CATEGORIES

Upgrade cross-border payments

With India being the world's largest recipient of remittances since 2022, the urgency to modernise its payment systems has never been greater

'High reinsurance costs a bigger worry for life insurers'

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), which ended FY24 with around ₹17,500 crore in gross written premiums (GWP), aims to double its business in the next three years. In a conversation with Kamlesh Rao, MD & CEO

Despite CRR cut, call rates jump above MSF

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

RBI governor urges colleagues to strive for perfection

RBI GOVERNOR SANJAY Malhotra on Monday urged staff to aim for perfection in their duties, emphasising continuous improvement as the institution enters a new era.

Advance tax receipts rise 17% in Q3

DIRECT TAX COLLECTIONS have reached 71.5% of the annual target by December 15.

79% firms may raise AI spending in 2025

AS MANY AS 79% of surveyed organisations are planning to increase their AI budgets in 2025, an increase of 41% from 2024, driven by confidence in its return on investment the technology is poised to bring, said cloud-based software-as-a-service company Freshworks’ AI Workplace Report.

2024 to end with record office space leasing: Report

INDIA'S OFFICE LEASING market is expected to achieve a milestone in 2024, with gross leasing volumes (GLV) projected to reach 83-85 million sq ft, marking a 13% year-on-year increase over the previous peak in 2023, a report said on Monday.

Blackstone emerges top bidder for Haldiram deal

A CONSORTIUM LED by Blackstone has emerged as the preferred bidder for a minority stake in Haldiram Snacks, sources following months of negotiations on a potential deal.

Trade deficit widens to record high

THE UNIT PRICE of petroleum products exported from India fell to $627.16 per tonne in April-October this year from $800 per tonne in April-October 2023.

Adani, Ambani drop out of elite $100-billion club

HE'S BEEN FIGHTING to shore up investor confidence after short seller Hindenburg Research last year published a report accusing the firm of fraudulent practices.

Dixon's FY25 smartphone volumes may hit 30 mn

• Benefit of JV with Vivo to be seen in FY26, says firm

Lack of skills, data complexity hindering AI adoption in India

As Indian enterprises increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI), significant barriers such as a lack of expertise, insufficient tools, and data complexity remain. IBM India & South Asia managing director Sandip Patel talks to Jatin Grover about how small AI models are driving cost efficiency, IBM's role in chip design, and evolution of AI adoption in India. Excerpts:

₹16K cr needed for charging infra by '30: Report

INDIA REQUIRES AN estimated capital expenditure of ₹16,000 crore to meet the increasing demand for public EV charging infrastructure and achieve its target of over 30% vehicle electrification by 2030, a Ficci report released on Monday said.

EV penetration slow as costs, lack of charging infra weigh

THE PENETRATION OF electric vehicles (EVs) in India is running significantly behind schedule, with most segments failing to reach even the 5% market share level.

Swiss tax action won't impact trade commitments: Official

THE DECISION OF Switzerland to suspend the most favoured nation clause in its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with India will not have any impact on the investment commitments under the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement that the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has signed, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Monday.

Won't allow use of our territory against India's interests: Lanka

PRESIDENT DISSANAYAKE'S FIRST BILATERAL VISIT TO INDIA

MSME concerns about steel duty will be looked into: Barthwal

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has started an investigation into the complaints of dumping of steel in the domestic market and will also take into account the interests of the user industry before firming up its view, a senior official said on Monday.

Construction of FCI godown 'nil' in FY25, House panel flays govt

A Parliamentary Panel on Monday pulled up the government for not meeting the godown construction target of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the four years till September 2024 and asked the nodal ministry to constitute a high-level committee to expedite the work in the North-East and hilly states.

Drug recalls from US raise export concerns

THE RECENT DRUG recalls by US arms of Indian drugmakers have turned the spotlight back on quality issues faced by the domestic pharma companies in the lucrative export market.

WPI inflation eases to 1.89% in Nov as food prices soften

INFLATION BASED ON the wholesale price index (WPI) eased to a three-month low of 1.89% in November from 2.36% in October, thanks to a sharp fall in the prices of key food items such as vegetables and pulses, official data released on Monday showed.

Strong local demand drives flash PMI to 4-month high

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EXPANDED at a robust pace in December, mainly due to an uptick in domestic demand conditions.

Raj Kapoor's anniversary celebrated in Pakistan

PAKISTANI CULTURAL ENTHUSIASTS and film lovers gathered at the iconic Kapoor House in Peshawar on Saturday to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of legendary Bollywood filmmaker and actor Raj Kapoor.

Can't tax upper middle class more, says Piketty

DESCRIBING INDIA'S DECISION to impose a wealth tax way back in 1957 as trying \"to do too much too fast\", French economist Thomas Piketty, regarded most for his passionate advocacy of taxing the wealth of billionaires to reduce inequalities, says there's no way the government can increase tax on the upper middle class and middle Indian entrepreneurs unless it demonstrates people at the top pay a higher tax rate.

Decoding the rise of Tollywood in North India

SOUTH RULES THE ROOST

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain critical after heart ailment

TABLA MAESTRO ZAKIR Hussain has been admitted to the ICU of a San Francisco hospital with heart-related problems, his friend and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia said on Sunday.

39 ministers join Fadnavis government

THE MUCH-AWAITED CABINET expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra took place on Sunday with 39 ministers taking oath at a function in Nagpur.

Delhi govt plans to set up AI labs in schools

THE DELHI GOVERNMENT has announced plans to set up Artificial Intelligence (AI) Labs in select schools under its jurisdiction to foster advanced technological learning and innovation among students.

Do not criticise EVMs when results not in favour: Omar

OPENING ANOTHER POINT of friction with an important ally, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has dismissed the Congress party's vehement objection to Electronic Voting Machines, and echoed the BJP's defence - you can't accept election results when you win, and blame EVMs when you lose.

Delhi Assembly polls: Kejriwal to contest from New Delhi

AAP releases 4th list of candidates for elections

'We use technology as a force for good'

As IBM's first chief impact officer, Justina Nixon-Saintil drives the company's strategic alignment with business goals and ESG considerations.