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 structural shift is reshaping India's microfinance sector, with regulated lenders displacing informal sources as borrowing from moneylenders fell to 1% in 2024-25 from 46% in 2011, according to a survey by Microfinance Industry Network and National Council of Applied Economic Research.The survey, which covered 10,342 borrowers across 10 states, shows a maturing market where formal credit has become the primary source of finance for rural and semi-urban households. According to the report, microfinance now serves as the main driver of livelihoods rather than a fallback option.Digital adoption has reshaped disbursement, with nearly 100% of loans now credited directly into bank accounts of around 75 million women borrowers. According to the survey, this has reduced leakages and improved turnaround time, with average loan disbursal completed within six days. However, repayments remain largely cashbased. Only 12% of borrowers use digital modes such as UPI, while 88% continue to repay through cash collections conducted during group meetings. The report said this gap reflects a digital divide, as 61% of borrowers own smartphones but remain reluctant to transact digitally due to low financial literacy and concerns over fraud.The survey finds that microfinance lending is predominantly income-generating rather than consumption-led. Over 75% of loans are used for enterprise activities. According to the data, 48.1% of borrowers used credit to expand existing businesses, 14.4% to start new ventures, and around 13% for agriculture and allied activities. "Microfinance has become a bridge to opportunity and financial independence," the report said, adding that 78% of borrowers contribute to household income. Cost arbitrage remains a key driver of the shift away from informal credit. The average effective interest rate for regulated microfinance is around 33%, far lower than rates charged by informal lenders. According to the report's qualitative findings, moneylenders charge between 97% and 178% annually and often demand gold as collateral.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's retail inflation eased in November as soaring vegetable prices moderated, boosting expectations of an interest rate cut by the central bank at its next policy review amid concerns around slowing growth. Retail inflation eased in November to 5.48%, lower than 6.21% in the previous month and below a 5.53% forecast by economists in a Reuters poll. Food inflation slowed down to 9.04% from 10.87% a month earlier. Food accounts for nearly half of the consumption basket. Vegetable prices rose 29.33% in November from a year earlier after rising 42.18% in October. Indi ...Read More >
Bengaluru -- Gold prices rose for a second session on Tuesday as the dollar weakened, with markets evaluating the possible consequences of US President Donald Trump's policies in his second term after his inauguration. Spot gold gained 0.6% to $2,724.74/oz by 2.40am GMT. US gold futures was 0.2% lower at $2,742.50. The dollar was down about 1% after reports suggested any new taxes would be imposed in a "measured" way. A weaker dollar makes gold more attractive to foreign buyers. "There is a sense of relief in risk sentiment to know that tariffs have not been an immediate focus. The unwindin ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the continuation of the interest subvention component under the modified interest subvention scheme (MISS) for loans to farmers during the financial year 2025-26, and approved the required fund arrangements, according to an official statement issued after the meeting. MISS is a Central sector scheme aimed at ensuring the availability of short-term credit to farmers at an affordable interest rate through Kisan credit cards (KCC). Under the scheme, farmers receive short-term loa ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Mysuru Dasara is set to run for 11 days this year -- a rare extension driven by celestial alignment and cultural planning -- with the inaugural ceremony on Sept 22 and the grand Jamboo Savari taking place on Oct 2, coinciding with Vijayadashami and Gandhi Jayanti.Chairing a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha Friday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "Mysuru Dasara in 2025 will be celebrated for 11 days, due to a unique astronomical occurrence -- the Panchami tithi (fifth lunar day) will appear on two consecutive days, Sept 26 and 27, a rare alignment that hasn't occurred in nearly ...Read More >
CoinEx Charity's Starlink Program, under its "Bridge to Hope" initiative, has launched its first Starlink unit in the Philippines, aiming to bring high-speed satellite internet to remote areas. The first deployment in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, enhances access to education, economic opportunities, and essential services. Mayor Marvin Malacon highlighted plans for educational seminars on blockchain and cryptocurrency. CoinEx Charity, established in 2022, focuses on global charitable efforts, while CoinEx, a leading crypto exchange, offers user-friendly trading services to over 10 million u ...Read More >
EXCLUSIVE TV newsman Seb Costello has been spotted with a colourful Married At First Sight personality just hours after being accused of assaulting an inner-city loan manager. Nine is formally reviewing allegations the A Current Affair star attacked the finance executive during a wild on-camera chase that ended in a women's lavatory this week, but has already indicated he retains the network's full support. It comes as private lending firm Oak Capital launched legal proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday and effectively had all vision of the incident suppressed. Although ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the interest subvention component under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for farmers for the financial year 2025-26, and approved required fund arrangements. It is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at ensuring the availability of short-term credit to farmers at an affordable interest rate through Kisan Credit card (KCC). Also Read | Parcel Bomb Case: Odisha Court Convicts Accused Punjilal Meher, Sentences Him to Life Imprisonment. Under the Scheme: Farmers received short-term loans of up t ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) The decision of the Reserve Bank to cut policy rate by 50 basis points will have a positive impact on the automobile sector as it will make loans cheaper, industry body SIAM said on Friday. The RBI on Friday cut repo rate by a higher-than-expected 50 basis points to prop up growth, which has slowed to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in FY25. Following the rate cut, the key policy rate eased to a three-year low of 5.5 per cent, providing relief to home, auto and corporate loan borrowers. "Such reduction in repo rates would have a positive impact on the auto sector since ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has chosen to frontload its rate cuts, turning to support growth amid benign inflation prospects, according to a Crisil report, which expects one more repo rate cut this fiscal (FY26), and a pause after that. The global ratings agency also expects India's GDP at 6.5 per cent this fiscal, with risks on the downside due to US tariff hikes. Crisol listed some factors which are expected to help domestic growth hold up against global tariff risks. "Positive outlook on rains and crude oil prices and healthy external accounts -- lo ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a five-nation visit starting July 2, visiting Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday. In the first leg of his visit, PM Modi will visit Ghana (July 2-3) which will be Prime Minister's first ever bilateral visit to Ghana. This Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana is taking place after three decades. During the visit, Prime Minister will hold talks with the President of Ghana to review the strong bilateral partnership and discuss ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investig ...Read More >
Nagpur: NCP (Sharad Pawar) working president and MP Supriya Sule strongly opposed demands to remove the words "secular" and "socialist" from the Constitution's Preamble, asserting that the Constitution is supreme and cannot be altered by anyone.Speaking to the media during her visit to the city on Saturday, Sule said, "There is only one Constitution, and it will remain as it is. No one can change it, and no one will be allowed to change it. Discussions on amendments take place in Parliament. If anyone wants to express a view, they must do it on the floor of the House."Rashtriya Swayamsevak San ...Read More >
In the financial sector, the rise of generalist lenders is gaining traction as market dynamics shift. Once overlooked, lenders offering a broad spectrum of services are now favored over specialists like microfinance or affordable housing lenders. Post-COVID, regulatory pressures and emerging risks in niche sectors have driven many lenders to diversify their portfolios, appealing to investors seeking stability. From gold loans to SME lending, diversification mitigates risk and strengthens customer relationships. As the financial landscape evolves, the demand for generalist lenders is expected t ...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 >
Mumbai, June 6: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced a jumbo 50 basis points cut in the repo rate from 6 per cent to 5.5 per cent to spur growth in the economy, as inflation has come down below the lower RBI band of 4 per cent. The RBI Governor also announced a 100 basis points CRR cut, effective in four equal tranches of 25 basis points starting from September 6, October 4, November 1 and November 29. The step is expected to inject Rs 2.5 lakh crore into the banking system, boosting liquidity and supporting credit flow. A lower policy rate leads to a decline in interest rate on b ...Read More >
Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to inaugurate multiple rail projects, including the world's highest Chenab Rail Bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, and the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link. These railway projects directly connect Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of the country. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is an all-weather railway corridor designed to provide seamless connectivity to the region through the rail network. During his visit, PM Modi reviewed the Chenab bridge, world's highest ra ...Read More >
[BENGALURU] Gold prices fell on Monday (Jun 9) as a stronger-than-expected US jobs report cooled expectations of interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, while optimism over easing trade tensions between US-China weighed on the bullion's safe-haven demand. Spot gold fell 0.2 per cent to US$3,303.19 an ounce, as at 0056 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.7 per cent to US$3,323.40. Three of US President Donald Trump's top aides will meet with their Chinese counterparts in London on Monday for talks aimed at resolving the trade dispute between the two largest economies that has kept global markets ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
India's International Train Links: These 5 Indian Stations Connect You To Another Country By Train Kerala Lottery Results Saturday 07-06-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the state government, will announce the results for the Karunya KR-709 draw today, June 07, 2025. The lucky draw will take place at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. This week's Karunya KR-709 lottery includes 12 series, with the series being subject to change each week. A total of 1.08 crore tickets are available for sale weekly, and ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KR-7 ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 27: OPPO India's recently launched smartphone , the OPPO K13x 5G - toughest 5G smartphone in its segment--is ready to go on sale starting today on the OPPO e-store and Flipkart from 12 PM onwards. Available in two stunning finishes--Midnight Violet and Sunset Peach--the K13x doesn't just survive tough conditions, it stands out with style. It's a device that blends world-class engineering with local manufacturing strength to redefine what's possible under ₹15,000. Durable, dependable, and designed to dazzle--the K13x is built for your grind and styled for your vibe. Als ...Read More >
New Delhi, January 31: The unveiling of the Economic Survey on Friday sets the stage for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Union Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday (February 1), which is expected to continue the government's policy of giving a big push to economic growth with equity. The government has prioritised improving the quality of life in rural areas to ensure equitable and inclusive development, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. The survey highlights financial inclusion as a key focus, with rural households and small businesses getting easier access ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Gold prices plunged Rs 930 to Rs 97,670 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday as traders rushed to selling amid easing off Middle East tensions and favourable reports about a trade deal between the US and China. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 98,600 per 10 grams on Thursday. On Friday, gold of 99.5 per cent purity declined by Rs 850 to Rs 97,200 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had settled at Rs 98,050 per 10 grams in the previous market session. "Gold prices continue to cor ...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 (Reuters): The Indian rupee weakened to its lifetime low on Tuesday, hurt by concerns about a widening trade deficit and likely outflows from local equities, although intervention by the central bank capped losses. The rupee hit a low of 84.93 against the US dollar, before closing at 84.8950, down 0.04% on the day. Benchmark Indian equity indexes BSE Sensex and Nifty 50, closed lower by over 1% each, dragged by weakness in financial stocks and Reliance Industries. Investor sentiment was also dampened after data on Monday showed that India's merchandise trade deficit rose to a record h ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday announced a jumbo 50 basis points cut in the repo rate from 6 per cent to 5.5 per cent to spur growth in the economy, as inflation has come down below the lower RBI band of 4 per cent. A lower policy rate leads to a decline in interest rate on bank loans which makes borrowing easier for consumers as well as businesses resulting in higher consumption and investments in the economy leading to higher growth. However, the effectiveness of this rate cut will largely hinge on how quickly and efficiently commercial banks pass on ...Read More >
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], June 6: Bajaj Markets simplifies access to personal loans from multiple financial partners, and facilitates the funding for diverse needs, including travel, wedding expenditures, and medical emergencies. Users can easily compare vital loan specifics like interest rates, available loan amounts, and repayment tenures, and select those that align with their specific requirements and preferences. Also Read | Arietids Meteor Shower 2025 Peaks on June 7: Why Is It Known As the Most Active Daytime Meteor Shower? How To Watch the Shooting Stars and Other Important Details ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Sectors such as banking, NBFCs, real estate, and automobiles are expected to be the key beneficiaries of the current easing interest rate environment, according to a report by Nexedge Research. The report mentioned that with borrowing costs on a downward trend, these rate-sensitive segments are likely to witness stronger credit flow, lower financing costs, and improved demand conditions. It said, 'Banking, NBFCs, real estate, and automobiles are well positioned to benefit from lower borrowing costs.' The report also noted that the Indian economy is entering ...Read More >
Nagpur: Warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the entire country, but British history tried to confine him as a regional icon, said BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, who was in Nagpur on Friday to attend an event marking the 351st anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj's coronation. Trivedi told TOI at the event organized by Shivaji Maharaj Kruti Samiti that Shivaji Maharaj's contribution in 'safeguarding' the southern part of India from Mughal invasion must not be forgotten.Trivedi said, "Shivaji Maharaj belonged to all of us, entire country. Unfortunately, the British p ...Read More >
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Bengaluru Crime: A woman's body, believed to be between 30 and 35 years old, was found stuffed inside a sack and dumped in a garbage truck in Bengaluru early Thursday. The identity of the woman is yet to be confirmed. Police said the sack was discovered by BBMP sanitation workers who immediately alerted the authorities. The body was found with her hands and neck tied, raising strong suspicion of murder. Officials stated that the body had been placed inside a gunny bag before being thrown into the garbage vehicle. Joint Commissioner of Police, C Vamsi Krishna, confirmed that the body has been ...Read More >
Asset quality metrics are weakening in the past few quarters in some segments. This has necessitated a recalibration of growth strategies, especially in unsecured loans and microfinance Unsecured loans given by Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) and credit to microfinance segments, accounting for 23% of the overall NBFC Asset Under Management (AUM) are expected to be impacted the most in the current and next fiscals according to CRISIL Ratings' outlook on the sector. Krishnan Sitaraman, Chief Ratings Officer, CRISIL Ratings said, "Recent regulatory pronouncements have brought to the fore t ...Read More >