Archives May 2026

EZTax Introduces AI-Based AIS Reconciliation and Tax Filing Enhancements for AY 2026-27

Business Wire India

EZTax.in, an authorized e-Return Intermediary (ERI), announced new AI-enabled capabilities in its self-service Income Tax e-Filing platform for Assessment Year 2026–27, focused on simplifying reconciliation of AIS, broker statements, and prefilled tax data for self-filing taxpayers.

 

The release includes features such as AIS Upload for Capital Gains, AIS Reconciliation, and automated Income Tax Rule Alerts intended to help taxpayers review disclosures, identify mismatches, and reduce manual consolidation of financial information across multiple reporting sources.

 

As Annual Information Statement (AIS) reporting, prefilled returns, and broker disclosures continue to expand, taxpayers are increasingly required to reconcile information reported across brokers, depositories, registrar and transfer agents, and other financial institutions before filing returns. EZTax said the new capabilities are designed to assist taxpayers in reviewing and validating such data during the filing process.

 

The AIS Upload feature allows taxpayers to upload AIS data and automatically read entries related to capital gains, dividends, interest income, salary, taxes paid, TDS, and other reported transactions. According to the company, the feature is intended to reduce the need for manual compilation of statements from brokers, mutual fund platforms, depositories including CDSL and NSDL, and registrar and transfer agents such as CAMS and KFIN Technologies.

 

The AIS Reconciliation capability compares taxpayer-entered information with government-reported data to identify mismatches, duplicate disclosures, and incomplete reporting prior to submission of returns. EZTax also introduced automated rule-based alerts intended to notify taxpayers of common filing inconsistencies relating to deductions, TDS, capital gains reporting, and tax regime selection.

 

Suneel Dasari, Founder and CEO of EZTax, said, “Tax filing in India is increasingly becoming a process of reconciling information reported across multiple systems and financial institutions. Our focus has been on building agents that help taxpayers review this information with greater clarity and reduce avoidable reporting inconsistencies.”

 

Mr. Dasari added that adoption of AI-assisted filing features on the platform has increased during the current filing season, particularly among taxpayers dealing with capital gains, investment disclosures, and multi-source income reporting.

 

EZTax said the updated filing workflows are available for AY 2026–27 filings as well as updated return submissions for earlier years through its web and mobile platforms.

 

The company provides self-service and expert-assisted tax filing services covering salaried individuals, investors, traders, professionals, businesses, HNIs, and NRIs, including support for capital gains taxation, foreign income disclosures, Form 67 filings, GST, TDS compliance, and tax notices.

 

Availability

The updated filing capabilities are available on EZTax.in for AY 2026–27 filings and updated return submissions for earlier years through the company’s web and mobile platforms.

 

Pricing

EZTax said self-service filing plans for AY 2026–27 start at Rs. 249 plus applicable taxes, while expert-assisted filing plans start at Rs. 999 plus taxes.

 

SES Announces Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders

Business Wire India

 

SES:

 

Société Anonyme
RCS Luxembourg B 81267

 

 

Notice is hereby given of the

 

 

Extraordinary General Meeting

 

 

of SES, Société Anonyme, to be held at the Company’s registered office at Château de Betzdorf,
L-6815 Betzdorf (the “Company“), Luxembourg, on

 

 

Wednesday 17 June 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CET

 

 

AGENDA

 

 

  1. Attendance list, quorum and adoption of the agenda
  2. Nomination of a secretary and of two scrutineers
  3. Cancellation of shares purchased in connection with the buy-back programme of 2 November 2023, as amended on 2 May 2024, in accordance therewith and pursuant thereto – Reduction of the share capital in accordance with article 450-5 of the law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended, by forty-four million nine hundred ten thousand seven hundred eighty euro (EUR 44,910,780) through the cancellation of thirty-five million nine hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred and twenty-four (35,928,624) shares divided into (i) twenty-three million nine hundred and fifty-two thousand four hundred and sixteen (23,952,416) class A shares without indication of a par value and (ii) eleven million nine hundred and seventy-six thousand two hundred and eight (11,976,208) class B shares without indication of a par value, which are held by SES Astra for and on behalf of the Company and which have been purchased in connection with the buy-back programme of 2 November 2023, as amended on 2 May 2024 and subsequent amendment of article 4, paragraph 1 of the articles of association of the Company
  4. Decision to introduce indemnification provisions for the members of the board of directors of the Company and the members of the executive committee of the Company and subsequent addition of new paragraphs (F), (G) and (H) to article 9 of the articles of association of the Company
  5. Decision to grant the board of directors of the Company discretion to determine the date of the annual general meeting of shareholders, provided it is held within six (6) months following the end of the financial year and subsequent amendment of article 19, first paragraph of the articles of association of the Company
  6. Decision to determine the location of the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company and of any other general meetings of the shareholders of the Company and subsequent amendment of article 20 of the articles of association of the Company
  7. Decision to amend the convening notice requirements for general meetings of shareholders so as to specify the publication obligations applicable thereto and subsequent amendment of article 21, first paragraph of the articles of association of the Company and addition of a new article 21, second paragraph to the articles of association of the Company
  8. Decision to allow general meetings of shareholders to be held in hybrid mode and subsequent addition of a new article 22, fourth paragraph to the articles of association of the Company
  9. Decision to allow the Company secretary to sign any copy or extract of the minutes of the meetings of the Board and subsequent amendment of article 14, second paragraph of the articles of association of the Company
  10. Decision to determine the documents and items to be approved at the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company and subsequent amendment of article 27 of the articles of association of the Company
  11. Decision to introduce disclosure obligations requiring the Company to make specified documents and information available to shareholders in connection with general meetings of shareholders and subsequent amendment of article 29 of the articles of association of the Company
  12. Decision to determine the matters on which the auditor is called to report on at the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company and subsequent amendment of article 30 of the articles of association of the Company
  13. Miscellaneous

 

 

The board of directors of the Company recommends that you vote FOR agenda items 1-12 of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders set forth above.

 

Attendance

 

 

The right of a shareholder to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM“) and to participate in the vote will be determined at midnight (CET) on the fourteenth day preceding the EGM, i.e. 3 June 2026 (the “Registration Date“). If a Fiduciary Depositary Receipts (“FDR“) holder wishes to attend the meeting he has to be recorded as a shareholder in the share register of the Company prior to the Registration Date. Anyone not being a shareholder on the Registration Date may not attend or vote at the EGM.

 

 

Withdrawal of FDRs and Conversion into A-shares

 

 

An FDR holder who wants to convert FDRs into A-shares has to request this conversion in accordance with conditions 12 and 16 of the Terms and Conditions of the Amended and Restated Fiduciary Deposit Agreement dated 26 September 2001. This document is available at the Banque et Caisse d’Épargne de l’État, Luxembourg. No charge for conversion will be requested for natural persons who are not yet shareholders of category A and who proceed to a conversion of a maximum of 10,000 FDRs into A-shares, allowing them to participate in the EGM of 17 June 2026.

 

 

The latest date for withdrawing FDRs and converting into A-shares for attendance at the EGM is 3 June 2026 at 4:30 p.m. CET. Shareholders who have converted their FDRs into A-shares prior to that date will receive a copy of the EGM documents and details required to attend the EGM. Please feel free to contact Banque et Caisse d’Épargne de l’État, Luxembourg, for further queries in this respect, at the following address: securitisation.irm@spuerkeess.lu.

 

 

Voting instructions

 

 

The FDR holder is entitled, subject to any applicable provisions (e.g. Luxembourg law, articles of association, shareholders’ thresholds and concession agreement) to instruct the Fiduciary via his bank as to the exercise of the voting rights by means of a voting certificate available on request at the bank where the FDRs are held.

 

 

In order for the voting instructions to be valid, the voting certificate form must be completed and duly signed by the FDR holder or, as the case may be, the beneficial owner. Please feel free to contact Banque et Caisse d’Épargne de l’État, Luxembourg, for further queries in this respect at the following address: securitisation.irm@spuerkeess.lu.

 

 

Upon receipt of the voting certificate on or before the date determined by the Fiduciary (being at the latest 15 June 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CET) with such certification and evidence as requested by the Fiduciary or by the Company, the Fiduciary shall transmit to the Company the relevant certifications and supporting evidence and the Company shall verify whether the relevant holders of FDRs or the beneficial owners thereof would qualify as an A-shareholder of the Company if in lieu of FDRs they would hold the corresponding number of A-shares.

 

 

If within eight Luxembourg business days from the receipt of such certification and supporting evidence, the Company has not notified the Fiduciary of its rejection of the request of a holder to exercise its voting rights pertaining to the A-shares underlying its FDRs, the Company shall be deemed to have accepted the relevant voting request.

 

 

After receipt of the written approval of the voting request by the Company, the Fiduciary shall vote or cause to be voted in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests. The Fiduciary may designate and appoint authorized representatives to attend the meeting and vote on behalf of the FDR holders.

 

 

The voting instructions are deemed to be irrevocable and definitive 48 hours prior to the time for which the meeting has been convened, i.e. at the latest on 15 June 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CET. If the Fiduciary has not received voting instructions from the FDR holder, the Fiduciary shall be deemed to have been instructed to vote in the manner proposed by the Board of Directors in the relevant meeting.

 

 

There will be no vote under item 13. Miscellaneous.

 

 

Amendments to the Agenda

 

 

One or more shareholders owning together at least 5% of the share capital of SES have the right to add items to the agenda of the EGM and may deposit draft resolutions regarding items listed on the agenda or proposed to be added to the agenda. This request will need to be received at the latest the twenty-second day preceding the EGM, i.e. 26 May 2026, and made in writing via post (SES, Attn. Ms Sarah Gavin, Château de Betzdorf, L-6815 Betzdorf, Luxembourg) or email (shareholders@ses.com) and will need to include a justification or draft resolution to be adopted at the EGM. The written request will need to include a contact address (post or email) to which the Company can confirm receipt within 48 hours from the receipt of the request.

 

 

At the latest fifteen days preceding the EGM, i.e. 2 June 2026, the Company will then publish a revised agenda.

 

 

Documents made available by SES

 

 

Documents made available by the Company (including the draft resolutions proposed to be adopted at the EGM) for the purpose of this meeting may be inspected during normal working hours by the FDR holders at the offices of the Fiduciary, Banque et Caisse d’Épargne de l’État, Luxembourg, Issuer Services/IRM, 16 rue Zithe, L-2954 Luxembourg, or alternatively at the offices of the Listing Agents, BGL BNP Paribas S.A., 50 avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-2951 Luxembourg, and Société Générale, GSSI/GIS/CMO/AGL, 32 rue du Champ de Tir, F-44312 Nantes Cedex 3, France, and are available on the following websites: www.ses.com and www.spuerkeess.lu/SES.

 

 

Please feel free to contact SES for further queries in this respect at the following address: shareholders@ses.com.

 

 

 

 

 

HDB Financial Services Ltd Announces Appointment of Mr. Natarajan Srinivasan as New Non-Executive Chairman and Board Member

Business Wire India

The Board of Directors of HDB Financial Services Limited at its meeting held today, appointed Mr. Natarajan Srinivasan as Independent Director & Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. This appointment comes at a pivotal time when the company continues to scale its operations and execute its long-term growth strategy.

 

Mr. Natarajan Srinivasan is a distinguished corporate leader with over 40 years of expertise in finance, strategy, and large-scale business transformation. A qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, Mr. Srinivasan has spent a significant portion of his career in senior leadership roles within the Murugappa Group, one of India’s most respected conglomerates.

 

Key Career Highlights:

  • Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Co. Ltd: Served as Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director, where he was instrumental in scaling the financial services business into a market leader.
  • CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd: Served as Managing Director and CEO, successfully spearheading the company’s complex turnaround and strategic repositioning.

 

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Natarajan Srinivasan stated:

“It is an honour to assume this responsibility at such a significant juncture in the institution’s journey. Over the years, HDB Financial Services has built a resilient foundation anchored in robust governance, financial prudence, and customer-centricity. With the support of an experienced leadership team, we are well-positioned to continue creating long-term value for all stakeholders while upholding the highest standards of integrity and excellence.”

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the future performance of the Company and its leadership changes. These statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Experian Partners With ServiceNow to Scale Trusted Decisioning to Agentic AI

Business Wire India

Experian, the global data and technology company, and ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the AI control tower for business reinvention, today unveil a new global multi-year partnership which harnesses the power of autonomous AI agents across platforms, helping businesses make faster and smarter decisions at scale.

 

Through this partnership, autonomous AI agents can gain the ability to act faster, and more consistently, starting with employee onboarding, third-party risk management and model life cycle governance use cases.

 

 

A major challenge for global organisations adopting agentic AI is achieving scale, with deployments often constrained by a lack of trusted data. In fact, industry research shows that data limitations are the primary barrier for eight in ten organisations. By connecting trusted intelligence directly into enterprise workflows, this partnership enables agentic AI to scale well beyond pilot deployments.

 

 

With the Experian Ascend Platform natively connected to the ServiceNow AI Platform, AI agents can seamlessly access Experian’s trusted insights and decisioning capabilities directly within existing workflows, giving clients the unique opportunity to automate intelligence at scale.

 

 

Keith Little, President – Experian Software Solutions, said:
“We see agentic AI as a fundamental change in how intelligent services are delivered, and this partnership brings together complementary strengths and a shared vision for building them the right way.

 

 

“By connecting our intelligence and decisioning capabilities in Ascend directly into ServiceNow’s workflow, businesses can operate with confidence at scale, while extending the impact of our capabilities into new industries and enterprise workflows. This partnership cements Experian’s position as a global leader in AI innovation, giving organisations the foundations to deploy agentic services with confidence.”

 

 

Cathy Mauzaize, President, EMEA at ServiceNow, said:
“Businesses are ready to move beyond experimentation, and this partnership gives them exactly what they need to scale. By bringing together ServiceNow’s AI Platform, with Experian’s world-leading decisioning and analytics platform, we’re enabling deeper insights and delivering AI that can make smarter decisions and act faster in a secure environment that delivers real outcomes.”

 

 

The partnership will support a wide range of use cases for companies in highly regulated environments, starting with third-party risk management – including fraud and identity verification for businesses, employee onboarding and model risk management.

 

 

About Experian

 

 

Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and software. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.

 

 

We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.

 

 

We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. A FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 25,200 people across 33 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.

 

 

© 2026 ServiceNow, Inc. All rights reserved. ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, Now, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other company names, product names, and logos may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

 

 

 

 

 

Lava International Wins Gold at 12th CII National Kaizen Circle Competition 2026 for Innovative Quality Improvement Initiative

New Delhi, May 15: Lava International Limited, India’s trusted homegrown smartphone brand, bagged the Gold Award in the category of “Best Innovative Kaizen for Quality” at the prestigious 12th CII National Kaizen Circle Competition 2026, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The recognition highlights Lava’s continued focus on efficiency, cost optimization and sustainable manufacturing practices.

Commenting on the achievement, Vipan Singla, SVP – QualityLava International Ltd said, “This recognition is a testament to our consistent efforts in improving product quality standards, optimizing costs and delivering enhanced product experiences to our users. Kaizen projects have enabled industries across sectors to set new benchmarks and significantly improve India’s manufacturing capabilities. I appreciate the entire team that has relentlessly worked hard to deliver superlative performance. I am thankful to CII for this recognition, which encourages us to strengthen our design, quality and manufacturing excellence as we continue to build a robust mobile manufacturing brand in India.” 

Lava received the honour for its project to reduce the Annual Failure Rate (AFR) in the Yuva and Blaze smartphone series. The initiative, led by strong cross-functional collaboration across Market Quality, Hardware Quality, Factory Quality and Data Analytics teams, reflects Lava’s strong commitment to quality-first engineering and structured problem-solving, reinforcing Lava’s manufacturing capabilities and its alignment with the government’s vision. 

The event brought together leading industries to showcase Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives, encouraging companies to continue focusing on affordable, quality-led innovation for Indian customers.

Fuel Prices Hiked Across India as Global Crude Surge Pushes Petrol, Diesel Rates Up

New delhi, May 15 (BNP): Fuel prices across India witnessed a sharp increase on Friday, with petrol and diesel rates rising by up to ₹3 per litre amid escalating global crude oil prices and ongoing supply concerns linked to the prolonged West Asia conflict.

Fuel Prices Hiked Across India as Global Crude Surge Pushes Petrol, Diesel Rates Up

Representational image

The latest revision has pushed petrol prices in Delhi to ₹97.77 per litre, while diesel now costs ₹90.67 per litre. Similar increases were reported in several major cities across the country.

Officials said the hike was necessitated by sustained pressure on international energy markets, where crude oil prices have remained volatile due to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global supply chains. State-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have reportedly been facing heavy financial strain as import costs continue to rise.

The increase is expected to impact transportation expenses, logistics operations, and household budgets, potentially contributing to inflationary pressure in the coming weeks. Market experts believe the revision could also lead to a rise in prices of essential commodities due to higher freight costs.

The government maintained that despite the increase, India has continued to shield consumers from the full burden of global fuel price spikes by absorbing a significant portion of the costs over recent months.

The development has triggered political reactions and public concern, with opposition parties criticising the move and warning of its impact on common citizens already dealing with rising living expenses.

U.S. Polo Assn. launches landmark store in Jaipur, Bringing Its New Retail Vision to the Pink City

U.S. Polo Assn. launches landmark store in Jaipur, Bringing Its New Retail Vision to the Pink City

Jaipur, May 15: U.S. Polo Assn., India’s leading casualwear brand and the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), further strengthens its retail footprint by foraying into Rajasthan with the launch of its marquee flagship store – an expansive, one-of-a kind retail destination, located at Horizon Tower- Jewel of India on JLN Marg, Jaipur.

Spanning approximately 3,000 sq. ft., the store marks a significant milestone for the brand in the region, serving as its largest store in Rajasthan and as Jaipur’s first New Identity store. It also introduces the brand’s evolved retail design language to the city, offering a reimagined and elevated in-store experience.

Strategically positioned on one of Jaipur’s most prominent high streets, the store brings to life U.S. Polo Assn.’s refreshed retail philosophy, one that blends contemporary design with the brand’s deep-rooted legacy in the sport of polo.

Adding to the significance of the launch, HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, Global Brand Ambassador for U.S. Polo Assn., graced the occasion, marking a momentous unveiling. His presence lent a sense of heritage, authenticity, and grandeur to the event, reinforcing the brand’s enduring connection with the sport of polo. The occasion celebrated a three-year long association between U.S. Polo Assn. and HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, further strengthening their shared legacy and commitment to the sport.

Jaipur has always been incredibly close to my heart, not just as home, but as a place where the sport of polo holds so much history and emotion. To be part of the launch of the new U.S. Polo Assn. store here at Horizon Tower, and to see the brand celebrate that connection in such a thoughtful way, is truly special. I’m grateful for moments like these that bring together heritage, sport, and fashion so seamlessly!,” said HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh on the launch. 

The store offers a curated selection across Menswear and Footwear. There is also a strong emphasis on polo shirts, a cornerstone of the brand’s identity and a key focus category for the year with the launch of the U.S. Polo Assn. Global Polo Shirt campaign: An Icon Born from the Game. Showcasing an elevated take on everyday dressing, featuring refined and breathable fabrics, each silhouette seamlessly helps transition across occasions. Seasonally relevant lightweight fabrics such as linens and modern shackets are a key part of the assortment as they further enrich the bringing together of comfort, functionality and contemporary styling.

Customers can explore the latest seasonal offerings, including lightweight summer essentials, contemporary flat knits, and relaxed yet polished wardrobe staples designed for modern lifestyles. This assortment highlights the brand’s signature sport-inspired aesthetic, with a strong focus on its iconic polo shirts, elevated every day essentials and options that balance comfort with effortless style. The expanded footwear range further complements the apparel offering, delivering a cohesive expression of performance-driven style. Options such as casual sneakers, versatile slip-ons, loafers and sport shoes are thoughtfully designed and truly represent reimagined sportswear heritage and styles.

Speaking on the launch, Amitabh Suri, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Polo Assn. India, said,Jaipur represents a market where tradition and modernity coexist in a very distinctive way, and this store reflects that intersection. With our largest presence in Rajasthan and the introduction of our New Identity retail concept in the city, we are creating a more immersive and design-forward environment for our consumers. The presence of HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh makes this moment particularly special for us; it brings alive our authentic connection to the sport of polo in a way that is both meaningful and inspiring. As we continue to build the brand across India, Jaipur marks an important step in shaping how consumers experience U.S. Polo Assn. today.”

With this launch, U.S. Polo Assn. continues to deepen its presence in key markets across India, offering consumers a more evolved and engaging way to experience its signature blend of sport, style, and authenticity.

Address: U.S. Polo Assn., Unit No. UG-15, Upper Ground Floor, Horizon Tower at Jewel Of India, JLN Marg, Jaipur – 302018, Rajasthan

Duckworth Prestex Introduces Big Date Automatic

London, May 15, 2026
 
Duckworth Prestex is proud to announce the Prestex Big Date Automatic: a refined new timepiece that brings together classical watchmaking design with one of horology’s most practical and visually satisfying complications.
 
With its balanced dial, prominent double-window date display and open-heart detail, the Big Date Automatic reflects a careful approach to proportion, legibility and everyday usability, while continuing the brand’s focus on mechanical character and thoughtful design.

Duckworth Prestex Introduces Big Date Automatic

 

 
At the centre of the watch is the oversized big date display, positioned at 12 o’clock. Unlike a standard date window, which often appears as a small and secondary feature, the big date is designed to be read at a glance. Two separate discs work in unison to present the date in a larger, clearer format, creating a display that is both highly legible and visually distinctive.
 
For founder Neil Duckworth, the appeal of the complication lies in its clarity as much as its mechanical interest. The big date introduces a sense of order to the dial, while also delivering a precise and satisfying change at midnight.
 
Duckworth explains: “The big date is one of those complications that is incredibly useful but also very pleasing to look at. Because the numerals are larger, you read it instantly. But there is also something very satisfying about the mechanism itself; the way the discs change over together. It adds a moment of precision to the watch each day. And the whole package is just stunning to look at.”
 
The dial has been designed to support this sense of balance. The big date aperture at 12 o’clock is complemented by an open-heart display at 6 o’clock, offering a view into the movement and introducing a subtle sense of motion. Together, these elements create a symmetrical layout that feels both structured and dynamic.
 
A guilloché-style textured centre adds depth without overwhelming the design, while applied numerals and heat-blued hands provide contrast and clarity. The result is a dial that remains easy to read yet reveals increasing detail over time.
 
The Big Date Automatic is housed in a stainless steel case measuring 39.5mm, a size chosen to reflect traditional proportions while ensuring modern wearability. Coin-edge detailing along the case band adds a distinctive touch, drawing on vintage design cues that have long been associated with the Prestex aesthetic.
 
The watch is paired with a hand-finished leather strap, reinforcing its versatility as a piece that can move easily between formal and everyday settings.
 
Inside, the watch is powered by an automatic movement with a power reserve of over 48 hours. The inclusion of an open-heart aperture allows the wearer to observe part of the escapement in motion, offering a direct connection to the mechanical nature of the watch.
 
The Big Date Automatic is priced at £850, with private pre-order access now available. The first 50 pieces will be delivered in June 2026.
 
Combining a highly legible complication with a balanced dial design and considered proportions, the Big Date Automatic continues Duckworth Prestex’s approach to watchmaking: creating timepieces that are practical, characterful and designed to be worn every day.

ITR Filing Season Begins as Income Tax Department Launches ITR-1, ITR-4 Utilities

May 15 (BNP): The Income Tax Department has officially started the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing process for Assessment Year 2026-27 with the release of Excel-based offline utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 forms on the e-filing portal.

ITR Filing Season Begins as Income Tax Department Launches ITR-1, ITR-4 Utilities

The move enables eligible taxpayers to begin filing returns for income earned during the Financial Year 2025-26. Taxpayers can now download the utilities, fill in income and tax details offline, calculate tax liabilities, generate JSON files, and upload them to the official portal for submission and verification.

The launch marks the beginning of the annual tax filing season and is expected to benefit salaried employees, pensioners, small business owners, and professionals covered under presumptive taxation schemes by allowing them to complete the process well before the deadline.

ITR-1 is applicable for resident individuals with annual income up to ₹50 lakh earned through salary, pension, up to two house properties, and other sources such as bank interest. The form also covers agricultural income up to ₹5,000 and long-term capital gains under Section 112A up to ₹1.25 lakh.

Meanwhile, ITR-4 is designed for resident individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and firms excluding LLPs with income up to ₹50 lakh opting for presumptive taxation schemes under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, and 44AE.

Officials have advised taxpayers to verify PAN, Aadhaar linkage, bank account details, Form 16, and other financial information before filing returns. The department has also encouraged early filing to avoid last-minute technical issues and penalties.

ITR Filing Season Begins as Income Tax Department Launches ITR-1, ITR-4 Utilities

Income Tax Returns are mandatory documents through which taxpayers declare their income, deductions, and tax liabilities to the Income Tax Department. The last date for filing returns without penalty is expected to remain July 31, unless extended by the government.

Why Employees Hide Chronic Pain to Meet Workplace Norms

Workers in chronic pain often choose to conceal it and continue working as though nothing were wrong, according to new research led by the University of Delaware.

Drawing on a survey of 66 workers living with chronic pain, the authors explored how hidden expectations shape everyday work experiences. Their participants came from a wide range of occupations, but despite these differences, they faced similar pressures: Their bodies had to conform to a standard of uninterrupted functionality.

“People feel like they can’t talk about their pain because it signals that they’re not able to meet expectations, even when those expectations are unrealistic,” said Beth Schinoff, lead author and assistant professor of management in UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.

Schinoff and her co-authors examined how modern workplaces are built on implicit assumptions about what she calls “the ideal worker body.”

“We don’t think about the ways in which our bodies are being used, or the way in which organizations are asking us to use our bodies, especially because most people’s work is repetitive in some way,” Schinoff said. “It really does have detrimental effects on our bodies.”

While organizations often emphasize productivity, commitment and professionalism, the study, recently published in the Academy of Management Journal, reveals that these expectations are deeply tied to bodily norms that are rarely acknowledged. 

As Schinoff explained, “workplaces don’t just assume an ideal worker  they assume an ideal worker body,” one that can consistently perform without interruption, discomfort or limitation.

Whether it meant standing for hours, typing continuously or sitting through long meetings, their work assumed bodies that could “do what the job requires, when the job requires it, without visible struggle,” she said.

However, this strategy comes at a cost. By pushing themselves to meet expectations, workers often exacerbate their pain, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. 

Schinoff described this as a cycle of pain and shame, where “workers push through pain to appear capable, which worsens their condition, which then increases the pressure to hide it.”

This cycle highlights a key contribution of her research: the problem is not simply that individuals experience pain, but that organizational norms intensify and reproduce that pain.

For example, the expectation to sit upright for long meetings or to keep a camera on during virtual calls may seem trivial, but for someone in chronic pain, these requirements can be physically taxing. Because such norms are taken for granted, workers who cannot meet them often internalize their struggles as personal failures rather than questioning the system itself.

“These expectations feel natural, which makes it even harder to challenge them,” Schinoff noted.

The consequences of this cycle vary across individuals. Schinoff found that about two-thirds of her participants reached a breaking point, where their pain became so severe that it interfered not only with work but also with daily life.

Some described being unable to perform basic tasks outside of work, such as opening jars or caring for family members. For these individuals, the demand to maintain an ideal worker body became unsustainable, forcing them to leave their jobs.

In contrast, about one-third of participants were able to continue working, often because they had access to flexibility or supportive management. This variation underscores an important point: chronic pain is not just a medical condition, but an organizational phenomenon shaped by workplace structures and expectations.

Another key aspect of Schinoff’s research is the role of medical professionals. Many participants turned to doctors not only for treatment but also for validation of their experiences. Receiving a diagnosis or having their pain taken seriously helped some workers reframe their relationship to work.

Schinoff explained that “validation from medical professionals can interrupt the cycle,” allowing workers to step away from the pressure to perform as ideal-worker-bodied. In contrast, those who encountered skepticism or dismissal from doctors often remained trapped in the cycle, continuing to push themselves despite worsening pain.

This shift led to one of Schinoff’s most important conceptual contributions: the idea of the “sufficient worker body.” Rather than striving to meet the unrealistic standard of the ideal worker body, some participants began to redefine what it means to be a capable worker.

“A sufficient worker body is one that can still do the job well, but maybe in a different way,” Schinoff said. This might involve working while lying down, taking frequent breaks, dictating instead of typing or adjusting schedules to accommodate pain.

Ultimately, Schinoff’s research reframed chronic pain as a systemic issue rather than an individual problem. By revealing how workplaces are structured around narrow assumptions about the body, she showed how these environments can unintentionally exclude or harm workers with different bodily experiences.

At the same time, her work points to the possibility of more inclusive approaches. Recognizing the legitimacy of the “sufficient worker body” and questioning taken-for-granted norms can help organizations create environments where a wider range of bodies can thrive.

More broadly, Schinoff argued that bodily diversity should be understood as a fundamental aspect of workforce diversity.

“Bodies naturally vary and change over time,” she said, and workplaces that ignore this reality risk excluding not only people with chronic conditions but also anyone whose body does not consistently meet idealized expectations.

Her research ultimately calls for a shift in how we think about work, moving away from rigid, body-based standards and toward more flexible, humane understandings of what it means to be a capable worker.