Rift in NDA in Rajasthan as Nagaur Lok Sabha MP supports farmers protest
JAIPUR: Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal, convenor of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party that is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on Thursday said that the central government should lend its ear to the farmers and roll back the farm laws passed in Parliament recently. In his tweet, Beniwal said, “The central government needs to withdraw […]
Mamata Banerjee announces health scheme for all in West Bengal
KOLKATA: Months ahead of the 2021 state election, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that the “Swasthya Sathi’ health scheme of the government will cover the entire population of the state. The decision will be applicable from December 1, 2020 and all people in the state, irrespective of their religious affiliation, caste […]
In order to be ready for 5G, we need to work on proper optical fiber connectivity and bandwidth: TRAI
NEW DELHI: 5G is a very important technological development and a combination of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud services and data explosion will lead us to a completely different domain of 5G deliberated S.K Gupta (ITS), Secretary, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in an interactive webinar organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and […]
Lower home loan interest rates to continue for the next 12 months, to push home sales: Keki Mistry
NEW DELHI: Calling the existing home loan rates the lowest in the last four decades, Keki Mistry, Vice Chairman and CEO, HDFC Limited has predicted that the the lower interest rates regime will continue for another six to twelve months that will give the best home buying opportunity for the home buyers. He was speaking […]
India extends suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights to December 31
NEW DELHI: India’s aviation safety regulator DGCA on Thursday extended the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights to December 31. The restrictions, however, will not apply on international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), an official circular said. “In partial modification of circular dated 26.6.2020, the […]
L&T bags contract to construct country”s longest river bridge
NEW DELHI: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday said it has secured a large contract to construct the country”s longest road bridge across river Brahmaputra connecting Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari in Meghalaya. The contract was bagged by the company”s subsidiary L&T Construction. As per the company, a large contract is worth Rs 2,500-5,000 crore. […]
When and which COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be available in Asia
NEW DELHI: Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc have released trial data this month showing their experimental vaccines are effective in preventing the disease. If regulators approve any of the vaccines in coming weeks, the companies have said distribution could begin almost immediately with governments around the world. But many […]
Air India to connect Bengaluru to San Francisco from January 2021
NEW DELHI: India’s national carrier Air India is set to connect Bengaluru and San Francisco via a non-stop flight from 2021, the Kempegowda International Airport said on Wednesday. The airline is expected to launch a twice weekly service, scheduled to commence from January 11, 2021. “This would be the first non-stop flight between Bengaluru and […]
E-commerce business helps Bengaluru Airport register 26-month high export growth
BENGALURU: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic,the Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) in Bengaluru has recorded a 26-month high in tonnage exports in October. “Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport/ KIAB) processed 34,339 Metric Tonnes of cargo in October 2020, recording a 26-month high in tonnage,” as per statement. BLR Airport witnessed the highest-ever domestic outbound tonnage of […]
RBI should let rupee appreciate to reduce imported inflation: SBI Ecowrap report
NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should let rupee appreciate to reduce imported inflation, a SBI Ecowrap report said on Wednesday. According to the report, the US dollar is expected to remain weak due to fragile US economic conditions. “It would do no harm for the RBI to lean with the wind and […]
JCB India launches first dual-fuel CNG ‘Backhoe Loader’
NEW DELHI: Earthmoving and construction equipment manufacturer JCB India has launched the country’s first dual-fuel CNG ‘Backhoe Loader’ in India. The ‘JCB 3DX DFi’, which can operate on CNG and diesel simultaneously using the HCCI technology, was launched here by Union Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Nitin Gadkari. “The […]
Direct tax refunds of nearly Rs 1.37 lakh crore issued in FY21
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued refunds of nearly Rs 1.37 lakh crore to over 41.25 lakh taxpayers so far in the financial year 2020-21. The total refund amount includes Rs 36,028 crore of income tax refunds and over Rs 1 lakh crore as refunds on corporate tax, the Income […]
FIIs turn net positive for 2020 with massive investment in November
NEW DELHI:With over Rs 55,000 crore net purchase of equities, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have turned net buyers for the year 2020. So far in November, FIIs have made net purchase worth Rs 55,576.84 crore including Rs 24.20 crore on Wednesday, the highest ever in a month. Buoyed by the fund flow, both Sensex and […]
GST invoices fraud: Mastermind of 115 fake firms among 59 held so far
NEW DELHI: With the arrest of Mitesh M. Shah, who created 115 fake firms to avail and pass on fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) worth Rs 50.24 crore from Gujarat’s Vadodara, the CGST Commissionerates and the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) have so far arrested 59 persons within ten days of the nationwide drive […]
Kerala, West Bengal also choose Option 1 to meet GST implementation shortfall
NEW DELHI: The governments of Kerala and West Bengal have now accepted Option 1 to meet the revenue shortfall arising out of GST implementation. With this, the number of states who have chosen this option has gone up to 25. All the three Union Territories with Legislative Assembly (i.e. Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry) […]
Unacademy’s valuation tops $2 billion with funding from Tiger Global, Dragoneer
NEW DELHI: Bengaluru-based edtech startup Unacademy on Wednesday said it has raised a fresh investment round from Tiger Global Management and Dragoneer Investment Group. The funding round values Unacademy Group at $2 billion, up from $1.45 billion in September when the company raised an investment of $150 million in a round led by SoftBank Vision […]