Business

Punjab Govt Constitutes 15 Industrial Committees, Pahwa to Lead Bicycle Industry Panel

Punjab Govt Constitutes 15 Industrial Committees, Pahwa to Lead Bicycle Industry Panel

National Times Bureau :- Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora on Tuesday announced 15 more committees dedicated to specific industrial sectors, taking the number of such panels formed so far in the state to 24.The panels are part of Punjab govt's efforts to gather suggestions from industry experts to strengthen its industrial policy and improve ease of doing business.The new committees, which include members from diverse industrial sectors, will act as a think tank to recommend sector-specific policy measures. The new committees will focus on the IT sector, bicycle industry, auto and auto components, electric vehicles, renewable energy, steel and rolling mills,…
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Tesla Launches First Charging Station in India, Plans Expansion Across Mumbai

Tesla Launches First Charging Station in India, Plans Expansion Across Mumbai

Mumbai, August 4— Global electric vehicle giant Tesla has taken its next major step in the Indian market by launching its first official charging facility in Mumbai. Located at One BKC in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, the station features four V4 Supercharging stalls for fast DC charging and four destination AC charging stalls.This move comes just weeks after Tesla’s long-anticipated entry into India with its first Experience Centre at Lower Parel. The Experience Centre, opened on July 15, marked the debut of Tesla’s Model Y SUV in India, priced from ₹59.89 lakh.Tesla’s charging station at BKC offers its latest V4 Superchargers,…
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India’s Forex Reserves Climb $2.7 Billion, Cross $698 Billion Mark After Three-Week Slump

India’s Forex Reserves Climb $2.7 Billion, Cross $698 Billion Mark After Three-Week Slump

Mumbai, August 3 – India’s foreign exchange reserves recorded a notable rebound after a three-week dip, rising by $2.703 billion to reach $698.192 billion for the week ending July 25, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday.The uptick follows a fall of $1.18 billion in the previous reporting week. This resurgence was primarily driven by a sharp increase in foreign currency assets, which climbed $1.316 billion to hit $588.926 billion. Gold reserves also rose significantly, registering a $1.206 billion gain and reaching $85.704 billion.The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) held with the International Monetary Fund…
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ED Arrests Former Axis MF Dealer Viresh Joshi in ₹200 Crore Front-Running Scam

ED Arrests Former Axis MF Dealer Viresh Joshi in ₹200 Crore Front-Running Scam

Mumbai, August 3, 2025 — In a sweeping operation targeting financial market malpractice, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Viresh Gangaram Joshi, former chief dealer of Axis Mutual Fund, for his alleged role in a ₹200 crore front-running scam that took place between 2018 and 2021. The arrest is part of a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and follows coordinated searches across eight major cities.Joshi is accused of exploiting privileged information about Axis Mutual Fund’s upcoming trades to execute pre-emptive transactions using mule accounts and a Dubai-based trading terminal, thereby generating illicit gains at the expense…
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Government Appoints Bankers and Legal Advisors for LIC Stake Sale; IDBI Bidder Likely by March

Government Appoints Bankers and Legal Advisors for LIC Stake Sale; IDBI Bidder Likely by March

New Delhi, Aug 2, 2025: The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has completed the process of appointing merchant bankers and legal advisors to assist with the proposed stake sale in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), according to DIPAM Secretary Arunish Chawla. The announcement marks a significant step in the government’s broader divestment strategy for key financial institutions.Chawla also stated that the government expects to finalise the selection of a winning bidder for IDBI Bank by March. Financial bids for IDBI will be invited after October, with the government aiming to receive them by December. The central…
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Anil Ambani Under ED Scanner in ₹3,000 Crore Loan Fraud Case; Lookout Circular Issued

Anil Ambani Under ED Scanner in ₹3,000 Crore Loan Fraud Case; Lookout Circular Issued

National Times Bureau, Aug 2, 2025: Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani is under heightened scrutiny after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against him in connection with a ₹3,000 crore bank loan fraud and money laundering probe. The LOC, which prevents individuals facing serious financial crime allegations from leaving the country, has been circulated to all immigration checkpoints.Ambani has been summoned by the ED for questioning on August 5. This development comes in the wake of a sweeping search operation on July 24, during which the agency raided over 50 companies and more than 25 individuals linked…
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New UPI Rules from August 1: Limits on Balance Checks, Auto Payments, and Enhanced Security

New UPI Rules from August 1: Limits on Balance Checks, Auto Payments, and Enhanced Security

New Delhi, August 1, 2025 — The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will roll out a fresh set of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) rules starting Friday, August 1, in a move aimed at improving system performance, enhancing user experience, and curbing fraudulent transactions. These updates will be applicable across all leading UPI platforms, including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.Under the revised framework, UPI users will be allowed to check their bank balance only up to 50 times a day. In addition, available balance details will now appear with each transaction, eliminating the need for frequent balance inquiries. During high…
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AI Revolution Set to Reshape Jobs in India’s Manufacturing, Retail, and Education Sectors by 2030

AI Revolution Set to Reshape Jobs in India’s Manufacturing, Retail, and Education Sectors by 2030

National Times Bureau, July 31: India is on the brink of a sweeping transformation in its employment landscape as agentic artificial intelligence (AI) technologies begin to disrupt core sectors like manufacturing, retail, and education. A new report released by ServiceNow on Wednesday projected that over 1.8 crore jobs across these three sectors will be impacted by 2030.Manufacturing is expected to bear the brunt of the shift, with 80 lakh jobs likely to be affected as AI systems begin automating operational and administrative processes. Retail comes a close second, with 76 lakh roles at risk, while the education sector could see…
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India’s Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Gains Momentum with Focus on Andaman Basin

India’s Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Gains Momentum with Focus on Andaman Basin

Need Delhi, July 29, 2025: India is witnessing a renewed push in oil and gas exploration, particularly in offshore regions, as part of its strategic drive to tap into the country's vast untapped hydrocarbon reserves. Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the significance of unlocking nearly one million square kilometres of erstwhile 'No-Go' offshore areas in 2022, a move he described as a turning point in the nation’s energy sector.The opening of these offshore regions, especially deepwater zones like the Andaman-Nicobar (AN) basin, has spurred a new wave of exploration activity. Since 2015, Exploration…
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US-EU Strike Major Trade Deal, Sidestep Full-Blown Tariff War

US-EU Strike Major Trade Deal, Sidestep Full-Blown Tariff War

National Times Bureau, July 28, 2025: The United States and the European Union on Sunday reached a sweeping framework trade deal, calming tensions between two of the world’s largest economies and averting a high-stakes tariff escalation that threatened nearly a third of global trade.The agreement imposes a uniform 15% US import tariff on most European goods, replacing the possibility of steeper duties that had alarmed businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. It also includes major EU investments in American infrastructure and commitments to purchase US energy and military equipment.Both sides hailed the deal as a stabilizing force in a…
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