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Slide in GDP growth arrested, second quarter data shows 6.3 per cent increase

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9 years ago

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Slide in GDP growth arrested, second quarter data shows 6.3 per cent increase

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Indicating a possible cessation of the slide in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) seen over the last successive five quarters, government data released on Thursday, November 30, showed a growth rate of 6.3 per cent in the second quarter (July-September) of financial year 2017-18.

The figure for the previous quarter, April-June, had hit a three-year low of 5.7 per cent.

The GVA (Gross Value Added) to the economy stands at 6.1 per cent, up from 5.6 per cent in the last quarter.

Infrastructure output grew 4.7% in October from a year ago, driven by higher refinery production. The infrastructure output, comprising eight sectors such as coal, crude oil and electricity, accounts for nearly 40% of India’s industrial output.

The growth in output compares with a downwardly revised 4.7% year-on-year growth in September. During April-October, the annual output growth was 3.5%, data showed.

A government press release said: “The economic activities which registered growth of over 6.0 percent in Q2 of  2017-18 over Q2 of 2016-17 are ‘manufacturing’, ‘electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services and ‘trade, hotels, transport & communication and services related to broadcasting’.”

“The growth in the ‘agriculture, forestry and fishing’, ‘mining and quarrying’, ‘construction’ ‘financial, insurance, real estate and professional services’ and ‘Public administration, defence & other services’ is estimated to be 1.7 percent, 5.5 percent, 2.6 per cent, 5.7 percent  and 6.0 percent respectively, during this period,” said the press release.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Statistician of India, Dr TCA Anant, said the recovery of GDP growth to 6.3% in Q2 from a 3-year low of 5.7% in Q1, after almost 5 quarters of decline, “marks a reversal which is very encouraging”.

“Manufacturing growth has been one of the main reasons for the encouraging growth rate figure of 6.3 per cent for 2nd Quarter,” he added.

Replying to a question on how the implementation of GST has impacted the GDP, Anant said “it introduced a measure of statistical challenge for us” while calculating the growth rate.

He said the tax collection data is still being updated and current calculation was made on reported tax collections.

Welcoming the numbers, former union finance minister P Chidambaram, struck a note of caution:

“Happy that the July-Sep quarter has registered a growth rate of 6.3%. This a PAUSE in the declining trend of the last five quarters. But we cannot say now whether this will mark an upward trend in the growth rate. We should wait for the growth rates over the next 3-4 quarters before we can reach a definite conclusion,” he said in a series of tweets.

Senior BJP leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, who had criticised Modi government’s handling of economy, tweeted: “India must grow at 8% to 10% to create the jobs we need for our youth. But let us celebrate 6.3% as a great achievement of our government. All our problems now stand resolved.”

“Agri production has declined sharply, manufacturing has fallen, construction is down yet wait to see how we go gaga over this figure of growth,” he said in another tweet.

Earlier this month, rating agency Moody’s – which upgraded India’s credit rating to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed its India outlook to positive from neutral – said it expected the economy to grow at 6.7 per cent this fiscal and rise to 7.5 per cent in 2018-19.

Earlier in the day, the stock market saw a sharp slump, dropping over 450 points. Reliance Industries, SBI and ICICI bank were among those who recorded loses.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday asserted that improved macroeconomic fundamentals have placed India on the growth trajectory and the country would have to invest heavily in infrastructure over the next two decades to graduate to a middle-income economy.

The bounce back in economy was widely expected as there were clear signs of the businesses coming out of the slowdown caused by demonetisation and the roll out of GST, said media reports. A Reuters poll of economists had predicted a growth rate of 6.4 per cent, while various other bodies projected the rate between 5.9 per cent and 7.1 per cent.

Other indicators like passenger vehicle and tractor sales, industrial production, electricity generation and rail cargo were all reported to have accelerated in the past few months. Big companies have also largely adjusted to the changes while benefiting from reduced logistics costs. Prominent Indian firms had their best profit growth in last six quarters in July-September, according to Thomson Reuters data. According to the data, Indian companies’ total profits are expected to grow 25% in the next fiscal year, which would be the highest in Asia.

However, concerns still remain on the consumption and private investment front which have failed to pick up despite the economy staging a comeback of sorts. Also, the finance ministry has been unsuccessful in convincing RBI for a cut in key policy rates. Analysts on the contrary say that rising global oil prices could pinch consumers through higher inflation and may instead force the RBI to hike the rates in the second half of 2018, denting the growth momentum, according to media reports.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Xbox announces 3,200 layoffs as Asha Sharma outlines major restructuring plan

Xbox has announced plans to lay off 3,200 employees over the next year while introducing a major restructuring programme that includes management changes, studio restructuring and cost-cutting measures.

Published

6 days ago

on

July 7, 2026

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XBOX layoff

Xbox has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 3,200 employees, representing around 20 per cent of its total staff, over the coming year as part of a broader restructuring programme linked to Microsoft’s increased investment in artificial intelligence.

According to an email shared with employees by Asha Sharma, the company will begin the process immediately, with 1,600 employees leaving on Monday, while the remaining job reductions will take place during FY27. The company also plans to divest four gaming studios and is preparing to separate from another.

Business reset planned amid financial challenges

In her message to employees, Sharma said the company’s current financial position required significant changes, stating that Xbox’s business was operating at substantially lower margins than comparable platform and publishing companies.

She said the layoffs were not a reflection of employees’ commitment or abilities but were part of a wider effort to strengthen the company’s long-term business.

The workforce reduction comes as Microsoft continues implementing AI-focused cost-cutting measures across its operations. Overall, the technology company is reportedly cutting 4,800 jobs, with Xbox accounting for the largest share.

Sharma also described the gaming sector as experiencing one of its most challenging hardware periods and said the company needed to “reset Xbox” to improve its future performance.

Company to streamline operations and reduce management layers

As part of the restructuring strategy, Xbox plans to simplify its organisational structure, revise its content portfolio and improve platform operations.

According to Sharma, the company currently loses 64 cents for every dollar invested annually, making operational efficiency a key priority.

She said Xbox would increasingly support independent game creators by offering open development tools and broader audience access.

The restructuring will also see Mojang and King report directly to Sharma. She said both studios have evolved into major gaming platforms with large monthly active player bases and will play a central role in Xbox’s future strategy.

To improve decision-making, the company plans to significantly reduce its management hierarchy. Sharma said some departments currently have as many as 14 management layers, which slow down operations. Xbox aims to reduce this to no more than five layers, and in some cases, only three.

The company will also reduce vendor spending by 50 per cent as part of its cost-saving measures.

Helen Chiang promoted to Chief Operating Officer

Alongside the restructuring announcement, Sharma confirmed the promotion of Helen Chiang to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer.

Chiang will oversee profit and loss responsibilities across Xbox’s content, hardware, platform and services divisions while reporting directly to Sharma.

According to Sharma, the new operating structure is intended to improve investment decisions, strengthen accountability and better integrate the company’s various business units.

Despite the ongoing restructuring and job cuts, Sharma said Xbox remains committed to long-term growth and plans to continue investing heavily in the business, while placing greater emphasis on disciplined spending and strategic priorities.

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Bank holiday today: Are banks open or closed on June 29? Here’s what RBI calendar says

Banks in Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram will remain closed on June 29, 2026, due to regional holidays, while banking operations will continue normally in most other states.

Published

2 weeks ago

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June 29, 2026

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Bank Holidays

As June comes to an end, many customers are wondering whether banks across the country are open on June 29, 2026. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) holiday calendar, bank operations will not be affected nationwide, but branches in some states will remain closed due to local holidays.

Banks closed in these states on June 29

Banks will remain shut in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, June 29, on account of Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti. In addition, bank branches in Mizoram will remain closed to observe Remna Ni, a regional public holiday.

However, bank branches in most other states and Union Territories are expected to function normally as June 29 is not a nationwide banking holiday.

Will online banking services remain available?

Even when physical branches remain closed, customers can continue using digital banking facilities. Services such as internet banking, mobile banking, UPI transactions, ATM withdrawals and cash deposits at ATMs will remain operational.

Customers planning to visit a bank branch are advised to check with their local branch beforehand, as holiday schedules may vary depending on the state and local observances.

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Union Budget 2026 highlights: Nirmala Sitharaman Raises Capex to Rs 12.2 Lakh Cr, West Bengal Gets Major Allocation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament today. Follow this space for live updates, key announcements, and policy insights.

Published

5 months ago

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February 1, 2026

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives to present Union Budget 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will shortly present the Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha, marking her ninth consecutive Budget. The annual financial statement is expected to outline the government’s policy priorities, reform agenda and spending plans for the coming year. Stay tuned for live updates, key announcements and immediate reactions as the Budget speech unfolds.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled her ninth Union Budget today, beginning her speech at 11 am.

Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth Union Budget today, with the finance minister scheduled to begin her speech at 11 am.

Budget 2026 live updates: Presenting the Union Budget for 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the occasion coincided with Magh Purnima and the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. She noted that over the past 12 years, India’s economic journey has been defined by stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation.

The budgeted fiscal deficit for fiscal 2026 is estimated at 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP)

Planned capital expenditure this fiscal year Rs 11.2 lakh crore

Rare earth corrdiors in Odisha and Kerala

Hi-tech tool rooms to be set up by PSUs

Construction equipment scheme to be launched

Container manufacturing scheme for Rs 10,000 crore over 5 years

Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund

Semi-conductor mission to get Rs 40,000 crore

Rs 12.2 lakh crores for infrastructure development

Dedicated RITES to repurpose land of Central PSUs

20 new waterways over next 5 years to be connected

7 high-speed corridors on rail

High-level committee on banking for next phase of Viksit Bharat

Capital expenditure hike of to ₹12.2 lakh crore in Budget 2026, with West Bengal receiving a significant share of allocations.

Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative aimed at boosting the khadi, handloom, and handicrafts sectors.

High-speed rail corridors: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, Varanasi-Siliguri, Pune-Hyderabad

Five university campuses to be established near industrial corridors

Lakpati Didi program expanded in Budget 2026 to reach more beneficiaries across India.

Fiscal deficit for FY26 revised to 4.4%; Budget Estimate for FY27 set at 4.3%.

TCS on overseas tour packages cut to 2% to ease travel costs

Tax holiday to foreign companies that provide cloud services by setting up data centres in India till 2047

17 cancer drugs exempted from import duties

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