The Times of India

The Supreme Court ruled that ex-servicemen are entitled to full arrears of disability pension from applicable cut-off dates, rejecting the government's plea to limit payments to three years. The court emphasized that disability pension is a vested right, not charity, recognizing sacrifices made for the nation.

Rahul Gandhi criticized the India-US trade deal, dubbing PM Modi as Narendra Surrender Modi and accusing him of betraying farmers. He argued the agreement creates an unfair fight for country's farmers against subsidized foreign crops. Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Shivraj Singh Chouhan refuted these claims, calling them baseless and accusing Gandhi of misleading the public.

US stocks traded steady Friday as a softer inflation report eased investor nerves, though AI disruption concerns persisted. Treasury yields declined after consumer prices rose less than expected, offering potential room for Fed rate cuts. Companies previously hit by AI fears saw stabilization, with some recovering mild losses.

What do the draft income tax rules mean for the common man? How does the calculation math for the old vs new income tax regime change? How much more tax can you now save under the old regime with revised exemption and deduction limits? Here are the top changes taxpayers should know:

This general licence permits the acquisition, export, and sale of oil sourced from Venezuela that has already been produced, as well as its refining. Reliance had submitted its licence application in early January.

Despite increased wage bills from new labour codes, most companies won't slash salary hikes. However, some sectors, particularly IT, may see moderated increments. Experts suggest companies are absorbing costs or budgeting separately, with overall salary growth driven by demand and skills, not just compliance. This shift prompts a long-term rethink of workforce and compensation strategies.

Gold futures surged by Rs 1,044 to Rs 1,53,880 per 10 grams on Friday. This rise was fueled by traders establishing fresh positions in response to strong spot market demand. International gold futures also saw an increase, trading at USD 4,962 per ounce.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan stated that Jawaharlal Nehru recognized Tibet as part of China to foster a strong relationship, recalling the Panchsheel agreement. He emphasized that India must reconsider its perspective on Himalayan boundaries, particularly in Uttarakhand's middle sector, where the Himalayas have historically served as interaction zones.

Russia is reportedly considering a return to dollar settlements as part of potential economic partnerships with a Trump administration, aiming to boost its foreign exchange market. This move, outlined in an internal document, could involve joint ventures in energy, aviation, and raw materials, potentially benefiting American companies and strengthening the greenback's global role.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated 'Seva Teerth', a new building complex housing the PMO, National Security Council Secretariat, and Cabinet Secretariat, alongside Kartavya Bhavan 1 and 2. This significant administrative overhaul consolidates key government functions into modern, efficient, and citizen-centric facilities, replacing colonial-era nomenclature with names reflecting public service and duty.

Indian Railways is constructing a new 35.76 km underground railway line through the Siliguri Corridor, known as the Chicken's Neck, to enhance secure and reliable connectivity to the Northeast. This strategically vital project, utilizing modern technology, aims to improve defense logistics and disaster response in the region.

IT sector stocks crash: The correction has been severe, with roughly Rs 5.7 lakh crore in market value wiped out within eight trading sessions and the Nifty IT index declining about 19% over a short period.

The Budget also introduces Biopharma SHAKTIa five-year, 10,000 crore programme to position India as a global hub for biopharma manufacturing by strengthening capabilities in biologics and biosimilars.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are struggling to retain higher levels and a sell on rise intra-day strategy is recommended by Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.

The Budget proposes a significantly expanded Safe Harbour regime for IT services, with a uniform safe harbour margin of 15.5% and an enhanced threshold that rises from 300 crore to 2,000 crore. Earlier differences between KPO, BPO, and other services often led to classification issues, especially for diversified and larger GCCs.

Asian markets dipped Friday, mirroring US tech losses amid AI spending concerns. Investors are questioning the rapid returns on massive AI investments, especially with new automation tools threatening traditional business models. This shift sees a rotation towards hardware providers, while companies facing AI disruption are under pressure. Inflation data from the US is keenly awaited.