ਇਹ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਜੀਓ ਫਾਈਬਰ ਦੇ ₹8,888 ਦੇ ਸਾਲਾਨਾ ਰੀਚਾਰਜ ਪੈਕ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ। ਗਾਹਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ 12 ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਟੈਂਡਰਡ ਵੈਧਤਾ ਮਿਲਦੀ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਦੇ ਹਿੱਸੇ ਵਜੋਂ 4 ਮਹੀਨੇ ਵਾਧੂ ਦੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਅਸੀਮਤ ਡੇਟਾ ਅਤੇ ਵੌਇਸ ਸਮੇਤ ਕਈ ਲਾਭ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਦੀ ਕੀਮਤ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਮਹੀਨਾ ₹500 ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜੇਬ 'ਤੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਭਾਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ।

ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ : ਆਮ ਜਨਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਡਾ ਝਟਕਾ, ਪੈਟਰੋਲ 5 ਰੁਪਏ ਅਤੇ ਡੀਜ਼ਲ 3 ਰੁਪਏ ਹੋਇਆ ਮਹਿੰਗਾ

ਇਹ ਪਲਾਨ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਹਿੰਗਾ ਲੱਗ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਸਿਰਫ਼ 30Mbps ਇੰਟਰਨੈੱਟ ਸਪੀਡ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ OTT ਪਲੇਟਫਾਰਮ ਅਤੇ ਲਾਈਵ ਟੀਵੀ ਚੈਨਲ ਵਰਗੀਆਂ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਤਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਇਹ ਪਲਾਨ ਇੱਕ ਚੰਗਾ ਵਿਕਲਪ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਸ ਪਲਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਡਾਟਾ ਸੀਮਾ ਕਨੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਆਧਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਏਅਰਫਾਈਬਰ ਕਨੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਮਹੀਨਾ 1,000GB ਡੇਟਾ ਦੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਫਾਈਬਰ ਕਨੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਮਹੀਨਾ 3,300GB ਡੇਟਾ ਦੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ : ਚੀਨੀ-ਚੌਲ ਤੇ ਦਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਖਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਤੇਲ ਮੁੜ ਹੋਏ ਮਹਿੰਗੇ, ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਪਲਾਈ 'ਚ ਵੱਡੀ ਰੁਕਾਵਟ

ਇਹ ਬ੍ਰਾਡਬੈਂਡ ਪਲਾਨ ਉਪਭੋਗਤਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ 12 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ OTT ਪਲੇਟਫਾਰਮਾਂ ਤੱਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ Amazon Prime Lite, JioHotstar, SonyLIV, ZEE5, SunNXT, Hoichoi, Discovery , TimesPlay, TarangPlus, Eros Now, Lionsgate Play, ShemarooMe, ਅਤੇ ETV Win ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹਨ। ਬ੍ਰਾਡਬੈਂਡ ਪਲਾਨ 1,000 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਲਾਈਵ ਟੀਵੀ ਚੈਨਲਾਂ ਤੱਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਰਿਲਾਇੰਸ ਜੀਓ ਦੇ ਹੋਮ ਬ੍ਰਾਡਬੈਂਡ ਪਲਾਨ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਪਲਬਧ ਹਨ। ਏਅਰਫਾਈਬਰ ਤਕਨਾਲੋਜੀ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਨਾਲ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਘੱਟ ਸਮੇਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਾਈ-ਸਪੀਡ ਬ੍ਰਾਡਬੈਂਡ ਕਨੈਕਟੀਵਿਟੀ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਯੋਗ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ।

ਰਿਪੋਰਟਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਤਿਉਹਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੀਜ਼ਨ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਦੁਕਾਨਦਾਰਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਾਧੂ ਬੋਝ ਨਾ ਪਵੇ ਇਸਦੇ ਲਈ 0.4% ਵਪਾਰੀ ਫੀਸ ਦੀ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਮਿਤੀ ਵਧਾਉਣ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਗਲੇ ਕੁਝ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਤ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ।

UPI 'ਤੇ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਚਾਰਜ ਮੁਲਤਵੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਅਸਰ ਸਟਾਕ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੂਚੀਬੱਧ ਫਿਨਟੈਕ ਕੰਪਨੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ੇਅਰਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਪਿਆ। Paytm ਦੇ ਸ਼ੇਅਰ ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ 10% ਤੱਕ ਡਿੱਗ ਗਏ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ₹1,561 ਦੇ ਹੇਠਲੇ ਪੱਧਰ 'ਤੇ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਗਏ ਸਨ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਣ ਤੱਕ ਉਹ ਥੋੜ੍ਹਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਠੀਕ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਅਤੇ ₹1,640 'ਤੇ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਏ, ਜੋ ਕਿ 5.42% ਘੱਟ ਹੈ। ਦਿਨ ਦੇ ਕਾਰੋਬਾਰ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਮੋਬੀਕਵਿਕ ਦੇ ਸਟਾਕ 8.43% ਡਿੱਗ ਕੇ ₹235 'ਤੇ ਆ ਗਿਆ ਪਰ 4.57% ਵਧ ਕੇ ₹245 'ਤੇ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਇਆ। ਪਾਈਨ ਲੈਬਜ਼ ਦੇ ਸ਼ੇਅਰ ₹169 ਦੇ ਹੇਠਲੇ ਪੱਧਰ ਨੂੰ ਛੂਹਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ₹4.39% ਡਿੱਗ ਕੇ ₹170 'ਤੇ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਇਆ।

NPST ਕੰਪਨੀ ਦਾ ਸਟਾਕ ਵੀ 3.39% ਡਿੱਗ ਕੇ ₹1,791.30 'ਤੇ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਇਆ। ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਮਹੀਨਾ ₹1 ਲੱਖ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਕਮਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਪਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ₹2,000 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਦੇ ਹਰੇਕ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ 'ਤੇ 0.4% MDR GST ​​ਦਾ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ। GST MDR ਚਾਰਜ ਦਾ 18% ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਪਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਕੁੱਲ ਮਹੀਨਾਵਾਰ UPI ਕਮਾਈ ₹1 ਲੱਖ ਤੱਕ ਹੈ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਚਾਰਜ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ, ਭਾਵੇਂ ਲੈਣ-ਦੇਣ ₹2,000 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਹੋਵੇ।

ਜੇਕਰ ਕੋਈ ਛੋਟਾ ਦੁਕਾਨਦਾਰ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ 3 ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਲਈ ₹1 ਲੱਖ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਦਾ UPI ਕਲੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਬੈਂਕ ਖੁਦ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ "ਵੱਡੇ ਵਪਾਰੀ" (ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਤੋਂ ਵਪਾਰੀ) ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਬਦੀਲ ਕਰ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ। ਫਿਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵੀ ਇੱਕ ਫੀਸ ਲਗਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਵੱਡੇ ਵਪਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ₹2,000 ਜਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਘੱਟ ਦੇ ਛੋਟੇ ਭੁਗਤਾਨਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਕੋਈ ਫੀਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੇਣੀ ਪਵੇਗੀ। ₹75,000 ਜਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਦੇ ਲੈਣ-ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ₹300 GST ਵਸੂਲਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ₹2,000 ਦੀ ਲਿਮਿਟ ਹਰੇਕ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ, ਦਿਨ ਦੀ ਕੁੱਲ ਵਿਕਰੀ 'ਤੇ ਨਹੀਂ। ਪੈਟਰੋਲ ਪੰਪ, ਰੇਲਵੇ, ਬਿੱਲ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ, ਦੂਰਸੰਚਾਰ, ਬੀਮਾ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੇ ਵਪਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ₹2,000 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਦੇ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ 'ਤੇ 0.40% ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ ਫਲੈਟ ₹5 ਦਾ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ। UPI 'ਤੇ MDR ਚਾਰਜ ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡਾਂ (1.5%-2.5%) ਅਤੇ ਡੈਬਿਟ ਕਾਰਡਾਂ (0.90% ਤੱਕ) ਨਾਲੋਂ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਘੱਟ ਹੈ।

ਵਪਾਰੀ ਛੂਟ ਦਰ (MDR) ਉਹ ਫੀਸ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਇੱਕ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਜਾਂ ਦੁਕਾਨਦਾਰ ਬੈਂਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਸੇਵਾ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਤਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਡੈਬਿਟ/ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਜਾਂ ਡਿਜੀਟਲ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ (UPI) ਸਹੂਲਤ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਿ ਪੁਆਇੰਟ ਆਫ਼ ਸੇਲ ਮਸ਼ੀਨਾਂ ਜਾਂ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਗੇਟਵੇ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਅਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਹ ਫੀਸ ਡਿਜੀਟਲ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਢਾਂਚੇ ਨੂੰ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖਣ ਅਤੇ ਟ੍ਰਾਂਸਫਰ ਨੈੱਟਵਰਕ ਨੂੰ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਖਰਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਲਈ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਫੀਸ ਲਈ ਗਾਹਕ ਨਹੀਂ, ਸਗੋਂ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰ ਹੈ।

ਪ੍ਰਚੂਨ ਵਿਕਰੇਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਡਿਸਟਰੀਬਿਊਟਰਸ ਘੱਟ ਮਾਰਜਿਨ 'ਤੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਡਿਜੀਟਲ ਲੈਣ-ਦੇਣ 'ਤੇ ਵਾਧੂ ਖਰਚੇ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਨਾਲ ਲਾਗਤਾਂ ਵਧ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ। ਡਿਜੀਟਲ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਦਾ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਸਰਲ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ, ਨਾ ਕਿ ਵਪਾਰੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਬੋਝ ਪਾਉਣਾ। UPI ਨੇ ਨਕਦੀ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਘਟਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਜੇਕਰ ਵਪਾਰੀ ਸਿਸਟਮ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਰਦਰਸ਼ੀ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਫੀਸ ਲਗਾਉਣਾ ਸਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਡਿਜੀਟਲ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਨੂੰ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ, ਵਪਾਰੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਚਾਰਜ ਲਗਾਉਣਾ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਦੇਣ ਵਰਗਾ ਹੈ। ਜੇਕਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਫੈਸਲੇ 'ਤੇ ਮੁੜ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਤਾਂ ਅੰਦੋਲਨ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਤੇਜ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।

The focus this time was on how the system works day to day, not on tax rates. The government confirmed that no GST rates were changed and said rate-related issues will now be discussed only once a year, at a meeting meant just for that.

The meeting comes about a year after the big rate rationalisation. According to the government, monthly taxable supply has grown 25.8% to Rs 50.58 lakh crore from Rs 40.19 lakh crore and GST revenue is up 11% so far in FY27.

No arrest powers, higher prosecution limit

The Council has removed the power of arrest under GST. The government says the aim is to catch tax evasion through data rather than rely on the fear of criminal action. Since the system can now match seller and buyer invoices, it can spot fake credit near the point where it is created.


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Other changes on enforcement:

The prosecution threshold rises from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore.

The minimum punishment has been scrapped. Courts will decide whether to impose a fine, jail term or both.

The general penalty is cut from Rs 25,000 to Rs 10,000.

Businesses had been asking for relief from the criminalisation of routine GST disputes and these steps address that concern.

Simpler registration and return filing

Registration is already granted within three working days, without any officer involved, for low-risk applicants and for those whose output tax on supplies to registered persons is up to Rs 2.5 lakh a month. About 61% of registrations now come through this route.

The application form will be redesigned so applicants see only the fields that apply to them, along with an explanation of why each document is needed.

On returns, businesses will be allowed to correct errors from earlier periods, such as a wrongly entered buyer registration number. The Invoice Management System will also be used for settling credit, and whatever a buyer accepts will flow into the return.

Faster GST refunds

The changes could help exporters and businesses facing inverted duty structures. The time to acknowledge a refund claim drops from 15 days to 10. If the department issues neither an acknowledgement nor a deficiency memo in that time, the claim is treated as acknowledged.

Based on risk assessment, 90% of the claim will be sanctioned, with the order issued within three working days of acknowledgement (earlier it was seven).

Refunds of excess balance in the cash ledger will become fully automatic. From November 1, 2026, refunds will cover input services in inverted duty cases. From April 1, 2027, refunds linked to plant and machinery will be allowed, with the credit spread over the asset's working life. The government says sectors like pharma and FMCG could manage their working capital better as a result.

Input tax credit: Relief for genuine buyers still pending

The Council has not yet decided on blanket protection for genuine buyers whose suppliers fail to pay GST. A committee of officers will study how to protect a buyer who holds a proper invoice, received the goods and paid the supplier in full. It has three months to report, after which the matter goes to the next Council meeting.

Meanwhile, ITC has been approved for several routine business expenses:

Health and life insurance for employees

Telecom towers and pipelines outside factories

Free samples

Stock written off after expiry, where the law requires destruction

Relief for small businesses and e-commerce sellers

The Council has approved in principle an optional scheme for small taxpayers with turnover up to Rs 5 crore who sell only to consumers. They would file returns once a year but pay tax every quarter. The full framework will come up at the next meeting.

Small e-commerce sellers also get an easier process. A seller can declare an e-commerce operator's warehouse in another state as its principal place of business there, with the operator's consent given automatically through the system. This is open to sellers below the risk threshold; those above it will move to regular registration.

Fewer checks on goods in transit

A vehicle can now be stopped only on specific intelligence and only with prior approval from an officer of Joint Commissioner rank or above. Only the origin state and the destination state can inspect a consignment. States along the route cannot stop it.

For example, a consignment passing through five states will now be checked only at the start and the end, not in every state.

Boost for services exports and manufacturing

An Indian company serving a foreign client through its own overseas branch will get export benefits. Work done in India on a foreign client's goods, such as testing, repair, certification, research or processing, will count as export of service even if the goods never leave the country.

This could help analytics, design, engineering and contract manufacturing. Karthik Mani of BDO India had said before the meeting that such treatment could particularly benefit semiconductors and electronics.

What states said

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant welcomed the reforms and thanked the Finance Minister, saying they solve problems people earlier faced, as reported by ANI.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Council focused on simplifying GST and improving how it is implemented and called the results "very positive."

West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said GST is vital for the state's revenue and that the ease of doing business reforms would help in the long run. He added that compliance has often been a challenge in West Bengal, but awareness is now growing.

No rate changes this time

Unlike last year, no GST rates were touched. The government says the rate structure is now settled and the Council will concentrate on clearing up remaining inconsistencies. With these decisions, GST 2.0 moves from changing rates to simplifying processes, from registration and filing to refunds, credit and enforcement.

ਭਾਰਤ ਅਤੇ ਯੂਕੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਕਰਮਚਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਅੰਦਰੂਨੀ ਸਲੈਕ ਚੈਨਲਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਇਸ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਸੂਚਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2025 ਅਤੇ ਜਨਵਰੀ 2026 ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਲਗਭਗ 30,000 ਕਾਰਪੋਰੇਟ ਨੌਕਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਖਾਤਮੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਐਮਾਜ਼ਾਨ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਕਦਮ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਗਲੋਬਲ ਤਕਨੀਕੀ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੁਨਰਗਠਨ ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਅਜੇ ਖਤਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ।

ਐਮਾਜ਼ਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਇਹ ਨਵੀਆਂ ਕਟੌਤੀਆਂ ਮੁੱਖ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਦੇ 'ਸਟੋਰ' ਕਾਰੋਬਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਕੇਂਦ੍ਰਿਤ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਇਸਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਈ-ਕਾਮਰਸ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਿਗਰਾਨੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਰਿਪੋਰਟਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਗਾਹਕ ਸੇਵਾ ਅਤੇ ਵੇਚਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਭਾਈਵਾਲ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਕਟੌਤੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਹਨ, ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਹੋਰ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ। ਐਮਾਜ਼ਾਨ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਬੁਲਾਰੇ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਬਿਆਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਟੌਤੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸਟੋਰ ਡਿਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਸੀਮਤ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਭੂਮਿਕਾਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਹਨ।

ਬੁਲਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ "ਅਸੀਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਟੋਰ ਕਾਰੋਬਾਰ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਹਿੱਸਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਪੁਨਰਗਠਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸਾਡਾ ਮੰਨਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਢਾਂਚਾ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਤਰਜੀਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਯੋਗ ਬਣਾਏਗਾ।" ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਬਦਲਾਅ ਅਤੇ ਪੁਨਰਗਠਨ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਕਰਮਚਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਸੰਭਵ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

What Amazon has said

Amazon has accepted that a reduction is happening, but it calls it a change involving a "small number" of roles. The company says most of the changes are in its stores business, which handles its main online shopping operations.

The timing has drawn attention. The layoffs came just as the Great Indian Festival sale got underway. Some employees shared the news with colleagues on internal channels such as Slack.

Which teams are affected

The cuts are not limited to one kind of job. Reports say teams working on customer service, selling partner services and marketplace support have been hit. Engineers in the retail division have also lost roles.

Also Read | Nana Patekar's last public appearance: Played the shamel, danced with Goa's artists and said 'I don't know If I'll be here tomorrow'

Why Amazon is cutting jobs again

This round follows a much bigger clean-up. Between late 2025 and January 2026, Amazon removed around 30,000 corporate jobs as it tried to cut costs and make the company simpler to run. The new layoffs are smaller, but they show that the restructuring is still not over.

At the same time, Amazon is betting big on artificial intelligence. The company plans to spend about $220 billion on data centres, chips and other infrastructure needed to run AI.

What it means for India

The cuts come even though Amazon keeps investing in India. In March, it opened a new Bengaluru campus, which it calls its second-largest office in Asia. The 1.1-million-square-foot building is expected to hold more than 7,000 employees working across e-commerce, payments, technology and seller services.

So the layoffs do not mean Amazon is leaving India. It looks more like the company is moving people and money to the areas where it wants to grow.

Great Indian Festival 2026: Offers to know

• The sale began at 12 am on October 8 for all customers. Here are the main offers:
• Up to 65 per cent off on home appliances such as TVs, refrigerators and washing machines
• 10 per cent instant discount on SBI debit and credit cards, including credit card EMI transactions
• Unlimited 5 per cent cashback for customers using the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card
• Extra Rs 250 cashback for Prime members on select devices
• 10 per cent cashback on Amazon Pay Later EMI transactions

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the decision on October 7, after the three-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The RBI also changed its policy stance to "calibrated tightening".

First, what is the repo rate?

The repo rate is the interest rate at which banks borrow from the RBI. The logic is simple. When the RBI lends to banks at a higher cost, banks pass that on and charge people more for loans. Borrowing becomes expensive, so people take fewer loans and spend less. Lower spending means lower demand and that helps keep inflation under control.

Why did the RBI raise it?

Governor Sanjay Malhotra said rising crude oil prices, global pressures and bad weather have increased the risk of food inflation. The RBI wants to act early to rein in prices and keep the economy stable.

The central bank has also raised its inflation forecast. For 2026-27, inflation is now expected at 5.2%, up from the earlier estimate of 5.0%.

Rate cuts are off the table for now

The change in stance to "calibrated tightening" carries a bigger signal than the hike itself. It means the door to rate cuts has been shut for the time being. In the coming meetings, the RBI will either keep rates where they are or raise them further if needed.

Experts feel controlling inflation is now the RBI's first priority.

On the other hand, there is some relief on the economic front. The RBI has raised its GDP growth forecast for 2026-27 from 6.7% to 7.1%. By quarter, growth is expected at 7.2% in Q2 and 6.9% in Q3. The Q4 estimate is unchanged at 6.8%.

What changes for you

Around 7 out of 10 borrowers have loans linked to the repo rate, so the decision will affect most loan customers quickly. If your loan is on a floating rate, meaning it is linked to the repo rate, banks are expected to raise interest rates within a few days. Either your EMI will go up or your loan tenure will become longer.

A new home loan or car loan will cost more in the coming days. Once banks apply the new rates, loan eligibility may also come down a little.

When could the repo rate come down again?

If inflation stays under control and economic conditions allow it, the RBI could cut rates later. At every meeting, it decides on rates after looking at inflation, economic growth and domestic and global conditions.

Knowledge box: where did repo rate idea come from?

The concept goes back to 1917, during the First World War. Banks were facing a heavy tax burden, which made borrowing costly and difficult. To ease this, reduce the tax burden and make money easily available to banks, the US central bank (the Fed) introduced the repo system for the first time.

It has changed a lot since then. At first, only select member banks could use the facility. Primary dealers joined in the 1950s and today both banks and dealers use it. It was earlier based on a fixed discount rate. Later it was linked to market rates and now the US FOMC committee decides it. Initially, only government and war bonds were pledged against the loan. Later, treasury securities were accepted and after 1999, mortgage-linked bonds too.

The whole structure has changed since 1917. Today it is one of the biggest and most effective tools for controlling the flow of money (liquidity) in banking systems across the world, including India.

Also Read | Loans to get costlier as RBI hikes repo rate to 5.5 %, cites inflation; first raise since 2023

ਦੱਸ ਦੇਈਏ ਕਿ Amazon ਦੀ Great Indian Festive Sale 8 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਉੱਥੇ ਹੀ Flipkart ਦੀ Big Billion Days Sale 9 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। Flipkart Plus, Black ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ Flipkart ਦੇ ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਹੋਲਡਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ 8 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਤੋਂ ਅਰਲੀ ਐਕਸੈੱਸ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ।

Flipkart ਦੀ Big Billion Days Sale 'ਚ Axis Bank ਅਤੇ ICICI Bank ਦੇ ਚੁਣੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਾਰਡਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ 'ਤੇ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੱਕ ਦਾ ਇੰਸਟੈਂਟ ਡਿਸਕਾਊਂਟ ਮਿਲ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। Flipkart Axis Bank ਕੋ-ਬ੍ਰਾਂਡੇਡ ਕਾਰਡ 'ਤੇ ਵੀ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੱਕ ਇੰਸਟੈਂਟ ਡਿਸਕਾਊਂਟ ਦਾ ਆਫਰ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ Flipkart ਦੀ super.money ਸਰਵਿਸ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਸੇਲ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਟ੍ਰਾਂਜ਼ੈਕਸ਼ਨ 'ਤੇ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੱਕ ਕੈਸ਼ਬੈਕ ਮਿਲਣ ਦਾ ਵਿਕਲਪ ਵੀ ਹੈ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਤੈਅ ਨਿਯਮ ਅਤੇ ਯੋਗਤਾ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ।

Amazon Great Indian Festival 'ਚ SBI ਦੇ ਡੈਬਿਟ ਅਤੇ ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਨਾਲ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ 'ਤੇ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਇੰਸਟੈਂਟ ਡਿਸਕਾਊਂਟ ਦਾ ਫਾਇਦਾ ਮਿਲ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਕੁਝ EMI ਟ੍ਰਾਂਜ਼ੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਆਫਰ ਦੇ ਦਾਇਰੇ 'ਚ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਯੋਗ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ 'ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਆਫਰ ਤਹਿਤ 35 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੱਕ ਕੈਸ਼ਬੈਕ ਮਿਲ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਸੀਮਾ ₹150 ਹੈ।

Amazon Pay Later ਰਾਹੀਂ ਯੋਗ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ 'ਤੇ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਕੈਸ਼ਬੈਕ ਦਾ ਵਿਕਲਪ ਵੀ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਉੱਥੇ ਹੀ Amazon Pay ICICI Bank ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਰਾਹੀਂ Amazon 'ਤੇ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ 5 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਅਨਲਿਮਿਟਡ ਕੈਸ਼ਬੈਕ ਮਿਲ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇੱਥੇ ਇੱਕ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਗੱਲ ਸਮਝਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਹੈ। ਸੇਲ 'ਚ ਜੇਕਰ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ‘10% ਤੱਕ ਡਿਸਕਾਊਂਟ’ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਇਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹਰ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ 'ਤੇ ਪੂਰੇ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਦੀ ਛੋਟ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ। ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਅਸਲ ਡਿਸਕਾਊਂਟ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ ਦੀ ਰਕਮ, ਕਾਰਡ ਦੀ ਯੋਗਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਫਰ ਦੀ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਸੀਮਾ 'ਤੇ ਨਿਰਭਰ ਕਰੇਗਾ। ਕੁਝ ਕਾਰਪੋਰੇਟ ਕਾਰਡ ਆਫਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਆਮ ਕਾਰਡ ਪੇਮੈਂਟ ਅਤੇ EMI ਟ੍ਰਾਂਜ਼ੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮ ਵੀ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਪੇਮੈਂਟ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਬੈਂਕ ਆਫਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ, ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਖਰੀਦਦਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਡਿਸਕਾਊਂਟ ਲਿਮਿਟ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਚੈੱਕ ਕਰੋ। ਚੈੱਕਆਊਟ ਪੇਜ 'ਤੇ ਮਿਲਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਆਖਰੀ ਕੀਮਤ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਹੀ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕਰੋ ਕਿ ਡੀਲ ਅਸਲ 'ਚ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਫਾਇਦੇਮੰਦ ਹੈ ਵੀ ਜਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ।

ਆਰਬੀਆਈ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਰੈਪੋ ਰੇਟ ਨੂੰ 5.25 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੋਂ ਵਧਾ ਕੇ 5.5 ਫੀਸਦੀ (0.25% ਜਾਂ 25 ਬੇਸਿਸ ਪੁਆਇੰਟ ਦਾ ਵਾਧਾ) ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਬੈਂਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਫੰਡ ਇਕੱਠਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਮਹਿੰਗਾ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ, ਜਿਸਦੇ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਵਜੋਂ ਉਹ ਘਰੇਲੂ ਕਰਜ਼ਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰਾਂ ਵੀ ਵਧਾਉਣਗੇ। ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ 8.5% ਦੀ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰ 'ਤੇ 20 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਲਈ 30 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦਾ ਘਰੇਲੂ ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਮਹੀਨਾਵਾਰ EMI ਲਗਭਗ 26,035 ਰੁਪਏ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰ ਵਿੱਚ 0.25% ਵਾਧੇ (ਭਾਵ, ਦਰ 8.75% ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ) ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਉਹੀ EMI ਲਗਭਗ 26,511 ਰੁਪਏ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਲਗਭਗ 476 ਰੁਪਏ ਹੋਰ (ਲਗਭਗ 5,712 ਰੁਪਏ ਸਾਲਾਨਾ) ਅਦਾ ਕਰਨੇ ਪੈਣਗੇ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਬੈਂਕ ਅਕਸਰ EMI ਦੀ ਰਕਮ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ ਦੀ ਮਿਆਦ ਵਧਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਗਾਹਕਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਸਮੁੱਚਾ ਵਿਆਜ ਬੋਝ ਵਧਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ 25 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਮਿਆਦ ਅਤੇ 7.50% ਦੀ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰ ਵਾਲੇ 50 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਦੇ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ ਲਈ ਮਹੀਨਾਵਾਰ EMI ਲਗਭਗ 36,950 ਰੁਪਏ ਹੈ। ਜੇਕਰ ਬੈਂਕ ਰੈਪੋ ਰੇਟ ਵਾਧੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਗਾਹਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰਾ ਵਾਧਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਤਾਂ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰ 7.75% ਤੱਕ ਵਧ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਮਹੀਨਾਵਾਰ ਕਿਸ਼ਤ ਲਗਭਗ 817 ਰੁਪਏ ਵੱਧ ਕੇ ਲਗਭਗ 37,767 ਰੁਪਏ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ। ਪੂਰੀ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ ਦੀ ਮਿਆਦ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਵਾਧੂ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਾ ਬੋਝ ਲਗਭਗ 2.45 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੱਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਬੋਝ ਵੱਡੇ ਕਰਜ਼ਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਵੱਡਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਬੈਂਕ ਜਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਮਹੀਨਾਵਾਰ ਕਿਸ਼ਤ ਵਧਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਾਂ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ ਦੀ ਮਿਆਦ ਵਧਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। ਦੋਵਾਂ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ।

ਮੁਦਰਾ ਨੀਤੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੇ ਅਗਸਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੈਪੋ ਦਰ ਨੂੰ 5.25% 'ਤੇ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਬਦਲਾਅ ਦੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ। ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੇ ਮੁਦਰਾਸਫੀਤੀ ਦੇ ਰੁਝਾਨਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟਤਾ ਦੀ ਉਡੀਕ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ। ਵਿਕਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਮੁਦਰਾਸਫੀਤੀ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਸੰਤੁਲਨ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖਣ 'ਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦਾ ਨਿਰਪੱਖ ਰੁਖ਼ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸਥਿਤੀ 'ਤੇ ਨੇੜਿਓਂ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਰੱਖ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

ਰੈਪੋ ਰੇਟ ਉਹ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ 'ਤੇ ਵਪਾਰਕ ਬੈਂਕ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਰਿਜ਼ਰਵ ਬੈਂਕ ਤੋਂ ਪੈਸੇ ਉਧਾਰ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਦਰ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਬੈਂਕਾਂ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਕਰਜ਼ਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਰੈਪੋ ਰੇਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਦਲਾਅ ਘਰੇਲੂ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ, ਆਟੋ ਲੋਨ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਖਪਤਕਾਰ ਕਰਜ਼ੇ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਮਹਿੰਗਾ ਜਾਂ ਸਸਤਾ ਬਣਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਆਮ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਉਦਯੋਗਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਪਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਕੇਂਦਰੀ ਬੈਂਕ ਇਸਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਆਰਬੀਆਈ ਦੀਆਂ ਐਮਪੀਸੀ ਮੀਟਿੰਗਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ, ਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਦਰ 'ਤੇ ਕੇਂਦ੍ਰਿਤ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਜੇਕਰ ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰ ਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਆਰਬੀਆਈ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਘੱਟ ਖਰਚ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਰੈਪੋ ਦਰ ਵਧਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਉੱਚ ਪੱਧਰ 'ਤੇ ਬਣਾਈ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ, ਜਦੋਂ ਅਰਥਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਨੂੰ ਤੇਜ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਵਿਆਜ ਦਰਾਂ ਘਟਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ।

The decision was taken unanimously after the MPC’s three-day meeting held from October 5 to 7. The RBI also changed its policy stance to “calibrated tightening”, indicating that rate cuts are unlikely in the near future.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the decision was mainly driven by the changing inflation outlook, although he said the Indian economy continues to remain strong.

He said inflation is no longer as under control as it was last year. The RBI expects retail inflation to average around 5.8% over the next three quarters, while inflation for the entire financial year is estimated at 4.4%.

Why did the RBI raise the repo rate?

The RBI’s decision comes as global food and energy prices remain high, financial markets face volatility and global financial conditions become tighter.

Malhotra said global economic growth remains stable but is likely to slow this year. Rising food and energy prices are also pushing inflation higher worldwide and encouraging major central banks to tighten monetary policy.

Other concerns include continued uncertainty over global trade, higher bond yields in developed economies and a stronger US dollar, all of which are creating pressure in global financial markets.

The RBI said geopolitical developments have also made the global economic environment challenging.

Despite these concerns, Malhotra said the Indian economy remains resilient, with growth being supported across several sectors.

Inflation remains the main concern

Inflation was a major factor behind the MPC’s decision.

The RBI said inflation expectations have increased and price pressures are spreading to more areas of the economy. However, there is still limited evidence that supply-related price pressures have become a permanent part of companies’ pricing decisions.

The central bank also pointed out that monetary policy takes time to control the wider impact of supply shocks, including their effect on inflation expectations and business pricing.

The MPC therefore decided that adjusting the policy rate was necessary.

The RBI also raised concerns about strong growth in money supply and credit, although it found limited signs that excessive demand was currently driving inflation.

Rate cuts unlikely in the near term

The shift to “calibrated tightening” is significant because it indicates that the RBI is not planning to cut interest rates in the near term.

Malhotra said future decisions will depend on how inflation and economic growth develop. The RBI has not committed to a series of further rate hikes.

He said the next policy move could either be another rate increase or a pause, depending on economic conditions.

The RBI will closely monitor underlying inflation, whether price pressures continue to spread, the broader impact of supply shocks and changes in consumer demand before deciding its next move.

OpenAI ਨੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ‘textGrain’ : ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਨੋਟਸ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਜਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਕੰਮ ਲਈ ChatGPT ਤੋਂ ਲਿਖਵਾਇਆ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਕਾਪੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਵਰਤਦੇ ਹੋ ਤਾਂ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਪਛਾਣਨਾ ਆਸਾਨ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਟੈਕਸਟ AI ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਨਾਲ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ। OpenAI ਨੇ AI ਨਾਲ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਲਈ ‘textGrain’ ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਨਵਾਂ ਅਦਿੱਖ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਸਿਸਟਮ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਹ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਆਮ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਦਿਖਾਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ, ਪਰ ਖਾਸ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਟੂਲ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਮੌਜੂਦਗੀ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ ਕਰ ਸਕਣਗੇ। ਫਿਲਹਾਲ OpenAI ਇਸ ਤਕਨੀਕ ਨੂੰ ਯੂਰਪੀ ਸੰਘ (EU) ਵਿੱਚ ChatGPT ਅਤੇ Codex ਦੇ ਯੋਗ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਆਉਟਪੁੱਟ ’ਤੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

ਆਖਿਰ ਕੀ ਹੈ textGrain?

OpenAI ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ textGrain ਕਿਸੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਦਿਖਾਈ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ, ਵਾਧੂ ਸਪੇਸ ਜਾਂ ਅਜੀਬ ਅੱਖਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜੋੜਦਾ। ਇਸ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ AI ਮਾਡਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਹੁਤ ਛੋਟੇ ਅੰਕੜਾਤਮਕ ਬਦਲਾਅ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਜਦੋਂ AI ਕੋਈ ਵਾਕ ਲਿਖਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਅਗਲੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਲਈ ਕਈ ਸੰਭਾਵਿਤ ਵਿਕਲਪ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ। textGrain ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਦੇ ਪੈਟਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਖਾਸ ਅੰਕੜਾਤਮਕ ਸਿਗਨਲ ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਨਸਾਨ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ’ਤੇ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਪਛਾਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ, ਪਰ OpenAI ਦਾ ਖਾਸ ਡਿਟੈਕਟਰ ਇਸ ਪੈਟਰਨ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਭ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਕਾਪੀ-ਪੇਸਟ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਖਤਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ

textGrain ਦੀ ਖਾਸ ਗੱਲ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਲੁਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਕੈਰੇਕਟਰ ਜਾਂ ਵੱਖਰਾ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਟੋਕਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਜੋੜਦਾ। ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੇ ਅੰਕੜਾਤਮਕ ਪੈਟਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਸ ਲਈ ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ’ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਥਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਜੀ ਥਾਂ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਕਾਪੀ-ਪੇਸਟ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਇਹ ਸਿਗਨਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਖਤਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਹਰ AI-ਜਨਰੇਟਿਡ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ, ਇਹ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ। ਟੈਕਸਟ ਦੀ ਲੰਬਾਈ, ਭਾਸ਼ਾ, ਵਿਸ਼ਾ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਐਡਿਟਿੰਗ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ।

ਕੀ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਯੂਜ਼ਰ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ?

OpenAI ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ textGrain ਡਿਟੈਕਟਰ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਇਹ ਦੱਸਣ ਲਈ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕਿਸੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ OpenAI ਦਾ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਇਹ ਪਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗੇਗਾ ਕਿ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਕਿਸ ਯੂਜ਼ਰ ਨੇ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤਾ, ਕਿਹੜਾ ਪ੍ਰੌਂਪਟ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਜਾਂ ਉਹ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਕਿਸ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਤੋਂ ਆਇਆ। ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗੇਗਾ ਕਿ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਨਸਾਨ ਦਾ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਹੈ ਜਾਂ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਦਾ ਮਾਲਕ ਕੌਣ ਹੈ।

OpenAI ਨੇ textGrain ਦੀਆਂ ਸੀਮਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਣ ਲਈ ਕਈ ਟੈਸਟ ਕੀਤੇ ਹਨ। ਕੰਪਨੀ ਦੇ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਲਗਭਗ 1 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਫਾਲਸ-ਪੌਜ਼ਿਟਿਵ ਰੇਟ ਦੇ ਟੀਚੇ ’ਤੇ ਕਰੀਬ 200 ਟੋਕਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਗਭਗ 80 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਗਿਆ।

ਕਰੀਬ 400 ਟੋਕਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਦਰ ਲਗਭਗ 95 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਰਹੀ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਇਹ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਖਾਸ ਕਿਸਮ ਦੇ ਕੰਟੈਂਟ ’ਤੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਮੁਲਾਂਕਣ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਹਨ।

textGrain ਹਰ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। OpenAI ਦੇ ਟੈਸਟਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਗਣਿਤ ਵਰਗੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਪਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਵਜ੍ਹਾ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਗਣਿਤ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਦਲਣ ਜਾਂ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਲਿਖਣ ਦੀ ਗੁੰਜਾਇਸ਼ ਆਮ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਘੱਟ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਕਾਰਨ AI ਲਈ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਸਿਗਨਲ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਵੀ ਘੱਟ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।

OpenAI ਦੇ ਟੈਸਟਾਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਜੇਕਰ AI ਵੱਲੋਂ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਬਦਲੇ ਜਾਣ ਤਾਂ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ। ਕਰੀਬ 400 ਟੋਕਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ 10 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਾਨ ਅਰਥ ਵਾਲੇ ਹੋਰ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਬਦਲਣ ’ਤੇ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਲਗਭਗ 92 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੋਂ ਘਟ ਕੇ 66 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਰਹਿ ਗਿਆ। ਜਦੋਂ 25 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਬਦਲੇ ਗਏ ਤਾਂ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਲਗਭਗ 17 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੱਕ ਡਿੱਗ ਗਿਆ।

ਜੇਕਰ AI ਨਾਲ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤੇ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਨੁਵਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਦੀ ਪਛਾਣ ਕਰਨਾ ਵੀ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਛੋਟਾ ਟੈਕਸਟ, ਭਾਰੀ ਐਡਿਟਿੰਗ, ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ AI ਮਾਡਲ ਨਾਲ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਕੰਟੈਂਟ ਜਾਂ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਵੀ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਨਾ ਮਿਲਣ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਮਤਲਬ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਿ ਟੈਕਸਟ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਤੌਰ ’ਤੇ ਇਨਸਾਨ ਨੇ ਹੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਹੈ।

OpenAI ਆਪਣੇ textGrain ਡਿਟੈਕਟਰ ਨੂੰ ਫਿਲਹਾਲ ਆਮ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਜਾਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ। ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ ਖੋਜਕਰਤਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਹਿਰ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਅਰਜ਼ੀਆਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਹੀ ਹੈ।

ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰਸ਼ੁਦਾ ਖੋਜਕਰਤਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਹਿਰ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੇਸ-ਦਰ-ਕੇਸ ਆਧਾਰ ’ਤੇ ਐਕਸੈੱਸ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਵਾਟਰਮਾਰਕ ਡਿਟੈਕਸ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਾਲਸ-ਪੌਜ਼ਿਟਿਵ ਅਤੇ ਫਾਲਸ-ਨੈਗੇਟਿਵ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ।

The latest hike comes at a time when rising global energy prices are putting pressure on fuel retailers. Nayara operates more than 7,100 fuel stations across India.

According to the report published in the columns of The Tribune, the company began applying the higher prices from the early hours of Saturday. The retailer has made several price adjustments this year as international crude oil prices and geopolitical developments have affected fuel markets.

Nayara had also raised petrol prices by Rs 5 per litre and diesel by Rs 3 per litre in March amid a sharp rise in global oil prices linked to disruptions in energy supplies.

The company later rolled back that increase after international crude prices eased. On July 1, Nayara cut petrol and diesel prices by ₹5 and ₹3 per litre, respectively.

The latest increase comes as global crude prices remain under pressure from tensions in West Asia. Indian fuel retailers have been facing higher input costs as international oil prices have climbed in recent weeks.

Nayara had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the report.

The latest move could add to concerns over fuel costs for consumers, particularly if elevated global oil prices continue for an extended period.

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Gold falls Rs 8,000 in September

Gold prices have declined by around Rs 8,000 so far this month. On August 31, 24-carat gold was priced at about Rs 1.56 lakh per 10 gram. It has now come down to around Rs 1.48 lakh.

Silver has also seen a major correction during September. Its price has fallen by nearly Rs 14,000 per kg, from around Rs 2.37 lakh on August 31 to Rs 2.23 lakh now.

Will gold and silver prices fall further?

Experts expect prices to remain volatile in the near term. Changes in US interest rates, global tensions and economic uncertainty can influence demand for gold and silve

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The Indian stock market extended its losing streak on Monday, with the benchmark indices falling sharply amid heavy selling pressure.

The Sensex dropped 1,124 points, or 1.52%, to close at 72,772, while the Nifty fell 360 points, or 1.56%, ending the session at 22,780.

The decline came as investors remained cautious amid rising global tensions, higher crude oil prices and increasing US bond yields.

Investors lose over Rs 7 lakh crore

The sharp fall in equities wiped out more than Rs 7 lakh crore in investor wealth during the session.

The combined market capitalisation of companies listed on the BSE was around Rs 482 lakh crore at Friday's close. It fell to nearly Rs 475 lakh crore on Monday.

The market has now recorded losses for the eighth consecutive week, reflecting continued pressure on Indian equities.

Three major reasons behind the market fall

Growing uncertainty in global markets is weighing on investor sentiment. There are still concerns over the possibility of an early agreement between the US and Iran, while tensions between Russia and Ukraine have also increased.

Continued geopolitical uncertainty is making investors more cautious about taking fresh positions in equities.

Secondly, crude oil prices have once again moved above $105 a barrel, adding to concerns for oil-importing countries such as India. The ongoing uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies, has kept Brent crude prices around the $105-$106 per barrel range.

Thirdly, the 10-year US Treasury yield has risen to 5.11%, its highest level since 2007, according to the figures cited in the market assessment.

Bond yield refers to the return an investor earns from holding a government bond. It is influenced by market demand and supply rather than being directly fixed by a single institution. When investors sell bonds, their prices generally fall, causing yields to rise. US Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions and inflation expectations are among the key factors that influence Treasury yields.

Under the new rules, Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) will have to offer more recharge plans that include only voice calling and SMS without mobile data. These plans will also have to be priced lower than similar plans that come with data.

The move is expected to help people who do not regularly use mobile Internet. This includes senior citizens, low-income users and people who mostly use Wi-Fi for Internet access.

What has TRAI changed?

Telecom companies will now have to provide voice-and-SMS-only plans for every validity period of 30 days or less where they already offer bundled plans with calls, SMS and data.

The price of these voice-and-SMS-only plans must also be reduced appropriately compared with the corresponding plans that include data.

TRAI has also made a monthly recharge option mandatory. Operators must offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only plan that can be renewed on the same date every month.

If that date is not available in a particular month, the recharge should be allowed on the last day of that month.

Apart from this, telecom companies will have to provide at least one longer-validity voice-and-SMS-only voucher corresponding to their longer-validity bundled plans.

Why did TRAI bring in these rules?

TRAI said it found that telecom companies offered only a limited number of voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs). Most of these were available for longer validity periods.

This meant that users looking for cheaper plans for shorter periods had fewer choices.

TRAI released the draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, for public consultation on April 7, 2026.

The regulator received 1,132 responses from stakeholders and also held an Open House Discussion on June 15. After considering the feedback and carrying out its own analysis, TRAI finalised the amendment.

How will mobile users benefit?

The new rules could make prepaid recharges more flexible for people who do not need mobile data.

For example, a person who mainly uses their phone for calls and SMS and gets internet access through Wi-Fi can now choose a voice-and-SMS-only recharge instead of paying for data they may not use.

The actual savings, however, will depend on the prices of the new plans introduced by individual telecom operators.

The monthly-renewal option could also make recharging easier to track, as users can renew their plans on the same date each month instead of dealing with shorter validity cycles.

Will users need to recharge less often?

Not necessarily. Many prepaid plans currently come with 28-day validity instead of a full calendar month. This can mean that users need 13 recharges in a year to maintain continuous service. For example, if a Rs 299 plan has 28-day validity, 13 recharges would cost Rs 3,887.

If a Rs 299 plan had 30-day validity, 12 recharges would cost Rs 3,588 over 360 days.

This is only an example and assumes that the price of the plan remains the same.

TRAI's new amendment does not require telecom companies to convert all existing 28-day plans into 30-day plans. The main focus is to increase the availability of voice-and-SMS-only plans, provide a monthly-renewal option and ensure that such plans are priced appropriately.

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The BSE Sensex fell 632.68 points to 74,189.55 in early trading, while the NSE Nifty dropped 216.15 points to 23,222.55.

The fall came even as international oil prices eased slightly. Brent crude was trading around $102.20 a barrel, remaining above the closely watched $100 level.

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Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv among major losers

Several major stocks were under pressure during early trading. Bajaj Finance was among the biggest losers on the Sensex, falling 4.75 per cent. Bajaj Finserv declined 3.49 per cent.

Shares of Axis Bank, InterGlobe Aviation, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank also traded lower.

However, the market was not entirely in the red. Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, HCL Technologies, ICICI Bank and Tata Consultancy Services were among the stocks showing gains.

Global markets also remain under pressure

The weakness in Indian equities came against a mixed trend across Asian markets. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading higher, while China's Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng were in negative territory.

US markets also ended lower on Wednesday, adding to the cautious mood among investors.

According to stock exchange data, foreign institutional investors remained net buyers on Wednesday, purchasing shares worth Rs 1,617.45 crore.

The Sensex had gained 299.17 points in the previous session to close at 74,828.25, while the Nifty ended 117.80 points higher at 23,446.80.

Rupee falls to 95.84 against US dollar

The Indian rupee also weakened on Thursday, slipping 11 paise to 95.84 against the US dollar in early trading.

Currency traders said the jump in crude oil prices, along with geopolitical uncertainty and a stronger US dollar, was putting pressure on the domestic currency.

The rupee had closed at 95.73 per dollar on Wednesday. It had gained 16 paise in the previous session.

The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six major global currencies, was up 0.06 per cent at 100.87.

Brent crude futures were down nearly 1 per cent but continued to trade at elevated levels of around $102.08 per barrel.

As selling intensified in the domestic market, the Sensex was down 506.43 points at 74,321.82, while the Nifty was lower by 181 points at 23,266.15.

NSE shares make a positive debut

While the broader market was under pressure, shares of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) made a positive debut on Thursday.

The stock was listed at Rs 1,800 per share, compared with its issue price of Rs 1,785, marking a gain of 0.84 per cent.

On the BSE, the shares opened at Rs 1,800 and later climbed to Rs 1,845, up 3.36 per cent from the issue price.

At that level, NSE's market valuation stood at around Rs 4.53 lakh crore.

NSE IPO gets strong investor response

The NSE's Rs 22,569 crore IPO received strong demand and was subscribed nearly six times by the end of bidding.

The issue was India's second-largest IPO, behind Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870 crore offering in 2024.

It also surpassed the Rs 21,000 crore LIC IPO launched in 2022.

The NSE IPO had a price band of Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,785 per share, with institutional investors providing significant support during the subscription period.

Adani’s family wealth increased by 13% to Rs 9.23 lakh crore, while Ambani’s wealth declined by 10% to Rs 8.63 lakh crore. The difference between the two fortunes now stands at around Rs 59,400 crore.

The latest ranking also shows a sharp rise in the number of wealthy Indians, with the country now having a record 391 dollar billionaires.

Adani regains top spot

Adani had moved ahead of Ambani in earlier editions of the ranking before losing the top position again. The latest figures put him back at No. 1.

The Hurun report noted that the two business families have repeatedly exchanged positions over the past five years. Adani’s wealth has also seen significant swings during this period, reaching Rs 11.62 lakh crore in 2024, before falling and then recovering to the latest figure.

Ambani’s wealth, meanwhile, had climbed steadily over the past decade, reaching Rs 10.15 lakh crore in 2024, but has declined over the last two editions of the list.

LN Mittal makes a big jump

Lakshmi Niwas Mittal and his family recorded one of the biggest gains among the country's wealthiest business families. Their wealth nearly doubled, rising 93% to Rs 3.39 lakh crore, putting them in third place. The increase came amid stronger European steel prices and protection measures supporting the steel industry.

Cyrus Poonawalla and family, known for the Serum Institute of India, remained in fourth position with wealth of Rs 3.03 lakh crore, up 23%.

Roshni Nadar remains richest Indian woman

Roshni Nadar Malhotra and family moved to fifth place with wealth of Rs 2.79 lakh crore, despite slipping two positions in the overall ranking. She continues to be the richest Indian woman listed by Hurun.

Kumar Mangalam Birla and family ranked sixth with Rs 2.69 lakh crore, followed by Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries with Rs 2.65 lakh crore.

Azim Premji and family stood eighth with Rs 2.63 lakh crore after recording a 19% rise in wealth.

Agarwal, Mehta enter Top 10

Anil Agarwal and family entered the top 10 at ninth position after their wealth rose 87% to Rs 2.08 lakh crore.

Samir Mehta and family completed the top 10 with wealth of Rs 1.89 lakh crore, marking a 52% increase. The rise was linked to developments at Torrent Pharmaceuticals, including the completion of the JB Chemicals merger.

Hurun's long-term data shows that both Agarwal and Mehta have climbed substantially over the past decade. Their fortunes have increased about 12 times and 7.6 times respectively since 2017.

India now has 391 dollar billionaires

The 2026 Hurun list shows a continued expansion of India's wealthy population. The number of people with wealth of at least Rs 1,000 crore increased to 1,810, up by 128 from the previous year. Their combined wealth rose 12.8% to Rs 187.5 lakh crore, equivalent to around $1.96 trillion.

India also added 27 new dollar billionaires, taking the total to a record 391. Five years ago, the figure stood at 237.

Technology creates a new group of wealthy entrepreneurs

Technology is increasingly changing the composition of India's rich list. For the first time, artificial intelligence was listed as a separate sector in the ranking. Nineteen people linked to the sector entered the list, with their combined wealth estimated at Rs 3.07 lakh crore.

Bengaluru-based QpiAi founder Nagendra Nagaraja became the first person from the quantum-computing sector to appear on the list, with wealth estimated at Rs 1,700 crore.

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Entrepreneurs made up about 70% of the list, with 1,266 self-made individuals. That compares with 55% five years ago.

Industrial products had the highest number of entrants at 166, followed by chemicals with 142 and pharmaceuticals with 136.

Mumbai leads as India's wealth hub

Mumbai continues to have the largest concentration of wealthy individuals in the country, with 465 people on the list. New Delhi followed with 236, while Bengaluru had 129.

Women accounted for 131 entries, including 33 dollar billionaires. Roshni Nadar Malhotra and her family remained at the top among India's wealthiest women.

Young entrepreneurs and fastest wealth creators

Some of the biggest percentage gains came from younger and newer entrepreneurs.

Aditya Kumar Halwasiya of Cupid recorded the fastest wealth growth, with his fortune increasing 859% to Rs 18,800 crore. Kaivalya Vohra, co-founder of quick-commerce company Zepto, was the youngest person on the list at 23, followed by fellow co-founder Aadit Palicha, aged 24.

The Hurun report also said fortunes of listed companies and individuals increased at an average rate equivalent to around Rs 5,833 crore a day during the period covered by the 2026 ranking.

US District Judge Zachary M Bluestone handed down the sentence on September 15. The court also ordered Jawahar, 38, to pay $31.35 million in restitution to the victims, according to the US Department of Justice.

Jawahar pleaded guilty in January 2026 to three counts of wire fraud. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

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Jawahar was the head of Swiftarc Capital, a Texas-based investment company. According to federal prosecutors, he initially invested clients’ money across different securities. However, beginning in 2015, he started putting client funds into a single investment, Philip Morris Pakistan.

Over time, about 99% of the money managed for clients was concentrated in that investment. When its value declined, prosecutors said Jawahar did not disclose the losses to investors. Instead, he continued giving them false information about the performance of their investments.

Investors were also allegedly told that their money had been invested in particular companies or funds when, in several cases, the promised investments had not been made.

How the $35 million Ponzi scheme worked

Federal prosecutors said that between July 2016 and December 2023, Jawahar collected more than $35 million from investors through Swiftarc-related entities. Only about $10 million was actually invested.

According to the Justice Department, money from newer investors was used to make payments to earlier investors, a pattern commonly associated with Ponzi schemes.

Prosecutors also said Jawahar used investor money to support an expensive lifestyle. His spending included private-jet travel, luxury apartments in Austin and New York, private club memberships, expensive clothing and high-end restaurant outings.

Travis Kelce named among the victims

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was identified in court as one of the investors who fell victim to the scheme.

Kelce has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case. His investment amount and the precise financial loss he suffered have not been publicly disclosed.

The NFL star had earlier been reported as an investor in a fund linked to Jawahar’s investment business. His identification as a victim places the case in the spotlight because of his profile in American sports.

Alleged attempts to obstruct the investigation

The case also involved allegations that Jawahar attempted to interfere with the investigation after he was indicted.

According to the Justice Department, he tried to influence a victim into providing a favourable statement to the FBI. Prosecutors also said he lied about his immigration status and financial situation and asked his sister to remotely wipe his iPhone, allegedly to conceal evidence.

$31.35 million restitution ordered

Along with the 11-year federal prison sentence, the court ordered Jawahar to pay $31.35 million to the victims.

The Justice Department said the judge considered the substantial financial losses and the length of the fraud when determining the sentence. Jawahar's guilty plea to three wire-fraud charges came in January 2026.

All board members supported the resolution, except Noel Tata, who voted against Chandrasekaran’s reappointment. This makes Noel Tata the only board member to oppose his continuation.

The decision comes days after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rejected Tata Sons’ request to give up its registration as a core investment company. The move has brought Tata Sons closer to a possible stock market listing under RBI rules.

Chandrasekaran’s current term is scheduled to end in February 2027. The reasons for the change in his decision were not immediately known.

Chandrasekaran earlier decided to step down

On August 12, Chandrasekaran had informed the Tata Sons board that he would not seek another term after his current tenure ends on February 20, 2027.

His decision came after months of uncertainty over his continuation. At a board meeting in February 2026, a proposal to give him another five-year term did not receive unanimous support. Chandrasekaran later deferred the decision, but said in August that six months had passed without a resolution.

His decision led to the beginning of a succession process. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust said it would set up a selection committee to recommend his successor.

Reports at the time suggested that Chandrasekaran and the Tata Trusts had differences over several issues. The trusts control around 66% of Tata Sons.

The reported disagreements involved corporate governance, allocation of capital, the performance of some newer businesses and the future ownership structure of Tata Sons. Whether Tata Sons would remain unlisted was also a key issue.

The situation became more complicated due to uncertainty over Tata Sons’ regulatory status and the possibility that it could be required to list on the stock market.

Chandrasekaran’s decision also came shortly before Tata Sons’ annual general meeting. The meeting was later adjourned after the two main Tata Trusts failed to jointly nominate a representative.

RBI decision brings back issue to focus

The latest reversal comes after the RBI rejected Tata Sons’ request to surrender its core investment company status.

Tata Sons had applied in March 2024 to exit the regulatory framework after repaying more than Rs 21,000 crore in debt and strengthening its financial position. The company wanted to avoid the stock market listing requirement applicable to upper-layer NBFCs.

With the RBI rejecting its request, the possibility of Tata Sons being required to list on the stock market has once again become a key issue.

The new rule applies only to merchant payments, meaning payments made by customers to shops, businesses or service providers. Regular UPI transfers between two individuals will remain free, regardless of the amount.

The changes come after the Centre announced that UPI transactions of up to Rs 2,000 would continue to have zero MDR.

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Under the new system, UPI merchant payments up to Rs 2,000 will have zero MDR.

Merchant payments above Rs 2,000 will attract an MDR of 0.4%.

UPI payments between two people will remain completely free.

For transactions of Rs 75,000 or more, the MDR will be capped at Rs 300 per transaction.

The charge will be divided among banks, payment apps and other companies involved in processing the payment.

What is MDR?

MDR stands for Merchant Discount Rate. It is a small processing fee charged to a merchant when a customer makes a digital payment. In simple terms, when you pay a shopkeeper digitally, the payment system may charge the shopkeeper a small amount for processing the transaction.

Customers usually do not pay MDR directly. However, in some payment systems, merchants may pass the cost on to customers.

UPI had no MDR since 2020

UPI payments have been free of MDR since 2020. The policy was introduced to encourage people and businesses to move away from cash and use digital payments. The latest decision changes that arrangement for larger merchant transactions, while keeping smaller UPI merchant payments free.

Special MDR for some sectors

The government has also introduced different charges for certain categories.

Payments above Rs 2,000 in sectors such as railways, telecom, insurance and fuel will attract a flat MDR of Rs 5 per transaction.

For payments related to mutual funds, securities, stock brokers and dealers, the MDR will be much lower at 0.02%, with a maximum charge of Rs 300. 

Small vendors will continue to get relief

Small businesses and street vendors have been given special protection under the new rules. UPI QR-code transactions of up to Rs 1 lakh per month under the Person-to-Person-Merchant (P2PM) category will continue to have zero MDR.

The move is aimed at helping small and informal businesses adopt digital payments without facing additional costs.

What does this mean for ordinary UPI users?

For most people, the biggest point to remember is simple: sending money to another person through UPI will remain free.

If you pay a shop or business, payments up to Rs 2,000 will also continue without MDR. The new 0.4% MDR applies to merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, with specific rules and caps for certain sectors and transaction amounts.

The changes are mainly aimed at how larger merchant payments are processed and how the cost is shared across the digital payments ecosystem.

A government notification issued by the Finance Ministry has classified RuPay debit card payments and UPI transactions up to ₹2,000 as electronic modes of payment. It states that banks and payment system providers cannot impose any direct or indirect charges on people making or receiving payments through these methods.

The clarification has been issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, to set out the rules regarding charges on such digital payments.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 10 A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (51 of 2007), the Central Government hereby specifies the following electronic modes of payment, namely:– (i) Debit Card powered by RuPay; and (ii) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions upto Rs. 2,000. No bank or system provider shall impose, whether directly or indirectly, any charge upon a person making or receiving a payment by using the electronic modes of payment specified in paragraph above," the Finance Ministry said in an official notification.

Under Section 10A of the Act, banks and system providers are prohibited from charging users for RuPay debit card transactions and UPI payments of up to ₹2,000.

The move comes after the government recently indicated that it could allow a small Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain UPI merchant transactions above a specified limit. However, consumers and person-to-person UPI payments are expected to remain free.

The government said the proposed changes are part of efforts to make India’s digital payment system more sustainable and competitive while supporting the country’s growing digital economy.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier clarified that MDR applies to merchants, not customers. She said such charges would help banks and fintech companies invest in digital payment infrastructure and security.

In past years, Apple usually dropped prices on its older phones once a new lineup arrived. Not this time. Blame it on the global shortage of DRAM chips and flash storage, which has pushed up costs across the board. Apple actually raised prices on the iPhone 16, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air, with hikes ranging from Rs 15,000 to as much as Rs 65,000. On top of that, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have been quietly discontinued from Apple's own lineup.

That's where Croma comes in. The retailer still has good stock of the 17 Pro models and is running some steep discounts to clear it.

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The 17 Pro's official MRP on Croma's website is Rs 1,26,490 for the 256GB version and Rs 1,45,990 for the 512GB version, and both prices already include a Rs 4,000 cashback starting September 15.

But the real deal is in the fine print. If you stack the credit card cashback with an exchange offer, things get interesting. Trade in an older phone and you could get up to Rs 44,500 off, plus an extra exchange bonus of up to Rs 12,000.

Do the math and the 256GB variant can come down to as little as Rs 69,990, while the 512GB version effectively costs around Rs 88,490.

So, is the 17 Pro worth buying right now?

At under Rs 90,000, it's hard to argue against it. You're still getting the A19 Pro chip, which holds its own against and in many cases beats the processors in most flagship Android phones. The triple camera setup remains one of the best in its class and Apple's software support is long-term: expect security updates and patches all the way to 2031.

There's also iOS 27 landing this week, bringing better photography tools, a reworked Siri with Apple Intelligence baked in, new productivity features and added child safety controls.

What if you want the newer phones instead?

Croma is also letting people pre-book the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, Watch Series 12, Ultra 4 and AirPods 5, with cashback offers and EMI plans through select bank partners. You can walk into a Croma store and reserve any of these with just a Rs 5,000 token amount and there's an exchange bonus of up to Rs 12,000 on old devices too.

Here's how the new iPhones are priced:

iPhone 18 Pro

256GB — Rs 1,64,900

512GB — Rs 1,89,900

1TB — Rs 2,39,900

2TB — Rs 3,14,900

iPhone 18 Pro Max

256GB — Rs 1,79,900

512GB — Rs 2,04,900

1TB — Rs 2,54,900

2TB — Rs 3,29,900

And if you're waiting for something even newer, Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, opens for pre-order on October 16 and hits stores on October 23. Pricing for that one:

iPhone Duo

256GB — Rs 2,99,900

512GB — Rs 3,34,900

1TB — Rs 3,74,900

2TB — Rs 4,49,900

Bottom line: if you don't need the absolute latest hardware, the 17 Pro deal at Croma is one of the better value buys right now. But if you've got deep pockets and want to be first in line for what's new, the 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max or even the Duo pre-order are already open.