The Indian government is reportedly considering increasing the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the pension sector to 100 per cent, bringing it in line with the insurance sector. A Bill to amend the PFRDA Act, 2013, is expected in an upcoming Parliament session.
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.
Even if there is an early agreement on a cessation of hostilities in West Asia, the price shock will not go away easily, points out A K Bhattacharya.
Suvendu Adhikari has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, paving the way for him to become the state's first BJP chief minister.
Chandrababu Naidu has reorganised the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), appointing his son Nara Lokesh as working president and emphasising a blend of experienced and new leaders to strengthen the party.
The BJP-led government in Bihar secured a vote of confidence in the state assembly, with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary pledging economic development and significant investments. The motion was passed amidst heated debates and accusations between the ruling NDA and the opposition, highlighting political tensions and differing views on issues like women's reservation.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticises the AAP-led Punjab government for political instability and lack of industrial development, while promoting Haryana's investor-friendly policies and industrial growth initiatives.
The Uttar Pradesh government's 'One District One Cuisine' initiative, aimed at promoting local delicacies, has drawn criticism for omitting several iconic non-vegetarian dishes closely associated with the state's districts.
Despite geopolitical tensions and FII outflows, Indian small and midcap stocks have not only recovered losses but are also outperforming largecap indices, driven by attractive valuations, domestic institutional support, and a rebound in earnings.
Nine workers were killed in an attack by militants on a copper and gold mine site in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
The electorate did not vote for the BJP as much as they voted against the TMC. This is an important distinction that the new government will ignore at its own peril, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights India's transformation in sports, moving beyond cricket and hockey to achieve global recognition, driven by government investment and initiatives like the Khelo India programme.
'At the first sign of real trouble, that money will move. There will be a run.'
India and New Zealand are poised to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on April 27 in New Delhi, aiming to provide tariff-free access for Indian goods to New Zealand's market and attract USD 20 billion in investment over the next 15 years.
UltraTech Cement, an Aditya Birla group company, has become the world's largest cement producer outside China, surpassing 200 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of installed capacity in India. The company plans to invest Rs 16,000 crore to reach a target capacity of 240 mtpa by the financial year 2027-28.
A BJP government in Bengal inherits more problems than it might care to admit at its moment of triumph, points out Ramesh Menon
The ongoing West Asia conflict is expected to severely impact the supply of affordable housing in India, as rising input costs further erode already thin developer margins. Fluctuations in crude oil and gas prices, coupled with higher freight costs, are driving up prices of essential construction materials like cement and steel, making new projects increasingly unviable for developers.
Indian airports are rapidly becoming a significant growth avenue for the country's retail sector, with brands across various consumer segments actively opening stores to tap into the increasing number of flyers and strong domestic tourism momentum.
Kerala's voters are sophisticated, educated, and unforgiving. They have once again made it clear that no government is entitled to remain in power. The Congress would do well to remember this, points out Ramesh Menon.
Ashok Lahiri, a distinguished economist with experience in government, the private sector, and electoral politics, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, tasked with strengthening India's reform trajectory and policy-making.
The AAP government in Punjab successfully moved a Confidence Motion in the state assembly, following the defection of seven Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted the party's strength and national presence during the special session.
NPS Vatsalya offers a disciplined investment avenue that parents can use to create intergenerational wealth by contributing even small sums.
'Whether you will bring this down and cause hurt to senior citizens, who are probably living on that little interest rate that they earn out of it... But equally, if I just look at the kitty of the National Small Savings Fund, it is from that same kitty that I'm borrowing.'
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched an artificial intelligence and computational thinking curriculum for classes 3 to 8, aiming to integrate structured AI education into the school system.
Sebi is working with other regulators to expand the CAS framework.
Deloitte India has partnered with IIT Bombay to launch a Quantum Technology Centre, aiming to accelerate quantum adoption, research, and enterprise use-cases for Indian businesses.
India may adopt a "calibrated" and a "step-by-step" approach to easing norms on investments originating from China, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. He was in a conversation with A K Bhattacharya on Day 1 of Business Standard's two-day annual event, Manthan 2026. The minister said foreign direct investment (FDI) from China was certainly not "banned", but it goes through an approval process. "The government's approach at the moment is to accelerate the approval process."
As industrial plants boost the village's profile, locals demand priority hiring, alongside better storage facilities and water security.
Analysts are increasingly optimistic about India's capital markets, with HDFC AMC, CAMS, and KFin Technologies identified as top investment picks. This optimism stems from a structural shift in household savings towards financial instruments and an expected multi-year earnings expansion for market infrastructure providers and asset management companies.
India should not stay on the margins of this initiative. There should be a serious debate about what would be in India's best interests asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) has invited bids from India and other countries to host the next edition of the World Mind Games, scheduled for later this year or early 2027, capitalising on the growing popularity of chess and other mind sports in India.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirms Iran will participate in the 2026 World Cup despite geopolitical tensions, urging that sport remain separate from politics.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces a significant setback as several of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including key figures like Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak, resign from the party, with some reportedly joining the BJP.
Delhi Police have dismantled a major international cyber fraud syndicate using illegal 'SIM Box' technology to defraud people through digital arrest scams and fake investment schemes. Two individuals have been arrested, and the investigation revealed links to handlers in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has invited Dutch hockey legend Floris Jan Bovelander to help strengthen hockey in the state, particularly ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy. Mann emphasised the government's commitment to restoring the sport's glory and highlighted Punjab's rich hockey legacy.
Italy rejects a proposal by Trump envoy Paolo Zampolli to replace Iran at the FIFA World Cup 2026, as officials insist qualification must be earned on merit.
A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern and northern Japan, prompting a tsunami warning for the Pacific coasts of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures. Tsunami waves of up to 3 meters were forecast, and residents were urged to evacuate to higher ground. No abnormalities were reported at nuclear plants.
The policy unveiled by the home ministry is based on seven key pillars to counter the terror threats emanating from India or abroad -- prevention, responses, aggregating internal capacities, human rights and "Rule of Law"-based processes.
Italian football is experiencing a significant crisis following the failure of its clubs in European competitions and the national team's continued absence from the World Cup.
Gujarat Titans' opener Sai Sudharsan reveals that he puts in the same kind of preparation for ever game and invests considerable time in mental fitness.
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