The New Indian Express Chennai - February 02, 2025

In this issue

February 02, 2025

TAX AXE BUDGET PRODS PEOPLE TO SPEND MORE

A country is not just its soil, a country is its people—the famous line of Telugu poet and playwright Gurajada Appa Rao quoted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her speechsums up the focus of Budget 2025-26.

2 mins

Stalin, EPS on same page, ask why TN being ignored

THE two Dravidian majors the ruling DMK and principal opposition AIADMK - struck the same note on Saturday in their attack on the BJP-led union government, both alleging that Tamil Nadu was ignored in the union budget.

2 mins

Bihar gets bulk of the allocations

BIHAR was written all over the Union Budget as it made significant allocations for the NDA-ruled state that will face assembly polls later this year.

1 min

Boy dies after 12-ft goalpost falls on head

THE special court for trial of cases under the SC/ST (POA) Act on Saturday adjourned the hearing on a petition challenging the CB-CID's chargesheet in the Vengaivayal water contamination case until February 3.

1 min

Man Immolates Self at Police Station Over Son's Arrest

CONDEMNING the arrest of his son on charges of possessing ganja, a 45-year-old man immolated himself at the Kavundampalayam police station on Saturday morning.

1 min

Boy Dies After 12-ft Goalpost Falls on Head

A seven-year-old boy died while playing football at a municipal ground in Avadi after a goalpost collapsed and fell on him on Friday evening, police said.

1 min

Can decide locus standi of complainant in plea against party: EC to HC

The Election Commission of India has told the Madras High Court that it is competent to determine questions of its own jurisdiction whenever required, as it is inherently vested with legislative and judicial powers apart from executive powers.

1 min

Accused who jumped bail 19 years ago held

A 50-year-old man who had eluded the police for 19 years was arrested by the Karimangalam police in Mayiladuthurai on Friday.

1 min

Ensure direct contact with people: CM to collectors

CHIEF Minister MK Stalin on Saturday instructed the newly appointed collectors to nine districts to pay special attention to fulfilling the basic needs of the people besides concentrating on implementing developmental and welfare schemes.

1 min

ECR car chase: Bharathi claims accused AIADMK member, DMK flag misused

DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi on Saturday alleged that one of the accused in the East Coast Road (ECR) case is a member of the AIADMK.

1 min

FEMA violation notice: Plea by Flipkart owners dismissed

Petitioners did not avail alternative remedy: HC

1 min

Anna univ rape: Journos claim SIT operating sans norms, stage protest

MEMBERS of the Chennai Press Club (CPC) along with senior journalists, held a protest on Saturday, accusing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of intimidating reporters covering the Anna University rape, by unlawfully seizing their personal mobile phones.

1 min

A yr on, 800MW thermal plant not ready to meet TN's summer needs

Unable to run at full capacity due to technical issues and lack of wagon-loading facilities

1 min

Traffic cop, teenager held under Pocso Act for assaulting 13-year-old

PROBING a girl-missing complaint, the police discovered a case of a traffic policeman allegedly sexually assaulting the 13-year-old girl.

1 min

SDAT Sets the Ball Rolling for ₹3cr Mini Sports Stadium in Tambaram

It will have a running track, courts for football, volleyball, basketball, kabaddi and a gym

1 min

INVESTMENT IN AI, GREEN ENERGY VITAL

INDIA's economic landscape is evolving amid global uncertainties, yet the country remains on a strong growth trajectory.

1 min

₹1.74 lakh cr not enough, say farmers

THOUGH many farmers have welcomed the budget for addressing their struggles by introducing schemes to boost pulses and oilseeds production etc, some believe the budget was designed with an eye on upcoming elections, particularly with major projects announced for Bihar.

1 min

TN leather exports may hit ₹8K cr

HOPES HIGH

1 min

Export, Cotton Initiatives Boost Tiruppur Firms

The Export Promotion Mission and a five-year plan to boost cotton production, announced in the union budget, would together drive up exports of knitwear firms and cut down manufacturing costs, said Tiruppur Exporters' Association president K M Subramanian on Saturday.

1 min

Anti-People For DMK & Co, Visionary For BJP

The allies of the DMK—Congress, CPM, and CPI—strongly criticised the union budget for 2025-26; the state unit of the BJP welcomed it as a visionary budget.

2 mins

New turnover limit leaves MSMEs vexed

REVISED LIMIT

1 min

'Union govt not treating all states fairly, no funds for Wayanad rehab'

THE Kerala government's hopes of a substantial allocation to compensate its revenue loss and to fund key initiatives were dashed with the Union Budget ignoring most of its demands.

1 min

Daycare cancer centres can help, but separate infra needed: Doctors

A section of doctors in Tamil Nadu have welcomed the Union government's announcement in the Budget to establish daycare cancer centres in all district hospitals over the next three years, with 200 set to be established in 2025-26.

1 min

States contributing less to national growth benefiting disproportionately, says Thangam

\"SHOULD the union government not show a fraction of interest in allocating funds to Tamil Nadu as it shows in imposing unacceptable policies and language on the state?\" Stalin asked.

1 min

A Bid To Build Skill Economy

Balanced Growth

1 min

Empty pot for second highest tax-paying state

'ANTI-POOR'

1 min

₹5,936 crore earmarked for Polavaram project in Andhra

While Andhra Pradesh was not specifically mentioned in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget speech, a closer look at the document revealed that the centre has allocated funds for several key projects in the State, including the Polavaram Irrigation Project, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, and Visakhapatnam Port.

1 min

10K New Medical Seats Will Improve Healthcare: UT CM

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy welcomed the Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, praising PM Narendra Modi's vision in shaping policies that align with the country's expectations and development goals.

1 min

BUDGET GOES BIG, GROWTH HINGES ON HOPE

GO big, or go home. It's a mantra often chanted by American sports teams facing an uphill challenge on the field.

4 mins

Prudence in the Time of Turmoil

Given the strong macro headwinds, the budget's promise of keeping the fiscal deficit low is appreciable. Smaller companies need easier norms and investors need more consistent policies to spur the economy

2 mins

NEITHER A HALWA, NOR A BIRYANI

N his parliament speech on Budget 2024, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had taunted the government by showing a picture of the finance minister and her mostly upper-caste officers participating in the ritualistic 'budget halwa ceremony' and asked metaphorically why India's budget halwa was not being shared proportionately with the oppressed sections.

3 mins

Prudence in the Time of Turmoil

The global macroeconomic backdrop to the finance minister's eighth budget is a turmoil caused by protectionist policies of the US and a stock market crash caused by a Chinese startup.

2 mins

Budget a force multiplier: Modi

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed his third-term government's first general Budget as a \"people's budget\" and a \"force multiplier\" aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of 140 crore Indians.

1 min

Insurance, ID cards for gig workers

THE rapid growth of ecommerce companies, especially quick commerce, have increased the overall gig worker demand.

1 min

Budget a force multiplier: Modi

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed his third-term government's first general Budget as a \"people's budget\" and a \"force multiplier\", aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of 140 crore Indians.

1 min

Healing touch to cancer care, med infra push

1.1L UG and PG medical education seats in 10 yrs

2 mins

PM Dhan-Dhaanya Scheme for 'First Engine of Growth'

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman positioned agriculture as \"the first engine of growth\" in the Union Budget for 2025-26, announcing flagship schemes, including Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, to be implemented in partnership with state governments to benefit 1.7 crore farmers.

1 min

Politically motivated: Oppn tears into govt

GROWTH FACTOR

1 min

Listened to people's voices: FM

FINANCE minister Nirmala Sitharaman on hiking income tax exemption limit on Saturday said, \"we've listened to the voice of the people because we are a responsible government\".

2 mins

₹20K cr for rooftop solar installations

FINANCE minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated a substantial budget for various key schemes in the Union Budget 2025 across different sectors.

1 min

No cheer in stock mkts amid flat capex growth

Mix of consumption push, low capex growth

2 mins

Fiscal deficit target cut to 4.4% for FY26

THE budget has pegged fiscal deficit, which is the quantum of government borrowings, for the next fiscal at 4.4% and the same for the current fiscal retained at 4.8%.

1 min

Crypto transaction details must

VIRTUAL digital assets (VDAs) such as crypto will be included in defining undisclosed income.

2 mins

All Set To Boost Household Sentiments

The last budget laid out a framework for a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25, and Budget 2020 builds on this with great acumen.

2 mins

Clarification on Ulips cap gain tax

LTCG

1 min

Exemptions for Life-Saving Drugs, Critical Minerals

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced a series of exemptions and revisions to Basic Customs Duty (BCD) across various sectors.

1 min

TDS, TCS rates rationalised, new norms mooted

IN a significant step to simplify the tax regime and also to reduce compliance burden, the government has announced to reduce the number of TDS (tax deducted at source) rates. Also, the threshold amount for tax deduction will be increased.

2 mins

Tax benefits for NPS Vatsalya subscribers

FINANCE minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that NPS Vatsalya subscribers will receive the same tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1B) as regular NPS subscribers for their contribution, provided they opt in to remain under old income tax regime and not in the new regime, which does not allow any deductions but offers a higher tax-free income level.

1 min

Tax cut to increase consumption

CONSUMER-facing businesses ranging from everyday consumables to big-ticket items like automobiles are optimistic that the government's decision to cut personal income tax will lead to higher disposable income, ultimately driving demand.

1 min

₹10K cr fund will give fillip to startup eco

WITH an aim to boost the start-up ecosystem in the country, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced that the Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) will be supported by a ₹10,000 crore commitment.

1 min

UDAN scheme to connect 120 new destinations

Transformative shift

2 mins

Investment, turnover limit for MSMEs up

SMALL INDUSTRIES

1 min

Allocation stands at ₹574 cr, Census & NPR unlikely to begin in '25

A meagre allocation of ₹574.80 crore under the Union budget for Census, Survey and Registrar General India indicated that the delayed decadal head count exercise in the country may not be carried out this year too.

1 min

Def gets ₹6.8L cr, enhanced by ₹59.6 cr

Seven public enterprises, corporatised from Ordnance Factory Board, allocated a total of ₹1,494 crore this fiscal

1 min

Living Texts of New Voices, Lingering Memories, and Old Wounds at Lit Fest

A narrative from Kashmir to Los Angeles

2 mins

Truck with 150 gas cylinders catches fire in UP

A massive fire broke out in a truck loaded with around 150 gas cylinders leading to a series of blasts for about half an hour in UP's Ghaziabad district on Saturday.

1 min

Dhami Likely to Rejig Cabinet After Civic Body Polls in U'khand

DESPITE winning 10 out of 11 mayoral positions in Uttarakhand's municipal corporations, the BJP is facing growing concerns over its weak performance in key ministerial and legislative areas.

1 min

On fast track: Fillip to infra, 200 new Vande Bharat trains

THE Union Budget for 2025-26 on Saturday made significant provisions for the rail sector, with the government planning to introduce 200 new Vande Bharat trains, including both sleeper and chair versions, along with 100 Amrit Bharat and 50 Namo Bharat train sets, besides numerous projects and infrastructure development.

1 min

8 Naxals gunned down in C'garh's Bijapur encounter

EIGHT cadres of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) were killed in an intense gun battle with the security forces in the Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, on Saturday.

1 min

Look Northeast: Assam to get urea plant, CMs of seven states elated

THE Chief Ministers of the states in the Northeast and industry bodies hailed the Union Budget, 2025.

1 min

18 Pakistani soldiers killed fighting terrorists

AT least 18 security personnel and 23 terrorists were killed during clashes between the two sides in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.

1 min

Won't accept Gaza residents: Arab nations

Reject Trump's plan to relocate residents of war-torn territory to Egypt and Jordan

2 mins

3 Israelis, 183 Palestinian prisoners freed in fourth swap after truce

HAMAS militants freed three male hostages held for more than a year in the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in the fourth such exchange of a ceasefire deal that has halted 15 months of intense fighting.

1 min

7 Dead in This Week's Second US Plane Crash

AT least seven people were killed and 19 were injured when an air ambulance crashed into a busy Philadelphia intersection, officials said on Saturday.

1 min

Budget boost but time for ministry to take new approach to Khelo India

IT was far from a great campaign for Indian sports last year.

2 mins

Tamil Nadu lose to Jharkhand

RIDING on left-arm spinner Manishi's 4/49, Jharkhand defeated Tamil Nadu by 44 runs on Day three of the Ranji Trophy Elite D group match played at the Keenan stadium, Jamshedpur on Friday.

2 mins

Ramkumar and Mukund put India in command

INDIA made a strong start to their Davis Cup 2025 campaign on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead over Togo on the opening day of the World Group I Playoffs at the DLTA Complex.

1 min

Harris Gets Top Billing at Chennai Open

THE Chennai Open ATP Challenger 100 Men's International Tennis Championship 2025 will be organized by the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association from February 2 to 9 at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

1 min

Punjab's Arjun and Ojasvi take spotlight

Punjab's Arjun Babuta & Ojasvi Thakur won the 10 air rifle mixed team gold

1 min

Salah scores double as Liverpool extend lead in EPL

MOHAMED Salah's controversial penalty put Liverpool on course for a 2-0 win at Bournemouth as the Premier League leaders moved nine points clear on Saturday.

1 min

Lifetime achievement award for Sachin

FORMER India captain and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was honoured with the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI annual awards in Mumbai on Saturday.

1 min

A Fair to Remember

From Pakistani-American sculptor Huma Bhabha to Polish queer artist Liactuallee, IAF director Jaya Asokan picks her favourites

3 mins

Between Nature and Humanity

The fearlessness that reflects in artist GR Iranna's experimental mediums creates a deep aesthetic which elevates the canvas into a third dimension

2 mins

Wake Up to the Importance of AI in Education

For a couple of years or so the brouhaha about AI has been on us. The one worry that consistently nags me is the lack of readiness in terms of expertise and acceptance in terms of use of AI in education in my country.

2 mins

The Secret Sauce to Lasting Friendships

In the first week of January, I received an unexpected phone call from a cherished family friend, someone I hadn't met in 17 long years.

1 min

Increasing Man-animal Conflict is a Sign of Disasters Waiting to Happen

Acute Angle

4 mins

Eating with Eyes Wide Shut

Find yourself gaining weight and feeling excessively full in the mornings for no explicable reason? You may be suffering from sleep-related eating disorder

2 mins

A Heady Mix of Ambition and Academia

The narrative explores the venerable institution and walks the precipice between aspiration and necessity

3 mins

Battles, Imagination and a Little History

The Cholas held power over a large geography, spanning the Lakshadweep in the west to Malaysia in the east

3 mins

Brothers in Arms

While cinematographer Ranabir Das trained his lens on All We Imagine as Light, brother Dhritiman scored the perfect music for the Golden Globe-nominated film

2 mins

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