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.
Ludhiana: Several labour unions and employee federations in Ludhiana joined the 'Bharat Bandh', protesting the increasing contractualisation of jobs, the dilution of labour laws, and "anti-worker and pro-corporate" policies of the govt. They demanded the regularisation of contractual workers in the transport sector. Jagtar Singh, general secretary of the PRTC Contract Workers Union, said that PRTC and Punbus staff were observing a three-day strike, highlighting that nearly 7,000 employees in both services continued to work on a contractual basis and faced acute job insecurity. He urged the Punjab govt to immediately abolish the contract system, eliminate middlemen, and regularise all workers.Jagtar Singh said that drivers working under contract are often dismissed arbitrarily, without any serious inquiry or reason, leaving them vulnerable and underpaid after years of work. He also pointed out that the number of govt-run buses was steadily declining while private operators were increasing their fleet across the state. "The state must add at least 10,000 buses to strengthen public transport and stop opening space for private bus operators," he said.Several workers gathered at ISBT and demanded that all workers, including anganwadi and ASHA workers, should be made permanent employees. Hanuman Prasad Dubey, vice-president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Ludhiana, said the replacement of 29 labour laws with just four labour codes has worsened the condition of industrial workers. "These codes were passed without proper consultation and have reduced existing safeguards. Now workers are being pushed to work 12 hours a day instead of 8, and yet the minimum wage has not been revised in the last 13 years," he said, adding that even the current laws that exist are poorly implemented.Commuters bear the bruntMeanwhile, commuters and passengers faced difficulties as less PRTC and Punbuses were in operation due to strike. "I had to go to Chandigarh, but due to the strike I learn, there were no govt buses. So I'm forced to take private bus. Private buses take longer as they stop for longer durations and repeatedly," Gurvinder Singh from Bathinda said. Protest was also held at Samrala Chowk, where workers from multiple unions gathered and raised slogans against the central and state govts. Labour leaders alleged that the policies of both the Modi govt at the Centre and the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab govt were undermining workers' rights, decreasing employment opportunities, and increasing economic inequality.The protest was joined by leaders and workers from various unions, including the Textile Hosiery Kamgar Union, Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra, Lok Ekta Sangathan, Moulder and Steel Workers Union, Krantikari Mazdoor Centre, and more. Many of them addressed the gathering and criticised what they called the growing nexus between govts and large corporations. They said liberalisation and privatisation policies had left public sector institutions weak, and workers more insecure than ever before.Speakers called for wider resistance against what they described as an attack on constitutional rights, livelihoods, and social welfare systems. Protesters also accused the govt of backing corporate interests and using communal narratives and repression to divide people and suppress democratic dissent.Among the key demands raised by the unions were a minimum wage of Rs 26,000, repeal of the four labour codes, implementation of equal pay for equal work for women, universal ration cards, strengthening of the public distribution system and expansion of government jobs. They also called for loan waivers for workers and small farmers and an end to rising communal tensions.Youth and farmers' organisations, including the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), Democratic Teachers' Front, and Sangharshsheel Mazdoor Morcha, extended support for the protests.
Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir's Road Transport Corporation (RTC), a crucial backbone of public transportation, has raised serious concerns over the barring of its buses from entering Srinagar city limits. The move has triggered alarm within the Corporation, with officials cautioning about significant disruptions to public transport services and daily commutes, alongside substantial financial losses for the RTC. The restriction, in effect since November 4 when the maiden session of the Assembly commenced, is causing a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh to the Corporation. In a lette ...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 >
New Delhi/Noida, Jun 27 (PTI) End-of-life vehicles detected at fuel stations or found parked at public places will be impounded and a penalty of Rs 10,000 imposed on four-wheeler owners and Rs 5,000 on two-wheeler owners starting July 1, officials said on Friday. EOL vehicles are diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Irrespective of the states they are registered in, they will not be given fuel in Delhi starting July 1, according to directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) earlier. Around 500 fuel stations in Delhi have inst ...Read More >
In this edition of Frontline Conversations, former Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare discusses how the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provided direct cash transfers to 2.35 crore women, transformed both the economic landscape and political dynamics of the State. The programme, which distributed Rs.7,500 across five instalments to women earning less than Rs. 2.5 lakh annually, not only empowered women with financial independence but also proved to be a decisive factor in Mahayuti's electoral victory, marking a shift in Maharashtra's traditionally male-dominated political ...Read More >
Strikes gain global traction as unions push for fair treatment, sustainable practices, and tax accountability Amazon workers in India and around the world have launched strikes and protests during the busiest shopping weekend of the year -- Black Friday to Cyber Monday. The movement, called "Make Amazon Pay," is backed by UNI Global Union and Progressive International, with the goal of holding Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, environmental harm, and disregard for democratic principles. From November 29 to December 2, workers across six continents and in more than 20 countries are ...Read More >
Panaji: Upset with the "degrading and arbitrary" suspension order issued by health minister Vishwajit Rane to a casualty medical officer, the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to govt.In it, the association is demanding a public apology from Rane and a firm assurance that a "climate of fear and intimidation" will not be repeated.GARD has called for a fair inquiry into the episode, which was disseminated to the media. The General Practitioners Association of Goa (GPA-Goa) has backed GARD and said that Rane's "rudeness and insulting words" are an insult to ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 5 (PTI) Five Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters were arrested on Saturday for the attack on investor Sushil Kedia's office in Worli here over the latter's social media post about not learning Marathi and his "kya karna hai bol" dare to Raj Thackeray. Hours after the attack, Kedia apologised for the social post claiming he had overreacted and also professed admiration for Thackeray. Kedia said he had uploaded the post in a wrong state of mind under duress and stress and wished to correct it unequivocally after realising his mistake. "Having come under pressure mentally from th ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Congress leader Jignesh Mevani on Saturday questioned the government over the ceasefire in Operation Sindoor, alleging foreign pressure and demanding clarity on its terms. Mevani accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of backing down under US influence and asked why the remaining terrorists haven't been caught. 'It's been a month since the government launched Operation Sindoor and claimed to have caught a terrorist. The Prime Minister boasts of a 56-inch chest, says India is a Vishwa Guru, and speaks of vermilion running through our veins. Then why haven't the ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 30 (UNI) The Commissionerate Police today arrested three individuals, including a BJP corporator, for assaulting Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahu inside the corporation office. The incident sparked widespread resentment among BMC employees, who, along with several BJD corporators and leaders, staged a road blockade on the busy Bani Vihar-Master Canteen stretch in the evening. The protest brought vehicular movement to a standstill for several hours, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. Police later removed the protesters, i ...Read More >
The Baatara Gorge Waterfall, also known as the "Cave of Three Bridges," is one of Lebanon's most enchanting natural wonders. This unique geological formation in Tannourine has been captivating visitors for centuries. In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to visit this breathtaking site. From practical tips to essential information, we've got you covered! The ideal time to visit the Baatara Gorge Waterfall is in the springtime, specifically between March and May. Why? Well, this is when the snow from the mountains around melts down, providing water to the fall an ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 1 (PTI) Lakhs of trucks and other goods carriage vehicles in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra will go on indefinite strike to oppose the e-challan system for traffic violations, and other demands from Tuesday midnight, transporters said. The operators of buses, including those involved in ferrying school children, however, announced they would postpone their participation in the strike at the request of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who said the warkaris (Lord Vitthal devotees) would face inconvenience as Ashadi Ekadashi is just round the corner. Taking cognizance of the ...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 >
Patiala: Union minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Rajpura in Patiala district on Thursday as part of an ongoing initiative, Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), which is aimed at transforming Indian agriculture through direct farmer engagement and sustainable practices.At a 'Kisan Chaupal' in Gandia Kheri village, Chouhan emphasised on govt's commitment to formulating agricultural policies based on direct interactions with farmers rather than relying solely on bureaucratic inputs. " If scientists go to the ground, they'll know about the problem of farm ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) is set to introduce WhatsApp ticketing and digital bus passes, offering passengers a faster and more convenient way to travel. Under the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), commuters will soon be able to book tickets by simply entering journey details through WhatsApp and receiving e-tickets instantly. Digital bus passes will also be issued via the RTC mobile app and verified using handheld ticketing machines by conductors. Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced these initiatives during his visit to ...Read More >
New Delhi: After a dramatic all-night session and a nail-biting 50-50 Senate split, President Donald Trump's signature "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", a sweeping package of tax breaks and spending cuts, has cleared the Senate thanks to Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote. The bill, which now heads back to the House, represents the biggest overhaul of tax and social spending policy in years. Here's a detailed look at what will change if the legislation becomes law. The bill makes Trump's 2017 tax cuts, previously set to expire at year's end, permanent, locking in lower rates for individ ...Read More >
New Delhi: Was it the pitch? Was it the conditions? Was it the bowling? The questions doing the rounds after yet another strange show in good batting conditions by India were many. But with the exception of Shubman Gill, who became just the second Indian captain, after Mohammad Azharuddin, to score hundreds in consecutive matches in England, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, few India batters managed to answer them in a satisfactory manner. After being put into bat by England, India looked like they were in control at various points during the day but then somehow contrived to gift away wickets and end t ...Read More >
New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump has backed a new plan to strike hard at countries helping Russia's economy. He gave his nod to a Senate bill that proposes 500% tariffs on nations buying oil and goods from Russia. Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally, confirmed the move during an interview with ABC News. The bill targets India and China - the two biggest importers of Russian crude. Graham said both are fuelling what he called "Putin's war machine" by continuing trade with Moscow. According to him, India and China account for more than 70% of Russia's oil sales. The idea is sim ...Read More >
Ranchi: The long awaited Ratu road flyover was inaugurated by Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday. The 4.18 km long, four-lane project has been built at a cost of Rs 560 crore. Once opened for traffic movement, the flyover will boost the city traffic by doing away with the perennial traffic congestion at Ratu road. Besides inaugurating the flyover, Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for two new flyover projects at the OTC ground in the evening. Various MPs, state transport minister Deepak Birua among others were present on the occasion.Calling the newly ...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 >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jul 02: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opposed the approval of the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme by the Union Cabinet. The party, in a statement issued here, condemned the scheme as a "move to divert public funds to large corporate entities". It accused the BJP-led central government of cronyism and favouring corporate interests at the expense of workers. "The CPI(M) describes the ELI scheme as a deceptive initiative that claims to promote job creation, employability, and social security but, in reality, facilitates precarious employment b ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday flagged off 105 new orange-coloured DEVI (Delhi EV Inter-connector) electric buses and inaugurated the newly built Sector A9 depot in Narela, calling it a step towards cleaner and more efficient public transport for the capital. Gupta said the depot was completed in just 90 days and claimed it reflects the BJP government's commitment to deliver on promises made to Delhi residents. She also attacked the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, accusing it of pushing Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) into losses and fostering ...Read More >
Chennai, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday flagged off Chennai's first fleet of low-floor electric buses from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation's (MTC) Vyasarpadi depot, marking a significant step towards greener urban transport in the city. A total of 120 electric buses, worth Rs 207.90 crore, have been introduced under the Chennai City Partnership Programme and Chennai Sustainable Urban Services Programme, with support from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Inaugurating the upgraded electric bus depot at Vyasarpadi, develop ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the provisional attachment of assets worth approximately ₹131.45 crore in Spain, including a luxury yacht and immovable properties, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Pavel Prozorov, a Spanish national and the alleged mastermind behind the unauthorised forex trading platform OctaFX. The attached assets comprise a commercial Italian-model luxury yacht cruising in the Western Mediterranean, a minijet boat, a luxury car, and two residential properties in Spain. The ED's probe was launched ...Read More >
Pune: Perennial traffic snarls, waterlogged streets and crater-like potholes leading to a frustrating commute has become a daily reality for hundreds of IT professionals trying to get to and from their offices or homes in Hinjewadi -- especially amid rainy conditions.Crowned as Maharashtra's largest IT park, the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi has crumbled under the heavy downpour witnessed by the city late in May. Techies told TOI they have been taking two hours on average to finish a journey that usually requires 40 minutes. Many were even seen wading through water to get home after ...Read More >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday flagged off 100 Devi electric buses from the newly built Narela bus depot, with a striking change -- the colour has been changed from green to saffron. Traditionally, green signifies eco-friendly practices, and the colour switch has stirred up a debate. AAP Delhi convener Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "BJP wants to hurt Hindu sentiments by painting Devi buses saffron. Stains of vomit, paan, spit and mucus on buses will offend Hindu faith." Defending the move, Gupta said, "Delhi is vibrant and colourful...so, as an experiment, green and orange buses hav ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 2 : Extending his greetings on International Labour Day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday announced the withdrawal of the amendment to the Tamil Nadu Factories Act stating that the state government will never compromise with the welfare of the labours. While addressing the May Day celebrations in Chennai, Stalin said, "To attract huge investments in Tamil Nadu and to create employment opportunities for thousands of youngsters from North and South Tamil Nadu, the Government introduced one bill. That was not for all Industries and only for specific ...Read More >