The Budget Session of 2025 began with controversy when Congress MP Sonia Gandhi made a remark about President Droupadi Murmu, calling her a "poor thing" after the President's speech in Parliament. Gandhi's comment, made while speaking to reporters outside Parliament, was in reference to the exhaustion Murmu appeared to show after delivering her customary address. The remark was immediately condemned by the BJP, who described it as a "derogatory comment" and demande

With the Union Budget 2025 just around the corner, India’s stock market is experiencing increased volatility. The India VIX, a key indicator of market fluctuations, surged by over 5% leading up to Budget day. Historically, the market has shown a mix of both gains and losses on the day of the Budget announcement and in the lead-up to it. The benchmark NSE Nifty 50 index has seen varying movements, with large swings in previous years, making it difficult to predict the immediate market re

In preparation for the Mauni Amavasya "Amrit Snan" on Wednesday, authorities managing the Maha Kumbh have issued a comprehensive safety advisory to ensure a smooth and secure experience for the millions of devotees expected to attend. The second Amrit Snan of the Maha Kumbh is anticipated to be one of the largest gatherings of the pilgrimage, and the authorities are taking extensive measures to manage crowd movement and safety. The fair administration, in collaboration wit

Rajesh Magow, the Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, has shared his expectations for the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26, emphasizing the long-standing demand of the hospitality sector for "industry" status. Speaking ahead of the budget presentation on February 1, Magow stressed the importance of addressing this demand to unlock the full potential of the hospitality and tourism sectors. In an interview with PTI, Magow highlighted the government's commendable efforts

With the Modi government set to present its second full budget for the third term in power, the middle and lower-income groups across India are hopeful for key reforms that could alleviate their financial burdens. The anticipated reforms in Budget 2025 include tax relief measures, simplification of income tax laws, and a focus on financial literacy, insurance, and retirement savings. Key Expectations from Budget 2025 Insurance Sector Reforms:

The Role of National Education Policy (NEP) in the Union Budget 2025: The Union Budget 2025-26 is crucial for shaping the future of India's education system, especially with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 being a significant focus. The BJP-led NDA government, entering its third term, continues to prioritize education and skill development. The NEP aims to modernize educati

Shreyas Iyer, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who led the team to victory in IPL 2024, has opened up about not being retained by the franchise for the upcoming season. In a candid interview, Iyer revealed that the lack of communication from the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team left him perplexed, making him uncertain about his future with KKR. He mentioned that despite winning the IPL title, there were no concrete talks regarding retention until just a week before the retention deadline,

Gavaskar's Take on Samson's Omission Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his thoughts on the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2024. Despite a stellar record and calls for his inclusion, Samson was left out of the 15-man squad, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant being preferred as the designated wicketkeepers. The omission has led to widespread criticism from fans and experts

Impact of China’s Export Restrictions on Indian Manufacturing: India’s manufacturing industry is facing significant disruptions due to China’s export restrictions, which are part of the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. These curbs primarily affect industries in India that rely on raw materials, machinery, and components from China, such as the solar po

On Thursday morning, the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi made significant decisions, including approving two major plans with long-term implications for India’s space exploration and central government employees. In a boost to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the cabinet sanctioned a Rs 3900 crore investment to establish a third launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This new launch pad will serve dual purpo

Months before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented an interim budget in February to manage the government’s immediate financial needs. After the BJP-led NDA returned to power for a third term, she unveiled the comprehensive Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 on July 23. While both budgets play a significant role in the nation's fiscal planning, their objectives and scope are different. An interim budget is a temporary financi

The Union Budget for the upcoming financial year is expected to include provisions for promoting artificial intelligence (AI) in India. According to sources, a special policy package for AI is being formulated, with a focus on AI-skilling schemes and the establishment of AI centres. Additionally, the budget is likely to allocate funds to support these initiatives, ensuring measures are in place to safeguard employment in light of AI's rapid advancement. The Ministry of Finance h

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has strongly rebutted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claims regarding the 2024 Indian elections, labelling them "factually incorrect." Zuckerberg, in a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, suggested that most incumbent governments globally, including India's, lost in the 2024 elections due to post-Covid dissatisfaction. However, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a decisive third term in India, securing the trust

On Friday, Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term as Venezuela's president, despite widespread accusations of election fraud and a growing wave of international opposition. Having served as president since 2013, Maduro has weathered numerous crises, including a collapsing economy, US sanctions, and ongoing protests. His controversial victory in the July 2024 elections was followed by violent crackdowns, which saw over 2,400 people arrested and at least 28 killed. This marks

Expansion of China's Trade-In Scheme China is extending its consumer trade-in program, originally launched in March 2024, to help stimulate demand in the struggling household sector. The scheme now includes additional home appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, and rice cookers. In an effort to boost the digital goods market, subsidies are also being offered for products like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Consumers who trade in old products can receive subsidies

Infosys, the major IT company, has postponed its annual salary hike for the fourth quarter of FY 2024-25, following the last increase in November 2023. This delay highlights the ongoing uncertainties within the domestic IT sector. One of the key reasons cited for the slowdown is the lack of increased IT spending from clients, influenced by macroeconomic factors, including potential tariffs under the upcoming Donald Trump administration. Infosys is not alone in this move, as other large IT com

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has given the state government six weeks to ensure proper disposal of Union Carbide factory waste in accordance with safety guidelines. This follows the shift of waste, sealed in 12 containers, from the defunct factory in Bhopal to a disposal site in Pithampur, about 250 km away, on January 2, 2025. The court’s decision comes after the state's Advocate General Prashant Singh expressed concerns about unrest in Pithampur due to misinformation about the wa

A court in Bangladesh has issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of enforced disappearances during her time in power. The new charges, which were announced by the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Tajul Islam, involve Hasina, her military adviser, and several law enforcement officials. Over 500 people were allegedly abducted by Bangladesh's security forces under her regime, with some of them detained in secret locati

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has opened applications for the 2025-27 MBA programme. Interested candidates can apply via the official websites acad.uohyd.ac.in and uohyd.ac.in. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2025. Applicants must have a minimum of a three-year first-class Bachelor's degree, with 60% marks or equivalent, and must have appeared for CAT 2024. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a Grou

In 2024, the collective wealth of the world’s top 500 billionaires surged to a staggering $10 trillion, marking an unprecedented milestone. The year saw tech giants Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang dominate the wealth rankings, with their fortunes significantly boosted by a rally in US technology stocks. Tesla, Meta, and Nvidia stocks performed exceptionally well, contributing heavily to the increase in wealth. Musk, the wealthiest individual, saw his fortune soar to $442.1