The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday strongly dismissed a Bloomberg report that claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping had sent a “secret letter” to Indian President Droupadi Murmu as part of a covert diplomatic outreach. The Indian government clarified that the report was baseless and no such communication had been received from the Chinese...
Industry leaders in India’s electronics and home appliance sector have welcomed the recent GST rationalisation, describing it as a landmark reform that will simplify taxation, enhance disposable incomes, and revive consumer demand. The government has reduced GST on key home appliances, including air conditioners, large-screen televisions, dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, and...
New Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, alleging that India’s ethanol blending policy has turned into a “family windfall,” benefiting Gadkari’s sons’ companies. Khera claimed that while ordinary citizens face rising fuel costs, Cian Agro Industries, owned by Gadkari’s son Nikhil, saw revenues surge from...
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded the recent GST reforms announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking to National Awardee teachers at his official residence on 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, PM Modi highlighted that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been made simpler, with tax slabs reduced to just 5%...
New Delhi: The GST Council has approved an increase in the tax on oil and gas exploration and production services from 12% to 18%, a move set to raise production costs across the sector. The new tax rates will come into effect from September 22, 2025. According to an official statement, services related to the...
Mumbai: Taxpayers are reminded that the last date to file their Income Tax Return (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 is September 15, 2025. Experts are advising taxpayers to exercise caution while filing, particularly regarding dividend income. Many investors notice discrepancies between the dividend amounts credited to their bank accounts and the figures shown in...
New Delhi: India has extended urgent humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan following a series of powerful earthquakes that devastated the eastern region, killing more than 800 people and injuring at least 2,800. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the aid on Monday, sharing images on X of trucks carrying sacks of rice and other essential...
India has reportedly blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), according to Azerbaijani broadcaster AnewZ. The report noted that while China continues to support Azerbaijan’s bid, India’s decision is linked to Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following...
New Delhi: For the first time since 2001, excluding the Covid-19 pandemic years, the number of Indian visitors to the United States has declined. According to the US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), around 2.1 lakh Indians travelled to the US in June 2025, marking an 8% drop compared to 2.3 lakh...
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced today that the country is open to engaging in a comprehensive and dignified dialogue with India, covering all outstanding issues—most notably the Jammu and Kashmir dispute—but firmly emphasized that “Pakistan will not beg for talks”. Dar reiterated that Pakistan’s position adheres to its longstanding posture:...