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: Toll charges on major Pune highways, including Pune-Satara, Pune-Kolhapur, Pune-Solapur and Pune-Nashik, have increased by 3% to 5% from April 1. This revision by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) means higher daily travel costs for commuters and transporters across the district. At the Khed Shivapur toll plaza on the Pune-Satara highway, one of the busiest entry and exit points for the city, the revised toll for cars, jeeps and vans now stands at ₹125 for a one-way journey and ₹185 for a return trip. Light commercial vehicles will pay ₹200 for a single trip and ₹295 for a return trip, while buses and trucks are charged ₹415 one way and ₹620 for a return trip. Multi-axle heavy vehicles will face even steeper costs, with tolls increasing to ₹1,190 for return journeys, depending on axle configuration. Officials said the revision is part of the annual exercise linked to inflation and maintenance costs of national highways. Aadesh Singh, an IT professional who commutes frequently between Pune and Satara, said, "The hike may appear marginal, but for those travelling daily, it adds up to a sizable monthly expense. Combined with fuel and maintenance costs, it is becoming increasingly expensive to commute." Echoing similar concerns, Sunil Jadhav, a transporter operating on the Pune-Nashik and Pune-Solapur routes, said the revision would directly affect logistics costs. "Toll charges are a major component of operating expenses for commercial vehicles. Every increase eventually reflects in freight rates, which impacts businesses and consumers alike," he said. In a parallel move, NHAI has enforced a complete shift to cashless toll collection at these plazas, making FASTag and digital payment modes mandatory. Vehicles without a valid FASTag or with insufficient balance will be liable to pay double the toll amount as penalty, while those opting for alternative digital payments such as UPI may be charged an additional amount. The move is aimed at streamlining toll operations and eliminating long queues that have frequently led to delays and fuel wastage, said officials. "The toll rates at Khed Shivapur have increased by around three per cent compared to last year. Local residents can continue to avail of concessional monthly passes for non-commercial vehicles. From April 1, cash transactions have been completely discontinued to ensure smoother and faster movement of traffic," said Amit Bhatia, NHAI toll road manager. No toll hike on Pune-Mumbai Expressway There has been no change in toll rates on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway for this financial year. The toll for cars, jeeps and SUVs continues to remain at ₹320 for a one-way journey, while light commercial vehicles and minibuses are charged ₹495, buses ₹940, and multi-axle vehicles between ₹1,630 and ₹2,165. The existing toll structure includes charges at both Khalapur and Talegaon toll plazas, which form part of the expressway stretch.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday instructed officials to formulate proposals for constructing an iconic Deep-Technology building in the capital city of Amaravati. "I had built Hi-Tech City structure in Hyderabad to promote information technology. Now, it is time to embrace Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence to take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the latest technology," he underlined while reviewing the New IT Policy at the state secretariat. The Chief Minister announced that the state government will provide Rs 25 lakh as seed fundin ...Read More >
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 >
India's manufacturing sector growth fell to a joint 11-month low, restricted by competitive conditions and inflationary pressures India's manufacturing sector growth fell to a joint 11-month low of 56.5 in November, restricted by competitive conditions and inflationary pressures amid a softer increase in factory orders, a monthly survey said on Monday. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell from 57.5 in October to 56.5 in November, signalling a softer improvement in the health of the sector. However, the pace of growth remained above its long-r ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Society for Employment Promotion and Training in Twin Cities (Setwin) announced plans to introduce electric mini buses in Hyderabad to combat pollution, which is decided in a recent review meeting. Setwin operates 37 buses across six routes, serving the public in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Setwin chairman N. Giridhar Reddy and managing director K. Venu Gopal Rao said the decision aligns with the RTA Act, which mandates the replacement of buses older than 15 years. The resolution to transition to electric buses has been passed, and plans a ...Read More >
The Reserve Bank of India raised the interest rate caps on Foreign Currency Non-Resident Bank (FCNR-B) deposits to attract more capital inflows, amid pressures on the rupee. Starting December 6, banks can offer higher rates -- up to 400 basis points for 1-3 year deposits and 500 basis points for 3-5 year deposits -- until March 31, 2025. This move comes as the rupee faces volatility.The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced a raise in the interest rate caps on the Indian diaspora's foreign cu ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 11 (ANI): The Indian stock markets continue to be in a consolidation phase as both indices opened flat on Wednesday. The Nifty 50 index opened at 24,620.50 points with a surge of 10.45 points or 0.04 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 81,568.39 with a gain of 58.34 points or 0.07 per cent. Also Read | 'Suriya 45': Is Trisha Krishnan the Female Lead in Suriya Sivakumar's Upcoming Film With RJ Balaji? Check Out the Viral Photos. Experts noted that the US Consumer Price Inflation data will be the major event for markets globally. However, the consol ...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 >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Tata Motors on Thursday said it will increase prices of its trucks and buses portfolio by up to 2 per cent effective January 1, 2025, citing rising input costs. The price increase is to offset the rise in input costs, Tata Motors said in a statement. While the price increase will vary as per individual model and variant, it will be applicable across the entire range of trucks and buses, it added. Already passenger vehicle makers, including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors, along with luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi have announced that th ...Read More >
The BE 6e, just as its name sounds, stands out as a futuristic, power-packed, and sporty electric Mahindra SUV on Indian roads. The highly anticipated Mahindra BE 6e, an all-electric compact SUV, has been finally launched at an introductory price of Rs 18.9 lakh (ex-showroom). Globally revealed alongside its sibling, the XEV 9e, this born-electric offering from Mahindra seems to be good enough (on-paper) to position itself as India's answer to luxury compact SUVs from global brands. With its futuristic design, a wealth of modern features, and an impressive power output - the highest in its fa ...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 >
Mumbai, December 4: The domestic benchmark equity indices closed in green on Wednesday as buying was seen in PSU bank and realty sectors. The investors are keenly watching the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting which will announce its decision around the repo rate on Friday. Banking stocks rose amid volatile sessions in the market due to the possibility of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) cut by the central bank. Sensex settled at 80,956.3, higher by 110.58 points, or 0.14 per cent, while the Nifty ended at 24,467.45, up by 10.30 points, or 0.04 per cent. Stock Mark ...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 >
Leading investment and trading platform Kotak Securities is cautious in its market outlook for 2025, balancing India's fundamentals with concerns over valuation and global uncertainties, but has not ruled out a level of 29,000 on the Nifty 50 index. While the country's growth trajectory remains robust, recent economic data and corporate results indicate a slowdown in some areas, prompting a more tempered outlook, said the note. Kotak Securities has highlighted the slowdown in rural demand during ...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 >
As per Moneycontrol's calculations, a 7 per cent growth in the remaining two quarters will put India's GDP at 6.5 per cent. The Indian economy would find it challenging to achieve over 7 per cent growth for the fourth consecutive year, economists said. They pointed out that the second-quarter (Q2) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, which was announced on November 29, has made the task even more daunting for the government. "A sharper than expected growth slowdown in Q2 has tilted risks to our outlook of 6.8 per cent for the current fiscal downwards," said DK Joshi, chief economist, Crisil. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has extended its partnership with mobile operator firm Telenor Denmark, signing a five-year deal to manage the telecom operator's IT infrastructure. Over the last six years, TCS has implemented its Machine First Delivery Model to enhance Telenor Denmark's IT infrastructure, which caters to more than 1.6 million users. With the extension of this partnership, TCS will work from its delivery centre in Europe to ensure operational cost reductions and improved IT infrastructure for Telenor, according to a company statement. "The key highlig ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed further recovery of an outstanding tax demand from news portal NewsClick, directing the company's banker not to release any more money to the tax department based on a 2023 notice, and allowing the portal to use its two bank accounts for daily operations. The order was passed by a bench headed by justice BV Nagarathna on an application moved by PPK Newsclick Studio Limited, which alleged that ICICI Bank was not allowing the company to use its accounts despite a top court order to this effect passed on August 9. The tax department had raised the demand again ...Read More >
Infosys has announced an average 85% performance bonus for eligible employees in Q2 FY25, reflecting its strong financial performance. The bonus, paid to mid- and junior-level staff, will be credited with the November salaries, with individual payouts varying based on performance. This follows Infosys' impressive 4.7% rise in Q2 net profit and a revenue increase of 5.1%, leading to an upward revision of its FY25 revenue guidance. The bonus payout surpasses the previous quarter's 80%, with Infosys outpacing rivals like TCS. Employees are also awaiting salary hikes, with revisions expected from ...Read More >
Trump warns BRICS nations against replacing US dollar Dec 2 (Reuters) - A gauge of emerging market stocks rose on Monday, driven by positive manufacturing data from China and expectations of continued policy support from Beijing, while India's rupee hit a record low because of weaker-than-expected economic data. As of 0932 GMT, the MSCI's index for emerging market stocks had risen by 0.7%, on track for its biggest percentage gain in over three weeks. China's blue-chip CSI 300 climbed 0.8%, and the Shanghai Composite index jumped 1.1% after a private survey indicated that Chinese factory act ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Terming the 5.4 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter as a "temporary phenomena", FICCI President Harsha Vardhan Agarwal on Thursday said the industry body expects India to achieve 6.5-7 per cent economic growth in the current financial year, while projecting a pick up in private investment. In an interview to PTI, Agarwal, who is also the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Emami Ltd, said the RBI needs to manoeuvre a "tight-rope balancing act" between inflation and economic growth, as he opined that the central bank has been doing a prudent job. Notably, the FI ...Read More >
The Hyundai Tucson has received 5-star rating on the Bharat NCAP crash test and has become the first Hyundai SUV to do so. The most premium SUV offered by the South Korean manufacturer joins the Mahindra and Tata SUVs in the list of 5 star SUVs offered in India. The Hyundai Tucson scores 30.84 out of 32 in the adult occupant protection. It has scored 41 out of 49 in the child occupant protection. It received OK in the side pole impact test. The model of Hyundai Tucson that was tested by the Bharat NCAP was the top-spec 2.0-litre petrol-AT Signature variant. The particular variant gets six air ...Read More >
Mumbai, November 29: The Indian stock market opened in green on Friday as buying was seen in the Media and Pharma sector in early trade. At around 09.44 a.m., the Sensex was trading at 79,369.57 after gaining 325.83 points or 0.41 per cent, while the Nifty was trading at 24,019 after rising 104.85 points or 0.44 per cent. The market trend remained positive. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 1345 stocks were trading in the green, while 876 stocks were in the red. Nifty Bank was up 224.45 points or 0.43 per cent at 52,131.30. Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 56,397.95 after gaining 97. ...Read More >
The new circle rates in Gurugram have come into effect from December 1 Gurugram: People eyeing a home in Gurugram will now have to pay more as the district administration has hiked the circle rates by 10% to 30%, driven mainly by demand. Luxury residential areas like Golf Course Road are likely to see a 30% hike in circle rates. According to reports, the new circle rates have come into effect from December 1 and will be applicable at least till March 31 next year. The price hike, however, has irked the residents, who alleged that the administration should also "improve basic amenities". Gu ...Read More >
Mahindra's total sales volumes stood at 79,083 in November 2024 with the company's SUV lineup making up a major share of 46,222 units Mahindra has released its sales data for November 2024. Sales of the company's passenger vehicles have improved to 46,222 units which was a 15.16% YoY growth from 39,981 units sold in Nov 2023. This related to a 6,241 unit volume growth. MoM sales however fell by 15.20% when compared to 54,504 units sold in Oct 2024 relating to a decline by 8,282 units. The company has just released two Electric Origin SUVs called the BE6e and XEV9e. Both these models are buil ...Read More >
Markets opened on a cautiously optimistic note on Wednesday, with the Sensex and Nifty showing marginal gains, while investors closely monitored global economic indicators and upcoming domestic policy decisions. The Sensex opened higher at 81,036.22 from its previous close of 80,845.75 and is currently trading at 81,168.92 as of 9.45 am, up by 323.17 points or 0.40 per cent. Similarly, the Nifty opened at 24,488.75 compared to its previous close of 24,457.15 and is now at 24,558.20, rising by 101 ...Read More >
News 2 min read Indian IT industry to see 30-35 pc high demand for niche tech roles in 2025 The Indian IT industry is projected to see 30-35 per cent increased demand for highly-specialised tech roles in 2025, along with increased spending on upskilling in the coming years, according to a new report. New Delhi, The Indian IT industry is projected to see 30-35 per cent increased demand for highly-specialised tech roles in 2025, along with increased spending on upskilling in the coming years, acco ...Read More >
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) shares rose 5% on November 29 a day after shareholders rejected proposal to reappoint Punit Goenka as director. The media firm's shares rose over 5% to Rs 132.69 apiece on November 29. In a regulatory filing by the company on November 28, ZEEL said that the resolution for the reappointment of Goenka was defeated in the annual general meeting (AGM) of the company. Resolution number three in the AGM, which proposed the reappointment of Goenka as director, was supported by only 49.54 per cent of the total number of votes cast while 50.4 per cent voted a ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 10 (ANI): The stock market ended Tuesday's trading session on a subdued note, with the benchmark indices showing little movement. The Sensex edged up by 1.59 points, closing at 81,510.05, while the Nifty declined by 8.95 points to end at 24,610.05. Also Read | Parliament Winter Session 2024: Congress, INDIA Bloc Allies Move No-Trust Motion Against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar; Alleges 'Proceedings in Upper House Conducted in Partisan Manner'. In the Nifty pack, 23 stocks advanced, while 27 ended in the red. Among the top gainers were Shriram F ...Read More >
HYDERABAD, India, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBSAT 2024, the proctored online aptitude test conducted by The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, is MBA aspirants' gateway to premier MBA, PGPM offered at nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses. With applications closing in the third week of December, this is the perfect time for the candidates to secure their future with IBS and explore its Rs. 10 crore scholarship program. IBSAT is designed to reduce the stress on aspirants unlike CAT, XAT as the test does not have negative markings or sectional time limits, allowing candidates to foc ...Read More >