The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) has welcomed the launch of the Next Generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, calling it a "transformative move" that will make medicines more affordable and accessible.

With GST removed from 36 medicines and capped at 5 per cent on most others, IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain described the step as a boost for self-reliance and the healthcare ecosystem.

The Indian Rupee opened weaker on Monday as traders weighed the implications of US President Donald Trump's new $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

The domestic currency opened 7 paise lower at 88.17 against the dollar on Monday, according to Bloomberg. The Rupee has slipped 3.15 per cent in the current financial year and 3.02 per cent in 2025 so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 5 pm today, September 21. This comes a day before the rollout of the GST reforms announced by the Cabinet, though the subject of the Prime Minister's address is yet to be known.

The GST Council had approved a two-tier rate structure of 5 and 18 per cent, which will be implemented from September 22 - the first day of Navratri. Besides, a compensation cess of 40 per cent will also be levied on luxury items and demerit or sin goods.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the rollout of GST 2.0 will mark the start of a “bachat utsav” (savings festival) across the country, promising lower prices, simpler compliance, and stronger investment flows.

“From tomorrow in the nation, ‘GST bachat utsav’ will commence. Your savings will increase and you will be able to buy your favourite things. ‘GST bachat utsav’ will benefit all sections of the society,” PM Modi said in a televised address.

Several Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge, slammed the government after US President Donald Trump's administration announced a steep hike in H-1B visa fees to $100,000, a move expected to hit Indian workers the hardest.

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi shared a Business Standard report on the H-1B visa hike on X, saying: “I repeat, India has a weak PM.”

The US' decision to introduce an annual fee of $100,000 on every H-1B visa application will negatively impact Indian technology professionals working in the country and IT services companies as business continuity will be disrupted, IT industry body Nasscom said on Saturday.

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday said the Telangana government has reimbursed over Rs 7,400 crore to the State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) towards women's free travel.

Speaking at a programme organised to distribute interest-free loans to Women's Self-Help Groups.

Tribal farmers in Maharashtra will soon be able to lease their land to private entities for agricultural purposes or mineral excavation, which will enable them to generate additional income, state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said.

Officials said the move would not only provide tribals an opportunity to have a steady source of income but also safeguard their ownership rights.

The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, potentially dealing a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China.

Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration.

Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog and former G20 sherpa, Amitabh Kant, on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee will choke US innovation and support India's growth.

In an X post, Kant said, "Donald Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee will choke US innovation and turbocharge India’s.

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