राष्ट्रीय व्यापारी कल्याण बोर्ड (NTWB) की 7वीं बैठक नई दिल्ली में संपन्न

नई दिल्ली, 9 अक्टूबर 2025:
राष्ट्रीय व्यापारी कल्याण बोर्ड (NTWB) की 7वीं बोर्ड बैठक आज नई दिल्ली स्थित वाणिज्य भवन में बोर्ड के अध्यक्ष श्री सुनील सिंघी की अध्यक्षता में संपन्न हुई।

बैठक की शुरुआत में उद्योग संवर्धन एवं आंतरिक व्यापार विभाग (डीपीआईआईटी), भारत सरकार के संयुक्त सचिव श्री संजीव ने श्री सुनील सिंघी को उनके द्वितीय कार्यकाल के लिए बधाई दी। उन्होंने व्यापारी समुदाय के हितों की रक्षा और उनके सशक्तिकरण में बोर्ड सदस्यों के निरंतर प्रयासों की सराहना की।

अपने संबोधन में चेयरमैन श्री सुनील सिंघी ने हाल ही में लागू नेक्स्ट-जेन जीएसटी 2.0 सुधारों (22 सितंबर 2025 से प्रभावी) की प्रशंसा की। उन्होंने बताया कि देशभर में मनाया गया “जीएसटी बचत उत्सव” माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी के प्रति आभार व्यक्त करने का प्रतीक है, जिनके दूरदर्शी निर्णयों से उपभोक्ताओं और व्यापारियों दोनों को उल्लेखनीय राहत और बचत प्राप्त हुई है।

श्री सिंघी ने यह भी बताया कि “स्वदेशी अपनाओ” अभियान के अंतर्गत पिछले 100 दिनों में देशभर में लगभग 1100 कार्यक्रम सफलतापूर्वक आयोजित किए गए हैं, जो आत्मनिर्भर भारत के संकल्प को सशक्त बनाने की दिशा में एक प्रेरणादायक कदम है।

कर्नाटक के बोर्ड सदस्य श्री प्रकाश पिरगल ने भारत सरकार द्वारा जीएसटी दरों में की गई कटौती का स्वागत करते हुए इसे व्यापार जगत और आम जनता दोनों के लिए लाभकारी बताया। इस अवसर पर बोर्ड ने पूरे देश में “जीएसटी उत्सव” मनाने का निर्णय भी लिया।

बैठक का एक प्रमुख विषय “वोकल फॉर लोकल” (Vocal for Local) पहल रहा। इस दौरान “गर्व से कहो, ये स्वदेशी है” पोस्टर का विमोचन किया गया, जो प्रधानमंत्री जी के उस संदेश को आगे बढ़ाता है कि भारतीय उत्पादों को गर्वपूर्वक अपनाया और प्रदर्शित किया जाए।
सभी सदस्यों ने इस अभियान के राजदूत बनकर इसे देशभर में व्यापक रूप से प्रसारित करने का संकल्प लिया।

बैठक में यह भी उल्लेख किया गया कि आयकर में ₹12 लाख तक की कर छूट प्रदान की गई है, जिससे आम जनता और व्यापारियों दोनों को महत्वपूर्ण राहत मिली है।

अंत में, श्री प्रकाश पिरगल, बोर्ड सदस्य
राष्ट्रीय व्यापारी कल्याण बोर्ड,
भारत सरकार, ने कहा कि, “प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी के ‘स्वदेशी अपनाओ’ संकल्प को प्रत्येक व्यापारी तक पहुंचाना और उसे अपनाकर देश को आत्मनिर्भर बनाना ही हम सबका लक्ष्य है।”

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7th Board Meeting of National Traders Welfare Board (NTWB) Concludes in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 9, 2025:
The 7th Board Meeting of the National Traders Welfare Board (NTWB) was held today at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Mr. Sunil Singhi.

At the outset, Mr. Sanjeev, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, congratulated Mr. Sunil Singhi on his second term as Chairman. He commended the Board members for their consistent efforts and their contribution towards empowering the trading community across the country.

In his address, Chairman Mr. Sunil Singhi appreciated the recently implemented Next-Gen GST 2.0 reforms, which came into effect on September 22, 2025. He highlighted that the nationwide celebration of the “GST Savings Festival” symbolized gratitude towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, whose transformative policies have brought significant relief and savings to consumers and traders alike.

Mr. Singhi further informed that under the “Swadeshi Apnao” (Adopt Indigenous Products) campaign, nearly 1,100 programs have been successfully conducted across India in the last 100 days, marking a strong step towards realizing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).

Mr. Prakash Pirgal, Board Member from Karnataka, lauded the Government of India’s decision to reduce GST rates, calling it a welcome step for both the business community and the general public. The Board also resolved to celebrate a nationwide “GST Utsav” to mark these positive developments.

A key highlight of the meeting was the focus on the “Vocal for Local” initiative. On this occasion, the Board unveiled the poster “Garv Se Kaho, Yeh Swadeshi Hai” (Say with Pride, This is Indigenous) — echoing the Prime Minister’s message to proudly adopt and promote Indian-made products. All members pledged to act as ambassadors of this campaign and spread its message widely across the nation.

The Board also noted that the income tax exemption limit has been raised to ₹12 lakh, providing considerable relief to traders and the public.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Prakash Pirgal stated, “Our collective mission is to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Swadeshi Apnao’ to every trader in the country and contribute towards building a truly self-reliant India.”

City Today News 9341997936

Special Pooja, Annadanam, and Instrumental Music Celebrated at Jayanagar Sri Raghavendra Matt

Bengaluru, 9 October 2025:
The Sri Raghavendra Matt in Jayanagar 5th Block hosted a series of religious and cultural events on Thursday, under the guidance of Parampujya Sri 1008 Sri Subudhendra Teertha Shripad, as per his instructions.

The morning program, led by the Matt’s senior administrator R.K. Vadindra Acharya, featured Panchamruta Abhishekam, Kanaka Abhishekam, special decorations, Mahamangalarati, and Annadanam (community meal service).

Evening festivities included Rathotsava (chariot festival), Gajavahana Utsava (elephant procession), Ashtavadhana, Thottilu Pooja, and a cultural segment featuring instrumental music performed by artists from the Nadasvada organization.

The event was graced by religious authority Sri Krishna Gundacharya, according to Sri Nandakishore Acharya.

City Today News 9341997936

CaratLane Celebrates 17th Anniversary with New Flagship Store Launch on MG Road, Bengaluru

Brand reports strong growth in Karnataka; aims for deeper expansion across southern and tier-2 markets

Bengaluru, October 9: CaratLane, India’s leading omnichannel jewellery brand, marked its 17th anniversary with the grand opening of its newest store on MG Road, Bengaluru, further strengthening its retail presence in Karnataka. The milestone highlights CaratLane’s continued commitment to innovation, accessibility, and customer engagement in the fine jewellery space.

Spanning 1,400 sq. ft., the new store offers a modern and inviting retail environment, designed to provide customers with an immersive experience while exploring CaratLane’s diverse jewellery collections. The space reflects the brand’s philosophy of making beautiful, high-quality jewellery accessible and enjoyable for everyone, combining craftsmanship with a seamless blend of online and offline shopping experiences.

Over the past 17 years, CaratLane has transformed jewellery retail in India with its unique omnichannel model, integrating technology, design, and personalised customer service. The Bengaluru expansion reinforces the brand’s strong foothold in Karnataka—one of its fastest-growing markets—with collections that cater to everyday wear, festive occasions, and special milestones, reflecting the tastes and sensibilities of South Indian consumers.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Saumen Bhaumik, Managing Director, CaratLane, said, “This launch is a tribute to our 17-year journey and a celebration of Bengaluru—a city that beautifully reflects our brand’s balance of modern sophistication and traditional charm. The city’s dynamic spirit and discerning customers continue to inspire our creativity and innovation. We’re excited to bring the CaratLane experience to MG Road, the heart of Bengaluru.”

CaratLane’s strong performance in Karnataka underlines its growing popularity. For FY26 (year-to-date till August), the state recorded over 30% growth compared to the previous year, while Bengaluru alone registered a 38% increase, demonstrating the brand’s strong regional momentum.

Looking ahead, CaratLane plans to expand further into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, introduce locally inspired designs, and invest in advanced technology to enhance both its online and in-store experiences. The brand remains focused on its mission to make fine jewellery affordable, accessible, and emotionally meaningful to customers across India.

City Today News 9341997936

QubeHealth-Pay Partners with Volt Money to Enable Instant Loans Against Mutual Funds for Healthcare Payments

Mumbai, October 8, 2025:
QubeHealth-Pay (“Qube”), India’s leading healthcare payments platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Volt Money, the country’s pioneering platform that allows individuals to borrow instantly against their mutual fund investments.

The collaboration enables Qube users to access immediate liquidity for medical expenses by borrowing against their mutual fund holdings—without redeeming their investments. This initiative is designed to empower Indian families with smarter, more flexible financial options during healthcare emergencies, eliminating the need to liquidate savings or rely on costly personal loans.

Financial Readiness for Health Emergencies

In India, over 70% of healthcare expenses are paid out-of-pocket, often forcing families to prematurely withdraw or redeem long-term investments to meet urgent medical costs. The partnership between Qube and Volt introduces a seamless, tech-enabled alternative, allowing users to unlock the value of their mutual fund portfolios instantly to cover healthcare needs.

Through the QubeHealth-Pay app, users can now:

Instantly view a real-time, free summary of the amount they can borrow against their mutual fund holdings.

Avail a loan within five minutes, with funds transferred directly towards healthcare payments.

Continue earning returns on their mutual fund investments while managing medical expenses.


By combining Qube’s extensive healthcare payments network with Volt’s RBI-compliant, secure lending infrastructure, this partnership offers an integrated and responsible financing solution for health-related emergencies.

Chris George, Co-Founder & CEO, QubeHealth-Pay, said, “When a family faces a sudden medical emergency, financial stress often adds to emotional strain. Our partnership with Volt Money provides a smarter and faster way to fund healthcare—by enabling users to access their own wealth instantly without disturbing their long-term financial goals. This is the kind of financial innovation that healthcare truly needs.”

Lalit Bihani, Co-Founder & CEO, Volt Money, added, “At Volt, our goal has always been to make credit as effortless and transparent as investing. Partnering with QubeHealth-Pay brings this vision to healthcare—allowing people to use their assets intelligently when they need them most.”

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