India Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : A tiny bottle of coconut oil--Would you use it to cook up a meal, or to nourish your hair? The seemingly trivial question is close to being answered, after winding through a tax tribunal, a government department, and India's top court for over 15 years. At stake: Heavy taxes and higher prices if the product is labelled a kitchen ingredient, and potential impact on other dual-use products.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Maruti-Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker, told investors last month that demand for cars remained “muted" and that it was planning higher discounts to push sales. It is also pinning hopes on sales of premium cars in rural areas, as is Hindustan Unilever, the country’s largest mass consumer packaged goods firm.

The 2019 Assembly ElectionsThe 2019 assembly elections in Maharashtra saw 61.4 per cent voter turnout. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of the BJP and the Shiv Sena (SHS) won a majority.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: A blueprint to spruce up India’s tourism industry is in the works. The Centre is preparing a five-year plan to develop about 100 tourist destinations to global standards, and position them according to their individual potential, according to two officials close to the discussions.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification of factories of manufacturers, including component makers, is compulsory under government rules. The appliance makers termed the decision “unexpected” and said it needed calibration for such import substitution, even as a BIS official said the move was aimed at promoting local manufacturing.

Deloitte India’s domain expertise with Securiti’s technology platforms to deliver tailored, end-to-end security solutions for businesses navigating increasingly complex regulatory requirements.The partnership aims to support organisations in automating privacy operations, improving Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), and enhancing compliance frameworks. This comes in the context of regulatory developments such as India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), which emphasises data protection, consent, and transparency.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Honasa Consumer, the parent to personal care brand Mamaearth, has denied allegations made by the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) regarding unsold stocks causing financial burden on distributors and retailers, noting that the figures mentioned by the industry body is “inconsistent" with the sales driven through the channel.

Redmi brand, recently teased the launch on its social media platforms. In a post on X, the company shared a cryptic image with the tagline, “Ready for a Noteworthy Rival?" While the teaser did not confirm the series by name, speculation is rife that it refers to the imminent arrival of the Redmi Note 14 series, which is slated to make its Indian debut in December.The Redmi Note 14 series launched in China boasts an array of features designed to cater to various consumer needs.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A quiet transformation is underway at the heart of the Tata group-owned Indian Hotels Co. Ltd (IHCL).

Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for making the process of capability development of the Indian Air Force more efficient and effective. In an address at a conference of top commanders of the IAF, Singh commended the force for its dedication and professionalism in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty. He expressed confidence in the IAF's ability to adapt to evolving challenges and exhorted commanders and senior officials of the defence ministry to look at means to make the process of capability and capacity building more efficient and effective in line with India's national aims and aspirations, according to an official readout. The IAF commanders reviewed the national security challenges, especially the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

The Cabinet had in August, approved 12 new project proposals under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of Rs 28,602 crore spanning across 10 states. “These industrial smart cities, represent the next generation of connected, self-sustaining hubs that will support local communities and elevate India’s global standing,” the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said in a statement on the eighth anniversary of four industrial corridors namely Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC), East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), and Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC).

Assam cabinet has approved renaming of Karimganj as Sribhumi District. The state government stated that to give the existing Karimganj district a distinct identity which justifies its richcultural heritage, Cabinet has approved renaming Karimganj as Sribhumi district. “Over a 100 years ago, Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore had described modern day Karimganj District in Assam as ‘Sribhumi’- the land of Maa Lakshmi. Today the AssamCabinet has fulfilled this long-standing demand of our people.” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “Restoring the Old Glory of Assam's Southernmost district Karimganj district is now Sribhumi. Honouring the vision of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore who named the current geographical of undivided India as Sribhumi, Assam Cabinet has decided to rename Karimganj as Sribhumi district. This decision will reflect the expectations and aspirations of the people of the district.” In order to build upon the growth momentum in the State and attract investments and infrastructure development in Assam, Cabinet has approved holding of the Assam Investment and Infrastructure Summit, 2025 on 24 & 25 February. The Summit will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He had questioned Amazon's announcement of a USD 1 billion investment in India, saying the US retailer was not doing any great service to the Indian economy but filling up for the losses it had suffered in the country. Addressing an event in Mumbai, Goyal said e-commerce companies should stick to the rule of the law.

LTIMindtree, India’s sixth largest IT services company, has secured an extension of a key contract from European payment solutions provider Nexi Group, the Mumbai-based firm said on Tuesday. As a part of the partnership, LTIMindtree will leverage its technical expertise and solutions to optimise Italy-based Nexi's core platforms, aiming to enhance performance, innovation and scalability, LTIMindtree said in a statement. LTIMindtree will also manage Nexi's hybrid infrastructure, enabling a seamless integration of on-premise and cloud-based solutions, while supporting the company’s digital transformation efforts, the company said.

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has unveiled its new ACCELERATE 2030 strategy under which it plans to expand its current portfolio of 350 hotels to over 700 by 2030, besides reaching an enterprise revenue mark of over Rs 30,000 crore from Rs 13,000 crore currently. Under the strategy, IHCL aims to take its number of operational hotels to 500 plus in 2030 from 232 currently, and is targeting consolidated revenues of over Rs 15,000 crore in 2030 from Rs 7,000 crore currently. It aims to take the ROCE (return on capital employed) ratio to 20% in 2030 from 15% currently, and wants to sustain its net cash positive position going forward. “Our vision is to be the most valued, responsible and profitable hospitality ecosystem. So the revenues should double, the portfolio should double. The ROCE should go to 20% plus, and the NPS stays at 70 plus,” said IHCL MD and CEO Puneet Chhatwal on Tuesday, while unveiling the new strategy.

India looks for equity, balance and fair trade while negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. He asserted that India has entered into FTAs with countries which are transparent, open and where governments' economic systems align with India.

Phuket to Delhi in five hours has turned into a four-day ordeal for many travellers aboard Air India Flight AI 377. The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 5:50 pm (local time) on November 16, had to be delayed due to technical issues and crew flight duty time restrictions. The Airbus A320 (VT-EDD) was unable to take off on its scheduled time, and after a delay of nearly 24 hours, the flight took off from Phuket at 8:44 pm the next day. However, after about 3.5 hours in the air, the aircraft had to return to Phuket due to a technical snag. As of now, around 30-35 passengers remain stranded in Phuket. In a TOI report, Air India sources confirm that plans are in place to fly these passengers back to Delhi on Wednesday, meaning they will reach their destination four days later than originally expected.

Standard Audit File for Tax (SAF-T) for efficient and faster audit process and compliance monitoring, according to a survey released by Deloitte India on Tuesday. Further, 67% supported the introduction of tax e-wallet, which would allow for prompt credit of taxpayers’ refunds on order issuance, enabling adjustments against outstanding demands or future income tax liabilities. “The government’s progress in digitalisation is already reshaping the tax landscape, enhancing the ease of doing business and driving efficiencies that taxpayers highly appreciate,” said Rohinton Sidhwa, Partner at Deloitte India.

demand and fading margin tailwinds. Earnings were downgraded by 3% for FY25, reflecting broader market struggles. The corporate earnings outlook for H2FY25 hinges on government spending and rural demand recovery, but sustaining growth will require stronger sectoral performance, Nuvama Research noted. A 2% cut in Nifty's FY25 EPS estimate to Rs 1,057 further underscored the challenges, the brokerage said.

IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday said Bengaluru’s emergence as a clear leader was not just a testament to its potential, but a call to build policies that sustain and amplify this growth. The minister was commenting on Bengaluru Rising, a data report published by the nonprofit UnboxingBLR Foundation, released by chief minister Siddaramaiah, Dy CM DK Shivakumar and himself at the inaugural of the Bengaluru Tech Summit. State’s startup vision group chairman Prashanth Prakash also heads the nonprofit and its report promises a 360-degree view on India’s top cities.