As a former Ranji player who continues to coach tiny tots at the grassroots, I have spent the last two decades watching Hyderabad cricket sink into a pit of mediocrity and administrative chaos. Standards dropped, talent was ignored, and politics became the only game the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) seemed interested in playing. That is…
When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the latest round of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms late Wednesday night, it was not just another fiscal tweak. It was a political thunderclap, a bold economic strike, and an unmistakable signal to the world: India will not bend to Washington’s tantrums or any superpower’s bullying. With GST…
New Delhi: India Inc on Thursday hailed the GST Council’s “forward-looking decisions” –moving to two rates of 5 per cent and 18 per cent from 22 September, simplifying refunds and MSME procedures, and exempting individual life and health insurance from the indirect tax regime. Industry bodies said the clarity will ease compliance, reduce litigation, and…
New Delhi: Small cars and entry-level bikes are set to get cheaper as the GST Council on Wednesday approved a complete overhaul of the tangled Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The GST Council approved limiting slabs to 5 per cent and 18 per cent, effective from September 22, the first day of Navaratri. Petrol,…
New Delhi: The Goods and Services Tax Council on Wednesday decided to reduce tax rates on several dairy products, fertilisers, biopesticides, and agricultural equipment, providing relief to farmers and consumers ahead of the festive season. The 56th meeting of the GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved significant rate cuts for the…
New Delhi: Common use items from roti/paratha to hair oil, ice creams, and TVs will cost less, while tax incidence on personal health and life insurance will be brought down to nil after the all-powerful GST Council on Wednesday approved a complete overhaul of the tangled Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The GST Council…
When nature unleashes her fury, human might often look puny. Yet, what we have witnessed across India in recent weeks—raging floods, collapsing bridges, swollen rivers threatening cities and villages alike—is also a story of human resilience, state preparedness, and the unflinching courage of men and women in uniform. The toll of devastation is staggering. In…
Rain is not just a relief, it is also a test of responsibility – caution against electricity, staying safe at home, and awareness in society are the true protection. Continuous rain has challenged public life. Electricity lines, poles, and open wires can become a death trap, while water-filled roads and drains invite accidents. In such…
West Bengal has done it again. The state-run Urdu Academy cancelled a literary event after the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, joined by the Wahyain Foundation, objected to one of the invitees – none other than Javed Akhtar, poet, film writer, and permanent panelist on primetime debates. His alleged crime? Speaking against Islam. His punishment? Erasure. One would…
Without knowing the real meaning of a marathon, I once participated in one. Later, when I consulted Google maatha, I realized what I ran was only a run. A true marathon, it turns out, is 42.195 km. For decades, the word “marathon” has been loosely used to mean any long run—but the real definition is…
