Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
INDIA boosted healthcare spending by 135 per cent and lifted caps on foreign investment in its vast insurance market on Monday(1) to help revive an economy that suffered its deepest recorded slump as a result of the pandemic.
Delivering a budget statement to parliament, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman projected a fiscal deficit of 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product for 2021/22, higher than the 5.5 per cent forecast by a recent Reuters poll of economists.
The current year was expected to end with a deficit of 9.5 per cent, she said, well up from the 7 per cent expected earlier.
Prime minister Narendra Modi said the budget was aimed at creating 'wealth and wellness' in a country that is battling the world's second highest coronavirus caseload after the US.
India currently spends about 1 per cent of GDP on health, among the lowest for any major economy.
Sitharaman proposed increasing healthcare spending to Rs 2.2 trillion ($30.2 billion) to help improve public health systems and fund a huge vaccination drive to immunise 1.3 billion people.
"All of us decided to give impetus to the economy and that impetus, we thought, would be qualitatively spent and give necessary demand push if we choose to spend big on infrastructure," Sitharaman told reporters after the presentation of the budget in parliament.
Unlike other countries, India refrained from announcing a big stimulus, offering greater liquidity to firms instead, and held off using its fiscal firepower until curbs to contain the virus were lifted.
The government estimates the economy will contract 7.7 per cent in the current fiscal year ending in March, in what would be the biggest fall ever recorded. However, it foresees a strong recovery in 2021/2022 with growth of 11 per cent.
That would make it the world's fastest growing major economy ahead of China's projected 8.1 per cent growth, but the government said it would take the economy two years to reach pre-pandemic levels.
"In a time of unprecedented economic stress, the government's responsibility was to spend enough to revive the economy or else face enormous human suffering," said Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra group, an autos to technology conglomerate.
"So I had one expectation from this budget: that we should be very liberal in terms of the targeted fiscal deficit. Box ticked."
Markets surge
India's main stock indexes surged. The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index was 4.7 per cent higher in its best performance on budget day in at least two decades. The S&P BSE Sensex climbed 5 per cent.
But, bond yields jumped after the government announced plans to raise additional funds from the market over the next two months.
Sitharaman said the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap for the insurance sector would be increased to 74 per cent from the current 49 per cent.
To bridge some of the deficit, the government plans to sell its stake in the state run companies and banks including IDBI bank, an insurance company and oil companies. It also wants to sell state firms' surplus land.
Gene Fang, associate managing director, sovereign risk group, Moody's Investors Service, said the budget announcements did not change the credit rating agency's stance on India. Moody's rates Indian sovereign debt at 'Baa3' - the bottom rung of investment grade ratings - with a 'negative' outlook.
UK becomes BYD’s biggest market outside China after record September sales
Seal U plug-in hybrid SUV drives majority of the brand’s growth
Tariff-free access gives Chinese EV maker a major edge over EU and US rivals
BYD’s record-breaking month in the UK
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has reported an 880% year-on-year surge in UK sales, marking its strongest performance outside China. The company sold 11,271 cars in September, with its plug-in hybrid SUV, the Seal U, accounting for most of the demand.
The sales boom comes as the UK recorded its highest-ever electric vehicle (EV) registrations, reflecting growing consumer interest and an expanding EV infrastructure. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), nearly 73,000 pure battery electric vehicles were sold last month, alongside even faster growth in plug-in hybrids.
UK’s tariff-free status boosts Chinese EV makers
The UK’s appeal for Chinese automakers such as BYD lies in its tariff-free market access, a contrast to the European Union and United States, which have imposed steep levies on Chinese EV imports. In October last year, the EU announced tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicles to protect European manufacturers from what it described as state-subsidised competition.
Chinese brands have been largely blocked from the US market due to tariffs backed by both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. This has made Britain a rare open field for Chinese electric car makers to expand aggressively.
Market share and retail expansion
BYD’s share of the UK market climbed to 3.6% in September, placing it firmly among the country’s leading EV sellers. Its Seal U model ranked in the UK’s top ten best-selling cars of the month, alongside established names such as the Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai.
BYD’s UK general manager, Bono Ge, described the company’s prospects in Britain as “hugely exciting”, noting that the brand has just opened its 100th retail outlet. The firm plans to roll out more hybrid and electric models in the coming months to maintain its growth momentum.
Mixed picture for UK’s EV market
Despite record sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, petrol and diesel models still accounted for more than half of all new registrations in September, showing that the UK’s transition to full electrification remains in progress.
Earlier this year, the UK government introduced a £650m incentive package to boost EV adoption, offering car buyers discounts of up to £3,750 on brands such as Nissan, Peugeot and Vauxhall. However, the scheme excludes Chinese-made vehicles, citing emissions concerns linked to their production.
BYD pushes back on subsidy exclusion
BYD criticised the UK’s decision to exclude its models from the incentive programme, warning that it could distort competition and harm the wider EV market in the long run.
Even as domestic sales slow in China, BYD continues to outperform rivals globally. Its overall sales now surpass those of US electric carmaker Tesla and European brands including Jaguar and BMW, underscoring China’s growing dominance in the global electric vehicle industry.
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A logo is pictured outside a Jaguar Land Rover new car show room in Tonbridge, south east England.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) is expected to restart some production this week after a cyber-attack forced the company to suspend operations and send workers home.
Manufacturing will first resume at JLR’s engine plant in Wolverhampton, though it may take several weeks for all sites to return to full capacity, BBC reported.
Work at JLR’s three UK factories in the West Midlands and Merseyside had been halted since the late August attack, which shut down IT systems and stopped vehicle production and parts distribution.
The hack, claimed by a group calling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters, is estimated to have cost the company at least £50 million a week.
The government has guaranteed a £1.5 billion loan to help JLR support its parts and service suppliers.
Some suppliers, including small firms like Genex UK, have struggled financially and laid off staff during the shutdown.
Evtec Group chairman David Roberts told the BBC the stoppage had severely affected communities in the West Midlands.
JLR said its recovery programme was “firmly under way,” with its global parts logistics centre “returning to full operations.” Experts said production will resume gradually as supply chains recover.
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UK trial tests power of consumers against global tech giants
Around 29 million UK smartphone users could be eligible for compensation
Which? is suing Qualcomm for allegedly inflating handset prices
The case could see a £480m payout if the consumer group wins
Consumer group takes Qualcomm to court
Millions of Apple and Samsung users across the UK may soon benefit from a £480 million compensation claim, as consumer watchdog Which? takes chipmaker Qualcomm to court over alleged anti-competitive behaviour.
The case, which opened on Monday at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, centres on accusations that Qualcomm charged inflated prices and licensing fees for key smartphone components, forcing manufacturers to pass on the extra costs to consumers.
Who could benefit
If Which? succeeds, around 29 million consumers who bought an Apple or Samsung handset between 1 October 2015 and 9 January 2024 could each receive an estimated £17 per phone.
The claim covers nearly a decade of smartphone purchases and is part of an effort to ensure that major corporations are held accountable for pricing practices that may have unfairly affected customers.
Allegations of market abuse
Which? alleges that Qualcomm abused its dominant market position by forcing Apple and Samsung to agree to inflated terms for chips essential to the operation of their smartphones.
The tribunal will first determine whether Qualcomm held such power and whether it misused it. If the court finds in favour of Which?, a second phase will follow to decide the size and distribution of compensation.
Qualcomm denies the claims
Qualcomm, one of the world’s largest producers of mobile processors, has rejected the allegations, calling the case “baseless”. The company has previously faced similar scrutiny, including an EU fine for antitrust violations and an unsuccessful case by the US Federal Trade Commission, which was dismissed in 2020.
A test of consumer power
Anabel Hoult, Chief Executive of Which?, described the trial as “a huge moment” for consumers:
“It shows how the power of consumers, backed by Which?, can be used to hold the biggest companies to account if they abuse their dominant position.”
With proceedings expected to last five weeks, the case could mark a major milestone for collective consumer rights in the UK and a warning to tech giants about the cost of market dominance.
Côte Restaurant Group has been acquired by the Karali Group, a family-owned franchise business led by Salim and Karim Janmohamed.
The sale comes a month after Côte’s private equity owner, Partners Group, was reported to be considering injecting new capital into the business rather than pursuing a sale, according to The Caterer.
Discussions over a potential sale began during the summer when advisers were appointed to explore future options for the casual dining brand.
Following the acquisition, Côte chief executive Emma Dinnis said: “I am proud to have led the brilliant Côte team to a sale that is a huge positive for all involved. The sector continues to face challenges, but with the strength of our people and a clear vision, I’m confident we’ll ensure Côte remains everyone’s favourite brasserie. With a delicious new menu amplifying what we do best and exciting plans for the future, we will continue to transform and grow this brand.”
Karim and Salim Janmohamed said, as reported by The Caterer: “We have long admired the much-loved Côte Brasserie and are thrilled to welcome this fantastic brand into our growing portfolio. We are looking forward to working with both management and the broader team on the exciting plans for the brand and welcome them all individually to the Karali family. We extend our gratitude to our trusted advisors from Freeths and PKF Smith Cooper.”
Karali Group operates across the quick-service restaurant, casual dining and café sectors.
It was previously the largest UK franchisee of Burger King before exiting all 74 sites in 2022. Last year, it became the UK’s largest Taco Bell operator after purchasing 46 restaurants from a single franchisee.
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Starmer and Modi shake hands during a bilateral meeting in the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazil, on November 18, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
Keir Starmer to visit India on October 8-9 for first official trip as prime minister.
Starmer and Modi to review India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and roadmap ‘Vision 2035’.
Leaders to discuss trade, technology, defence, climate, and economic cooperation under CETA.
Visit follows Modi’s July 2025 UK trip where India and UK signed free trade agreement.
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer will make his first official visit to India on October 8-9 at the invitation of prime minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday.
The MEA said that on October 9 in Mumbai, the two prime ministers will review progress in various areas of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with ‘Vision 2035’.
The 10-year roadmap focuses on key areas including trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education, and people-to-people relations.
Both leaders will also meet business and industry representatives to discuss opportunities under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), described by MEA as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership. The ministry said Starmer and Modi “will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.”
The two prime ministers will attend the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai and deliver keynote addresses. They will also engage with industry experts, policymakers, and innovators.
The visit will build on the momentum generated by Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK on July 23-24, 2025, and will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership, according to MEA.
Britain and India signed a free trade agreement in July during Modi’s visit to the UK.
The deal, signed in the presence of Modi and Starmer, aims to reduce tariffs on goods such as textiles, whisky, and cars, and expand market access for businesses.
The agreement was officially signed by India’s minister of commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal, and the UK secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds, India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying said in a release.
CETA provides zero-duty access on 99 per cent of tariff lines and opens up several key service sectors.
For the marine sector, the agreement removes import tariffs on a range of seafood products, enhancing the competitiveness of Indian exporters in the UK market.
The agreement is expected to benefit exports of shrimp, frozen fish, and value-added marine products, along with labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery.
India’s main seafood exports to the UK include Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), frozen squid, lobsters, frozen pomfret, and black tiger shrimp. These products are expected to gain further market share under CETA’s duty-free access.
Under the agreement, all fish and fisheries commodities listed under the UK tariff schedule categories marked ‘A’ now enjoy 100 per cent duty-free access from the date the agreement comes into force.