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NSE Chief Offers Prayers At Tirupati Ahead of IPO

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Ashishkumar Chauhan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Stock Exchange, on Sunday visited Tirupati with his family and offered prayers at the Lord Venkateshwara temple, seeking blessings for the exchange, its members, shareholders and the country.

Speaking after the visit, Chauhan said the darshan took place early in the morning and described the experience as peaceful and deeply fulfilling. He noted that prayers were offered for the well-being of NSE and for the broader growth of the nation.

“Today we had a great darshan in the early morning at Tirupati. We took blessings for NSE, for all our members, all our shareholders and for the country,” Chauhan said, adding that the visit had been planned well in advance.

The temple visit coincided with a key regulatory signal for the exchange. On Saturday, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India indicated that NSE is likely to receive approval for its long-pending initial public offering within the month. The remarks were made by SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

Chauhan said the timing felt particularly auspicious, as the announcement became public just as he arrived in the temple town. He described it as a positive omen and a blessing.

“When we arrived in Tirupati, the announcement was made. We see it as a good omen and God’s blessing that this development has come,” he said. He added that the darshan would remain a memorable moment, especially given the significance of the period for the exchange.

The visit comes as market participants closely track regulatory progress on NSE’s proposed IPO, which is expected to be one of the largest and most consequential listings in India’s capital markets, marking a milestone both for the exchange and the broader financial ecosystem.

More action needed to beat malaria for good, says UN

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Ahead of World Malaria Day on Friday, UN health agency WHO is calling for renewed efforts at all levels – from global policy to community action – to accelerate progress towards elimination.

Malaria is spread by some types of mosquitoes and is mostly found in tropical countries. Symptoms – which can be mild or life-threatening – include fever, chills and headache, seizures, and difficulty breathing.

Africa continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden.  In 2023, approximately 94 per cent of all cases, and 95 per cent of deaths, occurred in the region. Most deaths, 76 per cent, were among children under five.

Eye on elimination

WHO recalled that during the late 1990s, world leaders adopted effective policies which led to the prevention of more than two billion cases and nearly 13 million deaths since the year 2000.

As a result, 45 countries and one territory have been certified as malaria-free, and many other countries continue along the path towards elimination. 

Of the remaining 83 malaria-endemic countries worldwide, 25 reported fewer than 10 cases in 2023.

However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said history has shown that these gains are fragile because “when we divert our attention, the disease resurges, taking its greatest toll on the most vulnerable.” (HOW ABOUT USING THIS AS A PULL-QUOTE?) 

But history also reveals what is possible, he added.  Tedros insisted that “with strong political commitment, sustained investment, multisectoral action and community engagement, malaria can be defeated.”

Net investment

WHO said years of investments in the development and deployment of new malaria vaccines, as well as tools to prevent and control the disease, are paying off.

On World Malaria Day, Mali will join 19 other African countries in introducing malaria vaccines, representing a vital step towards protecting young children from one of the deadliest diseases on the continent. It is expected that the large-scale rollout of malaria vaccines in Africa will save tens of thousands of young lives every year.

Meanwhile, the expanded use of a new generation of insecticide-treated mosquito nets is set to make further inroads against the disease. 

Progress in peril

Yet, despite significant gains, malaria remains a major public health challenge. Nearly 600,000 deaths occurred in 2023 alone, with the African region hardest hit.

In many areas, progress has been hampered by fragile health systems and rising threats such as drug and insecticide resistance, WHO said. Many at-risk groups also continue to miss out on the services needed to prevent, detect and treat malaria. 

These challenges are further compounded by climate change, conflict, poverty and displacement, while funding cuts this year could further derail progress in many endemic countries, putting millions of additional lives at risk. 

A renewed call 

World Malaria Day 2025 is being celebrated under the theme Malaria ends with us: reinvest, reimagine, reignite, and WHO is calling for stepped up political and financial commitment to protect hard-won gains to date.

To reinvest, WHO is joining partners and civil society in calling on malaria-endemic countries to increase domestic spending, particularly in primary healthcare.

The agency is also stressing the need to reignite commitment to help end malaria transmission at all levels – from communities and frontline health workers, to governments, researchers, private sector innovators and donors.