Author: Legal Parivar

The Finance Ministry on Friday proposed a simplified two-tier GST structure featuring a ‘standard’ and ‘merit’ slab, along with special rates for select goods. This overhaul would replace the current 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% rates. The proposal has been sent to the Group of Ministers (GoM) and will be discussed at the upcoming GST Council meeting next month. The announcement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement earlier in the day that the government will roll out “next-generation GST reforms” by Diwali, promising substantial tax relief for the common man and benefits for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Key Focus…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana — a ₹1 lakh crore scheme aimed at creating employment opportunities for India’s youth. Under the scheme, first-time employees in the private sector will receive ₹15,000 from the government as an incentive. Companies generating new jobs will also get financial incentives, though the exact amount for employers has not yet been disclosed. The initiative is expected to benefit over 3.5 crore young people across the country. Who Can Apply? Benefits for Employees According…

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, is preparing for the grand celebration of Shri Krishna Janmotsav, with authorities expecting more than five million devotees to visit between Friday and Saturday. Pilgrims from across the country will flock to key temples, including the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex, Banke Bihari Temple, and Dwarkadheesh Temple, The Times of India reported. The district has been divided into multiple sectors and zones for better crowd management, with over 3,000 police personnel deployed. The Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) will also monitor social media to prevent any untoward incidents. “We hope pilgrims have a smooth and safe experience,” said…

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday announced a uniform application fee of ₹100 for the preliminary stage of all competitive examinations in the state, with no fee to be charged for the mains. The move is expected to ease the financial burden on lakhs of job aspirants ahead of the upcoming state elections. The announcement follows a major pre-election promise made on July 17, when Kumar declared that eligible domestic consumers in Bihar would receive up to 125 units of electricity free every month from August 1, 2025. The scheme is set to benefit nearly 1.67 crore households. “We…

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska for their first face-to-face talks since Trump’s return to the White House. The meeting came amid uncertainty over Trump’s push for a Ukraine ceasefire and a last-minute offer from Putin to negotiate a new nuclear arms control agreement. Trump, who had once claimed he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, admitted on Thursday that the three-and-a-half-year conflict had proven far more complex. He suggested that, if his talks with Putin went well, a three-way summit with Ukrainian…

In his Independence Day 2025 address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ambitious Sudarshan Chakra Mission, aimed at expanding, strengthening, and modernising India’s national security shield and developing powerful indigenous weapon systems capable of neutralising enemy threats and delivering decisive counter-strikes. Drawing inspiration from Lord Krishna on the eve of Janmashtami, PM Modi said India had chosen the path of the legendary Sudarshan Chakra—a disc-shaped celestial weapon mentioned in Hindu scriptures and traditionally associated with Lord Vishnu and his incarnation, Lord Krishna. In modern India, the term “Sudarshan Chakra” has also inspired the armed forces. It…

The 107th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Tata Sons marked a notable shift in shareholder relations as the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, which holds an 18.37% stake in the Tata group’s holding company, voted in favour of all resolutions—unlike in previous years, when it either abstained or opposed certain proposals. Key approvals included: This was the first AGM since the passing of Ratan Tata in October 2024. Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother and chairman of Tata Trusts (holding 66% in Tata Sons), attended along with his children Leah, Maya, and Neville. The meeting, led by chairman N Chandrasekaran, lasted only…

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has announced the launch of a FASTag Annual Pass for private vehicles, effective 15 August, offering significant savings for frequent highway travellers. What is the FASTag Annual Pass? The FASTag Annual Pass allows private vehicles—such as cars, jeeps, and vans—to travel toll-free through designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas for one year or up to 200 trips, whichever comes first.Unlike the standard FASTag system where toll charges are deducted per trip, this pass provides unlimited convenience within its validity limits. FASTag Annual Pass Price FASTag Annual Pass Validity Important…

On the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day (15 August 2025), Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the historic Red Fort in New Delhi after hoisting the Tricolour. This was PM Modi’s first Independence Day speech after “Operation Sindoor”—India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in May 2025, carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Delivering what is being reported as his longest-ever Independence Day address—lasting approximately 103 minutes—PM Modi made several major policy announcements and strategic declarations. Top 5 Announcements from…

Brainbees Solutions, the parent company of leading mother and baby care retailer FirstCry, announced that its material subsidiary, GlobalBees Brands Pvt Ltd, has acquired an additional 10% stake in Cloud Lifestyle Pvt Ltd for ₹60.29 lakh. With this transaction, Cloud Lifestyle, known for its personal care, beauty, and wellness products, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of GlobalBees. According to a company filing, the acquisition, completed on August 14, 2025, was executed through a cash transaction as part of an earlier investment agreement dated November 12, 2021. Founded in 2017, Cloud Lifestyle reported a turnover of ₹55.35 crore in FY25, marking…