Dry fruits body NDFC seeks import duty rationalisation, lower GST in Budget
The Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India) has sought rationalisation of walnut import duty on a per-kg basis and reduce GST to 5 per cent from current 18 per cent. The trade body in its pre-Budget proposals has also requested the government to announce a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for
Water level in India’s major reservoirs down on below-normal rainfall
The water level in the 155 major reservoirs in the country declined for the 12th week in a row this week with the storage in Punjab’s lone dam dropping below 20 per cent of the capacity, data from the Central Water Commission showed. The storage has declined as a major
CTC prices at Kochi auctions gain on blenders’ demand
A strong demand from blenders pushed up CTC dust prices at Kochi tea auctions with a ₹2 increase in average price realisation this week. All blenders together absorbed 59 per cent of the 6,52,759 kg of CTC in sale 4, witnessing a strong demand. The market was steady to firm
SC rejects PIL seeking to scrap TDS system, calls it ‘badly drafted’
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking to declare that the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) system is “manifestly arbitrary, irrational and violative of various fundamental rights”. A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar declined the plea filed by advocate
Salam Kisan signs pact with Maharashtra government and Microsoft at World Economic Forum
Salam Kisan (PRYM Solutions) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government and Microsoft to democratise agricultural drone technology. A media statement said this MoU, which was signed at the World Economic Forum 2025, directly addresses the accessibility and affordability barriers that smallholder farmers face in India.
India’s Jan business growth at 14-month low due to weaker services demand, PMI shows, ETCFO
By Anant Chandak BENGALURU – India’s business activity grew at the slowest pace in over a year in January, a survey showed, highlighting emerging cracks in its world-beating economic growth at start of 2025 although firms hired new staff at a record pace. The services industry is the major engine
Non-liable businesses can now get temporary identity under GST, notifies CBIC
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has notified the mechanism for businesses to get a temporary identification number under GST, even if the said entity is not required to do so. It has also announced the waiver of excess of late fee for FY 17-18 to FY 22-23
Suhana Masala, Ecofactory Foundation to set up Centre of Excellence for spices production in Telangana
Suhana Masala, a spices company, has teamed up with the Ecofactory Foundation to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for spices production in Telangana. The CoE, which will be located adjacent to Suhana’s existing facility in Sangareddy, will promote modern spice farming by training and equipping farmers with skills
PR industry in India to grow to ₹4570 crore by FY 2030: PRCAI
Outpacing global growth trends, the PR industry in India touched the ₹2500 crore mark in FY 2023, up 19 per cent year-on-year, and is poised to grow to ₹4570 crore by FY 2030 with a compounded decadal CAGR of 12.8 per cent, a report by the Public Relations Consultants Association
US to have only two genders, male and female: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the US will have only two genders, male and female, and no men will be allowed to participate in women’s sports. Days after assuming office for his second term, Trump addressed the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here through video conferencing and said