India's crude oil imports to drop in May as lockdown restrictions hit oil demand: Report
New Delhi/IBNS: Indian refiners are likely to reduce crude imports in May amid the second wave of coronavirus infection in contrast to April when refiners met all their import commitments but the the full impact of the crisis will get reflected only in May numbers, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics.
RBI Guv Shaktikanta Das asks pvt banks to strengthen their balance sheets
Mumbai/IBNS: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das in a meeting with the MD & CEOs of some private sector banks on Tuesday through video conference asked them to continue focussing on efforts to further strengthen their balance sheets proactively.
India's power consumption rose 19 pc in first fortnight of May compared to 2020
New Delhi/IBNS: India's power consumption rose by nearly 19 per cent in the first fortnight of May to 51.67 billion units (BU) compared to the same period previous year, reflecting recovery in industrial and commercial demand of electricity, power ministry data showed.
New Delhi/IBNS: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has emphasised that a minimum 5 per cent tax on vaccines and 12 per cent tax on medicines and oxygen concentrators is necessary to keep their prices low while replying to West Bengal Chief Minister.
Revised Indian proposal on patent waiver at WTO to access Covid-19 medicine later this month
New Delhi/UNI: The World Trade Organization will consider in the second half of this month a revised text of the proposal India and South Africa are going to submit for a temporary waiver of certain patent-related obligations to access essential COVID-19 medicines and medical equipment.
Covid-19: Govt slashes IGST rate on oxygen concentrator imports for personal use
New Delhi/IBNS: As India combats Covid-19, the demand for oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies has risen exponentially as the government uses all resources to increase oxygen supply. To ease this fight, the Union Finance Ministry Saturday reduced IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) rate for imports of concentrators, an official statement said.
Covid-19 peak likely by mid-May: SBI report
Mumbai/IBNS: The second wave of coronavirus in India may touch the peak around mid-May, analysts of country's biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) have predicted.
Covid-19: IRDAI asks insurers to settle policyholders' claims on cashless basis
New Delhi/IBNS: Insurance regulator IRDAI on Friday asked the insurers to settle the claims of policyholders on cashless basis after reports emerged that some hospitals demanded cash payments from Covid-19 patients.
RBI extends the interim Ways and Means Advances of Rs 51,560 crore for states and UTs till Sep 30
Mumbai/IBNS: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday extended the interim Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit of Rs 51,560 crore for all states and union territories till September 30 in view of the coronavirus pandemic situation.
Andaman Nicobar: Compulsory Rapid Antigen Test on all incoming passengers at Port Blair from Apr 16
Port Blair/UNI: There has been a rapid surge in the COVID-19 positive cases in the South Andaman District in the last few weeks and in order to contain further spread of the virus, the District Magistrate, South Andaman has ordered compulsory Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) shall be conducted on all incoming passengers at the Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair with effect from April 16, 2021, free of cost.
Supreme Court refuses to interfere in Centre's decision on extension of loan moratorium
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court has refused to extend the six-month loan moratorium period given by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), saying it cannot interfere in the 'policy decision' of the Centre and the RBI.
Google extends 'work from home' to September, CEO Sundar Pichai tells employees in email
Oakland (California)/IBNS: Google has extended the period of work from home for its employees by a few more months to September 2021 as the Covid-19 pandemic is far from subsiding and the anti-coronavirus vaccine is yet to hit the shelves.
Asia-Pacific countries commit to advance regional cooperation for sustainable connectivity
Bangkok: Recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread socio-economic impacts and disruptions across Asia-Pacific, high-level officials called for a rethink on the future development of sustainable transport connectivity and mobility in the region at the sixth session of the Committee on Transport on Friday, an Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) press release notified.
India's GDP at -23.9 pc marks worst contraction on record
New Delhi/IBNS: India's GDP contracted 23.9 percent in the April-June quarter, the worst ever performance on record, the National Statistical Office (NSO) data showed today.
Mumbai/IBNS: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) framework for Covid-19 solutions is well thought and taken after due consultations, Governor Shaktikanta Das said Thursday, adding that the central bank’s response to COVID-19 is unprecedented.