Business & Economy

Smokers will have to shell out more as additional excise duty on cigarettes came into effect from Monday, February 1. The price of a 10-cigarette pack has risen by ₹22–₹25 at minimum, with premium brands seeing increases of up to ₹50–₹55 per pack. New Rates by Brand:Distributors report that 76mm premium cigarettes are now costlier by ₹50–₹55 per 10-cigarette pack, depending on the brand. Although companies have not yet officially announced the new Maximum Retail Price (MRP), distributors are billing old stock to retailers with 40% GST included. With the wholesale market closed on Sunday, traders expect the new priced stock to reach the market from Monday. For example, mid-range popular cigarettes such as Wills Navy Cut, which previously cost ₹95 per pack, may now be priced around ₹12...

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the financial year 2026–27 on Sunday. In her Lok Sabha speech, she stated that Prime Minister Modi’s “Reform Express” is on the right track but did not announce any major reforms. She could have reduced the substantial subsidy on urea, but she chose to focus on continuity and stability instead. A Veteran in Budget-Making:Sitharaman has presented nine budgets so far, making her the first Finance Minister in India to achieve this milestone. This year’s budget, however, has been termed “least exciting,” as it focused more on maintaining steady growth than announcing bold reforms. The first half of FY2026 has already seen an 8% growth, and in a global scenario of uncertainties, the government has preferred not to disrupt thi...

Pune Brothers Achieve the Impossible:Two brothers from Pune, through hard work and perseverance, have gone from poverty to prosperity, surprising everyone by gifting their parents a luxury Audi car. Their journey is not just about buying a car—it is a story of determination, family bonds, and overcoming hardships. Humble Beginnings:Rohit Nandeshwar and his brother grew up in a small, modest home where money was always tight. The roof leaked, the walls were broken, and financial struggles were constant. Their father drove an auto-rickshaw for 35 years, while their mother managed the household and supported the family through small savings. Despite these challenges, love and care were abundant at home. Early Work Experience:From a young age, the brothers took on responsibilities to hel...

Stock Market Overview:Dalal Street witnessed a sharp decline on Sunday, with both key indices closing lower. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 1,546.84 points to 80,722.94, while the NSE Nifty dropped 495.20 points to close at 24,825.45. The domestic market was hit after the Union Budget announcement, which included an increase in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F&O) trades. Investors reacted negatively to this move, leading to a significant sell-off. During intraday trading, the Sensex slipped below the crucial 80,000 level to 79,899.42 before recovering slightly, closing with a loss of 1.88%. The Nifty also hit a low of 24,571.75, down nearly 2.95% intraday, and settled with a 1.96% decline. Among Sensex constituents, State Bank of India (SBI) saw the steepe...

New Delhi: Cigarettes, tobacco products and pan masala will become significantly more expensive starting February 1, following the implementation of new taxation measures approved by Parliament in December. The government has introduced additional excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco products, along with a health cess on pan masala, replacing the earlier GST compensation cess framework. The new levies will be imposed over and above the highest GST rate of 40 percent, intensifying the tax burden on so-called “sin goods.” These changes come after the GST Council’s decision in September 2025 to discontinue the compensation cess mechanism. Sharp Increase in Cigarette Prices Under the amended Central Excise Act, cigarette taxation will now be based on length and structure, with excise...

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2026-27 tomorrow, Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Parliament. The budget speech is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM and is expected to last for approximately one to one and a half hours. The budget speech provides the government’s first official insight into its economic strategy for the upcoming financial year. It typically covers taxation, welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and economic reforms. The budget is a key event for citizens, businesses, and investors, as it sets the tone for the economy and government policies for the year ahead. Live Broadcast Details The Budget 2026 speech will be telecast live on national television and can be watched on the following channels: Sansad TV: This ...

Amid ongoing upheaval at Tata Trusts, another close associate of the late industrialist Ratan Tata is stepping down. Pramit Jhaveri will be resigning from his position as a trustee on the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust board. Jhaveri, who was appointed to the board in February 2020 when Ratan Tata was chairman, has decided not to seek reappointment after his current term ends on February 11, 2026. Official Communication In a letter addressed to Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, Jhaveri stated that he has served as a trustee since February 12, 2020, a responsibility entrusted to him by the late Ratan Tata. He mentioned that he had discussed his decision with Noel Tata beforehand and is now formally notifying the board. Jhaveri described his tenure as an honor and extended his best wishes fo...

During Operation Sindoor, Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan has backfired, with Indian tourists now avoiding these destinations. This has led to a significant decline in tourism from India. New Delhi: Indian travelers are increasingly steering clear of Turkey and Azerbaijan after both countries openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. In recent months, the number of Indian tourists visiting these countries has dropped sharply. According to figures obtained by CNN-News18, between June and December, Indian tourist arrivals in Azerbaijan fell by 63%, while visits to Turkey declined by 34%. Data shows that since June last year, the number of Indian tourists visiting both countries has steadily decreased. Decline in Indian Tourist Numbers: Azerbaijan: 63% drop...

As feared, gold and silver prices saw a dramatic reversal on Friday, bringing an abrupt halt to the recent bull run. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver plunged by over ₹1,07,971 per kilogram (27%) to close at ₹2,91,922, while gold dropped ₹20,328 per 10 grams (12%) to settle at ₹1,49,075. Both metals had reached all-time highs just a day before — silver at ₹4,20,048 per kg and gold at ₹1,80,779 per 10 grams. Biggest One-Day Fall in 15 Years This sharp correction marks the largest single-day fall in silver prices in 15 years, pulling it below ₹3 lakh after hitting a record of ₹4 lakh. Gold, which had surged from ₹1 lakh to ₹4 lakh over 14 months, also reversed sharply, losing over ₹20,000 in a single day. Gold Investment Trends Despite the correction, gold remained a ...

India’s Maharatna companies, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and NTPC, reported robust profits for the third quarter of FY 2025-26. While SAIL posted a net profit of ₹441.70 crore, NTPC’s consolidated net profit rose to ₹5,067 crore. NTPC also announced its second interim dividend of the year at ₹2.75 per share. SAIL Reports Higher Profit During the quarter ended December 31, SAIL recorded a net profit of ₹441.70 crore, up from ₹426.79 crore in the same period last year. The company’s total revenue stood at ₹27,702.78 crore, marginally higher than ₹27,006.97 crore in the previous year. Chairman and Managing Director Amrendra Prakash attributed the improved profit to increased sales, efficient operations, and prudent financial management. “Despite fluctuations in raw materi...