Business

New Delhi: The Government of India on Friday implemented four major labour codes that are set to reshape salary structures for employees across the country. Effective from 21 November 2025, the new codes aim to simplify labour laws, enhance social security, improve worker benefits, and modernize employment regulations. The Four Labour Codes The newly implemented laws include: Code on Wages 2019 Industrial Relations Code 2020 Code on Social Security 2020 Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 These codes consolidate 29 existing labour laws and modernize outdated colonial-era provisions in line with global standards. Impact on Salary Structure Under the Code on Wages, a minimum of 50% of an employee’s salary must now constitute basic pay. Si...

New Delhi: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has prohibited mutual fund companies from investing in shares before an Initial Public Offering (pre-IPO). However, these funds can participate in the anchor round of a public issue, sources confirmed on Friday. Reason for the Move SEBI’s decision aims to increase market liquidity and ensure greater transparency in IPO valuations. By restricting pre-IPO purchases, the regulator seeks to make the IPO process more equitable for retail and other investors. Anchor Investor Rules Updated Earlier this month, SEBI made significant changes to share allocation rules for anchor investors. The move was intended to boost participation of domestic institutional investors such as mutual funds, insurance companies, and pension funds...

New Delhi: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a stern warning to general and health insurance companies to stop publishing misleading advertisements about claims settlement ratios. According to the regulator, there is a significant gap between what insurance companies claim in ads and the actual reality of settlements. Misleading Claims Settlement Ratios IRDAI observed that many insurance companies present their claims settlement ratios in a misleading and deceptive manner, making it appear as though very few claims are rejected, while the actual figures submitted to the regulator tell a different story. Companies often use different definitions to calculate settlement ratios and exclude rejected or pending claims in their advertisements. T...

Mumbai: Shares of Maharashtra-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Pro Fin Capital Services Limited (BSE–511557) surged sharply on Friday, hitting the upper circuit of 10% despite a weak trend in broader markets, where BSE Sensex fell 400.76 points. The rally comes on the heels of news regarding the company’s upcoming board meeting on 26 November 2025 to discuss a 25% equity stake sale at ₹22 per share. Hong Kong Connection Drives the Rally Pro Fin Capital had shared an update with the stock exchanges on 20 November, stating that its board would meet to review a Letter of Intent (LOI) received from Hong Kong-based Excellence Creative Ltd. The LOI expresses interest in acquiring up to 25% of Pro Fin Capital’s equity shares at the proposed price of ₹22 per share. This non-binding...

New Delhi: Shares of Integrated Industries have been making headlines, surging on news of the company’s upcoming fund-raising plans. The company is scheduled to discuss capital infusion on 28 November 2025. The stock, currently priced at ₹28, has delivered a phenomenal 56,000% return over the past five years, making it a multibagger for investors. Integrated Industries manufactures both organic and inorganic food products and has been witnessing sustained momentum in its shares. Stock Hits Upper Circuit On Friday, the stock of Integrated Industries hit the upper circuit for the second consecutive day, reaching ₹28.09. The company’s announcement about fund-raising via equity shares or convertible warrants led to a strong surge. The proposal, subject to regulatory and shareholder appro...

New Delhi: After a decade in the corporate world, Vijay Singh made a life-changing decision—he left his high-pressure MNC job to pursue organic farming. Hailing from Sunhada village in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, Vijay developed a unique high-value intercropping farm model that maximizes profits at minimal cost. Today, he is earning lakhs annually while promoting chemical-free agriculture. Vijay, an MBA, was inspired by a bio-organic market in Delhi in 2015, which motivated him to adopt natural farming techniques. He now cultivates advanced sugarcane varieties like CoS 8272 and uses ring pit technology to revolutionize traditional farming practices. His key to success lies in value addition—processing sugarcane into jaggery and flavored variants, increasing profit margins by up to 75%. L...

India’s largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has set an ambitious target to become the country’s biggest AI-driven technology services provider. In a major strategic move, the company has created a new entity and secured $1 billion (₹8,820 crore) funding from global private equity firm TPG to build large-scale AI data centres across India. TCS Forms ‘HyperVault’ to Build India’s Largest AI Data Centres TCS has announced the formation of a new company named HyperVault, which will focus exclusively on designing and building advanced AI-ready data centre infrastructure. Under this joint venture, TCS and TPG will collectively invest up to ₹18,000 crore over the next few years. Additional capital will be raised through debt to accelerate infrastructure development. H...

Germany’s Deutsche Bank is preparing to exit its retail and wealth management business in India, marking the second time in eight years that the bank has attempted to sell its operations here. Indian private lenders Kotak Mahindra Bank and Federal Bank are reportedly in the race to acquire the portfolio. According to sources cited by Economic Times, both Indian banks have completed preliminary valuations of Deutsche Bank’s India assets, which include personal loans and certain mortgage portfolios. While the exact composition of these assets remains undisclosed, the bank’s wealth management business manages nearly ₹25,000 crore in assets. During the fiscal year ending March 2025, the bank’s retail business generated ₹2,455 crore in revenue, a 4% increase over the previous year. Why Th...

When it comes to India’s most expensive homes, Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia often comes to mind. However, Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat surpasses it both in size and grandeur, standing as the largest royal residence in India and one of the largest in the world. Spanning nearly 550 acres, Laxmi Vilas Palace is 500 times larger than Antilia, which occupies just 1.12 acres. Built in the 1880s by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the palace is named after his wife, Maharani Lakshmi Bai, whom he married in 1880. Designed in the Indo-Saracenic style, the palace houses numerous priceless artifacts and a rich collection of royal memorabilia. Bigger and Pricier than AntiliaWhile Antilia is valued at around ₹15,000 crore, Laxmi Vilas Palace is estimated at ₹24,000 crore, making it both more...

Once the world’s strongest currency, the US dollar is gradually losing its shine. Recent actions by the US government, including tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive policies, have weakened the dollar’s global standing. This decline, analysts say, could present a significant opportunity for India to reduce its dependence on the greenback. According to a Bloomberg report prepared for the New Economy Forum, emerging economies, often referred to as the Global South, are increasingly losing confidence in the dollar. Factors behind this trend include Trump-era tariffs, the rising US debt, the breakdown of long-standing agreements with Middle Eastern countries, and growing competition from China. The report notes that these developments have fu...