9 FINANCEOUTLOOKINDIAJUNE, 202629% INDIANS SATISFIED WITH SALARIES, 81% SEEK PAY HIKES: ACCA SURVEYCHEAPEST CAR LOANS START AT 7.35% AS EMI GAP NEARS RS 1 LAKHLONDON-BASED PIDG SET TO LAUNCH MAJOR INDIA INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDSUPREME COURT UPHOLDS 28% GST LEVY ON ONLINE GAMINGSalary dissatisfaction is on the rise among Indian employees as the cost of living, financial pressures and other factors have a negative impact on their satisfaction with their salaries, according to a new survey released by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).A significant fraction of the Indian workforce is now considering asking for pay hikes over the next year, owing to the inflationary pressures and household costs that have been affecting personal finances, the report reveals. 81% of Indian respondents report that they are planning to push for a pay increase from their employers compared with a global average of 62% and an increase from 67% in 2025.The rising cost of living is one of the top concerns at work for employees worldwide in 2026, and it's the second largest concern for Indian employees, after the fear of job displacement due to technology and automation, according to ACCA. The car loan market in India is becoming quite competitive as banks offer lower rates of interest with the growing demand for passenger vehicles. The latest data provided by Paisabazaar shows that there are a handful of public sector banks currently providing the cheapest car loans rates in the London-headquartered Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is set to establish a dedicated fund to support projects in India during the second half of 2026, with an initial focus on the healthcare and agriculture industries. The transaction represents a major scaling up of the group's investment infrastructure and climate portfolio in India.In a statement on the sidelines of an International conference in Singapore, Nishant Kumar, Head of Coverage ­ Asia, PIDG, said the organisation is also looking at mobilizing almost USD 500 million in equity investments for green infrastructure in India within the next three years.In the second half of this year, the "unique project-supporting fund" for the Indian healthcare and agriculture sectors is to be created, Kumar said.PIDG is planning to commit at least USD 150 million for green projects in India this year, on the back of its USD 150 million investment plan in 2025. Kumar says that these investments are usually funded in In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications for India's online gaming sector, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of the 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) levy on online gaming and rejected challenges against retrospective tax demands estimated at nearly Rs1.5 trillion.The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, which dismissed a batch of petitions filed by online gaming companies, casinos, turf clubs and industry bodies challenging GST notices and the broader taxation framework governing online gaming activities.The apex court ruled in favour of the Centre's interpretation of the GST regime and upheld retrospective tax demands issued by authorities, significantly strengthening the government's position in one of the country's biggest tax disputes involving the digital gaming industry. the form of equity and blended finance funds that are more likely to engage a much higher level of private funds. country, with the minimum rate as low as 7.35%, while some have not been able to reduce the rate, depending on the borrower's profile, which is as high as 14%.The increasing gap between the two has now driven up the total cost of financing a customer's loan and purchasing the same vehicle. With a loan amount of Rs 5 lakh and a loan term of 5 years, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive car loans could be as much as Rs 1,650 per Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) or almost Rs 1 lakh for the entire loan period.
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