Business Standard - March 07, 2025

In this issue

March 07, 2025

India pushes for greater access to US organic mkt

The upcoming discussions on the India-United States (US) bilateral trade agreement (BTA) may see New Delhi bargain for a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) to boost exports of organic products to the US, a person familiar with the matter said.

2 mins

SIP openings jump, so do premature closures

The domestic mutual fund (MF) industry has seen a record surge in systematic investment plan (SIP) registrations, but this growth has also been accompanied by a rising trend of premature SIP account closures.

2 mins

Will keep India's interests on top in US trade talks: FM

Says govt seized of potential reciprocal tariff problems

2 mins

Balance Portfolios Like a Nutritionist

Plan healthy by exploring physically-backed

1 min

Govt finalises outlines of ISM Phase-II

The Central government has finalised the outlines of the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and is now holding internal discussions before rollout of the scheme which will support more ambitious design-linked innovations and design initiatives in the country.

1 min

Will have our own GPUs in 3-4 years: Vaishnaw

GPU portal and a non-personal dataset platform unveiled

1 min

'Trump uncertainty will not affect investment in India'

SUMANT SINHA, chairman and chief executive officer of Nasdaq-listed ReNew, one of India's biggest renewable power companies with close to 11 gigawatts (Gw) of commissioned capacity, speaks to S Dinakar in New Delhi about his company, green hydrogen, what is in store in the Trump era, and module prices. Edited excerpts:

3 mins

Auto retail sales slide amid weak earnings

Weak earnings, declining job market, global uncertainty, and tougher financing norms spoiled customer interest in the automobile sector, resulting in a down-slide in retail sales.

2 mins

Micro-credentials help fill skill gaps: Coursera

With the rapid pace of technological advancements and an increasing focus on skilling and reskilling, enterprises are increasingly adopting micro-credentials as a key criterion for workforce development.

1 min

On track to achieve all our initial targets: Birla Opus CEO

Birla Opus, which opened its first experiential store in Gurugram on Thursday and kicked-off commercial production at its fifth plant in Maharashtra a day before, said it was on track to achieve its initial targets, which included expanding its footprint and having a high single-digit market share at the end of March quarter.

1 min

Nespresso open to expanding India presence

Nespresso, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestlé, will look at adding more retail stores in India following the launch of its first boutique-experience store in the country at Select Citywalk, Delhi.

1 min

Seeing Distinctive Travel Trends in India

India remains an important market for Booking.com, both within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and globally. The bookings in Asia are one of the big focus areas for the company, LAURA HOULDSWORTH, managing director and vice-president, APAC, Booking.com, said in a video interview with Roshni Shekhar. Edited excerpts:

2 mins

Britannia CEO Rajneet Kohli steps down

Biscuits major Britannia Industries on Thursday said its Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Rajneet Singh Kohli, resigned on March 5 to pursue an external opportunity.

1 min

Hiring by GCCs May Grow 27% in FY26, to Outpace IT Again

Demand for domain experts, specialised skillsets the trigger

2 mins

Farm & Trade Sectors Anxious Over US Tariff Decisions

Amid uncertainty over tariffs and duties on agricultural products between India and the US, traders and exporters are closely watching the ongoing visit of the Commerce Minister to the US for clarity on tariffs, bilateral trade, and other contentious issues.

1 min

UK Condemns Security Breach Near EAM's Convoy

The UK on Thursday strongly condemned the security breach involving a pro-Khalistan extremist rushing toward External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's convoy, stating that such attempts to \"intimidate, threaten, or disrupt\" public events are \"completely unacceptable.\"

1 min

E-way bill generation slowed to 14.7% in Feb

The growth in e-way bills, or electronic permits, generated by businesses for transporting goods within and across states, slowed down to 14.7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in February from 23.1 per cent growth in January, according to data released by the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) portal.

1 min

India must prepare for greater responsibilities

NITI Aayog's Suman Bery urges India Inc to invest and calls for MSME growth

2 mins

'Our govt works very closely with India to reduce trade barriers'

Exports of Australian premium agricultural products to India have increased 59 per cent since the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) or the interim trade deal came into force over two years ago, JOHN SOUTHWELL, Trade and Investment Commissioner at Australian Trade and Investment Commission, told Shreya Nandi in an interview in New Delhi. Edited excerpts:

2 mins

India Sees Bigger Share in US Electronics Market

Tariff shifts, bilateral trade agreement talks could open the door for Indian exporters in key sectors

2 mins

CBDT campaign leads to disclosure of over ₹29,000 crore foreign assets

Upon prodding from the Income-Tax Department, more than 30,000 taxpayers have declared foreign assets worth ₹29,208 crore and additional foreign income of ₹1,090 crore for assessment year (AY) 2024-25, according to officials of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

1 min

Organic Exports Deal With US Seeks To Cut Compliance Costs

India and the US have been discussing an MRA for organic products for the past few years.

1 min

Fintech Platform Users Lead the Rise in SIP Cancellations

According to MF officials, the rising number of both SIP registrations and closures indicates that investors are churning their portfolios at a higher rate.

1 min

FM Launches Digital Footprint-Based Credit Assessment Model for MSMEs

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday launched the New Credit Assessment Model based on the digital footprints of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) at a post-Budget interaction at Visakhapatnam.

1 min

FM: Tariffs remain a legitimate policy tool

On the potential impact of the reciprocal tariffs on India, she said: \"It is only as we progress through the negotiations that we will be able to make an assessment but we keep India's export interests in mind. At the moment, we are seized of the problem.\"

1 min

India shifting to term contracts despite expected drop in spot LNG prices: S&P

Buying Spot Or Not?

1 min

RBI's liquidity moves aim to ease rate transmission

Experts say the latest steps may prod banks to lower deposit rates

3 mins

Global Ethical Stocktake on COP30 agenda: Brazil environment minister

Initiative aimed at limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C

2 mins

PM chairs meet of cooperative sector, stresses promoting organic products

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the cooperative sector and emphasised the need for partnerships with global cooperative organizations and for promoting organic products with special focus on export markets.

1 min

Andhra Bags ₹1,700 Cr Solar Project Lined Up for Telangana

Recently, projects from Telangana were relocated to Gujarat and TN

2 mins

Centre Considers Faculty Sharing to Tackle Medical Teachers' Shortage

In the Pipeline

2 mins

Walmart Asks China Suppliers for Price Cuts

Walmart has asked some Chinese suppliers for major price cuts, with the US retail giant's efforts to shift the burden of President Donald Trump's tariffs facing strong push back from firms in the Asian nation, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

1 min

US Employers Announce Most Job Cuts Since 2020

US employers in February announced plans to reduce headcount at the fastest pace since early in the pandemic, led by cuts in the government sector as the Trump administration moved to shrink the federal workforce.

1 min

US Prez Grants Automakers 1-Month Reprieve From Tariffs

US President Donald Trump will exempt automakers from his punishing 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico for one month as long as they comply with existing free trade rules, the White House said, a development that halted at least for now Wall Street's steepest skid in nearly three months.

1 min

Worst German bond rout since 1990 sparks global debt selloff

German bonds extended their rout and debt markets around the world followed in slides triggered by Berlin's historic plan to unlock hundreds of billions of euros for defence and infrastructure investments.

2 mins

Trump to revoke legal status of Ukrainians who fled to US

US President Donald Trump's administration is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter said, potentially putting them on a fast-track to deportation.

1 min

As Trump Goes After Universities, Students Now on the Chopping Block

In the early weeks of the Trump administration's push to slash funding that colleges and universities rely on, grants and contracts had been cut and, in a few cases, researchers had been laid off.

2 mins

EU Leaders Hold Talks on Defence and Ukraine Aid

Facing the prospect that the US might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be properly protected.

2 mins

Europe's Powerful Tool Against Russia

If European leaders want to follow through on their statements in support of Ukraine, they must seize the moment by seizing Russia's assets

3 mins

Tuning into silence

The beauty of words lies not in the meaning that they convey to things around and emotions within, but in their capacity to lift human consciousness into moments of such luminous clarity that the ordinary appears sublime.

3 mins

Another trade hurdle

Quality control orders are hurting India

2 mins

Private-investment conundrum

Policy intervention will improve prospects

2 mins

Field reports on gender inclusion

All Indian airports have segregated body-scanning security checks for male and female passengers.

3 mins

Hotel stocks may rebound as growth rates remain strong

Hotel stocks have seen a correction underperforming the BSE MidCap by 10 per cent despite strong third quarter (Q3) results and commentary.

3 mins

Stock price moves unrelated to taxation

Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth on Thursday sought to dismiss the notion that the downturn in India's stock market and the exodus of foreign investors is linked to the country's long-term capital gains tax regime, and asserted that stock price movements are driven by various global factors.

2 mins

Blackstone-Sattva JV files DRHP for ₹6.2K crore IPO

It will be India's biggest and Asia's second-largest Reit IPO

1 min

FPIs Continue Massive Selloff

Foreign investors continued to exit Indian equities in February, but the pace of selling in heavyweight financial stocks slowed sharply from January's heavy outflows, data on Thursday showed, even as concerns over lagging economic growth persist.

1 min

Nayara plans buyback offer for minority shareholders

Nayara Energy, which operates India's second-largest single-site refinery in Vadinar, Gujarat, has decided to make a buyback offer to its minority shareholders, with an intent to give them an exit opportunity.

1 min

Mkts extend gains for second session

RIL, metal stocks help benchmark indices surge 2% in two days

2 mins

EQUITY SAVINGS FUNDS Ideal for investors seeking FD-plus returns, low volatility

Market volatility has made equity allocation difficult, especially for conservative investors. Equity Savings Funds (ESFs) offer a solution.

2 mins

OMC, paint, aviation stocks rise as oil falls

Oil-marketing companies (OMCs), paint manufacturers, tyre producers, and aviation stocks witnessed significant gains as Brent crude oil prices slipped below $70 per barrel.

2 mins

Addressing Discrepancies in Official Statistical System

The discrepancies in the statistics produced by different agencies are generally due to issues of definitions, coverage, and differences in statutory and procedural requirements, writes Amitabh Kundu

7 mins

Big Tech Must Help Combat Illegal Online Gambling: DIF

Big tech firms like Meta and Google must play a significant role in dismantling India's fast-growing illegal online gaming sector, according to a report by the Digital India Foundation (DIF).

1 min

IndiGo world's 2nd fastest-growing airline in seat capacity

At 10.1% growth in 2024, it is only behind Qatar Airways, which grew 10.4%: OAG

2 mins

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