WORDS WORTH WELL BEING Peeling away to the core of what drives buying decisions Page 4 Dietary supplements & nutraceuticals are increasingly lining the shelves of our local stores. But are they as unassuming and healthy as they claim to be? Page 9 Decoding the consumer FE LINES DO SUPPLEMENTS REALLY ADD UP? VOL.NO.XVI SL.NO.39 Staying cool on the go How wearable cooling devices are changing the definition of summer comfort Page 8 LEISURE Follow us on Twitter & Facebook. App available on App Store & Play Store WWW.FINANCIALEXPRESS.COM WELCOMING GLOBALART CHENNAI/KOCHI 12 Pages, `12 FINANCIAL EXPRESS ON SUNDAY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 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 , C H A N D I G A R H , C H E N N A I , Rise in international exhibitions, artwork loans involving India Page 7 READ TO LEAD H Y D E R A B A D , K O C H I , 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 Indian basketball all set to have its IPL moment TAKING A JUMP SHOT ● League to be an entertainment product, says CEO Developer 55 mn Early 2027 people play basketball in India KUNAL DOLEY New Delhi, September 19 Inaugural season of the India Basketball League 100 mn 6 THE UPCOMING INDIA Basketball League (IBL) is all set to do with basketball what the Indian Premier League (IPL) didwith cricket — build a complete entertainment product around the sport, and not just a professional sporting league, as per Jake Lush McCrum, its newly-appointed CEO. Basketball Federation of India and ACG Sports fans engage with basketball in India ‘IPL succeeded because it built something that fits cricket, fits India, fits the moment. That’s exactly what we are trying to do with basketball’ — JAKE LUSH MCCRUM, CEO, IBL No. of participating cities announced so far Format “We want every match in our season to be an event. We will feature top artistes,up and coming DJs,an amazing hospitalityexperience,and,ofcourse, 5x5 & 3x3 competitions for men and women abrilliantproduct.Basketballis an action-packed sport,with so many moments for celebration,”said McCrum,who joined IBLinJulyaftereightsuccessful years with Rajasthan Royals, whereheplayedapivotalrolein the IPL franchise’s commercial growth, digital expansion and global positioning. “My experience with Rajasthan Royals taught me the importance of building a strong fan-first culture, creating long-term commercial India faces hefty tariffrisk underTrump’s new law ■ SPOTLIGHT, P5 A new white revolution The Indian dairy industry is no longer just about milk; it is becoming a broader consumer story DANGLING SWORD ● Can push for waivers, but firm ■ Law to take effect within on energy security 30 days No planning needed A holiday that you can choose based on mood, interest, community or even gender, all curated to the last detail DII equity inflows near `6 lakh-cr mark in 2026 equities so far, 9% higher than `5.50 lakh crore invested during the corresponding period in 2025. In 2025, DII investments reached a record `7.88 lakh crore. — Compiled by Kishor Kadam $100,000 fee on H-1B visasextended ■ USTR to identify MUKESH JAGOTA New Delhi, September 19 ■ LIVING, P6 countries to be targeted, recommend tariff rates US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has assumed sweeping Congress-backed powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of RussianenergybysigningtheSanctioningRussiaandIranActlate Friday. This puts India once again in the line of US trade action and brings fresh uncertainty to bilateral trade. The law will take effect within 30 days, during which the US Trade Representative (USTR)willidentifycountriesto be targeted and recommend ■ Countries to get 180 days to reduce Russian energy purchases or negotiate with US ■ But Trump can shorten period, impose tariffs sooner tariffrates.Thecountrieswould normallyget180daystoreduce Russian energy purchases or negotiatewithWashington,but Trump can shorten the period and impose tariffs sooner, according to an analysis by the GlobalTradeResearchInitiative (GTRI).India,thesecond-largest buyer of Russian energy after China, is among the countries potentiallycovered bythe law. Continued on Page 2 600,000 94,575 75 400,000 200,000 *up to Sep 18 2023 82,669 85,800 51,064 142,960 38,423 69,221 DII inflows in equity in ` crore 2024 May Jun 2025 2026* 36,219 2022 58,268 2021 35,099 0 Continued on Page 2 Led by double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat as flagbearers, members of Team India walk during the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday. India is represented by a 500-strong contingent competing across 36 sports at the continental multi-sport event, which runs till October 4 599,723 800,000 US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has extended by a year the $100,000 fee on employers for bringing in foreign workers on H-1B visas, the White House said. In a presidential proclamation issued on Friday, Trump said the 2025 decision to impose a $100,000 fee has led to a 92% decrease in H-1B registrations by large IT outsourcing firms, reports Press Trust of India in Washington. ● 500-STRONG INDIAN CONTINGENTAIMS FORASIAN GLORY DII inflows in equity in ` crore 1,000,000 Continued on Page 2 RUSSIA & IRAN SANCTIONS ACT SIGNED WHAT'S INSIDE Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) are set to cross `6 lakh crore in equity investments for the first time in 2026, driven by retail investors' money flowing into mutual funds. DIIs have invested `5,99,723 crore in value, embracing innovation, and investing heavily in talent development.Those principles applyjustasmuchtobasketball as theydo to cricket,”he added. The timing of the country’s first professional basketball league — being developed by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and sports management company ACG Sports — is significant.Today,basketball is played by over 55 million people in India,and more than 100 million fans engage with the sport. IBL is scheduled to launch its inaugural season in early 2027. ■ REPORT ON P12 IRAN HAS conveyed its conditions to mediators for reengaging in talks aimed at ending the war with US, Iran's Security Chief Mohsen Rezaei was quoted as saying in a media report. ■ PAGE 12 Why facelifts can no longer save sedans WITH SKODA SET to launch the Slavia facelift in early October and Volkswagen expected to debut the Virtus facelift shortly afterwards, the European duo is banking on the festive season, refreshed styling, updated tech,and new features to keep the sedan alive. They follow two other sedan updates this year — the 529 514 737 571 745 554 865 723 VIKRAM CHAUDHARY New Delhi, September 19 1227 1,399 ● Market tapering SALES TREND City Verna despite four new (in units) launches this year 177 Iran ready to talk, conveys conditions PTI 805 DENMARK AND Greenland said any deal would not compromise Greenland's sovereignty, after US President Donald Trump claimed ‘permanent control’ over the Arctic island's security. ■ PAGE 12 Aug Sept *up to Sep 18 694 'Greenland deal will not cede sovereignty' Jul 525 Apr 823 Mar 501 Jan Feb Source: BSE Jan 2026 Feb Mar new Hyundai Verna launched in March starting at `10.98 lakh, and the new Honda City introduced in May from `11.99 lakh onwards. Yet, despite four updated Apr May Jun Jul Aug 2026 sedans hitting the market in a single year, automotive analysts and recent sales trends suggest these launches offer nothing more than a temporary spike. Sales data from January to August shows a repeating pattern: facelifts give an immediate wholesale boost to dealer inventory, but retail demand plummets the very next month. For example, when Hyundai launched the updated Verna in March, dispatches to dealers doubled to 1,399 units from 694 units in February. By April, however, volumes dropped to 865 units, eventually bottoming out at 529 in August. Similarly, Honda’s City facelift in May led to dealer dispatches surging to 1,227 units (up from an April low of 177).ByAugust,however,City dispatches collapsed back to 514 units. Industry watchers expect a similar short-term trajectory for the upcoming Slavia and Virtus facelifts. Continued on Page 2 CHENNAI/KOCHI Govt to monetise land,buildings worth `5,000 cr FE BUREAU New Delhi, September 19 THE NATIONAL LAND Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) will monetise surplus land and building assets valued at more than `5,000 crore as the staterun corporation steps up efforts to unlock value from underutilised public assets. The proposals were discussed at the 21st meeting of NLMC’s Board of Directors held on Friday,which reviewed the corporation’s asset monetisation programme, financial performance and institutional initiatives. The Board reviewed NLMC’s progress in facilitating the monetisation of surplus assets belonging to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and othergovernment entities. The corporation said it is working with asset-owning entities to identifysuitable properties, conduct due diligence, facilitate valuation and structure appropriate monetisation processes. The initiatives are focused on “transparency, efficiency and value realisation”, NLMC said in a statement. The Board also discussed ways to accelerate the monetisation process, address implementation requirements and ensure identified assets progress through appropriate and transparent mechanisms. It emphasised the need to maintain momentum and strengthen coordination with stakeholder entities for timely monetisationofsurplusassets. UNLOCKING VALUE ■ NLMC aims to unlock value from underutilised public assets ■ Board discusses monetisation, implementation requirements ■ To ensure transparent mechanisms for identified assets The corporation said productiveuseofsurpluslandand buildings could help unlock valuefromassetsthatmayotherwise remain underutilised. NLMC is a wholly-owned government company under the administrative control of the Department of Public Enterprises, established to undertake and facilitate monetisation of surplus land and building assets held by CPSEs and other government entities. The corporation said it will continue working with ministries, departments, CPSEs and othergovernment entities to identify and monetise surplus assets while supporting the effective utilisation of public resources. 0% chance ofAI ending the world: Nvidia’s Huang ANI Santa Clara (California), September 19 NVIDIA CEO JENSEN Huang has reiterated that fears of AI precipitatinganextinctionlevel event are completely unfounded.Speaking with CBS News Sunday Morning, Huang endorsed US President Trump, who had said that fears about dangers ofAI are a hoax.Trump had weighed in on the debate when he had made a surprise call to Huang while he was addressing the All-In summit earlier this week.“I completely disagree that AI is going to destroy,isgoingtobetheendof theworld in 2030,” Huang said. “I believe the claims of the end of the world stirring fear across America and the people who are doing it makes no sense to me. So they must be doing it for ulterior reasons. JENSEN HUANG, CEO, NVIDIA We’regoingtogoas fastaswecan,butwe nevershouldship productsbeforethey areready ordeliver products thatare unsafe Maybe it’s political, maybe it’s otherwise, maybe it’s just attention grabbing. I don't know what is the reason for it, but howeverit’s characterised, 2030 is not going to be the end of the world,”he added. Continued on Page 2
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