New Delhi: In a late-night notification before the new year, the Ministry of Finance has announced a significant increase in taxes on tobacco products, making them dearer by 28%. This new duty is expected to be implemented by February 1, in addition to the existing 40% GST already levied. The move forms another push by the government to discourage tobacco consumption, with cigarettes longer than 75mm seeing the most impact. Currently, taxes on cigarettes amount for about 53% of retail prices, well below the World Health Organization’s benchmark of 75% aimed at discouraging consumption. Public health activists have welcomed the…
Author: Abizar Attari
Abizar Attari
Abizar has been writing before AI started to take over your lives! His expertise lies in analysing diverse perspectives and simplifying them for laymen. Beyond writing, storytelling and editing, he enjoys running, learning and enjoying the outdoors.
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Chennai: Caplin Point Laboratories Limited has announced the acquisition of 10 approved ANDAs from an unnamed multinational generic manufacturer as the company looks to boost its portfolio in the injectable and ophthalmic product range. For Caplin Point, this acquisition means it has the approval from the US FDA to launch 10 generic drugs boosting its portfolio through its subsidiaries Caplin Steriles Limited (CSL) and CAplin One Labs Limited (COL). These ANDAs offer Caplin Point access to a niche addressable market worth approximately $473.2 million, especially in the ophthalmic segment. These products are expected to boost Caplin Point’s market share and…
New Delhi: Following its blockbuster IPO in October 2024, South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced a leadership change, with Tarun Garg, a seasoned automobile industry veteran succeding Unsoo Kim. This is the first time that Hyundai has appointed an Indian to the post of MD and CEO. Earlier, working as the Chief Operating Officer, Garg had joined Hyundai Motor in December 2019 as Director of Sales, Marketing and Service. In the past seven years, he has played a key role in strengthening Hyundai’s premium positioning, especially its SUV portfolio with its ever-popular Creta brand. For Garg,…
New Delhi: India is planning to move beyond the traditional subsidy model to boost exports, as it looks to evaluate exporters based on their consistency, compliance and overall growth to India’s export ecosystem. Under the Goverment’s New Trade Policy, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is looking to evaluate exporters as per their Importer Exporter Code (IEC). The IEC, a unique 10 digit code issued to exporters will be evaluated over a five year period to create an index that could judge their performance. The data is expected to be complied over the next year to support the “acceleration…
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced new contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for state-of-the-art battle carbines (lethal guns for soldiers) and torpedoes for the Indian Army and Navy. On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the MoD awarded contracts for these requirements in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi. Under the first contract worth ₹2,770 crore, over 4.25 lakh Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines and their accessories will be procured for the Indian Army and Navy. The contract has been awarded to Bharat Forge and Adani Enterprises-backed PLR systems, with deliveries expected to…
New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has imposed an 11-12% tariff on select steel products from select countries, including China, Vietnam and Nepal, as cheaper steel imports were impacting the market share of domestic players. The “recent, sudden, sharp, and significant increase in imports of subject goods into India has caused and threatens to cause serious injury to the domestic industry/producers of subject goods”, the order released by the government said. The move comes after Indian steel players, represented by the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) filed a petition with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) in August 2025…
Hyderabad: Palred Technologies’ affordable consumer electronics brands pTron has expanded its portfolio to include affordable automotive accessories, targeting new age car owners looking for feature rich yet budget-friendly car accessories. The Hyderabad-based brand has launched two portable car vacuum cleaners- Neo Vac X1 and Neo Vac X2 and a wireless CarPlay adapter- Car Sync aimed at enhancing in-car convenience. These additions are aimed at enhancing pTron’s market share in the consumer electronics sector, especially as intense competition in the space forces brands to expand to newer categories. pTron is looking to offer these products across platforms- its website, Amazon India…
Mumbai: Diversified Jaipur-based conglomerate Saboo Sodium Chloro Ltd (SSCL) has announced plans to develop a 150-key 5-star resort near Maharashtra’s Tadoba National Park. This is the company’s third land acquisition for 2025, as the company moves towards developing 5-star luxury resorts in Jawai and Udaipur as well. According to an exchange filing, Saboo Sodium aims to develop the luxury resort in a location popular with wildlife tourists and nature enthusiasts. The resort will consist of 2 signature restaurants, a bar, multiple pools, an observation tower, nature walks, luxury conferencing spaces, recreational activities, a gymnasium, a kids zone and a private…
New Delhi: India has now become the world’s fourth largest economy, leapfrogging Japan and behind the US, China and Germany with its GDP reaching $4.18 trillion. According to a press note released by the government, India’s GDP expanded by 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of FY2025-26, marking a six-quarter high. Despite the challenges with the unreasonable 50% tariffs put forth by the Trump administration, India’s exports have managed to grow reasonably, despite the slowing global demand. India has also seen a boost in domestic consumption, partly credited to the GST 2.0 reforms post Diwali and the once-in-a-decade deflation…
Struggling chipmaker Intel, which once powered nearly every personal computer in the market, is set to receive a $5 billion investment from Nvidia, which is aiming to purchase roughly 4% in its stock. This investment is seen as a hedge for Nvidia’s supply chain, as Intel will design and manufacture its custom x86 CPUs for Nvidia’s AI server platforms, a crucial component for AI data server processing. This development comes at a time when Intel has struggled to keep pace with the AI-led tech revolution, with the company’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan trying to do everything he can to restore the…
