Economic News Today – 22 September 2026 | Top Business & Financial News
Financial & Business News
GST Cut Lifts First-Time Car Buyers To 54%.
Let’s start with today’s economic and business news — after GST on small cars dropped from 28% to 18%, first-time buyers’ share at Maruti jumped from 42% to 54%, making a first car far more affordable for ordinary families.
India-New Zealand FTA Takes Effect October 20.
The India-New Zealand free trade agreement kicks in on October 20, giving exporters duty-free access from day one and targeting ₹35,000 crore in trade by 2030 — a boost that could create more textile and pharma jobs.
RBI’s FCNR Window Draws $143.5 Billion.
Banks raised $143.5 billion through the RBI’s special FCNR swap window, five times more than in 2013, an inflow that could strengthen the rupee and help keep inflation in check.
UPI Subsidy On Small Payments May End.
After MDR kicked in on UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000, the government may end subsidies on smaller UPI transactions too, and retailers worry the 0.4% charge could get passed on to customers.
CG Semi To Open Second Chip Unit By 2028.
Murugappa Group’s CG Semi will build a second unit at its Sanand chip-packaging plant with a ₹7,600 crore investment by early 2028, a move expected to create local semiconductor jobs and skilled training.
RBI Weighs Anup Bagchi For HDFC Bank CEO.
RBI has sought feedback from Irda and ICICI Bank on Anup Bagchi for HDFC Bank’s top job, with the incumbent CEO’s term ending October 26 — leadership stability at the bank matters to crores of customers.
Noel Tata Floats Splitting Tata Sons.
Noel Tata has suggested splitting Tata Sons into separate parts instead of listing it, a restructuring that could affect the group’s companies’ borrowing costs and governance.
RBI Tightens Bank Market-Risk Capital Rules.
RBI’s new market-risk capital rules stop banks from reclassifying instruments between trading and banking books just to save capital, a change meant to make the banking system safer for depositors.
NSE’s ₹22,561 Crore IPO Sees 5.71x Demand.
National Stock Exchange’s ₹22,561 crore IPO was subscribed 5.71 times, drawing bids worth over ₹90,000 crore, giving retail investors a stake in the country’s largest exchange.
Ichor Biologics To Raise Up To $100 Million.
Hyderabad’s Ichor Biologics is in talks to raise $80 to $100 million from private equity, funding cheaper plasma-protein production that could improve access to essential medicines for patients.
Inox Clean Energy Nears ₹2,500 Crore Athena Buy.
Inox Clean Energy is close to buying Athena Renewables for ₹2,500 crore, a deal that would take its solar capacity to nearly 5 GW and could boost the supply of cheaper clean power.
Bharat Biotech Bets On New Vaccines, Gene Therapy.
Bharat Biotech is working on Nipah, Ebola, TB and chikungunya vaccines alongside cell and gene therapy, and is trying to make gene therapy affordable for middle-class patients.
Angel One Founder Buys ₹711 Crore Juhu Tower.
Angel One founder Dinesh Thakkar has bought an entire luxury tower in Mumbai’s Juhu for ₹711 crore, the year’s biggest single residential deal, setting a new benchmark for property prices in the area.
Govt Cracks Down On Fake Festive-Season Goods.
The government is tightening checks on fake and smuggled goods sold online ahead of the festive season, with CBIC working alongside e-commerce platforms to identify suspicious sellers and protect customers.
General News
Pakistan Airstrikes Hit Afghanistan Before UNGA.
Now, let’s move to today’s general news — Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan ahead of the UNGA meeting, with Kabul saying three civilians were killed while Islamabad claims 28 militants were killed, raising fears of regional instability.
Supreme Court To Urgently Hear Mamata’s Plea.
The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently list Mamata Banerjee’s petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision to freeze TMC’s name and symbol, a matter that affects voters ahead of the bypolls.
Court Revives FIR Case Against Sonia Gandhi.
A Delhi court has set aside an order refusing an FIR against Sonia Gandhi over allegations she became a voter before acquiring citizenship, and sent the matter back for a fresh hearing.
IIT Dropouts Among Disadvantaged Students Top 13,600.
Amid a spate of student suicides at IITs, a National Task Force report found more than 13,600 students from disadvantaged communities dropped out of premier institutes between 2018 and 2023, underlining the need for stronger mental-health support.
US Admits Deploying Weapons In Space.
The US has for the first time acknowledged deploying weapons in space, raising fears of the militarisation of space, with Moscow and Beijing urging Washington to stop.
Punjab Opposition Unites Against Drug Abuse.
Ahead of Punjab’s elections, Congress, SAD and BJP have formed a joint 21-member committee and announced an indefinite sit-in against drug abuse outside CM Bhagwant Mann’s Sangrur residence.
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