OPINION, P10 WELL BEING FE LINES A movement once confined to biotech labs and Silicon Valley biohackers is now taking root in everyday lives Page 9 Humanoid sports are no longer a fantasy; China has a whole Games happening next month Page 6 LURE OF LONGEVITY How to build, how to grow ACROSS THE AISLE, P CHIDAMBARAM Robots in the arena LEISURE Follow us on Twitter & Facebook. App available on App Store & Play Store WWW.FINANCIALEXPRESS.COM VOL XXIV NO. 37 HUES OF HUMANITY FINANCIAL EXPRESS ON SUNDAY NEW DELHI SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025 18 Pages, `12 (Patna `12, Raipur `12, Srinagar `15) P U B L I S H E D F R O M : A H M E D A B A D , B E N G A L U R U , Swiatek wins Wimbledon title POLAND'S IGA Swiatek defeated Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, to lift her first Women's Singles Wimbledon title, and sixth Grand Slam, on Saturday. This is the only 6-0, 6-0 scoreline in a women’s singles Wimbledon final since 1911. Love in Bollywood Hindi cinema’s soul once resided in its trademark romances. Then they got pushed to the sidelines. Will we ever get to see a comeback of the golden era? ■ WORDS WORTH, P4 The new misogyny An empathetic exploration of how cutting-edge technology is being used for the patriarchal project IT shares turn worst performers in YTD’25 performers so far in 2025.The Nifty ITIndex has declined 13.02% YTD 2025, significantly underperforming the benchmark Nifty, which has gained 6.37% during the same period. Compiled by Kishor Kadam Nifty vs Nifty IT 106 106.37 N Nifty 100 90 86.98 86. Nifty IT 80 70 Dec 31, 2024 Jul 11, 2025 Top IT losers (2025 YTD return in %) Oracle Financial -32.5 TCS -19.0 -15.2 Infosys -14. Wipro -14.3 H Y D E R A B A D , K O C H I , HCL Tech K O L K A T A , L U C K N O W , M U M B A I , N E W D E L H I , P U N E 2018 WARNING ON FUEL SWITCH TROUBLE UNHEEDED Shop floors are no more sweat shopsforwomen OVER IN 32 ● Prelim report finds fuel switches SECONDS in cutoff mode ● Workplaces getting tailored for female staff Air India crash due to fuel cut off to both engines Recording stops Mayday call NITIN KUMAR New Delhi, July 12 ■ SPOTLIGHT, P5 (Relative performance - Base: Dec 31, 2024=100) 110 C H E N N A I , READ TO LEAD Liftoff from runway WHAT'S INSIDE INDIANTECHNOLOGY STOCKS, grappling with multiple challenges— including weak earnings, rising global trade tensions, and overall negative market sentiment— have emerged as the worst C H A N D I G A R H , Krishen Khanna continues to paint the paradox of wealth & poverty Page 7 APRELIMINARY REPORTinto the June 12 crash of an Air India Dreamliner has found that fuel supply to both engines was cut off moments after takeoff, plunging the plane to the ground within 30 seconds. The Boeing 787-8, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a medical college hostel just outside the airport perimeter, killing 241 of the 242peopleon board and 19 on the ground.As perthe 15-page preliminary investigation report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) early on Saturday, both engine fuel switches were moved to the ‘cutoff’ position within a second of each other immediatelyaftertakeoff,disabling the engines and depriving the aircraft of thrust. However,thereport hasnot established how or why the switches were flipped, a key question that is expected to be the focus of the continuing investigation. As per cockpit audio recordings, one pilot asked the other why the switches had been turned off, only to be told that he hadn’t done it.About 10 seconds after the fuel supply was cut, the switches were moved back to the‘run’position. Continued on Page 2 Max speed of 180 knots reached Both engines' fuel cutoff switches move from RUN to CUTOFF, 1 second apart. Engines begin to slow; RAT deploys; one pilot asks the other why he cut off fuel; the other answers he has not done so No conclusions till final report: Minister NITIN KUMAR New Delhi, July 12 K RAM MOHAN NAIDU, CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER UNION CIVIL AVIATION minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday said not to jumptoanyconclusionsonthe AircraftAccidentInvestigation Bureau (AAIB) report of theAir IndiaAI-171 crash,noting it as a preliminary submission on which comment can wait till the final report is out.“No conclusionscanbedrawnbasedon the pilots’ conversation as it is very brief. Further investigation is necessary. We should wait for that report,”he said. Naidu said the ministry is currently analysing the preliminaryreportandcoordinating with AAIB to provide nec- »INSIDE« Further probe is necessary essary support and resources. He added he firmly believes India has one of the finest aviation workforces in the world, terming pilots and crew the backbone of civil aviation. Continued on Page 2 Man or machine error? “BOTH ENGINES SHUT down, it may have happened because of the fuel control switches being selected off. How did they go off? A technical defect,orhuman intervention? The design is such that PILOTS’ BODY SEEKS FAIR, FACT-BASED PROBE PAGE 3 Engines 1 & 2 drop below min idle speed; RAT begins supplying hydraulic power it cannot automatically go on and off,” say experts. Others term it highly unusual, demanding attention from all Boeing 787 operators, reports Swaraj Baggonkar in Mumbai. ■ PAGE 3 PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA Modi on Saturday emphasised his government’s focus on generating employment in the public and private sectors, asserting that the country has progressed in every field in the past 11 years. In a virtual address after the distribution of over 51,000 appointment letters, he said his government’s Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch moves to RUN What are the fuel switches? THEYARESWITCHESthatregulate fuel flow into a plane's engines.Theyare used bypilots tostartorshutdownengineson the ground orto manuallyshut down or restart engines if an engine failure occurs during a flight.Experts saya pilotwould notbeabletoaccidentallymove the fuel switches that feed the engines.Butifmoved,theeffect would be immediate, cutting off engine power. There are independent power systems and wiring for the fuel cutoff switches and the fuel valves controlled bythose switches. Where are they located? THE TWO FUEL control switcheson a787,inAirIndia's case equipped with two GE engines, are located below the thrust levers.The switches are spring-loaded to remain in position. To change one from run to cutoff,a pilot has to first pull the switch up and then move it from run to cutoff or vice-versa. There are two modes:‘CUTOFF’and‘RUN’. — REUTERS SUGANDHA MUKHERJEE New Delhi, July 12 WHENWOMEN FIELDstaff at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories began complaining of persistent headaches, the culprit was not stress; it was their helmets. The protective headgear, designed for men,was heavy and caused discomfort. For a role that involves riding to meet doctorsupto13-14timesaday, it was a barrier. The company responded by introducing lighter, ergonomically designed helmets made specifically for women—a small but telling example of how Indian companies are starting to tailor tools and workplaces forwomen employees. At CEAT’s tyre plant in Maharashtra, women are now working night shifts— something rarely seen in India’s manufacturing sector.Butithasn’thappenedin isolation.The factory infrastructure was overhauled to enablethisinclusion:women are picked up and dropped off in company vehicles accompanied by female securityguards;women-only restrooms have been fitted with sanitary vending machines; ergonomic workstations were introduced to reduce strain during long shifts; and young mothers can access on-site crèche facilities.The company also offers flexible shift options during pregnancy and the year following maternity leave. Every month, CEAT hosts a women empower- ● ENJOYING MONSOON 'SURPLUS' Indianmanufacturing on a high,says Modi PRESS TRUST OF INDIA New Delhi, July 12 Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch moves to RUN; Engine 1 begins to recover; Engine 2 unable to reverse deceleration welfare schemes, be it building over 4 crore houses for the poor, distributing over 10 crore new LPG connections or the rooftop solar programme, have created lakhs of new employment opportunities and so have a host of other initiatives that led to growth in manufacturing sector. The abilityof India’s youth is its biggest capital and a guarantee of the country’s bright future,he added. ■ DETAILED MAP ON PAGE 3 ■ At CEAT plant, pickup-drop in night shifts with female guards, restrooms, creche ■ At Tata Motors' unit in Pune, restrooms, last-mile transport, creche, tailored workstations ■ At Mahindra's Mohali division, washrooms, transport, housing for women ■ Dr Reddy’s offers lighter helmets, rest areas along sales routes for women field staff CHALLENGES REMAIN ■ Dedicated schemes like Sakhi Niwas exist, but implementation uneven ■ Despite having large budget (8.9% in 2025), women ratio just 23% ment forum, where female employeescandirectlyraise concerns or offer feedback to management. “We’re seeing real outcomes—improved productivity, higher retention, and stronger campus interest in our brand,”said Somraj Roy, senior vice-president and chiefhumanresourceofficer at CEAT.“Representation on the shop floor has doubled from 11% in 2019 to over 20%. This is not just about numbers; we are creating a trulyinclusiveenvironment.” Continued on Page 2 30% tariffs imposed on EU, Mexico Delhi residents out on a rainy day on Saturday. As per the India Meteorological Department, overall rainfall is 11.3% over the benchmark long period average so far Continued on Page 2 SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT PTI US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump on Saturday imposed a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union (EU) starting August 1 after weeks of negotiations with the key trading allies failed to reach a more comprehensive trade deal. The fresh tariffs were announced in separate letters posted on Truth Social on Saturday. The European Union had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27-country bloc, reports Reuters. ■ PAGE 14 JSW MG, Mahindra surge ahead in EV race with new models SOARING SALES also seen a sharp uptick in demand, led by its all-electric XEV 9e and BE 6 models. Launched in a phased manner Citroen Kia startingFebruary,thesemodels haveseendemandconsistently outstrip supply.The company sold 12,585 EVs in H1CY25, Source: Vahan 155 202 BYD 1,373 2,178 748 636 706 3,917 12,585 3,870 JSW MG Mahindra & Hyundai Motor Mahindra 1,035 2,449 Tata Motors Retail sales Jan-Jun 2024 Jan-Jun 2025 7,727 24,101 33,175 JSW MG MOTOR and Mahindra & Mahindra have emerged asthebiggestgainersintheelectric vehicle (EV) market in the first half of the calendar year, riding high on the success of theirnewmodels.TheirEVsales tripled in the January-June period,significantly outpacing the overall market growth of 53%, according to retail data sourced fromVahan. JSW MG, which entered a new phase in its EV journey after its September 2024 relaunch as a joint venture between JSW Group and China’sSAIC,sold24,101EVsin H1CY25, up from 7,727 units inthesameperiodlastyear.The company’sgrowthhasbeenprimarily driven by Windsor EV, which has already clocked 31,656 units since launch. In the first half of this year alone, Windsor EV accounted for the majority of JSW MG’s sales, whileCometEVandZSEVmade up the rest. With Windsor EV Pro (featuring a 52.9 kWh battery) launched in May,sales are expectedtoremainrobust.This surge has catapulted JSW MG’s EV market share from 16% to 32%, making it the secondlargest EVcarmaker. Mahindra & Mahindra has 28,471 VIKRAM CHAUDHARY New Delhi, July 12 Luxury carmakers comparedtojust3,870unitsin the same period last year. Mahindra’s market share in EV morethandoubledfrom8%to 17%,positioningitasthethirdlargest EV manufacturer in the country. While the XUV400 continues to be on sale, it has played a limited role in the brand’s overall EV sales performance thisyear. However,while newcomers surged, the long-standing EV leaderTataMotorssawitsdominancewane.Despite offering a diverse EV lineup, including Punch,Nexon,Tiago,Tigor,and the new Curvv EV launched in late 2024, Tata Motors’ sales dropped to 28,471 units in H1CY25,down from 33,175 in the year-ago period.As a result, its market share tumbled from 68%to38%.Thatsaid,withthe recent launch of HarrierEVand themuch-anticipatedSierraEV slated for release later this year, the company could regain ground in the second half. Other players also made notablestrides.HyundaiIndia’s EV market share climbed from 1% to 5% with the help of the CretaEV,launchedinJanuary.It sold3,917EVsinH1CY25,comparedto706lastyear.BYDmore than doubled its volumes to 2,449 units on the back of its Sealion 7 launch. Citroen, on the other hand, saw a decline in eC3 sales following the suspension of EV ride-hailing firm BluSmart, a major client.Sales dipped from New Delhi 748unitsto636units,afterCitroen managed to deliver only 500 of the 4,000 eC3 units ordered byBluSmart. Luxury carmakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz,Audi,Volvo,and Porsche cumulatively sold 2,178 EVs, a significant jump from 1,373 units last year. Kia India posted modest growth, selling 202 EVs versus 155 last year, but is eyeing volume growth in the second half with the upcoming Carens Clavis EV. With the market becoming increasingly competitive, the second half of 2025 is expectedtobringfurthershifts in the EV leaderboard as new models hit the roads.