Biz Updates: Voda Idea did not deposit 6,090 crore guarantee; Khadi artisans 20% higher wages from April
New Delhi| Vodafone Idea has not deposited bank guarantees of Rs 6,090.7 crore nor made cash payments of Rs 5,493.2 crore to the Department of Telecommunications by the deadline set for the reduction in the 2015 spectrum auction. The government can take action against the company in this matter. The company, which is facing financial crisis, had to submit a bank guarantee or cash payment by March 10, 2025. A government official said, we will see what action can be taken. The Department of Telecommunications has not yet extended any time in this matter.
Khadi artisans will get 20 percent more wages from April
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman Manoj Kumar said that the wages of Khadi artisans will increase by 20 per cent from April. At present, spinners (artisans) get Rs 12.50 per hank (bunch) spinning on the charkha. It will be increased by Rs 2.50 to Rs 15 from April 1. Kumar said sales of Khadi and village industries products increased five-fold from Rs 31,000 crore in the last 10 years to Rs 1,55,000 crore in FY 2023-24.
Houses worth 6.73 lakh crore sold in 2024
The increase in demand for luxury homes led to a 12 per cent increase in house sales to 6.73 lakh crore in nine major cities of the country in 2024. According to PropEquity, houses worth 1.53 lakh crore have been sold in Delhi-NCR. Sales in Gurugram increased to 1,06,739 crore.
Edible oil imports down by 8% to 8.85 million tones
The country’s edible oil imports declined by 8 per cent in February to a four-year low of 8.85 lakh tones due to a sharp decrease in imports of soya and sunflower oil. It was 9.59 lakh tones in the same month a year ago. Vegetable oil imports declined by 7 per cent to 8.99 lakh tonnes.
HDFC Securities settled the case for 65 lakhs
HDFC Securities has settled the matter with SEBI by paying Rs 65 lakh for violation of rules. SEBI had issued a notice to the company last year. The company has then settled the case by giving it 65 lakhs under settlement payment.
SBI customers were worried for four hours for UPI services
SBI customers on Tuesday faced problems in UPI and mobile banking services for more than four hours due to some technical problems. The country’s largest bank later said that the technical problems had been completely resolved. SBI customers faced problems from around 12:30 on Tuesday. The technical issue with the SBI UPI application has been resolved and has been functioning properly since 5 pm, the bank said in its statement.
The government extended duty free imports of urad until 2026
The government has extended the duty free import of urad for another year until March 31, 2026. Earlier this provision was till the end of March this year. The move will help stabilize pulses prices, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in the notification. Urad worth $601.1 million was imported in April-November of the current financial year. In this, $549 million was imported from Myanmar.
