India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
CHENNAI: Planning to build your dream home? Be prepared to shell out a hefty sum just to get a temporary electricity connection, followed by high bimonthly power bills. Besides rising construction material costs, those constructing individual houses are feeling the pinch from steep electricity charges. In the last four years alone, the cost of availing a temporary power connection has nearly doubled due to repeated hikes in miscellaneous charges, the latest of which came into effect on July 1. A consumer now has to pay Rs 220 as registration-cum-application fee, while the development charges vary based on the type of power distribution (overhead or underground) and the phase of the connection. For overhead lines, the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) collects Rs 3,095 for single-phase connections and Rs 2,215 per kW for three-phase connections. In areas with underground cables, the charges are even higher, Rs 7,735 for single-phase and Rs 5,525 per kW for three-phase. In addition, consumers also pay a meter caution deposit, Rs 825 for single-phase and Rs 2,215 for three-phase connection, along with a security deposit of Rs 330 per connection and Rs 995 per kW. Service connection charges are Rs 1,105 for single-phase and Rs 1,660 for three-phase. From July 1, a consumer seeking a 2 kW temporary connection in an area with underground cables will have to pay Rs 17,135. Before the tariff revision in September 2022, the same connection cost just Rs 9,050. What makes it tougher is that the temporary power supply for construction, categorised under LT VI, attracts the highest tariff slab. A unit of electricity costs Rs 13.25, and there is a fixed monthly charge of Rs 608 per kilowatt. So, if a consumer uses a 2 kW connection and consumes 100 units in two months, the total bill would come to Rs 3,823. This includes Rs 1,325 as energy charges, Rs 2,424 as fixed charges, and 5 per cent electricity tax (Rs 66.25) on the energy component. There is more. If a consumer exceeds the sanctioned load three times during the construction period, the sanctioned load is revised to the maximum recorded demand. Additional development charges and a higher security deposit will then be levied, said R Bathri Narayanan, an authorised electrical contractor in Avadi. In addition to the doubling of charges collected by the utility for new connections, consumers are often forced to pay bribes to officials to expedite the process, he added. "Even after making the payment online, officials provide the connection only after receiving bribes. Otherwise, consumers face long delays under the pretext of meter unavailability," Bathri alleged. Surya Pandi, a resident of Madurai, took to social media to question the delay in receiving a temporary connection. He applied for a single-phase connection with a connected load of 2 kW on May 8 and paid the required charges, but the connection has yet to be provided. "How many days will it take," he asked, tagging TNPDCL's handle on social media.
Kareena Kapoor Khan brought a deeply personal and touching element to her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by requesting him to write a heartfelt message for her two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, who were unable to attend the event. A memorable highlight from the gathering showcased Kareena watching intently, her expression radiating pride and warmth, as the Prime Minister inscribed a note dedicated to her children, affectionately called "Tim and Jeh."Kareena Kapoor Khan added ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Vigilance department arrested a junior clerk on Tuesday, a day after she was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 at the office of the Sub Registrar here. The woman, the junior clerk in the office of the Sub-Registrar of Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar, has been placed under arrest by the Odisha Vigilance department and will be forwarded to the court. "She was arrested for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a person for the execution of a registered sale deed (RSD) of subplot," an official statement said. She was detained on Monday and arrested on Tuesday. A case wa ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 11 (ANI): A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation, led by senior leaders, met Himachal Pradesh Governor Pratap Shukla recently to submit a comprehensive 106-page memorandum titled "Kachcha Chittha". The document, which alleges rampant corruption and administrative failures in the two years of Congress rule under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, aims to hold the state government accountable for what the BJP describes as a period of "unprecedented mismanagement and destruction." Speaking to the media after meeting the Governor, Himachal Prade ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Atishi on Thursday described Aam Admi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as a prominent leader and said he is the first leader who understood the pain of women. "Arvind Kejriwal, the prominent leader, is the first leader in the history of this country who understood the pain of women. The biggest concern for women is that they have to stretch out their hands before a man even for their humble needs. In childhood, it is before their parents, before their spous ...Read More >
The financial repercussions of Parliament disruptions are considerable, impacting both public resources and the productivity of the nation's legislative process. However, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have cumulatively functioned for merely 2 hours, with daily disruptions and sloganeering resulting in adjournments. The Rajya Sabha faced disruptions today (December 2) as Vice Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed discontent over sloganeering by Opposition MPs. The protests, which centered around demands for discussions on key issues, forced the Vice Chairman to adjourn the session until 12 ...Read More >
Responding to Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) floor leader G.K. Mani, who raised the issue in the House, Mr. Stalin said, "Adani did not meet me nor did I meet him." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) told the State Assembly that he had not met Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, dismissing rumours about the conglomerate's alleged links to the State. Responding to Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) floor leader G.K. Mani, who raised the issue in the House, Mr. Stalin said, ...Read More >
New Delhi: Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde's Deva has made a remarkable start at the box office, raking in ₹6.82 crore in India on its opening day. With strong audience anticipation, glowing reviews, and positive word-of-mouth, the film has secured the second-highest opening of 2025 so far. The momentum continued on Sunday, as Deva saw a massive surge in collections, grossing ₹11.75 crore worldwide. In its first three days, the film has earned a total of ₹34.01 crore globally. This includes ₹8.30 crore from India and ₹3.45 crore from international markets. The film's total earnings now stand at ...Read More >
Bigg Boss 18: Shilpa Shirodkar is termed 'biggest backstabber' after Vivian Dsena... Deepak Kalal fights with passenger in flight? Know the truth behind viral video Delhi court fixes Nov 28 for hearing former CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea over sanction copy in... Where will the Champions Trophy 2025 be played? ICC to take final call on THIS date Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan recalls telling Amitabh Bachchan he made 'big mistake' by... Deepinder Goyal's Zomato opens Rs 8500 crore QIP share sale, sets floor price at Rs... Delhi Capitals co-owner pens emotional fare ...Read More >
Muzaffarnagar (UP), Dec 6 (PTI) A teacher who asked other students to slap a Muslim boy in a school here surrendered at a POCSO court and was released on bail, an official said on Friday. Tripta Tyagi was caught last year in a video asking children to slap a boy in a school where she taught. Additional District Judge (POCSO) Alka Bharti on Thursday granted her bail and ordered her to furnish two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. She posted the matter for further hearing on Friday. Kapil Ahlawat, Tyagi's lawyer, told PTI that Tyagi had surrendered in the Special POCSO court on Thursday and sought ...Read More >
Allu Arjun is one of the biggest names in the Telugu film industry. The mass hero enjoys a massive fan following because of his charismatic screen presence and engaging performances. He is currently in the limelight because of Pushpa 2, which hit the screens on December 5 and opened to an earth-shattering response at the box office. Amid this, a photo of Bunny from a wedding has become the talk of the town. Allu Arjun, the star of films such as DJ and Pushpa, recently attended a wedding in Hyder ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Dec 15 (VOICE) Former Minority Commission Chairman Anwar Manipaddy on Sunday refuted the bribery charge levelled by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying the Congress leaders have been offering him bribes to suppress the Waqf encroachment report. CM Siddaramaiah on Saturday alleged that BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra "tried to bribe" the former Minority Commission Chairperson during the previous government with Rs 150 crore to suppress a probe into the Waqf property encroachment. Speaking to the media, Anwar Manipaddy stated that if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has any genuine co ...Read More >
Also Read | Sambhal sparks rift: INDIA bloc allies face leadership turmoil? "Multiple encroachments are being seen around the area," Sambhal DM Rajendra Pensia told ANI. Pensia said, "There was encroachment on roads, sewers, water bodies, and that too for a long time. We are undertaking an 'abhiyan' (drive) to fix it. We launched a campaign in Chandausi and we had decided we would start the campaign here in November. But we could not start." The DM stated the anti-encroachment drive will conti ...Read More >
The Delhi BJP also shared a rap song "Delhi ka millionaire" alleging corruption against the party's top leadership. In a recently-released video, the Delhi BJP has given a tour of the luxurious bungalow of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, where he lived while serving as the Chief Minister of the state. The party also shared a rap song "Delhi ka millionaire" alleging corruption against the party's top leadership. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, who shared the video on X, called the Civil Lines bu ...Read More >
Hours after Atul Subash's wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha and brother Anurag were arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide, the Bengaluru techie's father, Pawan Kumar Modi has questioned where Atul's four-year-old son is and said the family was worried about him. Modi thanked the police for arresting the woman and her family members. However, he said, "We don't know where she has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don't know anything about him. I want my grandson ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its manifesto for the next month Assembly election with 15 guarantees, including employment and the women's dignity scheme. While releasing the manifesto on Monday, AAP's national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Kejriwal's guarantees are solid," emphasising that free electricity for 24 hours, free water, free education, free pilgrimage for senior citizens, free bus travel for women, and free medical treatment in hospitals and Mohalla Clinics will continue in Delhi. He alleged, "BJP leaders and spokespersons ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, May 21, rapped commentator Abhijit Iyer Mitra for his alleged defamatory and abusive social media posts against nine women journalists of media house Newslaundry and asked him to remove the posts within five hours. The court was hearing a plea by nine women journalists of Newslaundry and sought an injunction and damages of Rs 2 crore from Mitra for his "defamatory, false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations" published on X. Mitra had posted vulgar remarks from February to May this year, addressing the women journalists as "prostitutes" and ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Dec 14 (UNI) The tragic suicide of 34-year-old tech professional Atul Subhash has led to the arrest of his estranged wife and her family members in connection with allegations of harassment, extortion, and financial abuse. Subhash, a resident of Manjunath Layout in Bengaluru, was found dead in his apartment on December 9, leaving behind a 25-page suicide note. In the note, he accused his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family of subjecting him to relentless emotional and financial distress during their ongoing divorce proceedings. Following a complaint filed by Atul's brother, Bik ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), considered the richest civic body in the country, tabled its budget of Rs 74,427 crore for 2025-26 at its headquarters in Mumbai on Tuesday. The additional municipal commissioners presented the budget to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, the state-appointed administrator. BMC is currently run by an administrator since the term of the corporators ended on March 7, 2022. This is the third year of the budget being presented to the administrator, in deviation from the norm where the municipal commissioner presents the budget to the standing co ...Read More >
Guwahati, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, citing recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids as "evidence of illegal coal mining operations" in the state, and also issued a clarification on his 'links' in Pakistan. Speaking to the media in Delhi for the first time after becoming the Assam unit chief of Congress, Gogoi pointed to the April 24 raids conducted across Assam and Meghalaya, where the ED reportedly unearthed a coal smuggling network, seizing Rs 1.58 crore in cash, digital devices, and ...Read More >
Trump's pressure on countries to remain tied to a US-dollar-based financial system could backfire, with potential increased motivation for BRICS to create alternatives. While the dollar's dominance persists due to existing economic strengths, recent global currency agreements indicate a cautious shift away from reliance on the greenback.Donald Trump's pressure on countries around the world to stay anchored to a US-dollar-based financial system is a tactic that risks backfiring, market watchers say. Dollar dominance looks set to continue for the foreseeable future and emerging nations' idea of ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-job scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that Chatterjee shall be released on February 1, 2025 subject to the trial court framing charges before the winter vacation and examination of vulnerable witnesses by the second and third week of January 2025. Also Read | Atul Subhash Suicide Case: Wife Nikita Singhania Absconds, Karnataka Police Arrest Her Mother, Brother From Uttar Pradesh's Jaunp ...Read More >
New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) The BJP on Monday assailed the AAP government over water "crisis" in south west Delhi's Bijwasan, highlighting the water pipes being supplied to the homes of the locals through electric poles and influence of water mafia in the area. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra during his visit to Bijwasan said there was severe water crisis in the area and the tangled web of pipes of water on the electricity poles expose the 10 year "misrule" of the AAP. "I have travelled across India and many cities around the world but this sight of water flowing through pipes hanging from ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Singles, Doubles, and the Team Championship - the 18-year-old Chennai girl, the daughter of an auto driver from Kasimedu, left nothing for competitors from around the world at the sixth edition of the Carrom World Cup held in the US which Team India swept. The Women's Singles final was a hard-fought contest, where the 18-year-old M Khazima kept her nerves to defeat 12-time national and multiple World Cup winner Rashmi Kumari from Bihar. With this victory, Khazima became the youngest Carrom World Champion. Khazima, whose father Mehaboob Basha is an auto driver from Kasimedu, had been ...Read More >
In a viral video, AP Dhillon performs for Malaika Arora, who looks stunning in a brown dress as fans sing along with them. Global Punjabi music sensation AP Dhillon, who recently performed in Mumbai, was seen dedicating a song to Bollywood actress Malaika Arora during his live concert. A video capturing the moment has taken social media by storm, sparking a wave of fan reactions. In a video shared by Filmygyan, AP Dhillon is seen holding a guitar while being joined on stage by Malaika Arora, wh ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Zepto Co-Founder and CEO Aadit Palicha has accused the chief financial officer of a competing company of orchestrating a smear campaign against his quick commerce platform. In a LinkedIn post on late Sunday, Palicha, not taking names, alleged that the CFO of one of Zepto's competitor firms has been reaching out to Zepto's investors with unsubstantiated claims, distributing false financial data to journalists, and employing bots to spread negative narratives about Zepto on social media. "Over the past few days, the CFO of one of our competitors has been trying to build ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday suggested that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor should consider sitting on a dharna to push for land acquisition for the Nemom railway terminal project in Thiruvananthapuram. Vaishnaw's comment came in response to Tharoor's concerns about delays and inadequate funding for the project, which aims to ease congestion on the railway line leading to Thiruvananthapuram Central. During the Question Hour, Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram, expressed frustration over the stalled project, highlighting that only Rs 7 crore had been released o ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 10 (ANI): The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Tuesday opposed the bail petition of Christian Michel James, a British national and alleged middleman, before the Delhi High Court. James is an accused in the money laundering case linked with the alleged Rs 3,600-crore Agusta Westland helicopter scam. The defence lawyer argued that the trial was unlikely to commence soon and that, even if James were convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of seven years, having already served six years in custody. However, the ED's counsel countered, stating that James posed a ...Read More >
Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], December 12 (ANI): Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi on Thursday presided over a state-level coordination committee meeting to review the 'PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.' According to an official release, it was informed during the meeting that 9,609 rooftop solar systems with a combined capacity of 45.90 MW have been installed across the state so far. The government has disbursed Rs 52.54 crore in subsidies to beneficiaries to further encourage solar adoption. Moving forward, the state plans to equip government buildings with solar power plants, with the Pu ...Read More >
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, December 18, announced 'Sanjeevani yojana', a free healthcare scheme for the city's senior citizens, which they can avail of at all government as well as private hospitals. The party supremo, flanked by Delhi CM Atishi and senior cabinet ministers, made the announcement at a public event and declared that all residents of the city above 60 years of age will get free medical treatment under the 'Sanjeevani yojana'. Under the scheme, all the elderly will avail medical treatment for free, however, this can be implemented aft ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) Indian cloud service providers Ola Krutrim and AceCloud have started offering services of Chinese artificial intelligence platform DeepSeek in the country. AceCloud was the first to announce hosting of DeepSeek. Also Read | 8th Pay Commission: Nirmala Sitharaman To Announce Official 8th CPC Implementation Date in Union Budget 2025? Check Details Here. AceCloud said that it will offer DeepSeek AI models to businesses with claims that the data residency will remain in India. Krutrim claimed to be the first Indian AI company to deploy DeepSeek's AI models on domestic s ...Read More >