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एक्साइज ड्यूटी में कटौती और लॉकडाउन की खबर… निर्मला सीतारमण ने बताया क्या है अगला प्लान

एक्साइज ड्यूटी में कटौती और लॉकडाउन की खबर… निर्मला सीतारमण ने बताया क्या है अगला प्लान

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Business


Excise Duty Cut on Petrol & Diesel: मिडिल ईस्ट में जारी तनाव के बीच भारत सरकार ने बड़ा राहत भरा कदम उठाते हुए पेट्रोल और डीजल पर एक्साइज ड्यूटी में कटौती की है. केन्द्रीय वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण ने इस फैसले का स्वागत करते हुए कहा कि इससे आम जनता पर बढ़ती महंगाई का बोझ कम करने में मदद मिलेगी.

सरकार ने पेट्रोल और डीजल पर 10 रुपये प्रति लीटर तक सीमा शुल्क घटाया है. इसके बाद पेट्रोल पर एक्साइज ड्यूटी घटकर करीब 3 रुपये रह गई है, जबकि डीजल पर इसे शून्य कर दिया गया है. यह फैसला ऐसे समय में लिया गया है, जब Middle East में जारी तनाव और Strait of Hormuz में आपूर्ति बाधित होने के कारण वैश्विक ऊर्जा कीमतों में भारी उछाल देखा जा रहा है.

कंज्यूमर के हितों की रक्षा

केन्द्रीय वित्त मंत्री ने कहा कि यह कदम उपभोक्ताओं के हितों की रक्षा के लिए सरकार की प्रतिबद्धता को दर्शाता है. उन्होंने प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी की सराहना करते हुए कहा कि सरकार ने समय रहते जरूरी फैसले लेकर ईंधन आपूर्ति को सुरक्षित रखने का प्रयास किया है. मिडिल ईस्ट में जारी तनाव के बीच फैल रही अफवाहों पर विराम लगाते हुए निर्मला सीतारमण ने स्पष्ट कर दिया है कि देश में ईंधन की कमी के कारण किसी भी तरह का लॉकडाउन लगाने की कोई योजना नहीं है.

उन्होंने उन खबरों को पूरी तरह खारिज कर दिया, जिनमें दावा किया जा रहा था कि सरकार ऊर्जा संकट के चलते लॉकडाउन जैसे कड़े कदमों पर विचार कर रही है. वित्त मंत्री ने कहा कि ये सभी रिपोर्ट्स आधारहीन हैं और जनता को भ्रमित करने वाली हैं. सीतारमण ने भरोसा दिलाते हुए कहा कि सरकार स्थिति पर पूरी तरह नजर बनाए हुए है और देश में ईंधन आपूर्ति को लेकर घबराने की कोई जरूरत नहीं है. उन्होंने यह भी स्पष्ट किया कि “किसी भी तरह का लॉकडाउन नहीं लगाया जाएगा.”

इसके साथ ही उन्होंने कुछ नेताओं द्वारा दिए जा रहे लॉकडाउन संबंधी बयानों पर हैरानी जताई और ऐसे बयानों को गैर-जिम्मेदाराना बताया. उनका कहना था कि इस तरह की टिप्पणियां अनावश्यक डर फैलाती हैं और मौजूदा परिस्थितियों में यह बेहद चिंताजनक है. 

पुरी बोले- समय से लिया गया फैसला

वहीं, पेट्रोलियम मंत्री हरदीप सिंह पुरी ने भी इस निर्णय को “समय पर लिया गया साहसिक कदम” बताया. उनका कहना है कि वैश्विक अनिश्चितता के बीच यह फैसला आम लोगों को राहत देने के साथ-साथ अर्थव्यवस्था को स्थिर बनाए रखने में मदद करेगा.

कुल मिलाकर, यह कदम ऐसे समय में आया है जब कच्चे तेल की कीमतों में उतार-चढ़ाव और युद्ध की आशंकाओं ने पूरी दुनिया की अर्थव्यवस्था पर दबाव बना रखा है, और भारत सरकार इस प्रभाव को कम करने के लिए लगातार सक्रिय कदम उठा रही है.

ये भी पढ़ें: डॉलर के मुकाबले इतिहास के सबसे निचले स्तर पर पहुंचा रुपया





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Infosys shares swing on acquisition plans; Nifty IT index resilient

Infosys shares swing on acquisition plans; Nifty IT index resilient

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Business


Shares of Infosys rose in early trade on Friday after the company announced plans to acquire healthcare digital transformation firm Optimum Healthcare IT and insurance technology consulting company Stratus Global in deals worth about $560 million.

The stock rose around 1 per cent in early trade, moving within a range of ₹1,273.60 to ₹1,294.80 on the NSE, before turning flat at ₹1,276.70 at 11.16 am, compared with its previous close of ₹1,279.10.

Infosys rose 1% on $560 million acquisition plan

Stock turns flat after early gains

Nifty IT Index stays resilient; select IT stocks in green

Emkay Global Financial Services and JM Financial retain buy calls on Infosys; see growth boost

However, the Nifty IT Index remained resilient despite the broader market downturn in today’s session, with stocks such as Oracle Financial Services Software, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and Persistent Systems continuing to trade in positive territory.

Brokerage Emkay Global Financial Services said the acquisitions would strengthen Infosys’ vertical capabilities in healthcare and insurance, while deepening integration of its AI platform Topaz and cloud offering Cobalt. The brokerage noted that the deals would enhance the company’s positioning in regulated and high-complexity sectors. Emkay retained its buy rating on the stock with a target price of ₹1,450, adding that the acquisitions could contribute around 1.6 per cent to revenue run rate.

According to Emkay, the Optimum Healthcare IT acquisition would significantly expand Infosys’ footprint in the healthcare provider segment by adding new clients and capabilities, while enabling cross-selling of its broader digital and AI-led services. The Stratus deal, it said, would bolster Infosys’ presence in the property and casualty insurance segment through stronger platform consulting and modernization capabilities.

Brokerage JM Financial also maintained a buy rating, highlighting that the acquisitions align with Infosys’ strategy of capability-led expansion. The firm estimated that Optimum could add about 1.4 per cent to Infosys’ revenue annually post closure, while Stratus may contribute an additional 0.2 per cent.

JM Financial added that the deals would enhance Infosys’ domain expertise in healthcare IT and insurance technology, while enabling clients to leverage its AI, cloud, and data-driven transformation offerings. It also pointed out that mergers and acquisitions remain a key strategic priority for Indian IT firms as they look to strengthen portfolios in a challenging macro environment.

Despite the positive strategic rationale, the stock remained range-bound as investors assessed execution timelines and awaited regulatory approvals, with both transactions expected to close by the first quarter of FY27.

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Published on March 27, 2026



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EAM Jaishankar, Canadian FM Anand discuss West Asia crisis on G7 sidelines

EAM Jaishankar, Canadian FM Anand discuss West Asia crisis on G7 sidelines

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Business


External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar meets Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
ANI

The West Asia crisis and its consequences figured prominently during a conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand on the margins of a G7 meeting in France.

Jaishankar arrived here on Thursday for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

On its sidelines, he met Anand, and the two followed up “on the partnership our Prime Ministers advanced during our visit to India earlier this year,” the Canadian Foreign Minister said in an X post.

They also discussed “trade, the situation in the Middle East, and key areas where we can deepen cooperation, including critical minerals, agriculture, and education,” she said.

At the two-day G7 meeting, Jaishankar will discuss the West Asia crisis with a focus on coordinating efforts to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international shipping.

The narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), and global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked it.

The G7 meeting, being held at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay on March 26–27, came at the invitation of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noel Barrot.

The Group of 7 (G7) brings together seven of the world’s most advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The European Union is also a member of the bloc.

Besides India, France has invited Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Brazil.

The G7 serves as the forum of choice for its members to discuss and coordinate action in response to major economic, financial and geopolitical challenges on the global stage.

Published on March 27, 2026



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NHB launches Gruh Sugam portal focusing on defence, paramilitary, govt personnel

NHB launches Gruh Sugam portal focusing on defence, paramilitary, govt personnel

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Business


The Gruh Sugam portal will facilitate increased home ownership through improved access to housing loans, strengthening the mission of promoting affordable and sustainable housing finance, NHB said.

National Housing Bank (NHB), the apex agency established by the government to promote a cost-effective housing finance system, has launched the Gruh Sugam Portal.

The portal enables defence/government personnel to avail home loans with ease from the location of their posting, NHB said in a statement on Thursday.

This portal will accelerate digital lending adoption and financial inclusion, it said.

It will facilitate increased home ownership through improved access to housing loans, strengthening the mission of promoting affordable and sustainable housing finance, it said.

Defence personnel, members of paramilitary forces, government employees (state and central) can apply for housing loans digitally through their respective administrative units, and there is no need to visit the banks and financial institutions for loan approvals and processing, it said.

The portal enables registration by the government entity for accessing the facilities of the portal, it said, adding that the employees register their request for a housing loan with minimal data, which is then relayed to the registered lending institutions.

The lending institutions will provide their best offer, which can be compared and accepted by the loan applicant, it said.

This will improve ease of accessing home loan facility, especially by the defence/paramilitary forces from remote locations, thereby increasing affordable home ownership in the country, it added.

Published on March 27, 2026



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Fino Payments Bank CEO Rishi Gupta gets bail; bank says operations unaffected

Fino Payments Bank CEO Rishi Gupta gets bail; bank says operations unaffected

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Business


Rishi Gupta, MD and CEO of Fino Payments Bank, has been granted bail by a special court in Hyderabad in connection with an ongoing investigation involving program managers linked to multiple banks.

The Special Judge for Economic Offences, Nampally, Hyderabad, on Thursday granted bail to Rishi Gupta, MD & CEO, Fino Payments Bank (FPB).

The aforementioned case pertains to an ongoing investigation into certain program managers associated with multiple banks, including the Bank, and does not relate to the Bank’s GST compliance, FPB said in a regulatory filing.

Further, the Bank said it will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities. Gupta has been in judicial custody since late last month.

Operations remain stable, bank assures stakeholders

FPB said its operations remain stable and uninterrupted, and it will continue to serve its customers and stakeholders in the normal course of business.

“The Bank shall continue to engage constructively with regulators and stakeholders and shall make appropriate disclosures in accordance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements,” per the filing.

Ketan Merchant, Chief Financial Officer, FPB, in a statement issued on February 28, 2026, said: “…The Bank and its MD & CEO Rishi Gupta have nothing to do with the actions of the programme managers.”

Role of program managers explained

Shailesh Pandey, Chief Business Officer, FPB, in an analyst call, noted that the program manager is a payment service provider whose primary role is to identify merchants in the market and refer them to the bank for onboarding and end-to-end UPI payment services.

“The program managers fundamentally have multiple relationships where they provide different services to these merchants who require payment services, whether it is, you know, debit cards, credit cards, including UPI transactions. They integrate with multiple banks and Fino is also one of the banks with them, and we basically work with them for UPI collect services,” he said.

Interim CEO appointed amid developments

On March 06, 2026, FPB, in a regulatory filing, said its Board has approved the appointment of Ketan Merchant as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Bank for carrying out the duties of MD&CEO as per provisions of Section 10B(9) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

The aforementioned appointment was for a period not exceeding 4 months with effect from the date of approval of the Reserve Bank of India.

Special review initiated on GST compliance

The Bank has appointed a special consultant to conduct a special review of GST compliance and other aspects, as per the approved scope of work, based on the Audit Committee’s recommendation.

Published on March 27, 2026



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