News for '-xavier'

India, Oman to ink free trade agreement during PM Narendra Modi visit

India, Oman to ink free trade agreement during PM Narendra Modi visit

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Next week's three-nation foreign tour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will see India and Oman sign a free trade deal. The visit will also pave the way for agreements with Ethiopia and Jordan to increase India's bilateral trade and investments.

RBI allows rupee to find its own level: Guv Malhotra

RBI allows rupee to find its own level: Guv Malhotra

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday said the central bank does not target any band for the rupee in the forex market, and allows the domestic currency to find its own correct level.

'My Husband Was Killed For His Religious Identity'

'My Husband Was Killed For His Religious Identity'

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

A street vendor in Bihar's Nawada district died after a group of youth tortured him for hours because he was Muslim.

Rupee slumps 38 paise to close at all-time low of 90.32 against US dollar

Rupee slumps 38 paise to close at all-time low of 90.32 against US dollar

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

The rupee plunged 38 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.32 against the US dollar on Thursday amid uncertainty over the India-US trade deal. Forex traders said the rupee is expected to trade with a negative bias as the delay in the trade deal between India and the US may continue to dent investor confidence.

Rupee slumps 29 paise to close at all-time low of 90.78/USD

Rupee slumps 29 paise to close at all-time low of 90.78/USD

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

The rupee plunged 26 paise to an all-time low of 90.75 against the US dollar in intra-day trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.

ICICI Pru AMC sets price band for IPO, seeks Rs 1.07 trillion valuation

ICICI Pru AMC sets price band for IPO, seeks Rs 1.07 trillion valuation

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company has set a price band of Rs 2,061- Rs 2,165 per share for its Rs 10,600-crore initial public offering (IPO) that will open on Friday. At the upper end of the band, the country's largest asset manager will command a valuation of Rs 1.07 trillion.

IPO wave big validation of tech ecosystem: SoftBank exec

IPO wave big validation of tech ecosystem: SoftBank exec

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

SoftBank's early India bets are beginning to deliver. The Japanese investor, which clocked nearly 5.4x returns on Lenskart and chose to stay invested in Meesho ahead of its public listing, has so far returned close to $7 billion from India to its global investors.

Mexico imposes up to 50% tariff on imports from India and China

Mexico imposes up to 50% tariff on imports from India and China

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

Mexico on Thursday imposed a tariff of up to 50 per cent on imports from its non-preferential trade partners, including India, a move that might hit New Delhi's annual $5.75 billion shipments to its third-largest car export market.

LS clears Insurance Amendment Bill to allow 100% FDI in insurance sector

LS clears Insurance Amendment Bill to allow 100% FDI in insurance sector

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that raising the FDI limit to 100 per cent in the insurance sector will help attract more capital, improve competition and increase insurance penetration by making policies more affordable.

'Labour Codes Will Reduce Take-Home Salary Is Wrong'

'Labour Codes Will Reduce Take-Home Salary Is Wrong'

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

'It will increase the contribution to gratuity, which is something the employer has to give.'

'Can I Claim HRA, Home Loan Benefit If...?'

'Can I Claim HRA, Home Loan Benefit If...?'

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

rediffGURU T S Khurana answers readers' personal income tax queries

PSU banks write off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh cr in last 5.5 years

PSU banks write off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh cr in last 5.5 years

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

Public sector banks have written off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh crore in the last five and a half years, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Does Your Partner Ignore House Chores?

Does Your Partner Ignore House Chores?

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

rediffGURU Anu Krishna suggests how to deal with a partner who doesn't contribute to house chores.

Rate Cut effect: PFC, Sidbi plan to raise Rs 11,000 crore from bond market

Rate Cut effect: PFC, Sidbi plan to raise Rs 11,000 crore from bond market

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

Activity in the corporate bond market is set to gain momentum following a 25-bp policy repo rate cut by the rate-setting panel of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). State-owned public cebPower Finance Corporation (PFC) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) are planning to raise up to Rs 11,500 crore through bonds on Tuesday as issuers expect borrowing costs to ease.

Markets, spooked by Fed uncertainty, post biggest drop in two months

Markets, spooked by Fed uncertainty, post biggest drop in two months

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

Equity markets fell on Monday, with benchmark indices recording their worst session in over two months amid caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve's (Fed's) policy announcement and renewed uncertainty over the US-India trade deal. Sustained selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) also weighed on sentiment.

Telangana summit attracts Rs 1.88 trillion investment proposals

Telangana summit attracts Rs 1.88 trillion investment proposals

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

Investment proposals for around Rs 1.88 trillion through 35 major agreements, spread across deep tech, green energy, and aerospace, were the hallmark moment of the first day of the two-day "Telangana Rising Global Summit", which started on Monday.

Digital Scams Are Getting Smarter

Digital Scams Are Getting Smarter

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

'Just like oral hygiene, cyber hygiene must become a daily habit,' says Beena Vaheed, executive director, Bank of Baroda. 'It is not enough to rely only on banks, companies, or the government. Each of us must play our part.'

19 US states sue Trump admin over new fee on H-1B visas

19 US states sue Trump admin over new fee on H-1B visas

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Nineteen United States states have sued the Trump administration over its 'unlawful' decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, warning that the move will worsen labour shortages in key sectors such as health care, education and technology.

Fino 1st payments bank to get RBI nod to turn SFB

Fino 1st payments bank to get RBI nod to turn SFB

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

Fino Payments Bank (Fino) has become the first such entity to get an in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to transition into a small finance bank (SFB).

UP: BLO collapses at home, dies; third death in 3 days

UP: BLO collapses at home, dies; third death in 3 days

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

A booth level officer in Hathras, UP, died after collapsing at his residence. His family alleges work-related stress as the cause. This is the third such death in Uttar Pradesh in recent days, raising concerns about the workload on BLOs.

Is Your Married Ex Still Texting You?

Is Your Married Ex Still Texting You?

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

'You deserve a love you can have wholly, and not just in pieces, and in the shadows,' counsels rediffGURU Ravi Mittal, CEO, of Quack Quack, an online dating Website.

Stock markets likely to stay range-bound

Stock markets likely to stay range-bound

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday delivered a 25 basis point (bps) repo rate cut analysts expected, driven by the strong 8.2 per cent GDP growth in the September quarter. However, analysts do not expect a runaway market rally as the impact of US tariffs continues.

Mutual Fund Equity Purchases Hit Record High In 2025

Mutual Fund Equity Purchases Hit Record High In 2025

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

The continued MF buying has pushed the equity holding of MFs to over Rs 50 trillion for the first time.

Why Do So Many People Die In Custody?

Why Do So Many People Die In Custody?

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

Custodial deaths are a serious and long-lasting problem in India, with over 28,000 people dying in custody since 2009.

Tax forms for charitable institutions set for overhaul

Tax forms for charitable institutions set for overhaul

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

As the new Income Tax (I-T) Act, 2025 moves towards implementation from April 1, 2026, the finance ministry is reviewing and simplifying the compliance forms used by charitable institutions. Debjyoti Das, principal chief commissioner of income tax (exemption), said the new Act has already reorganised exemption provisions into a clearer and more coherent structure, and the accompanying procedures and forms are now being examined.

Why Indian Parents Fear Love Marriage

Why Indian Parents Fear Love Marriage

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

rediffGURU Shalini Singh, founder of andwemet, an online matchmaking website for urban Indians, offers advice on how to deal with parents.

Family beats girl to death after finding her with boyfriend

Family beats girl to death after finding her with boyfriend

Rediff.com21 Nov 2025

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the body of the girl, about 15 years old, as it was being secretly cremated by the family on Thursday evening, they said.

Board nod must for bank entities to do same biz: RBI

Board nod must for bank entities to do same biz: RBI

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday allowed multiple entities in a bank group to undertake the same business as long as they cater to different client segments, while mandating board approval to ensure that any overlap in business has proper rationale and justification.

Schoolgirl ends life, accuses principal of sexual abuse

Schoolgirl ends life, accuses principal of sexual abuse

Rediff.com25 Nov 2025

A 15-year-old girl in Chhattisgarh allegedly committed suicide after accusing the school principal of molestation and sexual harassment. The principal has been arrested, and an investigation is underway.

'Can't Get Divorced. Can I Date Again?'

'Can't Get Divorced. Can I Date Again?'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

Since you are still married, if you start dating someone right now, it won't be ethical, comments rediffGURU Ravi Mittal, CEO of Quack Quack, an online dating Website.

Nanded woman marries corpse after father, brothers kill her lover

Nanded woman marries corpse after father, brothers kill her lover

Rediff.com30 Nov 2025

A woman in Maharashtra 'married' her deceased boyfriend's body and demanded justice after he was allegedly murdered by her father and brothers.

White-collar hiring picks up pace in Nov; grows 23% y-o-y

White-collar hiring picks up pace in Nov; grows 23% y-o-y

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

White collar hiring in November has surged by 23 per cent, mainly led by non-IT sectors such as education, real estate, hospitality and travel, and insurance, says a report. October had registered a 9 per cent year-on-year decline in hiring due to advancement of Diwali dates this year while in November it rebounded with a 23 per cent growth, according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index report.

Households Are Moving Away From Banks To Markets

Households Are Moving Away From Banks To Markets

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

For every 100 rupees, households invested Rs 45.2 in mutual funds and equities in 2024-2025.

US court reverses $1 bn damages against Byju

US court reverses $1 bn damages against Byju

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

A US bankruptcy court has reversed a $1 billion damages ruling against Byju Raveendran, according to a statement from the founders of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd - the parent firm of ed-tech platform Byju's.

6 get 20-yr jail in Kerala actress sexual assault case

6 get 20-yr jail in Kerala actress sexual assault case

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

A court in Kochi sentenced six individuals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the 2017 actress assault case. The convicted were found guilty of gang rape and other offenses, while actor Dileep was acquitted.

Debt repayment, capex key to IPO proceeds utilisation

Debt repayment, capex key to IPO proceeds utilisation

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

Companies are primarily using funds raised through fresh equity issuance to repay existing debt, followed by allocation for capital expenditure, according to a study by Bank of Baroda of over 200 filings with the market regulator between April and October 2025. The report stated that of these filings with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) - covering both funds already raised in FY26 and future intent - 189 companies provided clear data on the purpose of the fund-raising.

Planning Intercaste Marriage? How To Tell Parents

Planning Intercaste Marriage? How To Tell Parents

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

rediffGURU Shalini Singh, founder of andwemet, a matchmaking platform, explains how to convince your parents about marrying someone they may not approve of.

SIP inflows into equity MFs from small towns cross Rs 10K cr mark

SIP inflows into equity MFs from small towns cross Rs 10K cr mark

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

SIP inflows into active equity schemes from areas beyond the top 30 cities (B30), which first crossed this milestone in September 2025, stood at Rs 10,080 crore in October, industry data shows.

Insurance sector premium growth crossed 20% in Nov

Insurance sector premium growth crossed 20% in Nov

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

Both the life and non-life insurance segment posted over 20 per cent premium growth in November for the first time in this financial year (FY26), supported by the reduction in goods and services tax (GST) on premiums from 18 per cent to zero and a favourable base effect.

Small and midcap multiples bubble, but PEG keeps lid on

Small and midcap multiples bubble, but PEG keeps lid on

Rediff.com25 Nov 2025

Despite trailing the benchmark Nifty 50, small and midcap (SMID) stocks appear pricey on a 12-month forward price-to-earnings (P/E) basis. The Nifty trades at roughly 21x forward earnings, compared with around 28x for both the Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Midcap 100 indices.