Mcap of 6 of top-10 most valued firms jumps ₹1.62 lakh crore; Airtel, Reliance biggest gainers
The Hindu
Last week's market update: Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries lead gains, while TCS, LIC, Bajaj Finance, and HUL face losses.

The latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) by MoS&PI reveals a transformative shift in India’s economic landscape. For the first time in over a decade, granular data on Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) highlights a significant decline in the proportional share of food spending—a classic validation of Engel’s Law as real incomes rise. Between 1999 and 2024, both rural and urban consumption pivoted away from staple-heavy diets toward protein-rich foods, health, education, and conveyance. As Indian households move beyond subsistence, these shifting Indian household spending patterns offer vital insights for social sector policy, poverty estimation, and the lived realities of an expanding middle-income population.












