Business

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to an Air India pilot over operational safety concerns during a flight in June 2025. The incident involved a Boeing 787 en route from Tokyo to Delhi, which had to be diverted to Kolkata due to a sudden spike in cabin temperature, causing discomfort to passengers. Safety Concerns RaisedThe notice, issued on 29 December 2025, highlights serious safety concerns regarding the dispatch of flights AI 358 (Delhi–Tokyo) and AI 357 (Tokyo–Delhi). DGCA pointed out that the aircraft was dispatched without full compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), and that the flight crew failed to adequately assess the risks posed by repeated technical issues. In another case, a Delhi–Tokyo flight reported a ...

Vodafone Idea Shares Jump 6% on New Payout from Promoter Vodafone Group New Delhi: Vodafone Idea’s beleaguered investors have a reason to cheer as the telecom company’s shares surged 6% in early trading today. On the BSE, the stock touched ₹11.43 after the company announced that it will receive ₹5,836 crore from its promoter, Vodafone Group. Background of the PayoutThe funds are part of a revised Implementation Agreement (IA) related to the merger of Vodafone and Idea. The changes address certain pending liabilities that had not been previously settled. Under the new arrangement, Vodafone Group promoters will contribute ₹2,307 crore in cash over the next 12 months, while the remaining amount will be provided through shares. Previously, Vodafone Idea had expected ₹8,369 crore under...

New Delhi: Gold and silver witnessed unprecedented gains in 2025, with prices soaring to levels not seen in decades. Gold surged by 62%, while silver skyrocketed 144%. As 2026 begins, experts expect the bullish trend to continue, but caution investors against hasty decisions. Strong Fundamentals, But Volatility ExpectedET consulted ten commodity market experts about the outlook for gold and silver in 2026. All experts predicted an upward trajectory, with 80% expecting silver to outperform gold. According to Naveen Mathur, Director of Commodities and Currency at Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers, strong fundamentals support both metals. “Gold is likely to deliver consistent returns, while silver, despite higher volatility, may outperform gold in percentage terms,” he said. How Hi...

New Delhi: The government has released the draft of the new labour codes, aiming to bring clarity on several employment-related issues, including provident fund (PF) contributions, salary structure, and gratuity calculations. Public feedback has been invited, giving citizens 45 days to submit objections or suggestions. Until the new rules are fully implemented, existing regulations will continue to apply, provided they align with the new codes. For industrial relations, stakeholders have 30 days to respond. Unified Definition of SalaryA significant change under the new labour codes is the uniform definition of “salary” across all four codes. The definition now includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance. Allowances exceeding 50% of total earnings (excluding gratuity ...

New Delhi: The new year has begun, bringing several major changes that directly impact your finances. From today, domestic PNG gas is cheaper, but commercial LPG cylinders and cars have become costlier. Here’s a look at the 10 key changes effective from January 1, 2026: 1. PNG Cheaper, LPG More ExpensiveIndraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has reduced the price of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) by ₹0.70 per standard cubic meter (SCM). In Delhi, the new PNG price is ₹47.89 per SCM. However, the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has become costlier. According to IOC, the price in Delhi has risen by ₹111, from ₹1,580.50 to ₹1,691.50. 2. Car Prices HikeSeveral automakers have increased vehicle prices. Hyundai cars are now 0.6% costlier, Renault India has announced hikes up to 2%, Mercedes-Benz I...

New Delhi: If you were planning to buy a Hyundai car in the new year, be prepared to spend a little more. From January 1, Hyundai has increased the prices of its entire car lineup, citing rising input costs. On average, the hike is around 0.6%. The company explained that the cost of precious metals and other essential materials has been steadily increasing. While Hyundai is continuously working to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency to minimize the impact on customers, the company said a slight price adjustment was unavoidable. Hyundai remains one of India’s top-selling car brands, with models like Creta, Exter, and Venue enjoying strong demand throughout 2025. The company is also making significant inroads in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, with the Creta EV contribut...

New Delhi: Can washing clothes make you a millionaire? Arunabh Sinha has proven that it can—and more. Born in Bhagalpur, Bihar, Arunabh went from humble beginnings to creating a business empire worth over ₹100 crore. Arunabh Sinha grew up in a modest household. His father worked as a hospital assistant in the government sector, and his mother was a homemaker. Among three siblings, Arunabh was the youngest and only son. The family lived in a small government quarter, and walking several kilometers to school was a daily routine. Sometimes, even paying for a rickshaw ride was a challenge. Despite these hardships, Arunabh excelled academically. He pursued Metallurgy and Material Science at IIT Bombay, earning his degree with distinction. Offers came pouring in from major companies like T...

Warren Buffett, widely regarded as the world’s greatest investor, is retiring today as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Under his leadership, the company transformed from a struggling textile firm into one of the world’s most valuable conglomerates, controlling nearly $700 billion in tradable stocks, bonds, and cash. A Historic JourneyWhen Buffett took charge of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, its share price stood at just $19. Today, it trades at an astonishing $750,000—a staggering 3,950,000% return for its investors. This unparalleled achievement cements Buffett’s legacy as an all-time investment legend, closely watched by investors worldwide. Buffett announced his retirement earlier this year during Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting. From January 1, the company’s daily operations will...

Shares of steel companies surged sharply today as the government announced a major policy to curb cheap steel imports, especially from China. The move sent domestic steel stocks soaring, with SAIL reaching an all-time high. Government Imposes Protective TariffIn a significant step to protect India’s domestic steel industry, the government has imposed a safeguard duty on certain types of imported steel for three years. The tariff will start at 12% in the first year, reducing to 11.5% in the second year, and 11% in the third year. This measure targets cheap steel imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and Nepal, while certain developing nations are exempted. Stainless steel and some specialized steel products are also excluded from this duty. Reason Behind the MoveThe Directorate ...

New Delhi: On the final trading day of 2025, gold and silver prices witnessed a notable decline, with silver seeing a sharper drop. Early trading on MCX showed silver falling close to ₹19,000 per kilogram, while gold also slipped by nearly ₹1,000 per 10 grams. Silver Prices:Silver, which recorded significant gains throughout 2025, dropped sharply on Wednesday. The March 5, 2026, delivery contract closed at ₹2,51,012 per kilogram in the previous session and opened at ₹2,41,400 today. During early trading, it slid further to ₹2,32,228 per kilogram. As of 11 AM, silver was trading at ₹2,38,300 per kilogram, down ₹12,712 or 5.06% from the previous close. Gold Prices:Gold also saw a decline. The February 5, 2026, delivery contract had closed at ₹1,36,666 per 10 grams in the last session a...