Connect with us

Business

Union Budget: Citizens Breathe Easier with Income Tax Exemption Threshold Raised to Rs 12 Lakh

Published

on

People expressed their relief and appreciation for the budget announcement made by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, particularly the increase in the personal income tax exemption threshold to Rs 12 lakh. This change has been highlighted as one of the most significant aspects of the budget for 2025.

In a conversation with the newspaper, Nikhil Kumar, a corporate professional, shared that the raised tax threshold has alleviated his concerns, as he previously fell within the taxable income bracket. He noted that this adjustment will allow him to retain more of his earnings and encourage savings.

Similarly, a young professional commented that with his income now exempt from taxes, he feels free to spend more on personal interests. The threshold for salaried taxpayers will stand at Rs 12.75 lakh, factoring in a standard deduction of Rs 75,000.

An elderly man, who preferred to remain unnamed, expressed his approval of the government’s decision, highlighting the rising costs of living due to new technologies and expenses. With the increased tax limit, he believes individuals will find themselves with greater purchasing power.

According to the government, the new tax structure is designed to significantly reduce the tax burden on the middle class, enabling them to retain more disposable income, thus fostering household consumption, savings, and investments.

Additionally, a representative from the private sector noted the government’s initiative to exempt 36 life-saving drugs and medicines from Basic Customs Duty (BCD), which will particularly benefit individuals with chronic medical conditions that necessitate ongoing treatment. Furthermore, six life-saving medications will now be subject to a concessional customs duty of 5 percent, while specified drugs under Patient Assistance Programs will be fully exempt from BCD. The government has also added 37 additional medicines and introduced 13 new patient assistance programs.

The Finance Ministry has introduced an Urban Challenge Fund worth Rs 1 lakh crore aimed at implementing initiatives for ‘Cities as Growth Hubs,’ ‘Creative Redevelopment of Cities,’ and ‘Water and Sanitation.’ An allocation of Rs 10,000 crore is proposed for the fiscal year 2025-26.

When asked about this, a woman working in the IT sector mentioned that given the current challenges posed by a growing metropolitan population and the development of suburban areas, such provisions will be beneficial. Proper maintenance and infrastructure of cities are crucial for enhancing overall quality of life.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Adani Group Achieves EBITDA of ₹89,806 Crore Boosted by Growth in Core Infrastructure Sectors

Published

on

Adani Group has announced a consolidated EBITDA of ₹89,806 crore for the financial year 2025. This growth is attributed to advancements in core infrastructure sectors and increased operating cash flows across its portfolio.
EBITDA saw an increase of 8.2% compared to the ₹82,976 crore reported by the group’s listed companies in FY24, according to Adani’s statement.

Notably, Adani’s core infrastructure businesses accounted for 82% of total EBITDA. Within the utility segment, Adani Green Energy enhanced its operational capacity by 30% year-on-year, while Adani Power experienced a 20% boost in electricity generation.

The conglomerate reached a capital expenditure peak of ₹1.26 trillion and plans to invest $100 billion over the next six years. “These investments will underscore the group’s commitment to developing long-term infrastructure assets, including renewable energy projects, transmission networks, ports, and a new copper smelter facility,” the company stated.

Jugeshinder ‘Robbie’ Singh, CFO of Adani Group, remarked, “A significant highlight of FY25 is our continued industry-leading Return on Assets of 16.5%, one of the highest in the global infrastructure sector. This demonstrates our strong asset base and the execution capabilities of the Adani portfolio in delivering high-quality assets across various subsectors.”

He also noted, “We have implemented various governance and ESG initiatives, including a Tax Transparency report released by all portfolio companies, alongside other measures taken over recent years, resulting in industry-leading ESG scores as recognized by international rating agencies.”

Adani’s net debt-to-EBITDA ratio improved to 2.6x, down from 3.8x in FY19. The group maintains healthy liquidity, with a reported cash balance of ₹53,843 crore ($6.3 billion), equating to approximately 18.5% of gross debt.

Continue Reading

Business

Net FDI in India Plummets Over 96% in FY25, According to RBI Data

Published

on

In the Financial Year 2025, net foreign direct investment (FDI) in India plummeted over 96%, falling to $0.4 billion from $10.1 billion the previous year, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). To put this in perspective, the net FDI was $28.0 billion in FY23.

The RBI’s May 2025 monthly bulletin noted, “The decline in FY25 indicates a mature market where foreign investors can easily enter and exit, positively reflecting on the Indian economy.”

Despite the drop in net FDI, gross FDI showed resilience, growing 13.7% year-over-year to reach $81 billion in FY25, compared to $71.3 billion in FY24 and $71.4 billion in FY23, as per RBI data.
The report highlighted India’s emerging role as a “connector country,” positioned to be a vital intermediary in sectors like technology, digital services, and pharmaceuticals. “Amid global trade reconfigurations and shifts in industrial policy, India is increasingly set to play a significant role,” it stated.
“Looking ahead, despite the formidable challenges on the horizon, India is well-prepared to navigate ongoing global headwinds, ready to seize emerging opportunities and strengthen its position as a key driver of global growth,” the report concluded. It also mentioned ongoing trade tensions, increased policy uncertainty, and subdued consumer sentiment as persistent challenges to global growth.

Continue Reading

Business

IndiGo’s Net Profit Declines 11.19% to ₹7,258.4 Crore for FY25

Published

on

InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, reported an 11.19% decrease in net profit, totaling ₹7,258.4 crore for the full financial year FY25, down from ₹8,172.5 crore in FY24.

However, in the January–March quarter (Q4 FY25), IndiGo saw a remarkable 61.89% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit, reaching ₹3,067.5 crore, up from ₹1,894.8 crore in Q4 FY24. Excluding foreign exchange effects, net profit grew by 44.7% to ₹2,981.1 crore compared to ₹2,060 crore in the same quarter last year.

In Q4, revenue from operations climbed by 24.3% to ₹22,151.9 crore, compared to ₹17,825.3 crore in the previous year. The airline’s EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and rent) surged by 57.5% to ₹6,948.2 crore during this period, with an EBITDAR margin improving to 31.4% from 24.8% in the same quarter last year.

IndiGo also experienced a 21% increase in capacity and a 19.6% rise in passenger numbers, serving 3.19 crore travelers. The load factor inched up to 87.4%, compared to 86.3% in Q4 FY24.

CEO Pieter Elbers commented on the airline’s performance, stating it was a “healthy financial result” for both the fourth quarter and the full year, driven by record passenger volumes, operational efficiencies, and the dedicated efforts of IndiGo’s employees. However, he acknowledged challenges, particularly the impact of Pakistan’s airspace closure and the shutdown of 32 airports in May, affecting around 170 daily flights, 11 of which were operated by IndiGo.

While April started on a positive note, Elbers noted that May might be weaker, but there are expectations of traffic recovery beginning in June. He also announced a recommended dividend of ₹10 per share for IndiGo’s shareholders. Furthermore, a prominent international credit rating agency has assigned IndiGo an investment-grade rating, reflecting its robust balance sheet and consistent performance.

Looking forward, the airline intends to maintain its focus on cost leadership and expand its international operations, including launching services in Europe.

Continue Reading

Trending