Business
KIMS’ Q4 FY25 net up 47% at ₹106 cr

“FY 25 has been an excellent year on multiple fronts for us. We added new units across geographies, including newer ones like Kerala. Our mission to provide affordable and accessible quality healthcare is finding resonance and acceptance across stakeholders. We commenced operations in Thane in April 2025 and will be opening two units in Bengaluru in H1 FY26,’‘ B Bhaskar Rao, CMD, KIMS Hospitals said in a release. Published on May 12, 2025 For the full year FY25, total revenue grew 22 per cent at ₹3,067 crore, while net profit increased to ₹415 crore from ₹336 crore posted in the previous fiscal year. The total revenue of the Hyderabad-based hospital chain increased 25.7 per cent growth in the quarter under review at ₹801 crore, compared to ₹637 crore in the year-ago period. The consolidated net profit of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS Hospital) increased 47.2 per cent at ₹106 crore in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025, as against ₹72 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous financial year.

The consolidated net profit of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS Hospital) increased 47.2 per cent at ₹106 crore in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025, as against ₹72 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous financial year. For the full year FY25, total revenue grew 22 per cent at ₹3,067 crore, while net profit increased to ₹415 crore from ₹336 crore posted in the previous fiscal year. The total revenue of the Hyderabad-based hospital chain increased 25.7 per cent growth in the quarter under review at ₹801 crore, compared to ₹637 crore in the year-ago period. Published on May 12, 2025 “FY 25 has been an excellent year on multiple fronts for us. We added new units across geographies, including newer ones like Kerala. Our mission to provide affordable and accessible quality healthcare is finding resonance and acceptance across stakeholders. We commenced operations in Thane in April 2025 and will be opening two units in Bengaluru in H1 FY26,’‘ B Bhaskar Rao, CMD, KIMS Hospitals said in a release.
Business
India-US early trade deal still distant after 7 days of talks
India’s plans
“Differences continued over tariff cut demands by the US, especially for farm products, and the need to protect Indian sensitivities,” a source said.Trade officials from the US and India were unable to close negotiations for an early trade deal after seven days of talks in New Delhi although “some progress” was made towards a balanced agreement, sources said.India is ready to bring down tariffs for many US products and the list may include items like automobiles, alcoholic beverages, certain fruits and nuts and chemicals, among other items, the first source said.US President Donald Trump and his trade team are especially keen that India should offer tariff cuts and greater market access in most farm products, even if it comes with certain restrictions such as quotas.“India not only wants the entire 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs to be rolled back but is also insisting on withdrawal of 25 per cent sector specific tariffs on steel, aluminium and auto. It also wants reduction of MFN (most favoured nation) tariffs on labour intensive products,” the first source said.Published on June 10, 2025
“But it has sensitivities in areas such as agriculture, intellectual property, MSME products and digital trade, which need to be weighed in,” the source said.The clock is fast ticking for India as it may face the full blow of the 26 per cent reciprocal duties slapped on it by Trump on July 9 if it is not able to arrive at an early trade deal with the US by that time. The first tranche of the BTA is to be delivered by Fall of 2025.
More Like This
“The negotiations held with the US side on June 4-10 were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement, including through achievement of early wins,” another source said, although not specifying when the early gains will be delivered.
“Once tariffs are cut in such agreements, it becomes nearly impossible to raise them again — even if prices crash, global trade is disrupted, or local farmers face sudden losses,” cautioned Ajay Srivastava of GTRI.On April 2, Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on most of America’s trading partners holding trade surpluses. He then paused the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, with the exception of a 10 per cent baseline tariff, to allow countries work out trade deals.Trade officials from the US and India were unable to close negotiations for an early trade deal after seven days of talks in New Delhi although “some progress” was made towards a balanced agreement, sources said.“But it has sensitivities in areas such as agriculture, intellectual property, MSME products and digital trade, which need to be weighed in,” the source said.
India’s plans
Published on June 10, 2025 “India not only wants the entire 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs to be rolled back but is also insisting on withdrawal of 25 per cent sector specific tariffs on steel, aluminium and auto. It also wants reduction of MFN (most favoured nation) tariffs on labour intensive products,” the first source said.However, the officials set the stage for more deliberations on the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the July 9 deadline in focus, to help India avoid US reciprocal tariffs and sector-specific levies.Both sides agreed to continue negotiations to achieve an expeditious conclusion of the initial tranche of the BTA, the source added.India, however, is not ready to bring down tariffs on items like rice and wheat as these are important for the country’s food security. Neither does it want to reduce tariffs on sensitive dairy items.“Differences continued over tariff cut demands by the US, especially for farm products, and the need to protect Indian sensitivities,” a source said.The BTA talks must result in shrinking of the over -billion annual US trade deficit with India and for that New Delhi has to bring down its “very high tariffs”, Washington has been arguing.
Trump tariff
“The negotiations held with the US side on June 4-10 were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement, including through achievement of early wins,” another source said, although not specifying when the early gains will be delivered.The clock is fast ticking for India as it may face the full blow of the 26 per cent reciprocal duties slapped on it by Trump on July 9 if it is not able to arrive at an early trade deal with the US by that time. The first tranche of the BTA is to be delivered by Fall of 2025.
More Like This
India is ready to bring down tariffs for many US products and the list may include items like automobiles, alcoholic beverages, certain fruits and nuts and chemicals, among other items, the first source said.
Business
How is climate change melting away travel and hospitality business in ‘eco- sensitive’ areas
As Abhishek Jain, Director – Green Economy and Impact Innovations, CEEW, says, “We need to reimagine tourism — from an escape from daily routine, that is often resource intensive, to something that brings us closer to nature and our own selves, without being taxing on our planet.” Kumar says that in cities experiencing record temperatures, the chain has seen more last-minute changes, shorter stays, and increased interest in properties with strong indoor amenities and easy access to cooler, climate-controlled environments.”Animesh Kumar, Commercial Head at ibis & ibis Styles India, said, “During peak summer months, when heatwaves become more intense, like those recently recorded across northern India — there’s often a shift in demand. Travellers are increasingly choosing destinations with milder climates or adjusting their travel schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day or season.”But this doesn’t mean Manali is entirely saved from the clutches of climate change. Events like the 2023 floods in the region affected many businesses and it took them another four-five months to recover, he adds.The organisation is now trying to find ways to bring back tourists to the region.Meanwhile, Manali, another tourist attraction, seems to be benefiting from climate change. According to business owners in the region, extended winter caused by climate change is bringing more tourists to the place. Speaking to businessline, Hira Lal Rana, President, Himachal Pradesh Travel Agents Association (HPTAA), said, “The change in weather patterns has not affected tourist footfalls in Kullu-Manali. In fact, the increased connectivity is bringing more tourists to the place. Climate changes are happening here. Usually, winter season were from December to February or march. However, it has now extended to April and May, attracting more tourists.”She added that destinations that were previously popular year-round, are now witnessing fluctuations in tourist arrivals due to climate uncertainties. And these are mounting by the day.He says, “There is potential to create more opportunities for nature-positive tourism. Take Odisha, for example. A CEEW study estimates that sustainable tourism in the State can be worth 0 million by 2030, creating local jobs, driving economic prosperity, while protecting fragile ecosystems. As part of India’s broader transition to a green economy, responsibly scaling such models can chart India’s unique development pathway, meeting our ambitions on jobs, prosperity and sustainability.”
Conscious travellers
Joint Secretary of the Organisation, Pradeep Murthy, feels the way the media and people portrayed the landslide, has affected tourism in the region — may be bigger than the actual landslide. “The rain and the subsequent landslide was a natural disaster. All that happened after that was a man-made disaster. There was huge enthusiasm across India to drum it up – to make it sensational news. The landslide hit two villages in Wayanad, but media named it as Wayanad landslide, instead of Mundakkai- Chooralmala disaster. It was not just tourism of the region that got impacted, but everyone in the district was also affected,“ he says.However, if this trend continues, it might affect the tourism in the area. So, the government must take necessary steps, along with promoting safe tourism in the region, he adds.“Climate change is no longer a future risk, it’s a present reality,” says Abraham Alapatt – President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation – Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. He describes how the company is taking strong steps to reduce its own environmental footprint and helping its business travel clients do the same. “We are also promoting eco-friendly accommodations, low environmental impact itineraries and carbon-conscious travel options.”The skies darken heralding rain. But what was once a bustling monsoon tourism season feels like a fading memory for Nithesh, the manager of Travelicious, a restaurant near Edakkal Caves in Wayanad. The place now gets only a handful of local patrons.Echoing the thought is Pardeep Siwach, Deputy General Manager, Mayfair Spring Valley Resort, Guwahati, who says, “As many parts of the country face rising temperatures and unpredictable weather, travellers are now looking for destinations with pleasant and stable climates. The North-East, with its cooler weather and greenery, has become a preferred choice.”Weather experts have dire warnings. KJ Ramesh, Former IMD Chairman, describes how global warming is wreaking havoc in India’s tourist hotspots. “In hill stations like Uttarakhand or Himachal, local warming has already touched 2.5 degree — higher than the global average — due to reasons such as deforestation and construction activities. The same is true for all of Western Ghats. With 2.5-degree warming, atmosphere of such areas can hold almost 20 per cent more moisture when it rains. This means that wherever you have local warming higher than the global average, you are bound to have high intensity, short duration precipitation. The frequency and intensity of this will go up incrementally as long as global warming continues.”
Global warming impact
Wayanad is not alone. Business owners across tourist spots in climate-sensitive areas are facing challenges as extreme weather events impact their operations. Take the North-East, where currently 1,500 tourists are stranded due to heavy rains, landslides and flash floods in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.Echoing a similar opinion, Gaurav Takur, Treasurer, Manali Hoteliers Association, said, “Manali is seeing severe changes in its weather pattens. The seasons are changing. Now, we experience heavy rains during winter and what should be summer season, is now winter. In my understanding this is not just happening in Manali, but across the globe due to climate change. However, it hasn’t affected tourist inflow to the area. In fact, we see an increase in tourists, even though a slight dip happened after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The weather pattern changes mainly affected the agriculture sector in the area.”Soorajith Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Wayanad Tourism Organisation, describes how dependent the district is on tourism which contributes more than 25 per cent to the local economy. “After the landslide, the economy was down for six months and the district has incurred loss of more than ₹1,000 crore,” he says.
Manali, a different story
According to companies working in the tourism sector, travellers are becoming more conscious about climate change and sustainable tourism practices and this is reflected in the booking patterns. Vishal Suri, Managing Director & CEO, SOTC Travel Ltd, says, “We’ve observed that destinations impacted by extreme weather events, rising temperatures, environmental degradation due to climate change, often witness a drop in traveller interest and demand.” But, Suri is quick to add that demand and interest do rebound once safety, sustainable tourism practices and infrastructure confidence are restored.“The impact of climate change is becoming evident, particularly in ecologically-sensitive areas such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Kerala. Sudden floods, landslides, extreme heat, and unseasonal rainfall have started disrupting hotel operations. In some regions, these events cause structural damage and impact hospitality supply chains,” says M K Shyama Raju, President, FHRAI.Hoteliers like Sandeep Singh, Founder of Ruby Stone Hospitality, point how they are discerning shifts in consumer travel. He says, “We’ve seen changes in booking patterns according to the weather. Guests are now planning their trips with much more attention to seasonal weather trends. Destinations that were once summer favourites are seeing fewer bookings during peak heat months, while cooler or more climate-stable locations are becoming increasingly popular.”Published on June 9, 2025 “Before the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide, our annual revenue was around ₹14 lakh. Now it is just ₹6.5 lakh. After the landslides, tourist footfalls have dropped by more than 50 per cent,” says Nithesh. The district administration now closes places like Edakkal Caves even when it drizzles. This has crippled monsoon tourism in the region, he says.
However, if this trend continues, it might affect the tourism in the area. So, the government must take necessary steps, along with promoting safe tourism in the region, he adds.He says, “There is potential to create more opportunities for nature-positive tourism. Take Odisha, for example. A CEEW study estimates that sustainable tourism in the State can be worth 0 million by 2030, creating local jobs, driving economic prosperity, while protecting fragile ecosystems. As part of India’s broader transition to a green economy, responsibly scaling such models can chart India’s unique development pathway, meeting our ambitions on jobs, prosperity and sustainability.”But this doesn’t mean Manali is entirely saved from the clutches of climate change. Events like the 2023 floods in the region affected many businesses and it took them another four-five months to recover, he adds.Wayanad is not alone. Business owners across tourist spots in climate-sensitive areas are facing challenges as extreme weather events impact their operations. Take the North-East, where currently 1,500 tourists are stranded due to heavy rains, landslides and flash floods in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.She added that destinations that were previously popular year-round, are now witnessing fluctuations in tourist arrivals due to climate uncertainties. And these are mounting by the day.The organisation is now trying to find ways to bring back tourists to the region.Hoteliers like Sandeep Singh, Founder of Ruby Stone Hospitality, point how they are discerning shifts in consumer travel. He says, “We’ve seen changes in booking patterns according to the weather. Guests are now planning their trips with much more attention to seasonal weather trends. Destinations that were once summer favourites are seeing fewer bookings during peak heat months, while cooler or more climate-stable locations are becoming increasingly popular.”According to companies working in the tourism sector, travellers are becoming more conscious about climate change and sustainable tourism practices and this is reflected in the booking patterns. Vishal Suri, Managing Director & CEO, SOTC Travel Ltd, says, “We’ve observed that destinations impacted by extreme weather events, rising temperatures, environmental degradation due to climate change, often witness a drop in traveller interest and demand.” But, Suri is quick to add that demand and interest do rebound once safety, sustainable tourism practices and infrastructure confidence are restored.
Conscious travellers
Echoing the thought is Pardeep Siwach, Deputy General Manager, Mayfair Spring Valley Resort, Guwahati, who says, “As many parts of the country face rising temperatures and unpredictable weather, travellers are now looking for destinations with pleasant and stable climates. The North-East, with its cooler weather and greenery, has become a preferred choice.”Meanwhile, Manali, another tourist attraction, seems to be benefiting from climate change. According to business owners in the region, extended winter caused by climate change is bringing more tourists to the place. Speaking to businessline, Hira Lal Rana, President, Himachal Pradesh Travel Agents Association (HPTAA), said, “The change in weather patterns has not affected tourist footfalls in Kullu-Manali. In fact, the increased connectivity is bringing more tourists to the place. Climate changes are happening here. Usually, winter season were from December to February or march. However, it has now extended to April and May, attracting more tourists.”Animesh Kumar, Commercial Head at ibis & ibis Styles India, said, “During peak summer months, when heatwaves become more intense, like those recently recorded across northern India — there’s often a shift in demand. Travellers are increasingly choosing destinations with milder climates or adjusting their travel schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day or season.”Weather experts have dire warnings. KJ Ramesh, Former IMD Chairman, describes how global warming is wreaking havoc in India’s tourist hotspots. “In hill stations like Uttarakhand or Himachal, local warming has already touched 2.5 degree — higher than the global average — due to reasons such as deforestation and construction activities. The same is true for all of Western Ghats. With 2.5-degree warming, atmosphere of such areas can hold almost 20 per cent more moisture when it rains. This means that wherever you have local warming higher than the global average, you are bound to have high intensity, short duration precipitation. The frequency and intensity of this will go up incrementally as long as global warming continues.”“Before the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide, our annual revenue was around ₹14 lakh. Now it is just ₹6.5 lakh. After the landslides, tourist footfalls have dropped by more than 50 per cent,” says Nithesh. The district administration now closes places like Edakkal Caves even when it drizzles. This has crippled monsoon tourism in the region, he says.Joint Secretary of the Organisation, Pradeep Murthy, feels the way the media and people portrayed the landslide, has affected tourism in the region — may be bigger than the actual landslide. “The rain and the subsequent landslide was a natural disaster. All that happened after that was a man-made disaster. There was huge enthusiasm across India to drum it up – to make it sensational news. The landslide hit two villages in Wayanad, but media named it as Wayanad landslide, instead of Mundakkai- Chooralmala disaster. It was not just tourism of the region that got impacted, but everyone in the district was also affected,“ he says.
Global warming impact
“The impact of climate change is becoming evident, particularly in ecologically-sensitive areas such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Kerala. Sudden floods, landslides, extreme heat, and unseasonal rainfall have started disrupting hotel operations. In some regions, these events cause structural damage and impact hospitality supply chains,” says M K Shyama Raju, President, FHRAI.Kumar says that in cities experiencing record temperatures, the chain has seen more last-minute changes, shorter stays, and increased interest in properties with strong indoor amenities and easy access to cooler, climate-controlled environments.”“Climate change is no longer a future risk, it’s a present reality,” says Abraham Alapatt – President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation – Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. He describes how the company is taking strong steps to reduce its own environmental footprint and helping its business travel clients do the same. “We are also promoting eco-friendly accommodations, low environmental impact itineraries and carbon-conscious travel options.”
Manali, a different story
The skies darken heralding rain. But what was once a bustling monsoon tourism season feels like a fading memory for Nithesh, the manager of Travelicious, a restaurant near Edakkal Caves in Wayanad. The place now gets only a handful of local patrons.Echoing a similar opinion, Gaurav Takur, Treasurer, Manali Hoteliers Association, said, “Manali is seeing severe changes in its weather pattens. The seasons are changing. Now, we experience heavy rains during winter and what should be summer season, is now winter. In my understanding this is not just happening in Manali, but across the globe due to climate change. However, it hasn’t affected tourist inflow to the area. In fact, we see an increase in tourists, even though a slight dip happened after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The weather pattern changes mainly affected the agriculture sector in the area.”Published on June 9, 2025 As Abhishek Jain, Director – Green Economy and Impact Innovations, CEEW, says, “We need to reimagine tourism — from an escape from daily routine, that is often resource intensive, to something that brings us closer to nature and our own selves, without being taxing on our planet.” Soorajith Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Wayanad Tourism Organisation, describes how dependent the district is on tourism which contributes more than 25 per cent to the local economy. “After the landslide, the economy was down for six months and the district has incurred loss of more than ₹1,000 crore,” he says.
Business
Editorial. Palatable option
Published on June 8, 2025 Given this situation, the Centre does appear to have struck a reasonable balance. By halving duties on crude edible oil, it has tried to bring down raw material costs for the oil processing and refining industry. The wide difference of 19.25 per cent between crude and refined oils makes it viable for refiners to use idle capacity for profitable operations. Farmer interests have also been kept in mind to an extent, by retaining a 10 per cent tariff on crude oils and not restoring it back to zero duty, as was the case before September 2024. However, the timing of this cut could have been better. Coming just when kharif sowing is picking up steam, the duty cut can prompt farmers to rethink oilseed acreage.The extent of relief to consumers will also depend on whether the extraction and refining industry passes on cost savings. Should it prove tardy in passing on benefits, the Centre can consider slashing tariffs on refined oils too by 5-6 percentage points.Cooking oil has been a key contributor to inflation since September last year (when crude edible oils were raised from 0 to 20 per cent and refined oils from 12.5 to 32.5 per cent). The partial rollback now promises consumers some relief. While the change may also cheer the edible oil processing industry, farmers may need to budget for lower realisations. Tariff decisions on edible oils are a tricky balancing act, given the conflicting interests of consumers, the oil processing industry and farmers. For consumers, the perpetual shortfall in domestic supplies of cooking oil, the near-60 per cent import dependence and concentrated supply origins pose a problem. Soyabean, sunflower and palmoil crop prospects in Malaysia, Indonesia, Argentina or Brazil can trigger high volatility in global oil prices which gets passed on to Indian consumers. Farmers find the oilseed crop less remunerative than crops like paddy, where Minimum Support Prices are backed by assured procurement. Frequent tinkering with edible oil trade and tariff policies add to the uncertainty around realisations for farmers. The domestic solvent extraction and refining industry is plagued by excess capacity. With limited domestic availability of oilseeds, the industry relies on imported crude oils and manages profitable operations only when duty differentials between crude and refined oils are wide.
Published on June 8, 2025 The extent of relief to consumers will also depend on whether the extraction and refining industry passes on cost savings. Should it prove tardy in passing on benefits, the Centre can consider slashing tariffs on refined oils too by 5-6 percentage points.India’s retail inflation has cooled, but one item that has continued to sizzle is cooking oils. The ‘oils and fats’ component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has shown a persistent year-on-year escalation of 16-17 per cent in recent months. This is perhaps why the Centre decided to slash import duties on crude edible oils last week, just seven months after sharply hiking it. On May 30, the basic customs duty on crude soyabean, palm and sunflower oil was reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, cutting the effective tariff to 16.5 per cent including cess. Duties on refined oils have been left untouched and remain at an effective 35.75 per cent. Cooking oil has been a key contributor to inflation since September last year (when crude edible oils were raised from 0 to 20 per cent and refined oils from 12.5 to 32.5 per cent). The partial rollback now promises consumers some relief. While the change may also cheer the edible oil processing industry, farmers may need to budget for lower realisations. Tariff decisions on edible oils are a tricky balancing act, given the conflicting interests of consumers, the oil processing industry and farmers. For consumers, the perpetual shortfall in domestic supplies of cooking oil, the near-60 per cent import dependence and concentrated supply origins pose a problem. Soyabean, sunflower and palmoil crop prospects in Malaysia, Indonesia, Argentina or Brazil can trigger high volatility in global oil prices which gets passed on to Indian consumers. Farmers find the oilseed crop less remunerative than crops like paddy, where Minimum Support Prices are backed by assured procurement. Frequent tinkering with edible oil trade and tariff policies add to the uncertainty around realisations for farmers. The domestic solvent extraction and refining industry is plagued by excess capacity. With limited domestic availability of oilseeds, the industry relies on imported crude oils and manages profitable operations only when duty differentials between crude and refined oils are wide.
-
india2 years ago
“Major Crash of Sukhoi Su-30 and Mirage 2000 Fighter Jets in Madhya Pradesh”
-
Sports2 years ago
WFI meetings on April 16, elections likely to be discussed
-
india1 year ago
PM Modi Meets Deve Gowda for Seat Sharing Talks
-
india1 year ago
Bengaluru: False threat to bomb Raj Bhavan
-
india2 years ago
“AIMIM to Contest 50 Seats in Upcoming Telangana Assembly Elections”
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Anant Ambani: Controversy at the Ambani Pre-Wedding Bash
-
Karnataka2 years ago
Women have to show their Aadhaar to travel free on KSRTC bus
-
Entertainment2 years ago
Rajinikanth is Moideen Bhai in ‘Lal Salaam’