Reliance Retail's consumer business achieved INR 11,500 crore revenue in FY25, marking its fastest-growing vertical in India, CFO Dinesh Taluja said. Brands like Campa and Independence witnessed rapid growth, with Campa soft drinks securing double-digit market share in key regions. The FMCG arm grew 3.5x year-on-year, expanded to over 1 million outlets through 3,200 distributors, launched new products like Campa Energy and Spinner sports drink, and acquired personal care brand Velvette, while also initiating plans for international distribution. - PTI

India's net direct tax collection rose 13.57% to INR 22.26 lakh crore in FY2024-25, marginally missing the revised INR 22.37 lakh crore target due to issuance of record-high refunds worth INR 4.76 lakh crore, official data showed. Gross direct tax collections grew 15.59% to INR 27.02 lakh crore. Corporate tax net collections rose 8.3% to INR 9.87 lakh crore, while non-corporate tax collections surged 17% to INR 11.83 lakh crore. STT collections also grew sharply to INR 53,296 crore amid strong taxpayer compliance. - PTI

At a recent roundtable, MSME players demanded a single-window advisory system and phased implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to improve compliance with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Concerns were raised about unclear BIS certification timelines and risks of unsellable pre-rule inventory. The India SME Forum, partnering with Amazon, launched a seller education campaign to help MSMEs meet regulatory requirements. Industry leaders stressed that regulatory clarity, fairness, and stronger collaboration with sellers are vital for MSME growth and competitiveness. - PTI

Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd posted a consolidated net profit of INR 1,259.54 crore for Q4 FY25, up from INR 1,065.23 crore a year earlier. Full-year profit surged to INR 4,262.70 crore. Consolidated income rose to INR 7,136.91 crore in Q4, while total disbursements for FY25 crossed INR 1 lakh crore, up 14% year-on-year. Assets under management touched INR 1,99,876 crore, marking 30% growth. The Board recommended a final dividend of INR 0.70 per share, adding to the INR 1.30 interim dividend declared earlier. - PTI

The United States will retain its 10 per cent tariff on imports from Singapore, but both countries agreed to explore strengthening their economic ties, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said after a virtual meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Gan highlighted that Singaporean trade supports around 350,000 American jobs and the US maintains a USD 30 billion trade surplus. While tariffs stay unchanged, discussions on practical pathways for deeper collaboration will continue, as Singapore faces growth challenges amid escalating global trade tensions. - PTI

India and the US are set to roll out the first tranche of their bilateral trade agreement by fall 2025, Union Minister Jitin Prasada announced at an event in New York. Highlighting continuous dialogue since Prime Minister Modi and President Trump's meeting, Prasada urged the Indian-American community to offer suggestions for the pact. Talks led by India's Commerce Department are ongoing in Washington, aiming to double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. The deal will focus on multi-sector collaboration under the COMPACT framework. - PTI

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant Ambani, has been appointed Executive Director of Reliance Industries Ltd for a five-year term starting May 1, 2025, the company announced. Previously inducted as a non-executive director alongside siblings Akash and Isha Ambani in August 2023, Anant leads Reliance's new energy business. A Brown University graduate, he becomes the first among the Ambani siblings to take an executive role at Reliance. He also holds board positions at Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail, Reliance New Energy, and Reliance Foundation. - PTI

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh will inaugurate and lay the foundation for fisheries projects worth INR 255.30 crore for seven coastal states and union territories under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) at a meet in Mumbai on Monday. He will also launch key initiatives like Marine Fisheries Census, Turtle Excluder Device (TED) project, and Standard Operating Procedure for Vessel Communication. Aqua Insurance certificates, Kisan Credit Cards, and awards for fisheries cooperatives and startups will also be distributed, aiming to strengthen marine sustainability and support marginalized communities. - PTI

Kotak811 makes opening a zero balance savings account effortless, allowing users to complete the process in just three minutes using Aadhaar and PAN, with no paperwork or minimum balance requirement. Customers enjoy features like instant activation, a virtual debit card for secure online transactions, UPI and QR payments, and automated savings through ActivMoney, earning up to 7% interest per annum. The Kotak811 app also enables easy SIP investments and instant personal loan eligibility checks, offering complete financial flexibility and modern digital banking convenience. - PTI

Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, has been designated by Johnson & Johnson Medtech Asia Pacific as the world's first Global Centre of Excellence in Trauma, Joint Replacement, and Sports Medicine Surgeries following an MoU signed on April 23, 2025. The hospital will serve as a global training hub, educating 100 orthopaedic surgeons yearly from countries like Singapore, Australia, Japan, and Malaysia. The initiative marks a major milestone in surgical education, promoting India's role in global medical training and fostering innovation, professional development, and clinical excellence across Asia Pacific. - PTI

Mascot Infrastructure announced plans to develop Mascot Industrial City, a 385-acre integrated industrial township at Vithalapur in Ahmedabad district. Strategically located near the Vithalapur auto cluster and major infrastructure projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Dholera SIR, GIFT City, and Sanand GIDC, the township will feature industrial, residential, and commercial zones. The project includes industrial plots, factory sheds, warehouses, apartments, hotels, schools, and food plazas. Mascot Infra signed an MoU for the project during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, Managing Director Sanjay Patel said. - PTI

Aurum PropTech Ltd posted a consolidated net loss of INR 33.37 crore in FY25, down from INR 55.75 crore a year earlier, driven by a 22% rise in total income to INR 284.98 crore. Total expenses increased to INR 329.45 crore. The rental segment contributed 60% of the revenue. With platforms like NestAway Technologies, Aurum Analytica, and Sell.do, the firm offers tech solutions across 15 cities. Executive Director Onkar Shetye said the company remains focused on profitable growth and consistent performance. - PTI

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed authorities to halt illegal construction by Jaypee Infratech Ltd in Jaypee Wishtown, Noida, citing environmental violations. The area falls within the Yamuna river floodplain and Okhla Bird Sanctuary buffer zone. Despite repeated notices, neither Noida Authority nor the developer filed a response. The tribunal emphasized adherence to the River Ganga Protection Order, 2016, and barred further construction until the next hearing on August 21, reinforcing environmental safeguards amid ongoing urban development concerns.

Ethereum is regaining strength with predictions of a USD 5,000 rally by mid-2025, while Solana races toward USD 500 on strong user growth and ETF optimism. Meanwhile, emerging player Rexas Finance (RXS) is disrupting the market with real-world asset tokenization, forecasting a stunning 124x jump after its June launch, reshaping the crypto landscape. - PTI

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) reported a 68 per cent decline in net profit to INR 363 crore for the March 2025 quarter, down from INR 1,137 crore a year earlier, due to a sharp fall in refining margins. The company's gross refining margin fell to USD 6.23 per barrel from USD 11.35 per barrel last year. Revenue from operations slipped to INR 27,601 crore. For FY25, MRPL posted a net profit of INR 51 crore, compared to INR 3,596 crore in FY24. However, MRPL processed a record 18.044 million tonnes of crude and achieved its highest-ever distillate yield of 81.93 per cent during the year. - PTI

India has lifted 171 million people out of extreme poverty between 2011-12 and 2022-23, with the poverty rate falling from 16.2 per cent to 2.3 per cent, according to the World Bank's latest 'Poverty & Equity Brief'. Rural extreme poverty declined to 2.8 per cent and urban to 1.1 per cent, significantly narrowing the rural-urban gap. Using the lower-middle-income line of USD 3.65 per day, poverty halved to 28.1 per cent. The report also noted rising employment rates, especially among women, but flagged challenges such as high youth unemployment and persistent gender disparities. - PTI

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) handed over appointment letters to 976 new recruits during the 15th Rozgar Mela held across 47 locations on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the event via videoconferencing, where over 51,000 appointment letters were distributed nationwide. EPFO issued letters to 345 Accounts Officers/Enforcement Officers and 631 Social Security Assistants as part of its drive to strengthen social security delivery. The EPFO has set up a recruitment vertical and developed a calendar to streamline regular hiring, the Labour Ministry said. - PTI

Guidance Tamil Nadu on Saturday signed an MoU with the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce to set up an 'Indo-Taiwan Industrial Park' near Chennai, targeting INR 1,800 crore investment and 5,000 jobs. Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said the park would meet international standards, aiming to further boost Taiwanese investments in electronics, textiles, and footwear sectors. The state plans to attract INR 10,000 crore Taiwanese investments and create over 20,000 jobs. - PTI

Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev on Saturday said works on 13 projects worth INR 4,410 crore under the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS 2025) will commence in May. The projects were submitted through Expressions of Interest (EoIs) at the February summit, which received EoIs worth INR 1.96 lakh crore. Rajeev also launched two web portals to track investment proposals and list industrial land, aiming to boost transparency and facilitate land acquisition for investors. - PTI

L&T Finance on Saturday reported a 15% rise in its consolidated net profit to INR 636 crore for the January-March quarter of FY25, compared to INR 554 crore a year earlier. Total income rose to INR 4,027 crore from INR 3,676 crore. Retail disbursements stood at INR 14,899 crore. The NBFC also announced plans to enter the gold loan business through the acquisition of Paul Merchants Finance's gold loan operations, aiming to close the deal by Q2FY26. - PTI

IDFC First Bank on Saturday reported a 58% decline in its March quarter net profit to INR 304 crore, impacted by a sharp rise in provisions. The private lender had posted a profit of INR 724 crore a year ago. Total income rose to INR 11,308 crore from INR 9,861 crore, while gross NPAs improved marginally to 1.87%. However, provisions excluding tax doubled to INR 1,450 crore. For FY25, net profit slipped 48% to INR 1,525 crore. The board has proposed a dividend of INR 0.25 per share. - PTI

Union Minister S P Singh Baghel on Saturday stressed the need to strengthen veterinary infrastructure and skills to boost India's rural economy. Speaking at a national workshop marking World Veterinary Day, he said veterinarians are the "backbone" of rural livelihoods, with nearly 70% of rural households relying on livestock. Baghel called for greater use of reproductive technologies like IVF and sex-sorted semen, praised digital initiatives like the National Digital Livestock Mission, and underlined India's One Health approach to tackle zoonotic diseases. - PTI

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said India must increase exports and reduce imports to emerge stronger globally. Speaking at the 'Vision 2047 Prosperous and Great Bharat' conference, Gadkari called recent US-imposed reciprocal tariffs a "blessing in disguise" for India, opening new markets for domestic industries. Citing an example, he said India's sugar industry recently secured an order for 1,000 containers from the US, underlining how shifts in global demand can benefit Indian exporters. - PTI

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on Saturday announced it will acquire a 58.96% stake in commercial vehicle maker SML Isuzu for INR 555 crore, buying out Sumitomo Corporation's 43.96% promoter stake and Isuzu Motors' 15% public shareholding. The company will also make an open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake as per SEBI regulations. M&M said the acquisition aligns with its vision to scale emerging businesses and become a full-range player in the commercial vehicle market. The deal is subject to CCI approval and expected to complete within 2025. - PTI

Canara Robeco Asset Management Company has filed draft papers with Sebi to launch an IPO comprising an offer for sale (OFS) of 4.98 crore shares by promoters Canara Bank and ORIX Corporation Europe, with no fresh issue component. Canara Bank holds 51% in the AMC, which manages INR 1.08 lakh crore in AUM across 25 schemes. Proceeds from the IPO will go to the selling shareholders. SBI Capital Markets, Axis Capital, and JM Financial are the lead managers, with proposed listing on BSE and NSE. - PTI

RIL's Jio Platforms posted a 25.7% jump in Q4 FY25 PAT to INR 7,022 crore, driven by higher ARPU after the July 2024 tariff hike. Revenue rose 17.7% to INR 33,986 crore, while Reliance Jio's operational revenue grew 15.6% to INR 30,018 crore. JioHome crossed 1.8 crore subscribers, AirFibre reached 56 lakh, and ARPU rose 13.5% to INR 206.2. Full-year PAT grew 22% to INR 26,120 crore. - PTI

Ather Energy has mobilised INR 1,340 crore from 36 anchor investors, including Custody Bank of Japan, Franklin Templeton, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and Morgan Stanley, ahead of its INR 2,981-crore IPO opening on April 28. Shares were allotted at INR 321 apiece, the upper end of the price band. The IPO, comprising a fresh issue and OFS, will fund a new Maharashtra factory and debt reduction. Ather's listing is set for May 6, marking the first mainboard IPO of FY26 and valuing the company at INR 11,956 crore. - PTI

JioStar, formed after Reliance and Disney's India media merger, reported INR 10,006 crore in revenue and INR 774 crore in pre-tax earnings. Its OTT platform JioHotstar crossed 100 million paid users within five weeks of launch and served 503 million MAUs in March 2025. JioStar's TV network captured 34% market share, reaching 760 million viewers. IPL 2025 delivered record viewership, and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 became India's highest-rated multi-nation cricket tournament. Star Plus and regional GECs retained leadership across key entertainment markets. - PTI

Net direct tax collections for FY25 rose 13.57% to INR 22.26 lakh crore, slightly missing the revised target of INR 22.37 lakh crore despite record refunds of INR 4.76 lakh crore, official data showed. Gross direct tax collection stood at INR 27.02 lakh crore, up 15.59% from FY24. STT collections grew to INR 53,296 crore. Net corporate tax collection rose 8.30% to INR 9.86 lakh crore, while non-corporate tax collection jumped 17% to INR 11.82 lakh crore. Tax buoyancy improved to 1.57. - PTI

L&T Finance Holdings reported a 15% rise in consolidated net profit to INR 636 crore for Q4 FY25, up from INR 554 crore a year ago, driven by higher interest income of INR 3,750 crore. Total income rose to INR 4,027 crore during the quarter. Retail disbursements stood at INR 14,899 crore. The NBFC plans to enter the gold loan segment, acquiring Paul Merchants Finance's gold loan business through a slump sale, aiming to close the deal by Q2 FY26 to fast-track scale-up. - PTI

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) held the 'Atal Pension Yojana' felicitation and strategy review programme in Chennai, honouring top-performing banks and institutions. In FY25, new enrollments under the scheme rose 18% to over 1.17 crore, with 55% being women, taking total coverage to 7.61 crore. Indian Bank achieved 118% of its target, while Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank led among RRBs. PFRDA reaffirmed its commitment to expanding coverage, highlighting the South Zone's leadership in promoting the guaranteed pension scheme. - PTI

Mahindra Lifespace Developers reported a 19% rise in net profit to INR 85.09 crore for Q4 FY25, up from INR 71.48 crore a year ago, while total income grew marginally to INR 55.44 crore. However, for the full FY25, net profit declined to INR 60.94 crore compared to INR 97.95 crore in FY24, even as total income rose to INR 463.87 crore from INR 279.12 crore. Mahindra Lifespace, one of India's leading real estate developers, continues to strengthen its business performance. - PTI