Business

Deal FinalizedIndia and New Zealand have successfully concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Under this pact, Indian goods will enter New Zealand duty-free, opening significant opportunities for sectors like textiles and leather, which rely heavily on labor. Additionally, New Zealand has committed to investing $20 billion (over ₹1.6 lakh crore) in India over the next 15 years. Benefits for IndiaNew Zealand will provide zero-duty access for 100% of Indian exports, helping Indian companies expand their presence there. However, India has chosen not to reduce import duties on sectors like dairy, meat, vegetables, sugar, copper, and aluminum. Benefits for New ZealandExports from New Zealand, including sheep meat, wool, coal, and timber, will enjoy duty-free access to Indi...

New Framework for Mutual Fund ExpensesThe Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced a significant change in the way mutual fund expenses are calculated. Effective from 17 December, the expense ratio framework has been revised to give investors a clearer picture of the actual costs they incur. According to reports from The Economic Times, the traditional expense ratio will now be referred to as the Base Expense Ratio (BER). SEBI has clarified that certain taxes and charges will no longer be included in this limit. These include Securities Transaction Tax (STT), Commodity Transaction Tax (CTT), GST, stamp duty, SEBI fees, and exchange charges. These will now be billed separately based on actual expenses. The Total Expense Ratio (TER) will now be calculated as: BER + brok...

The story of Shrikant Badve began in 1988, when he and a few associates started a small workshop in Pune called Badve Engineering. At the time, the venture had just three employees and very limited resources. Yet, Badve had a big dream. From Humble BeginningsShrikant Badve, the founder and Managing Director of Belrise Industries, has now entered the list of India’s billionaires. From a modest garage-like unit, he built a nationwide automotive component powerhouse. Today, his company employs over 8,000 skilled professionals and operates more than 17 modern manufacturing plants across India. Building a Multi-Thousand Crore TurnoverA graduate in Electronics and Telecommunications from Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Badve also received management training at IIM Ahmedabad, sha...

The Indian stock market continued its bullish momentum on Monday, with both benchmark indices closing higher. The BSE Sensex jumped 638.12 points to settle at 85,567.48, while the NSE Nifty gained 206 points to close at 26,172.40, staying above the 26,000 mark. Market optimism was supported by foreign institutional investor inflows and expectations of a possible rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which kept investor sentiment positive throughout the session. During trading, Sensex touched a high of 671.97 points. Top Gainers and LosersAmong Sensex constituents, Trent led the rally with a 3.56% gain, followed by Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, TCS, Bharti Airtel, Bharat Electronics, Tata Motors, Reliance Industries, and Maruti, all closing in the green. On the other hand, State B...

In a landmark decision, Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, has approved the merger of its subsidiaries ACC Limited and Orient Cement with itself. The consolidation aims to create a major cement powerhouse in India, enhance operational efficiency, and optimize costs. The company’s goal is to boost profitability and deliver better returns to shareholders, signaling a transformative shift in the Indian cement industry. Creating a Pan-India Cement GiantThe merger will integrate ACC and Orient Cement into Ambuja Cements, streamlining manufacturing and logistics operations while ensuring efficient capital utilization. These structural improvements are expected to enhance profitability, support capacity expansion, and deliver long-term value to shareholders. By consolidating networks,...

China is witnessing a rapid rise in gig workers who, despite 14-hour shifts and meager earnings, are compelled to take up these jobs. This trend highlights the slowdown in China’s economy and a scarcity of traditional employment. While the gig economy offers flexibility, it also exposes workers to low wages, insecurity, and hazardous working conditions, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report comes at a time when India is also debating the exploitative aspects of the gig economy. Recently, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha raised concerns over the challenges faced by gig workers in India. From Factories to Gig WorkOnce famous for its factories, China is increasingly becoming a country of gig workers, with their numbers exceeding 200 million. Gig work encompa...

New Delhi: Automotive semiconductor chips, crucial for cars, mobile devices, IoT (Internet of Things), and artificial intelligence, have largely been imported until now. Tata Group’s company, Tata Electronics, has taken a major step to manufacture these chips domestically by partnering with Japanese semiconductor firm ROHM Co. Collaboration DetailsUnder this partnership, Tata Electronics and ROHM will assemble and test ROHM’s specialized Nch 100V, 300A Si MOSFET chips in India. These automotive-grade chips are specifically designed for vehicles, with large-scale production targeted by 2026. The collaboration aims to produce semiconductors for both Indian and global markets, leveraging ROHM’s advanced technology and Tata Electronics’ expertise in chip assembly and testing. Company Sta...

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to bring more good news for the public in February, with reports suggesting a potential cut in interest rates. According to a report by Union Bank of India, the RBI may reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) in its upcoming monetary policy meeting, bringing the benchmark rate down to 5%. The next monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting is scheduled for 4–6 February 2026. RBI’s Soft ApproachThe report highlights that given the RBI’s accommodative stance, there is room for an additional 25 bps cut in February or April 2026. The central bank has repeatedly noted that inflation is stable and price pressures are easing. If the impact of gold prices on inflation (around 50 bps) is adjusted, inflationary pressure appears even lower. ...

New Delhi: Bengaluru, India’s largest IT hub, home to global giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Wipro, is now in the spotlight for an entirely different reason—its deteriorating infrastructure. Caleb Friesen, a Canadian national, recently raised concerns about the city’s damaged roads and footpaths in Indira Nagar, one of Bengaluru’s most upscale neighborhoods. Video Highlights Unsafe StreetsFriesen shared a video on Instagram showing himself walking with his young son along uneven, pothole-ridden footpaths. The footage captures missing footpath covers, obstructive plants, and broken bricks, forcing pedestrians onto the road. Friesen captioned the video: “This is your signal to stop watching bad news and see it for yourself.” Serious Concerns for PedestriansIn his post, Fries...

New Delhi: Companies worldwide adopt creative ways to reward their employees, but one Chinese firm has taken employee incentives to an extraordinary level. Zhejiang Guosheng Automotive Technology, a manufacturer of automobile components, has announced that it will gift luxury flats to its most loyal employees. Rewarding Loyalty with FlatsThe company plans to gift 18 flats, each valued between ₹1.3 crore to ₹1.5 crore, to its longest-serving and most trusted employees. With over 450 staff members and a total production value of USD 70 million (approximately ₹580 crore) in 2024, this initiative is part of a long-term strategy to retain top talent and attract skilled professionals. How the Program WorksAccording to Wang Jiayuan, General Manager at Zhejiang Guosheng, the scheme primarily...