archiveindian express

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday asked the Opposition not to paint a bleak picture of the state economy as he feared it would affect investments in Maharashtra. In his reply to a debate on the state’s annual budget for the year 2025-26, Pawar refuted Opposition’s claim that the state government is moving to close various welfare and development schemes launched ahead of the Assembly elections. He, however, without naming the schemes, said some of those which were launched during the pandemic will be reviewed and evaluated. “I must...

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again targetted India for its high tariffs, signalling that negotiations for a trade deal may not yield concessions for New Delhi on sweeping levies such as reciprocal tariffs, which are set to take effect from April 2. He singled out the auto sector, where he said India charges tariffs of over a 100 per cent.“India charges us 100 per cent tariffs; the system is not fair to the US, it never was. On April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in. Whatever they tax us,...

After talking about creating a “strategic reserve” of cryptocurrencies during his Presidential bid last year, Donald Trump has for the first time announced five virtual coins he plans to include in the American reserve stockpile – a move which has given a booster shot to the crypto trading market, helping it upend the downward trajectory it seemed to be headed on over concerns around Trump’s uncertain trade decisions.The market prices of the five coins he named – Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Cardano – all swiftly jumped after the announcement....

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday announced a significant hike in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector — from 74% to 100% — paving the way for the entry of global insurance giants, substantial foreign investments and tough competition in the Indian market.The government will hopes this major reform boosts insurance penetration in the country, which, as per an IRDAI report, was at 3.7% in 2023-24. The global insurance penetration at the same time was 7%. With the 100% FDI, foreign insurers will have full autonomy to operate...