Author: News Desk

South Mumbai will finally be on the Metro map in March, with fares ranging from ₹10 to ₹60. The expansion of Line 3 will extend from Aarey to Worli Naka (Acharya Atre Chowk), providing a 22km underground route for faster and more comfortable travel. Faster Commute, Less Traffic For ₹60, commuters can bypass congested roads like Lady Jamshedji Road and Dr Annie Besant Road, traveling smoothly through areas like Dharavi, Dadar, Siddhivinayak, and Worli. Many, like marketing professional Priya Rane, see it as a game-changer, replacing long cab rides with a quick metro journey. Boost for Commercial Hubs The new…

Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, shared a video of himself testing a fully made-in-India laptop developed by VVDN Technologies. The video highlights India’s growing capabilities in hardware manufacturing. https://x.com/AshwiniVaishnaw/status/1894806229085810824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1894806229085810824%7Ctwgr%5E31fd8a8cc4afea18d846c82edd8247b980d27c62%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Ftechnology%2Flaptops%2Fit-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-tests-made-in-india-laptop-9859303%2F VVDN Technologies Focuses on Indigenous Manufacturing In the video, VVDN Technologies CEO Puneet Agarwal emphasized that the laptop’s hardware, motherboard, mechanical components, body, chassis, and software are entirely made in India. He also stated that the laptop meets international quality standards, reinforcing the country’s progress in the electronics manufacturing sector. Laptops Designed for White-Labelling and Mass Manufacturing The video does not disclose…

The US EB-5 program, which allows foreign investors to obtain a Green Card through an $800,000 investment, is at risk of being eliminated. Former US President Donald Trump has proposed a new ‘Gold Card’ visa, requiring a direct $5 million payment to the government, with no job creation or investment returns. Impact on UAE Investors This change poses a significant challenge for UAE-based high-net-worth individuals seeking US residency. Dubai-based attorney Shai Zamanian noted that the 525% cost increase makes US immigration far less accessible. Investors who previously relied on EB-5 to grow their businesses will lose the ability to recover…

The Income Tax Department has initiated a large-scale investigation into irregularities in Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), covering more than 40,000 taxpayers across the country. This campaign targets individuals and companies that have either failed to deduct TDS/TCS or have not deposited it with the government. Notices are being issued to those found violating the tax rules. This action is based on TDS data from the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has detected multiple discrepancies in TDS payments and has devised a 16-point action plan to identify non-compliant taxpayers. In addition to this, the department’s data analytics team has compiled a list of taxpayers…

An interim report by the Karnataka labour department has concluded that Infosys did not violate any labour laws in its recent terminations. The review, led by Additional Labour Commissioner (Industrial Relations) G Manjunath, was conducted on the directives of Labour Minister Santhosh Lad. The team inspected Infosys campuses in Mysuru and Bengaluru and examined documents related to the hiring process. Trainees, Not Employees A government official clarified that the individuals in question were trainees under an apprenticeship program, not employees. “There was no employer-employee relationship as they were never given appointment letters. They were trainees receiving stipends for three months,”…

Global shipping leader A.P. Moller Maersk is set to invest $5 billion in India’s ports, terminals, and logistics infrastructure. Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, confirmed this in an exclusive interview, emphasizing India’s growing role in global trade. Focus on Pipavav and Vadhavan Ports Maersk’s investment will primarily focus on expanding the Pipavav terminal and developing a container terminal at the upcoming Vadhavan Port. The company is keen on upgrading Pipavav by dredging to accommodate larger ships, ensuring it remains future-ready. Vadhavan’s project will move forward based on the government’s bidding process, with Maersk already earmarking funds for development. Strengthening Logistics and Supply Chain Apart from port infrastructure, Maersk is expanding its…

Technicolor India, a leading visual effects (VFX) and animation studio, has shut down its operations in Bengaluru and Mumbai, impacting nearly 3,000 employees. The decision follows financial troubles faced by its parent company, Technicolor Group, which filed for a court recovery process in France due to its inability to secure investors. Employees Left in Shock The shutdown was sudden, with India’s management learning about it only through an email from Technicolor Group CEO Caroline Parot. Employees, many of whom worked on major Hollywood productions, were caught off guard. Some were not even allowed into office premises to collect their belongings.…

Adani Group is set to expand its airport retail business to over 270 stores, aiming to boost non-aeronautical revenues. The group plans to enter various retail categories, including electronics, beauty, chocolates, alcohol, lifestyle products, and food services. Beyond Airports – Highways and Malls The company plans to extend its retail operations beyond airports to highways and malls, positioning itself as a competitor to Tata, Reliance, and global brands like Domino’s and Yum Brands. Growth Strategy Currently, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd generates less than half of its revenue from non-aero businesses. The goal is to push this to three-fourths by taking…

Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has dismissed around 20 employees for leaking confidential information to the media. A company spokesperson confirmed the action and indicated that more terminations would follow. Meta’s Stance on Information Leaks A Meta representative stated that employees are regularly reminded about the company’s policies against sharing internal details. “We recently conducted an investigation that resulted in roughly 20 employees being terminated for sharing confidential information outside the company, and we expect more terminations,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing the company’s strict approach to leaks. Declining Employee Morale Reports suggest that morale among Meta employees has dropped, especially…

Many people wonder how much cash they can deposit or withdraw from their savings account without facing scrutiny from the Income Tax Department. According to tax rules, total cash deposits or withdrawals exceeding ₹10 lakh in a financial year will be reported by banks, even if spread across multiple accounts. Daily Cash Transaction Limits Under Section 269ST of the Income Tax Act, a person cannot withdraw more than ₹2 lakh in a single transaction or multiple linked transactions in a day. If the total cash deposits across all savings accounts exceed ₹10 lakh in a year, banks must report it…