Business

Delhi-NCR residents may easily spot the popular Korean cigarette brand ESSE at local paan and cigarette shops—from Connaught Place in New Delhi to Film City in Noida. However, these cigarettes are not legally sold in India. They are either smuggled or counterfeit, bypassing legal channels. Following complaints from the Korean company, authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit ESSE cigarettes. On Thursday, 18 December, 14 wholesale distributors in Delhi-NCR were raided, and millions of cigarettes were seized. High Court Orders RaidsThe raids were conducted under the directions of the Delhi High Court, with the Korean company KT&G and its Indian partner S.S. Rana & Co. collaborating with enforcement authorities. All products bearing counterfeit ESSE tradem...

Dr. Regi George and Dr. Lalitha Regi began their journey in 1993 in the remote village of Sittilingi Valley, Tamil Nadu, a region almost entirely devoid of healthcare facilities. Starting from a small hut, the couple trained local women as nurses and health workers, addressing urgent medical needs in the community. Infant mortality at that time stood at a staggering 150 per 1,000 births. Over the years, their modest initiative transformed into a 35-bed modern hospital, recording zero maternal deaths in the last two decades. However, the doctors quickly realized that the root causes of illness extended beyond hospital walls—poverty, debt, malnutrition, and rural migration were major contributors. Organic Farming and the Birth of SOFAIn 2003, seeking to address these deeper issues, the...

Dalal Street witnessed a soft session on Thursday, with both key indices ending in the red. The BSE Sensex fell 77.84 points to close at 84,481.81, while the NSE Nifty remained largely flat, dropping just 3 points to 25,815.55. Market Movement:The local stock market marked the fourth consecutive day of losses, driven by uncertainties surrounding trade agreements with the U.S. and a subdued global market trend. During the session, the Sensex oscillated between a high of 84,780.19 and a low of 84,238.43, reflecting intraday volatility of 541.76 points. Among Sensex constituents, Sun Pharma, Tata Steel, Power Grid, Asian Paints, NTPC, and Bharti Airtel recorded losses. On the other hand, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Adani Ports, Axis Bank, and HCL Tech ended the day with gains. Stock...

RRP Semiconductor Ltd., a little-known Indian company, has stunned the stock market with a 55,000% surge in its share price over the last 20 months. What makes this rise even more extraordinary is that the company has only two full-time employees and has not started production yet. The Phenomenon RRP Semiconductor’s shares soared despite the company posting losses in its latest financials. Investors were initially puzzled, as the company shifted from real estate to semiconductors in early 2024, without any tangible production output. However, limited share availability, online hype, and a growing base of retail investors propelled the stock to unprecedented heights. The stock hit the upper circuit 149 times consecutively. Regulatory Concerns The Securities and Exchange Board of...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Oman, the final leg of his three-country Gulf tour. A significant number of Indians work in this Gulf nation, and its currency, the Omani Rial, is considered one of the strongest in the world—so strong that even the US Dollar pales in comparison. Oman’s Economic Strength Oman, spanning 309,500 sq km with a population of around 5.5 million, hosts approximately 781,000 Indians, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. One Omani Rial is currently worth ₹235, and in comparison to the Indian Rupee—which has fallen nearly 6% against the US Dollar this year—the Rial remains exceptionally strong. The strength of the Omani Rial is backed by the country’s vast reserves of oil and natural gas, a stable economy, and a substantial foreign ...

For many Indians living abroad, money is not the only priority. Quality of life, work environment, and everyday convenience play an equally important role. This is why several Indians, even after saving crores, choose to settle abroad rather than return to India. Life Abroad Feels Easier Recently, a social media post by Swapnil Kommawar (@KommawarSwapnil) sparked a heated debate on why Indians often stay abroad. He shared a conversation with a friend living in Canada, who explained: "Even after saving 5-6 crores, many people don’t consider coming back to India. It’s not that they dislike India. Life abroad is simply easier." According to his friend, life abroad is smoother due to clear work rules, fair overtime compensation, and minimal corruption. He pointed out that even smal...

Millions of households could get relief from rising fuel costs as the government prepares to cut prices of CNG and PNG from January 1, 2026. While CNG is used in vehicles and PNG is supplied to homes via pipelines, domestic LPG cylinder prices may also see a reduction. CNG and PNG Prices to Drop The government has announced a reduction of ₹2-3 per unit in CNG and PNG rates starting January 1, 2026. This move is expected to ease the financial burden on consumers during the new year. LPG Cylinders Likely to Follow Domestic 14.2 kg LPG cylinders have not seen a price revision since March 9, 2024. Currently, prices for unsubsidized cylinders are: Delhi: ₹803 Kolkata: ₹879 Mumbai: ₹852.50 Chennai: ₹868.50 Beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme receive a subsidy of ₹300...

Mumbai: Maharashtra-based paper manufacturer Banganga Paper Industries Limited (BPIL) is set to diversify into the alcoholic beverages (Alcobev) sector, starting with the beer segment. The company has announced the acquisition of a 78.90% equity stake in CMJ Breweries Private Limited (CMJBPL), Meghalaya’s largest Alcobev company in Northeast India. Following the announcement, BPIL shares on the BSE rose 1.33% to ₹56.21 around 11 a.m. Acquisition DetailsBPIL’s board approved the acquisition proposal in a meeting held on 17 December 2025. Under the deal, BPIL will acquire 10,95,22,067 equity shares of CMJBPL. The transaction positions BPIL to become a significant player in Northeast India’s rapidly growing beer market. The deal is expected to be completed within two months, subject to sha...

New Delhi: With the year 2025 drawing to a close, several financial and compliance deadlines are fast approaching. Missing these deadlines could directly impact your finances. Key tasks include filing belated Income Tax Returns (ITR), revised ITRs, and linking PAN with Aadhaar, as well as updating bank locker agreements. 1. Belated ITR FilingThe deadline for filing the regular ITR this year was 16 September 2025. However, taxpayers who missed this deadline can still file their belated returns until 31 December 2025. Filing a belated return will attract late fees under Section 234F and interest under Section 234A of the Income Tax Act. 2. Revised ITRTaxpayers who submitted their ITR by 16 September but later discovered errors or omissions can file a revised return. This option allows ...

Mumbai: Jammu-based packaging company Phytochem Remedies (India) has opened its IPO for subscription today, 18 December 2025. The company is planning to list on the BSE SME platform. Currently, the grey market premium (GMP) is zero, indicating that investors are adopting a cautious approach toward the stock. IPO DetailsPhytochem Remedies is issuing 39 lakh shares as a fresh issue at a fixed price of ₹98 per share, aiming to raise ₹38.22 crore. Applications for subscription opened today and will close on 22 December 2025. The company is expected to get listed on the BSE SME platform on 26 December 2025. Grey Market SentimentIn the informal grey market, the stock is trading at a premium equal to the issue price, reflecting expectations of a flat listing. Experts say the lack of premium...