BusinessLine Podcasts

1.The Reserve Bank of India’s interest rate decision, Today,(October 1) will likely be a close call, with policymakers facing multiple reasons to lower borrowing costs as inflation stays low and economic growth takes a knock from high US tariffs. While a majority of economists — 24 of 39 surveyed by Bloomberg — predict the repurchase rate will remain on hold at 5.5%, 15 expect a quarter-point reduction, citing India’s growth prospects. Even many of those forecasting a hold say there’s justification to ease. The six-member monetary policy committee, led by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, will need to juggle a number of competing objectives this week. Inflation, which is hovering near the lower end of the 2%–6% target band, is expected to ease further after recent tax cuts, while growth is likely to face a hit from US President Donald Trump’s 50% export tariffs.  Read more here 2.The government’s push to go ‘Swadeshi’ in tech, endorsement by senior ministers, and the overall social media buzz have taken the downloads and Daily Active Usage (DAU) of Zoho’s messaging app Arattai to record highs, report Sindhu Hariharan and Rohan Das. According to data from the market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, shared with BusinessLine, Arattai’s downloads and daily active users in India have skyrocketed — increasing by 185 times and 40 times respectively, compared to the previous week. This massive jump happened between September 21st and 27th, right after the app came under the spotlight thanks to mentions by government officials. The instant messaging app from software firm Zoho, that is being touted as a WhatsApp rival, has seen an exponential growth across all parameters such as installs and usage, and app store rankings. Read more here 3.South Korean consumer electronics giant LG Electronics has decided to go ahead with the initial public offer of its Indian subsidiary, and its board has approved the sale of 10.18 crore shares in the Indian unit, according to a regulatory filing. This will translate into a 15 per cent dilution of its stake in its Indian arm, LG Electronics India Ltd, in which it will hold 85 per cent stake post the IPO. Read more here 4.The government has placed e-commerce platforms under scrutiny as it monitors prices of daily use FMCG products ranging from shampoo to pulses to ensure that the benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts are being appropriately passed on to consumers. Authorities are monitoring whether these platforms are complying with pricing norms and not withholding the intended consumer benefits from tax reductions. Sources said the e-commerce platforms cited ‘technical glitches’ when discrepancies in pricing pre- and post-GST reduction were pointed out. Read more here Donald Trump’s H-1B visa crackdown will hasten US firms’ shift of critical work to India, turbocharging the growth of global capability centres (GCCs) that handle operations from finance to research and development, economists and industry insiders say. The world’s fifth-largest economy is home to 1,700 GCCs, or more than half the global tally, having outgrown its tech support origins to become a hub of high-value innovation in areas from design of luxury car dashboards to drug discovery. Trends such as growing adoption of artificial intelligence and increasing curbs on visas are pushing U.S. firms to redraw labour strategies, with GCCs in India emerging as resilient hubs blending global skills with strong domestic leadership. Read more here That’s a wrap for today’s news. Check out the hindu businessline’s website. Thank you for joining us. stay informed and stay ahead

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will likely consider approving Tata Sons’ request to de-register as an upper layer non-banking finance company (NBFC), subject to meeting certain conditions, sources say. As the RBI’s deadline for upper layer NBFCs to list by September end approaches, the regulator may also extend the timeline for Tata Sons to meet those conditions, writes Piyush Shukla. Tata Sons has been engaging with the regulator on several aspects of its classification as an upper layer NBFC and sources indicated a favourable response, especially its request for de-registration. There was no response from Tata Sons to a clarification request. Jaguar Land Rover to resume production in ‘coming days’ British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is taking steps to resume vehicle production, and as the first step will restart some sections of its manufacturing in the coming days following the cyberattack, reports Aroosa Ahmed. “Today we are informing colleagues, retailers and suppliers that some sections of our manufacturing operations will resume in the coming days. We continue to work around the clock alongside cybersecurity specialists, the UK Government’s NCSC and law enforcement to ensure our restart is done in a safe and secure manner,” it said in a statement.  The company stated that, as part of the controlled phased restart of operations, it is taking further steps towards recovery and returning to manufacturing its vehicles.  JLR had shut its vehicle manufacturing up till October 1 after a cyberattack. On Sunday the UK government said it will guarantee a £1.5 billion loan to JLR, which will support its supply chain. The British luxury carmaker had suffered an overall impact on its system and plant operations due to a cyberattack that was discovered on August 30, which led to the closure of its manufacturing plants. Read more: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/jaguar-land-rover-to-resume-production-in-coming-days/article70108403.ece  Moody’s affirms India’s sovereign rating at ‘Baa3’ with stable outlook Moody’s Ratings on Monday affirmed India’s sovereign rating at ‘Baa3’ with outlook stable. This is last investment grade rating by the agency which helps investors to take a decision and also impact borrowing from overseas, reports Shishir Sinha. Earlier, S&P Global, Morningstar, DBRS, and Japanese credit ratings agency R&I had upgraded India’s rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-‘. That’s a wrap for today’s news. Check out the hindu businessline's website. Thank you for joining us. stay informed and stay ahead

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Shakthi H — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Final flight, festive highs, and financial shifts this Friday. 🎧 On today’s episode: the MiG-21 bids farewell after 62 years, festive e-commerce sales soar with premium buys, outward remittances take a surprising dip, and Ladakh simmers under curfew after violent protests. Stay informed with The Morning Report — crisp business news in under 5 minutes. ⁠https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/audio/

Big shifts this Thursday. 🎧 We unpack Elon Musk’s legal loss in India, the Centre’s ₹70,000 crore boost for shipbuilding, a private sector shake-up in the AMCA fighter jet race, and the rising trend of gold loan buyouts. Stay sharp with The Morning Report — fast, focused business news in under 5 minutes. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/audio/

Midweek, major moves. 🎧 This Wednesday, we break down Jaguar Land Rover’s extended cyber-hit production pause, the rupee's record low, Karnataka’s movie ticket price cap halted, and Maharashtra’s ₹1,339 crore relief for rain-hit farmers. Stay sharp with The Morning Report — fast, focused business news in under 5 minutes.

Here are the top stories from businessline, September 23, 2025 GST rate cuts, income tax relief to have multiplier effect on GDP numbers: CEA Nageswaran Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran says the recent GST rate cuts and Income Tax relief will significantly boost GDP through a multiplier effect, with a total impact estimated at over ₹2.5 lakh crore. He called GST 2.0 a landmark reform that will drive domestic demand. Despite concerns about a ₹48,000 crore fiscal hit from GST cuts and slower direct tax collections, he’s confident of meeting the 4.4% fiscal deficit target, citing strong non-tax revenues and festive season demand. On Trump-era tariffs, he expects a short-term drag on growth but says GST reforms could offset the impact. Long-term, he believes India’s FDI appeal remains strong. For Q2, GDP is likely to stay close to the 7% mark, based on current indicators. Student visa arrivals to US hit four-year low as Trump policies bite student arrivals to the US fell 19% in August year-on-year, hitting just over 313,000 — the lowest August number since 2021.  It marks the fifth straight month of decline, with overall student entries down nearly 12% for the year so far. The drop is most severe among Asian students, especially from India, where arrivals plunged 46%.  Tighter immigration rules, paused visa interviews, and increased vetting — including social media checks — have created major hurdles for applicants. Universities now face a projected $7 billion revenue loss this fall.  With international students contributing nearly $44 billion to the US economy annually, experts warn that continued declines could erode America’s leadership in science, technology, and innovation. Mid-size IT firms say “no significant impact” of new H-1B visa fee Mid-size Indian IT firms expect minimal impact from the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, having already reduced their reliance on these visas.  Companies like Mphasis and Hexaware report low H-1B use, limiting near-term effects, while larger firms like LTIMindtree may face bigger losses. The sector’s shift to offshore work, which is more profitable, could offset revenue drops from fewer on-site projects. Analysts estimate a modest margin hit of 10-100 basis points by FY27, mainly affecting critical roles with no local alternatives.

Big relief for consumers starting September 22nd! GST Reforms 2.0 are now in effect, slashing prices across a wide range of goods—from kitchen staples to big-ticket items like electronics and automobiles.At the 56th GST Council meeting on September 3rd, major reductions were announced on nearly 375 items, with the new prices kicking in just in time for Navaratri.Essentials like ghee, paneer, butter, namkeen, ketchup, jam, dry fruits, coffee, and ice cream are now cheaper. And so are aspirational items like TVs, air conditioners, and washing machines.The biggest impact? The automobile sector—GST on small cars has dropped from 28% to 18%.In his national address on the eve of the rollout, Prime Minister Modi called the income tax exemption on earnings up to ₹12 lakh, along with the GST cuts, a “double bonanza” for the poor, neo-middle class, and middle class.Read more here Airlines on India–US routes may face more turbulence. A new $100,000 H-1B visa fee is denting travel demand. Air India, the market leader, is already grappling with airspace restrictions. Emirates and Qatar Airways trail closely behind.Tourist and student traffic has slowed, with March and June seeing notable drops.However, platforms like MakeMyTrip report a surge in last-minute US bookings, as travellers rush to beat the visa fee deadline. Still, experts expect the softness on these routes to continue as visa rules tighten further.TE Raja Simhan and Aneesh Phadnis report on the mounting pressure facing international carriers and how the new visa rules are reshaping travel demand. Read more hereOn 19 September, the US introduced a steep $100,000 annual fee for companies sponsoring H-1B visa holders, effective 21 September. Signed by President Trump, the move aims to protect local jobs but could hit Indian professionals hard — they make up over 70% of H-1B holders.Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have issued advisories. Smaller firms and start-ups may struggle with the cost.Legal experts warn of confusion and possible litigation, as many fee-related details remain unclear. However, some analysts say this could boost offshore hiring and remote work from India.Sindhu Hariharan reports on how the move is reshaping hiring strategies across the tech industry, both in the US and in India.Read more here
 For many investors, small-caps are the hunting ground for the next big thing — early bets with multibagger potential. But reality paints a sobering picture.A BusinessLine Portfolio study shows that of the 4,012 small-cap stocks listed by AMFI in December 2017, only 34 graduated to mid- or large-cap status by June 2025. That’s a conversion rate of just 0.8 per cent.The data challenges the popular belief that small-cap bets regularly grow into market giants.Dhuraivel Gunasekaran breaks down why the small-cap dream rarely delivers — and what that means for retail investors.Read more here

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Shakthi H — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

The weekend’s near, but the business world isn’t slowing down. Today’s update brings you the top stories so far, what’s coming up, and anything you might have missed. Catch the latest on the Infosys-Cognizant legal battle set for 2027, the CBI’s new chargesheet in the NSE co-location scam, and the Income Tax Department’s probe into Marico.

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Shakthi H — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Shakthi H — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Hit the ground running this Monday with the week’s biggest business updates! India plans to raise FDI in insurance to 100%, signalling major changes for the sector and policyholders. Meanwhile, Trump’s tariff strategy faces a critical legal challenge that could put $1.5 trillion in revenue at risk. On the global front, China launches investigations into US chipmakers as high-stakes trade talks unfold. Stay informed with sharp insights on markets, trade, and technology to start your week ahead.

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Renil S Varghese — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Renil S Varghese — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day.

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Renil S Varghese — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Renil S Varghese — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Shakthi H — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Rowan Barnett — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!

Welcome to The morning report brought to you by Rowan Barnett — your quick dive into the top stories shaping the business world today. Fast, insightful, and to the point. Check out the top news for the day!