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  • Public holiday: Government declares all schools, banks and offices as public holiday on March 19


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    Public holiday: This month of March 2025 is going to be special for everyone. After the Holi holidays, now the Madhya Pradesh government has also announced a holiday on March 19.

    In this month of Teej festival, March 19 has also been declared a one-day holiday (Public Holiday) in schools, colleges, banks and government offices. That is, on this day, along with educational institutions (School Holiday), government offices and banks (Bank Holiday) will also remain completely closed.

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    Why is March 19 a holiday?

    Let us tell you that the festival of Rangpanchami will be celebrated across the state on 19 March. Let us tell you that this festival is celebrated in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal , economic capital Indore and Ujjain. In Indore, the festival of Rangpanchami is celebrated in the name of Ger. Here people come out of their homes and come on the streets and play Holi. Entry of vehicles is closed on most of the roads of the city. In Ujjain , along with Mahakal complex, people play Holi in their respective homes.

    Bank Holidays in March 2025

    • Holi (Holi 2025) – 14 March 2025 (Friday)
    • Rang Panchami 2025-(Wednesday)
    • Jamatul Vida – 28 March 2025 (Friday)
    • Gudi Padwa – March 30 (Sunday)
    • Eid-ul-Fitr – March 31 (Monday)
    • Second and Fourth Saturday of the month – 8 March and 22 March 2025

    NOTE: During this period, banking services will not be available in branches, but online banking will continue.

    There will be holidays in schools as well (School Holidays in March 2025)

    Let us tell you that holidays have also been declared in government and private schools in

    March 2025. See the complete list here

    • Holi – March 14, 2025 (Friday)
    • Rang Panchami (Rang Panchami 2025) – 19 March (Wednesday)
    • Jamatul Vida – March 28, 2025 (Friday)
    • Gudi Padwa – March 30 (Sunday)
    • Eid-ul-Fitr – March 31 (Monday)

    NOTE: There will be holiday in government and private schools, some government offices may also remain closed.

    If you are also planning to travel somewhere in March or have to do some bank related work, then pay special attention to these holidays.

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  • Stocks remain top investment choice for next-gen wealthy Indians: Report

    Indian stock market opens flat, Sensex above 73,600

    Stocks remain top investment choice for next-gen wealthy Indians: ReportIANS

    Stocks are the most preferred investment option among India’s next-generation high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), a new report said on Saturday.

    The report by Knight Frank has revealed that 23 per cent of young wealthy Indians consider stocks their priority investment, followed closely by cash at 22 per cent and property at 21 per cent.

    The trend is similar on a global level, where 22 per cent of next-gen HNWIs have chosen stocks as their primary investment, followed by property and cash.

    Cryptocurrencies and digital assets have found limited preference, with only 5 per cent of Indian HNWIs considering them a key investment choice. Globally, this figure stands slightly higher at 9 per cent. Bonds have gained the interest of 8 per cent of India’s young wealthy individuals, compared to 6.5 per cent worldwide.

    Knight Frank’s report highlights that despite the growing popularity of alternative investments like cryptocurrencies, venture capital, and art, the younger generation still prefers traditional assets.

    Stocks, property, and cash remain the most popular investment options across income groups.

    The report also sheds light on investment choices based on gender. Across the globe, men tend to favour stocks, while women lean towards property and cash investments.

    However, in India, both men and women from the next generation of wealthy individuals prefer stocks over other asset classes. Meanwhile, a recent report by Knight Frank showed that the next generation of wealthy Indians is showing a strong interest in luxury assets, with high-end cars and premium real estate emerging as their top preferences.

    Sensex, Nifty end lower as investors stay cautious

    Stocks remain top investment choice for next-gen wealthy Indians: ReportIANS

    About 46.5 per cent of next-gen HNWIs in India aspire to own a luxury car, making it the most sought-after asset.

    Luxury homes are also a major attraction, with 25.7 per cent expressing a desire to invest in high-end real estate.

    The report highlighted that real estate is the second-most preferred luxury asset among India’s young wealthy individuals.

    Apart from cars and property, art collections are another favoured investment, with 11.9 per cent showing interest in acquiring valuable artwork.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • RBI wins global Digital Transformation Award 2025 for rolling out digital initiatives ‘Pravaah’, ‘Sarthi’ systems

    Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

    RBI wins global Digital Transformation Award 2025IANS

    The Reserve Bank of India has won the Digital Transformation Award 2025, instituted by Central Banking, London.

    The RBI has been selected for the award for rolling out digital initiatives, including Pravaah and Sarthi systems, that have reduced the use of paper-based submissions to transform its internal and external processes.

    Central Banking, in a press statement said that the two initiatives have been key to this work.

    Sarthi, the Hindi word for ‘charioteer,’ digitised all the RBI’s internal workflows. It went live in January 2023, helping employees to store and share documents securely, improving record management and increasing the options for data analysis through reports and dashboards.

    A second stage of the digital transformation process launched in May 2024 as Pravaah, which means ‘smooth flow’ in Hindi, created a digitised means for external users to submit regulatory applications to the RBI.

    Documents submitted and processed through the Pravaah portal are then plugged into the Sarthi database, where they can be handled digitally across the RBI’s offices, with centralised cyber security systems and digital tracking.

    It also said that the successful adoption of Sarthi is partly due to the team’s work in putting in place the necessary support structures.

    INDIA-ECONOMY-RATE

    RBI wins global Digital Transformation Award 2025PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images

    The IT team engaged in a lengthy collaborative process with staff to understand their needs before building the system, and appointed senior ‘nodal officers’ from each department to champion the upgrade.

    The online Sarthi Pathshala (‘school’) helps users become familiar with the system, and the Pathshala was rolled out alongside extensive in-person training. Additionally, Sarthi mitras (‘friends’) are people in each RBI office who know the system well and can help colleagues with any issues.

    The RBI announced that it has been selected for the award in a post on X.

    “RBI was awarded and recognised for its initiatives, including Pravaah and Sarthi systems, that have been developed by in-house developer team. The awards committee noted how these digital initiatives have reduced use of paper-based submissions thus transforming RBI’s internal and external processes,” the RBI said.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Government has made a big announcement for electricity consumers. Check immediately





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    The Yogi government has made a big announcement for the electricity consumers of Uttar Pradesh. Now the process of increasing the electricity load has become completely online.

    Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has started this new facility, after which consumers will no longer have to visit the offices of the electricity department. Now people will be able to increase their electricity load by applying online from home.

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    The people of the state will get this facility

    Till now, consumers had to visit electricity offices to increase their electricity load. Filling forms, submitting documents and meeting officials not only took time but also caused unnecessary trouble at times. But now this entire process has become online, which will save consumers’ time and bring transparency in work.

    UP government is continuously working to make the country digital

    UPPCL Chairman Dr. Ashish Goyal said that the Yogi government is continuously working to make the state a digital UP. With this new digital facility, consumers will get speed, clarity and timely service. For this you will have to follow these steps.

    • Consumers have to visit the official website of UPPCL www.uppcl.org.
    • One has to click on the link “Load Change Request” on the website.
    • After this, you will have to fill the application form by entering your consumer number.
    • After uploading the required documents, consumers can submit the application online.
    • Along with this, consumers will also be able to track the status of the application online.

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    Jyoti

    Jyoti , has 2 years of experience in writing Finance Content, Entertainment news, Cricket and more. She has done BA in English. She loves to Play Sports and read books in free time. In case of any complain or feedback, please contact me @[email protected]


  • Railways freight movement shoots up to 1.47 million tonnes in April-Feb of FY 2024-25

    Railways freight movement shoots up to 1.47 million tonnes in April-Feb

    Railways freight movement shoots up to 1.47 million tonnes in April-FebIANS

    Indian Railways loaded 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) of freight in the 11 months of FY 2024-25 so far, up from 1,443.166 MT in the full financial year 2023-24, according to the latest figures compiled by the Ministry of Railways.

    Indian Railways has set an ambitious target of loading 3,000 MT freight by 2027.

    “Indian Railways is steadily progressing toward its ambitious target of 3,000 MT freight loading, achieving 1,465.371 MT in FY 2024-25 till March 2,” the ministry said.

    Freight remains the backbone of Indian Railways, contributing nearly 65 per cent of its revenue and coal, iron ore and cement constitute more than 60 per cent of freight loading and revenue generation through freight operation.

    The movements of freight and passenger trains have gone up significantly in the past 11 years, with more than 34,000 km of new railway tracks laid across the country.

    With the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) on Indian Railways the speed of freight trains has also increased.

    Railway freight corridor

    Railways freight movement shoots up to 1.47 million tonnes in April-FebPixabay

    The DFC reached a significant milestone in freight train operations during January, marking a new benchmark in India’s logistics and transportation efficiency.

    According to the Ministry, 391 trains were operated on an average per day on DFC tracks in the first month of 2025. While the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) operated 209 trains per day (average), the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) ran 182 trains per day.

    This achievement reflects the increasing reliance on DFC for seamless and efficient freight transportation, reinforcing its role as a backbone for industrial and economic growth, a railway official said.

    By successfully diverting 100 per cent of freight traffic from East Central Railway and North Central Railway to EDFC, the freight corridor provided much-needed relief to the adjacent zonal railways and enabled the smooth operation of Mahakumbh Special trains on the saturated routes.

    The DFC played a crucial role in supporting the Prayagraj Division during the Maha-Kumbh Mela, ensuring the smooth and efficient movement of both passenger and freight trains.

    The locomotive production for Indian Railways has also shot up to meet the increased demand for running more passenger and freight trains. Indian Railways manufactured 1,346 locomotives during 2024-25 until January, registering a rise of more than 9 per cent compared to the 1,235 locomotives produced during 2023-24.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Advance tax deadline: Pay your final installment today to avoid penalty

    Income Tax Return portal handled more than 900 filings in a second and nearly 70 lakh ITRs (Income Tax Returns) in a day

    Pay your final installment today to avoid penaltyIANS

    The due date for paying the final installment of advance tax for the financial year 2024-25 is March 15, failing to pay may attract a penalty, according to the Income Tax department.

    As per the Income-Tax (I-T) Act, 1961, individuals whose estimated tax liability exceeds Rs 10,000 during the year are required to pay advance tax.

    This requirement applies even to salaried taxpayers, as their employers may only deduct tax from their salaries and not account for additional income like capital gains or interest from fixed deposits.

    However, there is an exemption for senior citizens who do not earn income from business or profession. They are not required to pay advance tax. For everyone else, advance tax is based on the income earned throughout the year, and the final installment for FY 2024-25 is due on March 15.

    Advance tax payments are made in four installments during the financial year: June 15, September 15, December 15, and March 15. The first installment, due by June 15, requires payment of 15 per cent of the estimated tax liability.

    By September 15, 45 per cent of the total tax due should be paid, 75 per cent by December 15, and 100 per cent by March 15. For salaried individuals, employers deduct tax at source (TDS), and they may not account for other incomes such as rent, interest, and capital gains.

    Therefore, taxpayers need to calculate their advance tax liabilities based on all sources of income, not just their salary.

    Budget 2025-26: CII seeks cut in income tax, 3-tier Customs duty to spur growth

     Pay your final installment today to avoid penaltyIANS

    Taxpayers can visit the Income Tax Department’s official website to make the payment. After registering with their PAN, they can select the ‘e-pay tax’ option and choose ‘Advance Tax (100)’ as the payment type.

    Users will also need to select the correct assessment year (2025-26) for paying the advance tax. Taxpayers who miss the March 15 deadline can still make the payment by March 31, but they will be charged interest for one month as per Section 234C of the I-T Act.

    As per the norms, interest at 1 per cent per month will be charged on any shortfall in advance tax paid by the due dates of June 15, September 15, December 15, and March 15.

    The penalty will apply if the tax paid is less than 12 per cent, 36 per cent, 75 per cent, and 100 per cent of the total due by these respective dates.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Free ration: Relief to card holders, now KYC can be done till this date





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    The date for KYC of all the members of ration cards has been extended again by two months. KYC of the poor and needy has been made mandatory for the grain scheme.

    The government has issued strict instructions to complete KYC of every unit of cardholders to the extent of 100%. The supply department has now given time till 31 May for this.

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    Under the National Food Security Guarantee Act, it is necessary to get KYC done of every unit and member registered in the ration card to prevent irregularities in the food grains being distributed free of cost to the poor and needy. DSO Dinesh Pratap Singh said that so far 73.61 percent KYC has been done in Gonda district, and instructions have been given to the concerned regional officers and supply inspectors to achieve the remaining target.

    There are around five and a half lakh eligible household cardholders and 65 thousand Antyodaya Yojana cardholders in the district. The total number of units in these is 26 lakh 58 thousand. According to the report, till March 5, KYC of around 19 lakh 24 thousand units has been done.

    Difficulty in updating KYC daily

    When the ration dealers are going door to door for KYC, many people are unable to get their thumb impressions. Due to which people are upset. Due to the lack of thumb impressions, the KYC of the cards is not being done. At the same time, the department is taking updates of the KYC being done daily and the ration dealers are being directed to speed up the process.

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    Jyoti

    Jyoti , has 2 years of experience in writing Finance Content, Entertainment news, Cricket and more. She has done BA in English. She loves to Play Sports and read books in free time. In case of any complain or feedback, please contact me @[email protected]


  • Central banks, gold ETFs to fuel strong demand for yellow metal in 2025: Report

    Gold prices hit all-time high, cross Rs 86,875 per 10 grams

    Central banks, gold ETFs to fuel strong demand for yellow metal in 2025: ReportIANS

    Central banks and Gold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) investors will continue to be the key drivers of gold demand in 2025, as per a report.

    Geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties are expected to push gold prices higher, while central banks’ actions will play a significant role in shaping the precious metal market.

    According to the Motilal Oswal Private Wealth report, gold emerged as one of the top-performing asset classes in India in 2024, with a remarkable 21 per cent return year-on-year (YoY).

    The Indian market has shown a strong investment interest in gold, driven by record inflows into gold ETFs.

    In 2024, Indian gold ETFs saw net inflows of Rs 112 billion, adding 15 tonnes to their holdings, which reached 57.8 tonnes by the end of the year.

    This growth signals strong demand from both institutional and retail investors, the report said.

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also continued its trend of gold accumulation, adding 72.6 tonnes of gold to its reserves in 2024, bringing its total reserves to 876 tonnes.

    This marks the seventh consecutive year the RBI has been a net buyer of gold. Gold now constitutes 10.6 per cent of the RBI’s foreign exchange reserves.

    While high prices affected jewellery demand, the investment demand for physical gold, especially bars and coins, remained strong.

    Motilal Oswal reports that although the demand was subdued in 2024 due to high prices, it was expected to recover gradually in mid-January, driven by wedding season purchases. However, price stability will remain a key factor in this recovery.

    Gold prices fall to Rs 77,000 per 10 grams; sliver below Rs 91,000 per kg

    Central banks, gold ETFs to fuel strong demand for yellow metal in 2025: ReportIANS

    On the silver front, the report notes that there has been a persistent deficit in supply over the past four years, with demand exceeding supply, which has kept silver prices supported.

    Industrial demand for silver has been steadily increasing since 2020, reaching all-time highs, especially driven by manufacturing and industrial activity in China and the potential growth in green technologies.

    However, silver remains more volatile compared to gold, showing price swings similar to Indian equities.

    Therefore, while gold can serve as a long-term strategic asset in portfolios, silver is recommended for more tactical allocations.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • NeuralGarage Selected as Finalist at World’s Biggest Entertainment and Tech Platform, SXSW Pitch 2025

    NeuralGarage Selected as Finalist at World’s Biggest Entertainment and Tech Platform, SXSW Pitch 2025

    ~ NeuralGarage will compete with 4 other global technology startups under the ‘Entertainment, Media, Sports & Content’ category ~

    ~ SXSW takes place from March 7 to 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas, USA ~

    Nueral Garage

    January 21, 2025; National: Bangalore-based Generative AI startup NeuralGarage has qualified as one of the 5 finalists at SXSW Pitch 2025. NeuralGarage’s proprietary and patent-filed technology ‘VisualDub’ competes under the ‘Entertainment, Media, Sports & Content’ category alongside other global start-ups. ‘VisualDub’ addresses the issue of visual dissonance in dubbed content by syncing the lips and jaws of actors with that of the dubbed audio to create a seamless viewing experience for audiences by retaining the original resolution of the content. ‘VisualDub’ is built for Films, Streaming Platforms, Broadcast Networks and Advertising. Currently in its 17th year, SXSW Pitch turns the spotlight on the global start-up ecosystem’s most exciting, innovative, and cutting-edge technology for industry experts, VCs and high-profile angel investors.

    VisualDub boasts of strong use cases across a diverse range of content spanning theatrical films, content on streaming platforms, linear TV and digital. The proprietary technology has been used by some of the biggest global brands for their ad films to create visually native and authentic content in every language without incurring additional production costs in those languages.

    Speaking on this milestone moment, Mandar Natekar, NeuralGarage’s Co-Founder and CEO said, “SXSW is the biggest global platform that brings to the forefront emerging technologies for the global media and entertainment industry. We are delighted to be selected among the top 5 tech startups globally that will pitch in front of some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. VisualDub is production-ready and has been built keeping in mind the exacting standards that the entertainment and media industry needs for adoption. Generative AI will rapidly change the way content is created, distributed and consumed, and with VisualDub we are poised to drive this change from the front. We can’t wait to showcase the full spectrum of our technology at SXSW 25 in their pitch event.”

    VisualDub is a product of IIT Kanpur alumni Subhabrata Debnath, Subhashish Saha, Anjan Banerjee, and media and entertainment veteran Mandar Natekar.

    SXSW Pitch takes place in Austin, Texas, USA on March 8 and 9, 2025 and receives participation from Hollywood and global investors. Jim Breyer, Breyer Capital will host SXSW Pitch to a live audience of expert judges, including industry leaders such as Esther Dyson of Wellville, Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital, Dave Rose of Gust, Artur Gushiken of Softbank, Jessica Robinson of Assembly Ventures, Brian Dixon of Kapor Capital, Becky Center of Indiegogo, Monique Idlett-Mosley of Reign Ventures, Mohanjit Jolly of Iron Pillar Capital, and more.

    About NeuralGarage

    NeuralGarage, a Bengaluru-based GenAI Startup, has built core tech with its original research and has developed its own models in the audio-visual domain. The startup’s flagship technology VisualDub solves a significant problem in dubbed content, the lack of synchronization of visual and audio cues, by delivering perfect lip sync, resulting in a seamless viewing experience across languages. VisualDub’s cutting edge technology is poised to revolutionize the content creation landscape, offering a seamless and authentic cinematic experience for film makers and audiences across the globe.

  • Adani’s cement major ACC Ltd reports 103 pc surge in Q3 profit

    cement sector, cement update, top picks, dalmia cement, MOSL research, shree cement, ramco cement

    Adani’s cement major ACC Ltd reports 103 pc surge in Q3 profitReuters file

    Cement and building materials leader ACC Limited, part of the diversified Adani Group, on Monday, reported a significant 103 per cent year-on-year jump in its net profit for the December quarter (Q3) of FY25.

    The cement major posted a net profit of Rs 1,092 crore for the quarter ending December 31, compared to Rs 538 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

    The company posted the highest-ever revenue in Q3 over the last five years at Rs 5,927 crore, driven by higher trade sales volume (up by 11 per cent) and premium product as per cent of trade sales at 32 per cent.

    According to Ajay Kapur, Whole Time Director and CEO, ACC Ltd, the Q3 results “demonstrate our strategic focus on driving growth through higher volumes, cost optimisation and enhanced efficiencies”.

    “With strong demand for our premium cement products, and our commitment to excellence on all parameters in line with our ESG leadership, we are leveraging innovation and sustainability to maintain our competitive edge and maximise stakeholder value,” Kapur elaborated.

    Operating EBITDA stood at Rs 1,116 crore in Q3, posting the highest-ever margin at 18.8 per cent. Volumes saw 21 per cent growth at 10.7 million tonnes, the highest-ever volume in a quarter.

    All business KPIs like volumes, efficiencies, cost and capex have shown healthy improvements, reinforcing the cost leadership journey.

    ACC strengthens market leadership with acquisition of Asian Concretes and Cements at enterprise value of Rs 775 cr

    ACC strengthens market leadership with acquisition of Asian Concretes and Cements at enterprise value of Rs 775 crIANS

    “We are well-poised to achieve sustained profitability and capitalise on our strategic vision set forth for our business,” said Kapur.

    The company is committed towards the Net Zero goal by 2050, with ACC and Ambuja Cements being the only two cement firms in India undergoing Net Zero target validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

    Meanwhile, Ambuja, with its subsidiaries ACC Ltd, Penna Cement Industries Ltd and Sanghi Industries Ltd, has taken the Adani Group’s cement capacity to 88.9 MTPA, with 20 integrated cement manufacturing plants, 20 cement grinding units and 12 bulk terminals across the country.

    (With inputs from IANS)