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In a major income tax relief move, the Indian government is planning to expand the House Rent Allowance (HRA) exemption, extending the 50% exemption benefit to select metro cities and newly categorized urban areas. This proposal could provide significant tax savings to millions of salaried taxpayers living in high-cost urban centres, especially where rental costs have surged in recent years. If implemented, the expanded HRA rules are expected to come into effect in the coming financial year — giving employees greater relief on taxable income and increasing disposable income for workers in expensive metropolitan regions. What the Proposed HRA Expansion Means for Taxpayers Under the current income tax rules, salaried taxpayers can claim HRA exemption on rent paid, but the benefit is limited to a percentage of basic salary and depends on the city of residence. Traditionally, the 50% HRA exemption applies mainly to Tier-I cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The new proposal seeks to expand this higher exemption cap to include additional metros and growing urban centres where housing costs are comparable to existing Tier-I cities. This means employees in these areas would be able to exclude up to 50% of their basic salary from taxable…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

In a city racing skyward, even a slice of sky has learned to carry a price tag. From Everyday Air to Vanishing Space Looking for a balcony in a Bengaluru apartment today can feel like chasing a fading luxury. In the city’s fast-evolving housing market, balconies—once an unremarkable part of urban homes—are steadily shrinking or disappearing. What was earlier a basic feature in mid-segment apartments is now increasingly confined to premium developments, quietly redefining how openness is valued. Rising land prices and the push to maximise saleable area are at the heart of this shift. Developers are prioritising efficiency and density, trimming back open spaces to expand built-up areas. As a result, balconies are no longer treated as everyday utilities but repackaged as lifestyle upgrades. Brokers note that apartments which once offered two spacious balconies now often provide just one, usually linked to the master bedroom. Even when included, their size has reduced—from about 12×6 feet to nearly 11×4 feet—cutting usable space by almost 10%. When Fresh Air Becomes a Premium Cost pressures reinforce this trend. Homes with balconies in Bengaluru can attract premiums of 10–15%. In Grade A projects on the outskirts, apartments with two balconies may approach Rs…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like a city learning to stand on its toes, Hyderabad has risen until the horizon itself had to look up. A Skyline That Rewrote the Map Hyderabad is no longer defined only by its old bazaars, heritage structures and expansive neighbourhoods. Look upward today and a different narrative unfolds. Glass-clad towers and luxury residences rising 40 and even 50 floors high have quietly reshaped the city into India’s tallest urban centre. In sheer vertical growth, Hyderabad has surged ahead of Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Pune and Kolkata, signalling a decisive shift in how Indian cities are choosing to expand. Over the past decade, the city has witnessed an unprecedented boom in high-rise residential and commercial construction, especially along the IT corridor stretching from Gachibowli to Kokapet and the Financial District. Liberal floor space index norms, faster project approvals, availability of large land parcels, and sustained demand from IT professionals and investors have powered this ascent. Unlike older metros burdened by fragmented land ownership, Hyderabad has been able to grow vertically in cohesive clusters, creating dense skylines rather than isolated towers. Luxury residential skyscrapers have thus become a defining feature of its urban identity. Why Other Cities Fell Short Elsewhere, height has…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

In a city where homes usually drain wallets month after month, one building has flipped the flow of money on its head. When Living pays You Back In Mumbai, where homeowners routinely shoulder hefty monthly maintenance bills, a residential society in South Mumbai has sparked fascination for operating on an entirely different principle—residents don’t pay maintenance fees, they receive money instead. The society, Jolly Maker, is located in Cuffe Parade, one of the city’s most expensive neighbourhoods, and has become a talking point online for its unusual financial model. According to claims circulating on social media, flat owners at Jolly Maker receive an annual payout of roughly Rs 2.5 lakh. The arrangement came into the spotlight through an Instagram video by Vishal Bhargava, a content creator who focuses on real estate and infrastructure. In the video, Bhargava described the building as “one of the most prestigious towers of Mumbai” and said homeowners are paid by the society rather than charged for upkeep. “Get paid Rs 2.5 lakh to stay in this building in Mumbai. Yes, the building society actually pays the homeowner to live here,” Bhargava said. He added: “It’s so rich that owners don’t pay a maintenance fee to…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like a digital sentry standing guard at the nation’s gateways, technology is quietly redrawing India’s defence against cyber-crime. Sanchar Saathi: From Controversy to Cyber Shield The Modi government’s Sanchar Saathi initiative has steadily emerged as a central pillar of India’s expanding cyber security framework, mirroring both the scale of digital adoption and the urgency of countering a rapidly evolving threat landscape. While a government order recommending the app’s pre-installation triggered sharp debate during the last Parliament session, public response has since told a different story. The platform has logged over 20 crore portal hits and more than 2 crore mobile app downloads, making it one of the government’s most widely used citizen-facing cyber safety tools. Highlighting its impact, union minister for communications and development of the north-eastern region Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “Sanchar Saathi has led to the blocking of 1.52 crore mobile connections linked to unauthorised or suspicious activity. A further 2 crore mobile numbers have been disconnected following verification processes. The crackdown has extended to digital communication platforms as well, with 27 lakh WhatsApp accounts linked to fraudulent SIMs disconnected.” He added that Sanchar Saathi has been functioning as a strong and resilient firewall against cyber frauds. Speaking at…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like fresh veins etched across a vast landscape, India’s highways are quietly stitching regions, markets and people closer together. Miles Built, Momentum Gained India’s flagship highway expansion programme, the Bharatmala Pariyojana, has made substantial headway since its approval in 2017, signalling a decisive push toward faster and more efficient road connectivity. As of December 2025, over 21,700 kilometres of highways have been constructed nationwide, reflecting strong physical progress under Phase-I of the initiative. The programme carries an overall target of 34,800 kilometres, aimed at cutting logistics costs and strengthening economic integration across the country. According to information provided to the Lok Sabha by th- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, projects covering 26,425 kilometres have been awarded so far, with 21,783 kilometres already completed. “As of December 2025, projects covering length of 26,425 km have been awarded and 21,783 km have been constructed,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply. The ministry also reported cumulative expenditure of Rs 4.93 lakh crore till February last year on the ambitious programme. Between 2019 and 2025, as many as 236 Bharatmala projects spanning 13,178 kilometres were inaugurated across various states, underlining the pace at which new road assets…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like planting pixels in classrooms, the Union Budget has sketched a blueprint where imagination meets industry. Budget Boost for a Creative Future The Centre will back the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, in setting up Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) content creator labs across 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her budget speech on Sunday. The government will provide ₹250 crore to support the initiative, positioning it as a major push toward building a skilled creative workforce. Highlighting the sector’s growth potential, Sitharaman said India’s AVGC industry is expected to require two million professionals by 2030. “I propose to support the IICT Mumbai in setting up AVCG content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools all over the country and 500 colleges,” she said. The move aligns education with emerging employment needs, placing creative technology alongside more traditional skill-building pathways. IICT is India’s first institute dedicated to creative technology, designed on the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management. In July 2025, the Maharashtra government, with support from the Centre, launched a satellite campus of IICT at the National Film and Development Corporation’s Peddar…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like a finely tuned orchestra racing beneath the desert sun, Dubai Metro runs on rhythm, rules and remarkable precision. Discipline Behind the Shine Dubai’s ultra-modern Metro is celebrated for its speed, cleanliness and efficiency, carrying millions of passengers every day. To preserve this seamless experience, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) enforces a detailed system of fines designed to ensure safety, discipline and smooth operations across stations and trains. These penalties range from Dh100 (Rs 2,494) for minor etiquette lapses to Dh2,000 (Rs 50,000 approx.) for serious safety violations. The rules cover everything from everyday behaviour—such as eating, drinking or entering the wrong cabin—to more severe offences like fare evasion, smoking, vandalism and misuse of emergency equipment. According to RTA guidelines, minor behavioural breaches usually attract lower fines, while safety-related violations incur heavier penalties. Authorities stress that these fines are not meant to punish, but to safeguard passengers, protect infrastructure and maintain a high-quality travel experience. Repeated or grave offences may also lead to further legal consequences. From Small Slips to Serious Offences Minor offences typically carry a Dh100 fine and include disruptive behaviour, sitting in reserved cabins, eating or drinking in prohibited areas, bringing pets (excluding guide dogs), entering…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Tata Motors continues its strong momentum with a series of major launches, including the long-awaited Sierra SUV and the updated Tata Punch facelift, which surprised many with the addition of a Turbo Petrol engine. With the Punch ICE facelift now introduced, the company has shifted focus to its next big release—the Punch EV facelift. This upcoming model is expected to bring notable upgrades over the already feature-rich current version, especially since several features from the Punch EV have recently been carried over to the Punch ICE facelift. Enthusiasts are now eager to see what Tata will add to ensure the Punch EV facelift stands apart. Punch EV Facelift Set for February 2026 Launch with Tech and Design Enhancements Tata Motors has officially announced that the Punch EV facelift will launch on February 20, 2026. Given the expected updates, a price revision appears likely. The existing Punch EV line-up starts at ₹9.99 lakh for the Smart MR trim with a 25 kWh battery, while the top-end Empowered+ S LR ACFC variant, equipped with a 35 kWh battery and a 7.2 kW AC fast charger, is priced at ₹14.44 lakh (ex-showroom). This variant already includes several premium features, many of which have…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

This news is for the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train passengers as the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has recently released the revised food menu options for its passengers. As we know, the Kamakhya-Howrah-Kamkhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express began its commercial operation from January 22 flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17. The IRCTC announced that passengers on the Howrah–Kamakhya–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper train can choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian meal options on Wednesday. Besides this, a non-vegetarian meal option will soon be introduced on the Vande Bharat Sleeper train, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on February 1. Prior to this, non-veg options including fish and meat were not available for travellers as per the menu released by the IRCTC. What Are The Food Menu Options Available On IRCTC Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper? The passengers will be served tea, biscuits and muffin along with IRCTC prepared three separate food menu lists for passengers travelling from on train number 27575.  In addition to this, he Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper, will be serving Basanti Pulao, Ghee rice or Green Peas Pulao along with paratha, Cholar dal, Aloo gajar methi matar bhaja or Jhuri aaloo bhaja. Besides this…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups