Business Archives - Page 46 of 65

02 Oct

India Digitizes Disembarkation Card for Foreign Visitors: Online Submission Now Mandatory

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): The Consulate General of India in Vancouver has issued a public notice announcing the full digitization of the Disembarkation Card process for all foreign nationals entering India. The move is aimed at streamlining immigration procedures and improving the efficiency of passenger processing at Indian airports. According to the notice, all foreign travelers to India are now required to complete and submit the Disembarkation Card online before their arrival. The card can be filled through the following platforms: The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) website: https://boi.gov.in The Indian Visa portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in The "Indian Visa Su-Swagatam" mobile app The online…

01 Oct

RBI Rules Out UPI Transaction Fees, Projects 6.8% Growth for FY25

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaRBI, Sanjay Malhotra, UPI charges, UPI transaction fees

New Delhi, October 1, 2025: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday dismissed speculation that citizens may be charged for using Unified Payments Interface (UPI), assuring that no such proposal is under consideration. His clarification comes amid widespread concerns over possible fees on the digital payment system that has become a backbone of everyday transactions.Malhotra expressed confidence in India’s economic prospects, highlighting that the nation continues on a “very high growth trajectory” while managing price stability. The RBI has projected India’s growth at 6.8% for the current fiscal year, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s…

01 Oct

Centre Approves 3% Hike in DA and DR for Over 1.1 Crore Beneficiaries

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaCentral Government employees, DA hike 2025, DR increase, pensioners

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a 3 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for 49.19 lakh Central Government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners. The hike, effective from July 1, 2025, raises the current rate to 58 per cent of basic pay or pension.According to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the decision will put an additional annual burden of ₹10,083.96 crore on the exchequer. He said the step aims to offset the impact of rising prices and provide relief to both serving employees and pensioners.The announcement follows the recent rationalisation…

01 Oct

RBI Maintains Repo Rate at 5.5%, Revises Growth and Inflation Estimates

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, Trending

NEW DELHI (RAJEEV SHARMA): The Reserve Bank of India announced on Wednesday that it will keep the repo rate steady at 5.5 percent, reflecting a balanced view of current economic conditions both within the country and globally. The decision came after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) convened for its three-day meeting. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra confirmed that the MPC members were unanimous in their choice to hold the key policy rate unchanged. The central bank’s stance remains neutral, indicating flexibility to adjust interest rates if economic developments warrant it. The repo rate serves as the benchmark rate for lending by…

29 Sep

Zomato Introduces ‘Healthy Mode’ to Help Users Choose Nutritious Meals

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, LifestyleAI, Healthy Mode, macronutrient profile, nutritious food, Zomato

Gurugram, September 29, 2025 – Food delivery platform Zomato on Monday unveiled a new feature, Healthy Mode, aimed at helping users discover and order healthier meal options through its app. The feature is currently available in Gurugram, with plans for a phased rollout across other cities in India.The company stated that the launch responds to growing consumer interest in nutritious food, particularly among urban users aged 18 to 45. To assist restaurant partners, Zomato has employed advanced AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop comprehensive macronutrient profiles for menu items. Each dish is assigned a Healthy Score, ranging from…

25 Sep

Starbucks to Cut 900 Jobs, Close Underperforming Stores in North America

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessBrian Niccol, Layoffs, North America, restructuring, Starbucks, store closures

Seattle, September 25, 2025: Starbucks will lay off nearly 900 non-retail employees and shut a number of underperforming stores in the United States and Canada as part of a wider restructuring drive. Employees whose positions are being eliminated will be informed on Friday, the company said.The coffee chain noted that a review of its operations showed several locations were missing financial targets or failing to deliver the customer experience associated with the brand. “This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centres of the community, and closing any location is difficult,”…

24 Sep

Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Ties Highlight Complex U.S. Foreign Policy, Says Rubio

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, Trending, World NewsIndia, Marco Rubiio, US

Washington, D.C. (Rajeev Sharma): U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that the Trump administration imposed trade penalties on India due to its ongoing energy dealings with Russia, despite New Delhi being one of Washington’s key allies in the region. Rubio’s comments came during an interview with Good Morning America, where he was pressed on the former president's approach to Russian aggression in Ukraine and the claim that Donald Trump often avoided following through on threats directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response, Rubio defended the administration’s record, pointing to specific economic decisions. “India is one of our…

23 Sep

Indian Rupee Hits Record Low of 88.67 Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns; Gold Surges Past USD 3,700

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessIndian rupee, record low, U.S. tariffs, USD 88.67

New Delhi, September 23, 2025 — The Indian rupee slipped to a fresh all-time low of 88.67 against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, surpassing its previous record of 88.47 recorded on September 11. Analysts attribute the decline to concerns over U.S. tariff policies, uncertainty surrounding H1B visa rules, and month-end as well as half-year-end outflows by importers.Currency expert K. N. Dey noted that while there were some foreign institutional investor inflows yesterday, outflows from importers added pressure on the rupee. “Volatility may continue for another two to three days, though the downside appears limited. Levels of 88.47–88.50 could provide good…

22 Sep

nishuthapar10 CommentsBusiness

National Times Bureau :- The Supreme Court on Monday criticised the way pilots were blamed in the preliminary report on the Air India plane crash. The court said it was “irresponsible” to point fingers at pilots before the final investigation report is ready. Hearing a PIL that sought an independent, court-monitored probe, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notices to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The court stressed that confidentiality must be maintained until the inquiry is complete. The judges observed that blaming pilots too early can cause unnecessary suffering…

22 Sep

GST 2.0 Rollout: Simpler Tax Regime Promises Savings for Households, Hits Luxury Goods

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingGST, India, Narendra Modi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India has entered a new phase of indirect taxation with the launch of GST 2.0, which takes effect nationwide from today. The overhaul replaces the earlier four-rate structure with a streamlined system that has just two regular slabs – 5% for essentials and 18% for most goods and services – along with a steep 40% levy on luxury and sin products. The government has pitched the reform as a consumer-friendly move that will ease compliance, reduce disputes, and ultimately bring down the cost of living. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailing the transition as the start of…