Business

India’s Key Financial and Regulatory Changes Effective April 1 Introduction of the New Income Tax Act, 2025 Starting April 1, India will implement the Income Tax Act, 2025, replacing the decades-old 1961 legislation. The new law is designed to simplify taxation by using clearer language and removing complex terminology.Key Highlights:Unified Tax Year Concept: Terms like Assessment Year and Previous Year are replaced with a single Tax Year, simplifying compliance. Revised Filing Norms: Updated income tax return procedures and stricter PAN-related rules aim to improve transparency and close loopholes.Labor Law Reforms Impacting Salaries and Benefits Employees will see changes under proposed labor law reforms:Restructured Wage...

CaratLane Plans to Open 40 New Stores in FY27 Expansion Strategy CaratLane, backed by the Tata Group, has announced plans to expand its retail footprint with 40 new stores in the 2026-27 financial year.Currently, CaratLane operates nearly 50 stores across India. The company aims for a measured expansion, focusing on strategic locations rather than rapid rollout.Store Ownership and TimelineCompany-Owned Stores: Approximately 10% of the new stores will be directly owned by CaratLane Expansion Phases:Q1 FY27: Market research and exploration of potential locations Q2 FY27 onwards: Commencement of store openingsStrategic Focus CaratLane’s expansion plan emphasizes sustainable growth, blending company-owned and franchise-based...

India’s Fuel Duty Overhaul: Impact on Reliance SEZ Exports and Refining Margins Uncertainty Over SEZ Export Tax Following India’s fuel duty changes effective March 26, significant uncertainty remains regarding whether Reliance Industries’ SEZ refinery exports will continue to enjoy exemptions from new export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The decision is expected to heavily influence refining margins and government revenue.Key Changes in Fuel DutiesDiesel export duty: Rs 21.50 per litre ATF export duty: Rs 29.50 per litre Petrol exports remain exempt Excise duty on petrol and diesel cut by Rs 10 per litreThese changes aim to provide relief to domestic oil marketing companies (OMCs) while addressing government...

Thane Consumer Commission Orders Ola Electric to Replace Defective Scooter or Issue Refund Ola Electric Found Guilty of Deficiency in Service The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Thane has directed Ola Electric Technologies to replace a defective electric scooter or provide a full refund, citing “gross deficiency” in customer service and “unfair trade practices.”The commission observed that the vehicle suffered from multiple defects and that the company failed to address the issues despite repeated complaints.Case Filed by Navi Mumbai-Based Lawyer The complaint was filed by a lawyer from Navi Mumbai, who purchased the electric scooter in July 2024 for Rs 96,997.According to the complainant, the scooter began...

India Emerges as a Key Growth Engine for ZEISS Vision Business New Delhi, March 29 Global optics and optoelectronics major ZEISS is strengthening its focus on India, identifying it as one of its top three fastest-growing markets for vision products. The company sees strong momentum driven by the country’s expanding youth population and increasing demand for high-quality vision solutions.According to Charlotte Hamel, Vice President and Head of Global Brand Management at Carl Zeiss Vision, and Boris Dejonckheere, Head of Global Sales Operations and Emerging Markets, India stands alongside China and Southeast Asia as a key growth region for the company globally.India and China Compete for Top Growth Position ZEISS noted that India...

AMD Plans Helios AI Platform Deployment in India, Targets Data Center Expansion Boom Rollout Expected in Second Half of the Year Computer chipset major AMD is preparing to roll out its latest GPU-based high-performance computing platform, Helios, in the second half of the year. The deployment is expected to take place across multiple countries, including India, according to a senior company official.Focus on AI Demand and Data Center Growth The planned rollout comes as AMD looks to tap into the rising global demand for artificial intelligence capabilities. The company is positioning Helios as a key offering to support large-scale AI workloads and advanced computing requirements.At the same time, AMD is aiming to benefit from the...

South Korea Considers Expanding Vehicle Rotation System Amid Rising Oil Prices Government May Extend Vehicle Rotation to Private Sector South Korea’s Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol announced that the government may expand its mandatory five-day vehicle rotation system to the private sector if global oil prices rise to $120–$130 per barrel.The proposal is part of nationwide energy-saving measures being considered amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies.National Resource Crisis Alert May Be Raised to Level 3 The government is currently operating under a Level 2 alert in its four-tier national resource security system. However, authorities may raise it to Level 3 if oil...

IndiGo Expands Network with 30+ New Routes from Navi Mumbai International Airport IndiGo Announces Major Route Expansion from Navi Mumbai Low-cost carrier IndiGo has announced the launch of over 30 new domestic routes from Navi Mumbai International Airport between March 29 and April 23. This expansion is set to significantly enhance regional connectivity and provide more travel options for passengers across India.New Domestic Destinations Added to IndiGo Network The airline will connect Navi Mumbai to several key cities, including:Agra Ayodhya Bagdogra Belgaum Chandigarh Diu Kannur Kolkata Patna Rajkot Srinagar Varanasi VisakhapatnamThis expansion strengthens connectivity between major metros and emerging regional destinations...

FPI Outflows Hit Record High in March as Global Tensions and Macro Pressures Weigh on Indian Equities Foreign Investors Pull Out USD 12.3 Billion Amid Rising Uncertainty New Delhi, March 29: Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have withdrawn approximately USD 12.3 billion, equivalent to ₹1.14 lakh crore, from Indian equities in March, marking the highest monthly outflow on record.The sharp sell-off comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, a weakening rupee, and rising concerns over the impact of elevated crude oil prices on India’s economic growth.Outflows May Extend Further With One Session Left With one trading session still remaining in the month, market participants indicate that the total outflow...

NSE to Launch Dated Brent Crude Oil Futures from April 13 New Contract to Track Global Oil Benchmark New Delhi, March 29 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is set to introduce Dated Brent Crude Oil (Platts) futures from April 13, further strengthening its commodity derivatives segment with products linked to global oil benchmarks.The contract will be based on the S&P Global Energy (Platts) Dated Brent assessment and will trade under the symbol BRCRUDEOIL.Sebi Approval Secured for Launch In a circular, the exchange confirmed that it has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to roll out the new futures contract.“The exchange is pleased to inform its members that, having received approval from Sebi...

CMS Info Systems to Acquire FSS Managed Services Business for ₹115 Crore, Expands ATM Portfolio Deal Strengthens Presence in End-to-End ATM Management Mumbai, March 29 CMS Info Systems on Sunday announced the acquisition of Financial Software and Systems' managed services business for ₹115 crore, marking a strategic move to strengthen its position in the end-to-end ATM management space.The transaction includes the transfer of operating assets along with the novation of customer contracts. The deal is expected to be completed in the first quarter of FY27, the company said in a statement.8,000 ATMs Added to Management Portfolio Following the acquisition, CMS will add approximately 8,000 automated teller machines to its management...

Indian Stock Market Outlook: DIIs Counter FII Sell-Off Amid Global Uncertainty Domestic Investors Provide Strong Support to Indian Markets Amid continued foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) played a crucial role in stabilizing the Indian stock market last week. DIIs emerged as net buyers, investing Rs 26,897 crore and effectively absorbing the selling pressure caused by FIIs.This sustained domestic participation helped cushion market declines and maintain stability near key support levels, according to market analysts.FIIs Continue Aggressive Selling in Indian Equities Foreign institutional investors remained consistent net sellers throughout the week, with cumulative outflows of...

India-EU Free Trade Agreement Progress Reviewed at WTO MC14 Meeting Piyush Goyal Meets EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic At the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Cameroon, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, to review progress on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).The leaders discussed key priorities under the WTO MC14 agenda and assessed ongoing negotiations toward finalizing the India-EU FTA. The agreement was earlier announced by Narendra Modi and Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi in January 2026.Focus on Strengthening India-EU Trade Relations During the meeting, both sides...

BTS Concert Boosts Foreign Tourism in Seoul: Seongsu-dong Emerges as New Shopping Hotspot Surge in Foreign Visitors During BTS Concert in Seoul Seoul witnessed a significant rise in foreign tourist activity during the recent BTS comeback concert held on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Plaza. Major commercial districts across the city experienced a sharp increase in international footfall, highlighting the global influence of BTS on tourism and retail.According to data from the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), more than 78,000 foreign visitors flocked to Jung Ward, home to the iconic Myeongdong shopping district. This marks a 15.1% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the growing appeal of Seoul as a global travel...

KOSPI Market Trends: Defense Stocks Rise While Auto and Shipbuilding Shares Decline South Korean Stock Market Reacts to Middle East Tensions South Korea’s benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) witnessed notable sectoral shifts approximately one month after the U.S.-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Market capitalization trends revealed gains in defense stocks, while auto and shipbuilding sectors faced declines amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Retain Top Market Positions Leading the KOSPI rankings, Samsung Electronics Co. maintained its position as the most valuable company with a market capitalization of 1,063.8 trillion won (approximately $705 billion). SK Hynix Inc. followed in second...

New Delhi, March 28 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasized the need to ensure preparedness for the medium to long term and a swift decision-making process to address the evolving crisis in West Asia.Singh made the remarks while chairing the first meeting of the Informal Empowered Group of Ministers (IGoM) set up to monitor the situation in West Asia.The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Power Minister Manohar Lal, and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister JP Nadda.Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, and Minister of State for...

Middle East Tensions Disrupt India’s Exports, Hit Handicrafts and Mango Shipments New Delhi, March 28: Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are beginning to weigh on India’s export sector, with handicrafts and mango shipments among the worst affected, according to industry stakeholders.Heavy Dependence on Middle Eastern Markets Exporters highlighted that nearly 50 to 60 percent of trade in certain sectors is linked to Middle Eastern markets. Demand from the region typically peaks during the Ramzan period, making the current disruption particularly significant.Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javid Tenga said that the usual surge in sales during Ramzan has not materialized this year."Sales usually surge during...

New Delhi, March 28 – The government stated on Saturday that more than 54 lakh LPG refills were delivered yesterday, and the delivery of domestic LPG cylinders is normal despite the prevailing geopolitical situation that has affected supply chains.There have been no reported shortages at LPG distribution centers, and online LPG cylinder bookings increased to 91 percent on an industry basis yesterday, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.To prevent diversion at the distributor level, Delivery Authentication Code (DAC)-based deliveries have been increased from 53 percent (February 2026) to 84 percent now.The ministry further stated that all refineries are operating at full capacity, with adequate crude oil...

New Delhi, March 28 KP Group, a provider of solar, wind, and hybrid power solutions, has partnered with PP Savani University to launch a program aimed at developing a skilled workforce for the renewable energy sector.In collaboration with the university, the foundation has launched the "Urja Noor" scholarship program, which is designed to support underprivileged students pursuing education in renewable energy and related fields, according to a statement."The 'Urja Noor' scholarship program is designed to build a skilled workforce for the clean energy sector while ensuring access to quality education for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds," said KP Group, based in Gujarat.In the first batch, 92 students will...

Indian Railways Introduces Crowd Management Measures at Major Stations to Handle Passenger Rush New Delhi, March 28: Indian Railways has rolled out a comprehensive set of measures aimed at managing heavy passenger traffic across stations, with a focus on improving safety, streamlining movement, and reducing congestion. The announcement was made by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Rajya Sabha.Dedicated Waiting Areas Planned at 76 Stations In a written reply, the minister stated that permanent passenger waiting areas will be developed at 76 identified railway stations. These spaces are intended to ease overcrowding on platforms, particularly during peak hours.The waiting areas will include essential amenities such...