Business

New Delhi: In a major step to protect public health, indoor air quality and the environment, the Government of India has introduced a new quality standard for incense sticks (agarbatti), banning the use of several hazardous chemicals commonly found in the product. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified the new standard IS 19412:2025, which was formally released by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi. Under this standard, the use of certain synthetic pesticides and chemical fragrance intermediates—many of which are internationally restricted—has been prohibited in the manufacture of agarbatti. India’s incense stick industry, valued at nearly ₹8,000 crore, touches almost every household in the country. The new regulation aims to c...

New Delhi: The momentum in precious metals continued today as gold and silver hit new all-time highs. On Friday, gold prices surged by ₹1,200, while silver witnessed a massive jump of over ₹10,000, marking record levels for both metals. Domestic RatesOn the MCX, February gold futures climbed by ₹1,200 to reach ₹1,39,290 per 10 grams, compared to the previous close of ₹1,38,097. At 12:00 PM, gold was trading at ₹1,39,277, up ₹1,180 or 0.85% from the previous session. Similarly, March silver futures surged over ₹10,000 in early trade, reaching a new peak of ₹2,33,183 per kilogram. At noon, silver was trading at ₹2,32,873, up ₹9,083 from the last close of ₹2,23,790. Year-to-Date GainsGold has recorded an impressive 72% increase in 2025, while silver has soared 138%, reflecting strong...

New Delhi: As the IPO market breaks records this year, quick commerce giant Zepto is gearing up to enter the stock market next year. The company is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI soon under the confidential filing route, which allows flexibility in adjusting the IPO size later. IPO DetailsAccording to reports, Zepto’s IPO could be worth $1.3 billion (approximately ₹11,680 crore), with around ₹11,000 crore intended to raise fresh capital. The remaining portion will be allocated for early investors looking to sell their shares. The company’s shareholders approved this plan during a special general meeting on 23 December 2025. Financial PerformanceDocuments filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) reveal that Zepto recorded a revenue of ₹9,669 cror...

New Delhi: Despite a declining domestic stock market, railway-related shares witnessed a sharp surge today following a fare hike in passenger trains, expected to generate ₹600 crore in additional revenue for Indian Railways. Market ReactionIn early trading, railway-linked stocks jumped as much as 13%. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) led the rally, with its stock climbing to ₹391.40, marking a 13% gain on the BSE. Other notable performers included: Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC): up 8% to ₹132 Jupiter Wagons: up 4% to ₹358.15 Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC): up 3% to ₹701.60 Investors had been anticipating this fare increase, coupled with expectations of higher budgetary allocations for the railway sector. Details of the Fare HikeThe Mi...

New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), the government body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, has imposed a fine of ₹11 lakh on Vision IAS (Ajay Vision Education Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing misleading advertisements on its website. The action comes under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and relates to the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 and 2023. Misleading Claims HighlightedAccording to the CCPA, Vision IAS advertised claims such as: “7 out of Top 10 and 79 out of Top 100 in CSE 2023” “39 out of Top 50 in CSE 2022” The advertisements prominently displayed names, photographs, and ranks of successful candidates. However, investigations revealed that most of these candidates were not enrolled in the Foundation Classroom Course...

New Delhi: India’s electric vehicle (EV) market is witnessing a remarkable surge. Despite subsidies being reduced by half under the PM E-Drive scheme, a total of 11.3 lakh EVs were sold nationwide, signaling that electric mobility is increasingly becoming the preferred choice for consumers. Strong Growth Under PM E-DriveAccording to a report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) Green Finance Centre, the PM E-Drive scheme has boosted EV sales to 3.4 times the annual numbers under the FAME-2 program, even with reduced incentives. This clearly indicates a shift in consumer preference toward electric mobility, marking a significant transformation in India’s automotive sector. EVs Now 7.5% of Total Vehicle SalesWhile only 2,000 electric vehicles were sold in 2014–15, the...

New Delhi: The Indian aviation sector is poised for a landmark moment in 2026, as two state-of-the-art aircraft—the A350-1000 and A321-XLR—are set to land on Indian soil for the first time. Both aircraft feature advanced fuel efficiency and produce nearly 50% less noise, promising passengers an exceptional flying experience. Notably, no Indian airline currently operates these models. IndiGo Introduces A321-XLRIndiGo’s new A321-XLR is expected to arrive in Delhi from Toulouse, France, during the first week of January 2026. The airline will deploy it on its direct flights to Athens, marking the first-ever direct connection between India and the Greek capital. The aircraft will offer business and economy class seating, operating from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens. Air India’s Game-Changer:...

Mumbai: Jaipur-based spice manufacturer Shyam Dhani Industries concluded its SME IPO on 24 December 2025, closing with an astonishing 988 times over-subscription. The IPO, with an issue size of ₹38.5 crore, received bids worth ₹25,000 crore, signaling strong investor confidence. Record-Breaking SubscriptionOver the three-day IPO period, Shyam Dhani Industries received 6,22,097 applications for 361.55 crore shares, while the company had announced only 36.58 lakh shares for sale. This makes it the most subscribed SME IPO of 2025 and the fifth most subscribed SME IPO ever in India. The Grey Market Premium (GMP) for the IPO surged to 100%, indicating that the shares could list at double the issue price on the stock exchange. SME IPO Investor Demand Remains StrongInvestor enthusiasm fo...

New Delhi: The Indian government has set an ambitious goal to make India a developed nation by 2047. In 2025, several key economic reforms were implemented to pave the way for sustainable growth, including GST 2.0, income tax relief, and the Labour Code. Experts suggest that continuing this reform momentum will be critical in the upcoming year. Income Tax and GST ReformsThe government announced significant income tax relief in the Budget, including exemptions for annual earnings up to ₹12 lakh, aimed at boosting consumption. On 15 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled GST 2.0 reforms, followed by the implementation of reduced GST rates in September. Limiting GST to 5% and 18% resulted in record Diwali sales exceeding ₹6 lakh crore and streamlined the GST registration process. ...

New Delhi: Train travel across India has become more expensive starting today. The Ministry of Railways has officially announced a hike in fares for long-distance passenger trains, effective immediately. Local trains and short-distance commuters remain unaffected by this change. Details of the Fare HikeFor journeys over 215 kilometers in the ordinary class, fares will increase by 1 paisa per kilometer. For example, a 500-kilometer non-AC journey will now cost an additional ₹10. AC and non-AC coaches of mail and express trains will see an increase of 2 paisa per kilometer. This marks the second fare hike in 2025, following the July revision. The fare adjustment is expected to generate an additional ₹600 crore in revenue for the current financial year. Local trains, monthly season tick...