Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Shirene Thomas has been on 17 cruises from October 2023 to September 2024.</li><li>She plans to eventually move onto <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/villa-vie-couple-sold-business-never-ending-residential-cruise-2024-8">Villa Vie's residential ship</a>.</li></ul>According to the trade group Cruise Lines International Association, 10% of cruisers go on three to five <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ulyssia-residential-cruise-superyacht-around-the-world-2024-9">vacations at sea</a> a year.Or, if you're like Shirene Thomas, you go on 17 a year.Thomas, a retired social worker and actor in her 50s, told Business Insider that she calls herself "homeless all over the world." And for good reason — in late September 2023, Thomas "gave up everything" and uprooted her life in Wilmington, North Carolina, to move onto a residential cruise ship.She had initially committed to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/life-at-sea-passengers-3-year-cruise-demand-criminal-probe-2024-1">Life at Sea Cruises' three-year sailing</a>, then scheduled to depart in November 2023. But when the company, unable to acquire a ship, dramatically canceled the voyage just two weeks before embarkation, Thomas decided to reserve a cabin on Villa Vie's never-ending cruise.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-cabin-residential-cruise-ship-villa-vie-photos-retired-couple-2024-8">Villa Vie Odyssey</a> plans to circumnavigate the world every 3 ½ years, stopping at 147 countries and 425 ports in its first trip. The ship was initially set to sail in May, but certification and mechanical issues have since delayed its launch.<div type="image" title="photo of Shirene Thomas on a cruise ship" height="1725" width="2300" msid="113786677" hostid="261" sizebytes="196006"></div>In the interim, Thomas has been scratching her <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/princess-cruises-all-inclusive-world-cruise-4-months-2024-5">around-the-world cruise</a> itch with (you guessed it) more cruises.So far, she's been on 17 sailings — 11 with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-review-new-11-billion-norwegian-prima-cruise-ship-2022-10#norwegian-cruise-line-invited-me-to-sail-on-its-newest-cruise-ship-the-norwegian-prima-during-its-roundtrip-four-night-inaugural-sailing-from-new-york-city-to-halifax-nova-scotia-in-early-october-1">Norwegian Cruise Line</a> and some back-to-back — since she left the US one year ago.She now estimates she's cruised 50 times in her life. And throughout her time at sea, she's picked up plenty of tips and tricks to maximize her budget and happiness, although it doesn't take much to fulfill the latter."My worst day on a cruise ship is better than my best day on land," Thomas said. "I really like cruising."If you're a first-time, budget, or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-i-recommend-to-solo-single-cruise-travelers-2023-7">solo cruiser</a>, Thomas has nine suggestions for you, from sailing solo to finding the cheapest cruise.<h2 id="b78f6fdf-e287-48d9-9b32-55e887a18ef1">1. Try different cruise lines before building loyalty with one.</h2><div type="image" title="overhead view of pools and lounge chairs on Norwegian Prima" height="1150" width="2300" msid="113786669" hostid="261" sizebytes="332816"></div>Different cruise lines target different demographics, from adult-only Virgin Voyages to Gen X-friendly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/celebrity-cruises-royal-caribbean-perfect-day-cococay-private-island-2024-4">Celebrity Cruises</a>. Thomas suggests travelers wanting to achieve loyalty status should test two or three companies before settling on a favorite.And if you're a budget traveler, your pick doesn't have to be whichever has the cheapest itineraries. If you stay loyal to one brand over an extended period, the extra perks could save you plenty of cash.Thomas said she currently has Sapphire status — the third highest — with Norwegian Cruise Line. With this comes bonuses like free bags of laundry, behind-the-scenes tours, and specialty restaurant vouchers.<h2 id="f9a06e7e-4cb7-4432-a58b-c1472b870f85">2. Go with Norwegian if you frequently cruise solo.</h2><div type="image" title="Norwegian Prima oceanview stateroom" height="1725" width="2300" msid="113786676" hostid="261" sizebytes="342086"></div>Some cruise companies charge solo travelers a "single supplement" fee to compensate for lost revenue on dual occupancy cabins. To avoid this surcharge, book a cruise line that offers single-person staterooms — like Norwegian, which added about 1,000 additional <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/era-solo-cruising-here-norwegian-new-solo-staterooms-photos-2023-10">solo cabins</a> to its fleet in 2024.Thomas calls Norwegian the most <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-i-recommend-to-solo-single-cruise-travelers-2023-7">solo traveler-friendly cruise line</a>. In her experience, the company also hosts daily meet-ups and events for cruisers who go alone.<h2 id="8c0ac64d-a4d7-4352-96c6-b3f47a05bcf4">3. Most port terminals have free WiFi.</h2><div type="image" title="Inside the cruise terminal waiting to board." height="3024" width="4032" msid="113786668" hostid="261" sizebytes="1853298"></div>Live-posting your cruise vacation on Instagram can be costly. WiFi on Norwegian ships starts at $30 a day, while connectivity for social media websites on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-firenze-cruise-ship-cheapest-interior-cabin-shockingly-spacious-2024-5">Carnival ships</a> begins at more than $15 a day.Thomas often books Norwegian's "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/norwegian-cruise-line-free-at-sea-promo-worth-it-review-2023-10">Free at Sea</a>" promotion, which includes five hours of complimentary WiFi on voyages of at least 12 nights. But as a self-described "frugal" person, she won't purchase an internet package if she needs more time.Instead, she'll spend extra time at the cruise terminal, where there's typically free WiFi.<h2 id="53f570ae-c525-44b9-8084-7ec98d2ac684">4. Stay on board during port days.</h2><div type="image" title="Icon of the Seas pool" height="1725" width="2300" msid="113786674" hostid="261" sizebytes="289192"></div>Like many avid cruisers, Thomas suggests staying onboard during port days, when most travelers are on excursions or exploring new destinations.She finds these days to be the most relaxing. The entertainment, restaurants, and bars typically remain open, but the service is more attentive, and the ship is quieter.<h2 id="de050883-87aa-451a-84e4-cc9f6f8e5614">5. Check the deck layout before booking your cabin.</h2><div type="image" title="furniture in my Carnival Firenze cruise cabin" height="1725" width="2300" msid="113786671" hostid="261" sizebytes="197222"></div>Thomas typically opts for an inside <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-overbooked-cruise-ship-travelers-stuck-2023-11">"guaranteed" stateroom</a>. It's the cheapest option but leaves the cruise line responsible for the specific cabin assignment.If you'd rather select your room, Thomas suggests checking the ship's deck plans before making your pick.Ideally, there would be guest accommodations directly above and below yours.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-firenze-cruise-ship-cheapest-interior-cabin-shockingly-spacious-2024-5">Cruise cabin</a> walls can be thin. If you reserve a stateroom under a bar or nightclub, there's a chance you'll be able to hear the festivities well into the night.Similarly, she suggests avoiding cabins near the elevator banks or next to the launderettes.<h2 id="5f23c1d3-601a-4e65-bd11-c3a234acf2bd">6. Join your sailing's Facebook group.</h2><div type="image" title="Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay" height="1725" width="2300" msid="113786670" hostid="261" sizebytes="352534"></div>Most cruises have Facebook groups corresponding to the ship and its sail dates. Thomas suggests joining yours ahead of the voyage.In her experience, many group members will have already done the same itinerary or traveled on the same ship. "There's a lot of information to be tapped out of that group," she said.<h2 id="4ebc961b-20df-40eb-934e-829b25acbe9d">7. Don't fall for upcharges.</h2><div type="image" title="King prawns, lobster, snow crab, branzino fish, snipper fish, and oysters on ice with price tags." height="1725" width="2300" msid="113786678" hostid="261" sizebytes="252122"></div>A massage at the onboard spa may sound enticing, but there's a good chance it'll be more expensive than most on-land options.With that, be wary of the upcharges if you're on an ultra-tight budget.Unfortunately, yes, that means the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-korean-bbq-is-rapidly-expanding-across-the-us-photos-2023-8">fancy steakhouse dinner</a> may not be a financially reasonable splurge."People will say, 'Oh, the food is so good, it's only a $35 upcharge, and I would pay more for the service and food I get on land,'" Thomas said. "But they have to remember they also pay to eat in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheapest-carnival-cruise-vacation-new-ship-extra-fees-food-activities-2024-6">main dining room</a> already."Her one exception is the drinks package, many of which include desirable non-alcoholic options like specialty coffees and smoothies. "For me, it's worth it to pay one price upfront for all your beverages than it is to pay each time," she said.<h2 id="06c8ee1b-32fc-4543-b8b9-86ae8329d91c">8. Consider longer cruises for cheaper fares.</h2><div type="image" title="carnival valor" height="3617" width="4823" msid="113786672" hostid="261" sizebytes="1372968"></div>Most of the longest and most affordable-per-day itineraries are transoceanic or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-cruise-line-longest-itinerary-31-day-transpacific-photos-2023-2">repositioning cruises</a>.These itineraries may have many sea days, but fewer ports means fewer port fees — and "a lot of bang for your buck," Thomas said.According to <a target="_blank" href="https://cruisesheet.com/cruises?end_month=Sep+2025&amp;order=lowest_cpd">data</a> from cheap cruise aggregator Cruise Sheet, 15 of the 20 cheapest itineraries through September 2025 are transoceanic.The least expensive per-day option, a 16-night Carnival sailing from New Orleans to Barcelona, starts at $42 a day.<h2 id="9936c715-100d-49a4-8fa1-e6836bdb0425">9. Short cruises don't always have the flashiest ships.</h2><div type="image" title="Utopia of the Seas on water" height="1465" width="1953" msid="113786679" hostid="261" sizebytes="303524"></div>First-time cruisers often gravitate toward short sailings. While it's a great way to test the waters, Thomas warns that ships operating quick cruises can be dated and lack the same exciting amenities as some of the industry's newer, flashier vessels.Carnival is currently selling 76 four-day-or-less itineraries. Only 15 of the ships on those trips are less than five years old.Similarly, about half of Norwegian's 27 short itineraries would be on its newer vessels.One exception is Royal Caribbean's latest vessel, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-utopia-of-the-seas-vs-icon-new-ship-2024-7">Utopia of the Seas</a>. The world's second-largest cruise liner debuted in July at Florida's Port Canaveral as the company's first mega-ship to be immediately deployed on short three- and four-night sailings.The strategy has paid off — "Utopia is crushing it," Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group's CEO, told investors shortly after the ship's debut.Are you a frequent cruiser, sailing on a residential cruise ship like Villa Vie, or have a tip? Contact the reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:bchang@businessinsider.com">bchang@businessinsider.com</a> or on X @brittanymchang.

This woman has been on 17 cruises in the past year. Here are her 9 tips for first-time, budget, and solo cruisers.

The <keyword id="6358021" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="budget" source="Orion">Budget</keyword> has left the life insurance industry a worried lot with the new tax proposal on higher premium annuity products, a move which the industry fears will hit their top-lines by 10-12 per cent. Leading private life insurer <keyword id="472962" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hdfc-life" source="Orion">HDFC Life</keyword>'s chief executive <keyword id="323997" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vibha-padalkar" source="Orion">Vibha Padalkar</keyword> told PTI that she stares at 10-12 per cent hit on the company's top-line with the Budget proposal to tax life products having annual premium of over Rs 5 lakh. She also fears that the increased tax exemption bracket of Rs 7 lakh and the steep reduction in the maximum surcharge on the affluent to 39 per cent from 42.74 per cent earlier may nudge them to spend more and save less. This can have many cascading impacts on the macro sector by way of a spike in the already high inflation, apart from the life insurance sector which has been facing sales issues since the Covid pandemic as people were not investing in long-term savings. And since the opening up of economic activities, many are on a "revenge spending mode" and not investing in financial products even now. Given the overall increase in incomes, the government should have either ignored the new tax levy on insurance products or it should have imposed tax on products with premium of Rs 10 lakh or upwards. At this level, it will definitely hit the industry hard, she added. The industry was expecting a proposal to offer composite lincence for the insurance sector wherein life insurers would be allowed to renter the health business which they were doing till 2015. Besides, the insurance sector players were also expecting some positive moves on the annuity products front. <keyword id="699506" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tarun-chugh" source="Orion">Tarun Chugh</keyword>, chief executive of <keyword id="138574" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bajaj-allianz-life" source="Orion">Bajaj Allianz Life</keyword>, said the tax proposal on higher value non-Ulip or traditional life policies "is bit of a dampener for the insurance industry and for increasing penetration of insurance and household financial savings." "We as a market still have quite low insurance penetration and there is a need to provide measures and incentives to boost that in the coming years. Also, household financial savings have been falling and insurance is a critical component of that. Household financial savings as percentage of GDP has fallen from 8.1 per cent in FY20 to 6.5 per cent in FY23, he said and warned that discontinuing incentives on insurance plans should put further pressure on household financial savings to some extent. Vighnesh Shahane, chief executive of <keyword id="10687373" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ageas-federal-life-insurance" source="Orion">Ageas Federal Life Insurance</keyword>, said the finance minister has announced that from April income from life insurance policies, other than Ulips, with an aggregate premium amount of Rs 5 lakh per annum or more, which was earlier tax-free, will now be taxable. But she said if the insured person dies in between, the death benefit will continue to remain tax-free. The move is similar to the proposal introduced a couple of years ago which imposed tax on the maturity amount of Ulips if the annual aggregate premium exceeded Rs 2.5 lakh, he said. The proposal is likely to dent the sales of non-par products which have been witnessing strong growth over the last few years, especially during the pandemic. As the cap of Rs 5 lakh is applicable for all life policies across insurers, it may deter individuals from purchasing additional policies if they have exhausted their limit with their primary insurer, he explained. <keyword id="14942220" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="supriya-rathi" source="Orion">Supriya Rathi</keyword>, a wholetime director at <keyword id="2647323" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="anand-rathi-insurance-brokers" source="Orion">Anand Rathi Insurance Brokers</keyword>, opined that the budget has "given bad news for life insurance companies" by limiting the income tax exemption on proceeds of insurance policies.

Life insurers stare at 10-12% hit on top-line as Budget taxes higher premium products

<ul><li>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2022-23 in Parliament on Tuesday.</li><li>This year's budget is indexed towards startups, MSMEs, infrastructure projects, rural revival, digital payment apps, telecom growth and affordable housing.</li><li>We reached out to digital, media and creative agencies to understand how the increased focus on digitalisation, sustainability, blockchain and push to MSME can impact the ad and marketing industry.</li></ul>Be it the introduction of a Digital University to make education accessible across the country or the proposed launch of a Digital currency by the Reserve Bank of India to the government’s focus on promoting digital payments and fintech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it is clear that digital is the way forward. The Union Budget 2022-23 aims to boost the country's digital infrastructure and enable a cashless economy. The government also announced that it will set up an Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) promotion task force to give a push to the animation and gaming industry. To facilitate the roll-out of 5G mobile services in India, FM Sitharaman said that Spectrum auctions will be conducted in 2022. This, in turn, will give impetus to Voice, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality and pave the way for the Metaverse. The Digital Rupee using blockchain will help Indians accept virtual currency and accelerate cryptocurrency exchange in India. Overall, the budget also shows a promise for Electric Vehicle brands, digital payment apps, MSMEs, gaming industry and start-ups. We reached out to digital, media and creative agencies to understand how the increased focus on digitalisation, sustainability and blockchain can impact the advertising and marketing industry. Here’s what they said: Anupriya Acharya, South Asia CEO, Publicis Groupe: The Budget is positive, growth-oriented and with reforms in the right direction. The advent of 5G is sure to transform communications – for our industry it will help creation of better AV, voice and AR/VR experiences. It will also fuel digital payments, streaming entertainment, gaming, e-commerce, tele-medicine etc which in turn will aid more Unicorns! It is also heartening to note that a special Task Force is being set up for AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic) as this will help us build the much needed capacity both for domestic as well as global markets. And then there have been no changes in income-tax slabs for people, which many consumer segments were worried about. This in turn boosts consumer sentiment. From e-passports, to battery swapping for electric vehicles, setting up of optic fiber in the remotest of villages, setting up of a digital university and skilling through an e-portal, the big push is for technology, digital infrastructure and empowerment. Narayan Devanathan, Chief Client Officer, dentsu India: Having gone through the 38-page document of the Finance Minister’s budget speech, I decided to do a search for a couple of words that I thought kept repeating throughout her speech. The words “will be” occurred 110 times in the entire speech. When I narrowed my search to the single word “will,” the number rose to 362. To me, those two words sum up the essence of what this year’s budget is and is not. What it is, is a future-focused budget, aiming at the distant vision of India@100, with a 25-year Amrit Kaal lead-up. What it is not, and what I felt was sorely needed this year of all years, is a present-focused budget. A punishing 2021 for the aam aadmi with more-than-usual expenditure on health and sustenance meant the general populace was looking for immediate relief that would place more cash in their household budgets. That did not happen. Nor was there any extraordinary investment in relieving the healthcare expenditure burden. For all the importance of farmers in upcoming poll-bound states, there was neither major sop nor stimulus given to back the importance of agriculture as a spine if not engine of the economy. Even the MSME sectors were only handed a slightly longer lease of life with the extension of the ECLGS, but there was no real move to stimulate consumption by placing more cash at consumers’ disposal, for example, extending LTA claims to restaurants (and not just accommodation). There is perhaps plenty for the industry to cheer about since it can afford to think about the future and a slightly longer term than just the here and now of survival. The stock market did cheer up even before the FM’s speech, but that only served to underscore the dichotomy between the real health of the population and the Minority of Haves. When the general population probably can’t afford to wait for the benefits of trickle-down economics to reach them in yet another trying year, the dreams and wheels of a consumer-driven economy might move slower than the industry might like, despite the many future-facing and progressive policies announced. Virat Tandon, Group CEO, MullenLowe Lintas Group: The union budget can be termed as consistent with the government's vision to reach the 5 trillion GDP mark by 2025-26. Hence, the strong focus on capex to boost infrastructure that connects and streamlines middle India and provides the engines of entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country. It also shows India's commitment to bring a digital first economy with the 5G rollout planned for next financial year, clarity on India's policy for cryptocurrency, data centres, EVs and our very own digital Rupee. Start-up culture will continue to flourish with the right policy framework. These investments and policies will generate jobs and go a long way in inclusive and sustainable growth for Bharat. Anurag Bansal, COO &amp; CFO, DDB Mudra Group: This Union Budget looks neutral, with no major changes in taxation. The launch of digital Rupee based on blockchain technology is a big move to bring in official cryptocurrency in India. New e-passports with embedded chips would definitely ease overseas travel. Managing the Fiscal deficit while pushing for growth and investments is a great balancing act taken on by the government. It will give a boost to capital investments and infrastructure development. Kartik Sharma - Group Chief Executive Officer – India, Omnicom Media Group: With an impetus on holistic growth, developing infrastructure and job creation across sectors, the 2022 union budget shows promise with a focus on the big picture. Reviving economic growth in the post-pandemic environment has been a focus for this government and this progressive, digital-first, and development-oriented budget reflects that. Not only does it provide a boost to the MSME, agriculture and healthcare verticals, but also signals that investing in infrastructure today will connect India better tomorrow. With an increased focus on digitization, some of the standouts for me were that the budget recognized the current gaps and opportunities within the education sector, and is advancing towards uplifting India with the creation of a digital ecosystem - one that is focused on upskilling and creating more employment; aligned with the dynamic needs of today. It also aims to further strengthen communications in the rural sector and build upon the overall financialization of India. Furthermore, while the rollout of a 5G ecosystem will improve the quality of services, the launch of digital money, supported by blockchain, signals an increasing focus on transparency. With consistency in strategic direction and focus on propelling the MSME and start-up ecosystem, this is a welcoming budget for new-age businesses and a hopeful one that will ultimately lead to a boost in the A&amp;M industry as well. We're at the cusp of the next stage of India's digital revolution and although certain factors like data privacy still remain an area to be delved deeper into, as infrastructure and banking penetrate further into rural India, we’re looking hopeful and strong to transform into a forward-leaning digital economy of tomorrow.” Deepak Mittal, CEO and Co-Founder, TO THE NEW: The government's unprecedented commitment to technology innovation and adoption in this union budget is highly encouraging. Breakthrough developments and futuristic technology such as the introduction of digital currency, the rollout of 5G within FY22-23, and e-passports using embedded chips are exciting for the country's future. Among the measures announced, the budget highlights special incentives to startups and the launch of a progressive, new portal encouraging a digital ecosystem for skilling and upskilling. These initiatives will serve as a successful catalyst for the country's economic growth. Atul Shrivastava, Group CEO &amp; Executive Director at Laqshya Media Group: The union Budget underlined the government’s focus on long-term growth. As India’s economic growth is estimated to be 9.2% in the upcoming financial year so it would be good for all the industry and with overall growth, we are sure advertising &amp; media will also show remarkable growth which was low due to the pandemic in the last couple of years. As announced the National Highways to be expanded by 25,000 km under PM Gati Shakti mission. Highways are adding a new dimension to the growth of the OOH Industry as advertising on the Highways is emerging as very strong choice for brand building for many categories. Prasad Shejale, Founder and CEO, Logicserve Digital: The FM has announced a very progressive budget with an intention to widen India's horizons and outlook in the next five years, leveraging emerging technologies. The Government has addressed some urgent priorities underpinning the digital sector, including the launch of digital currency, API-based skill credentials, digital learning channels, digitization of manual processes, etc. On the digital connectivity front, the 5G spectrum auctions will finally make the dream of a tech-savvy India a reality, further boosting the country's digital infrastructure. Additionally, the launch of a design-led manufacturing scheme for the 5G ecosystem as part of the PLI scheme will ensure affordable broadband and mobile communication even in far-flung areas. The availability of high-speed internet connectivity in urban as well as rural areas will encourage marketers to experiment with blockchain, AR, VR. On the skilling front, initiatives like establishing a digital university will provide an opportunity for youth to learn new skills from the comfort of their homes. The creation of a new task force to build domestic capacity in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) sector is commendable. The overall budget is future tech-enabled and balanced. Ahmed Aftab Naqvi, Global CEO &amp; Co-founder, GOZOOP Group: While there will always be hope for more and better, the continued push towards digital, fintech and the boost for start-up ecosystem with the extension of tax benefits till March 2023 along with capping the surcharge at 15% irrespective of the amount of long term capital gains, will fuel the fire of entrepreneurship in our nation. Varun Duggirala, Entrepreneur, Co-founder of The Glitch, Author, Content Creator and a Podcaster: The twin announcements of the digital rupee and the taxation on ‘virtual digital assets’ is clearly a focused drive from the government to regulate the crypto space. What needs to be seen is how this plays out because regulating a decentralized space is a paradox in itself. Another point that stood out for me was the national mental health program. More than anything else it signifies the normalizing of mental health as a legitimate area of focus for us as a nation. Shrenik Gandhi, CEO and Co-founder, White Rivers Media: In my opinion, it is a fairly balanced budget. There is sufficient emphasis being laid on up-skilling, and making right investments in tech which is the need of the hour. The previous budget was more inclined towards setting up a strong foundation in the digital space, and this one is essentially focused on making further advancements. Besides, Digital Rupee being introduced is indeed, a great news across sectors and it will be exciting to finally watch it become a reality. It can prove to be a game-changer in India's future as transactions will become even more instantaneous. Speaking of the expected benefits, let’s not forget that this is India’s #Budget and not a Big Bazaar scheme announcement. So, the immediate benefit may not be seen right now but considering the long-term narrative, it is a fairly established budget. Sahil Chopra, Founder &amp; CEO- iCubesWire: While the general trend of the <keyword id="12134566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-budget-2022" source="Orion">union budget 2022</keyword> has its emphasis on ease of doing business, I strongly believe, data and digital occupied the centerpiece of the budget. The plans to focus and promote the fintech and digital economy are a very strong positive move. New age technologies, keeping data and digital at heart of it will allow the tech enablers to transform multiple industries. For MSMEs, the government has plans to outlay Rs 2 trillion which is again a welcoming move that will help in enhancing startups as well as entrepreneurial opportunities for all. Besides, extension on tax exemption to startups and promotion of startups to facilitate ‘Drone Shakti’ through varied applications and drones as a service is also encouraging. The ambitious optical fibre to the villages under PPP in 2022-23 shall get the next 100M in the Digital Universe soon. To sum up, it’s a positive budget for the digital sector which has always vouched for a strong digital infrastructure in the country." Chetan Asher, Founder and CEO, Tonic Worldwide: The budget clearly will help the country march towards digital adoption and transformation in many sectors. With 5G rollout on the cards we will see an acceleration across the board. The digital rupee will put India right up on the map of advanced digital economies. Clarity on Digital assets and crypto will give it new impetus. All of these initiatives will help us emerge as leaders in adoption and growth of blockchain technology Ambika Sharma, Founder &amp; MD, Pulp Strategy: The Budget is interesting as the Government has focused on all sectors. The financial support for the digital payments ecosystem is a welcome move and further reaffirms the Government of India's digital banking push. This push on digitization will make way for more inclusion in the ecosystem. The focus on 'Ease of doing business is a great step, as it will further promote entrepreneurship in the economy” . The 2022-23 budget finely balanced fiscal retreat with supporting economic recovery. The budget focused on a familiar strategy of driving capital expenditure to drive growth, to crowd in private investment through higher public spending. Although markets could be disappointed with a higher fiscal deficit of 6.4% of GDP for FY23 than expected, it is perhaps prudent to not undertake aggressive fiscal consolidation at this nascent stage of recovery. While elevated market borrowings are likely to pressurize bond yields, the inclusion of green bonds in the borrowing plan is an interesting innovation. In terms of specific policy announcements, the move towards self-reliance through protection for domestic manufacturers (change in custom and import duties) aligns with the long-term goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The government has extended the startup tax holiday and concessional tax for manufacturing startups by a year. While that was on the cards, it doesn’t address the core need of startups to be given a longer tax holiday of 5 years as required. One of the most encouraging aspects of the budget has been the announcement to set up an AVGC (animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics) promotion task force to plan and build domestic capacity for serving domestic as well as global markets. Loss from the transfer of virtual digital assets cannot be set off against any other income. The creation of a unified logistics platform and the developments of 100 new cargo terminals in the next three years are significant steps in improving the supply chain ecosystem in the country. Infrastructure status given to Data Centers will provide a huge boost to the fast-evolving digital environment of the country. The fiscal outcome is broadly in line with our expectations with the government having continued its focus on infrastructure and rural demand. Himanshu Arya, Founder and CEO, Grapes: The Union Budget for the financial year 2022-23 has set the stage with an invigorated focus on ramping up the process of the digital revolution. The government’s focus on the digital ecosystem is a progressive move to render an inclusive landscape for job openings and entrepreneurial opportunities. The extension of tax incentives for startups for one more year will give a slight relief to the industry. I hope that the cash flow improves in the market. The Union Budget has various encouraging initiatives and is directed towards a more viable and flexible business ecosystem that completely aligns with the ideologies of Make in India. Siddharth Devnani, Co-Founder &amp; Director, SoCheers: Digital and digitization stood out as a strong overall trend in the Union Budget 2022. The budget put a great focus on long-term growth and given how intricately ‘digital’ was integrated into several measures, it can be seen as an integral part of that growth. Implementation of the Central Bank digital currency will definitively aid the growth of digital economy and finance in the country, opening doors for digital acceleration across sectors. The announcement about the new digital university and the renewed focus on digital learning, further presents an opportunity, especially to the fast-evolving Educational Technology sector. However, a definite plan on how this will pan out for all corners of India remains to be seen. Moreover, digital will also be leveraged in the set-up and operation of tele-mental health centres, providing the necessary focus and access to mental health services to the Indian masses. This comes as one of the most welcome move as it’ll contribute infinitely to the nation’s long-term growth.

The advertising industry voices its enthusiasm about the government’s steps towards boosting digital ecosystem in Union Budget 2022-23

<ul><li>Firms have an option to pay income tax at 22% if they give up exemptions or incentives.</li><li>The effective tax rate will come down sharply to 25.7% boosting profitability of companies.</li><li>Any new domestic company incorporated on or after Oct 1, 2019, making fresh investment in manufacturing, has an option to pay income tax at 15%.</li><li>Foreign investors have been exempted from the additional surcharge imposed in the latest budget.</li><li> Minimum Alternate Tax reduced from existing 18.5% to 15%.</li><li>No tax on share buybacks announced before July 5, 2019.</li><li>Money spent on state-run startup incubators or any central or state government agency will count as CSR.</li><li>The government has given up ₹1.45 trillion in revenue to provide today's stimulus.</li></ul> Diwali has come early for financial investors and corporates in India as the government acts decisively to battle the economic slowdown. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unleashed the market's animal spirits with a massive stimulus to end the country's economic downturn. The government has given up ₹1.45 trillion in revenue that will leave more money in the hands of businesses to invest and revive the economy. Stock markets in India are on cloud nine hoping for more profits due to lower taxes. Sensex has jumped over 5%, the sharpest single day in many years. The Bank Nifty went up over 200o points at one point. These are the top announcements made by Sitharaman in a press conference that has sparked a historic rally in Indian stock markets. <ol><li>Firms have an option to pay income tax at 22% if they give up exemptions or incentives.</li><li>The effective tax rate will come down sharply to 25.7% boosting profitability of companies.</li><li>Any new domestic company incorporated on or after Oct 1, 2019, making fresh investment in manufacturing, has an option to pay income tax at 15%.</li><li>Foreign investors have been exempted from the additional surcharge imposed in the latest budget.</li><li>Minimum Alternate Tax reduced from existing 18.5% to 15% before surcharge.</li><li>No tax on share buybacks announced before July 5, 2019.</li><li>Money spent on state-run startup incubators or any central or state government agency will count as CSR.</li></ol> "This is the budget that counts," veteran investor Vallabh Bhanshali told a television channel to highlight that the move by the Indian government has sent out the right signal to the markets and global investors. "My net investments are the highest ever, more than 100%," said the Singapore-based Samir Arora of Helios Capital, and added that the market rally following this decision "will not be just 5-7%. It will be much bigger than that." Indian economy, which was the world's fastest-growing economy until recently, had slipped to a quarterly growth rate of 5%, the slowest in last six years. A broad-based slowdown across sectors from automobiles to textiles to fast-moving consumer goods indicated a worsening health of the economy. There are those who believe that this is yet another move that is targeting the wrong end of the economy. "This is yet another supply-side measure whereas the real slowdown is on the demand side," renowned economist Pronab Sen told a TV channel adding that the impact of the announcements may be limited in boosting consumption. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/nirmala-sitharam-address-on-india-economic-stimulus-live-updates-and-highlights/articleshow/70804926.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India unveils economic stimulus-- from homes to cars to banks to infrastructure to equity markets</a>

India cuts corporate tax rates to end the economic spiral and unleash the market's animal spirits

<ul><li>The market value of Indian shares fell sharply since the latest Union Budget, which proposed additional tax on super rich investors.</li><li>The total loss of market value of shares from July 5 until August 23 is pegged at ₹ 14.7 trillion whereas the expected tax revenue from the additional surcharge was a mere ₹14 billion.</li><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> rolled back the surcharge on Friday to stem the market meltdown and revive investments.</li></ul>Whether it is while buying a car or a house, or while making choosing a stock or a mutual fund over another, or even while asking someone out for a date-- weighing the likely risks against the potential reward would seem like a matter of instinct. However, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, or her team, particularly any person who recommended the additional surcharge on super-rich investors, seemed to have beat his or her own instinct. The damage was borne by investors as stocks in both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (<keyword id="6354646" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nse">NSE</keyword>)-- including the Sensex and the Nifty-- went tumbling over the next 49 days. And the rupee became the <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/the-impact-of-rupee-fall-on-you/story-aV83jz1OaFm2Hw5uAPHdcI.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">worst performing currency in Asia</a> in August. The latest budget for the financial year ending March 2020 imposed an additional tax on the profit made from shares by the country's super rich and foreign portfolio investors (FPI) got caught in the crossfire. The subsequent anger and market sell-off has wiped off billions of rupees in share market wealth since then as foreign investors rushed for the exit. Most foreign portfolio investors in India operate as non-corporate entities such as trusts and associations, which are taxed like individuals and therefore the additional tax would fall on them. Foreign investors folded many of their investments and pulled money out in hordes-- nearly ₹22.5 billion since the budget day. The value of shares in the India fell by a whopping ₹14.7 trillion from July 5 to August 23. However, on Friday (August 23), when Sitharaman decided to rollback the levy on investors, the Revenue Secretary, Ajay Bhushan Pandey, revealed that the withdrawal will cost the government just ₹14 billion. SEE ALSO: 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="70806717" title="The higher tax on India's super rich continues-- only the capital gains are exempt" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>













 "Tax rates for FPIs will come down by up to 7%, back to the pre-budget levels, and this removes the anomaly created by the Budget 2019,” Rajesh Gandhi, a partner at Deloitte India, told the Economic Times. But the damage had already been done. The rupee has fallen to its lowest level since December 2018 and much of it has to do with foreign investors pulling out dollars in haste. A weaker rupee would mean India will have to pay more for crude oil and that in turn will increases prices of other essential items. And India imports over 80% of all the crude oil it needs. SEE ALSO: 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="70652166" title="The Indian rupee is falling fast-- and there are both winners and losers" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>













 It may be argued that not all the loss in market value is due to the surcharge. Donald Trump's trade war with China had a role to play too. However, that has been unravelling for many months now and the risks were palpable. Pushing investors, who were already risk averse, to pay more tax was entirely avoidable. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/fm-to-provide-public-sector-banks-with-rs-70000-crore/articleshow/70806189.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Indian government to make loans easier and cheaper with a ₹70,000 crore gift to banks</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/nirmala-sitharam-address-on-india-economic-stimulus-live-updates-and-highlights/articleshow/70804926.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India unveils economic stimulus-- from homes to cars to banks to infrastructure to equity markets</a>

India lost ₹15 trillion trying to make ₹14 billion from tax surcharge on investors

<ul><li>Foreign investors had pulled out billions from India's equity market ever since the tax surcharge was announced in the latest budget.</li><li>The Narendra Modi government also announced a slew of measures including tax reforms to revive a sluggish economy.</li><li><keyword id="7706673" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> and her team addressed a press conference to restore the faith in the economy and the government.</li><li>Reform is a continuous process, she said in her opening remarks.</li></ul>In a bid to restore the faith in the Indian economy and the Narendra Modi government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured the investors that the government respects wealth creators and declared that the surcharge on foreign and domestic equity investors has been rolled back. The benefit of the rollback is not available to the high net worth individuals. They will continue to pay the additional surcharge. However, the Finance Minister said that the government will review the decision in 2022, the seventy-fifth year of Indian independence. The latest budget for the financial year ending March 2020 imposed an additional tax on the country's super rich and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) got caught in the crossfire. The subsequent anger and market sell-off has wiped off billions of rupees in share market wealth since then as foreign investors rushed for the exit. Most foreign portfolio investors in India operate as non-corporate entities such as trusts and associations, which are taxed like individuals and therefore the additional tax would fall on them. The government will lose ₹1,400 crore by rolling back the additional surcharge imposed in the latest budget. For now, the capital gains on trading of shares by foreign and domestic investors will be exempt but the country's super rich will continue to pay the additional levy on their total taxable incomes. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/nirmala-sitharam-address-on-india-economic-stimulus-live-updates-and-highlights/articleshow/70804926.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India unveils economic stimulus-- from homes to cars to banks to infrastructure to equity markets</a>

The higher tax on India's super rich continues-- only the capital gains are exempt

<ul><li>As foreign investors in Indian share market pull out money thick and fast, the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> government is in damage control mode.</li><li>Reports that the surcharge on foreign investors in Indian share market may be withdrawn led to a spike in Indian markets.</li><li>Sensex surged over 638 points to clock its sharpest single-day surge in 11 weeks.</li></ul> Reports that the <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/india-stocks/sensex-nifty-jump-most-in-11-weeks-on-reports-government-planning-sops-for-investors-idINKCN1UY0DY" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">surcharge on foreign investors</a> in Indian share market may be withdrawn led to a spike in Indian markets. Sensex surged over 638 points to clock its sharpest single-day surge in 11 weeks. Adding to the cheer was speculation that the government may review the existing tax on long-term capital gains too. The latest budget for the financial year ending March 2020 imposed an additional tax on the country's super rich and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) got caught in the crossfire. The subsequent anger and market sell-off has wiped off billions of rupees in share market wealth in just about a month as foreign investors rushed for the exit. Most foreign portfolio investors in India operate as non-corporate entities such as trusts and associations, which are taxed like individuals and therefore the additional tax would fall on them. However, now the Prime Minister's office has reportedly stepped in. The Finance Ministry under Nirmala Sitharaman has been asked to quickly review the tax proposal on FPIs and come out with a solution that reduces the impact of new taxation on these institutional investors, according to a report by IANS, a news agency. 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[
<div class="flourish-embed" data-src="visualisation/577778"></div>
]]></cdata></div>











 On the table is a proposal to exempt all income generated by FPIs till the presentation of the Union Budget on July 5 from the surcharge. To be specific, all profits made between April 1 and July 5 this year may not face the additional tax if the proposal is accepted. This will reduce the impact of the new taxation by almost a third, the IANS report estimated. Sources said that the ministry may announce the changes this week after the monetary policy review by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 7. On its part, the RBI is expected by experts to reduce the policy rates by 25 basis points to improve liquidity in the market and kickstart the investment cycle by the private sector. However, if the government misses the opportunity to get the proposal approved before the ongoing Parliament session ends, it will either have to wait for the next session in November or pass an ordinance. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/rahul-bajaj-adi-godrej-and-big-investors-cry-against-modis-budget-and-policies/articleshow/70450878.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Narendra Modi has a new problem – big corporates and moneybags are angry </a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/ikea-mumbai-store-launch-to-take-on-pepperfry-urban-ladder-and-flipkart/articleshow/70563420.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Ikea will make its Mumbai debut ‘very shortly’, says India chief as the first store in Hyderabad turns a year old</a>

Here's why Sensex clocked its sharpest spike in 11 weeks today

<ul><li>As foreign investors in Indian share market pull out money thick and fast, the Narendra Modi government is in damage control mode.</li><li>Prime Minister's office has reportedly asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to exempt the additional levy on profits made by foreign investors between April 1 and July 5.</li><li>This may reduce the burden on investors by a third, according to the report.</li><li>The surcharge had led to a sharp fall in stocks wiping out billions in market capitalisation.</li></ul>The latest budget for the financial year ending March 2020 imposed an additional tax on the country's super rich and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) got caught in the crossfire. The subsequent anger and market sell-off has wiped off billions of rupees in share market wealth in just about a month as foreign investors rushed for the exit. Most foreign portfolio investors in India operate as non-corporate entities such as trusts and associations, which are taxed like individuals and therefore the additional tax would fall on them. However, now the Prime Minister's office has reportedly stepped in. The Finance Ministry under Nirmala Sitharaman has been asked to quickly review the tax proposal on FPIs and come out with a solution that reduces the impact of new taxation on these institutional investors, according to a report by IANS, a news agency. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[
<div class="flourish-embed" data-src="visualisation/573294"></div>
]]></cdata></div>

























































































































































































































































 On the table is a proposal to exempt all income generated by FPIs till the presentation of the Union Budget on July 5 from the surcharge. To be specific, all profits made between April 1 and July 5 this year may not face the additional tax if the proposal is accepted. This will reduce the impact of the new taxation by almost a third, the report estimated. Sources said that the ministry may announce the changes this week after the monetary policy review by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 7. On its part, the RBI is expected by experts to reduce the policy rates by 25 basis points to improve liquidity in the market and kickstart the investment cycle by the private sector. However, if the government misses the opportunity to get the proposal approved before the ongoing Parliament session ends, it will either have to wait for the next session in November or pass an ordinance. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/rahul-bajaj-adi-godrej-and-big-investors-cry-against-modis-budget-and-policies/articleshow/70450878.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Narendra Modi has a new problem – big corporates and moneybags are angry</a>

You Searched For "budget surcharge" and got 8 results

This woman has been on 17 cruises in the past year. Here are her 9 tips for first-time, budget, and solo cruisers.

Brittany Chang

Life insurers stare at 10-12% hit on top-line as Budget taxes higher premium products

PTI

The advertising industry voices its enthusiasm about the government’s steps towards boosting digital ecosystem in Union Budget 2022-23

BI India Partner

India cuts corporate tax rates to end the economic spiral and unleash the market's animal spirits

Sriram Iyer

India lost ₹15 trillion trying to make ₹14 billion from tax surcharge on investors

Sriram Iyer

The higher tax on India's super rich continues-- only the capital gains are exempt

Sriram Iyer

Here's why Sensex clocked its sharpest spike in 11 weeks today

Sriram Iyer

Foreign investors in India may get some relief from tax surcharge after Prime Minister's intervention

Sriram Iyer

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides