Category: Business

Business

What does the latest revision to the EPFO wage ceiling entail? | Explained

September 18, 2026 admin

The story so far: The Union Cabinet, which met in New Delhi on Wednesday (September 16, 2026), approved a long-pending demand for raising the wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to ₹25,000 a month from ₹15,000. The Union Labour Ministry had made the proposal to increase the wage ceiling….

Business

Moody’s raises India fiscal 2027 GDP growth forecast to 7% on West Asia resilience

September 18, 2026 admin

Credit rating agency ‌Moody’s on Friday (September 18, 2026) raised India’s real GDP growth forecast ⁠to 7% from 6% for the current fiscal, citing its ‌resilience amid the West Asia conflict. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Moody’s Ratings on Friday (September 18, 2026) sharply raised India’s GDP growth forecast for current fiscal to 7 per…

Business

Rupee rises 16 paise to 95.73 against U.S. dollar in early trade

September 18, 2026 admin

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.75 and gained slightly to trade at 95.73 against the greenback in early deals, up 16 paise from its previous close. | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee rebounded from over two-month low levels, gaining 16 paise to 95.73 against the U.S. dollar in early trade…

Business

Kritilabs, Fiji firm RC Manubhai sign three-year pact to take AI, IoT solutions to Pacific

September 18, 2026 admin

Chennai-based Kritilabs Technologies Limited has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with Fiji-based RC Manubhai & Co Pte Ltd (RCM) to take its AI, IoT, video analytics and industrial technology solutions to Fiji and other Pacific Island markets. The MoU was executed on September 12. The partnership will initially focus on Fiji, with plans to…

Business

Complex priorities: On UPI transactions, MDR charges

September 17, 2026 admin

The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges announced for UPI transactions show how political considerations can dilute economic benefits. In a quest to preempt political attacks, the rate structure announced by the National Payments Corporation of India has been made overly complex. From October 15, the new rates will apply only to UPI payments of ₹2,000…

Business

Govt puts 25 coal blocks on sale in 16th round of commercial auctions

September 17, 2026 admin

A coal mine in India | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Coal Ministry Thursday formally inaugurated that sixteenth round of commercial mine auctions putting forth 25 blocks, comprising 21 fully explored and four partially explored mines. The mines are spread across nine-coal bearing states including Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana…

Business

Oil India plans to spend ₹15,000 crore for deepwater exploration over three years: CMD

September 17, 2026 admin

Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Oil India Ltd (FILE) | Photo Credit: ANI Oil India Ltd (OIL) has outlined ₹15,000 crore capital expenditure towards its exploration activities in deepwater and ultradeep-water areas over the next three years, Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) told reporters at a press interaction Wednesday. “In terms…

Business

PAC pulls up Railways over gaps in passenger amenities despite promises

September 17, 2026 admin

The findings were discussed at a PAC meeting, headed by senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal, which examined the CAG’s Report on passenger amenities and sanitation at stations. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday (September 17, 2026) expressed concern over persistent deficiencies in passenger amenities and sanitation across railway…

Business

India’s online retail market set to cross $90 billion in CY26: Redseer

September 17, 2026 admin

India is heading into its strongest online festive season in five years with retail market set to cross $90 billion in calendar 2026, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants, a Bengaluru firm that tracks e-com sector. Redseer also projects 25% growth in festive online retail in 2026, against 16% in 2025. Grocery is slated to grow…

Business

India’s crude oil imports in August fall 3%, spends 18% more

September 17, 2026 admin

India’s imports of crude oil in August deaccelerated 3% though the import bill stood about 18.2% higher from the comparable period last year, according to provisional government data, potentially indicative of an elongated period of continuing uncertainties prior to the resurgence of tensions in West Asia early-September. August also had import volumes of liquified natural…

Business