Economic Survey highlights the positive impact of linking financially less privileged rural women to self help groups, welfare schemes, and direct benefit transfers. These initiatives have reduced inequality, increased consumption spending, and improved quality of life for rural households, as revealed by a survey conducted in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Tata stakeholders are considering appointing a retired Supreme Court chief justice as arbitrator to determine trustee appointments for the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation.

Between 2021 and 2023, the Uttar Pradesh government procured nearly 70 lakh tablets and smartphones worth over Rs 7,500 crore for social welfare programmes, primarily benefitting Korean and Taiwanese brands. Indian brands like Micromax and Karbonn face difficulties qualifying due to stringent tender requirements.

The government aims to achieve barrier-free tolling on four-lane or more national highways and high-speed corridors within five years, ensuring seamless travel for commuters. The system will utilize advanced technologies like automated number plate readers and multi-lane free flow systems to facilitate this initiative.

Economic Survey recommends sustained increase in infrastructure investment over the next two decades to support high growth, given private sector contributions have fallen short. Report highlights need for accelerated private participation in various stages of infrastructure projects, while noting improved capital expenditure post-general election and monsoon constraints.

The survey highlights unfulfilled promises of climate finance by rich nations, stressing their impact on climate targets. Developing countries, including India, may not pursue ambitious emission reduction goals. Instead, India should prioritize a strong adaptation strategy while maintaining its commitment to low-carbon growth.

LTIMindtree's CEO designate, Venu Lambu, met with over 50 senior leaders in Mumbai, amid the departure of two senior executives. Lambu emphasized a focus on growth and AI strategy. Current CEO, Debashis Chatterjee, is assisting with the transition and plans joint client visits with Lambu in the US and Europe.

​​Budget 2025 income tax expectations: The article examines the potential scrapping of the old income tax regime in the upcoming Budget 2025. It highlights the introduction and progression of the new tax regime since 2020, comparing the benefits and drawbacks for various taxpayer categories.

RBI's decision to infuse ₹1.5 lakh crore liquidity boosted banking stocks, leading to a sensex rise of 530 points. Despite a late sell-off, major banks led gains, while foreign funds continued selling. Mid- and small-cap sectors saw declines. Upcoming events, such as the US FOMC meeting and Union Budget, are expected to contribute to market volatility.

China has emerged as a significant player in AI foundation models with DeepSeek, creating powerful AI models at lower costs than the West. This has spurred a debate in India about whether to develop indigenous large language models or focus on smaller, application-specific ones. Experts emphasize the need for investment in research, infrastructure, and innovation to enhance India's AI capabilities.

Following the RBI's liquidity infusion, experts anticipate government measures to strengthen the rupee. Potential steps could include promoting exports and attracting foreign deposits. Noted changes from past currency management practices signal a focus on maintaining smooth monetary transmission rather than direct intervention in currency markets.

Budget 2025 income tax expectations: While it is well known that new income tax regime is simplified tax regime without tax exemptions and deductions but still to make the rest of the 28% filing tax returns under old income tax regime adopt new income tax regime, the expectations are:

The world’s 500 richest individuals, particularly those associated with AI, experienced a significant financial hit, losing $108 billion collectively. Nvidia's Jensen Huang lost $20.1 billion as a result of DeepSeek's inexpensively developed AI model challenging the existing high capital expenditure dependency of Silicon Valley tech giants.

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI app, has achieved the top spot in Apple's App Store productivity category, surpassing ChatGPT. Founded by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek’s R1 AI model is noted for its efficiency and low cost. It’s gaining global attention for its strong performance and has been praised by industry leaders, though some remain skeptical about its development costs.

HDFC Bank reports a standalone net profit of Rs 16,735 crore for the quarter ended Dec 2024, up 2.2% from the previous year, despite a slight decline from the preceding quarter. Margins remain stable, and asset quality is robust. The bank accrues significant loan sales and maintains substantial growth capital.

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) reported a 1.4% increase in revenue for Q3, reaching Rs 15,408 crore, despite weak demand in urban areas due to high food inflation. The company's net profit surged 19% to Rs 3,001 crore, thanks to gains from the sale of its Pureit business. Consumers have been opting for smaller product packs across various segments.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued a new guidance note on the Principal Purpose Test (PPT) for claiming tax treaty benefits, which will be applied prospectively. The grandfathering provisions under the India-Cyprus, India-Mauritius, and India-Singapore DTAAs remain unaffected by this new PPT provision and will continue to be governed by the specific provisions in their respective treaties.