Business & Economy

New Delhi: Sales of premium and high-capacity motorcycles in India are witnessing a steady rise, driven in part by recent GST rate cuts. While entry-level bikes still dominate the overall market, the trend is gradually shifting toward higher-capacity models. Rising Demand for High-Capacity BikesConsumers are increasingly moving away from budget motorcycles toward premium bikes. In the first ten months of this financial year, sales of motorcycles with engine capacities of 125cc and above rose by 26%. Typically priced from ₹80,000, these bikes have seen increased demand as buyers respond to the GST reduction implemented by the government in September last year. According to SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) data cited by ET, the market for premium bikes had a 24.4% share i...

New Delhi: The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has emerged as a highly active and effective platform for consumer grievance redressal. Over the past nine months, the helpline has resolved nearly 80,000 complaints across 31 sectors, facilitating refunds of ₹52 crore to consumers, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs reported on Tuesday. E-Commerce Sector Leads in ComplaintsThe majority of complaints were related to the e-commerce sector, with 47,743 grievances recorded, resulting in refunds exceeding ₹36 crore. Following e-commerce, the travel and tourism sector accounted for over ₹4.16 crore in consumer refunds. Other sectors included agency services (₹1.54 crore), electronic products (₹1.45 crore), and general insurance (₹1.18 crore). Efficient Digital Redressal MechanismNCH operates u...

New Delhi: Mukesh Kumar Sharma, famously known as the “Crorepati Chaat King,” has carved a unique niche for himself in Delhi’s culinary scene. Since 1989, he has been selling dahi bhallas from a simple folding table at Nehrū Place. Today, he arrives at his stall in a BMW, a testament to his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming a millionaire. A Simple Start with a Big DreamSharma started his venture selling dahi bhallas at just ₹2 per plate. Over the years, due to increasing demand and consistent quality, the price has risen to ₹40-50 per plate. His signature dish, made with 16 special ingredients and around 40 kilograms of fresh yogurt daily, has become a crowd favorite, attracting customers not only from Delhi but also from outside the city. Stall by the Road, Not a...

New Delhi: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to take a decision on its interest rate for the current financial year. The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of EPFO will meet on March 2, where the interest rate for subscribers is expected to be announced. Sources indicate that the interest rate is likely to remain unchanged at 8.25% for the third consecutive year. According to insiders, EPFO is prepared to maintain the interest rate of 8.25% on provident fund deposits, as it has sufficient surplus from its investments to support this rate for the current year. However, the organisation may need to explore new investment opportunities in the coming years or consider the possibility of slightly lower returns in the next financial year. EPFO currently manages a fund exce...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: Valentine’s Day saw a massive surge in online gifting, with Swiggy Instamart breaking records on February 14. The quick-commerce platform reported a tenfold increase in searches and premium gifting in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. Notably, nearly 50% of the orders were “orders for others”, highlighting the growing trend of sending gifts directly to loved ones. Record-Breaking Chocolate Sales Chocolate proved to be the most popular item, with the platform processing 1,042 chocolate orders per minute at 11:59 AM on February 14—the highest per-minute spike recorded by Instamart for Valentine’s Day. Searches for heart-shaped chocolates surged 500% compared to the previous week, reflecting strong demand for themed gifting products. Among cities, Ben...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: China’s economy is currently facing a sharp slowdown, with many companies struggling amid domestic stagnation and rising trade barriers in developed markets. As a result, Chinese firms are increasingly looking at foreign direct investment (FDI) in India as a strategic opportunity. Economic Struggles in China According to prominent Chinese economist Zhou Tianyong, without significant market reforms, China’s growth rate could fall to 2.5% in the coming years. Weak domestic demand and long-standing property market downturns have already reduced quarterly GDP growth to 4.5%, the lowest in three years. This is well below last year’s 5% growth and also below the 4.17% annual average growth rate Beijing projected to double per capita GDP by 2035. Why India M...

Mumbai, February 17, 2026: Danish beer maker Carlsberg is exploring the possibility of listing its Indian subsidiary on the stock market through an Initial Public Offering (IPO), according to CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen. CEO’s Statement In a recent investor call, Aarup-Andersen confirmed that the company is assessing the potential benefits of an IPO for shareholders. However, he clarified that no final decision has been made yet. “This is just an early-stage discussion. If we decide to proceed with an IPO, we will share more details in due course,” he stated. Why the IPO Matters India is one of Carlsberg’s fastest-growing markets, and the company sees a strong opportunity to capitalize on the expanding beer industry, which has become increasingly competitive. Carlsberg reported hi...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: Shares of Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd, a company closely tied to the railway sector, jumped nearly 11% on Tuesday following the announcement of two new orders. Sharp Rise in Early Trading Texmaco shares had closed at ₹111.25 on Monday. On Tuesday, the stock opened higher and quickly gained momentum. By 11 a.m., it touched ₹123.35, marking an 11% intraday increase. Later in the morning, the stock traded at ₹119.45, up 7.37%, as investors digested the details of the new contracts. Details of the New Orders The company received a ₹219.18 crore order from Mumbai Railway Vikas Nigam Ltd (MRVC) for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-IIIA). The contract involves designing, supplying, installing, testing, and commissioning an advanced signalin...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: Precious metals continued their downward trend on Tuesday, with gold and silver prices falling sharply in early trading. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), April 2026 gold futures fell by ₹1,200 per 10 grams, while March 5, 2026, silver futures dropped nearly ₹4,700 per kilogram. At 10 a.m., gold was trading at ₹1,53,691 per 10 grams, down ₹1,069, and silver was at ₹2,36,500 per kilogram, down ₹3,391. In the previous session, April gold futures had closed at ₹1,54,897 per 10 grams, down ₹1,000 (0.64%), while March silver futures traded slightly higher at ₹2,40,201 per kilogram, up ₹310 (0.13%). Reasons for the Decline Global factors influenced the softening in precious metals. Asian markets, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South...

New Delhi, February 17, 2026: India’s trade deficit widened in January 2026 to $34.6 billion, marking the largest deficit in three months. The surge in gold and silver imports was the primary contributor to the increased import bill, while exports to the United States declined, keeping overall export growth muted. Import and Export Data India’s imports rose 19.1% to $71.2 billion in January, the second-highest monthly import figure ever and the largest increase since April of last year. Gold imports jumped 4.5 times to $12 billion, while silver imports rose 2.3 times to $2 billion. Meanwhile, exports of gems and jewellery and textiles fell, although electronics and pharmaceuticals saw modest growth. Despite this, total exports in January edged up 0.8% to $36.6 billion. Government ...