Business & Economy

New Delhi: Valentine’s Day is around the corner, but India’s Gen Z and millennials are redefining how love is expressed. Traditional gifts like red roses and teddy bears are losing their charm, giving way to quirky, personalized, and practical presents, according to recent shopping trends on Instamart and Swiggy. The End of Red Roses?Classic bouquets are no longer the default. Instamart’s latest shopping data reveals a cultural shift: young buyers are opting for chocolates, chips, protein bars, grooming kits, and even condom packets instead of conventional flowers. These items are being creatively arranged in gift bundles, reflecting a more personal and playful approach to gifting. Trending Gifts of 2026This year, Valentine’s Day gifts in India are practical yet fun. Limited-edition ...

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, according to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Friday. This marks the first MPC meeting following the recent Union Budget, drawing close attention from markets, borrowers, and investors keen to gauge the central bank’s stance on interest rates and economic growth. With the repo rate unchanged, borrowing costs for businesses and consumers will remain steady. The three-day MPC review began on February 4 under the chairmanship of Governor Malhotra. Most economists and financial analysts had anticipated that the repo rate would remain on hold. The last rate change occurred in December 2025, when the MPC cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%...

New Delhi: The Government of India and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) are set to sell their combined 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank. Fairfax Financial, led by Prema Watts, and Kotak Mahindra Bank have shown keen interest in acquiring a significant portion of the shares, triggering a competitive bidding process. Both parties are expected to submit their financial proposals separately on Friday. Currently, the government and LIC together hold more than 90% of IDBI Bank’s total stake. According to sources cited by The Economic Times, once the bids are received, a minimum sale price — or reserve price — will be determined before the offers are opened. This reserve price will be known only to a few government officials and will not be disclosed to the bidders. A government official noted that t...

New Delhi: The fear of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now extending beyond the workplace, shaking stock markets worldwide. In recent days, global indices have tumbled amid concerns over Anthropic’s latest AI launch, and India is no exception. Shares of IT companies in the domestic market have also seen notable declines. White-Collar Jobs Take a Hit:Entry-level white-collar jobs, particularly in the tech sector, are facing unprecedented challenges. Traditionally, young professionals began their careers in IT and gradually advanced in their fields. However, with AI-driven automation, many are finding that plumbers, electricians, and other home-service professionals are earning more than entry-level tech workers, marking a shift that would have been hard to imagine a decade ago. Global...

New Delhi: The Indian government has significantly broadened the definition of startups, allowing companies with a turnover of up to ₹200 crore to qualify as startups. Previously, the limit was ₹100 crore. Additionally, a new category for Deep Tech Startups has been introduced, targeting companies working on highly innovative, research-driven technologies. This move aims to give a fresh impetus to India’s startup ecosystem, especially in sectors like Deep Tech, manufacturing, and R&D, where companies often require more time and capital before generating revenue. So far, around two lakh companies have been recognized as startups under the Startup India initiative, which offers benefits such as income tax exemptions and other incentives. Key Changes in Startup Rules:The Department ...

New Delhi: Rouble Negi, a teacher and activist, has risen to global fame almost overnight, earning millions and making a lasting impact through her innovative educational murals. Recently, she was honored with the Global Teacher Prize, receiving a reward of $1 million (approximately ₹9 crore) for her outstanding contribution to education. Negi is renowned for painting educational murals on the walls and ceilings of slum areas, transforming ordinary surfaces into vibrant learning spaces. Her work has earned her international recognition, giving her a unique identity in the world of education. Through the Rouble Negi Art Foundation, she has established over 800 learning centers across India, aimed at providing structured learning for children who have never attended school, as well as sup...

New Delhi: After three consecutive sessions of gains, the domestic stock market saw a decline on Thursday, February 6, as investors booked profits amid weak global cues. The BSE Sensex fell 503.76 points (0.60%) to close at 83,313.93, hitting an intraday low of 83,151.62. Similarly, the NSE Nifty dropped 133.20 points (0.52%), ending at 25,642.80. Sector Performance:Among Sensex constituents, Eternel, Bharti Airtel, Bharat Electronics, ITC, Infosys, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, and Asian Paints led the losses. On the other hand, Trent, Tata Steel, State Bank of India, and Bajaj Finance recorded gains, reflecting selective buying in the market. Stocks Showing Strong Buying:Investors have been active in stocks such as Nykaa, Policybazaar, Devyani International, Aditya Birla Real...

New Delhi: Ride-hailing services like Ola, Uber, and Rapido may face disruptions on Saturday, February 7, as driver unions across India have called for a strike. Representing gig workers associated with these platforms, the unions claim that companies arbitrarily set commission rates on their apps, significantly affecting drivers’ earnings. They have also appealed to the government to intervene. The strike, dubbed the “All India Breakdown,” is being led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) in coordination with several national labor organizations. Drivers are expected to go offline for at least six hours during the protest, potentially disrupting cab, auto-rickshaw, and bike taxi services in major cities across the country. Union Allegations:The unions allege that ...

New Delhi: The central government has officially launched the Bharat Taxi Service, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurating the initiative. According to Shah, the service is designed to provide significant benefits to drivers, offering them a cooperative ownership model similar to Amul, which could make it a landmark initiative in the mobility sector. The platform is expected to be a game-changer for gig workers across the country. Driver-Owned ModelUnlike aggregator-based platforms, Bharat Taxi Service operates as a cooperative ownership platform, allowing drivers—referred to as “Saarthis”—to be the owners of their vehicles. This system eliminates zero-commission practices and surge pricing, putting drivers at the center of operations and value creation. The cooperative model ai...

A joint statement on the trade deal between India and the United States is expected within the next 4–5 days. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement is likely to be finalized and signed in the coming days. Once the joint statement is signed, the US is expected to issue an executive order reducing tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%. Currently, Indian goods face a 25% retaliatory duty, along with an additional 25% duty on Russian crude oil imports. Speaking to reporters, Goyal said that a detailed legal agreement for the first phase could be signed by mid-March. He emphasized that the current deal does not include any binding investment commitments. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal added that once the joint statemen...