One of the key changes is the wage redefinition, as this forms the base for all calculations under the codes. (AI image)

By Parizad SirwallaIndia’s labour landscape is witnessing one of the most significant transformations in decades. As of 21 November 2025, most of the provisions under the four Labour Codes have been made effective. The Labour Codes consolidate 29 existing labour laws into four comprehensive codes—Wages, Social Security, Industrial Relations and Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions (OSH). This reform is positioned as a cornerstone for enhancing workplace safety, improving ease of doing business, promoting formalization, fostering inclusive growth, while also aligning with global standards. For businesses, this means fewer overlapping regulations and a clearer roadmap for workforce management.One of the key changes is the wage redefinition, as this forms the base for all calculations under the codes – resulting in an increase or decrease in the statutory liabilities depending upon the wage structure deployed by the company. The impact of this on the net take home of the employee also needs to be monitored. A full financial sensitivity analysis by employee grade, tenure, and function becomes imperative.Amongst others, the Codes encourage gender and wage parity, introduce provisions for night shifts for women with certain safeguards, national floor wage for all, enhanced health and safety norms. They mandate appointment letters, extend social security benefits to unorganized sector, gig, platform workers and fixed term employees.Also Read | Explained: How new labour laws could hit your take-home salary, increase your provident fund & gratuity contributionsThe Codes do seem to seek alignment with few of the international Labour Organisation (ILO) principles towards wages, gender equality, and occupational safety. According to ILO, over 2.78 million workers die annually from occupational accidents and diseases, highlighting the relevance of OSH provisions. The ILO’s Global Wage Report shows persistent gender pay gaps worldwide, making India’s gender-neutral wage provisions significant In June 2025, ILO committed to binding global standards for platform work which reinforces India’s progressive vision of including platform workers in the Codes.From a business perspective, in the long run, simplified and digitized compliance will reduce administrative burden and litigation risk, improving investor confidence. Formalization of employment will enhance tax compliance and social security coverage. Parallelly, digital transformation initiatives of the Government, such as EPFO 3.0 etc. complement these reforms, promoting transparency and trust.There may however be a need to navigate some short-term challenges. A key one being aligning to the new and critical definition of wages, as the ambiguities surrounding its interpretation continue especially with respect to variable / one-time payments, stock benefits etc. Some illustrations or clarifications from the Ministry in this regard in due course will certainly help clarify.Employers would also need some immediate catch-up on cost provisioning / recalculation of benefits such as gratuity, leave encashment etc. which in the absence of any clarification otherwise, may have a retro-active effect. For instance, gratuity is calculated based on the last drawn wage for every completed year of service. With the change in definition of wage under the Codes, it could lead to an enhancement of the gratuity liability for employee’s termination post commencement of the Code.Also Read | What do new labour codes mean for employees & employers? From minimum wages, gratuity benefits to appointment letters & layoff rules – top things to knowAlso, gratuity obligations towards fixed term employees (including the existing) would need to be provided for. Also, the ambiguity around calculation for multiple short-term contracts would need to be addressed. These adjustments could impact payroll structures, financial planning and compliance strategies in the short term.Organizations should undertake a comprehensive classification of employees, workers, and gig workers, based on role profiles and salary levels, to ensure compliance and workforce clarity. They also need to ensure that the documentation is watertight. Organizations that depend extensively on contract labour should analyze market trends and regulatory shifts under the Codes, which restrict outsourcing in core functions while introducing a unified registration framework. These developments are likely to reshape workforce strategies, enabling more dynamic planning across sectors such as IT, logistics, global capability centers (GCCs), manufacturing, and engineering—industries where contract staffing remains a critical component.While the Codes have come into effect, the Central and State rules are still being finalized, creating a dual compliance environment and uncertainty around eventual alignment. In the interim, organizations must carefully assess which provisions to follow during the transition, particularly where multiple state rules apply.To sum up, the Labour Codes indeed mark a paradigm shift in India’s employment regulation, blending worker welfare with business facilitation. While they aim to lay the foundation for a future-ready workforce, their success hinges on stakeholder collaboration, robust enforcement and continuous adaptation to global best practices. For businesses, navigating the financial impact, payroll reconfiguration, state wise compliance mapping, strategic workforce planning, review of vendor agreements, audit disclosures, digitizing processes, robust compliance dashboards, will be key to leveraging the reforms for sustainable growth.(Parizad Sirwalla is Partner and Head, Global Mobility Services, Tax, KPMG in India)

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has tied the knot with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru. The couple exchanged vows on Monday morning in an intimate ceremony attended only by close friends and family. Samantha later delighted fans by sharing the first pictures from their wedding on Instagram, giving everyone a glimpse of her radiant red bridal saree and the couple’s joyful celebration.Rumours about their wedding started late on Sunday night, creating a frenzy on social media. Fans eagerly awaited confirmation, which came when Samantha posted pictures as a newlywed, giving everyone a first glimpse of the couple’s big day.

Samantha stuns in a traditional red bridal saree

In the photos, Samantha looked radiant in a red saree with detailed zari work. She paired it with gold jewellery for an elegant, classic bridal look. Raj complemented her perfectly in a white kurta with a beige Nehru jacket. The couple also exchanged rings before the ceremony, with Samantha proudly showing off her stunning giant wedding ring in one of the pictures.

Wedding held at Isha Yoga Centre temple

A Hindustan Times report revealed, “The wedding happened at the Ling Bhairavi Temple inside Isha Yoga Centre early morning.” The ceremony was deliberately low-key, with only 30 guests present.

Film industry friends congratulate the couple warmly

Many from the film industry sent their wishes. Hansika Motwani commented, “Congratulations”, Dia Mirza wrote, “Congratulations (with red hearts)”, and Ram Charan’s wife Upasana said, “Congratulations soooooo happpy best best news ever.”

Fans shared excitement and love on social media

Fans shared heartfelt messages on Samantha’s post. One wrote, “Wishing you joy, love and happiness on your wedding and as you begin your new life together.” Another commented, “Finallyyy! I was waiting for this post for so long Stay blessed saaaammmmm.” Many also admired Samantha’s bridal look, with one fan writing, “Awww the sareee the every detailing omg CUTESTTTT SAMM.”

About Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru

Samantha and Raj were first linked publicly in early 2024, when whispers of their closeness started appearing in the industry. Over the following months, Samantha shared photos with Raj on social media, showing their growing bond and leading fans to speculate about their relationship.Their work together also brought them closer. Samantha made her digital debut in ‘The Family Man 2’ (2021), directed by Raj & DK. They also worked together on ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ (2024) and will reunite for the upcoming project ‘Rakt Brahmand: The Bloody Kingdom’Samantha was earlier married to actor Naga Chaitanya. The couple separated four years after their wedding, and he later married actor Sobhita Dhulipala. Raj Nidimoru was previously married to Shhyamali De, with reports of their divorce emerging in 2022.Who is Raj Nidimoru? From Engineer to directing ‘The Family Man’; All you need to know about Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s husband

NEW DELHI: Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain and batting star Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Muchhal‘s wedding, scheduled for November 23, has been abruptly postponed due to unexpected health emergencies in the family.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The postponement came after Mandhana’s father, Shriniwas, fell ill on the wedding day and required hospitalisation. The following day, groom-to-be Palash Muchhal was also admitted to a hospital in Sangli, Mandhana’s hometown, before being transferred to Mumbai for forthur treatment and rest.

The wedding delay was officially announced by Mandhana’s manager, citing the health emergencies as the reason for the postponement.Following the postponement, Mandhana removed all the wedding-related posts from her official Instagram account, though some casual photographs with Palash remain visible on his social media platform. Both Shriniwas and Palash have since been discharged from the hospital and recovering well, but the families have not yet announced a new date for the wedding.Recently, social media users have noticed that both Mandhana and Muchhal have updated their Instagram bios with the ‘nazar’ (evil eye) emoticon, sparking further discussion about the situation.Family members from both sides have emphasised that the wedding’s postponement is solely due to the health emergencies that occurred.In a show of support, Team India player and close friend of Mandhana, batter Jemimah Rodrigues has withdrawn from the remaining Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season to be with Mandhana during this challenging time.The postponement comes just weeks after India’s victory in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, where Mandhana played a crucial role in the team’s success.Palash’s mother, Amita, remains optimistic about the wedding taking place in the near future.“Smriti and Palash dono takleef mein hain… Palash dreamt of coming home with his bride. I had even planned a special welcome… Everything will be fine, shaadi bohot jaldi hogi,” she had told Hindustan Times.The situation has garnered significant attention, particularly given Mandhana’s status as one of India’s premier cricketers and Muchhal’s reputation in the music industry.Both families are currently focused on the recovery of their loved ones, while supporters and fans await news of the rescheduled wedding date.The unexpected health issues have affected what was anticipated to be a high-profile celebration, bringing together two prominent personalities from the worlds of sports and entertainment.The timing of the postponement, following India’s World Cup triumph, has added to the public interest in the situation, with both Mandhana and Muchhal receiving support from their respective professional communities.Despite the current circumstances, both families maintain a positive outlook regarding the future celebration of the union between the cricketer and the music composer.

India captain KL Rahul acknowledged that he had “a few butterflies” during India’s tense 17-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi on Sunday, describing the contest as a demanding test of temperament for both sides. India posted a formidable 349/8, powered by Virat Kohli’s commanding 135, Rohit Sharma’s fluent 57 and Rahul’s gritty 60 before restricting the visitors to 332 in a chase that went down to the final over.

Rahul praised his bowlers – particularly Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav – for executing key breakthroughs at crucial stages. Their timely strikes prevented South Africa from fully capitalising on repeated counterattacks, allowing India to stay marginally ahead of the asking rate through most of the innings.

KL Rahul reflects on high-pressure win over South Africa as India go 1-0 up

Captaining India in ODIs again brought a blend of excitement and responsibility for Rahul, who admitted that nerves were inevitable in such a high-scoring contest. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little nervous,” he said in the post-match presentation.

He credited India’s composure for closing out the match, noting that the team maintained clarity in execution even as South Africa “kept coming hard.” Rahul said the bowlers stuck to their pre-set plans, held their nerve in death overs, and displayed a collective sense of calm that ultimately swung the game in India’s favour.

Rahul embraces flexible no. 6 batting role

Speaking about his current batting position, Rahul said he is embracing the No. 6 role, viewing it as an opportunity to broaden his tactical understanding of ODI cricket. The position, he explained, requires adaptability – finishing innings, rebuilding when needed, or absorbing pressure in tricky middle phases.

Rahul described the challenge as “fun,” noting that it encourages him to evolve his game while fulfilling the dynamic needs of the team. The skipper added that this flexibility aligns with India’s long-term ODI blueprint, which prioritises versatility across the batting order.

Rahul heaps praise for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli 

Rahul was effusive in his praise for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose century stand laid the foundation for India’s imposing total. He described their innings as reminders of “why they are who they are,” pointing out how frequently they have dismantled opposition attacks over the years.

He said that having both stalwarts back together at the top naturally lifts the dressing-room environment, joking that even fans in the stadium “felt the old energy return” when the pair began dominating South Africa’s seamers. Their partnership, Rahul noted, set the tone for the rest of the innings.

Also READ: Fans celebrate as Virat Kohli and bowlers help India edge past South Africa by 17 runs in a thrilling Ranchi ODI clash

Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav in Rahul’s confidence

Rahul singled out Harshit Rana for special appreciation, calling him “exactly what Team India has been looking for”  – a tall, aggressive quick capable of taking the new ball and providing depth with the bat. Rana struck early, bowled with pace, and justified the faith placed in him after his impressive performances in Australia.

On Kuldeep, Rahul highlighted the left-arm wrist-spinner’s importance in controlling the middle overs. Kuldeep once again delivered under pressure, breaking partnerships and creating opportunities during a phase when South Africa threatened to take the match deep.

Rahul said that the pair’s spells were “central to closing out a nervy game,” rounding off a performance that gives India early momentum in the three-match series.

Also WATCH: Harshit Rana gives an aggressive send off to Dewald Brevis after dismissing him during Ranchi ODI

Samantha Ruth Prabhu wed Raj Nidimoru today in an intimate ceremony at Isha Yoga Centre’s Linga Bhairavi Temple, attended by 30 guests. She wore a red saree. Rumors swirled after Raj’s ex-wife’s cryptic post; they’ve been linked since 2024. This follows her 2021 divorce from Naga Chaitanya.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu and ‘The Family Man’ director Raj Nidimoru have sparked relationship talk for over a year now. They’ve avoided any confirmation of dating but have popped up together publicly several times. Now, as per the recent reports, the duo tied the knot today at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore during a private ceremony limited to around 30 attendees.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu wedding ceremony details

According to Hindustan Times, the wedding took place on Monday morning. It happened at the Linga Bhairavi Temple inside Isha Yoga Centre early in the morning. There were a total of 30 guests. The actress wore a red saree for the wedding.

Wedding buzz and ex-wife post

The wedding buzz for the duo picked up late Sunday night on social platforms. Shhyamali De, Raj Nidimoru’s ex-wife, stoked curiosity with her Instagram story quote: “Desperate people do desperate things.” According to reports, they divorced back in 2022.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru’s public displays

In early 2024, hints of a connection between Raj Nidimoru and Samantha surfaced around on the internet after spotting the duo at various events. In the months that followed, the actress shared multiple photos with Raj on social media, openly displaying their bond.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s previous marriage

Samantha was previously married to actor Naga Chaitanya in 2017. The couple parted ways in 2021 after four years, finalizing their divorce the next year, and Naga later married actress Sobhita Dhulipala in December 2024.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s upcoming projects

Meanwhile, on the work front, Samantha Ruth Prabhu was last seen in her first-produced Telugu film ‘Subham’, where she played a cameo role. She is currently working on the Telugu film ‘Maa Inti Bangaram’, which she is also co-producing, and the upcoming web series ‘Rakt Brahmand: The Bloody Kingdom’.

South Africa’s Marco Jansen, left, speaks with India’s Virat Kohli in Ranchi. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen offered a candid and striking assessment of what it feels like to bowl to Virat Kohli, admitting that world-class batters of the Indian superstar’s calibre become “almost impossible to stop” once they settle in. Kohli’s masterful 135 in the first ODI in Ranchi not only powered India to a 17-run win and a 1-0 series lead, but also reaffirmed the challenge bowlers face against him — a challenge Jansen says leaves little room for error.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reflecting on the knock, Jansen said the only genuine opportunity a bowler has comes right at the start of a batter’s innings.“When you bowl to world-class players, it’s quite difficult to get them out. I always try to get a batter in his first 10 or 15 balls. That’s when they’re still getting used to the wicket,” Jansen explained.

But with Kohli, he said, the equation changes rapidly.“Once they’re in, and they get on a roll, it’s very difficult to stop them. Everyone here knows how to play — that’s why you go to plan B or C.”Kohli’s 52nd ODI century on Sunday was classic Virat — tempo control, smart risk-taking, and an extended stay that he has made a hallmark of his greatness. For Jansen, the difficulty lies in the completeness of Kohli’s batting.

Jansen first bowled to Kohli as a 17-year-old net bowler during India’s 2017–18 South Africa tour, and the impact remains vivid.“It’s nice to watch him play. Growing up watching him on TV to actually bowling to him now… it’s annoying but it’s fun at the same time,” he said. “He drives well, he pulls well, cuts well, plays with his pads well. I don’t think much has changed — he’s just batting longer and longer.”On his own form, Jansen said a strong top order is giving him the freedom to express himself with the bat lower down. “I’m just watching the ball and playing it as it comes. At the moment it’s working for me.”Despite trailing 0-1, Jansen insisted South Africa were “not disheartened”, saying the team believed they were “doing the right things” and only needed to stack good spells consistently. He added that injury updates would be clearer before the second ODI in Raipur, with Aiden Markram continuing to lead in Temba Bavuma‘s absence.India and South Africa now shift focus to Raipur, where the high-stakes second ODI awaits.

Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI (Courtesy: a16z podcast)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has now described the time of launch of ChatGPT has a defining moment for the company. Altman called ChatGPT as the early discovery of scaling laws for language models a ‘scientific windfall’ which shaped the complete strategy for OpenAI. Speaking at a recent podcast hosted by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), OpenAI CEO admitted to the fact that the breakthrough of ChatGPT felt like a stroke of luck and its unlikely to be repeated. Speaking at the interview, Altman recalled the early days of ChatGPT, saying, “We stumbled on this one giant secret… and that felt like such an incredible triumph.” Altman further explained that the discovery of scaling laws — the principle that larger models trained with more data perform significantly better provided a roadmap to OpenAI which helped in transforming its research direction.“When we got the reasoning model breakthrough, I also thought that we were never going to get another one like that. We’ll never get that lucky again,” Altman added. Despite this, Altman noted that the technology has continued to outperform expectations, surprising even its creators.

OpenAI’s next big bet

Altman emphasised that moving ahead, OpenAI is working on a major expansion of its AI infrastructure footprint. The company said that it is entering into partnerships with industry heavyweights including Foxconn, AMD, Nvidia, and Oracle to build out massive computing capacity.“We have decided that it is time to make a very aggressive infrastructure bet,” Altman said. “I have never been more confident in the research roadmap… and the economic value that will come from using those models. But to make the bet at this scale, we need the major chunk of the industry to support it.”As reported by Financial Times, the combined value of OpenAI’s recent deals now stands at $1 trillion, nearly double the company’s current valuation of $500 billion.Altman also explained that the idea of OpenAI is to built on a “vertical stack of things” where research leads to great products, and infrastructure helps in further research. The company’s long-term goal, he said, is to become “people’s personal AI subscription.”He also signalled that the limits of large language models are still far away: “If LLM-based stuff can get far enough, then it can do better research than all of OpenAI put together.”

Recent OpenAI deals

OpenAI’s aggressive infrastructure push has already led to several landmark agreements:

Noida: In a post underlining the toll air pollution in Delhi-NCR is taking on people’s health, a woman said her five-year-old son needed surgery to have his tonsils removed for pollution-linked complications that he developed after the family moved to Noida two years ago.Sakshi Pahwa of Sector 143 said her son began suffering from chronic allergies, nasal blockage, swollen tonsils and breathing problems, and no treatment helped.

“We moved from Sirsa to Noida two years ago, and soon after, my son began suffering persistent coughs and colds. At first, we thought it was just seasonal flu, but his condition steadily worsened. Continuous allergies, dust and pollution made it difficult for him to breathe,” Sachin Kamboj, the child’s father, told TOI. “We tried homoeopathy and allopathy both, nothing worked.”The doctor who treated him said persistent exposure to polluted air or other allergens may have triggered the enlargement of his adenoids and tonsils, ultimately making surgery — adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy with turbinate reduction — unavoidable to clear the child’s airway and improve breathing. The surgery was performed at a private hospital in Gurgaon last week.Also See: Delhi AQIAccording to the discharge summary, the child suffered severe breathing difficulties caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils, along with turbinate hypertrophy (swelling inside the nose). This led to blocked nasal passages, making it hard to breathe through the nose, causing heavy snoring during sleep, and pain or discomfort while swallowing. The obstruction significantly affected normal breathing, particularly at night, forcing the child to struggle for air.“During the Covid lockdown, cases of such inflammations nearly disappeared. However, they have surged again recently, suggesting that pollution may play a significant role in triggering respiratory issues like adenoid and tonsil inflammation,” said Dr Shashidhar, who treated the child. “Pollution also provokes allergic reactions and directly affects the respiratory system. It is therefore crucial for everyone to take proactive measures to protect their health.“Meanwhile, doctors have noted a sharp rise in allergy cases linked to pollution. “Over the past few months, we have seen a 20-30% increase in allergy and sinus cases. Erratic weather, prolonged viral infections, and consistently high pollution levels are the main contributors. On an average OPD day, the number of patients with allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, or new-onset respiratory allergies has nearly doubled,” said Dr Vijay Arora, principal director and head at Yashoda Medicity, Indirapuram.“Pollution remains the strongest trigger. High PM2.5 and 10 levels cause persistent nasal irritation, congestion, sneezing, and sinus pressure. Children aged 5 to 15 years are particularly vulnerable due to developing immunity, while adults between 25 and 40 years also show increased sinusitis cases, largely from pollution and lifestyle factors,” he added. Dr B Vageesh Padiyar, senior consultant and head of ENT at Yatharth Hospital in Noida, said people often wrongly assume allergies are purely hereditary, but many patients in Delhi-NCR with no prior history have developed severe symptoms in the past one or two years. He explained that dust and pollutant particles pose serious risks and noted that the child’s condition appeared to follow a similar pattern. He added that he had also advised the parents to proceed with the surgery.

NEW DELHI: The first day of Parliament Winter Session 2025 witnessed a Mallikarjun Kharge vs JP Nadda showdown in the Rajya Sabha over the leader of opposition’s reference to “sudden exit” of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.The sharpest moment came when leader of the House JP Nadda advised Kharge to “visit a doctor” to deal with their political frustrations, insisting the House stay focused on the agenda at hand.

The leader of opposition in the Upper House, during his welcome address to the Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan, brought up his predecessor’s “completely unexpected and sudden exit from the office of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha.”“I hope you will not mind that I am constrained to refer to your predecessor’s completely unexpected and sudden exit from the office of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha,” he said amid opposition from the BJP members.“The chairman, being custodian of the entire house, belongs as much to the opposition as to the government. I was disheartened that the house did not get an opportunity to bid him a farewell. Regardless, wish him, on behalf of the entire opposition, a very healthy life,” Kharge said.The statement did not go down well with the leader of house JP Nadda who called the remarks “irrelevant”.“We must maintain the dignity of the felicitation program, and it would be good if we discuss it accordingly. If we start discussing the issue that our Leader of the Opposition brought up today, the farewell, and all the other topics, I think it’s irrelevant,” he said.“There will also be discussions from here that you moved a no-confidence motion against him, not once but twice…I think our Leader of the Opposition is very respectable. The defeat in Bihar, Haryana, and Maharashtra has caused you considerable pain. But you should express your pain and suffering to a doctor. You should speak to a doctor when the time comes,” he added.Earlier this year, Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation as Vice President, officially citing health reasons with two years still left in his term, had triggered a flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories across political circles. His decision, announced on the very first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, was highly unusual—making him only the third Vice President after VV Giri and R Venkataraman to step down before completing a full tenure.