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.
Nagpur: The state government has banned the immersion of Lord Ganesh's Plaster of Paris (POP) idols in natural water bodies. A fresh set of guidelines, issued on August 1, introduces stricter norms. Under the new rules, all POP idols must carry a red circle painted on their back and be immersed only in artificial ponds.The norms aim to curb water pollution and promote eco-conscious rituals for a greener Ganeshotsav. "Every POP idol, big or small, must now have a painted red dot using oil paint. This mark will help citizens and authorities easily identify the material and ensure compliance with disposal norms," the government stated.Idol sellers and makers must maintain a detailed sale register and provide each customer with a pamphlet -- supplied by local bodies -- outlining immersion instructions.If no alternative is available for immersion, POP idols must be retrieved from natural water bodies the very next day. For idols under six feet -- typically used in homes and small community setups -- immersion is permitted only in artificial ponds.Local self-government bodies, such as municipal corporations and councils, have been instructed to set up dedicated registration desks for public mandals, collecting detailed information on the type and size of installed idols. They must also ensure adequate artificial pond infrastructure with proper water treatment facilities.Each pond must contain 8-10 times more water than required, and the water must be treated within a week before being sent to sewage treatment plants.Interestingly, the state is also encouraging reuse over immersion. Large mandals have been urged to install a small idol solely for 'visarjan', while preserving their grand idol for future years. Mandals are also being encouraged to adopt smaller idols altogether.After immersion, all sludge and material collected from ponds must be stored for at least 15 days and then processed scientifically. The government has directed local bodies to collaborate with institutions such as the National Chemical Laboratory and relevant NGOs for the environmentally safe recycling of POP waste.The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has been directed to launch an aggressive awareness campaign through social media, traditional platforms, and local outreach initiatives. Direction boards to visarjan spots, street plays in schools, and massive community drives are part of the plan. These new rules, applicable to all festivals until March 2026, are legally binding. The state has made it clear: eco-friendliness is no longer optional -- it's the new norm.State Forms Expert Panel to Draft Eco-Friendly POP Disposal GuidelinesThe state government has formed an expert committee to recommend methods for the reuse, recycling, and faster dissolution of POP idols in an eco-friendly manner. The move follows a Bombay High Court order dated July 24, which directed the state to constitute the panel within a month.A Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 1 details the formation of an eight-member committee comprising experts from premier institutions, including IIT Bombay, ICT Mumbai, Neeri (Nagpur), the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) Pune, and the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission. The MPCB's member secretary will serve as the committee's chairperson.The panel is tasked with drafting scientific guidelines for safe disposal, promoting biodegradable alternatives, and developing certification standards for eco-friendly POP products. It is authorised to conduct field studies, consult subject matter experts, and utilize government resources as needed. The MPCB will fund and support the committee, which has six months to submit its final report to the state government.
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 >
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 Centre has asked the states and union territories to make any proposed changes in the boundaries of administrative jurisdictions before December 31, 2025, when they will freeze for the Census-2027 exercise and the first phase of the decadal population count will begin on April 1 next year, according to a communication sent by the registrar general and census commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, on June 27. The freezing means the states/UTs won't be able to change the boundaries of districts, towns, villages and tehsils post December 31. The Census can be conducted on ...Read More >
Navi Mumbai: The father of a three-day-old girl who was found abandoned in a blue basket outside Navi Mumbai's Panvel wad traced and detained on Sunday, the police said. According to them, the infant's parents were not financially stable enough to raise her. Due to this, the couple decided to give up the baby to an orphanage that could look after her, reported PTI. However, the Navi Mumbai police's crime branch traced the infant's father, Aman Iqbal Kondkar, a resident of Thane's Bhiwandi, within 24 hours, an official said. ...Read More >
Mumbai: In a major political development, former MLA Vijay Bhambale from the Sharad Pawar faction formally joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister and National President Ajit Pawar. Bhambale, accompanied by a large group of office-bearers from various districts, was welcomed into the party during an event held at the Mahila Vikas Mandal Auditorium in Mumbai. Addressing the gathering, Ajit Pawar announced that he would embark on a statewide tour starting from Nandurbar after the conclusion of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature. He emphasized the ...Read More >
Mumbai: The death toll in Monday's BEST bus crash rose to seven and the number of injured to 42 even as the driver, Sanjay More, booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, claimed he had noticed a spark and mistakenly accelerated the bus instead of applying brakes. Seeking More's custody, police said they want to investigate if he intentionally used the vehicle as a weapon. The bus on Route 332 had accelerated on a congested 200m stretch near Kurla station hitting vehicles and pedestr ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has raised concern over terminally ill prisoners languishing in Maharashtra's jails and asked the state govt to consider proper implementation of an advisory on grant of medical bail or to place them in house arrest. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan on Monday said they visited the Yerwada central prison in Pune on Sunday and met with prisoners, particularly women inmates, and inspected the condition there. The bench referred to a ...Read More >
Gandhinagar: Stating that it was time to decide whether the next generation will "have a plastic-free or plastic-laden environment," chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said that the campaign against single-use plastic should become a mass movement in Gujarat. Presiding over the state-level programme in Gandhinagar to mark World Environment Day, the chief minister also unveiled several projects aimed at environment protection. "The Prime Minister has envisioned environment-friendly development, and Gujarat will adhere to the principle of ensuring development in a sustainable and environ ...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: The Maharashtra government on Monday sought three more weeks to finalise its policy on the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, prompting the Bombay High Court to ask it not to delay further given the upcoming festival season. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne was hearing a batch of petitions filed by Ganesh idol makers' associations challenging the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines that prohibited both the manufacture and immersion of PoP idols. Earlier this month, the High Court had permitted the manufacture and sale of such idol ...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 >
Mumbai, Dec 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Bombay High Court on Thursday pointedly asked the Maharashtra government if there was any restriction on celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan of Mysuru in Karnataka. The query came during a hearing of a plea filed All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Pune President Faiyaz Shaikh who was refused permission to carry out a procession to commemorate the birth anniversaries of Tipu Sultan, and Bharat Ratna Maulana Abul Kalam Azad last month along with the Constitution Day celebrations, at Baramati in Pune district. However, the Pune Rural ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) The first 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit Train Tour' has received overwhelming response as all the seats have been booked ahead of the scheduled departure on June 9, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited said on Friday. In a release, IRCTC, a 'Navratna' PSU under the railway ministry, said all 710 seats have been booked in 11 coaches. These comprise 480 in the Economy (Sleeper) category, 190 in Comfort (3AC) and 40 in Superior (2AC), indicating strong interest across travel classes, it added. IRCTC in collaboration with Maharashtra government ...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 >
December 2024 Festivals: December 2024 will be a month full of Hindu celebrations. Key dates include Vinayaka Chaturthi, Gita Jayanti, Karthigai Deepam, and Saphala Ekadashi. The month also features important vrats like Rohini Vrat and Pradosh Vrat. World AIDS Day and the shortest day of the year also fall in December. The article lists dates for these and other events.December 2024 is packed with significant Hindu festivals, offering a blend of spiritual observances, rituals, and community celebrations. The month begins with notable events like Ishti and Vinayaka Chaturthi and continues with ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
IMPHAL: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said efforts are underway for setting up of a popular government in the state which is now under President's rule. Speaking at the sidelines of a programme at BJP state headquarters, Singh expressed hope that a new government will be formed in Manipur soon. "We are working to form a government at the earliest. We are a national party. After looking into the ground situation, I have faith that a government will be formed soon. BJP and its allies want a popular government as well. We are working for restoration of the popular gove ...Read More >
Chennai, June 2025: India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. is proud to commemorate a significant milestone in its manufacturing journey with the completion of 10 years of operations at its Chennai Factory. Reinforcing its role as a critical production base for both domestic and global markets, the company also celebrated the roll-out of its 5 millionth two-wheeler from this state-of-the-art facility -- an Aerox 155 Version S that marked the milestone. Over the past decade, the Chennai plant has become a cornerstone of Yamaha's global operations to serve both Indian customers and export markets. I ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a key development regarding the Census 2027, the government of India has asked states and Union Territories to make any proposed changes in the boundaries of administrative units before December 31, when they will be considered final for the census exercise. In a letter to all states and Union Territories, Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan has said that for the Census, all villages and towns are divided into uniform enumeration blocks and for each block, an enumerator is assigned to avoid any miss or repetition during the population count ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday ruled out any talks with Maoists and said the cadre of the proscribed outfit should give up arms, surrender before police, and join the mainstream. Addressing a rally after inaugurating the National Headquarters of the Turmeric Board in Nizamabad in Telangana, Shah also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is still raising questions on Operation Sindoor, should see the weak appearance of Pakistan to understand the effectiveness of the Operation. "Congress asks (the Centre) to hold discussions with these people (Maoists). Our government's p ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Business conglomerate Aditya Birla Group has acquired Cargill's speciality chemical manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia. In a statement on Thursday, the group announced the expansion of its US Advanced Materials business with the acquisition of Cargill Incorporated's 17-acre speciality chemical manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia. The acquisition continues Aditya Birla's expansion in the US' manufacturing sector, a key aspect of Aditya Birla's growth strategy, which now totals over USD 15 billion in investment. The acquisition was executed through Aditya B ...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, June 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday declined to grant an urgent hearing to a petition challenging a Bombay High Court order that permitted animal sacrifice near a Dargah located within Vishalgad Fort in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district during the Bakr-Eid celebrations on June 7. The plea, mentioned before a vacation bench comprising justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, sought immediate intervention against the June 3 High Court order allowing the ritual sacrifice at the historically protected site. The petitioner's counsel argued that Vishalgad Fort is a notified p ...Read More >
Navi Mumbai: In a bid to meet the projected water demand of 1,257 million litres per day (MLD) by the year 2050, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has embarked on a series of critical water infrastructure projects across Navi Mumbai. These initiatives aim to support the city's rapid development and ensure sustainable water supply to areas under CIDCO's jurisdiction, a statement released by the planning authority on Friday, said. One of the key initiatives is the augmentation of the Hetawane Water Supply Scheme, which is currently progressing in four phases and is expect ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >
Haridwar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sakshi Maharaj on Sunday demanded that hotel, dhaba and eatery owners on the Kanwar Yatra routes should display their names and identities on boards outside their business establishments. The owners, who hide their identities under fake names, on the Kanwar Yatra routes should not be spared, he told reporters here. "Tampering with faith of the Hindu devotees during the Kanwar Yatra will not be tolerated," said the Unnao MP. The food shops on the Kanwar Yatra routes should have a board outside with the names of their owners clearly written on them, h ...Read More >
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan is all set to become the next Maharashtra BJP chief as he filed his nomination for the post of party's state president on Monday. Mr. Chavan presented the nomination forms to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, who has been appointed as a central observer for the elections by the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on this occasion. With no other nomination being filed for the post, Mr. Chavan is certain to become the next state president of Maharashtra BJP, said party leaders. The ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Gundicha Temple, where the deities of Jagannath temple were born, is being prepared for a visual transformation through enhancement work before Rath Yatra on June 27."The beautification work includes stone-cladding of the outer boundary wall, landscaping and illumination arrangements to welcome the deities at their place of birth during Rath Yatra. The aesthetic transformation will give a visual delight to the deities and devotees," chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Kumar Padhee told TOI.The temple's exterior boundary wall, previously co ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Imam and Samajwadi MP Maulana Mohibullah Nadvi extended his greetings on Saturday on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. Speaking to ANI, Maulana Mohibullah Nadvi highlighted the significance of sacrifice in life. 'On this auspicious occasion of Eid Al Adha, we extend our greetings to all our countrymen... There are people among us who are less fortunate, and we advocate peace, love and justice for them. Let us sacrifice for their benefit by sharing our wealth and expressing our compassion; this is the essence of sacrifice. This message of sacrifice unites all our c ...Read More >