New Delhi, Dec 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that his government is committed to boosting ‘Ease of Living’ and the reform trajectory will continue with even more vigour in the coming times.

Replying to a thread on X social media platform posted by the MyGovIndia handle, PM Modi said the government has worked towards the direction of empowering millions.

“Ours is a Government committed to boosting ‘Ease of Living’ and this thread below gives examples of how we have worked in that direction. Our reform trajectory will continue with even more vigour in the coming times,” the Prime Minister stated.

The MyGovIndia handle posted that the real test of reform is whether it reduces stress for people.

“2025 marked a clear shift in governance, with reforms focused on outcomes, not complexity. Simpler tax laws, faster dispute resolution, modern labour codes, and decriminalised compliance reduced friction for citizens and businesses alike. The emphasis was on trust, predictability, and long-term growth, showing how well-designed policy can quietly improve everyday life,” it wrote on the social media platform.

For millions of Indians, tax relief became real. Incomes up to Rs 12 lakh attract zero tax. Middle-class families now retain more of what they earn, giving them flexibility to spend, save and invest with greater confidence.

“A new tax law for a New India. Replacing the 1961 Income-tax Act, the Income Tax Act, 2025 streamlines compliance and brings clarity, transparency, and fairness to the direct tax system, making it more taxpayer-friendly and aligned with today’s needs,” it further stated.

Small businesses can now grow without fear of losing benefits. Higher investment and turnover limits allow MSMEs to expand while retaining access to loans and tax incentives. This encourages scaling up, hiring more workers, and building stronger local enterprises, according to MyGovIndia.

Twenty-nine labour laws were simplified into four clear codes covering wages, safety, social security, and relations. Rights are clearer, compliance is easier, and women benefit from assured maternity and workplace protections, it added.

With streamlined tax slabs, easier registration, automated processes, and faster refunds, the next generation of GST reforms is improving the ease of doing business

“The impact is clear in record Diwali sales of Rs 6.05 trillion and the strongest Navratri shopping in over a decade,” it noted.

Mumbai: The Malwani police have arrested a 44-year-old doctor following allegations of sexual abuse and molestation involving a 12-and-a-half-year-old girl. The incident reportedly took place within the confines of his clinic during a medical examination, sparking concerns over patient safety and the legitimacy of the practitioner’s medical credentials.

The victim, a resident of the local area, had visited the clinic alone to seek treatment for a lip fracture. , the doctor, a resident of Kandivali who has operated the Malwani-based clinic for several years, allegedly exploited the situation.

The minor alleged that during the procedure, the doctor instructed her to lie down and proceeded to touch her inappropriately. The victim reported experiencing severe mental distress and embarrassment following the encounter, which led to the formal complaint.

Upon receiving the complaint, Police Sub-Inspector Shivaji Mohite registered the initial First Information Report. The case was later handed over to Assistant Police Inspector Prashant Mundhe, who led the investigation and moved to take the accused into custody. According to the report, the 44-year-old has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Beyond the criminal charges of assault, the investigation has expanded into the doctor’s professional background. Initial inquiries revealed that while the accused holds a degree in acupuncture, he was allegedly performing a wide range of medical treatments for which he may not have been authorized. Police officials stated that they are currently in the process of verifying all degrees and certificates displayed at the clinic to determine if the accused was practicing medicine beyond his legal scope. The accused was produced before the sessions court on December 24.

Mumbai, Dec 26: Indian benchmark indices opened flat with a mild negative bias on Friday, as markets are apparently in the consolidation phase amid lack of major cues.

As of 9.30 am, Sensex edged down 83 points, or 0.09 per cent to 85,325 and Nifty eased 17 points, or 0.06 per cent to 26,124.

Main broadcap indices outperformed benchmark indices in terms of gains, with the Nifty Midcap 100 advanced 0.35 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 added 0.27 per cent.

Cipla, Dr Reddys Labs and ONGC were among the major gainers in the Nifty Pack, while losers included Shriram Finance, Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Max Healthcare and TCS.

Among sectoral gainers, the Nifty Consumer Durables index was the top performer, rising 0.4 per cent, followed by Nifty Metal and Nifty Chemicals, which gained 0.3 per cent each.

The Nifty could extend its advance toward resistance levels at 26,202 and 26,330, while 26,000 is expected to provide near-term support.

With only four trading days left in 2025, what seemed to be a Santa rally appears to be fading as markets apparently consolidates without new triggers like a US-India trade deal, analysts said.

US GDP growth of 4.3 per cent in Q3 2025 is imparting resilience to the US market and the rising profitability of US companies, including AI ones, may prompt other FIIs, particularly fleet-footed hedge funds, to increase their investments there, they added.

Sustained buying by the cash rich DIIs will support the market and prevent a sharp pull back, market watchers said, adding that a market rally in early 2026 is likely, and valuation should be the top investment consideration.

Asia-Pacific markets traded higher in the morning session, with several indexes closed for the Boxing Day holiday

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index advanced 0.17 per cent, and Shenzhen edged up 0.31 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei added 0.99 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.17 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.7 per cent.

The US markets ended mostly in the green zone on the last trading day, as Nasdaq advanced 0.22 per cent, the S&P 500 edged up 0.32 per cent, and the Dow moved up 0.6 per cent.

On December 24, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 1,721 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 2,381 crore.