Parliament Clears New Income Tax Bill, Paving Way for Simpler Tax Regime from April 2026
Parliament on Tuesday passed the Income Tax Bill, 2025, marking the most significant overhaul of India’s direct tax legislation in over six decades. The Rajya Sabha returned the Bill to the Lok Sabha with a voice vote, completing its legislative journey. The new law will formally replace the Income Tax Act, 1961, and is set […]
Ladakh Apricot Exports Ripen for Global Push, But Challenges Remain
Famous for their rich sweetness, organic purity, and heritage value, Ladakh’s apricots are slowly making their way from remote Himalayan orchards to international shelves. The prized ‘Raktsey Karpo’ variety, which bagged the region’s first-ever Geographical Indication (GI) tag in December 2022, is at the heart of this push. Spread over 2,612 hectares, Ladakh’s high-altitude orchards […]
India’s Farm Sector Outshines Overall Exports in 2024-25
India’s agricultural sector remains a bright spot in the country’s trade story. Even as overall merchandise exports barely moved in 2024-25, farm produce shipments grew 6.4% to touch $51.9 billion, up from $48.8 billion the previous year. Imports, however, have also risen — leaving a smaller surplus than a decade ago. Union Commerce Minister Piyush […]
Trump’s Tariff Shock: How a 50% Duty Could Reshape India–U.S. Trade
U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his tariff offensive, announcing a sweeping 50% duty on a broad range of Indian exports, in what he framed as a penalty for New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil. But this move is more than a geopolitical signal—it’s a potentially transformative disruption for the $132 billion India–U.S. bilateral […]
Trump Floats 250% Tariff on Drug Imports: A Blow to India’s Pharma Powerhouse?
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again turned to tariffs as his preferred policy lever—this time, targeting the global pharmaceutical supply chain. In a recent interview with CNBC, Trump announced that he may impose import tariffs on pharmaceuticals as high as 250%, a dramatic escalation from earlier proposals. “We want pharmaceuticals made in our country,” […]
📱 iPhone Exports from India Soar to $6 Billion in Q1; Apple Drives Record Smartphone Shipments
India’s smartphone exports have reached an all-time high, driven largely by Apple’s stellar performance. According to a Business Standard report, Apple exported $6 billion worth of iPhones from India in the April–June 2025 quarter (Q1FY26), marking an 82% jump compared to $3.2 billion in the same quarter last year. This surge not only marks Apple’s […]
Trump Threatens Tariffs on India, Again Claims Role in India-Pakistan Ceasefire
Just days before his self-imposed August 1 deadline for new tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at imposing a 20% to 25% tariff on Indian goods, even as he insisted that the India-U.S. trade deal was “working out very well.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump responded to reports suggesting India might be […]
Elon Musk Confirms $16.5B Tesla-Samsung Chip Deal: Why It Matters Globally—and for India
Elon Musk’s Tesla has inked a $16.5 billion chip supply deal with Samsung Electronics, setting off a wave of optimism in global tech and semiconductor markets. The deal, running through 2033, marks a significant boost for Samsung’s underperforming foundry business and reflects Tesla’s ambitions to advance its AI-driven automotive capabilities. Samsung’s shares surged nearly 7% […]
Maharashtra Eyes $1 Trillion Economy by 2030, Says Morgan Stanley Report
Auto, Pharma, IT, and Exports Drive India’s Leading State Economy Key Highlights: Maharashtra could hit $1 trillion GDP by 2030 – Morgan Stanley Current GDP: $536B, India’s largest state economy Services dominate at 64.3%, led by IT and finance Attracted $19.6B FDI in FY25 – top in India Major contributor to auto, pharma, exports 730 […]
Karnataka Vegetable Vendor Faces ₹29 Lakh GST Over Digital Payments
Haveri, Karnataka: A small vegetable vendor, Shankargouda, has received a shocking GST notice of ₹29 lakh for digital transactions amounting to ₹1.63 crore over the past four years — simply because he accepted UPI and wallet-based payments. Despite government rules stating that fresh, unprocessed vegetables are GST-exempt if bought directly from farmers, Shankargouda’s digital trail […]