India’s Finance Minister announced the Union Budget on Saturday, and the nation had much reason to celebrate—especially with the income tax relaxation bringing relief to many. While some were thrilled about the revised taxes, others found themselves wondering: What exactly does this rebate mean? And if you earn beyond that, how does it impact you?

In light of the many questions and a bit of uncertainty that still surrounds the topic, we thought it might be helpful to offer some insightful audiobook and podcast recommendations on Audible. These can help you navigate through the complexities of the new tax policies and gain a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of finance and taxation, eliminating any confusion about jargon and concepts.

Tax-Free Wealth

Written by: Tom Wheelwright, Robert Kiyosaki – foreword; Narrated by: Tom Wheelwright

Tom Wheelwright’s ‘Tax-Free Wealth’ is a must-listen for anyone looking to legally reduce their tax burden and build lasting wealth. As a seasoned CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and tax expert, the author simplifies complex tax strategies, showing readers how to use the tax code as a tool for financial success. This includes some real-world case studies, and actionable advice on deductions, credits, and incentives. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or just starting out, this book offers a clear roadmap to maximising wealth and achieving financial freedom.

Finance Simplified by CA Rachana Ranade

Written by: CA Rachana Ranade

This podcast by CA (Chartered Accountant) Rachana Ranade is your go-to podcast for making sense of personal finance and the stock market. In this series, Rachana breaks down complex financial concepts into easy-to-understand theories. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your investment strategies, this podcast offers practical guidance to help you make smarter financial decisions.

Leveraging Your Financial Intelligence

Written by: Douglas Lennick, Roy Geer, Ryan Goulart; Narrated by: Steve Menasche

Money stress is something most of us deal with, but did you know it impacts not just your finances, but also your health and happiness? This audiobook explores how these three are deeply connected and offers a values-based approach to improving your financial well-being. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and cultural anthropology, the book provides practical steps to help you achieve financial security while also enhancing your overall life satisfaction. Through real-life stories and expert insights, it inspires you to take control of your money—and, in turn, your health and happiness.

The Dhandho Investor

Written by: Mohnish Pabrai; Narrated by: Neil Shah

The audiobook offers a simple approach to value investing, drawing inspiration from the successful Patels of India and the timeless principles of legends like Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, and Charlie Munger. Through this accessible guide, you can uncover key strategies such as making big, infrequent bets, and understanding the formula to maximize returns from undervalued stocks. The author presents a framework that will empower you to make smarter decisions and potentially outperform even the professionals!

The Tax and Legal Playbook

Written by: Mark J. Kohler; Narrated by: Christopher Grove

Navigating taxes and legalities as a small business owner can be overwhelming, but attorney Mark J. Kohler makes it easier with this practical guide. Drawing from real-world experiences, he breaks down complex tax and business issues very simply and clearly—just like he would in a personal consultation. From identifying the right professionals to avoiding costly mistakes, he equips entrepreneurs with the tools to make informed decisions and safeguard their businesses. This audiobook is a must-listen for anyone looking to save time, money, and stress.

Manipal, 5th February 2025 – The Manipal Entrepreneurship Summit (MES) 2025, organized by MAHE and executed by E-Cell MIT, is scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 8, 2025. Now in its eighth edition, this flagship event of MAHE promises to be a landmark gathering, inspiring innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit among students. This year’s theme, “Fuelling Future Founders,” underscores the summit’s mission to empower and support student entrepreneurs. Through mentorship, guidance, and a dynamic startup ecosystem, MES aims to transform ideas into successful ventures.

Key Highlights of MES 2025
MES 2025 will bring together some of India’s most prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders. The inaugural ceremony, followed by exciting sessions, will be held at the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal campus.

•  Inauguration and Keynote Session (Venue: MIT Campus): The summit will be inaugurated on February 6, 2025, from 2:00 PM onwards by Dr. Arokiaswamy Velumani, founder of Thyrocare, along with MAHE officials. The inauguration will be followed by a keynote session by Dr. Velumani.
• Guest Session (Venue: MIT Campus): Ashneer Grover, a well-known figure in the startup ecosystem, will participate in an engaging fireside chat with students and entrepreneurs on February 6, 2025, from 4:00 PM onwards.
• Influencers’ Conclave (Venue: MIT Campus): Influencers such as Raj Shamani (Founder of House of X and Podcaster of the Year) and Iqlipse Nova (Co-founder of BigBrainCo.) will energize the audience with their insights on February 8, 2025, from 6:00 PM onwards.
• Fireside Chat (Venue: MIT Campus): Key figures like Dinesh Pai, Vice-President of Zerodha, and other experts within this field will share their expertise on 7th February 2025 from 6:00 PM onwards.
• Panel Discussions: Panels will explore critical areas like DeepTech (6th Feb 2025, 6:00 PM @ MIT Campus), HealthTech (7th Feb 2025, 9 AM @ KMC, Campus), Family Businesses (7th Feb 2025 @ 2:30 PM @ MCNS Campus), and InfoTech Conclave (7th Feb 2025, 5:00 PM @ MIT Campus), featuring distinguished personalities from each domain.

The Innovation Mela: A Vibrant Startup Expo
The flagship event, Innovation Mela, will showcase over 120 startups, research projects, patents, and innovations. This dynamic expo will offer a platform for founders to present their ideas and products to a diverse audience, including students, mentors, and investors.

Representatives from leading venture capital firms such as Leo Capital, Z3Partners, 2 am VC, Huddle Ventures, and Astir Ventures will attend, making the event a prime opportunity for funding, investments, and mentorship.

Competitions and Specialized Events
MES 2025 will also host national-level competitions for aspiring entrepreneurs. Pitch Tank – MAHE’s own version of Shark Tank, Case Maze, and Reroute & Resurge aim to spark creativity and foster entrepreneurial thinking, offering a total prize pool of ₹4 lakh.

A Transformative Experience
Dr.H.S.Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of MAHE, stated that, “We are confident that MES 2025 will continue to inspire and cultivate successful entrepreneurs who will make a meaningful impact on the world. It is truly exciting to witness so many young individuals stepping up to create change, and we eagerly look forward to the innovative startup ideas that will emerge from this summit.”

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, added that, “MAHE has always encouraged its students to think beyond the ordinary and innovate. MES 2025 serves as a remarkable platform to showcase our students’ entrepreneurial spirit and the unwavering support we provide in nurturing it.”

Cdr. Dr. Anil Rana, Director of MIT, Manipal, aptly described MES as, “A transformative platform that empowers students to think beyond limits, turn ideas into ventures, and become job creators.”

MES 2025 offers students a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, validate their ideas, and gain invaluable insights into entrepreneurship. By facilitating networking, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing, the summit seeks to establish a sustainable and innovative startup ecosystem that nurtures and supports student entrepreneurs.

With its dynamic lineup of speakers, engaging events, and unparalleled opportunities, MES 2025 is poised to be a landmark event in the journey of future founders.

BENGALURU, India – February 05, 2025: Samsung’s flagship store at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) celebrated the success of the new Galaxy S25 Series with a special event to kick off the early delivery of the devices, where over 700 customers were handed over the phones. This record delivery follows the overwhelming response for the pre-orders of the highly anticipated smartphone series.

Soon Choi, Corporate EVP/Head of Division, MX Division, Samsung Electronics, was present at the store to personally handover a few of the Galaxy S25 devices to customers, who had pre-ordered the same.

The gala event also marked the one-year anniversary of the store, known for showcasing Samsung’s top-of-the-line premium products through unique curated experiences and real-life scenarios.

To manage the influx of customers and ensure a smooth experience, the store set up dedicated data transfer zones and device exchange counters alongside delectable food and beverage arrangements. The initiative aimed to provide exceptional service to every customer, as they picked up their new Galaxy S25 devices.

Consumers coming to pick up their Galaxy S25 devices at the Samsung BKC store will be able to enjoy complimentary services such as Gen-AI Smartphone Case Customization, Dedicated Tech Experts and a unique Celebration Programme that aim to capture and make their shopping moments special.

Galaxy S25 series, featuring the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 smartphones, is Samsung’s most advanced flagship smartphone series designed to be a ‘A True AI Companion’. It builds on Samsung’s legacy of innovation and its mission to deliver AI to its vast and expanding customer base in India.

Galaxy S25 series changes the way users interact at every touchpoint by seamlessly integrating AI agents and multimodal capabilities. A first-of-its-kind customized Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

Galaxy S25 series is the first Samsung smartphone series that comes with One UI 7, Samsung’s AI-first platform that is designed to provide the most intuitive controls, enabling AI-powered personalized mobile experiences. AI agents with multimodal capabilities enable Galaxy S25 series to interpret text, speech, images and videos for interactions that feel natural. With Galaxy S25 series, one can perform actionable searches with context-aware suggestions for next steps.

All personalized data is kept private and secured by Knox Vault. Galaxy S25 also introduces post-quantum cryptography, safeguarding personal data against emerging threats that could increase as quantum computing evolves.

Mumbai, February 5, 2025: RRP Semiconductor Ltd. (RRP), a leading player in the semiconductor and renewable energy sector, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey towards technological innovation and market expansion. In one of its most ambitious initiatives, the company has officially entered the fabless semiconductor market, marking a strategic shift towards independent design and development of semiconductor solutions.

As part of this groundbreaking move, RRP Semiconductor Limited has successfully secured the complete intellectual property (IP) transfer of ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) design from its technology partners in Europe. This achievement follows a series of high-level engagements between company officials and international technology leaders, ensuring the seamless adoption of advanced semiconductor design capabilities.

With the support of its group companies and consortium—already equipped with OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) packaging facilities and Fab prototyping—RRP Semiconductor Limited is now positioned as a comprehensive, end-to-end semiconductor solutions provider.

The newly acquired ASIC design competence enables RRP Semiconductor Limited to manufacture a wide range of automotive components and chips at scale. Currently, many of these components are being imported, presenting a substantial business opportunity. The estimated market potential is expected to grow from USD 25 million to over USD 100 million within two years of deployment.

ASICs are specialized integrated circuit chips customized for specific applications, such as digital voice recorders and high-efficiency video codecs. Modern ASICs integrate entire microprocessors, including ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and flash memory, forming System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions that are crucial for strategic applications.

With the ASIC market projected to exceed USD 30 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.10% from 2031 to 2034, this technology acquisition positions RRP Semiconductor Limited for exponential growth. By leveraging its in-house ASIC design expertise, the company can now offer tailor-made chip layout solutions to fabrication units for wafer production, enhancing its value proposition in the semiconductor ecosystem.

The comprehensive IP transfer includes expertise in ASIC development workflow, specifications and requirements gathering, front-end design encompassing RTL coding, verification, and synthesis, as well as back-end design covering DRC, LVS, extraction, and tape-out procedures. Additionally, it includes tools and infrastructure such as the selection of EDA tools, licensing requirements, computing infrastructure setup, and lab and testing facilities. The transfer also covers project management aspects like documentation standards, risk management, and timeline management. Furthermore, RRP Semiconductor Limited will conduct workshops and training sessions focused on front-end and back-end design techniques, along with real-world case studies.

With this strategic move, RRP Semiconductor Limited is poised to redefine the semiconductor landscape by offering cutting-edge solutions to the global market.