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The entire 11,790 MHz of spectrum recommended to be put up for auction would be valued at around Rs 2.1 lakh crore at the reserve price if fully taken up, sources said after telecom regulator TRAI's suggestions on the modalities for bidding of radiowaves. Sources further said that overall, the spectrum is 19 per cent cheaper than prices recommended in 2022. According to sources, if the entire spectrum - 11,790 MHz - is assigned in the auction, it would be worth Rs 2.1 lakh crore at the base or reserve price. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Tuesday recommended auctioning the entire available radiowave spectrum, while proposing lower entry barriers for new players and a uniform 35 per cent spectrum cap to safeguard competition in the telecom sector. While urging the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to reclaim spectrum held by telecom companies undergoing insolvency, Trai proposed halving the net worth criteria for new entrants from Rs 100 crore to Rs 50 cror
The corporate affairs ministry will introduce a three-month compliance facilitation scheme for companies to submit their pending filings with reduced fees, as well as condone the delays. The scheme, which will be operational from April 15 to July 15, comes after representations from various stakeholders seeking more time for making the filings. There are more than 20 lakh active companies in the country. Under the 'Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 (CCFS-2026)', there will be a one-time compliance window for companies to regularise pending filings with reduced fees and condonation of delay, the ministry said on Wednesday. In a circular issued on Tuesday, the ministry said the number of active companies has crossed the 20 lakh-mark and the rate of growth of companies in the country corresponds to the increase in the formalisation of the economy, which consists of many new-age entrepreneurs, MSMEs and producer companies, among others. "The ministry has received ...
Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, on Wednesday said that India has managed to sustain growth of 7-7.5 per cent while maintaining macroeconomic stability despite global uncertainties, while asserting that sequential growth with stability is key to achieving the goal of a "Vikshit Bharat". Sanyal also said that West Bengal should reposition itself as a maritime state and consider setting up a large port. Addressing a special session on 'India's Growth Story Navigating Global Challenges' organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), Sanyal said it was a cliche to describe the present as uniquely uncertain, noting that the world had navigated crises such as the global financial meltdown and COVID-19 earlier as well. He said India's macroeconomic parameters remain "in good shape", citing lower inflation, fiscal balance and a relatively contained debt-to-GDP ratio. The government, he added, adopted a conservative fiscal .
India's sugar production has been revised down 5.57 per cent to 32.40 million tonne for the 2025-26 marketing year, industry body ISMA said on Wednesday, citing lower yields in top producers Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The third advance estimate, released after an executive committee meeting, follows a second projection of 34.35 million tonnes. Output last year was 29.62 million tonnes. After diverting 3.1 million tonnes for ethanol, net availability will reach 29.3 million tonnes, up from 26.12 million tonnes in 2024-25. Including 5 million tonne opening stock, the total availability of 34.3 million tonne exceeds domestic consumption of 28.3 million tonne, ISMA said. ISMA forecast exports at 700,000 tonnes and closing stocks at 5.3 million tonnes. Net production in Maharashtra is estimated at 10.6 million tonne, Uttar Pradesh at 9.25 million tonne and Karnataka at 4.84 million tonne - all revised lower but above last year's levels. In Uttar Pradesh, lower yields stem from a .
The power ministry has sent the proposal on the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE)-III norms to the Prime Minister's Office after a meeting with stakeholders, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Wednesday, even as the auto industry appears to be divided over the treatment of small cars and changes in technical definitions. On differences among auto industry stakeholders on the CAFE-III norms, Kumarswamy told reporters, "We already had a meeting with stakeholders and power ministry. The power ministry, according to my information, now, after the meeting with stakeholders they have sent the proposal to PMO." No leniency must be granted to small cars in the corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE-III) norms on the basis of weight and affordability as it would compromise safety features while distracting from concrete action towards sustainable mobility, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd Managing Director & CEO Shailesh Chandra had said in November. However,
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday proposed a budget outlay of Rs 80,952.56 crore for the financial year 2026-27, marking an 8.77 per cent increase over the 2025-26 budget estimate of Rs 74,427.41 crore. BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani tabled the budget in the country's richest civic body, with the capital expenditure pegged at Rs 48,164.28 crore, reflecting a rise of about 11.59 per cent over the revised estimate of Rs 39,159.51 crore for 2025-26. The capital outlay in 2025-26 was originally estimated at Rs 43,162.23 crore, but was subsequently revised downward. Revenue expenditure for 2026-27 is proposed at Rs 32,698.44 crore, about 15.71 per cent higher than the revised estimate of Rs 28,257.91 crore for 2025-26. The revenue expenditure for the current fiscal was initially estimated at Rs 31,204.53 crore but later reduced by Rs 2,946.62 crore following expenditure rationalisation measures. The estimated revenue income for 2026-27 stands at Rs 51,510.94 ..
The government has mandated the sale of petrol with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all states and Union Territories from April 1, 2026. The oil ministry in a February 17 notification, said, "the central government hereby directs that oil companies shall sell ethanol-blended motor spirit (petrol) with percentage of ethanol up to 20 per cent as per the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and having minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, in states and the Union Territories". The central government can allow exceptions in special situations, for specific regions and for a limited time. Ethanol is made from sugarcane, maize, or grain. It is renewable, domestically produced and has cleaner burning than pure petrol. The government has mandated ethanol blending in petrol to help cut oil imports as also reduce emissions. Such a mandate also supports farmers as it boosts demand for sugarcane, maize and agricultural surplus. Most
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 15 lakh on Delhi-based coaching institute Vajirao and Reddy Institute for publishing misleading advertisements claiming credit for candidates who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023, many of whom had enrolled only for mock interview sessions. The institute had claimed on its official website, shortly after results were declared on April 16, 2024, that it had produced "over 645 selections out of 1,016 vacancies", with "6 in Top 10 AIR" and "35 in Top 50 AIR". These claims appeared alongside advertisements for its regular courses, creating the impression that successful candidates had been trained by the institute through all three stages -- Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. The CCPA found this to be a deliberate misrepresentation. On examining enrolment records submitted by the institute, the authority found that a significant number of candidates had signed up only for the "Interview Guidance
Realty firm Nexus Select Trust will acquire 50 per cent stake in an upcoming mall in Mumbai for Rs 434 crore as part of its expansion plan. In a regulatory filing on Monday, Nexus Select Trust, a REIT sponsored by Blackstone, said it has entered into a tie-up for an under-construction development. "The REIT has agreed to acquire a 50 per cent stake in the upcoming Nexus Runwal Gardens Mall in Dombivli, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), to be operated in partnership with Runwal Enterprises," the filing said. The proposed mall will span 7.4 lakh sq ft of gross leasing area. Nexus Select Trust will acquire 50 per cent equity shareholding in the Garden City Malls Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of M/s. Runwal Residency Pvt Ltd. "Purchase consideration of Rs 434 crore with an overall enterprise value of Rs 892 crore (includes estimated closing costs), subject to closing adjustments. Based on estimated 4,67,000 sq ft net leasable area," the filing said. Nexus Select Trus
The government will fund a large part of the costs incurred by micro and small exporters to obtain international approvals for complying with regulations such as REACH and CBAM in Europe to help them boost shipments, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. The support is being extended to these exporters under the Rs 25,060 crore export promotion mission (EPM). Under the mission's Trade Regulations, Accreditation and Compliance Enablement (TRACE) measure, support will be extended to exporters in meeting international testing, inspections, certifications and other conformity requirements. Partial reimbursement of up to 75 per cent will be provided for eligible testing, inspection and certification expenses, subject to an annual ceiling of Rs 25 lakh per IEC (importer-exporter code). "In the export promotion mission, we have provided funds so that wherever you require to get approvals internationally, particularly for micro and small units, the government will fun