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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Maharashtra government has increased ready reckoner (RR) rates for FY26 after a gap of two years. RR rates, also known as circle rates, are the state government's estimates of the minimum property prices in an area.

President Donald Trump is taking a blowtorch to the rules that have governed world trade for decades

India’s economy, MSMEs remain critically underinsured. With less than 15% having adequate insurance coverage, millions of businesses are left vulnerable to financial shocks. Why, then, do so many small enterprises overlook such a crucial safety net? Business insurance penetration among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India remains alarmingly low. Given that there are 63 million MSMEs, which currently contribute approximately 30% to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), only a small fraction have insurance. Insurance coverage is crucial for MSMEs, given their limited capacity to withstand risks such as payment defaults. In the post-pandemic world, challenges such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and economic slowdowns have further heightened the risks associated with exports, making risk mitigation through insurance more vital than ever. This raises an important question: Are MSMEs reluctant to embrace insurance, or is the system failing to make insurance accessible and compelling? According to Girija Subramanian, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., the issue is deeply rooted in perception and awareness. Speaking on the sidelines of the Economic Times (ET) MSME Awards 2024 in Delhi, Subramanian addressed this challenge in a fireside chat moderated by Neha Dewan, Assistant News Editor, The Economic Times.

Here are four effective ways to make a successful comeback:

Income Tax Department. The taxmen are seeking verification of the previous-year claims filed in the Income Tax Returns (ITR). If, however, the taxpayer has made a mistake and wants to rectify the tax returns for earlier years, they have until March 31 to submit an updated-and rectified-ITR to account for the gap. ET explains below what the relevant TDS provisions entail, and what a taxpayer should do when served a notice.

Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist at Zoho, recently commented on young students leaving home for higher education, stating that they end up paying more without acquiring valuable real-world skills. Vembu's comment was in reply to American investor Nate Fischer, who advocated for a decentralized US education system, the business tycoon lamented how young people are pushed into the rat race, forced to leave their families, spend a fortune on education, and gain little to no real-world skills. «He makes very important points about the higher education rat race and the chase for credentials where young people go far from home, pay ever more to stay ever longer in higher education, all too often without even gaining useful real world skills. He proposes solutions that are based on local institutions, in the American context,» said Vembu. «In the Indian context, I fundamentally believe we have to revive our rural areas to revive our civilisation and that means being able to retain and nurture talent locally. We invest a lot of time and resources trying to ensure young people can stay near home and still have a decent economic future while being close to their families and their roots,» added Vembu.

State Bank of India forging strategic partnership for sustainable growth of rural. The ceremony was attended by key officials, including Loken Das, CGM, NABARD Assam Regional Office, S Radhakrishnan, CGM, SBI Guwahati Circle. Loken Das emphasized NABARD’s role in promoting agriculture and rural development, focusing on financing public infrastructure, rural livelihoods, and improving the credit ecosystem.

Eid-ul-Fitr 2025, also known as Meethi Eid, is not just a festival—it’s a heartwarming celebration of faith, gratitude, and togetherness. As the crescent moon signals the end of Ramadan’s spiritual journey, millions of Muslims around the world prepare to mark this joyous occasion. In 2025, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be celebrated on March 31 or April 1, depending on the moon sighting in different regions. Amid the aroma of freshly prepared sweets and the warmth of family gatherings, sharing heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes, touching quotes, sincere messages, and festive WhatsApp status updates adds an extra layer of joy to the celebrations. Let’s dive into a treasure trove of over 100+ Eid Mubarak 2025 greetings, quotes, and captions that will make your loved ones feel extra special this Eid.

Q. I turned 65 in June 2024. I still work full-time and my yearly income is about $96,000. I also collect a survivor benefit of $389 a month. I have worked for 20 years full-time and would like to delay collecting Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) until age 70. Also, can I still work past age 70 while collecting CPP and OAS, and what would be the pros and cons of doing so? I have only about $250,000 in total savings with $150,000 of that in a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP.) I also have an outstanding mortgage of $100,000 on my condo. I have no company pension and will have to rely on my investment returns and employment earnings for a few years to add to savings.

The downturn follows Trump’s announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on foreign vehicles, set to take effect April 2. Critics argue these policies risk inflating consumer prices and destabilizing global markets. Multiple polls, including CNN and Economist/YouGov, echo Gallup’s findings, with disapproval rates outpacing approval by double digits.

Vishal Gautam, VP Engineering & Site Managing Director, Zscaler

Justin Baldoni is taking a well-deserved break in Hawaii. The actor and director was seen sporting a new look while spending time with his children.

While hiring policies and diversity initiatives have led to higher female participation, career progression for women remains sluggish, particularly at senior levels, found the report, Gender Parity—Shaping Workforce Equity, that analyses workforce trends across global capability centres (GCCs), IT services, and tech roles in non-tech industries. “While we celebrate the growing presence of women in tech contractual roles, we must recognise that achieving true gender parity requires sustained efforts and a multifaceted approach that transcends hiring more women,” said Neeti Sharma, chief executive of TeamLease Digital.

IndusInd Bank, currently in the midst of a crisis stemming from accounting gaps in its derivatives books, is said to have engaged global executive search firm Egon Zehnder to assist in the search for a new managing director and chief executive officer, two officials in the know said. RBI has approved only a one-year term for incumbent Sumant Kathpalia as the chief executive. Egon Zehnder will also help shortlist candidates for the deputy CEO position.

customer service complaints. The ServiceNow Customer Experience report analysed the widening gap between rising customer expectations and the reality of service delivery. It surveyed 5,000 Indian consumers and 204 Indian customer service agents. As many as 80% of Indian consumers now rely on AI chatbots for essential services like checking complaint statuses and product recommendations. Yet, these same consumers collectively spend an astounding 15 billion hours on hold each year, according to the report. «While some headway has been made-- the average Indian spent 3.2 hours less time waiting for an issue to be resolved than the previous year--there is still a considerable gap between customer expectations and service delivery. »This gap underscores the disconnect caused by siloed systems and limited visibility into the customer journey and adds to customer disappointment," the report pointed out.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The recent IndusInd episode raises several questions about how the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses its powers during financial stress. Beyond the immediate concerns of governance lapses and liquidity management, RBI’s decision to rely on public sector banks (PSBs) to provide liquidity support, rather than directly intervening as the lender of last resort (LoLR), merits close examination.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A yawning gap has been reported between bad loans on credit cards issued by public-sector and private banks. Given the difficulty with which the dud-loan burden of lenders in India—particularly state-run ones—was brought under control in recent years, this must not escape notice.

Rashmika Mandanna, his co-star in the upcoming action film Sikandar. The film, directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, is set to release on Eid 2025. Ever since the announcement, social media users have raised concerns about the age disparity, but Salman Khan has now addressed the issue in his signature style.

Investing in India Factor-based investing has gained traction in India as investors seek systematic strategies to navigate different market cycles. It bridges the gap between passive and active investing, combining the best of both worlds. Unlike traditional investing, which may react to market fluctuations, factor-based investing provides a structured approach to identifying stocks with favorable characteristics. The AUM for factor funds in India has more than doubled in the past year, exceeding ₹40,000 crores by the end of 2024, compared to ₹14,000 crores a year ago.