Business

Once the pride of Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been sold in what is being hailed as the largest deal in the country’s history. The airline has been acquired by a consortium led by Arif Habib Investment Firm, known for buying stakes in government-owned companies. The firm’s founder, Arif Habib, has roots in Junagadh, Gujarat, India, before his family relocated to Pakistan after Partition. The Sale Details The PIA transaction was completed at PKR 135 billion (approximately ₹4,300 crore). The consortium will initially acquire 75% of PIA’s shares, with the remaining 25% to be purchased within 90 days. Of the proceeds, 92.5% will be invested in improving the airline, while the remaining 7.5% will go to the government. Additionally, Arif Habib is committed to investi...

India is often called the pharmacy of the world, supplying medicines globally. However, most of its raw materials come from China. Recently, China has significantly reduced the prices of chemicals used in drug manufacturing. This has sparked speculation that medicine prices in India could decrease soon. Sharp Drop in API Prices Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and intermediates from China have seen massive price cuts. Industry experts suggest that lower API costs will reduce manufacturing expenses, potentially bringing down prices for generic drugs. Sources reveal that over the past few months, API prices in China have dropped by 35–40%, and this trend may continue. Some notable price declines include: Paracetamol API: From ₹900/kg during the pandemic to ₹250/kg Amo...

For investors looking to diversify beyond large-cap stocks while keeping risk moderate, the Nifty Next 50 Index Fund emerges as a promising option. Experts note that this index is currently cheaper than the Nifty 50, and its constituent companies are witnessing rapid profit growth. Over the past three years, it has outperformed the Nifty 50, making it an attractive choice for long-term investors. Performance Snapshot 1-Year Return: Nifty Next 50 fell 2.27%, while Nifty 50 gained 9.6%. 3-Year Return: Nifty Next 50 delivered an impressive 17.1%, surpassing Nifty 50’s 13.4%. Valuation Overview The PE ratio of Nifty Next 50 is 20.66, significantly below its 5-year average of 26.01. For comparison, Nifty 50 trades at a PE of 22.64, making Nifty Next 50 a more affordable alterna...

As 2025 draws to a close, several critical financial deadlines are fast approaching. Key tasks include filing delayed income tax returns (ITR), linking PAN with Aadhaar, and taking action on National Pension System (NPS) investments. Missing these deadlines could lead to penalties, loss of benefits, and complications in financial transactions. 1. NPS Alert: Scheme A to Merge Many NPS investors forget to manage their accounts, prompting the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to issue a notice. Scheme A, which had a small corpus and limited investment options including REITs, InvITs, AIFs, and structured debt instruments, will now be merged into Scheme C (Corporate Debt) and Scheme E (Equity). This consolidation aims to offer higher returns with lower risk. In...

Odisha’s Himanshu Sekhar Panda started an edtech venture with just ₹30,000 and has transformed it into a company generating ₹10 crore in annual revenue. Founded in 2018, Skyy Skill Academy aims to bridge the skill gap among Indian youth and has trained over 2 lakh students in modern fields such as EV technology, AI, and robotics. Leaving a Corporate Career Behind Hailing from Mayurbhanj, Odisha, Himanshu grew up in a family of a government employee father and a teacher mother. Bright and academically inclined, his passion lay in mentoring and training. After completing college, he joined a corporate job with a lucrative package earning ₹7–8 lakh annually. However, the entrepreneurial dream kept calling him. To leave his contractual corporate job, Himanshu had to pay ₹3 lakh as bon...

Market Overview:Dalal Street witnessed a pause in its recent bullish momentum on Tuesday. Both key indices closed largely unchanged amid a volatile session. The BSE Sensex slipped 42.64 points (0.05%) to close at 85,524.84, while the NSE Nifty 50 edged higher by 4.75 points (0.02%) to end at 26,177.15. Profit-booking in IT and pharmaceutical stocks contributed to the mild slowdown. During the session, Sensex hit an intraday high of 85,704.93 and a low of 85,342.99. The Nifty 50 saw marginal gains despite fluctuations, reflecting cautious investor sentiment. Top Movers – Sensex Stocks:On the losing side, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Sun Pharma, Tech Mahindra, ITC, Axis Bank, and Maruti witnessed declines. Meanwhile, gainers included ITC, UltraTech Cement, Tata Steel, and HDFC ...

India’s trade unions have called for a nationwide strike on 12th February 2026, demanding the repeal of labor codes and opposing recent government policies they say threaten workers’ rights. The unions cite changes in the SHANTI Act, MGNREGA, FDI in the insurance sector, and bills related to education and seeds as attacks on the livelihoods and rights of workers. Strike Against Labor Reforms In a statement released on Tuesday, the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) said the strike decision followed a joint meeting of CTUs and various sectoral federations on 22nd December 2025. The strike will receive formal approval at the National Workers’ Convention on 9th January 2026 in New Delhi, where detailed action plans will also be discussed. Key Issues Highlighted by Unions ...

The deadline to link your PAN (Permanent Account Number) with Aadhaar is fast approaching. According to the Income Tax Department, all PAN cards must be linked with Aadhaar by 31st December 2025. Missing this deadline will render your PAN inoperative from 1st January 2026, causing severe disruptions in banking, investments, and income tax filing. A late fee of ₹1,000 is applicable for completing the process now. Time is Running Out If you haven’t linked your PAN with Aadhaar yet, this is your last chance. The Income Tax Department has emphasized that those who were allotted PAN cards based on Aadhaar before 1st October 2024 must complete the linking process by the end of this year. Failing to do so will make your PAN inactive starting 1st January 2026. Since the initial deadline has ...

New Delhi: India’s government warehouses have amassed rice stocks at record levels, signaling a potential boost in exports. As of early December, the total rice inventory stood at 57.5 million tons, roughly 12% higher than last year, driven by accelerated procurement of paddy from farmers. Global Export ImplicationsIndia, the world’s largest rice exporter, is now poised to increase its share in global markets. This surge in supply could put pressure on rice producers in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan. The development comes amid recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who hinted at imposing new tariffs on Indian rice and accused several countries, including India, of dumping rice in international markets. Indian rice entering global markets at competitive pri...

Mumbai: India’s IPO market is set to welcome a major public sector listing at the start of 2026. Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited headquartered in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, is planning to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in the next two weeks. The IPO is expected to raise around ₹1,300 crore. Coal India to Sell StakeAccording to reports, the IPO will be a sale of existing shares only, with no fresh shares being issued. Coal India is set to divest approximately 10% of its stake in BCCL, amounting to around 46.57 crore shares. All proceeds from the IPO will go to Coal India, not BCCL. IPO Size and ValuationThe IPO, expected to be ₹1,300 crore in size, values BCCL at approximately ₹13,000 crore ahead of listing. Details such as share price, lot size...