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Category: Economy

  • Now Get Mahindra Thar In New Deep Forest Green Colour Option; Check Features And Other Details | Auto News


    Mahindra has given its popular Thar off-roader a fresh update with the introduction of a new Deep Forest green paint option. This new colour choice is available across both the AX (O) and LX trims of the Thar, adding to the existing palette that includes Red Rage, Deep Grey, Stealth Black, Everest White, and Desert Fury (exclusive to the special Earth Edition). The Deep Forest shade is already a feature on other Mahindra models like the Scorpio N and the recently launched XUV 3XO.
    With the addition of Deep Forest, the Thar now boasts six striking colour options. The Thar’s colour palette has evolved since its launch in 2020, with Mahindra continuously updating and refining the choices available to customers.

    Features

    Despite the new colour, the Thar’s feature set remains consistent. It includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, manual air conditioning, a 6-speaker sound system, cruise control, and a height-adjustable driver seat. Safety features are comprehensive, with dual front airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, an electronic stability programme (ESP), and rear parking sensors.

    Engine Options

    The Mahindra Thar offers three engine choices. The first is a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine delivering 152 PS and 300 Nm of torque. The second option is a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 132 PS and 300 Nm. Both engines come with a choice of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model features a 1.5-litre diesel engine generating 118 PS and 300 Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The turbo-petrol unit for the RWD model is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

    Pricing and Competition

    The Mahindra Thar is available in two primary variants – AX (O) and LX – with prices ranging from Rs 11.35 lakh to Rs 17.60 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India). It competes with the Force Gurkha and Maruti Suzuki Jimny in the off-roader segment. Additionally, it stands against similarly priced monocoque compact SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Hyryder, and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. 

  • New Scam: Towing Away Of Parked Vehicle In Police Uniform; 6 Cars Stolen In 15 Days | Auto News

    In a recent scam in Delhi, a 29-year-old man has been arrested for impersonating a traffic police officer and towing away expensive vehicles to sell to a scrap dealer. Police have also arrested one of his associates and the buyer of the stolen vehicles.

    According to the reports, the scam began 15 days ago and involved the theft of at least six cars. The auto theft ring came to light after a resident of Vasant Kunj B-block reported that his Toyota Camry sedan was towed away from his residence early on March 15 by a man dressed as a traffic policeman.

    The alleged mastermind, identified as Vikas Singh from Kusumpur Pahari in south Delhi, was aided by 55-year-old Mahender Singh from Pitampura, who operated a scrapyard in Kanjhawala, and 24-year-old Roshan Ahirwal from Mayapuri. Vikas resorted to the crime to settle his debts quickly, according to police officers involved in the investigation.

    Operation Details

    The police received a complaint from the Vasant Kunj resident and scanned CCTV footage, which showed the car being towed away by a crane operated by a man in a traffic police uniform. The crane operator, tracked down by the registration number, revealed that he was hired by a “police officer” to confiscate and tow the vehicle to the Kanjhawala scrapyard.

    At the scrapyard, police found Mahender, who had dismantled the Camry. He was arrested on May 17. Upon questioning, it was revealed that Vikas had posed as the traffic policeman to get the car towed on March 15. The two had rented a scrapyard to dismantle the vehicles. Vikas was arrested the same day following raids in Kusumpur Pahari.
    Police recovered the engine and body of a Camry, the body of a BMW car, a traffic police uniform, and a bike. The involvement of two crane operators is also being investigated.

  • EPFO Adds 14.41 Lakh Members In March, 57 Per Cent Are Youths In New Jobs | Personal Finance News

    New Delhi: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) payroll data released on Monday shows that as many as 14.41 lakh net members in March this year, reflecting the increased employment created in the country’s organised sector during the month.

    The data indicates that around 7.47 lakh new members have been enrolled during March out of which the 18-25 age group constitutes a dominant 56.83 per cent. This indicates that “the majority of individuals joining the organised workforce are youth, primarily first-time job seekers,” according to the official statement.

    Gender-wise analysis of payroll data unveils that out of 7.47 lakh new members, around 2 lakh are new female members. Also, the net female member addition during the month stood at around 2.90 lakh. The female member addition is indicative of a broader shift towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce, the statement added. (Also Read: 7th Pay Commission: Setback For Govt Employees; 25% Increase In Gratuity Due To Da Hike Kept On Hold By EPFO)

    The payroll data highlights that approximately 11.80 lakh members exited and subsequently rejoined EPFO. These members switched their jobs and re-joined the establishments covered under the ambit of EPFO and opted to transfer their accumulations instead of applying for final settlement thus, safeguarding long-term financial well-being and extending their social security protection.

    Month-on-month comparison of industry-wise data displays growth in the members working in establishments engaged in the manufacture, marketing services, usage of computers, restaurants, chartered, fish processing and non-veg food preservation, Beedi making etc.

  • Toyota Innova Hycross ZX and ZX (O) Hybrid Bookings Temporarily Halted Again; Know Why | Auto News

    Toyota has once again paused bookings for its top-spec ZX and ZX (O) hybrid variants of the Innova Hycross due to prolonged waiting times. The waiting period for these variants has stretched to over 14 months. Bookings are expected to reopen once the waiting times decrease. In the meantime, customers can still place orders for other variants of the Innova Hycross, including the VX and VX (O) hybrids.

    Previous Booking Halts

    This isn’t the first time Toyota has faced issues with the top-spec Innova Hycross hybrid variants. Orders for these variants were previously halted in April 2023 and resumed a year later in April 2024. However, just weeks after reopening, the waiting period has once again extended beyond a year, prompting another halt in bookings.

    Features of the Top-spec Innova Hycross

    The top-spec hybrid variants of the Toyota Innova Hycross are equipped with a range of premium features:


    Infotainment and Display: A 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch digital driver’s display.
    Climate Control: Dual-zone climate control to ensure optimal comfort for all passengers.
    Seating and Sunroof: Ventilated front seats and a panoramic sunroof for added luxury.
    Convenience: Wireless phone charger for hassle-free charging on the go.

    Safety Features

    Safety features top-spec Innova Hycross includes:


    Airbags and Cameras: Six airbags and a 360-degree camera.
    Monitoring Systems: Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and front and rear parking sensors.
    Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Lane-keep and departure assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto-emergency braking.

    Powertrain Options

    The Toyota Innova Hycross offers two powertrain options: a 2-litre strong hybrid and a 2-litre petrol-only variant. The strong hybrid system generates a combined power output of 186 PS, with the engine producing 188 Nm of torque and the motor delivering 206 Nm, paired with an e-CVT transmission. Meanwhile, the petrol-only version produces 175 PS of power and 209 Nm of torque, coupled with a CVT transmission.

     Pricing and Competitors

    The top-spec ZX and ZX (O) hybrid variants of the Toyota Innova Hycross are priced between Rs 30.34 lakh and Rs 30.98 lakh. Other variants range from Rs 19.77 lakh to Rs 27.99 lakh. The Innova Hycross faces competition from its sibling models, the Maruti Invicto (based on the Hycross) and the diesel-only Toyota Innova Crysta.

  • Pune Accident: Billionaire’s Son Crashed Car Killing Two; Now Father To Be Booked For His Recklessness

    Pune Luxury Car Accident: Cases will be registered against the father of a teen, who was driving a luxury car when it got involved in a fatal accident in Pune, and the bar that “served the boy liquor”, an official said on Sunday. 

    Two persons were killed when the speeding luxury car hit their motorcycle in the city on Sunday, police said. The 17-year-old car driver was detained after a case was registered against him. He was produced in a juvenile court which granted him bail, they said. 

    “In the accident case, the father of the accused and the bar which served liquor to the juvenile/accused are being proceeded against under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act,” Pune City Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar said in a statement.

    As per section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, a person with actual control or charge of a child can be punished if he assaults, abandons or neglects the child wilfully, and abuses him, causing mental or physical illness. Section 77 pertains to giving liquor or drugs to a child.

    The accident took place around 3.15 am (19-05-2024) in Kalyani Nagar when a group of friends after a party at a restaurant in the area was returning home on their motorbikes. Near the Kalyani Nagar junction, a speeding luxury car hit one of the motorcycles following which its two riders fell from the vehicle and died on the spot, as per the FIR.

    After knocking down the duo, the car crashed into the roadside pavement railings, it said. The deceased have been identified as Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, as per the FIR. A video surfaced on social media wherein a group of people was seen thrashing the driver as he tried to come out of the crashed car. 

    A case was registered against the car driver at the Yerawada police station under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 304A (causing death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

  • Big Drill Machine head Hits Moving Train In Chhattisgarh; Three Injured | Railways News

    Two passengers and a sanitation staffer were injured after the head of a big drilling machine crashed into a moving train on the outskirts of Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur on Sunday, officials said.
    The incident took place around 10 am when the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai)-bound Shalimar Express was passing through Urkura railway station ahead of the Raipur station, a railway public relations official here said.
    Earlier, officials had said that a pole located near the tracks fell on the train. The piece of metal was later found to be a “drill machine reamer” which looks like a pole, the official said.
    As the train reached Raipur station, rail personnel, including doctors rushed to the affected coach and administered first aid to the injured passengers, the official said.
    The injured persons – train passengers Devari Dhivar (30) and Somil Mandal (12) and sanitation staffer Narayan Chandra Bag – were then admitted to a government hospital here, he said.
    “The investigation into the accident revealed that it was not a pole. Rather, it was a reamer of a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine engaged in drilling work by the state-run electricity company,” the PRO said.
    The electricity company was conducting drilling operations beneath the railway tracks. The machine’s reamer was being pulled out when the train was passing through Urkura. But it unexpectedly came out of the ground and hit the train, he said.
    The reamer scraped three AC (B4, B5 and B6) and one sleeper (S2) coaches, damaging window pans, and injuring three persons besides causing scratches on the bogies.
    The train left for its destination around noon, the official said.
    “The state’s electricity department was carrying out unauthorised work and the safety of human lives was compromised. Further investigation into the incident is underway,” the official added.

     

  • Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Indian Stock Markets To Remain Closed On Monday | Markets News

    New Delhi: The stock market will be closed on Monday due to the Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai. Trading will resume as usual on Tuesday. After this, the next holiday is scheduled for June 17 in observance of Bakrid. The stock exchanges on Saturday organised a special trading session. Investors were enthusiastic, and the market ended on a positive note.

    On Monday, six seats in Mumbai will go to the polls: Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central. Further, other constituencies in Maharashtra participating in the fifth phase of the election include Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi, and Thane. (Also Read: FPIs Aggressively Selling India Stocks, Offloaded Over Rs 28,000 Cr With 10 Days To Go In May)

    On Saturday, BSE Sensex closed at 73,959 points with a rise of 42 points, similarly the Nifty of the NSE closed at the level of 22,502 points with a gain of 35.91 points.Shares of Nestle India, Power Grid, Tata Motors, Hindalco, ONGC, Divis Lab, and TCS saw a rise. (Also Read: Market Outlook: PMI Data, Q4 Results Key Triggers For Next Week)

    The Dalal Street, after the period of uncertainty about the election outcome, is now bullish as the market experts believe the positive trend will continue.

    After the much-discussed India VIX, also known as the Fear Gauge, appears to have vanished recently, the Indian stock market appears to be positive. The benchmark stock indices have increased significantly over the last several sessions, including the special trading session on Saturday, which has resulted in investors earning healthy returns on their investments.

    Analysts now predict that the upward trend in the key Indian stock market indexes will last through this following week, beginning on Tuesday. “The broader market remained positive, driven by persistent buying in heavyweight sectoral stocks. Furthermore, a moderation in India’s CPI and lower-than-expected inflation figures from the US Fed have stimulated investor confidence,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

    Brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher in its latest report, ‘India Strategy Report – Mandate 2024, Brace of Volatility’ said it expects a continuation of the policy if the BJP-led NDA comes back to power and themes around infrastructure, defense, capital goods (CG), new energy, and tourism will continue to do well.

    Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh. Voting for the first four phases has concluded and for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, polling is set to be held on May 20. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases running from April 19 to June 1. The counting and results will be declared on June 4. (With ANI Inputs)

  • 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Launched In India At Rs 2 Crore; Check Features, Performance, And Other Details | Auto News

    The 2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS range has officially been launched in India, with prices starting at Rs 1.99 crore for the Cayenne GTS and Rs 2.01 crore for the Cayenne GTS Coupe (both ex-showroom). Read here to know more about the luxury vehicle. 

     Exterior Design

    The 2025 Cayenne GTS models feature several sporty upgrades over the standard versions. These include a glossy finish on the front grille, side skirts, wheel arches, lower wing mirrors, and rear diffuser, all standard with the SportDesign package. Buyers can choose between 21-inch or 22-inch all-black RS Spyder alloy wheels in Turbonite finish. The exterior is further distinguished by matte black ‘GTS’ stickers and badges, as well as smoky headlamps and taillamps.
    Porsche offers the Cayenne GTS in seven standard colours: White, Black, Dolomite Silver, Carrara White, Quartzite Grey, Carmine Red, and Cashmere Beige. Additional color schemes from Porsche’s ‘Legends’ palette are available for an extra Rs 7.3 lakh.

     Interior and Features

    Inside, the 2025 Cayenne GTS boasts an all-black cabin adorned with Race Tex material on the roofliner, steering wheel, seats, armrests, and door panels. Two interior packages, Carmine Red and Slate Grey, are available for further customization. 
    The Cayenne GTS range is packed with features, including:
    – 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster
    – 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment system
    – 10.9-inch co-passenger display
    – 8-way adjustable front seats
    – 4-zone climate control
    – Ambient lighting
    – Dual-pane panoramic sunroof
    – Electric sunblinds for the rear windows
    – 14-speaker, 710-watt Bose audio system
    – Wireless smartphone charging

    Engine and Performance

    Under the hood, the 2025 Cayenne GTS is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol engine, delivering 487 bhp and 660 Nm of peak torque. An 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox handles transmission duties, distributing power to all four wheels. The Cayenne GTS can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 275 km/h.
    The vehicle is equipped with adaptive air suspension for improved handling, and braking is managed by a 6-piston caliper in the front and a 4-piston caliper at the rear.
    Porsche has not yet announced the exact timeline for the delivery of the Cayenne GTS models in India. 

  • Sensex, Nifty Extend Winning Streak In Special Trading Sessions, TCS And Nestle Lead | Markets News

    New Delhi: The special trading sessions on Saturday saw Indian equity markets extending their winning streak as the benchmark indices ended higher in both of the special sessions. While the BSE Sensex closed above 74,000, up 342 points (0.46 per cent) the NSE Nifty 50 advanced 35.9 points or 0.16 per cent, to end at 22,502.

    During the day, the Sensex rose as much as 0.33 per cent to 74,162.76. Ajit Mishra, senior vice president, research, Religare Broking Ltd, said the benchmark indices experienced a dull special trading session but managed to end with marginal gains.

    “Although the mixed performance among major stocks is limiting momentum in the index, the broader market’s strength and gains in select heavyweights are providing ample opportunities,” Mishra added. (Also Read: Google Pay App Will Stop Working In US After June 4 Due To THIS Reason; Indian Users To Remain Unaffected)

    The national bourses on Saturday conducted a special trading session for an easy switch over to a disaster recovery site. Power Grid, Nestle, Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, and TCS were the top gainers. JSW Steel, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and ITC were the top losers.

    As per market experts, Dow Jones closing in record territory above 40,000 will continue to provide global support for equity markets. Meanwhile, the FIIs selling declined and on Friday, FIIs turned buyers.

    As on May 17, FPI selling stood at Rs 28,241 crore as per NSDL data, according to market experts. In the cash market, FII selling stood at Rs 35,532 crore.  

  • AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Now Dominate 66% Of Global Cloud Spending | Technology News

    New Delhi: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a key demand driver for cloud investment, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud collectively grew by 24 per cent, accounting for 66 per cent of total spending in the first quarter (January-March) period.

    Tech giant Microsoft outpaced both AWS and Google Cloud, with sales rising by 31 per cent (year-on-year), nearly double the AWS’s growth rate of 17 per cent, while Google Cloud grew 28 per cent YoY, according to global market research firm Canalys. (Also Read: IT Giant Cognizant Issues Warning For Employees: Return To Office Or Get Fired)

    The report mentioned that despite holding the largest market share at 31 per cent, AWS faces increasing competition from its fast-growing competitors. Microsoft Azure was second with a market share of 25 per cent and Google Cloud was third, with a market share of 10 per cent in the first quarter this year. (Also Read: RBI Revises Timeline For Government Treasury Bill Auctions)

    Earlier this month, the Amazon-run company announced the departure of its CEO Adam Selipsky after three years in the role. Matt Garman will become CEO of AWS, effective June 3. Yi Zhang, an analyst at Canalys, said that Microsoft’s end-to-end portfolio is proving to be a strong “competitive moat”, while Google’s strength in AI is giving it a strong tailwind.

    As enterprises embrace AI-driven initiatives, there is a potential need to transfer their workloads and data to cloud platforms to avail themselves of essential computing and storage capacities, the report mentioned. Meanwhile, global cloud infrastructure services expenditure grew by 21 per cent in the first quarter to reach $79.8 billion, an increase of $13.4 billion YoY.