Business

OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Go in India at ₹399 to Boost AI Accessibility

OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Go in India at ₹399 to Boost AI Accessibility

New Delhi — OpenAI has rolled out ChatGPT Go, a new subscription plan exclusively for Indian users, priced at ₹399 per month. The plan seeks to make advanced AI tools more affordable in one of the company’s fastest-growing markets.The subscription offers ten times higher message limits compared to the free plan, along with access to image generation, file uploads, memory features, and enhanced Indic language support powered by GPT-5. OpenAI said ChatGPT Go is designed for Indians seeking broader access to premium features at a lower price point.In a move to simplify payments, the company has enabled UPI India’s most…
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Pong Dam Water Level Rises Above Danger Mark, Warning Issued to Release Up to 75,000 Cusecs

Pong Dam Water Level Rises Above Danger Mark, Warning Issued to Release Up to 75,000 Cusecs

National Times Bureau :- The water level in Pong Dam has crossed the danger mark, forcing authorities to release excess water downstream. Officials confirmed that within the last 24 hours, the dam’s water level has risen by three feet. In response, the dam administration has increased the discharge by 6,000 cusecs, with advance notice that the outflow may go up to 75,000 cusecs if required. The information was shared through an official letter by the Additional Superintending Engineer of BBMB’s Water Regulation Cell, Talwara. He stated that due to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, water inflow into Pong Dam continues…
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LIC Launches Revival Campaign for Lapsed Policies with Fee Concessions

LIC Launches Revival Campaign for Lapsed Policies with Fee Concessions

New Delhi, August 18, 2025: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Monday announced a special revival campaign aimed at helping policyholders restore their lapsed policies. The month-long initiative will run from August 18 to October 17, 2025.The campaign covers all non-linked insurance policies and offers concessions of up to 30 percent on late fees, with the maximum benefit capped at ₹5,000. For micro-insurance policies, LIC is offering a complete waiver of late fees to make risk cover more affordable.According to LIC, policies can be revived within five years from the date of the first unpaid premium, provided they…
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Next-Gen GST Reforms to Deliver ‘Double Benefits’ to Citizens This Diwali, Says PM Modi

Next-Gen GST Reforms to Deliver ‘Double Benefits’ to Citizens This Diwali, Says PM Modi

New Delhi, August 17, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, expected before this Diwali, will bring “double benefits” for citizens across India.Speaking at the inauguration of two major National Highway projects worth nearly ₹11,000 crore in the national capital, PM Modi emphasised that reform is synonymous with the expansion of good governance. He said the government is focusing on reforms to make both life and business easier.“As part of this effort, a next-generation reform in GST is being planned. This Diwali, citizens will receive a double bonus through the GST…
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LPU Declares Boycott of American Products Amid Tariff Row

LPU Declares Boycott of American Products Amid Tariff Row

Phagwara: Lovely Professional University (LPU), one of India’s largest private universities, has announced a ban on the sale of American products on its campus. The decision comes in response to the United States’ move to impose steep import tariffs on Indian goods. Chancellor of LPU and Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal said that the university has decided to take a firm stand against U.S. policies that threaten Indian trade. “From now on, no American product will be sold inside the LPU campus. If Washington enforces the new tariff structure after August 27, we will extend the…
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ICRIER Report: US Tariffs Hit 60.8 Billion Dollars Worth of Indian Exports, Key Sectors at Risk

ICRIER Report: US Tariffs Hit 60.8 Billion Dollars Worth of Indian Exports, Key Sectors at Risk

New Delhi [India]: Around 70 per cent of India’s goods exports to the United States, worth USD 60.85 billion, are now exposed to a 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US administration, according to an analysis by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).Though significant, this amounts to only 1.56 per cent of India’s GDP and 7.38 per cent of total exports, making it manageable for a USD 3.9 trillion economy. The report, titled “Navigating Trump’s Tariff Blow” and authored by Ashok Gulati, Sulakshana Rao, and Tanay Suntwal, highlighted that the brunt of the impact falls…
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Trump Says Russia Has Lost India as Oil Client Amid New U.S. Tariffs

Trump Says Russia Has Lost India as Oil Client Amid New U.S. Tariffs

Washington [US] – U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Russia has “lost India as an oil client” while weighing the broader fallout of sanctions on Moscow and its energy partners.Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One, Trump remarked, “Well, they lost an oil client so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil. China, as you know, is doing a lot… and if I did secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I’ll do it, maybe I won’t have to do it.”The comment comes just…
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Canadians Stranded as Air Canada Strike Grounds Flights, Government Criticized for Lack of Action

Canadians Stranded as Air Canada Strike Grounds Flights, Government Criticized for Lack of Action

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma):– Thousands of Canadians have been left stranded across the country and abroad as Air Canada’s flight attendants have launched a nationwide strike, grounding hundreds of flights and disrupting travel for over 130,000 passengers daily. The strike, organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), commenced after contract negotiations with Air Canada collapsed. Union leaders assert that flight attendants are demanding fair compensation for “groundwork” such as boarding and pre-flight assistance, which is currently unpaid. While Air Canada offered a 38% wage increase over four years, including 25% in the first year, CUPE argues that the proposal…
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India’s Russian Oil Imports Rise to 2 Million Barrels Per Day in August Despite US Tariff Tensions

India’s Russian Oil Imports Rise to 2 Million Barrels Per Day in August Despite US Tariff Tensions

New Delhi, August 15, 2025 – India’s crude imports from Russia have climbed to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, accounting for nearly 38 per cent of total inflows, even as geopolitical pressure and trade friction with the United States intensify.Data from global energy analytics firm Kpler shows Russia retained its position as India’s top supplier in the first half of August. Shipments from Iraq fell to 730,000 bpd from 907,000 bpd in July, while imports from Saudi Arabia dropped to 526,000 bpd from 700,000 bpd. The United States ranked fifth, supplying 264,000 bpd.“Russian crude imports into India…
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Govt May Replace GST’s Four-Slab System With Two-Tier Tax Rates

Govt May Replace GST’s Four-Slab System With Two-Tier Tax Rates

New Delhi: The Union government is weighing a significant overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax framework, with plans to eliminate the 12% and 28% tax brackets and move to a simpler two-slab system, government sources revealed on Friday. Under the proposed structure, GST would be charged at either 5% or 18% on most goods and services. The 28% slab could remain only for a narrow category of luxury or sin goods, while the 12% rate would be merged into the 18% bracket. The move is aimed at simplifying tax compliance, reducing classification disputes, and bringing greater transparency to the…
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