Business

A major shake-up has occurred in India’s soap market. Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting (WCCL) has claimed that its flagship soap brand Santoor has now overtaken Hindustan Unilever’s Lifebuoy to become the country’s number one soap. Record-Breaking Revenue According to WCCL, Santoor generated ₹2,850 crore in revenue in 2025, surpassing Lifebuoy, while Lux holds the third position. Although companies are not required to disclose individual brand revenues, WCCL has expressed strong confidence in its lead. Market Share Data An AC Nielsen report for January to November indicates that Santoor held an 8.7% market share, while Lifebuoy had 12.1% and Lux 12.2%. Despite these figures, WCCL CEO Vineet Agrawal highlighted that these numbers may underrepresent Santoor’s performance in rur...

Traveling internationally often involves connecting flights, especially when direct options are unavailable. But what happens if you miss your connecting flight? Here’s a guide to managing this stressful situation. If All Flights Are on the Same Ticket (PNR) If your journey is booked on a single PNR, the airline is usually responsible if you miss your connecting flight, even when multiple airlines are involved. For instance, if your first flight is delayed and you cannot make the next flight, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight to your destination. Generally, no extra payment is required. What to do: Immediately head to the airline’s transfer or help desk at the airport. The staff will review your booking and guide you on the next steps. Depending on the delay...

New Delhi: After a decline on Monday in international markets, gold and silver prices bounced back sharply on Tuesday, with silver witnessing a significant jump of around ₹12,000 and gold rising over ₹1,400. Gold Prices:On MCX, gold for 5 February delivery had closed at ₹1,34,942 per 10 grams in the previous session. Today, it opened at ₹1,36,000, hitting an intra-day high of ₹1,36,403 and a low of ₹1,35,292. As of 12:20 PM, gold was trading at ₹1,35,992, up ₹1,050. Silver Prices:Silver showed an even stronger rally. 5 March delivery silver had closed at ₹2,24,429 per kilogram yesterday and opened today at ₹2,31,100. Early trading saw silver surge to ₹2,36,991. As of 12:20 PM, it was trading at ₹2,36,551, up ₹12,122 or 5.4%. Previously, silver had crossed the ₹2.54 lakh per kg mark b...

New Delhi: As the new year approaches, 2026 brings several important changes affecting your wallet directly. These include updates in banking, savings schemes, taxes, LPG prices, the 8th Pay Commission, and vehicle rates. Here’s a detailed look at what’s coming into effect from 1 January 2026. Small Savings SchemesThe government reviews interest rates on small savings schemes such as PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi, and NSC every quarter. Following a 0.25% cut in the RBI repo rate, bond yields have dropped, raising the possibility of a reduction in interest rates on small savings schemes starting the new quarter. The previous quarter saw no change in rates. ITR Penalty RulesThe last date to file revised and belated Income Tax Returns (ITR) for FY 2024-25 is 31 December 2025. Missing this dead...

New Delhi: In a major step to curb ticket touts and ensure genuine passengers get priority, Indian Railways has revised the rules for online train ticket bookings on the IRCTC website. These changes are being implemented in phases, with the first phase taking effect on 29 December 2025. Further modifications will follow in the coming weeks. Priority Booking Window for Aadhaar-Verified UsersFrom 29 December, only passengers with Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts can book train tickets between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM—a four-hour window—on the first day of the Advance Reservation Period (ARP). Passengers whose accounts are not linked with Aadhaar will be able to book tickets after 12:00 PM. The ARP opens 60 days prior to the journey date. Phase Two: Extended HoursStarting 5 January 2026, the p...

New Delhi: The Indian government is considering changes to the way LPG subsidies are calculated. This comes after state-owned oil companies signed annual contracts last month to import LPG from U.S. exporters. Until now, subsidy calculations were based on the Saudi Contract Price (CP), a standard benchmark for LPG imported from West Asia. However, officials now want the formula to include the U.S. benchmark price along with the significantly higher shipping costs from across the Atlantic. Why the Change?According to reports, importing LPG from the U.S. is cost-effective for India only if the price discount over Saudi CP is sufficient to cover the shipping expenses. Shipping from the U.S. costs nearly four times more than shipping from Saudi Arabia. Last month, Indian Oil Corporation, Bh...

Bengaluru: Trust in banks is often implicit, especially in public sector banks, where customers deposit their hard-earned money with full faith. But what happens when that trust is betrayed from within? A shocking case has emerged from Malleswaram, Bengaluru, where a senior Canara Bank manager allegedly swindled customers of over ₹3 crore. The IncidentAccording to reports by Asianet, the incident took place at the Malleswaram branch of Canara Bank. The manager, identified as Raghu, reportedly took loans in the names of 21 customers and then absconded with the funds. This brazen act has shaken customer confidence and raised serious questions about the accountability within public sector banks. How the Fraud HappenedPolice sources revealed that Raghu cunningly gained the trust of his c...

India, the world’s third-largest auto market, could witness a significant reshuffle in car sales rankings by the end of 2025. Hyundai Motor India, long holding the second spot, is expected to drop sharply as Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Tata Motors surge ahead. Changing Rankings in Auto SalesAccording to registration data available on the government portal Vahan, Hyundai has consistently held the second position since January 2019. Maruti Suzuki remains the market leader. However, by the end of this year, Mahindra & Mahindra is projected to sell 557,524 units, taking the second spot, followed by Tata Motors with 541,365 units in third place. Hyundai Motor India’s sales are estimated at 520,834 units, pushing it to fourth place for the first time. This includes registrati...

Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh and longtime political leader, passed away today at the age of 80 in a Dhaka hospital. Born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri, India, she married Ziaur Rahman in 1959, who later became President of Bangladesh in 1977. After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman in 1981, Khaleda Zia entered active politics and took charge of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1984. Under her leadership, the opposition won the 1991 elections, making her the country’s first woman Prime Minister. She held office from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006, leaving an indelible mark on Bangladesh’s political landscape. Net Worth and IncomeWhile exact details of Khaleda Zia’s net worth are not publicly verified, media reports suggest it was in the million...

Delhi is all set to welcome the New Year with grand celebrations. With just two days remaining, excitement is palpable among the city’s residents, especially the youth. Hotels, restaurants, pubs, and bars across the capital are preparing to make December 31 unforgettable, with live music, colorful lighting, and gourmet delicacies. Advance Bookings and Changing TrendsAccording to Girish Oberoi, General Secretary of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), nearly 70% of rooms in major Delhi hotels are already booked. Many establishments are arranging live performances and special dishes for their guests, while some are offering exclusive discounts to retain loyal customers. However, this year, the celebration trend is shifting slightly. Club owner Ashish Go...