Latest news with #JustinPaul
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tax overhaul fuels five-fold surge in refunds as processing time shrinks to 17 days
India's tax administration overhaul over the past decade has led to a remarkable five-fold jump in income tax refunds and a three-fold increase in direct tax collections , while significantly slashing the time taken to issue refunds from 93 days to just 17, reported TOI. Officials attribute this sharp improvement to the widespread adoption of digital infrastructure across the tax ecosystem. 'The massive increase in refunds and the reduction in processing time are primarily due to reforms like end-to-end online filing, faceless assessment, pre-filled returns, automated refund processing, real-time TDS adjustments, and online grievance redress,' a source familiar with the matter told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Macau chef Justin Paul captures the 'sweet perfume' and legacy of cardamom in his cooking MGTO Undo These measures have not only accelerated refund processing but also improved accuracy and transparency in handling income tax returns. Refunds reflect growing formalisation Data shows that refunds accounted for 17.6% of gross tax collections in the last financial year, a substantial rise compared to 11.5% in 2013–14. Live Events 'This is a reflection of greater formalisation of the economy and rising voluntary participation in the tax net,' the TOI source added. As the taxpayer base has expanded, along with deeper penetration of advance tax payments and TDS, instances of excess remittances have become more common. 'The growing volume and share of refunds are not merely a statistical outcome but a meaningful signal of systemic maturity. It demonstrates that India's tax ecosystem is now firmly aligned with the principles of efficiency, transparency, and taxpayer facilitation,' the official told the news outlet. Even during the current financial year, this trend has continued. Despite relatively modest growth in gross direct tax collections—up just 3.2% year-on-year until July 10—refunds have surged 38%, which has temporarily weighed on net collections. Shift from old practice of withholding refunds In earlier years, the government would often slow down the pace of refunds to ensure headline net collection figures remained robust. However, the Modi administration has departed from this approach, recognising that withholding refunds disrupts cash flows for businesses and households, ultimately dampening overall economic activity, according to the TOI report. By continuing to process refunds promptly, the government is signalling that tax compliance and taxpayer trust will be reinforced, even if it comes at the cost of softer near-term net revenue growth.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
Ubon SP-85 party speaker with 20 hours of battery life launched, priced at Rs 3,999
Ubon has expanded its product lineup in India with the launch of its latest party speaker — UBON SP-85 . The device is backed by a 4,000 mAh battery and promises to offer up to 20 hours of music playback on a single charge. The party speaker coms with 30W power output and support Bluetooth version 5.3. 'The SP-85 is a perfect fusion of power, performance, and portability. It's built for those who live loud and love music without limits,' said the company. Price and availability The UBON SP-85 Party Speaker is available now at a price of Rs 3,999, across leading retail outlets and major e-commerce platforms. UBON SP-85 key features * 30W High-Powered Output for immersive sound * Up to 20 Hours Playtime with 4000 mAh battery by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience Macau's spice heritage through Chef Justin Paul's cooking. MGTO Undo * Bluetooth v5.3 for seamless connectivity * Multi-input support: USB, TF Card & FM Radio * Stylish Carrying Belt for easy portability * Bold Colour Options: * Black with vibrant orange controls * Sleek black with matching grey accents Recently, Ubon J18 Future Pods TWS in India. Priced at Rs 2499, the Ubon J18 Future Pods are now available for purchase on UBON's official website and through authorised retail outlets across India. Ubon J18 Future Pods comes with a smart charging case which has a 1.45-inch LED touch-screen display. Incoming calls, text messages, music playback, social media notifications and more will be visible on it. Users can also take selfies through this as well. Users can swipe the display to unlock the pods and while watching a video they can also play and pause through the display. Moreover, users can even change the wallpapers of the display. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
11-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Air India crash: Report may explain what went wrong; peek into final moments expected
NEW DELHI: A month after the deadliest aviation accident, the Air India 171 crash, a preliminary report is expected from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), offering the first official insight into the cause of the Air India crash . The incident involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that went down just 30 seconds after takeoff in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 people on board and over 30 on the ground. Only one passenger survived. The probe has been closely followed, with Bloomberg reporting fresh details citing people familiar with the matter. While the report is likely to be factual and restrained in tone, it could provide critical early clues. Authorities are not expected to assign blame yet, as a full investigation is ongoing. According to Bloomberg, investigators have retrieved both the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, and have extracted their contents. Top Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) officials told the panel that the aircraft's black box and voice recorder were recovered and were being analysed. Boeing and other international experts are assisting with the ongoing investigation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience Macau's spice heritage through Chef Justin Paul's cooking. MGTO Undo What happened in the final 30 seconds? The aircraft, fully loaded with fuel, lost altitude rapidly and crashed into a student hostel near the airport, leading to a massive explosion. The pilot of Flight AI 171 had issued a mayday call before the crash. Videos of the takeoff showed the flight initially proceeding normally. But according to aerospace analyst Bjorn Fehrm, the landing gear was never retracted and the aircraft began to lose thrust shortly after liftoff. 'That's improbable like hell,' he said, referring to what appeared to be a simultaneous failure of both engines — an extremely rare event. Focus on fuel control switches According to Bloomberg, one of the primary lines of inquiry is the possible movement of the fuel control switches, located in the cockpit's centre console. These switches control the fuel supply to the engines, which are made by GE Aerospace. The Wall Street Journal has also reported that preliminary findings suggest the switches were turned off although it remains unclear whether that happened accidentally or intentionally. Experts say that turning the switches to the cutoff position would stop fuel flow, shutting down the engines in seconds. John Cox, a former airline pilot and now CEO of Safety Operating Systems, told Bloomberg: 'If you move those switches from run to cutoff, those engines will stop running in literally seconds.' He said the possibility of an unintentional switch movement cannot be ruled out. No mechanical fault identified so far According to people cited by Bloomberg, no evidence has emerged yet of a mechanical or design fault in the Boeing aircraft or GE engines. Neither the FAA nor the manufacturers have issued safety advisories, which typically follow if a broader operational risk is detected. Pilots say the crew likely had too little time and altitude to restart the engines. A key emergency backup device — the ram air turbine — was deployed, which further supports the theory of a dual engine failure. Pilot experience and human factors Investigators are also examining the background and experience of the cockpit crew, which is standard procedure. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had logged 8,200 flight hours, while First Officer Clive Kunder had about 1,100 hours, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Cox told Bloomberg that accidental shutdowns have occurred in the past. In one 1980s case involving a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767, a pilot mistakenly turned off both engines but was able to restart them thanks to the aircraft's higher altitude. Another possibility, pilots told Bloomberg, is that the fuel switches were cycled in response to a dual engine failure as part of an emergency checklist but recovery was not feasible due to the jet's low altitude. As the investigation continues, the preliminary findings are expected to open critical discussions around human error, technical systems, and emergency protocols in modern aviation.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
School of Management Studies at Cusat to organise colloquium
The School of Management Studies (SMS) at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) will host the 'Doctoral Colloquium', a diamond jubilee initiative, on May 15 and 16. The event, held under the banner of the SMS Research Forum, will focus on the theme 'Innovations in Contemporary Social Science Research: Insights and Impact', featuring paper presentations, panel discussions, and workshops with leading experts, according to a release. 'Prof. Justin Paul, NMIMS School of Business Management; Prof. Prabhir Vishnu Poruthiyil, IIT Bombay; and Dr. K. Mathiyazhagan, Thiagarajar School of Management, will speak on 'Top Journal Editor's Perspective on Future Dimensions of Management Research'. Workshops on qualitative and experimental research methodologies will be conducted by Dr. Shaphali Gupta, MICA, and Prof. Joshy Joseph, Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode,' it said.
