rediffGURU Jinal Mehta answers readers' financial planning and health insurance queries
The Indian banking sector is projected to experience a steady 9-13 per cent industrial credit growth in the first half of 2026, driven by capital expenditure, infrastructure development, and sectoral demand recovery, according to a Ficci-IBA survey.
India's like-for-like gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue growth slowed to a five-year low of 5.57 per cent in FY26, reaching Rs 23.32 trillion, primarily driven by a significant surge in import revenues.
To meet its $50-billion export target by 2030, the Uttar Pradesh government is looking to significantly scale up services sector, with a focus on Information Technology (IT) and Global Capability Centres (GCC) domains. Under the UP Export Promotion Policy 2025-30, the state aims to raise goods and services exports from $21 billion in 2024 to $50 billion by 2030.
The Samajwadi Party has ended its association with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to a lack of funds, according to party president Akhilesh Yadav.
ITC reported a 6.1 per cent year-on-year growth in its consolidated adjusted net profit from continuing operations, reaching ~5,469.74 crore in the January-March quarter (Q4FY26), primarily fuelled by strong performances in its cigarettes and non-cigarette fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses.
The Chhattisgarh government has suspended Inspector General of Police Ratan Lal Dangi following a complaint of harassment and financial irregularities. An inquiry has been ordered into the allegations.
IDFC First Bank has integrated with ICEGATE 2.0 to enable digital payment of customs duty, central excise, and service tax for its customers.
'During the bank's board meeting, many directors asked him if there is a governance issue but he said there is none.'
India is conducting a special audit of 101 cities to assess ease of living from the citizen's perspective, Comptroller and Auditor General K Sanjay Murthy said.
'As re-industrialisation gathers pace across regions like Asia, Europe and the US, a wide range of products and inputs will see demand.'
Recent changes to tax exemptions and allowances, including increased education, hostel, and HRA limits, have made the old tax regime more competitive against the new regime, prompting salaried employees to re-evaluate their choice for the current financial year.
Nearly two-thirds of external commercial borrowings (ECBs) raised so far in the ongoing financial year (2025-26/FY26) have been routed through Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), a sharp jump from the 36 per cent recorded in 2024-25.
India's aviation sector is facing fresh turbulence, with rising fuel costs, the Ministry of Civil Aviation's free-seat directive, and geopolitical disruptions in West Asia clouding near-term earnings visibility.
The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing (ACB/EOW) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against four individuals for alleged irregularities in the procurement of medical equipment and reagent chemicals in 2023, resulting in significant financial losses to the state.
Ola Electric is making a renewed push into the electric motorcycle market with aggressive pricing and in-house battery manufacturing, aiming to replicate its earlier success in electric scooters while addressing past quality and service issues.
IT major Wipro reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,501.8 crore for March quarter FY26, a 1.89 per cent decrease from the previous year, amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment. The company also announced a mega Rs 15,000 crore share repurchase programme.
IT firm Tech Mahindra announced a 16 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 1,353.8 crore for the January-March quarter of FY26, with revenue from operations rising 12.6 per cent to Rs 15,076.1 crore, driven by an accelerated transition to an AI-led organisation and record deal wins.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the state's 'BIMARU' (sick) status to corruption during previous governments, emphasising the need for transparency and meritocracy in recruitment processes. He highlighted improvements in medical facilities and increased government job opportunities for young people in Uttar Pradesh.
"Policy sales will be one of the focus areas for the company because looking at the large insurance gap, large number of people being uncovered. The only right way to go is to increase the number of policies," said Amit Jhingran, MD & CEO, SBI Life Insurance.
Infosys' board has approved annual performance-based stock grants worth Rs 51.75 crore for Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Salil Parekh, aligning with his tenure ending in March 2027.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction value and volume saw a slight month-on-month dip in April after record highs in March, but daily transaction volumes increased, indicating sustained growth in digital payments across India.
The Chhattisgarh government has suspended Inspector General of Police Ratan Lal Dangi following a complaint of harassment and financial irregularities. The suspension is due to alleged violations of service conduct rules and unbecoming behaviour.
Former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged municipality recruitment scam.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations to various central ministries, outlining a survivor-centric framework to enhance care, justice, and rehabilitation for acid-attack victims.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran addressed Air India employees, acknowledging the airline's challenging phase while reaffirming the Tata Group's commitment to its long-term transformation, focusing on service quality, safety, and operational improvements.
India's market landscape is undergoing significant shifts, with bank-backed brokerages potentially regaining dominance over discount platforms due to regulatory changes and increased taxes, while the IPO pipeline faces a slowdown amid heightened global volatility.
Maharashtra legislative council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe has demanded stringent action against employees of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik following allegations of sexual harassment and forced religious conversion by female employees.
Interestingly, with 83 per cent of entrepreneurs being first-generation founders, the list reflects India's growing spirit of entrepreneurship and leadership.
Escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia are beginning to disrupt India's automotive supply chain, leading to rising commodity prices, logistics bottlenecks, material shortages, and pressure on consumer demand, with two-wheeler makers already raising prices.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth Rs 1.06 crore in connection with the 'Global Media App' fraud, an online earning platform that allegedly generated over Rs 45 crore through illicit means.
'Once the currency goes out of the hand, then possibly your major challenge is that it will not come back.'
Uncertainty stemming from the US-Iran conflict has significantly impacted India's mutual fund industry, leading to a sharp decline in new fund offers (NFOs) in March, despite numerous regulatory approvals. This geopolitical tension, coupled with existing market strain and distributor hesitation, has dampened investor sentiment and affected overall inflows.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday said the entry of big tech firms into the financial sector poses systemic concerns like overleveraging at the borrowers' ends.
The post, markedly different from its usual X feed -- typically focused on low-cost tariff plans and anti-spam measures -- appears to ride on Samay Raina's popularity.
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi Police to investigate the brutal assault on a woman advocate, allegedly by her husband, and has asked for a senior officer to lead the probe. The court also addressed concerns about hospitals refusing the victim admission and directed financial assistance.
Net foreign direct investment (FDI) remained negative in November 2025 for the third consecutive month, mainly due to high repatriation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its January bulletin.
'In India's case, an extended earnings slowdown accompanied by rich valuations have dimmed returns since late 2024.'
Domestic institutional investors, on the other hand, made a net investment of Rs 1.13 trillion during this period.
The Himachal Pradesh government is set to implement stringent measures, including mandatory drug testing for government jobs and 'bulldozer action' against drug smugglers, to combat the growing menace of 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) in the state.
