New Delhi, Sep 4: India’s internet subscribers surpassed 1 billion, reaching 1,002.85 million by June 30, 2025, surging 3.48 per cent from March, driven by broadband growth, government data said.

According to a report from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), of these over 100 crore subscribers, 4.47 crore had wired internet connections, while 95.81 crore have wireless connections.

Broadband subscribers increased by 3.77 per cent to 979.71 million, while narrowband users decreased to 23.14 million. Total telephone subscribers reached 1,218.36 million in the March-June 2025 quarter, marking a 1.46 per cent increase from the previous quarter.

This raised the overall tele-density to 86.09 per cent, up from 85.04 per cent the previous quarter, an official release said. In terms of demographics, urban internet subscribers number around 57.94 crore, while rural internet subscribers are not far behind at 42.33 crore, it added.

The data indicated that the monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless services is Rs 186.62, while the average Minutes of Usage (MOU) per wireless subscriber each month is 16.76 hours.

The telecom sector’s gross revenue reached Rs. 96,646 crore, a 1.63 per cent decline from the previous quarter but a 12.34 per cent increase year-on-year. Adjusted gross revenue was Rs. 81,325 crore, up 2.65 per cent from the last quarter.

services accounted for 83.62 per cent of adjusted gross revenue. The licence fees rose by 2.63 per cent to Rs 6,506 crore and pass-through charges dropped 19.45 per cent to Rs 10,457 crore, the release further said.

Around 912 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking or downlinking or both. Out of 902 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 333 satellite pay TV channels as of June 30, 2025, the release noted.

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Singapore share common concerns regarding terrorism and believe that fighting it together is the duty of all nations. He also expressed gratitude to Singapore for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and supporting India’s fight against terrorism.

Addressing a joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, PM Modi said, “We share common concerns regarding terrorism and believe that fighting terrorism together is the duty of all humanitarian nations.”

“After the Pahalgam terror attack, I thank PM Wong and the Singapore government for their empathy towards the people of India and their support in our fight against terrorism,” he added.

These remarks came as PM Modi and Singaporean PM Wong met at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi to discuss ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties. At least 26 people were killed by four heavily-armed terrorists — linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Laskhar-e-Taiba — in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Following this, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor against the terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Wong had taken to social media and condemned the attack.

“Shocked by the terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last night. Singapore strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all the families of the victims and the people of India,” Wong had said.

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan had also expressed shock over the brutal terror attack. “Deeply saddened by the terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of many and injured others. Singapore strongly condemns terrorism. We stand with India at this difficult time,” he had posted on X.

Wong is currently on a three-day official visit, marking a significant moment in the evolving strategic partnership between the two countries. This is his first visit to India since assuming office, and he is accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation including cabinet ministers and senior officials.

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 4: The country’s leading industry chambers on Thursday welcomed the GST Council’s decision to reduce tax slabs from four to two, saying the move will bring major relief to the common citizens by leaving more money in their hands.

The council, at its 56th meeting, abolished the 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs and decided to stick with the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs. Hemant Jain, President of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), told IANS, “With this GST reform, the government has given a timely gift to the common man by increasing his spending power during the festive season.”

Jain highlighted that the reforms would significantly benefit the health sector, as GST on personal health and life insurance premiums has been reduced to zero. He said the measure would directly help households.

Commenting on the broader economy, he added, “GST reforms are crucial for realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India. After the impact of U.S. tariffs, several sectors were facing challenges, as America is one of India’s key trading partners. These reforms will strengthen India’s growth story.”

He also noted that while the government has made many essential items cheaper, luxury items — which are not part of everyday needs — have been made costlier to strike a balance. Manish Singhal, Secretary General of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), echoed this sentiment.

“This is a highly relieving decision for the common man. Lower prices will encourage higher consumption, which in turn will increase production in industry. Greater production will attract more investment and boost the logistics and supply chain sectors. For instance, GST cuts on trucks and tractors will have a far-reaching impact,” Singhal said.

On insurance, Singhal pointed out that policies had become prohibitively expensive for ordinary citizens. “The removal of GST will make insurance more affordable and encourage more people to get coverage. As the customer base expands, insurers will find it difficult to keep premiums high. This reform will help families strengthen their financial security. It is indeed a commendable step by the government,” he added.

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 4:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted that India’s postal system has now become the world’s largest doorstep banking network, and the humble postman is playing the role of the harbinger of financial inclusion.

“With unprecedented efforts from the government, our humble postman has become the harbinger of financial inclusion. With India Post Office and IPPB Online, India’s postal system is now the world’s largest doorstep banking network, ensuring dignity and empowerment,” wrote PMO India on X.

He was responding to an article on India’s postal system by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The Prime Minister praised the article for presenting a “broader vision” on the country’s postal system.

Scindia said, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, India Post Office and India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) Online have redefined one of the world’s oldest postal networks into the globe’s largest doorstep banking system.

In consonance with this vision, the India Post Payments Bank is bringing access, assurance, and aspiration directly to the doorsteps of 140 crore Indians.” The minister has further stated in an article that the Department of Posts, with its network of 1,60,000 post offices, is writing its growth story.

“Yesterday’s postman now brings the promise of financial access and dignity to every doorstep in the country.” IPPB has quietly become a national pioneer by ensuring the digitalisation of all its rural accounts.

By integrating technology, expanding partnerships and diversifying services, the IPPB has transformed post offices into comprehensive financial hubs, proving that even the oldest institutions can evolve step with a rapidly changing world.

Eight years ago, the IPPB was established with a commitment to ensure that no Indian, irrespective of geography, gender, or circumstance, is excluded from the formal economy. Beyond opening accounts, it was unlocking opportunities and empowerment. By integrating rural India into the digital economy, it has become an engine of national economic empowerment, Scindia added.

IANS

Bengaluru, Sep 4: Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), IT and BT, Priyank Kharge, taking objection to the revamp of the eight-year-old indirect tax regime by the Centre, stated on Thursday that “two thirds of the total Goods and Services Tax i.e. 64 per cent comes from the pockets of the poor and the middle class, but only 3 per cent GST is collected from billionaires, while the rate of Corporate Tax has been reduced from 30 per cent to 22 per cent.”

Priyank Kharge further stated that, “Now that, the government has finally adhered to our demands of rationalising and simplifying the GST, they are yet to figure out how they will compensate the losses to states like Karnataka.”

Minister Kharge took to social media platform X to state, “A bit of common sense seems to have dawned upon the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sarkar on the ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’. For almost a decade, the Indian National Congress has been demanding simplification of GST. ‘One Nation, One Tax’ had become ‘One Nation, 9 Taxes’ — 0 per cent, 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, 28 per cent, and special rates of 0.25 per cent, 1.5 per cent, 3 per cent and 6 per cent.”

“The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge had been consistently batting for 18 per cent cap or lower GST rates. The Congress party in its 2019 and 2024 manifestos had demanded a GST 2.0 with simplified and rational tax regime. We had also demanded to simplify the complicated compliances which had severely hit the MSMEs and small businesses,” Kharge said.

For the first time, farmers were taxed under the BJP, with GST rates on at least 36 goods/items in the farm sector ranging from 12 per cent to 28 per cent, he stated. Essential commodities like packaged milk, wheat flour, curd, books, stationery etc were brought in under the GST, Kharge pointed out.

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 4: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has reduced the tax on renewable energy devices and manufacturing parts from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, effective from September 22 this year.

The Council also raised the tax on coal and lignite from 5 per cent to 18 per cent to offset revenue losses for state governments. The Council has lowered the GST on non-lithium-ion batteries, including lead acid, sodium, and flow batteries, from 28 per cent to 18 per cent to scale grid-scale energy storage technologies for storing renewable power for longer durations.

The GST for lithium-ion batteries shall remain 18 per cent. “GST has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent on renewable energy devices and parts for their manufacture, such as biogas plants, windmills, wind-operated electricity generators, waste to energy plants, devices, PV cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up in panel, solar cookers, solar water heaters and systems, and so on,” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Further, the tax on hydrogen vehicles using fuel cell technology, such as cars, buses, and trucks has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, while Electric Vehicles (EVs) will continue to attract a 5 per cent GST.

Analysts said that reducing GST rates on clean energy technologies like solar, wind, and batteries can decrease project costs and enhance the competitiveness of renewable power. The GST 2.0 reforms reduced GST primarily to two slabs, 5 per cent and 18 per cent from the erstwhile four-slab regime.

The prices of consumer goods are expected to come down due to the lower taxes, leading to an increase in demand and spurring growth in the economy. HSBC Global Investment Research had projected the commissioning of 11.7 GW of thermal power, 3.8 GW of hydropower, and 36 GW of solar power in India during FY26. The overall power demand increased 4.4 per cent Year on Year in August and over 2 per cent in July upon a low base. IANS

New Delhi, Sep 4:  After the GST Council approved historical changes to India’s indirect tax structure, several daily-use goods will become cheaper from September 22. The new tax structure, adopted on Wednesday, has two major slabs now 5 per cent and 18 per cent, and a whopping 40 per cent for sin goods.

For the common man, this change means more money in hand, which the government hopes will be routed into the economy, giving it a significant boost. From groceries and fertilisers to footwear, textiles, and even renewable energy, a broad basket of goods and services is set to become more affordable.

Items earlier taxed at 12 per cent and 28 per cent will now largely migrate to the other two slabs, making a wide range of products cheaper. Food and daily essentials Milk products: Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk will now be tax-free (down from 5 per cent), while condensed milk, butter, ghee, paneer, and cheese have moved from 12 per cent to 5 per cent or nil in some cases.

Staple foods: Malt, starches, pasta, cornflakes, biscuits, and even chocolates and cocoa products will see rates reduced from 12–18 per cent to 5 per cent. Dry fruits and nuts: Almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, and dates, earlier taxed at 12 per cent, will now attract just 5 per cent.

Sugar and confectionery: Refined sugar, sugar syrups, and confectionery items like toffees and candy have shifted to the 5 per cent slab. Other packaged foods: Vegetable oils, animal fats, edible spreads, sausages, meat preparations, fish products, and malt extract-based packaged foods have been moved to the 5 per cent slab.

Namkeens, bhujia, mixture, chabena and similar edible preparations ready for consumption form (other than roasted gram), pre-packaged and labelled to go from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. Waters, including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, nor flavoured to move from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.

Agriculture and fertilisers Fertilisers are down from 12 per cent/18 per cent to 5 per cent. Select agricultural inputs, including seeds and crop nutrients, have been rationalised from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. Healthcare Life-saving drugs, health-related products, and some medical devices have seen rate cuts from 12 per cent/18 per cent to 5 per cent or nil.

Individual life and health insurance policies, including family floater, which had a 12 per cent tax, will no longer be taxed A massive chunk of medical items of regular use — including thermometers and glucometers — will be in the 5 per cent tax bracket. Consumer goods Entry-level and mass-use items like select electrical appliances will move from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.

Footwear and textiles have seen GST cut from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, reducing costs for mass-market products. However, certain goods and services remain firmly under higher taxation. Pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, zarda, unmanufactured tobacco, and bidi will continue under existing high GST rates and compensation cess until outstanding cess-linked loans are cleared.

Additionally, the valuation of these products will now be shifted to Retail Sale Price (RSP) instead of transaction value, tightening compliance. All goods (including aerated waters), containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured to go from 28 per cent to 40 per cent. A new 40 per cent slab for sin and luxury goods remains, ensuring that items like cigarettes, premium liquor, and high-end cars don’t see tax relief. Imported armoured luxury sedans will be exempt only in special cases, such as those brought in by the President’s Secretariat.

IANS