Tax reform rollout: New Income Tax Act 2025 comes into force, CBDT calls it a shift towards simpler compliance

The Income Tax Act, 2025 came into force from April 1, marking a major overhaul of India’s tax framework, with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) describing it as a step towards simplified compliance and a “new chapter” in tax administration, according to PTI.The new law replaces the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961, and…

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Currency guardrails: RBI tightens forex derivatives rules for banks amid rupee volatility

The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday announced fresh restrictions on authorised dealers (ADs) in the foreign exchange market following a “review of evolving market conditions”, as the rupee remains under pressure, according to PTI.In a late-evening notification, the central bank said ADs — banks authorised to deal in foreign exchange — will not be…

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Govt imposes import curbs on gold, silver jewellery to check misuse of FTAs

The government on Wednesday announced curbs on imports of gold, platinum and silver jewellery with immediate effect, a move aimed at checking misuse of free trade agreements (FTAs). These restrictions will operate irrespective of any prior contract, irrevocable letter of credit, advance payment, shipment status, or any other commitment, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade…

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US retail sales rise 0.6% in February; Iran war fuel spike threatens consumer spending outlook

US retail sales rose 0.6 per cent in February after a slight decline in January, signalling cautious consumer activity even before a sharp surge in fuel prices triggered by the Iran war, according to AP.Data released by the Commerce Department showed retail sales rebounded from a 0.1 per cent drop in January, beating expectations. However,…

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Stock market today (April 1, 2026): Which are the top gainers and losers in Nifty50 and BSE Sensex today? Check list

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended nearly 2 per cent higher on Wednesday, starting the new financial year on a firm footing as global markets rallied on hopes of a potential de-escalation in the ongoing West Asia conflict.The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,186.77 points or 1.65 per cent to settle at 73,134.32. During intra-day…

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OTP can’t secure payments: RBI rolls out stricter digital payment rules from April 1 – what is changing

Reserve Bank of India (File photo) With the beginning of the new financial year, India’s digital payments landscape is poised for a major security overhaul as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rolls out stricter authentication norms from April 1.The move comes in response to rising transaction volumes and increasing fraud risks. RBI aims to…

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‘No choice’: Asian nations tap Russian oil under US waivers amid Middle East war

Representative image (AI-generated) With the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global oil supplies, several Asian countries are turning to Russian oil to fill the gap caused by the Iran war.Energy-starved nations in the region are taking advantage of US sanction waivers to secure Russian crude, Bloomberg reported. The Philippines recently received its first…

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Asian stocks today: Markets rallied as hopes grew that Iran war could end soon; Kospi jumps 5.5%, Nikkei rises 3.9%

Asian shares rallied in early trade on Wednesday after hopes grew that the Iran war could end soon.MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose by 2.7%, while South Korea’s Kospi surged as much as 5.5% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 3.9%.The gains came after US President Donald Trump said that the United States…

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