Vodafone Idea’s Telecom Dues Waiver Plea Rejected by Supreme Court

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Today’s Market Menu

▪️ Focal Point: Supreme Court’s Big Call on Vodafone Idea

▪️ Markets

▪️ Everything else you need to know today

▪️ Mindset: Why You’re Still Broke, Even with a Good Job

▪️ Special: Protean eGov’s market debut turned into a meltdown, falling 20% on day one.

▪️ Stock Screener to up your game

FOCAL POINT

Supreme Court’s Big Call on Vodafone Idea

Vodafone Idea’s long-struggling comeback plan just hit its biggest setback yet. The Supreme Court of India has rejected the telecom giant’s plea for relief from over ₹1.33 lakh crore in dues, a verdict that may well determine its fate.

These dues stem from the contentious Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) case that devastated several telecom firms. Vi hoped for a judicial lifeline, arguing the liabilities were excessive. But the court’s firm rejection leaves no room for relief, marking a critical turning point.

Already under pressure from debt, dwindling customers, and operational constraints, Vodafone Idea now stares down a financial cliff. Can it still raise capital to survive? Will the government step in, or is market consolidation inevitable?

In a market increasingly dominated by Jio and Airtel, Vi is not just losing ground, it’s battling for relevance. Whether it can pivot or perish will shape the narrative for India’s telecom future.

MARKETS

The Indian markets ended in the red as both Sensex (-271 pts) and Nifty 50 (-74 pts) slipped by around 0.3%, reflecting mild profit booking. Meanwhile, Bank Nifty (+65 pts) and Midcap 100 (+44 pts) stayed resilient, showing selective buying in banking and midcap stocks. Overall, a range-bound session with mixed cues, investors seem cautious ahead of key global and domestic triggers.

_{Closing figures as on 19.05.25 (3.30pm IST)}

🔎 In Focus

Stock Performance:

Top Gainers

✅ Bajaj Auto: Zooms 4.34% to ₹8,851 on strong volume and upbeat outlook.
✅ Shriram Finance: Gains 1.85% to ₹677.80, riding steady lending sentiment.
✅ Power Grid Corp: Edges up 1.28% to ₹304.05 on defensive buying in utilities.
✅ Hero Moto: Moves 0.98% higher to ₹4,387.70, tracking sector strength.

Top Losers

🔻 Eternal: Slides 3.15% to ₹238.03 on profit booking after high volumes.
🔻 Grasim: Drops 2.75% to ₹2,727 amid weak sentiment in materials.
🔻 Infosys: Slips 1.89% to ₹1,559.80 as IT stocks cool off.
🔻 TATA Consumer: Falls 1.60% to ₹1,149.30 on muted demand cues.

NIFTY 500: Mixed Sentiment

FROM THE FRONTIER

Everything else you need to know today

🌞 Solar Surge: Reliance Power signs ₹2,000 Cr deal with Bhutan to build the country’s largest-ever solar project. This green move isn't just about clean energy, it’s a strategic leap in India’s regional energy dominance.

🧵 IPO Watch: Borana Weaves hits the IPO market on May 20, with grey market signals suggesting lukewarm interest. Investors are eyeing its fundamentals to decide, will this smallcap textile stock stitch profits or unravel under pressure?

🛑 M&A Freeze: SEBI may delay Hinduja Group’s acquisition of Invesco India, citing concerns linked to the IndusInd Bank fiasco. What seemed like a clean deal may now face regulatory turbulence, reminding startups that governance isn’t optional.

🚨 Banking Blow: The ED has arrested ex-UCO Bank Chairman Subodh Kumar Goel in a high-profile bank fraud case. As financial sector crackdowns intensify, fintech players should take note: transparency is no longer negotiable.

ONEZERO-F ACADEMY

Why You’re Still Broke, Even with a Good Job

Earning more doesn’t always mean financial freedom. In fact, even households making over $200K can fall into the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. The culprit? Not income, but harmful habits that silently erode long-term wealth.

Here are the 7 most common traps:

1. No Budgeting: Without a spending plan, money leaks go unnoticed.
2. Credit Card Reliance: High-interest debt snowballs faster than savings.
3. No Emergency Fund: One medical bill can derail months of planning.
4. Lifestyle Creep: Bigger paychecks, bigger expenses, same savings.
5. No Investing: Idle cash loses to inflation, every single day.
6. Status Spending: Keeping up with others leads to falling behind financially.
7. Short-Term Thinking: Neglecting insurance or retirement can be costly later.

💡It’s not just about how much you earn. It’s about how intentionally you manage it. Fixing these habits may be the fastest route to true financial freedom.

SPECIAL 

Protean eGov’s market debut turned into a meltdown, falling 20% on day one.

Protean eGov’s much-anticipated listing made headlines for all the wrong reasons, crashing 20% on its first day of trade. Positioned as a GovTech pioneer powering India’s digital backbone, from PAN cards to national education platforms, expectations were high. But the market had other plans.

So, what caused the sell-off?

🔻 Aggressive Valuation: Priced at the top end without offering robust growth projections, the IPO failed to justify its premium.

📉 Cautious Sentiment: Broader market unease and recent lukewarm listings made investors more selective.

💬 Lack of Storytelling: Unlike flashy startups, Protean lacked a compelling “hook”, no disruptive edge or strong D2C appeal.

The result? A quiet listing turned cautionary tale.

But here’s the bigger message: For GovTech and public-infra startups, the “trust factor” isn’t enough anymore. Investors want more than mission, they want margin, momentum, and a mapped-out future.

SUPERCHARGE YOUR INVESTING SKILLS

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by Kalpana Jagadesh

Market Capitalization > 100 AND
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Until tomorrow!

Mohit & the OneZero-F team

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