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.
Mumbai: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court against luxury fashion house Prada for allegedly appropriating Maharashtra's Kolhapuri chappal without authorisation. The petition, filed by six Pune-based lawyers, seeks compensation for Indian artisans and a public apology. The PIL contends that Prada's Spring/Summer collection includes 'toe ring sandals' that are "deceptively similar" to the Kolhapuri chappals. The sandals are reportedly priced at Rs1 lakh per pair. "The Kolhapuri chappal is the cultural symbol of Maharashtra and has special public sentiments attached with it," the plea states, adding that the product enjoys protection as a Geographical Indication (GI) under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. According to the PIL, Prada has "privately accepted" that its collection was inspired by Indian artisans, but has not issued any formal statement or offered compensation. "The private acknowledgement appears to be merely a superficial attempt to deflect criticism," the PIL alleges. The plea urges the court to issue a permanent injunction against the alleged unauthorised use of the GI and to direct Prada to compensate artisans for "reputational and economic damages".
Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Monday suggested Abhishek Lodha and his brother Abhinandan Lodha to try and amicably resolve the issue over the use of 'Lodha' trademark. The Abhishek Lodha-promoted Macrotech Developers Ltd earlier this month filed a suit in the HC against Abhinandan Lodha's real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha, claiming the name 'Lodha' was their trademark and no one else could use it. The suit sought Rs 5,000 crore as damages from Abhinandan Lodha's company. In an interim application, Macrotech Developers sought a perpetual injunction against the defen ...Read More >
Berhampur (Odisha), Jun 6 (PTI) Environmental activist Medha Patkar on Saturday appealed to the people of Odisha for protection of Rushikulya river. The government planned to construct a dam in the river Pipalapnaka under Sorada block in the district. While participating in the Save Rushikulya river movement in Ganjam district, she said, "Rivers may be small or big, but they are our mother. We have to protect the rivers from attacks." She attended a meeting were organised by the Rushikulya Banchao Kriyaanusthan Committee (RBKC) and the Centre for Climate Justice, spearheading the agitation a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has held that there is nothing on record to show any fraud in Maharashtra assembly elections. Dismissing a plea to declare the Maharashtra election null and void, a division bench held that the case of the petitioner appears to be "quite absurd to say the least". The court also held that the use of EVMs does not take away "free and fair elections" in any manner. Prakash Ambedkar, who appeared as a lawyer for the petitioner in the case, criticised the HC for overlooking the concerns raised in the petition. The bench of justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor dism ...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 >
New Delhi: The Italian luxury couture label shocked the desi fans after they featured at least seven of the 56 runway looks featuring sandals that bear a striking resemblance to traditional Indian Kolhapuri Chappals - without any credit. After facing backlash over it, Prada has finally acknowleged that the footwear pieces featured in its Men's 2026 Spring/Summer show in Milan, were inspired by the traditional Indian handcrafted pieces made in specific districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. In an exclusive response to NDTV, the Prada Group Press Office mentioned, "At Prada Group, we have alwa ...Read More >
Kochi, July 3: The Kerala High Court has held that a married woman cannot allege that she was coerced into sex under the false promise of marriage. The court's ruling came while hearing the prosecution's statement against the petitioner (accused) that he sexually assaulted the woman after falsely promising to marry her. He was also accused of having threatened to publish her photos and videos after borrowing Rs 2.5 lakh from her. "It is observed that while considering the cases alleging rape on the basis of the promise of marriage, it is difficult for this court at this juncture to enter into ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jan 31 (PTI) Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) and NIFT, Srinagar has developed 36 box prototypes for unique packaging of Kashmiri handicrafts with the aim of boosting sales. Director IICT Zubair Ahmad said the packaging is an inseparable part of the famed Kashmir handicrafts, which facilitates its foray into international markets in a big way. "Time has come for artistic packaging to create a unique unboxing experience of the famed arts of Kashmir and boost its market value," Ahmad said. He called upon business stakeholders associated with Kashmir Arts to carry out fir ...Read More >
Bengaluru Power Cuts: Citizens of Bengaluru brace yourself for long hours of power outages from June 29 and June 30. More than 100 areas will be impacted as BESCOM undertakes its quarterly maintenance work in various of its division. Bengaluru Power Outages June 29: According to the update by BESCOM on its X handler, there will be power outages in Kittaganahalli, Palasandra, Saptagiri, Maruthinagar, Sankapur, Raghavendra Nagar, Goolarivee, Baddihalli, Kesaramadu, C.M Badawan, Kalalli and SKS village on June 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. BESCOM's executive engineer has appealed to consumers to coop ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) land scam, conducting fresh search operations at 16 locations across Mumbai on July 1 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The searches, linked to the case involving Jayesh Mehta and others, resulted in the freezing of assets worth approximately Rs 12.71 crore in bank accounts, fixed deposits, and mutual funds, along with the seizure of Rs 26 lakh in cash and a trove of incriminating documents and digital devices, a statement issued ...Read More >
Amritsar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey from Jharkhand has claimed that Britain assisted India in executing the 1984 Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, stoking a new controversy.In a post on X on Monday, Dubey alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi "launched an attack on the Golden Temple in collaboration with Britain", with British Army officers present in Amritsar.He uploaded a classified British document, "Sikh Community", claiming that on Feb 23, 1984, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office mentioned in a letter that the Indian govt had sought British advice over a plan to remove Si ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 28 (PTI) Following the backlash after featuring footwear strongly resembling Kolhapuri chappals, Italian fashion house Prada has acknowledged that it was inspired by the Indian handcrafted footwear. "We acknowledge that the sandals featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. "We deeply recognize the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship," said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, in a letter to Lalit Gandhi, president of Maharashtra Chamb ...Read More >
Shimla: Heavy rains lashed Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, triggering landslides and flash floods and blocking more than 100 roads, even as the weather department issued a red alert.A landslide at Chakki Mod near Parwanoo blocked the Chandigarh-Shimla highway for hours, resulting in a massive traffic jam Sunday morning. The local administration had to divert traffic through the Jangeshu link road until the landslide debris was cleared at Chakki Mod.The traffic was first restored one-way and later two-way, but the traffic jam continued on both sides of the highway throughout the day due to slow veh ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) The Delhi government will provide financial relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the 24 artisans whose stalls were gutted in the April 30 fire at Delhi Haat, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra has said. In addition to the financial aid, all affected artisans will be allotted stalls at Delhi Haat in INA free of cost for six months -- from July 1 to December 31, Mishra said. The allotment will be made through a lottery system, he added. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had earlier announced Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia compensation for each affected artisan, Mishra said. The approval for ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen Rs 12.71 crore in bank balances, fixed deposits, mutual funds and seized cash amounting to Rs 26 lakh apart from large number of incriminating documents and devices during searches conducted at 16 different locations across Mumbai in Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) scam, the agency said on Thursday. ED's Mumbai zonal office took the action during the raids carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on July 1 in the case. Also Read | Gujarat Human Trafficking Cas ...Read More >
Kolkata, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal unit of BJP, under the leadership of its new State party President Samik Bhattacharya is making all efforts to ensure a political rally in the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing it, before Trinamool Congress's annual Martyrs' day rally in Kolkata on July 21. An insider from the state committee of BJP said that the week before July 21, the Prime Minister is scheduled to go for an election campaign in Bihar where the Assembly polls are scheduled later this year. "We are trying hard so that the Prime Minister can spare some time ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to revert to ballot paper voting in elections in the country. "What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale. Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters d ...Read More >
Mumbai, February 7: Jeet Adani, the younger son of industrial magnate Gautam Adani, is marrying Diva Shah today, February 7, in a private and traditional ceremony. The couple, who has been engaged for a while, drew attention to their wedding when Gautam Adani confirmed the Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding date during his visit to Maha Kumbh 2025. Though rumours circulated about a performance by global music star Taylor Swift at Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding, Gautam Adani dismissed the speculation, emphasising that the wedding would be modest and traditional. "We live like ordinary people, and the ...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 >
New Delhi: Lawyers from the district courts decided on Saturday to roll back their decision to abstain from work in protest against the shifting of the judges of the 34 digital Negotiable Instruments Act courts to the Rouse Avenue courts.A statement released by the All District Courts Bar Association of Delhi on Saturday said that the lawyers' coordination committee met the chief justice of Delhi High Court and was assured that all digital courts would function strictly as digital platforms only. The remaining proceedings and judicial work only would be conducted in the regular local courts, t ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) After facing severe backlash, Italian fashion house Prada has officially admitted that the Kolhapuri Chappals, featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show, is inspired by India's handcrafted footwear traditions. In a letter to Lalit Gandhi, president of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, Prada noted that it is "open for meaningful exchange with artisans". "We acknowledge that the sandals featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old herita ...Read More >
Mumbai : Filmmaker Subhash Ghai recently took a trip down memory lane as he remembered the late actor Irrfan Khan. Ghai shared an old photo from an award ceremony with the actor, along with an emotional note that quickly caught the attention of fans online. In the photo, Ghai and Irrfan can be seen smiling. Ghai, who worked with Irrfan in the film 'Right Yaa Wrong,' took to his Instagram account to share a post praising him not just as an actor but as someone who deeply understood the art of storytelling. He wrote, "I have always been more in admiration of good and great actors than just co ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Centre on Friday cleared the appointment of two additional judges to the Bombay High Court following the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium. "In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint S/Shri (i) Gautam Ashwin Ankhad and (ii) Mahendra Madhavrao Nerlikar, to be Additional Judges of the Bombay High Court for a period of two years, in that order of seniority, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices," said a notification issued by the Union Ministr ...Read More >
MUMBAI/MILAN, July 2 (Reuters) - Indian footwear sellers and artisans are tapping into nationalist pride stoked by the Prada 'sandal scandal' in a bid to boost sales of ethnic slippers with history dating back to the 12th century, raising hopes of reviving a struggling craft. Sales are surging over the past week for the 'Kolhapuri' sandals that have garnered global attention after Prada sparked a controversy by showcasing similar designs in Milan, without initially crediting the footwear's origi ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) recent directive mandating large sections of voters in Bihar to furnish proof of citizenship in order to remain on the electoral rolls. Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petition seeks to quash the ECI's June 24 order initiating a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar. The plea argues that the directive violates constitutional provisions inclu ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, India: Birkenstock is stepping up its efforts to protect its iconic sandals in India, as local legal representatives conducted court-ordered raids on factories suspected of producing fakes. The German shoemaker is pursuing legal action to counter growing counterfeit activity tied to its popular footwear. According to people familiar with the matter, court-appointed lawyers recently inspected several small-scale factories in India to seize suspected counterfeit Birkenstock products. The move comes after Birkenstock filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in the Delhi High Court in M ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a petition filed by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who had sought a direction for the BCCI to indemnify him for a Rs 10.65 crore penalty imposed under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The court declined to entertain the plea, effectively leaving Modi liable for the payment. A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan declined to interfere with a decision of the Bombay High Court turning down his writ petition seeking a direction to the BCCI to pay this penalty imposed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for purported infractio ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 1: Recently, the Bombay High Court ordered Yes Bank to pay INR 50,000 to compensate Microfibers Pvt Ltd for delaying opening a bank account after insisting on an Aadhaar card. It is learned that the private bank insisted on an Aadhaar card despite the interim relief granted by the Supreme Court at the time. Although the private bank had complied and opened the account in January 2019, the bench of Justices MS Sonak and Jitendra Jain said that they had failed to do so between April and September 2018, a period during which Aadhaar was not mandatory. The Bombay HC made these observ ...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 >