Business

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to present the Union Budget 2026 on February 1, which falls on Sunday, marking a significant milestone as she delivers her ninth consecutive Budget. This will be the second full Budget of the Modi 3.0 government, following the first full Budget presented in 2025.Notably, Budget used to presented on…

Markets regulator Sebi has extended the timeline for implementing an additional incentive structure for mutual fund distributors to March 1, allowing more time for asset management companies to put systems in place, according to a circular issued on Wednesday.The revised framework, aimed at encouraging onboarding of new individual investors from B-30 cities and new women…

The Hotel Association of India (HAI) has urged policymakers to prioritise sector-specific reforms to drive growth and resilience in the hospitality industry, reiterating its long-standing demand for infrastructure status and industry benefits for hotels ahead of the Union Budget .Sharing the sector’s expectations, HAI President K B Kachru said the hotel industry deserves stronger policy…

Equity indices extended their decline on Wednesday, with the Sensex and the Nifty ending lower for a third consecutive session as sustained selling in heavyweight stocks, rising geopolitical unease and weak global cues dented investor confidence. The BSE Sensex has shed over 1,144 points in the past three sessions, sliding from a close of 85,762.01…

Indian economy (AI image) India’s economy will grow at a robust 7.4% in the financial year 2025-26, according to the first advanced estimates of Gross Domestic Product released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). This is much higher than the 6.5% growth in the previous financial year. Nominal GDP is expected to rise by 8.0%…

SCSS accounts help earn interest payments on a quarterly basis. (AI image) Senior Citizens Savings Scheme or SCSS is a popular Post Office investment and savings scheme for senior citizens and retired individuals. The government-backed scheme is seen as a guaranteed cushion for regular interest income flow, especially for individuals who are looking for high…

File photo (Picture credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: Experience-led tourism is gaining momentum among India’s Gen Z, as a survey done by travel portal Airbnb reveals that over 62 per cent of the country’s Gen Z plans to travel for concerts and music festivals in 2026. According to an Airbnb press release, music is now a…

Gold prices slipped on Wednesday as investors booked profits after strong gains in recent sessions, while focus shifted to upcoming US economic data. On the domestic front, February gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) declined by Rs 633, or 0.46%, to Rs 1,38,450 per 10 grams, reflecting mild profit-booking.In the international market, Comex…

E-commerce platform Meesho’s shares dropped by 5 per cent to Rs 173.20 on Wednesday on the BSE after a one-month lock-in period ended. This made 110 million shares, representing 2 per cent of the company’s equity, available for trading. Despite this dip, major brokerages remain positive about Meesho’s future growth potential.The stock, which is still…

Silver imports surged sharply in 2025, pointing to its growing strategic importance, amid rising industrial demand, supply constraints and geopolitical tensions, according to a report by Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).India was the world’s largest importer of refined silver. It is estimated to have imported silver worth $9.2 billion last year, a 44 per cent…