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: In the narrow bylanes of Camp, where legacy bakeries have stood for decades, the scent of hot cross buns signals Good Friday as reliably as church bells. Traditionally eaten on this day to mark the occasion, the buns draw long queues each year. This time, however, the ritual comes with the sharp undertone of rising costs and fuel shortages, forcing bakers to make less profitable calculations behind their counters.Made with refined flour, butter, milk, sugar, yeast and spices, and often studded with raisins or candied peel, the buns are prepared using time-tested methods. The dough is kneaded, allowed to ferment, shaped into rounds, and marked with the signature cross before being baked in batches through the week before Easter.At legacy bakeries, the process remains largely unchanged, even as the economics around it shift.At Husseny Bakery, trays of freshly baked buns emerge from gas-fuelled ovens. "Prices of everything from refined flour to butter and milk have gone up, aside from the LPG shortage, which is obviously affecting our cost of production. But we cannot raise prices now and shift the load on to our customers," said Yusuf Mirdehghan, co-owner of the bakery. He added that the cost of mix used for eggless cakes has also risen, while milk prices have increased by Rs2 since March, consequently pushing up the cost of dairy products as well.Despite mounting expenses, the price of a hot cross bun has remained fixed here. "They are priced at Rs12 per bun, and it has been the same since 2022, even though prices of ingredients have increased. Churches get 10-20% discount. The prices are competitive, so raising them is bad for business. There is a significant increase in demand due to online sales from food delivery apps," Mirdehghan told TOI.Across Camp, similar stories play out. At City Bakery, diesel ovens continue to shoulder the seasonal rush. "We have a gas oven for bread and cakes but the diesel oven is used for the buns. No price increase this year, we are absorbing the losses. However, the LPG shortage is creating a lot of issues for items like cakes and cookies, which need to be baked in the gas oven. The gas oven is rotating while the diesel oven is a deck oven," said co-owner of the bakery, Astaad Irani.The reliance on diesel and older systems comes as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) continues to push bakeries toward cleaner fuel alternatives. Since 2024, following Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) guidelines, PMC began encouraging bakeries to shift to cleaner fuels like LPG, PNG, or electricity to help reduce air pollution.For many legacy establishments, the transition remains a costly challenge. Some of these bakeries that did not switch to gas ovens last year still use wood-fired ones. "We are trying to convert our wood-fire oven to a gas one, keeping the set-up as it is. There is huge demand for this kind of set-up in Mumbai and Pune," said another bakery owner from the area, choosing anonymity.Yet, even as regulations tighten and costs climb, demand for hot cross buns has only grown, buoyed by online delivery platforms and a widening customer base beyond the city's Christian community.For Pune's bakers, the equation is delicate. Tradition must be preserved, customers retained, and margins protected, all while the ovens, whether diesel or gas, continue to burn.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (PTI) Ahead of BJD's 28th foundation day on December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to "raise voice against the BJP government's 'anti-people' policies" and also highlight the impact of high inflation, which hits the poor and middle class. "The party leaders and workers need to create awareness among people on the state B ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): The cost of home-cooked meals eased in June as compared to the same month last year, driven by a sharp correction in vegetable prices, according to the Crisil Intelligence report. In the monthly report titled 'Roti Rice Rate', the average cost of a vegetarian thali (Plate) declined by 8 per cent year-on-year (YoY), while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali was down nearly 6 per cent. The decline in vegetarian thali prices was primarily attributed to a significant drop in key vegetable prices, which had spiked the previous year due to adverse weather and crop d ...Read More >
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said a massive disaster had struck three assembly constituencies in Mandi district due to a cloudburst, with Seraj constituency being the worst affected. He visited the impacted areas, met families at rehabilitation centres, and sought central help to deal with the crisis. Speaking to the mediapersons, CM Sukhu said, ... A massive disaster has struck the state in three assembly constituencies of Mandi district, caused by a cloudburst... Areas of the Seraj constituency have been ...Read More >
New Delhi: A surge in sales may be around the corner for some of India's leading packaged consumer goods makers, as cheaper inputs and lower import duties craft a perfect recipe for their next stage of growth. Companies and analysts alike said that falling prices of wheat, maize, barley and oils will help expand volumes, in a change from the recent experience of pricier products driving revenue. On 31 May, the government halved the basic customs duty on crude soybean oil, crude palm oil, and crude sunflower oil to 10%, eight months after raising it from nil to 20%. The move had prompted pack ...Read More >
Jaipur: Police in Didwana have stepped up their probe into a cross-border smuggling case in which they arrested two arms and drug smugglers on June 27 for supplying Austrian Glock and Chinese Norinco pistols. It has emerged that the case has links to a massive Rs 300-crore heroin consignment seized by Punjab's Amritsar police near the India-Pakistan border in Barmer on June 30. Canada-based Joben Kaler was identified as the main overseas handler of the heroin consignment. Didwana-Kuchaman police had arrested Mohammad Ilyas from Khunkhuna and Amarjeet Singh Takhar, alias Prince, from Jalandhar ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Two people died and four others were injured after a fire broke out at a house in east Delhi's Old Govindpura area on Tuesday evening, an official said. Police have identified the deceased as Tanveer (28) and Nusrat. A call was received at Jagatpuri police station at 8.46 pm regarding a fire incident at Band Gali, Old Govindpura, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said. When a police team reached the spot, it found that 10 people were trapped inside a residential building that caught fire, the DCP said. With the help of police personnel and fir ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): Oil marketing companies revised the prices of commercial LPG gas cylinders on Tuesday, reducing the cost of a 19 kg commercial cylinder by Rs 58.50. The new rates came into effect from July 1, bringing relief to commercial users such as hotels, restaurants, and businesses. While in Delhi, with the latest revision, the retail sale price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder was set at Rs 1665, down from the previous rate. There was, however, no change in the price of 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinders, which are widely used in households. Also Read | Bhopal Shocker: ...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 >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old girl from Sabroom in South Tripura district, reportedly went missing in the national capital. Following this, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha gave necessary instructions to the police to take immediate and appropriate action on the matter. Also Read | Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU Goods as Trade Talks Stall. In a statement posted on its official social media account, the Tripura Chief Minister's Office stated, "The report of Miss Sneha Debnath, a resident of Sabroom, who has reportedly gone missing in New Delhi, has come t ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: In a major move aimed at reducing pollution and improving urban transport in Hyderabad, the Telangana government has approved the introduction of 65,000 new eco-friendly auto rickshaws within the city limits and the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The decision, driven by Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and aligned with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's vision, is expected to contribute to environmental sustainability and employment generation. The state issued GO No. 263 relaxing the long-standing cap on new auto rickshaw permits within Greater Hyderabad. For over two decades, restriction ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 6(ANI): On the occasion of the fourth foundation day of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, a grand Sakhkar Samelan was organized in Anand, known as the Milk Capital of India, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Inaugurating various development works of the world-renowned Amul Dairy, Shah called for expanding the cooperative movement nationwide based on the five Ps - People, PACS, Platform, Policy, and Prosperity, said a release from the Gujarat CMO. Shah stated that the converg ...Read More >
World Chocolate day Chef Vanshika Bhatia (Image source: Unsplash) Who doesn't love chocolate? Whether it's a meal outside or at home, or it's one of those days that can be lifted by a simple block of chocolate (or a whole bar), chocolate has been the trusted warrior to fight off sweet cravings for as long as we have known. But how often have you had a savoury chocolate-y recipe? Chocolate isn't just dessert - this has been Chef Vanshika Bhatia's culinary motto. This World Chocolate Day, Vanshika spotlights chocolate not as dessert, but as an ingredient on par with salt, spice, and umami. Yes, ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): With food prices lagging seasonal trends and driving headline Consumer Price Index-based retail inflation below 4 per cent since February 2025, Union Bank of India has revised downwards its 2025-26 headline inflation forecast from 4 per cent to 3.6 per cent (largely aligned with the RBI' forecast of 3.7 per cent). The June retail inflation data is due early next week. In a report, the bank said June 2025 retail inflation will be at 2.3 per cent, with the worst seems to be over for now. According to them, July figures would be the near-term bottom. '...in ou ...Read More >
Jammu- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reviewed the ongoing restoration work of the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, which was the power centre of the Dogra kings in Jammu, and stressed on enhancing its heritage appeal. The Mubarak Mandi Complex is one of Jammu's most significant architectural heritage sites and is envisioned as a comprehensive cultural centre, housing museums, conference venues and heritage hospitality services. Accompanied by Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Yudhvir Sethi during the visit, the chief minister was briefed in detail on the multi-phas ...Read More >
Durgapur (West Bengal) [India], July 19 (ANI): Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that over 10.33 crore women have been provided with free connections of Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). He stated that there were 14 crore LPG connections in 2014, and the number of connections has increased to 33 crore as of 2025. LPG Connection: Year 2014 - 14 crore and Year 2025 - 33 crore, Puri said while addressing the gathering here, adding, Under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi, the past 11 years have brought an LPG revolution t ...Read More >
Wheat is the unsung hero of African food, the secret sauce (or rather, secret grain) behind some of your favorite dishes. From the cloud-like deliciousness of Ethiopian injera to the satisfying Moroccan couscous, wheat is Africa's culinary backbone. This article features five mouthwatering dishes that highlight the versatility and tastiness of African wheat-based cuisine. Injera is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, made from fermented teff flour. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, it serves not only as sustenance but also as a utensil for eating. The blend of teff flour and wa ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The government announced on Saturday that it would grant permits for 65,000 green autorickshaws to ply within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. Permission has been granted for operating 20,000 electric autorickshaws, 10,000 fuelled by CNG, 10,000 by LPG and 25,000 retro-fitted electric three-wheelers. No permissions shall be given to petrol or diesel autorickshaws. Earlier, no new autorickshaws were delivered or sold to people unless they submitted a certificate issued by the transport department that they had scrapped their old vehicles. Government's special chief secretary Vikas ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 6(ANI): On the occasion of the fourth foundation day of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, a grand Sakhkar Samelan was organized in Anand, known as the Milk Capital of India, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Inaugurating various development works of the world-renowned Amul Dairy, Shah called for expanding the cooperative movement nationwide based on the five Ps - People, PACS, Platform, Policy, and Prosperity, said a release from the Gujarat CMO. Also Read | Bihar Assembly E ...Read More >
Gandhinagar: In households in Gujarat's cities, cereals may take up less space in the grocery bill, but they still dominate the dinner plate. A new Union govt report shows that cereals, while accounting for just 3.8% of household spending, supply 35% of total calorie intake in cities. In villages, their role is even more dominant, making up 43% of calorie consumption while accounting for 4.5% of total spending.Cereals also account for a major portion of protein intake for people in Gujarat.These insights come from the Centre's latest "Nutritional Intake in India" report, which tracks food patt ...Read More >
Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 7.5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1.96 lakh crore in July (for sales in June), data released by the government on Friday showed. Even though the pace of growth in gross GST collections picked up to 7.5 per cent in July from 6.2 per cent, this is the second consecutive month wherein the growth rate has been in single digits and much lower after posting double-digit growth in the first two months of the ongoing financial year. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Net GST collections, after accounting for refunds, took a hit by growing by just 1.7 per ...Read More >
To prepare this delicious recipe, start by powdering 1/2 cup sugar in a dry grinder and set it aside. Next, roast whole wheat flour in a heavy-bottomed kadhai on low flame for 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. Once roasted, add 4 tbsp ghee and mix thoroughly to prevent lumps. In a separate pan, roast cashews and almonds until golden and crisp. The combination of roasted flour, ghee, and nuts creates a rich and flavorful dish, perfect for a wholesome treat. Enjoy this aromatic and nutritious recipe! ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 2 (ANI): Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, the Health Department has prepared a strict and dedicated action plan to provide pure and safe food to lakhs of devotees during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, a statement said. Special teams of food safety officers have been deployed in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Uttarkashi districts. These teams will regularly take samples of milk, sweets, oil, spices, beverages, etc., from the pandals and send them to laboratories for testing. If any sample doe ...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 >
Traders have announced a three-day protest plan. On 23rd July, milk sales will be suspended. Gutka and cigarette sales will be halted on 24th July, and Full closure of bakeries, condiment shops and petty stores will be on 25th June. On 25th July, Bengaluru is set to see a city-wide bandh. Thousands of small business owners are set to protest against GST notices issued by the Karnataka Commercial Taxes Department. The notices target businesses that accepted digital payments exceeding GST registration thresholds, sparking fears of financial ruin and a rapid shift back to cash transactions in In ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India's two major private-sector refiners, which have long prioritised exports, are turning to local sales, grabbing share in the country's fast-growing $150 billion fuel retail market as weaker global demand squeezes profit margins offshore. Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy are stepping up sales at home as fuel demand growth slows in developed markets and China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, with the transition to electric vehicles. The lower demand offshore combined with supply competition from new refiners, such as Dangote in Nigeria, and rising exports from Chi ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emplaned for Namibia -- the final stop of his five-nation visit -- after wrapping up his State Visit to Brasilia where he met Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and also attended the 17th BRICS Summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Taking to X, the PMO wrote: "PM @narendramodi has boarded for Namibia, the final destination of his tour" Also, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randir Jaiswal wrote on X: "PM @narendramodi concludes a productive visit to Brazil and emplanes for Namibia. A memorable visit t ...Read More >
Pune: A visit to one of the city's most iconic eateries took a disturbing turn for a couple on Thursday afternoon when a shard of glass was discovered in a plate of bun maska. The incident sparked social media outrage and prompted a response from the state's food safety authority."We have not received any complaint regarding the incident from anyone, but since the video is trending, we will take necessary steps and investigate the issue," said Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra.After a team of officials visited the cafe on Friday afternoon for ...Read More >
Kota, Jun 6 (PTI) A relationship manager in an ICICI bank branch in Kota allegedly swindled around Rs 4.58 crore from customers' accounts only to lose the lot of it in the stock market, police on Friday said. She was arrested last week and is currently under judicial custody, they said. Also Read | Bengaluru Stampede: Police Complaint Lodged Against Virat Kohli Over Stampede Tragedy Near Chinnaswamy Stadium. The accused, Sakshi Gupta, was posted as a relationship manager at ICICI Bank's DCM branch. Police said she had been pilfering from more than 110 accounts belonging to 41 customers for ...Read More >
In India, gold is more than just a metal -- it's a tradition, a symbol of security, and an investment rolled into one. This centuries-old cultural and financial mainstay, which has a sizeable share in India's inflation basket and has seen skyrocketing prices, may be distorting the country's 'core' inflation trajectory. Core inflation is a measure of inflation that aims to show the underlying, long-term trend of price changes in an economy, excluding the impact of components with volatile prices. In India, the main measure of core inflation has been the one that excludes food and fuel. However ...Read More >