Business & Economy

New Delhi: The number of investors in the National Pension System (NPS) continues to rise. Meanwhile, the pension regulator, PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority), has introduced a new rule for online NPS registrations. As per this rule, submitting the online registration form will now require both OTP (One-Time Password) and a digital signature. More Secure NPS Registration ProcessThe NPS account registration process is becoming even more secure. As per a recent circular by PFRDA, investors must now verify their identity using an OTP sent to their mobile phone or a digital signature (e-Sign) when submitting their online registration form. This update modifies a circular issued on June 15, 2020, which had previously provided OTP or e-Sign as optional verification met...

New Delhi: The health insurance sector is witnessing significant changes. According to the annual report of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the speed at which claims are being settled has increased, and the number of rejected claims has reduced. However, the average payout per claim has slightly decreased. What Do the Numbers Say?In FY 2024-25, health insurance companies settled a record number of claims. Around 87% of the total claims (3.26 crore claims) made during the year were processed, up from 83% the previous year (2023-24). The rejection rate has also dropped from 11% to 8%, and pending claims have reduced from 6% to about 5% by the end of March. Decline in Average PayoutIn terms of money, the total claims paid out by companies amounted to...

New Delhi: In a significant development for private sector employees, the Supreme Court has directed the central government to take a decision on revising the wage limit for the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) scheme within four months. The wage limit has not been revised in the past 11 years, resulting in many employees being excluded from the social security and provident fund benefits. A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar gave this directive on Monday, responding to a petition filed by social activist Naveen Prakash Nautiyal. According to the petition, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which operates social security schemes for workers, does not include employees with a monthly salary above ₹15,000 in the EPF scheme. The petitioner's lawyers, Pr...

Rajendra Kumar Sahu, a progressive farmer from Basna Tehsil in the Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, has turned the issue of crop residue burning into a lucrative opportunity. Despite holding triple MA degrees, Rajendra has been earning a daily profit of up to ₹10,000 by cultivating Paddy Straw Mushrooms beneath his mango trees. His unique, low-cost method is not only saving the environment but also opening up new doors of entrepreneurship for thousands of other farmers. The Problem and Opportunity:In many parts of India, the practice of burning crop stubble after rice harvest causes severe environmental pollution and depletes the soil's nutrients. However, Rajendra Kumar Sahu has turned this challenge into a business opportunity. Instead of burning the paddy straw, he has been culti...

Stock Market Forecast: The domestic stock market witnessed a decline last Monday, with both major indices closing lower. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex dropped by 322.39 points, closing at 85,439.62, while the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty fell by 78.25 points, closing at 26,250.30. The decline came amid warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump about increasing tariffs on Indian products, which negatively impacted investor sentiment. The market saw selling in major stocks like HDFC Bank, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Bajaj Finance, and Reliance Industries, leading to market pressure. During the trading session, the Sensex had dropped as much as 446.68 points, touching a low of 85,315.33. In contrast, stocks like Bharat Electronics, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Tata Steel, an...

New Delhi: India is facing increasing pressure to make a crucial decision regarding its imports of Russian crude oil. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has warned that the situation is reaching a point where no middle ground remains. The pressure stems from the United States, which has threatened higher tariffs on Indian goods if India continues buying oil from Russia. On January 4, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could raise tariffs on Indian exports unless India stops its Russian oil purchases. Currently, Indian goods already face import duties totaling around 50%, half of which are directly linked to India’s crude oil imports from Russia. U.S. Legislative MovesU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham is reportedly working on legislation to impose significant second...

New Delhi: India has urged Russia to remove trade barriers on Indian goods, including electronics, engineering products, food items, and fish, to enable the utilization of approximately $50–55 billion worth of Russian rubles currently held in Russian banks. These funds accumulated as a result of India’s crude oil imports from Russia. According to reports by The Times of India, Indian exporters are facing multiple challenges in accessing the Russian market. In the electronics sector, specific software-related requirements imposed by Russia have created significant hurdles. Similarly, engineering goods face delays due to strict standards, and some products must meet local language requirements, making export processes cumbersome. An official involved in the discussions noted, “Our good...

The recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves, has sent shockwaves across global markets. For India, which imports oil from Venezuela and has several business interests there, the developments could bring both opportunities and challenges. How Indian Companies Are Affected Several Indian companies have invested in or operate businesses in Venezuela, spanning sectors such as energy, crude oil trading, engineering services, and pharmaceuticals. The ongoing crisis could affect their operations, investments, and supply chains. State-run ONGC is among the most exposed, holding equity stakes in two Venezuelan oil projects. In refining, Reliance Industries has historically been a major importer of Venezuelan crude. Analysts suggest that any relaxa...

The world is abuzz—not just with geopolitical shockwaves, but also with fashion frenzy—after Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro was arrested by the United States. The arrest, which also included Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores, has drawn widespread international criticism. Yet, amidst this serious political event, one striking detail caught the public’s attention: Maduro’s Nike tracksuit. The Viral Outfit Within hours of the arrest, a photo shared by former U.S. President Donald Trump showed Maduro in handcuffs and blindfolded, wearing a grey Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit. Social media erupted as users shared the image, generating a viral sensation. Some called it reminiscent of a Halloween costume, while others noted a surge in Google searches for the Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit. Price ...

New Delhi: Despite his relentless efforts to “Make America Great Again,” U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a rising national debt that continues to soar. The federal government’s debt has now reached $38.5 trillion, with an increase of $2.3 trillion in 2025 alone—equivalent to $6.3 billion added every single day. This means that, on average, each American family now shoulders a debt of $285,733. If the current pace continues, the national debt could hit $40 trillion by August 2026. Since 2020, the U.S. debt has grown by $15.3 trillion, averaging an annual increase of $2.6 trillion. Trump’s Measures to Reduce DebtTo curb the rising debt, Trump has imposed tariffs on countries worldwide, including India, and pushed companies to invest within the United States. Major corporations such ...