New Delhi, October 2025: Mercedes-Benz India has achieved a remarkable festive milestone, recording its best-ever Navratri sales by delivering over 2,500 cars in just nine days — averaging one delivery every six minutes!
The surge in sales is attributed to a combination of factors, including GST Reforms 2.0, which led to a price reduction of up to 6%, and the strong consumer sentiment during the festive season.
In addition to the Navratri success, Mercedes-Benz also reported 5,119 units sold in Q3 2025, marking its highest-ever September performance in the country.
A company spokesperson stated that the demand was particularly strong for SUVs and premium sedans, reflecting the growing appetite for luxury vehicles among Indian buyers.
Industry experts have lauded the government’s reform-driven economic policies and stable tax environment, crediting them for boosting India’s automotive sector.
As the festive season continues, Mercedes-Benz India’s record-breaking performance sets the tone for what could be a landmark year in the country’s luxury automobile market.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) landscape in India is set for a significant shift. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the GST Council has approved a new two-tier GST structure, effective September 22, 2025.
The new GST regime introduces 5% and 18% slabs, replacing the earlier complex multi-slab system.
Life and health insurance policy premiums will now be fully exempt from GST, bringing relief to policyholders.
Sin goods, including tobacco and related products such as cigarettes, will be taxed at a steep 40% levy.
The same 40% GST has been extended to casinos, placing Goa’s gaming industry in the spotlight.
Impact on Goa’s Casino Industry
Casino operators in Goa expressed deep concern over the 40% GST on gaming. Industry insiders warn that:
The heavy levy may cause a decline in footfall at casinos.
Potential investors could shy away due to reduced profitability.
The move could put thousands of jobs at risk, threatening a key contributor to Goa’s tourism economy.
Until now, casinos were taxed under the 28% GST slab on the face value of bets. The new 40% rate represents a sharp hike that many believe could stall industry growth.
Balancing Reform and Revenue
While the government’s move to simplify GST rates and provide relief for insurance premiums has been welcomed, the harsh tax treatment of sin goods and casinos underscores the Centre’s strategy of balancing consumer benefit with revenue maximisation.
What Lies Ahead?
As the new GST structure comes into force later this month, stakeholders across industries will be closely monitoring its real-world impact. For Goa’s casino industry, the focus remains on whether policymakers might revisit the 40% levy in light of its potential impact on jobs and tourism.
The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), under the leadership of its President Ms. Pratima Dhond, has expressed strong support for the sweeping Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms announced at the 56th GST Council Meeting. These reforms, hailed as one of the most progressive steps in India’s tax history, aim to simplify the indirect tax structure while promoting inclusive economic growth.
The introduction of a simplified two-slab GST structure — with rates of 5% and 18% — accompanied by a special 40% slab for luxury and sin goods, is expected to bring stability and clarity to the tax regime. GCCI believes this will lead to improved compliance, reduced litigation, and heightened investor and consumer confidence.
Among the most lauded aspects of the reform is the complete removal of GST on all individual life and health insurance policies — a move expected to increase affordability, boost insurance penetration, and strengthen the country’s financial safety net. GCCI considers this a landmark development towards financial inclusion and social security.
In the healthcare sector, the exemption of GST on 33 lifesaving drugs, and reduced rates on others including medical equipment, is expected to reduce the cost burden on citizens and enhance accessibility.
MSMEs, which form the backbone of India’s economy, stand to benefit significantly from reduced compliance burdens and lower tax costs. This boost to competitiveness could further energize employment and innovation in the sector.
The reforms also provide considerable relief to farmers and workers in labor-intensive industries. Reduced GST on tractors, farming equipment, textiles, leather goods, marble, and handicrafts is aimed at reviving rural and artisanal economies.
For households and the common man, daily-use products like soaps, hair oil, milk products, tea, coffee, namkeens, and bicycles now fall under the 5% or NIL tax bracket, improving affordability and encouraging consumption. This is expected to increase demand for discretionary and aspirational products including consumer durables, automobiles, and home appliances — potentially adding 20 to 50 basis points to GDP growth.
The operationalisation of the long-awaited GST Appellate Tribunal is expected to reduce legal disputes and foster ease of doing business. GCCI noted that the reforms address both industry concerns and public needs, maintaining a thoughtful balance. While the government may incur a revenue loss estimated between ₹0.7 to ₹1.8 trillion annually, this is offset by the continued application of the 40% GST rate on luxury and sin goods such as pan masala, aerated drinks, and tobacco.
GCCI President Ms. Dhond summed up the mood, stating, “This across-the-board reform is not only pro-business and pro-consumer, but also pro-society. By making insurance and healthcare affordable, while boosting consumption and competitiveness, the GST reforms will go a long way in strengthening India’s economic growth and socio-economic fabric of our nation.”
These reforms mark a turning point in India’s economic journey — blending fiscal prudence with inclusive growth.
Bhubaneswar, August 16, 2025: India has struck gold again—literally. In a landmark discovery, geologists have confirmed reserves of 10–20 tonnes of gold in Odisha, setting the stage for a historic auction of gold blocks by the government.
The discovery, considered one of the most significant in recent years, comes at a time when India is among the world’s largest importers of gold. This find has the potential to reduce dependency on imports, strengthen the economy, and enhance the nation’s self-reliance in precious metals.
Officials have stated that preparations are already underway for the auctioning of the newly identified gold blocks, which will likely draw strong interest from both domestic and international mining companies.
Gold mining in Odisha could also spur local economic activity, create jobs, and boost infrastructure development in the region, making the discovery not just a national but also a regional milestone.
India currently relies heavily on imported gold to meet its high domestic demand for jewelry, investment, and cultural purposes. This new find may help balance trade, conserve foreign exchange reserves, and foster sustainable mining practices under government supervision.
The auction is expected to be announced soon, with Odisha set to take center stage in India’s mining map.
New Delhi, July 2025: In a significant development for investors and jewellers alike, silver prices in India have reached a record high of ₹1.11 lakh per kilogram, marking a historic milestone in the precious metals market.
The rally in silver is being fueled by a combination of strong global demand, investor shift toward safe-haven assets, and ongoing supply constraints. According to bullion traders, geopolitical uncertainties, inflation concerns, and increased industrial demand—especially from the green energy and electronics sectors—have added to silver’s bullish trend.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures surged past previous records in just a matter of days. Analysts say this momentum could continue if global uncertainties persist, particularly with silver being seen as a more affordable hedge against inflation compared to gold.
Silver’s industrial applications in solar panels, electric vehicles, and electronics have also pushed demand higher, particularly in fast-developing economies like India and China.
Why is Silver Rising Now?
Weakening of the US dollar: Making precious metals more attractive globally
Central bank policies: Investors are hedging against potential market volatility
Industrial use cases: Growing consumption of silver in renewable energy tech
Safe-haven demand: Global tensions are prompting a move toward tangible assets
Jewellers across India are reporting higher customer footfall, not necessarily for purchases, but to keep track of pricing trends. Many consumers are now re-evaluating wedding jewellery plans, and investors are considering silver as a key component in their diversified portfolios.
Experts, however, advise caution. “While silver’s fundamentals remain strong, such sharp rallies are often followed by corrections,” said market analyst Ramesh Shah of BullionTrade India.
For now, silver is shining brighter than ever—both literally and financially—as it cements its place as one of 2025’s hottest commodities.
