The Finance Minister introduced two new bills in the Lok Sabha to maintain high taxes on 'sin goods' like tobacco and pan masala after the GST compensation cess phase-out. The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, will impose excise duty on tobacco, while 'The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025' will apply to the production of pan masala and other goods.
Vodafone Idea's subscriber losses in October show that network expansion efforts have not yet translated into customer retention. Analysts note that the operator's subscriber losses are moderating but still sit atop an uneven recovery. The weakness was seen across geographies and service layers.
The government is developing a unified framework for the media and entertainment sector, with a focus on a shared national approach and adoption of a national policy for long-term growth. The Information and Broadcasting Secretary also reveals plans for direct-to-mobile broadcasting by 2026, with EY as the project management consultant.
Cashfree Payments and JP Morgan Payments have teamed up to process import transactions in India, making it easier for global businesses to enter the Indian market without the need for a local entity or manual approvals. This partnership is seen as a way for international merchants to expand into India's e-commerce market with confidence and speed, according to CEOs Akash Sinha and Christine Tan.
Maruti Suzuki India warns of phasing out small cars if government regulations on fuel consumption and carbon emissions are unfair. Executive director Rahul Bharti dismisses criticism from other automakers, defends weight-based emission relaxations as per global norms. Small car sales saw a 37% rise in November.
The Centre's interest-free loans for capital expenditure have reached Rs 56,826 crore, with Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Rajasthan being the top recipients. The government has allocated Rs. 1.5 lakh crore for these loans, with the SASCI scheme becoming a key tool for infrastructure development.
The government's PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) is facing a 20% dropout rate due to location and duration constraints, with 6,618 interns leaving in two rounds of the pilot project. Minister Harsh Malhotra cited location, duration, and lack of interest as key reasons. Experts attribute low acceptance rates to the low stipend offered. The budget for PMIS is Rs 2 billion.
OSM has introduced Swayamgati Cargo, the world's first self-driving electric cargo three-wheeler, priced at Rs 4.15 lakh. Bookings will start on Monday and deliveries are expected this quarter. With a 120 km range and a top speed of 20 km, founder Uday Narang sees this as a major milestone in creating India's autonomous mobility network. OSM's goal is to revolutionize the industry.
The Indian government has mandated the pre-installation of the fraud-reporting app Sanchar Saathi on all new mobile devices within 90 days, causing concerns for handset manufacturers. Industry representatives argue that this adds to their compliance and cost pressures, and that consumer choice should not be compromised.
In 2025, the job market for experienced senior professionals is tough due to major layoffs at large companies. A user on Team Blind shared their struggle to find employment, citing lack of response and high competition. The demand for technical skills, limited job openings, and age discrimination are making it difficult for experienced engineers to secure stable roles.
RBI Governor unveils NSFI 2025-30, focusing on deepening financial inclusion and promoting effective usage of financial services. Aligned with the UN's 2030 Agenda, it aims to link financial services with livelihood initiatives, skill development, and digital infrastructure. The strategy has five objectives and 47 action points to be implemented by regulators and institutions.
Vandana Suri, with over 20 years of experience at Unilever and other global firms, has been named as the new executive director of home care at Hindustan Unilever. She replaces Srinandan Sundaram, who is now CEO of Unilever International. Suri has a proven track record of driving growth and leading successful transformations, having previously worked across all major divisions at HUL.
RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J stresses the significance of collaboration and customer service for the success of institutions. He urges banks to form partnerships with fintechs for sustainable growth and prioritize sharing fraud typologies to protect customers from digital scams. Working with law enforcement agencies is also emphasized for this purpose.
FDI inflows through equity route fell 11% in Q2, but were 21.6% higher than last year. For the first half of 2025-26, FDI in equity rose 18% to $35.18 billion. Computer hardware and software sector attracted $9.04 billion, surpassing last year's total. Services sector drew $5.09 billion, with Singapore being the largest contributor to FDI in India. Total FDI inflows stood
Elon Musk discusses a future with AI and robotics fulfilling human needs, eliminating the need for money and making energy the new currency. Work is optional and communication is driven by real-time video comprehension. He shares his thoughts on investing, politics, and his acquisition of Twitter as a platform for collective consciousness.
The federal appeals court has declared that Acting US Attorney Alina Habba was serving illegally, raising questions about her appointment by Donald Trump. Habba, a Trump supporter, had limited experience in criminal law and played a key role in his 2024 presidential campaign. This ruling may have implications for other Trump appointees.
SEBI's reclassification of REITs as equity-related instruments is predicted to aid mutual funds, but low supply and returns may impede large inflows. Union Mutual Fund's CEO, Madhu Nair, sees this as a positive change for fund houses, but expects it to take time for significant investments.
Passenger vehicle sales in November saw an 18.6% increase compared to the same time last year, thanks to festive buying and GST cuts. Maruti Suzuki led the market with a 21% rise in domestic sales, while Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors followed closely behind.
Manufacturing activity in India slowed to a nine-month low in November due to the impact of high US tariffs, according to a HSBC survey. New export orders hit a 13-month low, while job creation also fell to a 9-month low. Business confidence weakened sharply and the boost from GST cuts was insufficient to offset softening demand.
Meesho, a top e-commerce platform, is using IPO funds to acquire and operate its own AI engine. This AI powers personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing, and automated cataloging, and has become too large for external cloud computing.
Industrial production growth in October hit a fourteen-month low of 0.4%, due to a slowdown in manufacturing output and a contraction in mining and electricity. This follows a strong growth in gross value added in the manufacturing sector last quarter.
"Artificial intelligence is disrupting the creative economy, with Indian entertainment industry embracing it for tasks like storyboarding and VFX production. Studios and production companies could save up to 40% in costs, while animation companies could save 50%.
ICICI Prudential AMC, the second largest mutual fund house in India, has received Sebi's approval for its Rs 10,000 crore IPO. The IPO will be managed by 18 investment banks and will involve partial divestment of shares by Prudential Corporation Holdings.
India's current account deficit (CAD) has moderated to 1.3% of GDP in Q2FY26, but concerns have returned as it widened sequentially and the financial account resulted in a large depletion of foreign exchange reserves. The hit to merchandise exports and FPI outflows are causing worries for the current and capital accounts respectively.
Calls for the removal of FBI Director Kash Patel grew stronger after a group of active and retired agents revealed concerning details of his leadership to Congress. The report exposes Patel's lack of experience, ineffective leadership, and questionable decisions, with his deputy Dan Bongino being described as a "clown."
The CASA ratio of banks, which reached a low in the first quarter of FY26, is now recovering in the second quarter. State-run banks are optimistic that the worst is over. ICRA's Karthik Srinivasan notes that the gap between savings and term deposit rates has decreased, resulting in more CASA deposits.
The highly anticipated Cyber Monday on December 1, 2025 is set to bring huge discounts on a variety of products from major retailers. Shoppers can expect deals up to 71% off on electronics, fashion, beauty, and home and kitchen products. Look out for sitewide discounts from popular brands like Adidas and Levi's, as well as bundle deals from Sephora on skincare. Don't miss out!
Elon Musk, the tech pioneer and soon-to-be trillionaire, recently delved into topics of metaphysics, collective consciousness, and spirituality in a conversation with Nikhil Kamath. He expressed his desire to understand the universe and the meaning of life, while also discussing his views on spirituality and religion.
Benchmark equity indices open strong, hit fresh lifetime highs on better-than-expected GDP growth in Q2. Profit booking and weak rupee pull indices lower, settling with modest losses. Sensex and Nifty close below record highs, with Nifty hitting a new record high of 26,325.80 before falling.
Golden passports and visas are popular options for wealthy individuals seeking residency or citizenship in another country through investment. While visas offer temporary residency and the chance for permanent residency, passports offer instant citizenship and all its perks.
UPI recorded a transaction volume of 20.47 billion and a value of Rs 26.32 lakh crore in November, with a 32% Y-o-Y growth. The average daily transaction count increased to 682 million, while the transaction amount dropped to Rs 87,721 crore. FASTag transaction volume rose to 369 million, IMPS volumes declined, and AePS transactions fell.
LIC's investments in Adani Group companies have seen a significant rise, with Rs 38,659 crore in equity and Rs 9,626 crore in debt as of September 2025. These include investments in Adani Total Gas, Adani Enterprises, and Adani Ports. The finance ministry stated that LIC made these investments autonomously, following thorough risk assessment.
Coal stocks at thermal power plants increased by 34% due to above-normal rains and lower electricity demand. Only 13 out of 188 plants reported critical stock levels, with 5 being domestic coal-based. Peak power demand in India reached 241 GW and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7% in the next five years. 25.7 GW of gross power generation capacity was added in the first seven months.
The PNGRB's efforts to liberalize the natural gas market have been praised by experts, but the success of these reforms will rely on cost competitiveness and a strong pipeline network. Structural reforms, such as market-driven pricing and open access, have been recommended by a high-level expert committee to create a competitive domestic gas market.
The Central government has requested Parliament's approval for additional spending of Rs 1.32 lakh crore for the current fiscal year. The majority of this amount will be funded through savings and higher receipts within ministries, with a significant portion going towards fertiliser subsidies and oil marketing company compensation.
Maharashtra to hold local body elections on December 2 in 242 municipal councils and 46 nagar panchayats. 20 local bodies postponed to December 20 due to court cases. Results on December 3, with postponed areas on December 21. Check results on State Election Commission's websites. First major election since 2024 assembly polls, testing BJP-led government.
Delhi Municipal Corporation bypolls witness low voter turnout of 31.3%. Triangular contest between BJP, AAP, and Congress. First test for ruling party after landslide victory in Assembly elections. BJP fielded 8 women candidates, AAP 6, and Congress 5. Highest turnout in Chandni Mahal at 41.95%, lowest in Greater Kailash at 20.87%. Results to be declared on December 3 on ceodelhi.gov.in. 51
The government has requested Parliament's approval for a net additional spending of Rs 41,455 crore in the current fiscal. This includes Rs 27,000 crore for fertiliser and petroleum subsidies. The Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025-26 also seek approval for a gross additional expenditure of Rs 1.32 lakh crore.
The pandemic has caused a rise in preventive healthcare awareness, leading to a demand for nutraceuticals and a growth in startups in the industry. Daily supplement consumption has increased, resulting in significant investments from venture capitalists. Startups have raised $180.3 million in under three years.
In Q2 FY26, the average CASA position for 29 PSU and private sector banks decreased to 36.38% due to high term deposit rates. This was caused by a shift towards fixed deposits and alternative investments by households and corporates. However, with a decline in term deposit rates, there has been a rise in CASA growth.
India's October IIP data grew 0.4% year-on-year, with manufacturing showing a 1.8% increase while mining and electricity saw a decline. The overall index stood at 150.9, with manufacturing, mining, and electricity sectors at 151.1, 126.2, and 193.4 respectively. The release noted lower demand and extended rainfall season as factors affecting electricity generation.
India's November GST collection saw a slower growth of 0.7%, with domestic revenues declining by 2.3%. This is due to the rationalization of GST rates for 375 items. However, import of goods showed a growth of 10.2%. October saw higher collections compared to previous months.
JYP Entertainment, a leading K-pop company, is planning to expand into India to capitalize on the country's increasing interest in K-pop. This move follows similar actions by HYBE and G-Dragon's company. India has shown a strong affinity for K-pop, as evidenced by surveys and the success of the recent K-Town Festival.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu, 38, and Raj Nidimoru, 50, got married in a private ceremony at Linga Bhairavi Temple in Coimbatore. The couple, who met on the set of The Family Man Season 2, had been dating since February. Nidimoru, a former software engineer, is now a successful filmmaker in partnership with Raj. The duo has made a name for themselves in the film industry.
A woman was fired via WhatsApp message without any explanation after she informed her employer about her pregnancy and intention to resign if maternity leave was not provided. The company terminated her with immediate effect without any explanation or severance pay.
India's manufacturing PMI fell to 56.6 in November, indicating a slower improvement in operating conditions since February. Output and new order growth also slowed to a 9-month low, with tough market conditions, project delays, and competition cited as contributing factors. Export sales continued to grow but at a softer pace, with the weakest export order growth in over a year.
RBI's monetary policy committee to meet from December 3-5 to discuss policy outcome, considering strong growth and record-low inflation. Benchmark rate lowered by 100 basis points in first half of 2025, held steady since August to assess impact. Experts suggest potential for rate cuts, but growth and inflation may restrict possibility.
Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu surprised fans by getting married to filmmaker Raj Nidimoru in a private ceremony at the Ling Bhairavi Temple in Coimbatore. The couple's high-profile relationship and the hush-hush nature of the wedding has caused a stir on social media.
Morrow County in Oregon is known for its large farms and food processing units. But over the last decade, it has also become home to several Amazon data centres. According to a report by Rolling Stone, experts and local residents now believe that a mix of farming waste and the heavy water usage of these data centres is pushing nitrate levels in drinking water to unsafe levels.
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, recently appeared on a podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. He opened up about his personal life, including his strong ties to India. His partner, Shivon Zilis, has Indian roots and is the Director of Operations at NeuraLink, a company owned by Musk. Zilis, a Yale graduate with a tech and finance background, met Musk while working for OpenAI.