Business
IMA urges government to withdraw GST on healthcare services
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday requested the Centre to immediately withdraw the imposition of GST on healthcare services.
In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, it said that the decision is unfortunate and unfair for people of the country, and without input tax credits, will lead to a rise in healthcare costs.
“The 47th GST Council meeting has recommended that ‘Like CTEPs, common bio-medical waste treatment facilities for treatment or disposal of biomedical waste shall be taxed at 12 per cent so as to allow them ITC’. This is to be effective from 18th of July 2022. This was earlier in GST exempted category,” said the IMA, the largest association of modern medicine doctors, representing more than 4 lakh doctors and their healthcare establishments, said in the letter.
“The GST Council, in its meeting, has also recommended that ‘Room rent, excluding ICU, exceeding Rs 5,000 per day per patient charged by the hospital will also be taxed at 5 per cent, without ITC’. This is to be effective from 18th of July 2022. This was earlier in GST exempted category.
“We, as collective voice of all establishments and doctors of the country express our serious concerns and objections to these new taxes in healthcare sector. This step will add big additional cost to the healthcare of people,” the IMA said in the letter.
Noting that the healthcare system of country is not on track owing to meagre government spending on health, and people are dependent upon the private sector, with high out of pocket expenditures, the IMA said that the decision of adding GST will simply raise the basic bed rates.
“Keeping rates below Rs 5,000 will compel augmentation of other charges for feasibility,” it said.
Similarly, a steep rise of 12 per cent on biomedical waste is unjustified and it will raise the cost of running hospitals and clinics, and further translate into raised charges for the patients. It is not reasonable to burden patients with more charges in these difficult times, it said.
“Application of GST will push healthcare towards business model away from service centric one, and it will not be fair to our citizens already facing many hardships,” the IMA said.
“So, it is our sincere and immediate request to withdraw GST on Room Rent and Biomedical Waste in the larger interest of the public healthcare. We look forward for an urgent meeting on these serious issues and a hold of GST imposition on room rent and Biomedical Waste in the meantime,” said IMA National President Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh in the letter.
Business
Sensex, Nifty end higher as FMCG, banking and realty stocks lift benchmark indices

Mumbai, July 1: Indian equity benchmark indices ended higher on Wednesday, supported by strong buying in FMCG, banking, financial and realty stocks.
The Nifty climbed 140.10 points, or 0.59 per cent, to close at 24,005.85, while the Sensex advanced 443.97 points, or 0.58 per cent, to settle at 76,922.64.
Commenting on Nifty technical outlook, experts said that the 24,100–24,200 region, which coincides with the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), continues to act as the immediate resistance zone.
“A sustained breakout above this band would reinforce bullish momentum and could pave the way for an advance towards the 24,400 region,” an analyst stated.
“On the downside, the 23,900–23,800 zone continues to serve as a crucial support area, closely aligned with the 20 and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs),” a market expert added.
Among the Nifty constituents, Eternal, Adani Enterprises and Nestle India emerged as the top gainers, helping lift the benchmark index.
The broader market also finished in positive territory, with the Nifty MidCap index rising 0.34 per cent and the Nifty SmallCap index gaining 0.36 per cent.
On the sectoral front, the Nifty Realty index led the gains, followed by the Nifty FMCG and Nifty Auto indices, as investors accumulated shares in these sectors. However, the Nifty IT, Nifty Metal and Nifty Pharma indices underperformed the broader market and ended with relatively weaker gains or losses.
Analysts said that domestic equities extended their upward momentum, with gains across key sectors outweighing weakness in information technology, metal and pharmaceutical stocks.
“The domestic markets entered H2 CY26 on an optimistic footing as multiple headwinds began to abate, with the anticipated US-India trade agreement, easing Middle East tensions, and benign oil prices emerging as the key drivers of positive sentiment,” an analyst added.
Business
MSC Group’s arm to invest around $1.4 billion for 49 pc share in Adani’s Vizhinjam port

Ahmedabad, June 30: Adani Ports on Tuesday said it has entered into a definitive agreement with MSC Group under which MSC’s container terminal operating and investing arm Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) will invest for 49 per cent interest in Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL), the concessionaire for Vizhinjam port.
The strategic collaboration represents the single largest foreign private investment in Indian port infrastructure and cements Vizhinjam’s emergence as a dominant transshipment gateway in the Indian Ocean region.
TiL will invest $1.397 billion, equivalent to its proportionate 49 per cent share in Vizhinjam port in total deal value of $2.85 billion.
“Vizhinjam port has emerged as a premier transshipment hub and ramped up at an unprecedented pace, becoming the first Indian port to earn the unique distinction of crossing two million TEUs within 18 months of operations,” said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ.
“I am delighted to expand APSEZ’s long-standing partnership with MSC to Vizhinjam, as we prepare for the port’s next leg of journey. I am confident that our association will deliver enhanced supply chain efficiencies at a global scale and improve India’s access to key global mature and developing markets,” Gupta said.
The transaction is subject to customary approvals, including regulatory ones.
The strategic collaboration between APSEZ and MSC Group will deliver significant advantages for APSEZ, including enhanced volume visibility and accelerated ramp-up ahead of plan, driven by additional cargo volumes; a higher share of Bangladesh cargo, largely dependent on competing Southeast Asian transshipment hubs; strengthen presence on East Africa trade routes; and elevated relay cargo volumes.
TiL is one of the world’s largest container terminal operators and part of the MSC Group comprising a portfolio of more than 100 container terminals across five continents and a throughput of more than 70 million TEUs per annum.
Commissioned in December 2024, Vizhinjam port is India’s first deep-draft mega transshipment port with 1.6 million TEU capacity. The port is undergoing expansion that will increase capacity 3.5x to 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028, according to the company.
Vizhinjam port is strategically located just 10 nautical miles from the East-West shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East.
During FY26, Vizhinjam port handled 1.3 million TEUs. In its first year, Vizhinjam port handled 1.3 million TEUs and 615 vessels, becoming the fastest Indian port to cross the one million TEU milestone.
Business
Indian equity benchmarks open higher amid mixed global cues

Mumbai, June 30: India’s benchmark equity indices opened higher on Tuesday amid mixed global cues, with investors also keeping an eye on the derivatives expiry and the start of the June quarter earnings season.
Sensex opened at 77,005.51, up 277.14 points or 0.36 per cent. Nifty also began the session mildly positive opening at 24,032.05, an increase of 85.80 points or 0.35 per cent.
Among sectoral indices, Nifty Realty led the gains, rising 0.54 per cent. Nifty Private Bank and Nifty Auto jumped up to 0.45 per cent. Buying was also seen in chemicals, PSU banks, oil and gas, consumer durables and healthcare stocks.
On the other hand, Nifty IT declined 0.18 per cent, while Nifty Metal slipped 0.13 per cent. Nifty FMCG was marginally lower.
From the Nifty stocks, Eicher Motors, Tata Consumer Products, Hindalco Industries, HDFC Life Insurance, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Max Healthcare, SBI Life Insurance, Hindustan Unilever and Infosys were the top losers.
According to market experts, the absence of major near-term triggers is likely to keep markets range-bound, with investors shifting their focus to the upcoming June quarter (Q1) earnings season.
They added that momentum indicators have started showing signs of moderation, suggesting that the market may continue to consolidate in the near term.
“The market is currently consolidating within a defined range, and traders should watch for a decisive move above the 24,200 level or below 23,800 on the Nifty to confirm the next directional trend. Until then, range-bound trading with stock-specific action is expected to dominate market activity,” the experts said.
International oil benchmark Brent crude slipped 0.66 per cent to $73.42 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell nearly 1 per cent to trade around the $70-a-barrel mark.
Asian markets traded on a mixed note. Japan’s Nikkei gained more than 1 per cent and South Korea’s KOSPI also advanced over 1 per cent. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined by more than 1 per cent.
US markets ended in positive territory, with the S&P 500 rising 1.18 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite climbing nearly 2 per cent.
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