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: Acting on rising passenger demand, the Pune Railway Division operated a record number of special trains in the financial year 2025-26, significantly improving connectivity across regions. Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Kumar Verma said the division ran 1,109 special trains during Diwali and Chhath festivals. This is a massive 197.3% increase compared to the previous year. The move helped manage the heavy festive rush and ensured smoother travel for passengers. The division also operated 40 special trains during Christmas and New Year. This marked a sharp rise of 566.6%. In addition, 251 special trains were run during Holi, showing an increase of 141.35%. Officials said these special services were planned to reduce crowding and improve passenger safety during peak travel seasons. Along with special trains, the division expanded its regular network. Five new pairs of trains were introduced, connecting Pune to key destinations like Jodhpur, Rewa, Ajni, Tirupati, and Muzaffarpur. The Ajni route also includes a Vande Bharat train, highlighting efforts towards faster and modern travel. In a major step for regional connectivity, passenger train services were extended to Beed for the first time. Train number 71441/42 (ANG-AMNE DEMU) was extended up to Beed. The service was inaugurated on September 17, 2025, by the chief minister of Maharashtra, fulfilling a long-pending demand of local residents. Railway officials said these initiatives have improved connectivity and supported economic growth in the region. They added that better rail access is helping both daily commuters and long-distance travellers. Speaking about future plans, Verma said the Pune Division will continue to expand services based on passenger demand. He said the focus will remain on improving accessibility and providing a smooth travel experience for all passengers.
October 2025 is packed with major festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Chath Puja and Durga Puja In this festive season, several states will observe many bank holidays during the month. In October 2025, there will be a national holiday when banks across all states will remain closed. Due to various local festivals, several bank branches will also remain closed in different states. While online banking services will remain available, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has listed specific days in October ...Read More >
Amazon India has expanded its Amazon Fresh grocery service to more than 270 cities across the country during the Amazon Great Indian Festival 2025. The service, which includes delivery of fresh produce, groceries and household items, has been extended to smaller cities such as Gorakhpur, Dehradun, Jalandhar and Coimbatore. The Amazon Fresh platform connects 13,000 registered farmers directly with consumers through a farm-to-home delivery system. Products undergo a four-step quality assurance p ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday offered the indigenous Akash air defence missile system to Brazil, even as the two countries decided to bolster their defence cooperation as well as explore opportunities for co-development and co-production of weapon systems and platforms.The progress of ongoing defence-related bilateral initiatives, with identification of priority areas for joint work, was reviewed in the meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and visiting Brazilian vice president Geraldo A ...Read More >
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced several pre-election promises targeting auto drivers. These include a ₹10 lakh insurance policy, ₹1 lakh for daughters' marriages, a biannual ₹2,500 uniform allowance, free coaching for their children, and the relaunch of the 'PoochO' ride-booking app. Kejriwal and the AAP are campaigning to secure a third term in the upcoming February elections.Ahead of crucial Delhi assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal promised several measures for auto dri ...Read More >
Bihar Elections 2025: The current Assembly's term in Bihar ends on November 22, so a new Assembly must be elected and sworn in before that date. Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: As the political blame-game unfolds in Bihar, there is a rising debate and curiosity around when the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the poll dates. The ECI has reportedly ordered Chief Secretary of Bihar and the Chief Electoral Officer to finish all transfers and postings of government officers who have remained in the same location for over 3 years. A report on the action taken over this order has be ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: After four days of relentless downpours, Telangana is expected to have a brief respite on Monday, with no rainfall alerts issued. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the state under a yellow alert for thunderstorms. IMD data showed that Papannapet in Medak district received the heaviest 24-hour rainfall at 10.6 cm, followed by Manoor in Sangareddy with 9.28 cm and Nallabelly in Warangal at 9.15 cm. The statewide average rainfall for the day stood at 7.3 mm, notably higher than the normal 4.3 mm. Warangal's Sangem recorded the day's highest maximum temperature ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 19 (PTI) India is a secular nation and minorities are safest in this country, Union minister Kiren Rijiju has said, asserting that minorities are enjoying absolute freedom and protection because of the Hindu majority. In an interview with PTI Videos, the Minority Affairs Minister said he has not come across a single case where a member of the minority community is willing to migrate out of India because of being deprived of anything in the country. He accused "the Left ecosystem backed by the Congress party" of running a relentless campaign that minorities are being "tortured, ...Read More >
Mumbai: To accommodate the heavy festive rush during Puja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals, the Central Railway announced a series of special trains between Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Danapur. The move aims to ensure smoother travel for thousands of passengers heading to their hometowns in North India during the festive season. According to an official release from the Mumbai Division of Central Railway, Train No. 01047 CSMT-Danapur Special will operate on October 18, 22, 26 and 30, 2025. The special train is designed to manage the surge of passengers travelling hom ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 4 (ANI): Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday has raised objections to the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stating that it could result in the exclusion of a large number of voters who return to the state only during the festive season. Speaking to ANI, Kishor said, 'We are against this, we have expressed concern, and we have also called a meeting of our executive to discuss this issue because there is a very large section in Bihar that comes from outside during Diwali, Chhath, and for them, coming before Diwali, ...Read More >
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a comprehensive holiday calendar, urging citizens to plan their banking activities accordingly to avoid inconvenience. Major festivals such as Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Bhai Dooj, and Gandhi Jayanti contribute to the extended closures. In addition to these, the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays further reduce working days for banks. 🏦 Key Dates to Note: * October 1: Dussehra, Ayudha Puja, Durga Puja (West Be ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was admitted to MS Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru after developing a fever late Tuesday night, sparking concern among party workers and political leaders across the country. Doctors at the hospital are closely monitoring his condition and have assured that there is no immediate cause for alarm. Kharge, 83, was reportedly brought to the renowned medical facility after he complained of persistent fever. A medical team quickly initiated a series of diagnostic tests to determine the cause. While his condition is said to be stable, doctors have kept ...Read More >
The Indian Railways has directed passengers to avoid carrying flamable items on trains this Diwali (Photo for representational purposes only) ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Passengers must not carry potentially dangerous items on trains this Diwali * Indian Railways has set up permanent holding areas at major stations to manage crowds * Passengers should report suspicious items or behaviour to railway staff or security forces immediately Did our AI summary help ...Read More >
Delhi/Hyderabad, Oct 19 (Maxim News): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit out at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav for his remarks questioning the need to spend large sums on lighting diyas and candles during Diwali, calling his statement "shocking" and "insensitive" towards Hindu traditions. Here To Join Us On WhatsApp A controversy erupted after Yadav said on Saturday, "Throughout the world, cities become beautifully illuminated during Christmas, and this festive lighting can last for months. We should take inspiration from this. Why do we need to spend money on diyas an ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that with cleanliness and yoga, the country will move towards realising the dream of 'Viksit Bharat' at a fast pace. Preparations for International Yoga Day 2025 have begun with the launch of a cleanliness campaign on May 27, and daily yoga classes are underway for the grand event on June 21. CM Saini said, 'When Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of Yoga at the United Nations, 177 countries agreed. Today, Yoga, derived from our land, has reached everyone globally. The Prime Minister has worked to spre ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that the national capital will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year and arrangements will be done at banks on both sides of the Yamuna river. She said focus will be given on cleanliness of the ghats. "To ensure that the Chhath Puja festival is historic, this year, we will make a detailed plan and preparations for it. Arrangements for the Chhath puja will be done at banks on both sides of the river. Focus will be laid on cleanliness at the ghats. Delhi will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year." Prime Mi ...Read More >
Air India and Air India Express on Tuesday announced the addition of 166 flights to and from Patna to meet the surge in demand for travellers around the festive season of Diwali and Chhath Puja. According to a press release by Air India, the Tata-owned carrier will operate 114 additional flights between Patna and different cities. In addition to that, the company's subsidiary Air India Express will operate 52 additional flights connecting the capital of Bihar to Delhi and Bengaluru. The additio ...Read More >
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the BJP government in Delhi of pushing the capital city into chaos, and undoing a decade of progress achieved under AAP's rule. Reacting to Kejriwal's remarks, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP leader of ''trying to save his political existence through lies and confusion''. Speaking at a Diwali Milan event at the party headquarters, Kejriwal claimed the city that once had world-class schools, improve ...Read More >
New Delhi : Good news for Biharis living outside the state -- celebrating festivals with family back home will now be easier. In a major move aimed at easing travel during festive seasons, the Bihar government has announced the launch of 299 AC and non-AC special buses. These buses will operate from key states, including Delhi, to various destinations across Bihar. A Heartfelt Desire to Celebrate with Loved Ones During major festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, people from Bihar living across India yearn to return to their ancestral homes. However, due to limited availability of tra ...Read More >
Patna: The railways' announcement on Wednesday about operating 12,000 special trains to handle the surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals has drawn criticism from the passengers' association in Bihar. Bihar Daily Passengers' Association (BDPA) has expressed doubts about the feasibility of running such a large number of additional trains, citing the limitations of the existing railway infrastructure in the state.Shoaib Quraishi, general secretary of BDPA, questioned how the railways -- already operating around 13,198 passenger trains daily across the country, ...Read More >
Mumbai, September 27: Banks will be closed for more than 15 days in October 2025 as the 10th month of the 25th year of the 21st century is packed with major festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali, Chath Puja and Durga Puja. During October, several states will observe bank holidays due to regional festivals in addition to national holidays. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks across the country will stay shut for a total of 15 days in October. The October bank holiday of 15 days excludes all Sunday holidays when banks remain closed for business. As per the RBI list, banks will stay ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 29 September 2025: Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, in collaboration with Freecharge, has unveiled Credit on UPI with Gold Loans - India's first gold-backed credit line accessible through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This innovative product is designed to unlock the economic potential of gold assets, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), self-employed entrepreneurs and merchants across both urban and rural India. Credit on UPI with Gold Loans enables customers to access instant credit against their gold holdings. The produc ...Read More >
Schools across several Indian states have announced extended holidays for Diwali, with closures beginning as early as October 13 in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are also observing Diwali breaks, with Bihar's holidays extending to include preparations for Chhath Puja. Meanwhile, schools in Karnataka are closed until October 18 for a state-wide caste survey. Many states have announced school holidays starting Monday, October 13 ahead of Diwali. Along with traditional Diwali vacations, some a ...Read More >
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 31,000 for its officers and employees ahead of Diwali 2025. The festive grant was declared by Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani, bringing cheer to thousands of civic workers and teachers across Mumbai. According to the order issued by the Mumbai civic body, all municipal officers and employees will receive Rs 31,000 as a one-time Diwali ex-gratia. The same amount will be extended to private ...Read More >
Mumbai, Sep 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that there is no concept of wet drought but announced that the state government will provide the same freebies offered during the drought, especially to farmers in the state. The Chief Minister added that the state Cabinet took extensive review of the damage caused to agriculture and other properties due to heavy rains and floods in Marathwada and other parts of the state. He said that the preliminary estimates show that about 60 lakh hectares of agriculture has been affected due to torrential rains ...Read More >
Patna, Oct 6 (PTI) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said Bihar will vote for change in the upcoming assembly polls and "every Bihari will be the CM". Soon after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule, Yadav took to X to strike an emotional chord with voters. "Bihar will vote for a change in the coming assembly polls. After 20 years, a grand festival will arrive that will dispel all sorrows and troubles. On that day, every Bihari will join Tejashwi in celebrating victory, because on that day, every Bihari will become Bihar's CM -- that is, CHANGE MAKER". Assembly elections in ...Read More >
Delhi Police have launched a city-wide special patrolling and vehicle checking drive to enhance security during the festive season. Police Commissioner Satish Golcha reviewed operations, with officers of all ranks participating in field operations across various districts. The campaign aims to check suspicious movements and instill a sense of safety among residents. Delhi Police have launched a city-wide special patrolling and vehicle checking drive to enhance security during the festive season. ...Read More >
New Delhi: Many people plan to handle their banking work over the weekend, only to find their bank doors closed. This confusion often occurs because banks in India do not operate on all Saturdays. Apart from national and regional holidays, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has specific rules under which banks remain shut on certain Saturdays each month. Banks in Guwahati, Assam will remain closed today due to Kati Bihu. Although Dhanteras also falls on this day, it isn't a declared nationwide bank holiday. Overall, October 2025 includes 21 official bank holidays, covering major festivals such a ...Read More >
Patna: Bharatiya Janata Party is gearing up for massive rallies in poll-bound Bihar featuring top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, and BJP national president JP Nadda. The rallies are set to kick-start after Diwali. BJP Bihar state president, Dilip Jaisawal, informed ANI that PM Modi's proposed visit to Bihar is on 24th October. "In Bihar, he (PM Modi) will address public rallies at two places. His election campaign will begin on 24th October from Samastipur. From there, he w ...Read More >
Indore News: A video went viral showing a Zomato delivery agent in Madhya Pradesh's Indore being forced to remove his Santa Claus costume while delivering an order on Christmas. The incident took place when the delivery man, dressed as Santa, was approached by Sumit Hardia, the district convenor of the Hindu Jagran Manch. Hardia interrogated the delivery agent and insisted he takes off the outfit. The man asked the delivery agent if he dressed as Lord Ram on Diwali. "Are you delivering an order by dressing up as Santa Claus?" Hardia asked. To this, the delivery agent nodded yes. "Do you ever ...Read More >
Mumbai: Even as Muslim leaders accused former BJP Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya of pressuring the police to take penal action against mosques that use loudspeakers to broadcast azaans, or the call to prayer, Somaiya said on Thursday that the police have removed more than 1,500 illegal loudspeakers in the last three months. "We initiated campaign after Mumbai High Court issued directives about use of such speakers, loudspeakers and noise pollution. 99% masjids/trustees have never obtained, applied for loudspeakers permission till High Court order," Somaiya said on Thursday in a statement ...Read More >