Business Standard - February 18, 2025

In this issue

February 18, 2025

Govt plans to raise deposit insurance beyond ₹5 lakh

A proposal to increase deposit insurance is being considered and the finance ministry will notify it once the Cabinet takes a decision, said M Nagaraju, secretary, financial services, Ministry of Finance, on Monday.

1 min

India delivering 'good returns': FM on FII selloff

Choppy markets, dropping valuations make post-IPO exits via block deals challenging

2 mins

Trade deficit widens to nearly $23 billion in Jan as exports shrink

India's merchandise trade deficit widened to nearly $23 billion in January, compared with $16.5 billion a year earlier, as the value of exports dropped amid subdued demand for petroleum products and global economic uncertainties.

2 mins

Samsung vs union: High-stakes showdown in small factory town

Crucial negotiations tomorrow; workers threaten to lock factory gates

1 min

Anurag Mehrotra named JSW MG Motor India MD

Anurag Mehrotra, who was President and MD of Ford India between 2017 and 2021, has been appointed the Managing Director of JSW MG Motor.

1 min

Trai calls for separate network authorisation for telecom infra

The Centre should grant network authorisations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 instead of entering into an agreement with telecom entities, Trai has recommended.

1 min

VW Tax Dispute: Customs Won't Stop Shipments

No consignment from Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has been or will be stopped following a tax demand notice of $1.4 billion served on the company for allegedly providing misleading information regarding its imports, the Customs department informed the Bombay High Court on Monday.

1 min

10% of orders placed through quick food delivery service

The ongoing conflict between food aggregators and restaurants has reignited the call for a third alternative. In an interview in Gurugram with Udisha Srivastav, ANSHOO SHARMA, cofounder and chief executive officer, Magicpin, discusses how the platform is positioning itself as that alternative with restaurant backing. He also gives insights on Magicpin's expansion and ONDC (open network for digital commerce) integration. Edited excerpts

2 mins

NTPC to spend $62 bn on 30 Gw of N-power

State power company NTPC is looking to build 30 gigawatts (Gw) of nuclear power capacity over the next two decades, three times more than expected, at a cost of $62 billion, three sources said.

1 min

India Hopeful US Will Address Tariff Concerns

India is hopeful that the US will \"take care\" of its concerns regarding additional import levies on steel and aluminum, and the proposed reciprocal tariffs during the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) discussions that are expected to begin in the next few weeks.

2 mins

RBI Cautioned on High Rates Charged by NBFCs

The 25 basis points reduction in repo rate will directly benefit 79 percent of consumers who have floating rates, says Rishi Anand, managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of Aadhar Housing Finance. In an interview in New Delhi, Anand told Harsh Kumar that he expects growth rates of 20-22 percent in assets under management and 18-20 percent in disbursement in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26) for the non-banking financial company. Edited excerpts:

2 mins

Nearly ₹1 trn unspent welfare funds lying in states' accounts

Funds to the tune of ₹1 trillion for centrally sponsored schemes are lying unspent in the single nodal agency (SNA) accounts of states.

1 min

Tanzania in talks with India to adopt LPG subsidy structure

Tanzania, India's second-largest trading partner in Africa, is in talks with the government to adopt the country's LPG subsidy mechanism to promote clean cooking, said its Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Doto Mashaka Biteko.

2 mins

Petro product shipment fall weighs on overall exports

\"Volatility makes it difficult for holders to find value and exit\"

2 mins

Odisha CM Presents Budget with Focus on Agri

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday presented a ₹2.90 trillion state Budget for FY26 with a focus on agriculture and irrigation.

1 min

Rahul Dissents as Panel Finalizes Name of Next CEC

The Congress on Monday asked the government to defer its decision on the new chief election commissioner (CEC) till the Supreme Court hearing on a petition challenging the constitution of the selection panel.

1 min

Hamas' military chief killed in Israeli drone strike

An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Monday killed the head of Hamas' military operations in the country, Israel's army said.

1 min

Bafta 2025: ‘All We Imagine As Light’ Loses to ‘Emilia Pérez’

Payal Kapadia's critically acclaimed movie ‘All We Imagine As Light’ lost out the Bafta in the Best Film Not in the English Language category to French title ‘Emilia Pérez’.

1 min

UK PM Starmer offers troops for peacekeeping

US secretary of state will hold talks with Russian foreign minister in Saudi capital today; Zelenskyy says can't recognise any pact 'about us without us'

2 mins

World trade at risk

Donald Trump's drive for reciprocity will undermine trade

2 mins

State debt dynamics

Strict fiscal rules needed to reverse fiscal disparities

2 mins

Lack of snow: Winter games in Kashmir delayed

India postponed its national winter games on Monday citing a lack of snow in the northern Kashmir territory's ski resort of Gulmarg, where the event was to be held this month.

1 min

Sebi issues T&Cs for clients of investment advisors

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has mandated investment advisors (IAs) and research analysts (RAs) to disclose and obtain client consent on a more detailed set of terms and conditions (T&Cs), known as the Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC).

1 min

Novelis outlook to improve in near term

Hindalco Industries' consolidated results for third quarter of financial year 2025 (Q3FY25) were in line with Bloomberg consensus estimates.

3 mins

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