Punjab National Bank's (PNB) net profit for the quarter ended June 30 stood at Rs 1,675 crore, down 49 per cent year-on-year, according to its stock exchange filing on Wednesday.

The public sector lender had posted a net profit of Rs 3,251 crore in the same quarter last year (Q1 FY25) and Rs 4,567 crore in the preceding quarter (Q4 FY25).

Meanwhile, PNB's total income for the quarter rose 15.7 per cent YoY to Rs 37,231 crore from Rs 32,165 crore in Q1 FY25. The bank had reported a net income of Rs 36,705 crore in the preceding quarter.

Manipur Police have urged a leading Naga organisation in the state to lift the shutdown and allow the safe passage to the people belonging to the Kuki-Zo community through the Naga-inhabited areas, officials said on Wednesday.

A police official said that a vital meeting between the senior police officials and the leaders of the Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) was held on Tuesday at the police headquarters, which discussed the demands and grievances submitted by the committee.

“After a detailed deliberation on the issues raised, the Police Department assured the FNCC representatives that all genuine concerns would be examined with utmost seriousness. The Department reiterated its commitment to addressing the matters raised in a timely and appropriate manner,” the official said.

Digital payments to merchants in India grew nearly 19 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in June to Rs 9,10,000 crore (Rs 9.1 trillion), a new report said on Wednesday.

According to data compiled by Equirus Securities, UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) payments remained the biggest driver, rising 22 per cent YoY to Rs 6.8 trillion, while credit card spends increased 15 per cent YoY to Rs 1.8 trillion.

Debit card spending, however, declined 14 per cent from previous year to Rs 35,300 crore.

UPI-P2M accounted for 74.5 per cent of the total market share in June, while credit cards held 20 per cent.

“Nearly two-thirds of UPI-P2M transactions by value were above Rs 2,000,” according to the report.

India's manufacturing sector hit a 14-month high amid logistics rents across Asia-Pacific held nearly flat in the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), dropping 0.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) despite global trade tensions and heightened caution among occupiers, a report said on Wednesday.

"India's manufacturing sector hit a 14-month high with its S&P Purchasing Managers' Index reaching 58.4 in June, the strongest performance across the region, driven by rising international sales, higher output, and record-breaking employment growth," Knight Frank said in its report.

Despite a rise in vacancies across India's three largest logistics markets, rents climbed at a faster 3.4 per cent in H1 2025, up from 2.1 per cent six months ago.

“India’s logistics sector continues to display strength and stability, driven by the manufacturing rebound, policy support, and sustained occupier interest," said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.

On her husband’s birthday on Wednesday, actress and fashionista Sonam Kapoor penned a heartfelt note for Anand Ahuja and lovingly asked him to find her in “every lifetime”.

Sonam shared a motley of pictures featuring Anand and their toddler son Vayu.

“My July Leo… Your name, Anand, is the most beautiful name in the world because it means joy , bliss and that’s exactly what you bring into my life every single day,” Sonam wrote in the caption.

She added that Anand is the most “loving” person she knows.

“You are the most thoughtful, kind, and loving person I know, and life is so much better because you’re in it. Even though we’re both imperfect, God made us perfect for each other,” Sonam added.

Every third Indian is affected by some metabolic dysfunction, said Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, while proposing a mass campaign for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes in the young.

Addressing the Foundation Day ceremony of the Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI), Singh expressed concern that India continues to be labelled the “diabetes capital of the world”.

The Income Tax Department on Wednesday informed that it has enabled online filing of income tax return (ITR) form number 3 (ITR-3). Taxpayers who have business income, income from share trading (such as futures and options), or even investments in unlisted shares can now file ITR-3 through the e-filing ITR portal.

An individual or Hindu Undivided Family with a business or profession must use ITR-3. Company directors, those who invested in unlisted equity shares at any time during the financial year, along with income from other sources, partner income, salary or pension income, and house property income, can use this ITR form.

Taxpayers with income earned from capital gains or foreign assets, income classified as profits or gains from business or profession and those who are not eligible to file Form ITR-1 (Sahaj), ITR-2, or ITR-4 (Sugam) can use ITR-3.

India’s smartphone market grew 8 per cent (year-on-year) in volume and 18 per cent in value in the April-June quarter (Q2 2025), marking a solid rebound following a muted Q1, a report said on Wednesday.

The iPhone 16 emerged as the most-shipped device in Q2 2025, driven by ongoing promotions, extended EMI options, and improved retail execution, helping Apple register its highest-ever Q2 shipments in India.

According to Counterpoint’s 'Monthly India Smartphone Tracker', the recovery was driven by a 33 per cent jump (on-year) in new launches, aggressive marketing, and strong performance during summer sales, with brands offering steeper discounts, easy EMIs, and bundled offers especially in the mid and premium segments.