The All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants’ Association has sought reduction of GST on gold ornaments from 3 per cent to 1 per cent with immediate effect, or through a phased approach, to ensure affordability, stimulate demand, and protect the interest of small traders and artisans. When GST was introduced in 2017, the average price…
Image used for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee appreciated 19 paise to 87.20 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Tuesday (August 19, 2025), reflecting the optimism around domestic reforms and equities, though external risks remain elevated. Forex traders said the rupee is holding firm at current levels, tracking the…
Image used for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters Equity benchmark indices climbed in early trade on Tuesday (August 19, 2025), extending their previous day’s sharp rally, as optimism prevailed in the market buoyed by plans for big bang reforms in the GST regime by Diwali. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 203.44 points to…
The central government’s proposals to reform the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system are bold and timely. They stand to benefit the middle class and the business community, as the government claims. Shifting 99% of the items in the 12% slab to a 5% tax rate, and 90% of the items in the 28% slab…
Representational file image. | Photo Credit: Reuters India has recommended a three-year import tariff of 11%-12% on some steel products to curb shipments from top producer China. The levy, if imposed, will start at 12%. It will be eased to 11.5% in the second year and to 11% in the third year, the Directorate General…
Moody’s added that the tariffs imposed by the U.S. have left countries across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region “feeling bruised”. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters The combined 50% tariff on Indian exports to the U.S. will reduce demand for Indian goods “very substantially”, Moody’s Analytics said in a report. The report was talking about the…
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 676.09 points or 0.84% to settle at 81,273.75. File. | Photo Credit: PTI Stock markets rose sharply on Monday (August 18, 2025), with Sensex closing higher by 676 points and Nifty climbing 1% on heavy buying in auto and consumer durables stocks, buoyed by plans for big bang reforms in…
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 87.46 against the U.S. dollar, and touched an intraday low of 87.48 and a high of 87.33 and settled at 87.36 (provisional). File. | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee appreciated 23 paise to close at 87.36 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Monday (August 18,…
As many as 23% of the total 56.04 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts are inoperative, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Monday (August 18, 2025). Out of 56.03 crore PMJDY accounts at the end of July 31, 2025, 13.04 crore such accounts are inoperative, he said in a written…
Union Finance Minister during the monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi. File | Photo Credit: PTI/Sansad TV Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) address a crucial meeting of a group of ministers of States as she makes a case for the sweeping GST reforms that will slash tax rates and…
