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.
Pune: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai)'s whole-time member (life) Swaminathan Iyer on Wednesday said insurance firms needed to leverage data to convince the working population to make life insurance an important aspect of financial planning."There's growing awareness of life insurance, especially among millennials. However, emotions aren't enough, we need to use data to drive logic. With technology, we can leverage data and analytics to make our point, particularly with young people," Iyer said in Mumbai while speaking at a public awareness initiative for consumer education and action, organised by Life Insurance Council. The campaign is a year-long initiative to drive behavioural change among consumers and increase awareness and penetration of life insurance solutions.According to Iyer, despite life insurance being top-of-mind for consumers, social and cultural biases hinder proactive financial planning, resulting in low penetration. India's life insurance penetration stands at just 3.2% of GDP, indicating a significant protection gap for both existing policyholders and those without coverage, he said.The council did not set a specific target for the life insurance penetration level through the campaign, but the goal was to maximise the metric as India was targeting insurance for all by 2047, chairperson of Insurance Awareness Council Kamalesh Rao said. The country continues to grapple with a significant life insurance protection gap, one that has risen from 83% in 2019 to 87% in 2023, as per a study conducted by National Insurance Academy. "The biggest emerging segment that we think is annuity. People aged 60-plus in India make up just about 12% of the population. In 2050, we think that number is going to become 20% of India's population... We believe that about 75% of people who are moving towards the age of 60 have no annuity plans for themselves," Rao added. TNN
CCI has also approved a 25.18 per cent equity stake in Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Ltd (FGILICL) through a bid/resolution plan submitted by Central Bank of India | Image: Wikimedia Commons State-owned Central Bank of India on Thursday said it has acquired a 25.18 per cent stake in Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Limited (FGILICL) for a cash consideration of Rs 57 crore as part of the insolvency process. With the acquisition of 65,43,80,439 shares on Wednesday (June ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Mysuru Dasara is set to run for 11 days this year -- a rare extension driven by celestial alignment and cultural planning -- with the inaugural ceremony on Sept 22 and the grand Jamboo Savari taking place on Oct 2, coinciding with Vijayadashami and Gandhi Jayanti.Chairing a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha Friday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "Mysuru Dasara in 2025 will be celebrated for 11 days, due to a unique astronomical occurrence -- the Panchami tithi (fifth lunar day) will appear on two consecutive days, Sept 26 and 27, a rare alignment that hasn't occurred in nearly ...Read More >
Mumbai: Even as mis-selling of insurance plans by banks has drawn scrutiny, the sector regulator doesn't want to manage distribution channels and seeks to focus on customer awareness to check the malpractice. "It's not necessary that every mis-selling is mis-selling, it's also about the customers' understanding of the product," said Swaminathan S Iyer, member (life), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday. "Once you drive home that your understanding is different from what the product is...then I think the absolute number on mis-selli ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9: If you're a young professional in your 20s or early 30s, life is full of exciting firsts, your first salary, first investment, maybe even your first big purchase. Financial independence gives you the power to live on your terms. But it also brings new responsibilities, and that's where life insurance steps in. Also Read | Bihar Tragedy: Father-Son Duo Among 3 Asphyxiate to Death While Cleaning Septic Tank of Their House in Samastipur. Many people believe insurance is something to consider later in life. But the truth is, the best time to buy life insurance is right ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The GST Council, which will meet shortly, is expected to comprehensively review the eight-year-old regime focused on reducing tax on several consumer-focused items in the 12% bracket as well as lowering the burden on items such as air conditioners, which are in the top bracket.Besides, with the compensation cess - money released to states to offset any revenue loss because of switch to GST - due to end in March, a plan on imposing a cess on some of the sin goods, such as tobacco, is also expected to be finalised to ensure that states don't have to bear a significant revenue hit.Conc ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Recent reductions in income tax burdens, benign inflation, lower interest rates and a favourable outlook for agricultural production are expected to support rural incomes and bolster overall consumption in India, according to a new report. Given that private final consumption expenditure constitutes nearly 60 per cent of India's GDP, it has a strong bearing on India's overall growth outlook. A sustained recovery in consumption is also vital for a meaningful pick-up in private sector capital expenditure. "We expect private consumption growth of 6.2 per cent in FY26 compared to an ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Government is all set to allow 100% foreign direct investment in insurance business, paving the way for large companies to enter the market on their own, while allowing individual insurance agents to hawk policies of multiple companies, lifting the cap on being associated with only one life and general insurer. The twin measures are part of the Insurance Amendment Bill that is proposed to be introduced during the winter session of Parliament that kicks off later this month. On August 19, TOI was the first to report about the proposed increase in the FDI ceiling, a suggestion which ...Read More >
India's growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.4% in the three months ended 30 September, or the second quarter of 2024-25, was a shocker. It undershot even the most pessimistic forecasts. It's the lowest level seen since the third quarter of 2022-23 and a sharp drop from 8.1% growth in the same period last year and also from 6.7% in the first quarter of 2024-25. The consensus expectation stood at about 6.5% and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was expecting around 7% growth till its October policy, only to pare it to 6.8%. Growth in gross value added (GVA), which is the preferred measure ...Read More >
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced several pre-election promises targeting auto drivers. These include a ₹10 lakh insurance policy, ₹1 lakh for daughters' marriages, a biannual ₹2,500 uniform allowance, free coaching for their children, and the relaunch of the 'PoochO' ride-booking app. Kejriwal and the AAP are campaigning to secure a third term in the upcoming February elections.Ahead of crucial Delhi assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal promised several measures for auto dri ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Infosys has opened a new development centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, to develop solutions for global Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) clients. The facility, designed to accommodate over 1,000 employees working in a hybrid model, was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. "It will function as a key TechFin hub, delivering advanced digital solutions for global BFSI clients. Its services will span critical domains including digital banking, regulatory affairs, trade finance, capital markets, c ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will undertake an official visit to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium from June 8 to 14, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs announced in a press release on Sunday. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India's strategic partnerships with Europe. The EAM will first travel to Paris and Marseille, France, where he will hold bilateral discussions with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean Noel Barrot. Also Read | Indian Citizen Dies in UAE: Civil Engineer Issac Paul ...Read More >
New Delhi: India is leading the global GenAI charge, with 92 per cent of employees embracing such tools -- well ahead of the global average of 72 per cent -- according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). AI is now woven into the fabric of daily work, with 72 per cent of respondents using it regularly. However, the true value of AI is being captured by a smaller subset of companies that go beyond tool deployment to fully redesign workflows, according to BCG's new report titled "AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, But Gaps Remain," released on Thursday. The third edition of BCG's a ...Read More >
New Delhi: Financially weak people are not able to get treatment in a good hospital. Due to a lack of money, the patient may even die. Amidst the increasing expenditure on healthcare, the government also provides various health facilities, which people also benefit from. Now, a special scheme has been launched for low-income people. The scheme aims to benefit the economically weak people. SBI General Insurance, one of the big banks of the country, has launched a great scheme in association with Starfin India. It has been launched in the name of the Hospital Daily Cash Scheme. This scheme will ...Read More >
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 9: If you're a young professional in your 20s or early 30s, life is full of exciting firsts, your first salary, first investment, maybe even your first big purchase. Financial independence gives you the power to live on your terms. But it also brings new responsibilities, and that's where life insurance steps in. Many people believe insurance is something to consider later in life. But the truth is, the best time to buy life insurance is right now, when you're young, healthy, and just starting to build your future. Let's explore why life insurance is one of the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) India's gains from importing discounted Russian oil are estimated to be just USD 2.5 billion per annum, significantly lower than the previously speculated range of USD 10-25 billion, a research report said on Thursday. Stopping Russian oil imports would force India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, to rely on limited alternatives, potentially driving global crude prices up to USD 100 per barrel amid rising demand and tight supply. "Benefit from Russian oil imports is way less than exaggerated media numbers," brokerage CLSA said in a report. While ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi govt has prepared a plan under which Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus drivers and conductors will receive regular training, with a focus on ethical values, customer service and safe driving, transport minister Pankaj Singh said on Friday. The move is for improving the public image of DTC buses.The minister mentioned that DTC bus drivers who fail to halt at designated stops or are found speeding will face strict departmental action.Several commuters have complained about the behaviour of DTC bus drivers. There have alleged that the buses often fail to stop at the designate ...Read More >
PRNewswire Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 13: Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, the first standalone health insurance company in India, today announced the launch of its revolutionary retail health insurance product, 'SUPER STAR'. This innovative policy offers a long-term policy for the retail health segment, combining advanced features and highly customisable covers to address the growing complexities of modern lifestyles, rising medical expenses, and unforeseen emergencies. * Offers a long-term policy and unparalleled, highly customisable solutions for evolving heal ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday received dividend cheques to the tune of Rs 5,304 crore on behalf of the government from three public sector banks for the financial year ended on March 31, 2025. A dividend cheque of Rs 2,335 crore for FY 2024-25 was presented to the Finance Minister, in her North Block office, by Punjab National Bank MD and CEO Ashok Chandra, while Bank of India MD & CEO Rajneesh Karnatak presented a cheque of Rs 1,353 crore. The third dividend cheque of Rs 1,616 crore for FY 2024-25 was presented to Finance Minister Sitharama ...Read More >
Mumbai, Aug 21 (PTI) Rapidly expanding global capability centres of banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector has led to an acute shortage of talent, widening skill gap and higher workforce expense for enterprises, a report said on Thursday. India's BFSI GCC sector was valued at USD 40-41 billion in 2023 and is projected to touch USD 125-135 billion by 2032, which reflects a CAGR of 12-13 per cent, according to 'BFSI GCC Talent Report 2025' by staffing and workforce solutions provider Quess Corp. However, the acute shortage of AI and data talent is evident with a 42 per cent sk ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): IFFCO Managing Director (MD), U S Awasthi on Friday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence office in New Delhi. During the meeting, Awasthi briefed and updated the Minister on the overall performance of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) for the Financial Year 2024-25, a strong testament to the vision of Sahakar Se Samriddhi under his dynamic guidance. Awasthi also apprised him of the progress at the seed research and development facility at IFFCO's Kalol Unit in Gujarat. Furthermore, both had a meaningful discussion on strategies to en ...Read More >
Bengaluru : Bajaj Allianz Life, one of India's leading private life insurers, has announced the launch of its New Fund Offer (NFO) - Bajaj Allianz Life Nifty 500 Multifactor 50 Index Fund. Offered under the Company's ULIP products, this fund is designed to track the Nifty 500 Multifactor MQVLv 50 Index, providing investors with exposure to a multifactor based equity index while also offering life cover. Bajaj Allianz Life ULIP products with underlying Bajaj Allianz Life Nifty 500 Multifactor 50 Index Fund, enables policyholders to achieve their life goals, powered by the security of a life co ...Read More >
Kargil , Jul 2: Pursuant to putting in place a comprehensive legal framework to ensure fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment to public services, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has initiated a large-scale recruitment drive for 359 Gazetted posts through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This marks the first-ever recruitment of Gazetted posts through UPSC since the formation of the Union Territory, officials said. This follows the establishment of a unique and dedicated legal framework specifically designed for Ladakh. The framework ensures maximum local re ...Read More >
Mumbai: Net profit of Nifty 50 companies at the aggregate level is expected to increase 4.6% year-on-year while revenue may increase 4.5% for the June 2025 quarter. Net profit is likely to show single-digit year-on-year growth for the first time in at least nine quarters amid an anticipated poor performance by select companies, including Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank and Coal India. The sample's revenue is expected to grow in single digit for the fourth consecutive quarter reflecting persistent muted demand scenario. Select companies from metals, pharmaceuticals, cement, banking and finance and ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday warned educational institutions that cases would be booked against them if drugs were found in their premises. The CM announced that the state's Anti-Narcotics Bureau would henceforth be known as Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and was tasked with curbing the menace of narcotics in the state. Speaking at an event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 at Shilpakala Vedika here, Reddy placed an onus on educational institutions to ensure their campuses were free of drugs. "It is the ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was a belligerent, brilliant, and breathtaking performance from the Chennai Bulls, who were crowned the first ever champions of the Rugby Premier League, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex. The Chennai Bulls thrashed the Delhi Redz by a scoreline of 41-0 in the final, to clinch the title. In fact, the margin of victory is the biggest across Season 1 of the GMR RPL. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Heroes, who had finished top of the table in the league stage, came away with a third-place finish, after they won 17-12 against the Bengaluru Bra ...Read More >
Srinagar: The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit of Jammu and Kashmir Police is conducting searches at ten locations across four districts in the Valley. An official told news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the raids are part of an ongoing investigation into a terror-crime case linked to a terrorist sleeper cell and recruitment module handled by Jaish commander Abdullah Ghazi from across the border. The searches are underway at one location in Pulwama, six in Ganderbal, one in Srinagar, and two in Budgam district -- (KNO) ...Read More >
ICICI Lombard partners with Arya.ai to leverage the Arya Apex AI platform, resulting in 98% workflow automation and enhanced customer satisfaction. This collaboration sets a new standard in the insurance industry by significantly boosting operational speed, scalability, and customer experience in just three months. ICICI Lombard, a major player in the Indian private-sector insurance market, has teamed up with Arya.ai, a leader in AI-driven enterprise solutions. Together, they are revolutionizing the industry with Arya Apex, an all-encompassing AI API platform that has achieved a remarkable 98 ...Read More >
India's BFSI sector is rapidly evolving with digital transformation, creating new opportunities for the youth to merge financial knowledge with tech skills. As automation, AI, blockchain, and big data reshape the industry, India’s young workforce must be equipped with specialized skills to stay competitive. Roles in data analysis, AI, and cybersecurity are growing, and companies that invest in technology and upskilling will lead the market. While government programs aim to bridge the skills gap, a collaborative approach with educational institutions and financial organizations is key to ensuri ...Read More >