Business Standard - February 03, 2025

In this issue

February 03, 2025

FM: Made sure we're ready for 'Make in India, for the world'

Union Finance Minister Sitharaman on Nirmala Sunday said the FY26 Budget had reinforced the foundations that would guide the country's progress towards a Viksit Bharat, having outlined clear destinations in certain parameters.

2 mins

Biocon Biologics investors more confident after revenue growth, USFDA nods

After registering a net profit of ₹25.1 crore in Q3FY25 and consolidated revenues growing by 7 per cent on a like-for-like basis, SIDDHARTH MITTAL, chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD), Biocon, told Sohini Das in a virtual interaction that local manufacturing in the US is a trade-off between cost and qualifying to do business there.

3 mins

Budget Curtails Carry-Forward Losses for M&As

The Union Budget 2025-26, while promising a new framework for smoother mergers and acquisitions (M&As), has plugged a major loophole on carry-forward losses for a total of eight assessment years between amalgamating company and amalgamated company from the date of loss instead of the date of the merger.

2 mins

Reliance Retail brings Shein back to India

Reliance Retail has launched an app to sell fashionwear from China's Shein under a licensing deal, almost five years since Shein's app was banned in the country after getting caught up in a diplomatic tussle.

1 min

Volkswagen Files Lawsuit Against $1.4 Billion Tax Notice

Volkswagen has filed a suit against the government to quash an \"impossibly enormous\" tax demand of $1.4 billion, arguing the ask is contradictory to government's import taxation rules for car parts and will hamper the company's business plans, court papers show.

1 min

'Almost all of govt borrowing going for asset creation'

A day after presenting the Union Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister NIRMALA SITHARAMAN spoke to Ruchika Chitravanshi, Asit Ranjan Mishra & Nivedita Mookerji on issues ranging from the theme of the Budget to income tax relief and challenging geopolitical environment.

10+ mins

No Immediate Impact of Pay Commission on FY26 Budget

Expenditure Secretary MANOJ GOVIL, in post-Budget interaction with Ruchika Chitravanshi and Asit Ranjan Mishra in New Delhi, spoke about issues ranging from Unified Pension Scheme and pay commission to continued thrust on capital expenditure.

3 mins

'Revised Customs duty now closer to Asean average'

SANJAY KUMAR AGARWAL, chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), spoke to Monika Yadav and Asit Ranjan Mishra in New Delhi about the need to amend rules in the Central Goods and Services Tax Act to overturn the Supreme Court's (SC's) order in the Safari Retreats case.

3 mins

There Is No Plan To Phase Out The Old Tax Regime

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, announced the introduction of the New Income Tax Bill. Ravi Agrawal, chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in an interaction in New Delhi with Monika Yadav and Asit Ranjan Mishra discussed a range of topics, including framing of tax proposals, and why he feels most taxpayers would opt for the new tax regime.

3 mins

Setting a road map to transform India's economy

The Budget 2025-26 is part of the journey which commenced in 2014.

1 min

Individual credit score boost for 100 mn SHG members

A fantastic move in the FY26 Budget is the offer for almost 100 million people, mostly in rural India, to get credit scores riding on the performance of self-help groups, or SHGs.

1 min

Reduced FY26 outlay for P2M promotion concerns industry

Experts say the allocation, even if increased at later stage, won't be enough

2 mins

Govt shows resolve to take bold steps for transforming economy

In a tumultuous global economic environment, India's 2025 Budget seeks transformative change, signalling stability and growth by embracing the anti-red tape revolution and ensuring its reforms enhance global competitiveness.

3 mins

Coming soon: P-notes made in GIFT City

Easing of norms may prompt FPls to issue participatory notes from there

2 mins

PMJAY Allocation May Not Suffice, Say Experts

Public health experts have welcomed the increase in allocation for the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in the Union Budget 2025-26, but raised concerns over whether these funds would be adequate to cover the expanding beneficiary base under the scheme.

1 min

Hospitality sector gets an upgrade in Budget

A slew of announcements made in the Union Budget to support tourism will give a fillip to the sector by creating new opportunities, driving growth, and fostering a more inclusive ecosystem, according to industry stakeholders.

2 mins

₹6K cr boost for strategic oil reserves

Funds Galore

1 min

More Push for Pvt Funding in Power Infra

Centre lures states with higher borrowing limit, brings back focus on privatisation of distribution companies

2 mins

Musk's DOGE gets access to US govt payment system

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by President Donald Trump's billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems, according to two people familiar with the situation.

1 min

Boost for agriculture

Budget proposals will help farmers and consumers

2 mins

The nuclear option

Budget bets big on nuclear power but questions remain

2 mins

Manmohan Singh, a gentle giant

Our association was uncommon – even unusual. Manmohan Singh, India's former economist-Prime Minister who passed away recently, was cut from the conventional cloth of market economics.

3 mins

India Clinch Second Successive Title by Crushing S Africa

ICC U-19 WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP

1 min

Right price, right time: Volatility unlocks opportunity

The announcement of ₹1 trillion in tax savings in the Union Budget is certainly welcome news. However, according to Vikas Khemani, founder of Carnelian Asset Management & Advisors, the rally in consumer stocks may soon lose momentum due to unfavorable valuations and potential market disruptions. In an email interview with Samie Modak, Khemani emphasized that 2025 is a year to manage expectations carefully and to remain disciplined and committed to long-term investment strategies. Edited excerpts:

2 mins

'Even in automation, managers remain central'

09 Solutions is a US-based company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) for supply-chain planning and forecasting for international enterprises that include Marks and Spencer, PepsiCo and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

2 mins

Technology as a national priority

As major economies across the world deepen their investment in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, the era of politicized technology has begun.

2 mins

A challenging road ahead of India's DeepSeek moment ESC

Even though DeepSeek has shown how to build a low-cost foundational AI model, India still has many hurdles to cross.

4 mins

Frontloading Bihar electoral strategy

The 2020 Assembly election was closely contested. Will the 2025-26 Union Budget's focus on Bihar's infrastructure, agriculture, and flood management swing the 2025 polls in the NDA's favour, and how will IT relief for the middle class pay off in the largely rural state? PRASOON PRIYE and ARCHIS MOHAN offer insights

4 mins

Going by liquidity measures taken, rate cut possible

Following the Bank of Baroda's (BoB's) December quarter earnings, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer DEBADATTA CHAND spoke to Subrata Panda and Abhijit Lele about the bank's performance, its strategy for the rest of financial year 2025 (FY25), and its expectations from the upcoming monetary policy meeting. Edited excerpts:

3 mins

RBI may cut repo rate by 25 bps

Eyeing Tailwinds | What economists expect in the RBI MPC meet scheduled for Feb 5-7

2 mins

Consumption-related stocks likely to see further gains

Market reaction to the Union Budget was overall neutral. The income tax \"gift\" wasn't enough to move the needle

2 mins

STREET OVERWEIGHT ON CONSUMPTION, LARGECAPS

The FY26 Union Budget marked a shift in the government stance towards consumption from its earlier focus on capital expenditure.

1 min

2025 Is The Year For Investors To Build Portfolio For The Future

Union Budget 2025 seems to have provided a reason for consumption growth in the months ahead. JYOTIVARDHAN JAIPURIA, founder and managing director (MD) of Valentis Advisors, told Puneet Wadhwa in an interview that the cut in personal income tax is beyond what the markets expected. The markets will go through a time correction and consolidate for a few months, he said. Edited excerpts:

3 mins

LIGHTENING THE BURDEN FOR ALL

Budget proposals aim to encourage the middle class to spend and help economic growth.

6 mins

BOOST FOR DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING

The Budget assists the government's commitment to reduce tax burden and move towards a framework based on trust.

6 mins

SOCIAL FOCUS FOR VIKSIT BHARAT

Budget focuses on equitable prosperity by increasing accessibility to quality education, health care and social welfare programmes.

4 mins

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