‘Uber may implement social security code for drivers by year end'
'There is a really pleasing piece of legislation called the Code on Social Security that was announced a number of years ago. We continue to talk to the government about what it will take for us to implement that. I think we are confident that that should be implemented in the second-half of this year,' he said, adding that the specifics of how the funding is rolled out, the cost of the funding, as well as the specific benefits were needed to be decided.
'If the code is in place, social security of the workers at Uber, mostly drivers, will be interoperable, which means they can benefit even if they go to Rapido or Ola,' Mr. Taylor said.
The Centre passed the Code on Social Security in September 2020, when the country experienced informal sector labour, and gig workers suffering as businesses shut due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The code expanded the definition of employees and proposed to establish a fund for social security. Contribution to the fund will be made by Union, State and the aggregator. The code lays provisions for gig workers, informal works and platform workers for life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old-age protection, education, and any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government. It also provides for the creation of a National Social Security Board , which would have representation from aggregators, platform workers, Director General of the Corporation, Central Provident Fund Commissioner of the Central Board and experts.
While the code was formulated and passed in both Houses of Parliament in 2020, the Supreme Court, in a sitting in February 2025, directed the Union Government to implement the code as soon as possible and questioned the delay. , Uber has now expressed hope that the code will be implemented by year-end. Mr. Taylor said while the ride-hailing service continued to unveil new features, reaching tier-two and tier-three was a challenge that Uber was facing in India.
Uber released a host of features which included Uber for pets, and Uber for teens with increased safety features. Uber also introduced a feature to lock prices in regular routes with prepaid subscriptions, to bring down prices during peak hours. The feature is expected to be rolled out in December 2025.
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Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Surprise $400 checks rolling out to millions of Americans — no zip code needed to cash in
Millions of New York residents will soon receive surprise inflation relief checks worth up to $400—with no zip code or application needed to qualify. This major financial support initiative, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, is part of New York State's newly approved 2025–2026 budget. In a bid to combat rising living costs and ease financial pressure on households, the state is automatically issuing these one-time inflation refund checks to more than 8.2 million residents. The best part? No sign-up forms, no regional restrictions, and no zip code requirements. If you're eligible, your check is coming—simple as that. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Design Thinking Public Policy Data Analytics Technology Cybersecurity Finance Data Science Degree others MCA MBA Data Science Project Management PGDM CXO Digital Marketing healthcare Management Others Product Management Healthcare Leadership Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details What Are These $400 Inflation Refund Checks? These $400 checks are part of a state-funded relief package, designed to help New Yorkers cope with ongoing inflation, rising rent, grocery bills, and utility costs. The initiative is a cornerstone of Governor Hochul's 2025–26 budget, reflecting the administration's focus on direct aid to working-class and middle-income families. The New York Inflation Refund Program ensures that qualifying residents receive up to $400 per household, depending on their income and filing status. Unlike federal stimulus checks that were previously disbursed by income tiers or COVID relief plans, these payments are automatic and require no action from recipients. Who Is Eligible for the $400 Inflation Relief Payment? To receive a check, you must have filed a 2023 New York State income tax return (Form IT-201) . The state is using 2023 tax data to determine eligibility and refund amounts. Live Events Here are the basic eligibility criteria: Filed 2023 NY State tax return Not claimed as a dependent on another person's return Meet the income threshold for your filing status Income Thresholds and Refund Amounts: Filing Status Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Maximum Refund Amount Single Up to $75,000 $200 Single $75,001 – $150,000 $150 Married Filing Jointly / Widowed Up to $150,000 $400 Married Filing Jointly / Widowed $150,001 – $300,000 $300 If your income exceeds these limits, you won't receive a refund under this specific initiative. When Will the $400 Checks Be Sent? According to state officials, the checks will start going out by mid-October 2025, with deliveries continuing through November 2025. Because of the large number of eligible recipients—over 8 million—the mailings will be staggered. Important Note: There's no specific order by zip code, last name, or region. Unlike some government programs that roll out aid by area or application date, this one is completely automatic and statewide. Residents are encouraged to check their mail regularly during the fall and to ensure their address is up to date with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. No Zip Code Needed – What Does That Mean? The phrase 'no zip code needed to cash in' simply means that the checks are not being issued based on geographic location. In the past, some relief programs were rolled out in stages depending on where you lived. That's not the case here. All qualified New Yorkers, regardless of where they live—from New York City to Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, and everywhere in between—will get their check at the same time as the system allows, without prioritizing one zip code over another. So, whether you're in Queens (11413) or Saratoga Springs (12866), you're equally in line. How Will the Checks Be Delivered? The checks will be sent via regular U.S. Postal Service mail. The envelope will likely come from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, so don't toss out any government-looking mail during the October–November delivery window. Some residents may also receive direct deposit if that's how they received their tax refund in 2023. However, the majority will get physical checks. No Application or Paperwork Needed One of the biggest advantages of this program is that you don't need to apply. If you qualified based on your 2023 income tax filing, the system will automatically issue your refund check. There's no paperwork, no re-certification, and no website form to fill out. Just make sure: You filed your 2023 NY income tax return Your mailing address is up to date You were not claimed as a dependent If all three apply, you're set. Why Is New York Issuing These Refund Checks? This refund is part of a broader response to rising costs across the state. From housing to groceries, gas to healthcare, inflation has stretched household budgets thin. The state government has received strong pressure to act. Governor Hochul emphasized that the refund is part of a 'proactive strategy to bring immediate relief' to those most impacted by inflation, especially working families, the elderly, and renters. This initiative also allows the state to reinvest surplus funds from previous fiscal years into direct financial support, as opposed to long-term infrastructure or administrative programs. Watch Out for Scams Whenever relief money is involved, scammers follow. Be cautious of: Emails, texts, or phone calls asking you to 'claim' your refund. Requests for your Social Security number or bank info. Websites asking for a 'processing fee' to access the $400 check. Remember: You do NOT need to do anything to receive your inflation refund. If you're eligible, it will come automatically. Any request for action is a red flag. What to Do If You Don't Receive Your Check If you believe you're eligible but haven't received a check by December 1, 2025, follow these steps: Visit the official NY Tax Department website – Look for 'Inflation Refund' updates or FAQ section. Call the NY State Tax Refund Helpline at 1‑800‑225‑5829 (if available). Double-check your 2023 tax return status to ensure it was processed correctly. A Welcome Relief for Millions This surprise round of $400 checks for New Yorkers is a refreshing example of state-led inflation relief in action. With no zip code restrictions and no application required, it ensures that millions of families get timely financial support without jumping through bureaucratic hoops. If you're one of the 8.2 million New Yorkers who qualify, this fall could bring some much-needed budget relief—automatically. New York inflation refund checks up to $400 begin rolling out in October 2025. No zip code, no paperwork, no application needed. Based on 2023 state income tax filing and household income. Checks will continue mailing through November. Eligible residents will receive them automatically by mail or direct deposit. FAQs: Q1: Who qualifies for the New York $400 inflation refund checks? Anyone who filed a 2023 NY State tax return and meets income limits can get it automatically. Q2: Do I need my zip code to get the $400 inflation check? No zip code is needed—the checks are mailed automatically to all eligible New Yorkers.
The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Union Minister, to Address Vimarsh, India's Premiere Conclave on Science and Research to Encourage Collaboration
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
For Renault India, the time has come to walk the talk
New Delhi: As Managing Director of Renault India , Venkatram Mamillapalle believes the time has come for the French carmaker to walk the talk after a few years of being in the wilderness. Asked if the brand aura has taken a hit in the process, he is candid with his response. 'I will not hesitate in saying that there has been an impact because we were at about 2.8 per cent market share in 2019-20 and less than 1 per cent , marginally at 0.98 percent to be precise,' he told ET Auto. There were many reasons for this setback beginning with the COVID outbreak in 2020 followed by the semiconductor shortage crisis, the Russian-Ukraine war and so on. There were also no investments happening in India because of adverse conditions back home in Europe which had to be addressed as top priority to set things in order. We have to prove ourselves as well. It is not as if everything is readily available and a pipeline is placed from where you get all the investmentsVenkatram Mamillapalle Things are a lot different now and investments finally began coming in from 2023 leading to the launch of the all-new Triber on July 23. 'This is the first vehicle and we have lined up three more in the next two years. We have to prove ourselves as well. It is not as if everything is readily available and a pipeline is placed from where you get all the investments,' cautioned Mamillapalle . In the driver's seat A whole lot of changes have come in too with Renault acquiring Nissan's 51 per cent stake in the manufacturing plant near Chennai which means it is now the solo driver. The company also recently inaugurated its design studio as well as threw open its premium 'R Store' retail outlets in Chennai and Mumbai with more to follow. With investments assured for the new products, Mamillapalle said the parent company has done its bit for the India operations to begin firing on all cylinders. 'They have contributed to their side of the story and it now time for in India to prove that we will deliver. India is a growing market and we should show that we can perform,' he added. We have packed it with a host of features, including safety, and priced it perfectly well. Now it is up to us to reach out to the customer with the right message where we have a good marketing plan in placeVenkatram Mamillapalle The Triber launch marks the beginning of this turnaround story and the next step is to 'see how things go about and how we can manage'. The Renault India MD also made it clear that localisation and utilisation of capacity go side by side. They are not two different line items but come together. Exports, in turn, will depend on the pace of localisation. 'If you do not localise, there is nothing called exports since it is a subset of your localisation. Plant efficiency, similarly, is part of your localisation efforts. So everything kicks off from the point of what you are doing in India and how competitive you are both on the auto components side as well as your manufacturing costs,' explained Mamillapalle. India is the acid test The bottomline, therefore, is this reality: if you are competitive in India, you are competitive across the world and wherever you are, you will make money if you can (make money) in India. 'That is the simple rule of thumb,' he added. These focus areas came into play during the development of the Triber which led to its competitive pricing. 'We have packed it with a host of features, including safety, and priced it perfectly well. Now it is up to us to reach out to the customer with the right message where we have a good marketing plan in place,' said Mamillapalle. The tailwinds in Renault's favour which could give the Triber a boost are the spate of festive occasions beginning with Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Dussehra and then Diwali. 'They are all sequenced this year and the Triber will be aligned with them. Remember, we have the wedding season as well which is great news,' he added. Manufacturing engineering will play a key role at the backend where Renault will now be the pivot with the focus being on cost optimisation. As Mamillapalle explained, manufacturing is more related to manpower cost and there are two different aspects here: equipment uptime and manpower utilisation. 'The combination of these two gives you the efficiency and there are a lot of changes happening in the organisation that should help us. We will see the results of this optimisation of processes in the next two to three months,' he said. Yes, you will struggle and face difficult times. But you will also learn in the process and constantly investigate in finding other options. Life follows the same cycles tooVenkatram Mamillapalle New template This is particularly important in the context of Renault taking over from Nissan — which will be officially finalised in a few weeks from now — and putting a different process in place. 'We have to see how efficiently we go forward and check out where we stand after the acquisition exercise is finally completed,' he added. For instance, where the assembly line is intact, there is no point changing it. Likewise, where the press line is a five station, 'you do not change it to four stations' even though it may be expensive. Some automakers have four station presses for the body while others could have five to six, depending upon the complexity of their designed bodies. Eventually, it boils down to the DNA of each company. Where it was the DNA of Nissan that dominated the script till recently, Renault has now stepped into the picture and there will be some kind of optimisation happening. 'I would say the players or the actors have not entered the scene yet. The acquisition process has to finish. Then you will see the actors demonstrating what needs to be done,' said Mamillapalle. Until that happens, there will be no real performers on the stage. Once they come in (and this is a solo actor, Renault, as the custodian of the Chennai plant), they do their analysis and game theory as part of the systemic engineering exercise. Once the suggestions are 'implemented at hyperspeed', optimisation of capacity 'on an overall basis' follows in due course. Also Read: Govt waits for global OEMs to make electric cars in India Clean fuel options As for the choice of fuels in the future, it is now getting quite clear that India will let its automakers adopt a host of clean options beyond electric alone. This would typically mean hybrids, CNG, hydrogen, ethanol, LPG and so on. 'Well, someone can operate a hydrogen train but you cannot say that I want hydrogen on trains, trucks, cars and bicycles. So we need to take a decision for which the policymakers, OEMs etc have to come aligned and then execute the plan,' said Mamillapalle. As for the present crisis in India's EV arena involving rare earth magnets, it is no secret that one country, China, holds the maximum resources in electric and their 'reluctance to supply' should ideally push other countries to create their own resources. Also Read: Renault plans to boost India production with more SUVs, exports Reluctant to redundant According to the Renault India MD, this will then see dependency vanish over a period of time. 'So the country which is holding the resources and is reluctant to share them will become redundant over over a period of time. They will then be ready to sell those same products in the market at half the price,' he continued. In his view, this 'reluctance in supplies' would be a good thing since dependent countries would learn to become self-reliant eventually. Sure, there will be huge challenges to be overcome in the interim period when production will be badly hit and revenue suffers too. This scene is actually playing out in India where some top two-wheeler companied have stated that their production will come to a grinding halt in the coming weeks. 'Yes, you will struggle and face difficult times. But you will also learn in the process and constantly investigate in finding other options. Life follows the same cycles too,' reasoned Mamillapalle.
