Tag: Mumbai

Business

HDFC Bank Reports 8.9% Growth in Net Revenue for Q3 FY26; Net Interest Income Rises 6.4%

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Mumbai, January 17, 2026: The Board of Directors of HDFC Bank Limited approved the Bank’s financial results prepared under Indian GAAP for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025, at its meeting held in Mumbai on Saturday. The financial statements have been subjected to a limited review by the statutory auditors of the Bank.

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For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the Bank reported net revenue of ₹458.7 billion, registering a growth of 8.9 per cent compared to ₹421.1 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Net interest income (interest earned less interest expended) for the quarter increased by 6.4 per cent to ₹326.2 billion from ₹306.5 billion in the same period last year. The Bank’s core net interest margin stood at 3.35 per cent on total assets and 3.51 per cent on interest-earning assets.

Other income (non-interest revenue) for the quarter amounted to ₹132.5 billion. Fee and commission income rose to ₹92.3 billion compared to ₹81.8 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Foreign exchange and derivatives revenue stood at ₹14.3 billion, marginally higher than ₹14.0 billion reported a year earlier. Net trading and mark-to-market gains surged to ₹9.3 billion from ₹0.7 billion, while miscellaneous income, including recoveries and dividends, was ₹16.6 billion compared to ₹17.9 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 were ₹187.7 billion. Excluding the estimated impact of ₹8.0 billion related to employee benefits under the New Labour Code, operating expenses stood at ₹179.7 billion, compared to ₹171.1 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The Bank’s core cost-to-income ratio for the quarter was 39.2 per cent.

The results reflect HDFC Bank’s continued focus on sustainable growth, operational efficiency and disciplined cost management amid evolving economic conditions.

Politics

BJP+ Wins Mumbai BMC Election for the First Time, Securing Control of India’s Richest Civic Body

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Mumbai; January 2026: In a landmark result, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has won the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election for the first time, gaining control of India’s richest civic body. The victory also reflects the alliance’s strong performance across municipal corporations in Maharashtra, where it is in the majority on most seats.



The BMC, which manages Mumbai’s vast resources and urban infrastructure, will now be governed by the BJP-led coalition, marking a significant shift in the city’s political landscape. Analysts note that this win consolidates the party’s influence in the state and highlights its electoral strategy in urban centres.

Counting trends showed the BJP-led Mahayuti emerging ahead in key wards, while the combined strength of opposition factions, including the Thackeray brothers, fell short of securing a majority. The results follow a statewide election process that saw polling across 29 municipal corporations and participation from 3.48 crore voters.

The historic BMC win is expected to impact governance priorities, urban development, and political dynamics in Mumbai, India’s financial and commercial hub, while reinforcing the BJP-led alliance’s broader dominance in Maharashtra’s local governance.

Travel

Siddhant Chaturvedi Invites Fans to Experience Mumbai Like a Local with Airbnb

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

As live music increasingly shapes how India’s Gen Z travels, Airbnb is bringing fans closer to the culture they love through an exclusive collaboration with actor, musician, and cultural voice Siddhant Chaturvedi. Announced on January 14, 2026, the partnership introduces “Lolla India Like a Local,” an Airbnb Original Experience designed to offer guests an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime way to explore Mumbai before ending the day at Lollapalooza India 2026.

The experience reflects a growing trend, with a significant number of young travellers planning trips around concerts and festivals. Rooted in the city that shaped Siddhant, the experience takes guests through Mumbai’s neighbourhoods, food, music, and creative spaces—bringing to life the everyday moments that define local travel. The day culminates at Lollapalooza India, where guests experience the festival alongside Siddhant himself.

Central to the collaboration is The Mumbai Guidebook, a digital city guide curated by Siddhant Chaturvedi exclusively for Airbnb. Featuring his handpicked neighbourhoods, local hangouts, and a selection of Airbnb stays that capture the spirit of the city, the guidebook is designed to help travellers extend their festival trip and experience Mumbai beyond the stage.

Limited to just four guests, the experience transforms recommendations into shared memories. Guests begin the day with a meal at one of Siddhant’s favourite local food joints, followed by a curated heritage walk through Bandra’s historic Ranwar Village with architect Nikhil Mahashur. The journey continues with an intimate jam session where Siddhant performs an original track inspired by the city, before heading to Lollapalooza India together to soak in the music and energy of a live performance.

Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, Siddhant Chaturvedi said that Mumbai has shaped every aspect of who he is, from his music to the places he returns to. Curating the guidebook and hosting the experience was his way of welcoming guests into his version of the city and sharing the sounds, neighbourhoods, and everyday moments that make Mumbai special.

The initiative builds on Airbnb’s first-ever global live music partnership at Lollapalooza India 2026, which includes a range of exclusive festival-related experiences designed to bring fans closer to the music and culture they love. Airbnb India and Southeast Asia Country Head Amanpreet Bajaj noted that while live music often sparks travel, it is local connections and authentic experiences that make journeys memorable.

Requests to book the four-hour experience will open at 11 AM IST on January 19, 2026, via airbnb.com/siddhant. The experience is priced at ₹0, available to a maximum of four guests on a first-come, first-served basis, with guests responsible for their own travel to and from Mumbai.

Entertainment

Prayer Meet for Legendary Actor Dharmendra Scheduled for November 27 in Mumbai

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The family of legendary Indian actor Dharmendra has announced that a prayer meet will be held on November 27, offering fans, colleagues and friends an opportunity to pay their respects to one of Bollywood’s most beloved icons.

A poster publicly shared by the family revealed that the prayer gathering will take place at a luxury hotel in Mumbai from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. The event is expected to be attended by leading members of the film fraternity, political dignitaries, and close associates of the actor.

Dharmendra, fondly known as the He-Man of Bollywood, leaves behind a monumental legacy spanning over six decades, with iconic films such as Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Seeta Aur Geeta, Phool Aur Patthar and many more. His contribution to Indian cinema, his simplicity, warmth and timeless screen presence earned him love across generations.

The prayer meet will serve as a space for collective remembrance — not only to honour Dharmendra’s artistic brilliance but also to celebrate the life of a man whose humility and humanity touched millions.

The family has requested attendees to join in offering prayers for the departed soul and to maintain the solemnity of the occasion.

Travel

Mumbai Tops Time Out’s 2025 List as the Happiest City in Asia

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

Happiness means different things to different people, but sometimes, numbers tell a story of their own. According to Time Out’s City Life Index 2025, Mumbai has been named the happiest city in Asia, with an overwhelming 94% of residents saying that their city makes them happy. The global survey, which asked over 18,000 people across the world about their cities, measured factors such as culture, nightlife, food, quality of life, and overall positivity.

The findings reveal that 89% of Mumbaikars feel happier in Mumbai than anywhere else, 88% say people in the city seem cheerful, and 87% believe happiness in Mumbai has grown recently. Experts point to Mumbai’s entertainment scene, diverse street food, and dynamic career opportunities as key drivers of this positivity. But perhaps more than anything, it’s the city’s deep sense of belonging, resilience, and community spirit that makes it stand out.

“Mumbai has always been more than just a city — it’s an emotion,” said one respondent. “Even in its chaos, there’s connection. Everyone’s chasing dreams together.”

Following Mumbai in the rankings are Beijing and Shanghai, where 93% and 92% of locals, respectively, reported feeling happy in their cities. Both scored high on safety, culture, and convenience and have been recognized as top destinations for Gen Z professionals due to their innovation and modern lifestyle.

Chiang Mai in Thailand and Hanoi in Vietnam also made it to the top five, each with 88% of residents saying their city makes them happy. Both cities were praised for their slower pace of life, community-driven living, and green environments — appealing to those seeking balance and connection.

Not all megacities fared equally well. Tokyo, Seoul, and Singapore ranked lower, with Tokyo recording just 70% of residents saying they feel happy in their city — a figure that experts link to long working hours and high pressure.

The top 10 happiest cities in Asia for 2025 are:

  1. Mumbai, India
  2. Beijing, China
  3. Shanghai, China
  4. Chiang Mai, Thailand
  5. Hanoi, Vietnam
  6. Jakarta, Indonesia
  7. Hong Kong
  8. Bangkok, Thailand
  9. Singapore
  10. Seoul, South Korea

The results underline that the happiest cities are not necessarily the richest or most modern, but those with a strong sense of community and joy in everyday life. In 2025, Mumbai’s blend of ambition, culture, and connection has made it a symbol of urban happiness — proving that in the city of dreams, the biggest dream of all is simply to belong.