Business

Gratuity After One YearThe Government of India has introduced major reforms in labor laws, effective from 21 November 2025. Under the new regulations, employees are eligible for gratuity after just one year of service, replacing the earlier five-year requirement. This change also benefits fixed-term employees, who will now receive gratuity even if their contract is shorter than five years. Fixed-Term Employees to Get Full Benefits According to the new rules, fixed-term employees will enjoy the same rights and benefits as permanent staff, including leave, medical facilities, social security, and salary protections. The government expects this move to encourage companies to hire employees directly rather than relying heavily on contracts. What is Gratuity? Gratuity is a financial...

Copper Demand Soars GloballyTraditionally, crude oil has been the “black gold” powering Gulf economies. For Saudi Arabia, oil remains vital, but the kingdom is now diversifying its focus towards copper (red gold) and gold (yellow gold) as part of its long-term economic strategy. Saudi Arabia’s Plan Under its “Vision 2030” initiative, Saudi Arabia aims to make mining of copper, gold, and other minerals the third pillar of its economy, reducing reliance on oil. The government estimates trillion-dollar reserves of phosphates, copper, and bauxite, crucial for the global energy transition, including electric vehicles and renewable energy. Mining Licenses and Global Partnerships Saudi Arabia plans to quadruple mining revenue by 2030 and is inviting companies worldwide to establish op...

New Delhi: The Government of India on Friday implemented four major labour codes that are set to reshape salary structures for employees across the country. Effective from 21 November 2025, the new codes aim to simplify labour laws, enhance social security, improve worker benefits, and modernize employment regulations. The Four Labour Codes The newly implemented laws include: Code on Wages 2019 Industrial Relations Code 2020 Code on Social Security 2020 Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 These codes consolidate 29 existing labour laws and modernize outdated colonial-era provisions in line with global standards. Impact on Salary Structure Under the Code on Wages, a minimum of 50% of an employee’s salary must now constitute basic pay. Si...

New Delhi: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has prohibited mutual fund companies from investing in shares before an Initial Public Offering (pre-IPO). However, these funds can participate in the anchor round of a public issue, sources confirmed on Friday. Reason for the Move SEBI’s decision aims to increase market liquidity and ensure greater transparency in IPO valuations. By restricting pre-IPO purchases, the regulator seeks to make the IPO process more equitable for retail and other investors. Anchor Investor Rules Updated Earlier this month, SEBI made significant changes to share allocation rules for anchor investors. The move was intended to boost participation of domestic institutional investors such as mutual funds, insurance companies, and pension funds...

New Delhi: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a stern warning to general and health insurance companies to stop publishing misleading advertisements about claims settlement ratios. According to the regulator, there is a significant gap between what insurance companies claim in ads and the actual reality of settlements. Misleading Claims Settlement Ratios IRDAI observed that many insurance companies present their claims settlement ratios in a misleading and deceptive manner, making it appear as though very few claims are rejected, while the actual figures submitted to the regulator tell a different story. Companies often use different definitions to calculate settlement ratios and exclude rejected or pending claims in their advertisements. T...

Mumbai: Shares of Maharashtra-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Pro Fin Capital Services Limited (BSE–511557) surged sharply on Friday, hitting the upper circuit of 10% despite a weak trend in broader markets, where BSE Sensex fell 400.76 points. The rally comes on the heels of news regarding the company’s upcoming board meeting on 26 November 2025 to discuss a 25% equity stake sale at ₹22 per share. Hong Kong Connection Drives the Rally Pro Fin Capital had shared an update with the stock exchanges on 20 November, stating that its board would meet to review a Letter of Intent (LOI) received from Hong Kong-based Excellence Creative Ltd. The LOI expresses interest in acquiring up to 25% of Pro Fin Capital’s equity shares at the proposed price of ₹22 per share. This non-binding...

New Delhi: Shares of Integrated Industries have been making headlines, surging on news of the company’s upcoming fund-raising plans. The company is scheduled to discuss capital infusion on 28 November 2025. The stock, currently priced at ₹28, has delivered a phenomenal 56,000% return over the past five years, making it a multibagger for investors. Integrated Industries manufactures both organic and inorganic food products and has been witnessing sustained momentum in its shares. Stock Hits Upper Circuit On Friday, the stock of Integrated Industries hit the upper circuit for the second consecutive day, reaching ₹28.09. The company’s announcement about fund-raising via equity shares or convertible warrants led to a strong surge. The proposal, subject to regulatory and shareholder appro...

New Delhi: After a decade in the corporate world, Vijay Singh made a life-changing decision—he left his high-pressure MNC job to pursue organic farming. Hailing from Sunhada village in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, Vijay developed a unique high-value intercropping farm model that maximizes profits at minimal cost. Today, he is earning lakhs annually while promoting chemical-free agriculture. Vijay, an MBA, was inspired by a bio-organic market in Delhi in 2015, which motivated him to adopt natural farming techniques. He now cultivates advanced sugarcane varieties like CoS 8272 and uses ring pit technology to revolutionize traditional farming practices. His key to success lies in value addition—processing sugarcane into jaggery and flavored variants, increasing profit margins by up to 75%. L...

India’s largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has set an ambitious target to become the country’s biggest AI-driven technology services provider. In a major strategic move, the company has created a new entity and secured $1 billion (₹8,820 crore) funding from global private equity firm TPG to build large-scale AI data centres across India. TCS Forms ‘HyperVault’ to Build India’s Largest AI Data Centres TCS has announced the formation of a new company named HyperVault, which will focus exclusively on designing and building advanced AI-ready data centre infrastructure. Under this joint venture, TCS and TPG will collectively invest up to ₹18,000 crore over the next few years. Additional capital will be raised through debt to accelerate infrastructure development. H...

Germany’s Deutsche Bank is preparing to exit its retail and wealth management business in India, marking the second time in eight years that the bank has attempted to sell its operations here. Indian private lenders Kotak Mahindra Bank and Federal Bank are reportedly in the race to acquire the portfolio. According to sources cited by Economic Times, both Indian banks have completed preliminary valuations of Deutsche Bank’s India assets, which include personal loans and certain mortgage portfolios. While the exact composition of these assets remains undisclosed, the bank’s wealth management business manages nearly ₹25,000 crore in assets. During the fiscal year ending March 2025, the bank’s retail business generated ₹2,455 crore in revenue, a 4% increase over the previous year. Why Th...