govt.Officials said the bill further proposes to rationalise penalties, including reduction in maximum jail term for different offences, which includes unauthorised receipt of foreign contribution. It also mandates approval of central govt before any criminal investigation is initiated under the act.There are 16,000 FCRA-registered associations and NGOs which receive contributions of over Rs 20,000 crore annually. The act aims to ensure such inflows do not affect national security or public interest

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