New mobile recharge rules: 30-day plans, call-only options and more; TRAI rules explained

New mobile recharge rules: 30-day plans, call-only options and more; TRAI rules explained

New mobile recharge rules Prepaid mobile users will have more recharge options under a new consumer protection framework notified by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), with the changes covering both plan validity and voice-and-SMS-only services.The new rules provide for greater availability of voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs), including plans valid for 30 days … Read more

No Upi Day: ‘UPI must remain zero MDR’: Mobile retailers announce October 2 protest

No Upi Day: ‘UPI must remain zero MDR’: Mobile retailers announce October 2 protest

Mobile retailers warn of higher costs, call October 2 protest (representative image) Mobile phone retailers across India plan to observe October 2 as a “No UPI Day”, protesting the proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on specified UPI merchant transactions above Rs 2,000.The protest has been called by the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), … Read more

Blue Star, Haier and more firms to hike appliance prices from October 1: What gets costlier?

Blue Star, Haier and more firms to hike appliance prices from October 1: What gets costlier?

Festive shopping to get costlier The festive cheer may come with a slightly heavier price tag this year.As shopping lists grow ahead of the peak season, air-conditioners, LED TVs, washing machines and other consumer appliances are set for another round of price hikes.Leading manufacturers are raising prices by 5-8% from October 1, citing higher costs … Read more

Mark mood check: Crude, US-Iran talks and economic data to drive Dalal Street this week

Mark mood check: Crude, US-Iran talks and economic data to drive Dalal Street this week

Crude, US-Iran talks and key data in focus this week Dalal Street is likely to begin the holiday-shortened week with investors tracking a mix of geopolitical developments, oil prices and global financial conditions. According to analysts, developments in US-Iran diplomacy and movements in crude oil will be among the key factors determining market sentiment.The market … Read more

Banks open today: Are banks open or closed on Sunday, September 27, ahead of a 3-day strike?

Banks open today: Are banks open or closed on Sunday, September 27, ahead of a 3-day strike?

All public sector banks and regional rural banks will remain operational on Sunday. NEW DELHI: Banks are open and functioning normally across the country on Sunday, September 27, as the government takes steps to ensure “uninterrupted banking services” ahead of the proposed three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30.The move comes as the strike … Read more

Festive season shock: AC, TV and appliance prices set to rise from October 1

Festive season shock: AC, TV and appliance prices set to rise from October 1

The latest increase comes ahead of the peak festive shopping period. Consumers could face higher prices for air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators and LED TVs this festive season, with leading appliance and consumer electronics makers planning price hikes of up to 8% from October 1 as rising commodity and freight costs squeeze margins.The latest increase … Read more

Big dollar inflows, little boost for rupee: Why the currency may stay near Rs 96 in near term

Big dollar inflows, little boost for rupee: Why the currency may stay near Rs 96 in near term

Where is rupee headed in near term? After suffering multiple lows over the year, rupee may now see some stability against the US dollar. The currency is likely to remain in the Rs 94.5-96 per dollar range in the near term, despite sizeable dollar inflows through FCNR deposits and external commercial borrowings (ECBs), according to … Read more

GIFT Nifty breaks the $23 billion mark as trading activity hits a fresh high

GIFT Nifty breaks the  billion mark as trading activity hits a fresh high

GIFT Nifty breaks the $23 billion mark GIFT Nifty’s expansion since its full-scale launch in July 2023 has taken the international platform to another trading milestone, with turnover, volume and open interest all hitting fresh highs on September 25.The platform’s cumulative turnover reached $3.52 trillion as of September 25, 2026, while more than 76.19 million … Read more

Why FIIs may not return to Indian stocks even after AI boom fades

Why FIIs may not return to Indian stocks even after AI boom fades

FIIs unlikely to return in large numbers without new growth engines in India: Bernstein Foreign investors may continue to remain cautious on Indian stocks even after the artificial intelligence (AI) trade peaks, brokerage Bernstein said. It said foreign investors are unlikely to return in large numbers unless India is able to build industries and companies … Read more