Mahindra & Mahindra on Saturday announced a reduction of up to Rs 1.56 lakh across its passenger vehicle range, passing on the benefit of the GST rate cut to customers.The move comes after the revamped Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure was cleared at the 56th GST Council meeting on September 3. The revised prices […]
GST reform: Nirmala Sitharaman calls overhaul ‘a people’s reform’ touching every family; to boost consumption
Calling the landmark GST overhaul a “people’s reform”, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the sweeping rationalisation of tax rates across nearly 400 products will benefit every family, lower household bills, and boost consumption, giving a fresh push to the economy.In an interview to PTI, Sitharaman emphasised that she would personally monitor whether the benefits of […]
Agri GST cuts lower farm costs: FSII welcomes move; industry seeks relief for seeds too
The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) on Saturday welcomed the GST Council’s decision to slash rates on key agricultural inputs but urged the government to extend similar relief to the seed sector.According to FSII, the reduction of GST on fertiliser raw materials, bio-pesticides, micronutrients and farm machinery will lower input costs and strengthen […]
GST overhaul to boost consumer spending; FMCG, footwear QSRs, grocery sector to gain: Report
The sweeping GST rate reductions announced this week will bolster consumer spending and benefit sectors such as footwear, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), FMCG, and grocery retail, according to Global financial consultancy Bernstein. In a report, Bernstein flagged a notable shift: the reduction of GST on personal care and household products — including soaps, shampoo, hair oil, […]
US jobs data: Unemployment hits four-year high at 4.3%; only 22,000 new jobs in August
Employment data for August revealed significant weakening in US job market conditions, with unemployment climbing to 4.3%, marking a nearly four-year peak. This development strengthens expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate reduction this month, according to Reuters.The Friday employment report further disclosed June’s first job losses in four and a half years, raising concerns […]
Financial plan for aged: What is Mutual Fund–Voluntary Retirement Account, modelled on US 401(k)? All you need to know
With India’s elderly population projected to reach 21 per cent by 2050, there is growing urgency for a robust retirement savings framework. UN data from 2023 shows that while 43 per cent of Indians were under 25, only 11 per cent were above 60, hinting at the demographic shift ahead. To address this challenge, the […]
After SBI and BoI, BoB classifies RCom, Anil Ambani a/c as fraud
MUMBAI: Bank of Baroda has classified Reliance Communications (RCom) and former non-executive director Anil Ambani’s loan accounts as ‘fraud’, adding to similar actions by SBI and Bank of India. The move, disclosed by RCom to the BSE and NSE on Sept 4, followed a forensic audit by BDO India LLP that flagged large-scale irregularities. The […]
Government allows one-time pension scheme switch: UPS members can move to NPS; deadline fixed for September 30
The Finance Ministry has launched a single-use, unidirectional switch option for central government employees who opted for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to return to the National Pension System (NPS). The move gives staff and eligible retirees more clarity on their pension choices as the September 30, 2025 deadline approaches.Strict rules for switchingAccording to the […]
Rupee slips to a fresh low of 88.27 against $
MUMBAI: The rupee bucked the trend among Asian peers on Friday, slipping to a record low even as most emerging market currencies strengthened against the dollar. It closed at 88.27 after touching an intra-day low of 88.36, weaker than Thursday’s close of 88.15.The fall came amid concerns over US tariffs, while intervention by Reserve Bank […]
GST reforms: Clothing, footwear priced under Rs 2,500 up for grabs
MUMBAI: For value retail players such as Tata Group’s Zudio, Reliance Trends and Vishal Mega Mart, the festive season just got bigger.With apparel and footwear priced up to Rs 2,500 now being moved to the 5% slab, lower and mid-income shoppers can splurge more on fashion. “We will see a big improvement in demand coming […]