Business

New Delhi: The US Federal Reserve has announced its third consecutive interest rate cut, bringing the federal funds rate down to the 3.5%–3.75% range, the lowest level in nearly three years. The move is expected to ease borrowing costs and inject additional liquidity into global markets. While the Fed has signaled only one more rate cut next year, market expectations remain more aggressive: according to CME FedWatch data, futures indicate a 77% probability of two more cuts. Indian Markets React Positively After three straight sessions of weakness, Indian equities opened higher as investors welcomed the Fed’s decision.At 10:16 am, the BSE Sensex was up 167.95 points (0.20%) at 84,559.22, while the Nifty 50 advanced 61.40 points (0.24%) to 25,819.40. Market analysts say investors we...

New Delhi: With the 8th Pay Commission now formally constituted, anticipation is rising among central government employees and pensioners. The key question remains unanswered: Will the revised pay and arrears be implemented from January 1, 2026?While the government has hinted at the possibility, no official confirmation has been issued so far. Employee unions and political leaders continue to press for clarity, a demand that echoed even during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. During a recent Lok Sabha session, four MPs questioned Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary about the implementation date. In response, the Minister refrained from specifying any timeline, stating only that the government will decide the effective date and make adequate financial provisions to im...

New Delhi: Embattled ed-tech giant Byju’s has secured significant relief in the United States. A US bankruptcy court has overturned a previous ruling that imposed a $1 billion penalty on company founder Byju Raveendran. The development marks a major reprieve for the once most-valued Indian startup. The earlier ruling, delivered on 22 November, had accused Raveendran of repeatedly ignoring court orders and failing to participate in legal proceedings. Byju’s parent company, Think & Learn, confirmed that the penalty order has now been set aside. The Loan and the Allegations A group of lenders that extended a $1.2 billion term loan to Byju’s subsidiary Byju’s Alpha had filed a default case against Raveendran on 11 August.According to filings in the bankruptcy court, Byju’s Alpha a...

New Delhi: In a major boost for investors, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a redemption price of ₹12,801 per unit for two series of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs). These bonds, originally issued on 11 December 2017 at just ₹2,954 per unit, have delivered returns of more than four times the initial investment. According to an official statement, holders of SGB 2017–18 Series XI will receive their final payout at the newly fixed redemption rate of ₹12,801 per unit. In addition to the massive price appreciation, investors have also enjoyed an annual interest of 2.5% on their investment for the entire holding period. RBI has extended the same redemption price to investors of the 2019–20 Series I, who wish to exit the scheme before its scheduled maturity on 11 December 2025. ...

While most young Indians chase the glamour of big cities, 24-year-old Prince Shukla from Purnea, Bihar, chose a path few dare to walk. He left a well-paying job in Bengaluru to return to his village and build an agricultural startup — a decision that initially invited mockery. People called him “ganwar” for giving up a corporate career to work in the fields. But Prince refused to quit. His grit, vision and belief in modern farming have today created a company with an impressive annual turnover of ₹2.5 crore, started with just ₹1 lakh. His venture, AGRATE, has uplifted thousands of farmers and proved that agriculture, when done smartly, can be a thriving business. Leaving a City Job to Rebuild Rural Agriculture Born in a small village in Purnea, Prince grew up watching farmers stru...

Dalal Street ended lower for the third consecutive session on Wednesday, as selling pressure in consumer durable, private banking, and IT stocks weighed on indices. The BSE Sensex slipped 275.01 points to close at 84,391.27, marking its lowest level since 11 November. During the day, the benchmark touched an intraday high of 85,020.34 and a low of 84,313.62. Similarly, the NSE Nifty fell 81.65 points to settle at 25,758, dragged down by heavy selling in the final hour of trade. Top Losers and Gainers Several frontline stocks ended in the red. Major laggards included: Eternal, Trent, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, Tech Mahindra UltraTech Cement, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank Bajaj Finance, Tata Consultancy Services, BEL, Larsen & Toubro Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles However,...

Whether or not investors are making profits from cryptocurrency, the government certainly is. The Finance Ministry informed the Lok Sabha that crypto exchanges have collected nearly ₹1,100 crore as Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) from users over the last three financial years. Surprisingly, 60% of this revenue came from a single state — Maharashtra. According to Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, crypto exchanges deducted ₹221.27 crore in FY 2022-23, ₹362.70 crore in FY 2023-24, and ₹511.83 crore in FY 2024-25, totalling ₹1,096 crore. The information was shared in response to questions raised by MPs Pulla Mahesh Kumar and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy. Maharashtra Tops Crypto TDS Collection Finance Ministry data reveals that Maharashtra remains far ahead of all other states ...

The troubles for India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continue to deepen as the government adopts an increasingly tough stance. A day after CEO Pieter Elbers met Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now formally summoned him, along with the airline’s top executives, to provide a detailed operational status report. According to officials, the DGCA has directed IndiGo to appear on 11 December at 3 pm, armed with comprehensive data on the ongoing disruptions that have plagued the airline for nine consecutive days. DGCA Seeks Detailed Briefing The regulator has sought updates on several critical fronts, including: The current status and timeline for resuming cancelled flights Hiring and recruitment plans to stabilise operatio...

Central government employees and pensioners may receive discouraging news next month. According to a Financial Express report, the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2026 are expected to increase by only 2%—one of the lowest hikes in the past seven years. Since January 2019, DA increments have generally ranged between 3% and 4%, with only one exception: a 2% increase in January 2025. If the projected figure holds true, employees will see a second consecutive minimal hike. First DA Revision Outside the 7th Pay Commission Cycle This upcoming DA adjustment carries added significance. For the first time, the hike will occur after the expiry of the 7th Pay Commission’s 10-year tenure, which ends on 31 December 2025.Although the 8th ...

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continues to grapple with mounting challenges. After being forced to cut 10% of its flights and cancelling more than 5,000 services in recent weeks, the carrier may now face a formal investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The inquiry would examine whether IndiGo violated monopoly regulations and misused its dominant market position. According to a senior government official quoted in an Economic Times report, there is a “strong case” for a CCI investigation. The official noted that while the DGCA will continue to lead the broader government review into the airline’s operational crisis, the CCI is closely monitoring issues that fall under its jurisdiction, particularly allegations of restrictive practices and unfair conditions imposed...