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In the draft Income Tax Rules, 2026, they have proposed significant changes to the way the taxable value of motor vehicles is calculated.  How Did This Happen? So far, they have introduced several revisions  in the valuation of perquisites where an employer provides a car to an employee.  Moving ahead, these changes are approved by Parliament, they will apply under both the old and new tax regimes, since they relate to the valuation of salary-related perks irrespective of the regime opted for. It is mainly affecting the categories where the perquisite value has been increased. The  employees will end up paying higher income tax, as the revised value of the perk will be added to their salary income and taxed accordingly. For understanding this, let’s consider an example of an employer providing a car for both official and personal use and the employee bears the fuel and maintenance costs, the taxable perquisite value has been sharply revised.  Here, for a car with an engine capacity of less than 1.6 litres, the taxable value was Rs 600 per month earlier but this has been increased to Rs 2,000 per month under the draft rules. This changes according to the capacity, for…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Recently listed media SaaS company Amagi recorded a 292% jump in its net profit after tax (PAT) for the December…

Official data indicates the cumulative loss of Indian airlines stood at Rs 5,289.73 crore in the last financial year, with Air India Group alone accounting for Rs 9,808.12 crore of the total loss. Air India Reporting The Largest Loss  Air India appears to be on the track to record its largest annual loss since the Tata Group took control, as per the media report. All is not bad as 4 out of 11 operators had reported profit including the IndiGo, Blue Dart, Star Air and IndiaOne Air.  This data came into picture as it was provided as part of a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol. As per this data, Air India and Air India Express recorded a loss of Rs 3,975.75 crore and Rs 5,832.37 crore, respectively. Similarly, Akasa Air also reported a loss of Rs 1,986.25 crore for the FY 2024-25. Moving ahead, the State-owned Alliance Air’s loss was at Rs 691.12 crore and SpiceJet’s losses stood at Rs 55.67 crore in the last fiscal.  Besides these, the list of other loss-making operators include Fly91 (Rs 67.65 crore) and Quikjet Cargo (Rs 1.34 crore). Contrary to this,…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

While accelerating the use of artificial intelligence and automation across its operations, Ola has surrendered more than 1.7 lakh sq ft of leased office space in Bengaluru, said the people familiar with this development. AI Automation Affecting Office Space Lease In Bangalore  The above mentioned space includes 1.12 lakh sq ft of office space which was earlier leased in 2023 across the 7th and 8th floors of Prestige RMZ Star Tech in Koramangala for ₹1.4 crore monthly rent. For this office space, the lease commenced in April 2023 which was initially leased for five years, with a security deposit of ₹8.4 crore, as per the registration documents accessed by Propstack showed. Now the remaining leased space for Ola sprawls around 60,000 sq ft at Infozone in Electronic City, as the company leased multiple spaces between 2021 and 2022, as per the documents accessed by Propstack. It appears that the online cab service provider runs its battery innovation centre in this space, said the sources. Further adding, “The company has automated several processes. Once automation is in place, fewer employees are required, reducing the need for office space. For instance, multiple call centre offices are no longer needed as these functions…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

When it comes to the Mumbai Railways, they are the heartline of Mumbai and are used by lakhs of commuters every single day, being the primary mode of travel across the city.  The suburban railway network keeps Mumbai moving, be it be office-goers and students to small business owners, everyone uses them. Central Railway Working On Improving Punctuality of Local Train Services The Central Railway has recently introduced a key operational change focused on improving the punctuality of local train services, a move which is aimed at easing daily travel and reducing peak-hour stress. It appears that the long-distance express trains will no longer be allowed to enter suburban railway corridors during peak hours as per this new directive. With this decision, they are planning to ensure that local trains operate on time without interruptions caused by the movement of express services on the same tracks said the railway officials. When it comes to the, express and suburban trains they have often shared tracks during rush hours, leading to congestion and frequent delays.  Basically this overlap leads to the slow down of local trains, triggering overcrowding on platforms and inside coaches.  Moving ahead, Central Railway expects smoother movement of local…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

D2C home appliance brand Nester has raised ₹19 Cr (around $2 Mn) in a Pre-Series A funding round led by…

The Bengaluru Hotel Owners’ Association is exploring the idea of introducing a penalty mechanism for customers who occupy tables for long stretches of time after placing very small orders, arguing that such behavior is hurting business revenues. Bengaluru Hotel Owners Consider Penalty for Customers Who Occupy Tables After Minimal Orders Hotel operators across Bengaluru, especially small and mid-sized establishments, have observed an increasing pattern of customers lingering for hours after ordering only items like tea, coffee, or light snacks. Many of these customers reportedly use hotel seating areas as informal meeting spaces, holding extended discussions that take up tables and contribute to overcrowding. The association believes this practice has a direct impact on daily earnings, particularly during peak business hours when other paying customers struggle to find available seating because tables remain occupied for too long. Several hotel owners have formally reached out to the association, asking it to take prompt action to safeguard their commercial interests and prevent further financial strain. Proposal Suggests Table Usage Fee for Customers Who Linger After Small Orders Under the proposal being discussed, customers who remain seated for extended periods after making minimal purchases could be required to pay a fee for table usage,…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation is working on a new mobile application that will let members transfer their EPF savings directly into their bank accounts using the UPI system. EPFO Develops New Mobile App to Enable Direct EPF Withdrawals via UPI This upcoming app, which is expected to be introduced around April 2026, is designed to make it easier for millions of subscribers to access their provident fund money, according to a report by Press Trust of India citing a senior source. Through the new platform, users will be able to check their eligible EPF balance and move funds instantly via UPI, eliminating many of the delays associated with the current withdrawal process. The initiative is part of a larger digital revamp referred to as EPFO 3.0, aimed at simplifying withdrawal procedures, improving transparency, and cutting down claim settlement times. At present, the system is being tested using dummy accounts so that technical issues can be detected and resolved before it is launched nationwide. The organisation has already raised the auto-settlement limit to ₹5 lakh, which is expected to speed up claim approvals once the UPI-based withdrawal feature becomes operational. New EPFO App to Offer Aadhaar Verification, Claim Tracking, and…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Omnichannel eyewear retailer Lenskart on Wednesday reported a 70% jump in net profit in Q3 FY26 and a robust 38% surge in topline, helped by a strong traction from its international business and high volume growth. The NCR-based company clocked an operating revenue of Rs 2,307.7 crore, up 38% from Rs 1,668 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Sequentially, its topline improved from Rs 2,096 crore recorded in the September quarter, according to an exchange filing. During the third quarter, Lenskart saw its profit improve multifold to Rs 132.7 crore. On a sequential basis, the improvement was much smaller, as its after-tax profit grew by about 28% from Rs 103.4 crore in the September quarter. The company's latest global bet has also shown buoyant results, with revenue from its international operations growing 40% to Rs 936 crore. This segment, which turned profitable last quarter, clocked Rs 32.5 crore in profits in the December quarter. In its previous quarter, the company had outlined that sustained profitability in this segment is driven by healthy product margins—which are historically higher in international markets than in India—combined with the maturing of earlier store cohorts and a reduction in capital expenditure per…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

For years, credit cards in India were seen as a financial tool reserved for salaried professionals. But that perception is fast changing. Today, a growing number of young Indians, especially college students, are using student credit cards not just to manage everyday expenses, but to also start building a credit history even before they land their first job.With banks introducing student-friendly credit cards that come with low barriers to entry, zero annual fees, and controlled limits, credit is becoming an early financial learning tool rather than a post-employment privilege.At their core, credit cards offer two things students increasingly value: convenience and rewards. Cashback, discounts, and merchant offers make them attractive alternatives to cash or UPI for regular spending. More importantly, when used responsibly, they help establish a credit score, an asset that plays a critical role later when applying for education loans, personal loans, or even rental agreements.Benefits beyond building a credit score Student credit cards today go beyond credit history building. Products like the IDFC FIRST WOW! Credit Card offer features such as zero joining and annual fees, interest-free cash withdrawals for up to 45 days, and rewards on everyday spending. Because the card is backed by a fixed…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed