Episode Details

Big relief for consumers starting September 22nd! GST Reforms 2.0 are now in effect, slashing prices across a wide range of goods—from kitchen staples to big-ticket items like electronics and automobiles.At the 56th GST Council meeting on September 3rd, major reductions were announced on nearly 375 items, with the new prices kicking in just in time for Navaratri.Essentials like ghee, paneer, butter, namkeen, ketchup, jam, dry fruits, coffee, and ice cream are now cheaper. And so are aspirational items like TVs, air conditioners, and washing machines.The biggest impact? The automobile sector—GST on small cars has dropped from 28% to 18%.In his national address on the eve of the rollout, Prime Minister Modi called the income tax exemption on earnings up to ₹12 lakh, along with the GST cuts, a “double bonanza” for the poor, neo-middle class, and middle class.Read more here

Airlines on India–US routes may face more turbulence. A new $100,000 H-1B visa fee is denting travel demand. Air India, the market leader, is already grappling with airspace restrictions. Emirates and Qatar Airways trail closely behind.Tourist and student traffic has slowed, with March and June seeing notable drops.However, platforms like MakeMyTrip report a surge in last-minute US bookings, as travellers rush to beat the visa fee deadline. Still, experts expect the softness on these routes to continue as visa rules tighten further.TE Raja Simhan and Aneesh Phadnis report on the mounting pressure facing international carriers and how the new visa rules are reshaping travel demand. Read more hereOn 19 September, the US introduced a steep $100,000 annual fee for companies sponsoring H-1B visa holders, effective 21 September. Signed by President Trump, the move aims to protect local jobs but could hit Indian professionals hard — they make up over 70% of H-1B holders.Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have issued advisories. Smaller firms and start-ups may struggle with the cost.Legal experts warn of confusion and possible litigation, as many fee-related details remain unclear. However, some analysts say this could boost offshore hiring and remote work from India.Sindhu Hariharan reports on how the move is reshaping hiring strategies across the tech industry, both in the US and in India.Read more 

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