The road transport ministry in New Delhi proposed a tax rebate of up to 50% for buyers who submit a scrapping certificate for their BS-I, BS-II, or older vehicles. This initiative aims to reduce vehicular pollution by encouraging citizens to replace old, polluting vehicles with newer models, providing significant financial incentives.
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China's manufacturing activity expanded for the third month in a row in December, with the PMI reaching 50.1. This growth comes amid efforts to combat a property market crisis, weak consumption, and high government debt. However, experts believe more fiscal stimulus is necessary for full economic recovery. The non-manufacturing PMI also showed improvement, rising to 52.2.
India's financial sector is positioned strongly as it enters 2025, marked by robust earnings, low impaired assets, and strong capital buffers. Despite challenges from geopolitical conflicts and market volatility, the financial system remains resilient. Consumer and business confidence is high, and stress tests show the banking system and NBFCs are well-capitalized.
RBI monetary policy committee member Nagesh Kumar has proposed considering two inflation rates, one including and the other excluding food prices, to tailor policy decisions. With food having a 46% weightage in consumer price inflation, the current rate established in 2011-12 may need reassessment.
The DGCA issued a warning letter to Akasa for lapses in dangerous goods carriage found during a December 2024 inspection. Violations included unchecked electronic devices with lithium batteries and shipments over permissible limits. Akasa admitted the lapses and took corrective actions. The DGCA warned Akasa to ensure future compliance and submit an internal audit report within 30 days.
Public sector banks (PSBs) in India have seen their gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio fall to a historic low of 3.1% as of September 2024. This improvement is attributed to the 4R strategy, recapitalization efforts, and reforms. PSBs' profitability has surged, with net profits reaching ₹1.4 lakh crore in FY24.
Groww, the Bengaluru-based discount stock brokerage, is planning an IPO within the next 12 months, seeking a valuation of $6-8 billion. The company aims to raise $600-800 million through the offering. This move comes as regulatory changes affect the derivatives trading space, impacting revenues of brokers like Groww and its competitor, Zerodha.
ONGC has appointed BP as a technical partner for enhancing oil and gas production from India's Mumbai High. BP won the 10-year contract, outbidding Shell, and aims to increase output by up to 60%. BP's role involves analyzing field performance and implementing technological improvements.
Vodafone Group cleared debt dues of Rs 11,650 crore by releasing pledges on shares of Vodafone Idea. The pledged shares were raised against debt from HSBC Corporate Trustee. These shares represent a 22.56% stake, currently valued at Rs 11,649 crore. Post-repayment, the equity shares held by Vodafone Promoter Shareholders have been released.
Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone believes the new US tariff regime could boost American growth and global consumption. He indicates India is well-placed in tariff negotiations and highlights the necessity of infrastructure investment and streamlined project approvals. Schwarzman remains optimistic about India's long-term economic trajectory despite market fluctuations.
Sebi has introduced stricter regulations for SME IPOs, mandating a minimum operating profit and limiting selling shareholders' divestment to 50% of their stake. These measures aim to enhance transparency, governance, and fund utilization in the booming SME segment. The new rules also restrict the use of IPO proceeds for settling loans from related parties.