Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday held discussions with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington to expedite negotiations on the first phase of the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. Goyal is in Washington for a ministerial-level meeting to review the progress of negotiations of the trade pact. “Good discussions with Secretary @HowardLutnick towards expediting the first tranche of India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement,” Goyal said in a post on X. Goyal was in Washington in March also for the trade talks. The minister-level meeting is followed by the deliberations between chief negotiators of the two…

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India has proposed relaxing norms for investments in alternate investment firms by regulated entities (REs) in the aftermath of its earlier tightening bringing in financial discipline, it said in a release on Monday. In December 2023, the RBI had barred REs, including banks and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), from investing in alternate investment funds (AIFs) that have investments in existing and recent borrowers. In a draft proposal released, it said a single RE’s contribution to any alternate investment fund (AIF) scheme shall be capped at 10% of its corpus while a ceiling of 15% would…

After India placed curbs on Bangladeshi exports via land ports, the interim government in the country says it wants to resolve all trade problems with India. An Adviser to the Interim government of Bangladesh led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, said that Bangaldesh wants to discuss all issues with India. Recently, India had banned the import of Ready Made Garments (RMG), Fruit/Fruit flavoured and carbonated drinks, baked goods, snacks, chips and confectionary, cotton and cotton yarn waste, plastic and PVC finished goods and wooden furniture from Bangladesh by road. Earlier, Bangladesh had banned the import of yarn from India by…

Land port restrictions imposed by India on select exports from Bangladesh to the north east is expected to restore equality in the relationship. While India had hitherto allowed all exports from Bangladesh without restrictions, the transit and market access to the north east had been restricted by Bangladesh. This measure by India restores equal market access for both countries. Bangladesh has been seeking equality in engagement with India, sources said. Relationship with Bangladesh will be on reciprocal terms. RMG imports from Bangladesh restricted to only two seaports (Kolkata and Nhava Sheva, Mumbai) is a reciprocal measure to Bangladesh imposing similar…

India has imposed new restrictions on imports from Bangladesh through land ports, affecting goods worth around USD 770 million. This amounts to nearly 42 per cent of total bilateral imports, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a trade research group. The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued the restrictions on Saturday following directions from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The move limits several key Bangladeshi products, including readymade garments, processed foods, and plastic items, to specific sea ports or bans them entirely from entering India via land routes. For example, Bangladeshi garments, valued at USD…

The Reserve Bank of India announced that it will soon issue Rs 20 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series bearing the signature of the new RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, according to an official statement. The new notes will retain the existing design and features of the current Rs 20 notes in circulation, except for the new governor’s signature. The RBI also clarified that all previously issued Rs 20 banknotes will continue to be legal tender, as per the statement. Sanjay Malhotra was appointed as the RBI Governor, effective from December 11, 2024, and will continue for three years.…

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) central board of directors is likely to meet on May 23 for an annual review of the central bank’s balance sheet and transfer of FY25 surplus funds to the government. The payout could be as high as Rs 3 lakh crore, exceeding last year’s dividend by nearly 50%. “We estimate an RBI dividend of Rs 2.6 lakh to Rs 3 lakh crore, depending on the level of provisioning,” said Gaura Sen Gupta, chief economist at IDFC First Bank. The RBI board also met on May 15 to review the Economic Capital Framework (ECF).…

India and the US will commence ministerial-level meetings in Washington from May 17 to assess the progress of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement, provide political guidance to chief negotiators and push forward efforts to deepen economic ties, an official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold deliberations on the agreement first with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and later with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer during his four-day visit, the official said. “The minister will be holding political-level discussions to give negotiations a political steer. They will assess the progress made in the negotiations in…

India’s economic growth forecast for 2025 has been revised downward to 6.3 per cent, and despite a projected moderation, the country remains one of the fastest-growing large economies, supported by resilient consumption and government spending, the United Nations has said. The UN on Thursday launched a report titled ‘The World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2025’. “India remains one of the fastest growing large economies, driven by strong private consumption and public investment, even as growth projections have been lowered to 6.3 per cent in 2025,” Ingo Pitterle, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and…

The negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and the US are progressing well, a top government official said on Thursday. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that an Indian team will be going to Washington for further discussions. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a team of senior Indian officials to Washington starting May 17 for discussions with their US counterparts on the agreement. He will hold meetings with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during his visit. The four-day talks (May 17-20) come against the backdrop of both countries…

Metal prices are likely to keep pushing up the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in the coming months, according to a report by Union Bank of India. Despite a drop in WPI in April 2025, metals have shown a sequential pickup, indicating they may continue to influence the inflation trend. The report said “While food prices are expected on firm up in the next couple of months, metal prices may keep an upward pressure on WPI”. Core WPI, which excludes food and fuel, moderated to 1.40 per cent in April from 1.59 per cent in March. The rise in metal prices,…

Four Indian entities committed foreign direct investments worth nearly USD 6 million in Azerbaijan and Turkiye, accounting for a small part of the total USD 6.8 billion overseas investments proposed by Indian companies in April, according to the latest Reserve Bank data. India’s outbound FDI increased by nearly 90 per cent annually to USD 6.8 billion in April, led by Tata Communications, Life Insurance Company and JSW Neo Energy, according to the data. India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) stood at about USD 3.59 billion in April 2024 and USD 5.9 billion in March 2025. Among the investments, two Indian…

The Reserve Bank of India is scrutinizing some digital wallets associated with electric-vehicle players after the sudden collapse of the country’s largest all-EV taxi service left users unable to access money tied to their accounts, people familiar with the matter said. The review of payment tools used in India’s fledgling EV ecosystem is a result of troubles faced by users of app-based ride-hailing service BluSmart’s digital wallet. The events triggered by fraud allegations against the company highlighted the lack of safeguards for users who load money into what’s known as closed-loop wallets to transact on apps, including EV-related services like…

Currency notes aren’t museum pieces – at least, not yet – in the digital era. Growth in currency in circulation is higher at 2.4% year to date up to May 2, compared with 1.7 percent in the same period a year ago, showed the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, reflecting rural demand supported by farmgate prices of agricultural commodities. Currency usage has remained relatively strong despite the absence of a busy election calendar during which cash usage typically climbs. Total currency in circulation is at Rs 38.1 lakh crore as of May 2. This works to around 11.5…

As India and the United Kingdom successfully conclude their Free Trade Agreement (FTA), it has to be ensured that goods traded between the two nations have sufficient local content to prevent Chinese goods from entering markets through the backdoor, according to a report by Canara Bank.The report highlighted the need for strict measures to confirm the origin of goods. It said “it has to be ensured that goods traded between UK and India has sufficient local content to foolproof from Chinese goods finding their way to take advantage of lower duties.” The report called the FTA a major win for…

United States’ President Donald Trump has claimed that the reason behind the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was due to trade. President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States is ready to help India and Pakistan in the wake of a ceasefire agreement that he says his administration helped broker. However, Indian officials stressed that the arrangement was negotiated strictly between New Delhi and Islamabad, in keeping with India’s long-standing position that all issues with Pakistan must be resolved bilaterally. “There is no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place,” a senior official…

India has topped the global charts in both manufacturing and services activity, according to the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data in report released by J.P. Morgan.The report data highlighted that for April 2025, India’s manufacturing PMI stood at 58.2, while its services PMI came in at 58.7. These are the highest figures among both developed and emerging markets. The PMI is an important indicator of economic health in the manufacturing and services sectors. A PMI above 50 shows expansion, while below 50 indicates contraction. India’s strong numbers signal that the country’s economy continues to grow at a steady pace. Compared…

India is not giving any duty concessions on British wines and is providing only limited import duty benefits on UK beer under the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, announced on May 6, an official said. The other sensitive agri products where India will not offer any reduction in the import duty include dairy products, apple, cheese, oats, animals and vegetable oils under the agreement with the United Kingdom. “Wine is on the exclusion list, along with several other agricultural products in the trade pact. We are also offering only a limited duty concession on British beer,” the…

Pune: The southwest monsoon is likely to set over Kerala on May 27, five days earlier than normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.The southwest monsoon, which brings 70% of India’s annual rainfall, is crucial for the agriculture sector that contributes about 20% to the gross value added in the country’s economy and supports around half of its 1.4 billion population. Its timely arrival and distribution are also key as most of the kharif sowing takes place during the first two months of the four-month rainy season. The weather office had on April 15 predicted that the 2025…

India and the UK earlier this week announced that they have concluded the negotiations for a free trade agreement to boost economic ties between the two countries. The talks commenced in January 2022. It is aimed at doubling the bilateral trade in goods and services from USD 60 billion at present to USD 120 billion by 2030. The trade pact will provide enhanced market access for a wide range of Indian goods and services in the UK. Similarly, British firms will also enjoy comparable benefits in the Indian market. Here are a few questions and answers (Q&A) explaining the benefits…

Kolkata|New Delhi: Several Indian manufacturers are effecting operational changes, including work timings, at their factories in the border states of Gujarat, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. Through these measures, companies are looking to safeguard workforce while ensuring minimum disruption to production amid the conflict with Pakistan.Several areas which have been targeted by Pakistan have enforced blackouts and other measures to protect local population. Companies such as Amul, Awl Agri Business, Dabur, ITC, Dixon Technologies, Godrej Appliances, Mahindra Group-owned Swaraj Tractors and International Tractors have seen operations disrupted in the past two days. Some have either stopped factory night shifts…

India’s forex reserves dropped $2.06 billion to $686.06 billion for the week ending May 2, snapping an eight-week gaining streak that had lifted reserves to a near six-month high, according to data by the Reserve Bank of India on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the overall kitty had increased USD 1.983 billion to USD 688.129 billion. The forex reserves had touched an all-time high of $704.885 billion in end-September 2024. For the week ended May 2, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased $514 million to $581.177 billion, the data released on Friday showed. Expressed in…

The recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom is expected to benefit both nations economically and could also pave the way for similar agreements with other countries such as the United States and the European Union, says a report by Bank of Baroda.The report noted that while the UK may not be among India’s top trading partners at present, the FTA marks a significant step forward. It sets the stage for deeper trade relations with major global economies and is a strong signal of India’s commitment to boosting international trade. It said, “While UK per…

New Delhi: With ensuing kharif sowing season, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday announced a pan-India 15-day campaign starting May 29 to educate and create awareness among 1-1.5 crore farmers about modern technology and new seed varieties. The minister also announced that the Centre will consider making amendments in Seeds Act, 1966 to curb sales of spurious seeds and protect farmers interest. Addressing a National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign here, Chouhan stressed on improving agriculture extension services to boost productivity and production of all major crops. He emphasised on taking the new technologies and research work…

India’s trade deal with the UK has significantly slashed duties on various products. 64% of tariff lines will be eligible for duty-free imports into India immediately after the pact is in force. This will include UK exports of… India’s Gains Indian exports to the UK which will become duty-free: UK’s Gains What are the tariff reductions on?

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will meet representatives of export promotion councils (EPCs) here on May 8 to discuss matters related to the free trade agreement with the UK, an industry official said on Wednesday. India and the UK clinched a ‘landmark’ trade deal that will remove taxes on the export of labour-intensive products such as leather, footwear and clothing, while making imports of whisky and cars from Britain cheaper, in a bid to double trade between the two economies to USD 120 billion by 2030. The world’s fifth and sixth-largest economies concluded the deal after three years of…

India and the UK reached a free trade agreement (FTA) that aims to boost economic ties between the world’s fifth- and sixth-largest economies, among the first such global accords in the Trump tariff era. The deal will make British Scotch whisky and cars cheaper in India, while reducing duties on Indian goods such as garments and leather products in the UK.Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer announced the FTA and a Double Contribution Convention, a social security pact, following a phone conversation on Tuesday. The two sides originally aimed to ink the deal in October 2022. The UK said…

India and the UK clinched a ‘landmark’ trade deal that will remove taxes on the export of labour-intensive products such as leather, footwear and clothing, while making imports of whisky and cars from Britain cheaper, in a bid to double trade between the two economies to USD 120 billion by 2030. The world’s fifth and sixth-largest economies concluded the deal after three years of on-off negotiations. The pact lowers tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian goods to zero in the UK market while allowing Indian workers to travel to the UK for work without changing Britain’s point-based immigration system.…

The share of gold held by India’s central bank in its foreign exchange reserves has doubled in the last four years as on March-end, a report by the Reserve Bank of India showed on Monday. In dollar value terms, the share of gold in the total foreign exchange reserves increased to about 11.70% by end-March, from 9.32% as at end-September 2024 and 5.87% as on end-March 2021, the central bank’s half year forex reserves report said. As of end-March, the RBI held 879.59 metric tonnes of gold, compared to 854.73 metric tonnes at the end of September. The proportion of…

Even as digital payments penetration gets deeper cash usage through ATM withdrawals continues to rise with some states seeing as much as 8 percent growth in ATM usage according to a report by Cash management and logistics firm CMS Info Systems.Average cash dispensed per ATM by CMS which accounts for about 42 percent of the cash dispensation market has gone up from 1.02 crore in FY’17 to RS 1.30 crore in FY’25. Significantly three states Bihar, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh witnessed the highest growth in cash dispensed through ATM, the report titled ” CMS Consumption Report 2025″…

The Ministry of Labour and Employment plans to review the process for the surrender or cancellation of the exempted status given to employers under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to protect workers’ interests.Organisations employing workers above a certain threshold can seek exemption and manage provident fund contributions in-house under the EPFO’s watch. Employers surrendering their exempted status would come under the EPFO, which would then manage the PF money of their employees. The new rules, while trying to speed up the process, would impose greater accountability on employers that surrender their exemption, according to the draft minutes of a…

The conclusion of negotiations for three pacts, including the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK may take some more time, as both sides are yet to resolve certain outstanding issues, sources said. There are four or five issues in the three pacts that the two countries are negotiating, they added. The three pacts under negotiation are — FTA, bilateral investment agreement (BIT), and social security pact (officially dubbed as Double Contribution Convention Agreement). The progress of talks were recently reviewed during meetings between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business…

Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Dr V Anantha Nageswaran expressed confidence in the economy’s resilience and said India’s economy is in good shape despite the challenging global environment.Speaking at an event at Ashoka University on Saturday, India’s CEA Nageswaran also said that the current economic indicators show that the Indian economy is progressing well. Nageswaran highlighted the need for India to maintain macroeconomic stability while pursuing innovation-led, inclusive growth strategies. He stressed the need for targeted investments in human capital, technology, infrastructure, and continued structural reforms. “India’s economy is in good shape despite challenging global environment. While the final number for…

The Commerce Ministry has cautioned the domestic industry to strictly follow the US ‘rules of origin’ norms while exporting goods to America, as re-routing products from high-tariff countries without substantial value addition could be classified as transhipment and attract higher duties, an official said. The ministry has also assured the industry that all efforts would be made to codify the value addition norms to provide certainty and clarity to exporters, the official said. The issue was deliberated at length during a stakeholder consultation on India-US trade ties, convened by the ministry on May 2 here. The stakeholder consultation was chaired…

India will come out stronger, and not weaker, from the current global uncertainties around tariffs, and a trade deal with the US will be “incredibly favourable” for the country vis-a-vis some of its competitors, noted economist and 16th Finance Commission chairman Arvind Panagariya said on Friday. Panagariya said the US-China economic conflict, especially in trade, is here to stay, indicating gains for India. If Washington imposes higher trade curbs on Vietnam and Cambodia to prevent China from potentially using these countries to supply its goods to the US, India’s trade prospects will brighten further, he indicated.

An investment treaty between Britain and India will contain a provision that allows companies to sue either government if they believe policy changes unfairly harm their investment or profits, two sources familiar with discussions told Reuters. The Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism is aimed at protecting companies against possible unfair treatment under local laws, and will be included in an investment treaty that is expected to be struck alongside a free trade agreement shortly. The mechanism has been criticised in recent years, including by Britain’s previous Conservative government, for blocking efforts to fight climate change because fossil fuel producers can…

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, held a key meeting with European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, in Brussels to discuss the progress of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the long-awaited trade deal by the end of 2025. Goyal described the dialogue as “highly productive,” saying that it helped redefine the India-EU partnership. The meeting focused on enhancing market access for businesses in both regions and strengthening trusted, diversified supply chains. The discussions aimed to ensure that the FTA would not only be strategic but also mutually…

Kolkata, Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the most effective path for building economic resilience is to build domestic efficiencies and competitiveness. The government sees the private sector as a trusted co-partner in development, she said while addressing the officers of Ministry of Corporate Affairs after inaugurating the ‘Corporate Bhavan’ in New Town here. “In this phase of a rapidly evolving global policy landscape with a number of imponderables, our conviction is that the most effective path to building economic resilience is to build domestic efficiencies and competitiveness,” the minister said. Sitharaman further said that improving…

The cabinet approved a 4.41% increase in the price at which sugar mills will have to buy sugarcane from farmers for the season starting in October, raising it to ₹355 per quintal from ₹340 earlier. The hike in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane will benefit 50 million sugarcane farmers, as well as 500,000 workers employed in sugar mills and related ancillary activities, the government said. The new FRP is applicable for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%, providing a premium of ₹3.46 per quintal for each 0.1% increase in recovery over and above the 10.25% and reduction…

Services sector enterprises with less than Rs 500 crore output accounted for 63.03 per cent of the total employment in the segment, according to a government survey released on Wednesday. The first pilot study on the Annual Survey of Services Sector Enterprises (ASSSE) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation revealed that larger enterprises with output Rs 500 crore and above dominate in terms of asset ownership (62.77 per cent), net fixed capital formation (62.73 per cent), gross value added (69.47 per cent) and total compensation (63.17 per cent). The data also showed “that enterprises (having output below…

Capital expenditure by private sector enterprises is expected to have grown by 66.3% to Rs 6.6 lakh crore in FY25 from Rs 3.9 lakh crore in FY22, according to a report released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) on Tuesday.It is likely that private capex reached its highest level in FY25 between FY22 and FY26. In FY26, private capex is expected to reach Rs 4.9 lakh crore, registering a growth of 23.9% from FY22. “The slightly lower intended capex for 2025-26, though still above 2023-24 levels, reflects cautious planning after a strong 2024-25,” the ministry said in…

The Reserve Bank on Tuesday launched three key surveys, including inflation expectations, to gather useful inputs for monetary policy decisions. The RBI normally holds six bi-monthly monetary policy reviews in a financial year. The last meeting was held earlier this month, and the next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled for June 4-6. The May round of the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, based on their individual consumption baskets, across 19 cities. The central bank said the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS) seeks qualitative responses from households,…

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal’s meetings in London, focused on boosting investment ties and strengthening bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdom.Goyal is on a two-day visit to London for a series of discussions aimed at deepening economic cooperation. On the first day of his visit, Goyal met with various industry leaders to explore new opportunities. He held a meeting with Martin Gilbert, Chairperson of Revolut App, where they discussed the immense growth potential in India’s fintech ecosystem. They also spoke about the importance of partnerships with global players to drive innovation and support the sector’s…

American sourcing firms and exporters in China are approaching Indian companies to supply goods to the US as high tariffs imposed by Washington are making it difficult for them to ship directly to America, apex exporters’ body FIEO said on Monday. The US has imposed 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods entering the American market. For India, the duty is just 10 per cent. Federation of Indian Exporter Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said US sourcing firms in China are in touch with domestic manufacturers through diplomatic channels to buy goods from India and export to America to…

Some China-based firms hit hard by US tariffs are reaching out to Indian exporters to fill orders on their behalf and help them retain their American customers as they navigate a trade war causing seismic shocks in global commerce.At the Canton Fair that runs through May 5 in Guangzhou — the world’s biggest trade fair — several Indian firms were approached by Chinese companies to supply goods to their US customers, said Ajay Sahai, director general of Federation of Indian Export Organizations. In return for the sales, the Indian firms would pay a commission to the Chinese businesses, he said…

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sanjay Malhotra has pitched India as a long term investment destination. Speaking at US-India Economic Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) in Washington, Malhotra said, India continues to offer strong growth and stability making it a natural choice for investors seeking long term value and opportunity, at a time when advanced countries are facing economic headwinds. ‘India’s strong domestic demand and relatively lower dependence on exports cushions the Indian economy from external spillovers,’ Malhotra said.He mentioned that over the past four years (2021-22 to…

New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday empowered the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (14C), allowing it to receive and share information with other agencies to tackle money laundering linked to cybercrime.In a gazette notification, updated late evening, the Centre added it to the list of entities under Section 66 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency will now have access to crucial data from other agencies to strengthen enforcement actions against cybercrime-related financial transactions. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (ICCC), officially known as I4C, is a nodal agency established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address cybercrime…

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh will on Monday inaugurate and lay the foundation for key projects for seven coastal states and union territories with a total outlay of Rs 255.30 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The minister, at the coastal states meet to be held in Mumbai, will also launch a set of key initiatives aimed at strengthening marine fisheries and promoting sustainable practices including Marine Fisheries Census Operations, Turtle Excluder Device (TED) project and release of Standard Operating Procedure for Vessel Communication and Support System. Ministers of State for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry S P Singh…

India is witnessing a positive trend in job growth, according to the latest World Bank report. Since the 2021-22 fiscal year, employment in the country has grown at a faster pace than the working-age population, the report highlighted. A significant aspect of this growth is the rising participation of women in the workforce. “Employment growth has outpaced the working-age population since 2021-22. Employment rates, especially among women, are rising, and urban unemployment fell to 6.6 per cent in Q1 FY24/25, the lowest since 2017-18,” the World Bank report said. The report also noted a sharp fall in urban unemployment. In…

Edible oil industry body SEA has demanded that the government should raise import duty on refined palm oil to 40 per cent from the current 32.5 per cent to protect the domestic processing industries. Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) President Sanjeev Asthana has written a letter to Union Food and Cosnumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi requesting him to raise import duty difference between CPO and RBD Palmolein for providing level-playing field to domestic refining industries. “This import of finished goods is contrary to our national interests and is seriously affecting the capacity utilisation of our palm refining industry,” Asthana…

Pakistan has suspended all trade ties with India including through third countries, completely halting the two-way commerce which slowed since 2019 after the Pulwama attack. Kirtika Suneja takes a look at the trade between the two countries. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

RBI has capped the penalty amount for FEMA violations to Rs 2 lakh, down from a percentage of the amount of violations earlier in an easing of regulations. Violations including use of liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) proceeds not reinvested within 180 days, exports not made within one year of advance receipt and gifting high value shares without RBI permission will now be penalised to a maximum of Rs 2 lakhs versus 0.30% to 0.75% of the violation amount earlier. The changes were made in the master directions on FEMA by RBI on Thursday. “…based on the nature of contravention, exceptional…

US President Donald Trump has said that he has received confirmation suggesting India intends to lower tariffs on certain goods. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I understand that India will reduce tariffs.” However, he did not provide any further details about which products may be affected or the timeline for such a move. His comments come amidst the backdrop of trade discussions between the two countries that have been building since March. Bilateral Trade Agreement: India, US to start formal talks New Delhi and the US will begin a three-day round of discussions in Washington starting…

The Reserve Bank on Wednesday relaxed norms to facilitate export through warehouses in ‘Bharat Mart’, a multimodal logistics network-based marketplace in the United Arab Emirates, that will provide Indian traders, exporters, and manufacturers access to the markets around the world. In a circular, the RBI said banks may allow exporters to realise and repatriate full export value of goods exported to ‘Bharat Mart’ within nine months from the date of sale of the goods from the warehouse. Further, banks have been asked to allow opening/hiring of a warehouse in ‘Bharat Mart’ by an Indian exporter with a valid importer exporter…

India and the US have finalised the terms of reference for the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), laying a platform for formal negotiations to start. This is the first such framework finalised by the new Donald Trump administration for a trade deal. Highlighting “a serious lack of reciprocity” in the trade relationship between the two nations, US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer said, “These talks will help achieve balance and reciprocity by opening new markets for American goods and addressing unfair practices that harm American workers.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance had met a day…

India is poised to benefit from supply chain realignments, diversified FDI sources, and engagement despite weak global growth outlook due to tariff uncertainty which could result in lower investments spending and a slowdown in global trade, the “ State of the economy” report published in the Reserve Bank’s April 2025 bulletin said. India’s strong services export and inward remittances will provide a buffer for the current account. However, a calibrated policy support is needed for to India sail through turbulent times. “Calibrated policy support can help India turn global volatility into an opportunity and strengthen its position in the emerging…

India’s consumer sector is showing signs of a strong rebound, supported by several positive developments, according to a recent report by UBS. The report suggested that the sector, which has underperformed in recent years, is now positioned for a recovery as multiple factors align in its favour. It said, “The consumer sector looks ready to rebound, with several factors aligning favourably, Earnings look set to recover in FY26”. It expects earnings in the consumer sector to grow by around 13 per cent in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), following a weak performance in FY25, where median earnings growth is estimated…

India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has helped the country achieve cumulative savings of Rs 3.48 lakh crore by plugging leakages in welfare delivery, a new quantitative assessment by the BlueKraft Digital Foundation found, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday. The report also finds that subsidy allocations have been reduced from 16 per cent to 9 per cent of total government expenditure since the implementation of DBT. It asserted that the DBT system has led to a major improvement in the efficiency of public spending. The assessment evaluates data from 2009 to 2024 to examine the impact of DBT…

India’s private sector capital expenditure (capex) could take a backseat in the near future due to rising uncertainty around global tariffs, according to a recent report by Goldman Sachs. The report highlighted that as tariff rates are yet to be finalised and are likely to remain in flux over the next few months, companies looking to invest in new projects may delay their plans. It said, “We think capital expenditure in the private sector will take a back seat or get pushed out given the recent developments around tariffs. As tariff rates get negotiated and firmed up over the next…

The China-Canada tariff war has opened up a Rs 1000 crore opportunity for India to export to Beijing rapeseed meal, a by product of mustard oil production. Such exports to China have gathered pace during past couple of weeks. The edible oil industry has also written a letter to the Centre requesting to start negotiations with China to relax some stringent conditions imposed on Indian rapeseed meal about a decade ago. Increased exports are likely to support the local mustard prices, which are suppressed now. China has imposed 100% duty on rapeseed meal and Canola oil as to retaliate against…

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Sanjay Malhotra, Friday underscored the risks of dwindling liquidity in the call money market, a situation that could compromise transmission efficiency and prevent the economy from extracting optimal benefits through the current cycle of policy rate reductions. Asymmetries among the call money rate, the market repo rate and TREPS rate are also major concerns, and banks must take a proactive approach, the governor said at the 24th FIMMDA-PDAI Annual Conference in Bali on Friday. “The occasional asymmetries call for more proactive functioning by banks – the entities with sole access to RBI’s…

The Punjab government on Saturday said it has decided to provide a 33 per cent subsidy on BT cotton hybrid seeds, as part of its move to promote crop diversification in the state. The subsidy will be given on seeds which are recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said a sum of Rs 20 crore has been allocated for the subsidy programme and this move would reduce financial burden on cotton growers, while simultaneously discouraging the cultivation of non-recommended hybrids to enable them to adopt high-yielding and pest-resistant BT cotton hybrid seeds. The department…

New Delhi: The Centre’s move to shield consumers against substandard and cheap imports, especially from China, has had an unintended negative consequence: Supply chain risks for electronics manufacturing and exports. Aluminium, steel, copper and other high-volume base metals come under the ambit of New Delhi’s quality control orders (QCO) covering a large swathe of industries as diverse as automotive and large electrical appliances, which are prone to input-quality risks. But a small percentage of high-precision, expensive metals and polymers covered under quality control orders are also major inputs into electronics manufacturing, and blanket import curbs are posing sourcing challenges, industry…

The Ministry of Finance has categorically denied recent rumors suggesting that it is planning to impose Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. In an official statement issued on Friday by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government called such claims “false, misleading, and without any basis.” “The claims that the Government is considering levying Goods and Services Tax (GST) on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000 are completely false, misleading, and without any basis. Currently, there is no such proposal before the Government,” the statement clarified, reassuring users and merchants alike. “The government…

Mumbai: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Thursday said India will focus on policy agility amid an intensifying tariff war between the two biggest economies on the planet, seeking to mitigate the expected adverse impact on supply chains due to the surge in protectionism. “The recalibration efforts on trade are very challenging…it is worrisome, but also very challenging,” the minister said at a Mumbai event marking the 150th anniversary of the BSE. “India is confident that we will navigate these global disruptions with policy agility and long-term vision. Our focus remains firmly on building a robust domestic foundation – laid and strengthened…

India’s sugar production has reached 25.49 million tonnes so far in the ongoing 2024-25 season, down 18 per cent from a year ago, sugar mills body ISMA said on Thursday. The production fall is attributed to a decline in output in the country’s top three sugar producing states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. According to the data released by the Indian Sugar Bio-Energy and Manufacturers Association (ISMA), production in Maharashtra, India’s largest sugar producer, fell to 8.07 million tonnes till April 15 of the current season (October-September), from 10.94 million tonnes a year ago. Output in Uttar Pradesh, the…

New Delhi: India’s trade deficit with China surged to a record $99.2 billion in the just-ended fiscal year, while it registered a trade surplus of $41.2 billion with the US, showed official data released on Wednesday. India had trade deficits of $26.79 billion and $13.64 billion with the UAE and Hong Kong, respectively, during the year ended March 31. Notably, the country registered trade deficits with its free trade agreement partners such as the UAE, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Imports from China rose 11.5% to $113.4 billion. Dumping Watch The surge was fuelled by rising demand for electronics,…

India plans to end taxes on U.S. ethane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports under broader negotiations with Washington as it looks to reduce its trade surplus and ease its tariff burden, three sources familiar with the matter said. The proposal to get rid of duties for the products used for cooking gas and petrochemical production comes as India mulls scrapping import tax for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) and boosting purchases of the fuel from the United States. As President Donald Trump’s sweeping duties rattle economies and markets, several Asian countries running trade surpluses with Washington are looking to…

New Delhi: Bilateral economic pacts and free trade agreements must be “absolutely” expedited, ITC chairman Sanjiv Puri told ET, as a tariff-torn world scrambles to redraw trade frontiers that could help expand India’s bailiwick in several sectors where it is competitive. “We would like it to happen yesterday,” Puri said in an interview, while adding that developments since April 2 “are only providing some impetus for new trading blocs to be formed. Once these agreements are done, I think the playing field for Indian industries will become much larger.” The head of the maker of Sunfeast cookies and Fiama soaps…

The government has set up an inter-ministerial import surge monitoring group as high tariffs on certain countries like China and Vietnam may lead to diversion of goods to India, the commerce ministry said. It also said that Chinese retaliatory tariffs on US goods could further increase the inflow of US agricultural products into India. “With the global uncertainties related to tariffs, obviously there are elevated apprehensions related to likely flooding or surge in imports or surge…to look at that…import surge monitoring group has been set up,” Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce L Satya Srinivas told reporters here. If…

New Delhi: India has identified at least 10 sectors, including apparel and clothing accessories, chemicals, plastics and rubber, where high US tariffs give New Delhi a competitive advantage in the American market over other suppliers, said officials in the know. The idea is to capitalise on the advantage in these sectors, which also include vehicles, other than railways, mineral fuel and pharmaceuticals, in the coming months to compensate for the loss in categories impacted by high tariffs. While India faces a 10% ‘baseline’ tariff after the US suspended the 26% ‘reciprocal’ duties for 90 days, the levy remains at 145%…

India’s exports of cut and polished diamonds plummeted to their lowest level in nearly two decades in the 2024/25 fiscal year, which ended in March, on sluggish demand from the United States and China, a leading trade body said on Monday. India is the world’s largest cutting and polishing hub, handling nine out of every 10 diamonds processed globally. But it is sensitive to economic uncertainty – particularly in the U.S., its biggest market. Cut and polished diamond exports, which usually account for nearly half of overall gem and jewellery shipments, fell 16.8% to $13.3 billion year-on-year, the Gems and…

India is unlikely to offer a ‘zero-for-zero’ tariff deal to the US as part of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) the two are negotiating, officials said, adding that such an arrangement can only be made between developed countries. The BTA is likely to be a package deal comprising issues such as goods, digital trade, movement of professionals, technical barriers to trade and intellectual property rights, among others. Talks this Week The two sides will begin virtual talks this week, with some clarity on the deal expected by the end of May. “The government is examining all 11,000 tariff lines under…

India’s import of crude soyabean oil more than doubled to 19.11 lakh tonne in the first five months of current oil marketing year ending October 2025, according to edible oil industry body SEA. The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) data showed that the country imported 19,11,420 tonne of crude soyabean degummed oil during November 2024 and March 2025 period as against 8,82,943 tonne in the corresponding period of the 2023-24 marketing year. Edible oil marketing year runs from November to October. In case of crude soyabean degummed oil, India mainly imported from Argentina, Brazil and Russia. Imports from Argentina…

Pune: India’s nearly $5 billion shrimp export industry, which is heavily reliant on the US, has suggested various measures to the government to diversify the risks of overdependence on a single market. This comes as the industry expresses relief with US President Donald Trump declaring a return to the baseline 10% tariff and a 90-day pause on higher reciprocal tariffs on imports from several countries, including India. While shrimp farmers want the Centre to initiate a campaign for educating Indians to consume more shrimp, exporters are planning to enhance production of high-end value-added shrimp products to take China’s share of…

Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy is visiting India from 11-12 April. He was accompanied by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and a large delegation of businesses, leading universities and research institutions. During the visit, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held delegation level talks with DPM and FM Tajani. Minister Tajani also met with the Commerce and Industry Minister (CIM). He called on President of India. Minister Bernini with Ministers of State of Science and Technology, and Education. In the delegation level talks, EAM and FM…

New Delhi | Mumbai: Assessing officials continue to raise fresh tax demands on companies coming out of corporate insolvency, defying the ‘clean slate’ provision provided under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and multiple court rulings, throwing successful resolution applicants into legal limbo. Several such companies have faced tax demands over pre-acquisition liabilities, and have moved courts, legal experts and industry insiders told ET. Recent examples include Tata Steel, which was slapped with an income addition of ‘25,185 crore in respect of a debt waiver pertaining to Bhushan Steel before the Tatas acquired the company under IBC in 2018. Tata…

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday flagged concerns over growing unpredictability in global political and economic order, especially the weaponisation of economic activities and over-concentration of manufacturing. He said India has been working closely with like-minded partners to build resilient and trusted partnerships which are needed to address the country’s economic interests as well as its strategic priorities. The external affairs minister made the remarks at the India-Italy Business, Science and Technology Forum. It was also attended by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani. “We meet today in a familiar global political and economic order, but one that is…

India has offered to allow unlimited imports of electric vehicles priced more than GBP 80,000 (about ₹89 lakh) from the UK in lieu of a larger export quota of smaller EVs priced less than GBP 40,000 (₹44 lakh) to the country in a bid to iron out differences holding up finalisation of a free trade agreement (FTA). The proposal, if agreed upon by both countries, will benefit Indian automakers like Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra, which have firmed up plans to scale up EV exports to Europe to leverage economies of scale while the segment matures locally. Tata Motors’…

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced USD 400 million in new trade and investment deals at the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue in London on Thursday. In a post on X, the British High Commission in India wrote, “The UK and India are growing together. Chancellor @RachelReevesMP and Minister @nsitharaman have announced £400m of trade and investment wins at the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue in London.” — ukinindia (@ukinindia) On Wednesday, Sitharaman had a bilateral meeting with Lord Mayor of London Alastair King, in London. Lord Mayor alluded to his deep association with…

The United Kingdom and India have made substantial progress in their ongoing free trade agreement, with 90% of the deal already agreed, according to British officials in a private briefing with businesses this week, as told to The Guardian. That detail was confirmed during a call between UK Department for Business and Trade negotiators and business leaders on Tuesday, who were informed that key chapters of the agreement had been settled. But not everything is signed off yet. Sticking points remain—especially around tariff rules for whisky, automobiles, and pharmaceutical products. Mobility breakthrough unlocks progress A major hurdle, involving mobility and…

The central bank Wednesday expanded the scope of co-lending pacts beyond priority-sector loans (PSL), allowing more regulated entities to structure deals that would route formal financing to smaller non-PSL businesses crucial for boosting both growth and jobs locally. “Co-lending arrangements have actually helped in the priority sector lending (PSL),” Governor Sanjay Malhotra said at the post-review media interaction. “We are now expanding it to other segments outside priority sector lending as well. Right now, only banks and NBFCs could enter into this arrangement. (Henceforth), two banks can also enter into this arrangement.” Banks must give 40% of the total loans…

New Delhi: India is open to allowing zero duty import of goods from the US in several sectors, including those covered under the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, people familiar with the development said. Officials said a generous offer by India can expedite the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), helping roll back the 26% reciprocal tariff levied on India effective April 9. However, officials said this concession would be subject to stringent rules of origin mandating at least 30-40% value addition along with a change in tariff heading as part of these conditions. “Inter-ministerial consultations are on what can be offered…

In a bold and unexpected move, US President Donald Trump shook the global economy on 2 April 2025 by unveiling sweeping tariffs designed to reshape America’s trade relationships. The new policy enforces a baseline 10% tariff on nearly all imports, with even steeper rates reserved for nations deemed to engage in unfair trade practices, signalling a dramatic shift in global commerce. Details of the tariff planUnder the new framework, the European Union faces a 20% tariff on exports to the United States, Japan 24%, India 26%, and China a steep 34% duty. President Trump branded these measures as a “Declaration…

India is setting up an import monitoring group for certain products including consumer goods to check diversion from countries which face US reciprocal tariffs that are higher than on India, such as China and Vietnam. “There are some products where circumvention is easy,” a government official said, adding that the group will have officials from several ministries. The US has imposed a 26% reciprocal tariff on India, compared with 35% on China, 37% on Bangladesh, 29% on Pakistan, 46% on Vietnam and 36% on Thailand, among other countries. These Asian countries are India’s competitors in sectors such as textiles, consumer…

Lenders have added about 25,000 beneficiaries under the Tarun Plus category of PM Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in a 4-month short period of FY25 where borrowers were given enhanced loans up to Rs 20 lakh. The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her last July Budget. As per the Budget 2024-25 announcement, loan limit was doubled to Rs 20 lakh for those entrepreneurs who have availed and successfully repaid previous loans under the ‘Tarun’ category. Following the Budget announcement, the Tarun Plus scheme was notified on October 25, 2024. As many as 24,557 new borrowers took loan under…

By kicking off the tariff war, the US has inadvertently ceded half of its dairy export market to India, according to Jayen Mehta, managing director of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), owner of leading dairy brand Amul. Nearly 50% of the US dairy exports are to places in India’s vicinity, including West Asia, North Africa, China, Southeast Asia, Sub Saharan Africa, Japan, and South Korea, he said. Some of these countries are expected to hike import duties on US products in response to President Donald Trump’s high tariffs on most countries. “We believe that many of these nations would…

Developed countries are indicating that they are ready to proceed with negotiations for proposed free trade agreements (FTAs) without insisting much on the inclusion of non-trade issues like sustainability and climate obligations, according to sources. They said gradually those countries are suggesting that “let’s start business first, we will look into the rest of the extraneous issues later”. In a free trade agreement negotiations, trading partners should keep all the options open so that things can move smoothly. Major countries that used to pressure on issues like sustainability and climate have now gone quiet, one of the sources said. India…

US President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are pushing Chinese electronics companies such as Haier, Lenovo and Hisense to actively pursue business transformation strategies. These brands are currently exploring the possibility of exporting products to the US from Indian factories to benefit from the relatively lower tariffs, compared to their production hubs in China and Vietnam. They are also hoping the Indian government will ease stringent rules on manufacturing investments, amid recent efforts to reset diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Beijing. Currently, Press Note 3 mandates government approval for any foreign direct investment (FDI) from an entity in a…

In a significant step towards strengthening rural connectivity and boosting economic growth, the Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned several road and bridge projects for Tripura and Odisha under the Connectivity component of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), the Ministry said in a release on Saturday. According to the release, for Tripura, 25 roads totalling 84.352 km have been sanctioned, with an investment of Rs 76.47 crore. This follows an earlier approval of 42 roads spanning 118.756 km, amounting to Rs. 114.32 crore. Odisha has received approval for 26 roads covering 63.271 km, along with two…

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said India is hopeful that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union will be finalised soon. During the recent visit of College of Commissioners, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, she and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had decided to direct their teams to finalise the FTA within this year, said Secretary West, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Tanmaya Lal. “So, that has been a very clear direction. And the negotiations are ongoing. Both the teams are taking forward the process in a very strong manner and we are very…

Ranchi: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Friday said it has extended record assistance of Rs 5,830 crore to Jharkhand in the just concluded fiscal to boost rural infrastructure. This support has significantly catalysed rural infrastructure development, livelihood promotion, institutional strengthening, and financial inclusion in the state, the country’s apex rural development financial institution said in a statement. “NABARD has extended record developmental assistance of Rs 5,830 crores to the state of Jharkhand during the financial year 2024-25… The state has witnessed a 20 times increase in long-term refinance, with total disbursements touching Rs 2,701 crore…

US President Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of tariffs going up to 99% against the country’s trading partners, making good on his long-standing threats and potentially dragging the world into a trade war as he sought to address a $1.2 trillion goods trade deficit and revive local manufacturing. India faces a 27% reciprocal levy from April 9, lower than its regional competitors such as China (34%, in addition to 20% imposed in two earlier rounds), Vietnam (46%) and Indonesia (32%). “This is Liberation Day, a long-awaited moment,” Trump said, using the White House Rose Garden as the stage for the…

US imposed 26 per cent tariffs on Indian can possibly impact the Indian Medical Devices sector, said the Rajiv Nath, Forum Cordinator of AiMeD, however he pressed on the need to explore windows of opportunities where US has been seeking to diversify its supply chain dependence to reduce the impact. Show more Show less

After weeks of anticipation, President Donald Trump unveiled a new set of tariffs on both allies and adversaries, aiming to address what he describes as unfair trade practices. The tariffs, which are set to impact countries that impose high duties on U.S. exports, will see India facing a 26% tariff on its goods entering the US, along with significant penalties for other nations. China, which has long been a target of US trade actions, will face a hefty 34% tariff, while the European Union will see a 20% levy. Vietnam, another key player in the global trade landscape, will bear…

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is leveraging Artificial Intelligence in a “big way” to enhance customer security in digital transactions, amid a surge in UPI usage. NPCI is conducting a pilot study in collaboration with public and private sector banks to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning for strengthening customer safety, NPCI Chief Risk Officer Viswanath Krishnamurthy said. Established in 2008 by the Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks Association, NPCI oversees retail payment systems in the country. Providing some statistics, Krishnamurthy noted that in March alone Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions reached 18.30 billion, marking…

Goods and services tax (GST) collection rose nearly 10% to ₹1.96 lakh crore in March from the year earlier, the second-highest monthly collection ever, riding a recovery in domestic demand and better compliance. Gross collection for the full fiscal year was ₹22.1 lakh crore, 9.4% higher than ₹20.2 lakh crore in FY24, according to official data released on Tuesday. “A nearly 10% growth in collections compared to last year reflects economic stability and strong tax compliance by companies,” said Abhishek Jain, partner and head, indirect tax, KPMG in India. The average monthly collection in FY25 was ₹1.84 lakh crore against…

The commerce ministry is working on different scenarios to assess the possible fallout of reciprocal tariffs to be imposed by the US administration on April 2 on its key trading partners including India, sources said. US President Donald Trump has said that April 2 will be ‘Liberation Day’ as he plans to announce tariffs or import duties to bring down America’s trade deficit, and promote the country’s manufacturing. India and the US are also working on a bilateral trade agreement to promote two-way commerce and investments. The domestic industry and exporters have raised concerns over the possible impact of the…

Over 47,000 applications were filed by small businesses to recover dues worth ₹8,024.9 crore in FY25, according to the data from MSME Samadhaan Portal, a government-run platform for monitoring delayed payments. The number of applications surged 94.1% to 47,587 in FY25 compared to 24,519 in FY20. In contrast, total dues increased by 25.7% in the same period. Although FY25 saw the highest number of applications filed, the total dues claimed were the second highest after FY21. Data for FY25 is as of 6 pm on March 31. These applications were submitted by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) against various…

Indian industry and government officials are uncertain whether US President Donald Trump will proceed with his threat to impose reciprocal tariffs on its key trading partners, including India, on April 2. According to a senior government official, the domestic industry is “paranoid” and has been sending communications to the government, seeking protection against the impacts of these tariffs. Stakeholders are hopeful that America may defer its decision to impose reciprocal tariffs from April 2, as India is one of the few countries with which the US has decided to negotiate a trade agreement. Here is a list of Q &…

Companies procuring steel at concessional rates under a special mechanism being finalised by steelmakers to support the micro, medium and small enterprise (MSME) sector will need to ensure that the finished products are solely for exports, people privy to the matter said. The new mechanism, which would be operationalised after planned imposition of a safeguard duty on specified steel imports, would be extended to MSMEs and members of the Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC), the people said. “Discussions are on on the mechanism…It would be implemented once safeguard duty is imposed…This is being done to shield domestic consumers from rise…

The country’s merchandise exports, which have been contracting since October last year, are expected to decline slightly by the end of this fiscal year and fall below USD 435 billion, think tank GTRI said on Sunday. Exports dipped 10.85 per cent in February to USD 36.91 billion due to volatility in petroleum prices and global uncertainties. “At this rate, India’s total merchandise exports for FY’2025 are expected to be below USD 435 billion, slightly lower than USD 437.1 billion in FY’2024,” Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Founder Ajay Srivastava said. During April-February 2024-25, the exports stood at USD 395.63 billion…

New Delhi: Finance secretary Ajay Seth Saturday said global uncertainties may not subside over the medium term and India has to do things differently in a more “purpose-oriented” manner to realise its goal of emerging as a developed nation by 2047. In this “era of uncertainties” and amid a “very tough global environment”, India has to grow at a fast pace for over 20 years while ensuring inclusive development, he added. Seth was speaking at an event of the Skoch Development Foundation in the capital. “It’s not just about growth, but it’s about inclusive growth. But we have to be…

India and the US have decided to hold sectoral talks under the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in the coming weeks, the commerce ministry said on Saturday. It was decided after the four-day negotiations of senior officers from India and the US. These negotiations ended on Saturday here. “Sectoral expert-level engagements under the BTA will start virtually in the coming weeks and pave the path for an early negotiating round in person,” the ministry said. In order to realise the shared objective of promoting growth that ensures fairness, national security and job creation, both sides have through four days of…

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday slashed to about ₹217 crore the Competition Commission of India’s ₹936-crore penalty imposed on Google parent Alphabet Inc. The appellate tribunal partly allowed the US tech major’s appeal against the October 2022 order, ruling that it had indeed misused its dominant position in the Android mobile app market, but not agreeing with all directions issued by CCI. CCI found discrimination in the tech giant’s policy of charging third-party apps a 15-30% service fee via Google Play Billing System (GPBS) on Play Store transactions, while its own app YouTube used another payment…

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a Rs 37,216 crore subsidy on phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the Kharif (summer-sown) season this year as part of its efforts to provide soil nutrients at a reasonable rate. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal for fixing the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Kharif season 2025 (from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025,) on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers. The budgetary requirement for Kharif season 2024 will be Rs 37,216.15 crore, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters here. The minister said the…

NEW DELHI: India is likely to undertake another round of import duty cuts ahead of April 2, people familiar with the matter said. US President Donald Trump’s threatened reciprocal tariffs announcement is expected that day against trading partners who, he says, have been “ripping off” his country by imposing high levies. The government is now drawing up a list of products that are very specific to the US as this round of cuts, outside of the proposed trade agreement, will be on most favoured nation (MFN) basis, implying the reduced duty would apply to all MFN imports of those products.…

The Reserve Bank of India will cut interest rates at a second straight meeting on April 9, with just one more cut expected in August, which would mark the shortest easing cycle on record, a Reuters poll of economists found. With inflation in India easing to a seven-month low of 3.61% in February and the economy forecast to grow at 6.4% this fiscal year, the weakest in four years, the central bank has room to cut rates further. A strong majority of economists, 54 of 60 in the March 18-27 Reuters poll, expected the RBI to cut its benchmark repo…

New Delhi: States’ debt is projected to reach ₹94.4 lakh crore by March 2025, accounting for 32.7% of gross state domestic product (GSDP), according to a CareEdge Ratings report released Wednesday. The debt is expected to rise further to ₹103.6 lakh crore by FY26 due to capital expenditure and a growing revenue deficit, the report noted. In 2019, the debt-GSDP ratio was 29.3%. The analysis covered 15 states that accounted for 87% of India’s GSDP in FY24, including Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and UP. Revenue deficit is forecast to hit 0.6% of GSDP in FY25 and 0.63% in FY26. Fiscal…

The National Highways Authority of India has raised Rs 18,380 crore through InvIT, the largest monetization transaction ever in the roads sector. With this fourth round of monetisation, the total funds raised via InvIT stands at over Rs 46,000 crore since 2020. While Rs 8,340 crore were raised in unit capital from domestic and international investors, Rs 10,040 crore was raised in debt from domestic lenders, the ministry of road transport and highways said in a statement issued on Wednesday. The National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT), the Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), was set up by NHAI in 2020 to support…

Mumbai: States have increased their borrowings in the last month of the financial year, as raising funds is comparatively cheaper with low yields, due to the absence of central government security auctions in March, treasury experts said. Cut-off on 10-year SDL paper “The absence of G-Sec supply has facilitated strong absorption of SDL issuances by institutional investors. They are also positioning ahead of the April policy, anticipating rate cuts in April and/or June to drive mark-to-market gains in the next fiscal year,” said Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan, founder of Rockfort Fincap, a debt advisory firm. As many as 21 states jointly raised…

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Finance Bill 2025 provides unprecedented tax relief, and the 13.14 per cent projected growth in personal income tax collection is “realistic” and supported by solid data. Replying to the discussions on Finance Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman also said the customs duty rationalisation announced in the Budget will support manufacturing units, domestic value addition, promote exports, facilitate trade and also provide relief to the common people. In the 2025-26 Budget, the government has hiked income tax rebate to Rs 12 lakh per annum from Rs 7 lakh earlier. For the…

New Delhi: India proposes to remove the 6% equalisation levy imposed on online advertisement services offered by companies such as Google and Meta — known widely as the Google tax — from April 1. The move is likely aimed at placating US President Donald Trump, who has threatened retaliatory tariffs on countries imposing digital taxes on US tech companies from April 2. The provision is included in the 59 amendments to the Finance Bill moved by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament on Monday. The other significant amendment proposes to remove the word “indirectly” in a provision governing offshore…

Domestic rating agency ICRA on Monday said private capital expenditure’s share in the overall investments in the economy dipped to a decadal low of 33 per cent in FY24. Among the private companies, it was the unlisted players which were subdued in investments as compared to the listed entities, as per a report. It can be noted that for the last few years, the government has been driving investments, leading to concerns in some quarters over the private sector’s absence and its impact on the overall economic activity. The private sector has instead focused on deploying excess cash at reducing…

Mumbai: International Tractors (ITL) that sells under the Sonalika brand is weighing the possibility of exporting tractors to Mexico and Canada from India instead of its Atlanta facility, to avoid being caught in the crossfire between the US and its neighbours over tariffs. This even as the company, India’s largest exporter of tractors, is bracing for a decline in its overseas shipment for the second straight year in fiscal 2024-25. The drop comes on the back of the company’s key export destinations including the European Union, North America and South Asia (excluding India) facing uncertainties amid a global trade war…

India has imported 8.47 lakh tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser from China till February in the current fiscal year, government data showed. The Chinese imports represent 19.17 per cent of India’s total DAP imports of 44.19 lakh tonnes during the period. In the previous fiscal year, China accounted for 22.28 lakh tonnes, or about 40 per cent, of India’s overall DAP imports of 55.67 lakh tonnes. DAP is the second most widely used fertiliser in India after urea. The country also imports DAP from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Jordan, both as finished fertiliser and raw materials such as…

India’s agricultural growth rate is expected to be 20 per cent in the next two years and the Centre’s first priority is to make the sector economically viable and create more jobs, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday. Around 65 per cent of the country’s population is rural but they contribute only 12 per cent in growth, he said at a Business Today event here. In order to become a USD 5 trillion economy and achieve third rank in the work, the country’s rural economy and agriculture are very important, the Union minister for road transport and highways (MoRTH)…

The government has disbursed Rs 14,020 crore under Production-Linked Incentive schemes for ten sectors, including electronics and pharma, since the launch of the support measure to boost domestic manufacturing, an official statement said on Saturday. In 2021, the government announced Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for 14 sectors like telecommunication, white goods, textiles, manufacturing of medical devices, automobiles, speciality steel, food products, high-efficiency solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell batteries, drones, and pharma, with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. “The incentive amount of around Rs 14,020 crore disbursed under PLI schemes for 10 sectors,” the commerce and industry ministry…

New Delhi: India and the US are engaged in discussions to resolve tariff-related issues, with both nations working towards the framework for a bilateral trade agreement, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Friday. “…I would like to emphasise that both India and the US are in discussions about this matter,” Jaiswal said during a press briefing, signalling a possible breakthrough in ongoing negotiations. Earlier, minister of state for commerce and industry Jitin Prasada told Parliament that India and the US were planning to negotiate a trade agreement, and that both countries would focus on increasing market access, reducing import…

India’s forex reserves increased to $654.27 billion in the week ending March 14, 2025, up by $0.305 billion, according to data released by Reserve Bank of India on Friday. Previously, India’s forex reserves surged to $653.97 billion in the week ending March 7, 2025, up by $15.26 billion, said the Reserve Bank of India on Friday. India’s forex kittyThe central bank releases India’s forex reserves’ data every Friday, closely monitoring the economic indicator of foreign trade. The RBI, from time to time, intervenes in the market through liquidity management, including through the selling of dollars, with a view to preventing…

New Delhi: India has initiated an anti-dumping investigation on flexible slabstock polyol (FSP) imported from China and Thailand, according to a notification issued by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). FSP is used for manufacturing upholstery, mattresses, pillows, bolsters, transport seating and packaging. The probe was initiated after Manali Petrochemicals Limited, the sole producer of FSP in India, filed an application alleging that cheap imports are hurting domestic industry. Manali Petrochemicals also urged that China be treated as a non-market economy. The DGTR said Manali Petrochemicals has provided prima facie evidence establishing that FSP imports have harmed the domestic…

The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) on Thursday notified operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) which promises an assured pension of 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation. This follows the UPS notification dated January 24, 2025 by the government for central government employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS). The regulations shall come into effect from April 1, 2025, PFRDA said in a statement. These regulations enable the enrolment of central government employees including an existing central government employee in service as on April 1,…

New Delhi: The finance ministry informed the Parliament that a shift in household deposits from banks to market-linked financial products in search of higher returns may expose the households to significant market risks and that they may face financial losses during market corrections or volatility due to inadequate assessment of risks and financial literacy. The Department of Financial Services, under the finance ministry, said in a written submission to the parliamentary standing committee on demand for grants that the “decline in financial savings poses challenges for the banking sector in terms of maintaining liquidity”, adding that withdrawal of household savings…

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government is planning to invest Rs 3 lakh crore in Assam to construct national highways at par with those in the US. Replying to queries during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Road Transport and Highways Minister also asserted that his ministry has no dearth of funds for road projects. He also informed the House about the progress of various national highway (NH) projects in Assam and said the ring road of Guwahati will be completed by December 2027 at a cost of Rs 5,800 crore. “I am confident that…

New Delhi: Exports of auto components as well as medical and scientific instruments have demonstrated robust growth over the past three years, an official said Tuesday. Auto parts exports rose to $7.7 billion in FY24 from $6.88 billion in FY22 with the US, Turkey, Germany, Mexico and Brazil being the top destinations, reflecting strong demand and India’s competitiveness in the global supply chain. “India’s automobile industry’s remarkable transformation has been particularly noteworthy in the export and import of motorcycle parts and accessories… At the same time, India has successfully reduced its reliance on imported motorcycle parts,” the official said. Outbound…

India and New Zealand aim to ink a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) covering the entire gamut of issues in the next 60 days. At a Ficci event Tuesday, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that he looks forward to the agreement in 60 days’ time and commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said that the proposed pact could increase bilateral trade by 10 times from $1.75 billion at present in 10 years and expand trade in farm products, pharma, critical minerals and tourism. “It is a challenging road out there. We look forward to the agreement in 60…

New Delhi: India’s merchandise exports contracted at the sharpest pace in 20 months and shrank for the fourth straight month by 10.9% to $36.91 billion in February, pulled down by the high base effect, official data showed. Imports dipped 16.3%, the first drop in 11 months, to $50.96 billion and the trade deficit contracted to a 42-month low of $14 billion from $19.51 billion a year ago, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed Monday. Subdued Global Demand The ministry has also estimated a $4.43 billion trade surplus in goods and services in February, the first surplus after…

EPFO achieved a historic high of 2.16 crore auto-claims settlement so far during the current financial year, up from 89.52 lakh in 2023-24, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje informed Lok Sabha on Monday. The minister in a written reply in the Lok Sabha informed that the auto-mode claims are processed within three days. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has taken several steps to streamline the process of claim settlement. For auto mode processing of advance claims, the amount limit has been enhanced to Rs 1 lakh. Further, in addition to illness/hospitalization advances, the advances for…

Mumbai: Economists are shortening the odds of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in April as retail inflation falls below the central bank’s legal mandate, with rising farm output raising expectations that food prices will remain benign for the foreseeable future. An ET poll of 12 institutions shows that most respondents are factoring in a 25-basis point rate cut on April 9, with nearly half the participants pencilling in an additional 25 bps reduction in the June policy review. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point. India’s retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price…

New Delhi: After a gap of about ten years, India and New Zealand on Sunday announced resumption of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement to boost economic ties. India and New Zealand began negotiating the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in April 2010 to boost trade in goods, services, and investment. However, after nine rounds of discussions, the talks stalled in 2015. “The two nations are pleased to announce the launch of negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations,” the commerce ministry said. The announcement was made after the meeting of Commerce…

India’s Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that exemptions from the Principal Purpose Test (PPT) under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with countries like Mauritius, Cyprus, and Singapore won’t interfere with domestic anti-abuse rules. This clarification is significant, especially since India and Mauritius amended their tax treaty in April 2024 to include the PPT. The PPT aims to prevent large companies from avoiding taxes by scrutinizing business arrangements made purely for tax benefits . In January, the CBDT had announced that the PPT wouldn’t apply to past investments made under certain tax treaties with countries like Mauritius, Cyprus,…

Tamil Nadu government will implement a special package to increase the paddy area and food grain production during Kar, Kuruvai and Sornavari seasons, in 29 non-Cauvery Delta districts at an outlay of Rs 102 crore, state Agriculture Minister M R K Panneerslvam informed the Assembly on Saturday. The package includes a subsidy for machine planting and quality certified seeds to farmers. A similar package will be provided to farmers in the Delta districts to increase the area and food grain production during Kuruvai and a sum of Rs 58 crore will be allocated for the purpose, he said. Paddy is…

MUMBAI: Tax authorities are going to unprecedented levels in using the provision of the law that allows it to collect information from different places – and not just the people who pay taxes. It is happening across businesses and states, with the taxman snooping around for transaction details with organisations in financial services, hospitality, healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, and those linked to telecom and direct-to-home services. The aim is to collect evidence of tax evasion, misreporting, and racketeering by verifying various dealing records with the claims made by individuals and entities, under the scrutiny of the I-T Department. “The request…

The eight-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction that the Reserve Bank of India conducted on Thursday got bids for less than one-tenth of the notified amount, with treasury executives citing the tenure of the operation as a likely reason for the weak demand. The RBI offered to infuse Rs 1 lakh crore in the banking system through the VRR auction that would reverse, or be repaid, on March 21, but it received bids for only Rs 9,860 crore. The central bank also conducts daily overnight VRR auctions. Treasury heads said the auction could have seen more demand if the maturity…

India is among the countries to benefit the most from a global transition towards net zero emissions, says Sabine Mauderer, chair of the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a grouping of central banks and supervisors set up to help strengthen the global response to meet the goals of the Paris agreement, and enhance the role of financial system to manage climate-related risks. Mauderer, the first deputy governor of Deutsche Bundesbank, was in New Delhi for NGFS’ plenary. In an interview with ET, she cautioned that if climate policy falls short, economic and financial risks will increase. Edited excerpts:…

The Centre has procured 1,31,000 tonnes of tur so far under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), benefitting 89,219 farmers, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday. Under the PSS for the 2024-25 Kharif season, the ministry has approved the procurement of a total of 13.22 lakh tonnes of tur from nine states — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. According to the ministry, tur procurement has already started in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana. “A total quantity of 1.31 lakh tonne of tur (arhar) has been procured in these states till March…

Retail inflation fell to a seven-month low of 3.6% in February, as food prices approached their lowest in two years, while industrial output grew by 5% in January, giving a double dose of cheer to the economy. Food inflation hit a 21-month low of 3.8% in February, down from 6% in January, official data released Wednesday showed. Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 4.3% in January and 5.1% in February 2024. Economists said the decline in inflation enhances the likelihood of a rate cut when the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) convenes from…

India is holding talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign an initial agreement securing supplies of critical minerals such as cobalt and copper, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The world’s fastest-growing major economy, India has launched efforts to secure critical minerals from resource-rich nations such as Congo, Mongolia and Zambia to help energy transition efforts and fill growing demand from its industries. As part of New Delhi’s increasing efforts to scout for mineral assets abroad, the mines ministry will seek clearance from the foreign ministry to send a team of geologists to Congo, said…

As India and the US negotiate a trade pact, both sides will focus on increasing market access, reducing import duty and non-tariff barriers apart from enhancing supply chain integration, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. “Both countries plan to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector bilateral trade agreement,” minister of state for commerce and industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, adding that as on date, reciprocal tariffs have not been imposed by the US on India. The US issued a memorandum on reciprocal trade and tariffs on February 13, wherein the secretary of commerce and…

Benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, traded lower on Tuesday, following a widespread sell-off in Asian markets after Wall Street dropped overnight due to recession concerns in the US. The rupee is likely to stay under pressure on Tuesday, as concerns over a potential recession sapped risk appetite across financial markets, driving most Asian currencies lower. US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on India have already raised volatility in markets as Trump has emphasised his tariff threats against India. His reciprocal tariffs on other countries are set to come into effect from April 2. India has a large…

The Centre’s dividend collection from non-financial entities in which it holds stakes will likely scale a fresh peak this fiscal year , with the mop-up already touching almost ₹60,000 crore, reflecting strong profitability of state-run firms, said a senior finance ministry official. “With about three crucial weeks to go, it may go up to ₹66,000-67,000 crore this fiscal if all goes well, way above the revised estimate of ₹55,000 crore,” he said. The collection had hit a record ₹63,749 crore in 2023-24. The entities include all the non-financial central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) and those in which the government holds…

New Delhi [India], March 10 (ANI): India has produced record rice, wheat, and maize in the 2024-25 kharif season, as per Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare’s second advance estimates of production of major agricultural crops. India has produced Kharif foodgrains to the tune of 1,663.91 lakh tonne and Rabi foodgrains (excluding summer crop) at 1,645.27 lakh tonne. Kharif rice is estimated at 1,206.79 lakh tonne while Rabi rice (excluding summer) at 157.58 lakh tonne. Wheat production is projected at 1,154.30 lakh tonne, while kharif maize at 248.11 lakh tonne; rabi maize (excluding summer) at 124.38 lakh tonne. Kharif Rice…

New Delhi: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has asked manufacturing units to submit the monthly production statistics from April 2022 onwards for the new series of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as India aims to make its production data more robust by rebasing it to 2022-23. The extant base of the IIP is 2011-12. “To meet this goal, monitoring industrial growth is necessary, and for that, the department has sought the units’ cooperation in providing the primary information on industrial production,” the DPIIT said in a communication.The department asked the units to submit the monthly…

The European Union’s (EU) aggressive environmental regulations, particularly the carbon tax, deforestation rules, and supply chain due diligence laws are one of the biggest hurdles in the negotiations for a proposed trade pact with India, economic think tank GTRI said on Sunday. It said that these regulations could impose additional costs on Indian exports. Under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Indian exports of steel, aluminum, and cement to the EU could face tariffs of 20-35 per cent, even if an FTA is signed, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said in its report. This raises concerns that while EU…

New Delhi: Everyone loses from a tariff war but there may be a silver lining for India if it manages to carve out a special trade deal with the US and substantially brings down barriers, said award-winning Indian-born American journalist and author Fareed Zakaria, making a case for a broader deregulation by India to create globally competitive firms. In an interview to ET, Zakaria said India’s destiny is to be more closely aligned to the US and the West but warned that the big beneficiary of President Donald Trump’s “predatory diplomacy” could be China. He said the US-Europe divide is…

The Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to set up nearly a dozen townships at various places, including the twin capital cities, to check unplanned urban expansion and meet the housing needs of people, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said on Saturday. The minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to a question raised by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Parra in the Assembly here. Itoo said the Srinagar Development Authority has identified state land along the national highway in Bemina Bypasss and the Jammu Development Authority has identified land at Sidhra for catering to…

Facing a fresh trade war under the new Trump administration, China sought to further stabilise ties with India, with its foreign minister Wang Yi on Friday stating that Beijing’s relations with New Delhi had made positive strides in the past year. He also said that President Xi Jinping’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan last year gave strategic guidance for the improvement and development of bilateral ties. Wang emphasised that it is in the best interest of both nations to work together. “Both sides have earnestly followed through on the important common understandings of our leaders, strengthened exchanges…

India’s forex reserves fell to $638.69 billion in the week ending February 21, 2025, down by $1.7 billion, said the Reserve Bank of India on Friday. India’s forex kitty The central bank releases India’s forex reserves’ data every Friday, closely monitoring the economic indicator of foreign trade.The RBI, from time to time, intervenes in the market through liquidity management, including through the selling of dollars, with a view to preventing a steep depreciation in the rupee.The RBI closely monitors the foreign exchange markets and intervenes only to maintain orderly market conditions by containing excessive volatility in the exchange rate, without…

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on Thursday submitted a raft of suggestions to the Lok Sabha Select Committee that is scrutinising the new Income-tax Bill, its president, Charanjot Singh Nanda, said. These include pruning the number of sections in the bill, simplifying the language and reducing the scope for litigations. The institute has suggested that the number of sections in the proposed bill be reduced by 90 to 100 from the current 536, Nanda said. The select committee under BJP leader Baijayant Panda is expected to submit its report by the first day of the next Parliament…

India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in the United States for trade talks and the negotiations have to be watched, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday, as President Donald Trump’s plan to slap reciprocal tariffs looms. “We will have to see how commerce ministry takes up negotiations in the U.S.,” she said at an industry event in Andhra Pradesh state.

The Reserve Bank of India’s net short positions in the dollar forward book may have to be rolled over and more could be added in the longer tenure segment as any unwinding will squeeze rupee liquidity. However, the trading position would impact the market’s view on how much it could erode future foreign exchange reserves, experts said. RBI’s net short positions in the forward book reached a record high of $77.5 billion as of January 31, with the majority of positions in the three-month to one-year tenure at $30.6 billion, central bank data showed. The RBI also did two dollar-rupee…

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved changes to the Rs 3,880 crore Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme to include distribution of high-quality and affordable generic veterinary medicines to farmers. The total budget provided for the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) was Rs 3,880 crore for 2024-25 and 2025-26. “A decision related to livestock health has been taken in the Cabinet. ….High quality medicines will be provided under the pashu aushadhi component of the scheme,” I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed media after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Pashu Aushadhi is new component added to…

The Centre remains steadfast in reducing regulatory burden and enhancing trust-based governance to improve ease of doing business, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. “Through the budget announcements, we are taking various steps in making India a seamless, export-friendly economy, one where businesses are free to focus on innovation and expansion, and not paperwork and penalties,” she said, addressing a post-budget webinar titled ‘Making India Investment Friendly’. Decriminalisation of business-related laws reduces the legal risk, allowing industry to operate with greater confidence, Sitharaman said. More than 42,000 compliance requirements have already been removed, and over 3,700 legal provisions have been…

Imposition of high tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada by the US is expected to help Indian exporters in increasing their shipments to the American market, experts say. They added that sectors which can be benefited include agriculture, engineering, machine tools, garments, textiles, chemicals, and leather. India was the fourth-largest gainer when the US imposed higher duties on Chinese goods during US President Donald Trump’s first tenure. The Trump administration is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada and it will take effect on Tuesday. The US has also doubled the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20…

India and the European Union (EU) have resolved to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year. As negotiations progress, key elements of New Delhi’s trade relationship with Brussels are under discussion. Trade Figures The EU is India’s second-largest trading partner. Over the past few years, India’s export and import trends with the EU have fluctuated significantly: FY21: Exports stood at $41.3 billion, while imports were $39.7 billion. FY22: Exports rose to $64.9 billion, and imports reached $51.4 billion. FY23: Exports surged to $74.8 billion, with imports at $61 billion. FY24: Exports slightly increased to $75.9…

NITI Aayog on Monday said 27 million women were monitoring their credit, marking a 42% increase from the previous year, signaling growing financial awareness, citing a report published by TransUnion CIBIL, Women Entrepreneurship Platform’s (WEP) of NITI Aayog and MicroSave Consulting (MSC). According to the statement issued by the Aayog, the report titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story” highlights that women’s share of the total self-monitoring base increased to 19.43% in December 2024, up from 17.89% in 2023. “More women from non-metro regions are actively self-monitoring their credit compared to those in metro areas,…

Pune: Anticipated above normal temperatures in March through May summer is likely to adversely affect India’s wheat crop. Inflation in wheat has remained high for the past four years mainly due to the adverse impact of weather conditions. After having witnessed the hottest February on record in 125 years, the Met department (IMD) has forecast above normal maximum and minimum temperatures over most parts of the country from March to April 2025. The number of heat waves in March, which is crucial for the grain formation stage of wheat, is also expected to go up. “Above normal heat wave days…

Anticipated above normal temperatures in March through May summer is likely to adversely affect India’s wheat crop. Inflation in wheat has remained high for the past four years mainly due to the adverse impact of weather conditions. After having witnessed the hottest February on record in 125 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above normal maximum and minimum temperatures over most parts of the country from March to April 2025. The number of heat waves in March, which is crucial for the grain formation stage of wheat, is also expected to go up. “Above normal heat wave days…

India and the EU are aiming to finalize a free trade agreement by the end of the year. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic held talks in Mumbai to push for a balanced and mutually beneficial deal. The next round of negotiations is set for March 10-14 in Brussels.

Gross GST collections grow 9.1 pc to about Rs 1.84 lakh crore in February. GST collections for January reached Rs 1.96 lakh crore, marking a 12.3% increase compared to the same period last year. In December, GST collections stood at Rs 1.77 lakh crore, reflecting a 7.3% year-on-year rise. This was a slowdown from the 8.5% growth recorded in November, attributed to reduced consumption following the festive season. Central GST collections for January were Rs 36,100 crore, while states received Rs 44,900 crore. Integrated GST collections amounted to Rs 1.01 lakh crore, and GST cess collections were reported at Rs…

New Delhi: India’s digital economy is growing at twice the pace of the overall economy and is projected to become one-fifth of the country’s economy by 2029, as per a report by Dutch investment firm Prosus and think tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). According to the ‘State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2025’ report, India ranks as the world’s third most digitised nation, following the United States and China. “India’s digital transformation is rapidly redefining its economy and global standing. The SIDE 2025 report offers valuable insights into how India can leverage its digital strengths…

India’s fiscal deficit for the first 10 months of this fiscal year through December stood at 11.70 lakh crore rupees, or 74.5% of annual estimates, government data showed today. The fiscal deficit widened from 63.6% reported in the comparable year-earlier period. While announcing the federal budget for the next fiscal year that starts April 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revised the fiscal gap target down to 4.8% from 4.9% pegged in this fiscal year’s budget, likely aided by reduced spending on planned capital investments and a larger-than-expected central bank dividend. In the Budget, the government stuck to its fiscal consolidation…

New Delhi: UPI transactions in January surpassed 16.99 billion and the value exceeded Rs 23.48 lakh crore, marking the highest number recorded in any month, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday. For 2023-24, the digital payments landscape has demonstrated remarkable expansion, the finance ministry said in a statement. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) remains the cornerstone of India’s digital payment ecosystem, contributing to 80 per cent of the retail payments across the country, it said. The total transaction volume exceeded 131 billion and the value exceeded Rs 200 lakh crore for the 2023-24. Its ease of use, combined with a growing…

GST collections, gross and net, achieved robust double-digit growth of 12.3 per cent and 10.9 per cent respectively in January 2025, as compared to subdued growth of 7.3 per cent and 3.3 per cent in December 2024, according to NCAER monthly review. PMI for manufacturing increased to 57.7 in January, signalling expansion while PMI for services remained at an elevated level of 56.5. NCAER Director General Dr Poonam Gupta said, “Moderation in inflation (headline inflation to 4.3 per cent) has opened up more policy space. The agriculture sector is also exhibiting much-needed resilience, which bodes well for both inflation control…

New Delhi: India’s space economy is set to grow fivefold to $44 billion in the next decade, with private investments already crossing ₹1,000 crore, union minister of state for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday. “Missions like Gaganyaan and applications in border security showcase India’s self-reliance, proving that the world now looks to us as a leader in space technology,” said Singh at the ETNOW.in Business Conclave & Awards 2025. The conclave deliberated on India’s road map to Viksit Bharat. Emphasising the importance of border security and infra, Arunachal Pradesh Governor KT Parnaik pointed to challenges from China…

The UK on Wednesday said its Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson announced 17 new export and investment deals during their visits to India this week. It also said that New Delhi’s recent Union budget drives more opportunity for British insurance companies to expand their presence in India. British insurance companies in particular have gained more potential to expand in India following the recent Indian budget, which increased the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) permitted in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent, a readout by the UK said. The UK has…

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has implemented new rules requiring business trusts to file income distribution statements by June 15. Updated forms necessitate separate disclosures of dividend income and capital gains for business and investment funds, impacting REITs, InvITs, AIFs, and ARC trusts.

The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has urged the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan not to sell soybean before 15th July so that soybean sowing is not affected adversely because of very low soybean prices In its representation to the government, SOPA has said that NAFED, one of the agencies, which has procured soybean from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme of the government, is going to start selling the soybean in the open market from March 3 onwards. The current mandi price of soybean ranges between Rs 3900 to Rs 4100 per…

The Indian electronics and electrical industry should look at increasing exports to $100 billion over the next 5-7 years and shun protectionism while prioritising consumer interests, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Monday. The export volume of electronic goods ranks second in the country against 167th in 2015, he said at an event organised by Indian Electrical And Electronics Manufacturer’s Association.

A sharp slowdown in India’s manufacturing sector – a key driver of job creation – was a major factor in the monetary policy committee’s (MPC) decision to cut the key repo rate earlier this month, an external member told Reuters. “In particular, there was a concern about the weaknesses of the manufacturing sector, which is important for job creation, due to subdued urban consumption and slow growth of private investments,” Nagesh Kumar said on Friday, adding the views were his own and not those of the committee. “The challenging global economic environment with threat of major trade wars erupting also…

Mumbai: The Reserve Banks of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may deliver interest rate cuts in a measured way and raise liquidity, but it is unlikely to shift its monetary stance from neutral to accommodative as it weighs the implications of the global trade war on financial markets. All members of the MPC said that there is a need to continue with the neutral stance to retain flexibility and to act appropriately as global financial conditions evolve. RBI executive director Rajiv Ranjan also highlighted the subtle change in the wording of the stance to “…a durable alignment of inflation with…

The next round of negotiations for reviewing the India-Asean free trade agreement in goods is expected in April, though the pace of talks is slow, an official said. A free trade agreement in goods between India and the 10-nation bloc ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was signed in 2009. The ASEAN trade deal came into force in January 2010. In August 2023, both sides announced a complete review of the existing agreement in goods by 2025. “The pace of talks is slow,” the official said. ASEAN as a group is India’s one of major trade partners with about 11…

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said the government is working out measures to ensure that farmers do not have to sell their produces, especially fruits and vegetables, at throwaway prices. Speaking after inaugurating the ‘Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela’ 2025 — being held in the national capital from February 22-24 — he emphasised the need to take new seeds varieties and farm technologies from labs to agriculture filed at the earliest. Chouhan said the government is holding discussions with farmers directly as well as through their organisations to understand the problems and then making schemes to address the…

India’s economic growth is expected to pick up momentum in the third quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (Q3FY25), with GDP growth estimated at 6.2 per cent, up from 5.4 per cent in the second quarter (Q2FY25), according to a report by Union Bank of India.The report highlighted that the negative gap between GDP and Gross Value Added (GVA) growth, which was observed in the first half of FY25 (H1-FY25), is likely to have neutralized in Q3FY25. It said “We estimate Q3FY25 GDP growth rate to mark an uptick to 6.2 per cent (5.4 per cent in Q2FY25), as the…

MUMBAI: Financial entities have a duty to ensure that customers fully understand the risks associated with leveraged products and speculative investing. Entities also need to shoulder part of the responsibility to educate consumers as it is not only the responsibility of regulators, Reserve Bank of India (RBl) deputy governor Rajeshwar Rao said at a conference by the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).Rao, who oversees crucial departments of regulation, risk monitoring and enforcement since 2020, said though technology and digital innovations drive financial inclusion, they also bring with them the risk of excessive exposure…

A significant 70% rainfall deficit, combined with temperatures unusual for this time of the year, has put a big question mark over India’s winter crop output this year, ToI’s Neha Madaan reported on February 21. Wheat farmers in the northern regions could be staring at a sharp decline in rabi production, the report said.Typically, this weather pattern only emerges after Holi, but this year it seems to have arrived 20-30 days early. An official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that from January 1 to February 20, 2025, the nation has recorded only 9.8mm of rainfall, starkly lower than…

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools to predict future outcomes, spot abnormal activities, and manage risks in a fast changing financial landscape.Besides catching hints of asset bubbles and sensing early signs of market disruptions by analysing patterns from historical data, macroeconomic numbers, and market behaviour, AI and ML models may come handy in ‘stress testing’ of banks. It could help regulators to be better positioned in ensuring that banks have enough capital to absorb shocks from slowing economy and plunging markets. The regulator is revamping its standing committee of…

India’s Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran’s term has been extended by two years until March 2027, according to a government order seen by Reuters.

India could consider raising goods and service tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products once it stops levying a compensation cess on these items.Cigarettes and other tobacco products currently face GST of 28% besides the cess and other levies, taking the total indirect tax to 53%. One of the suggestions being explored is to raise the GST to the highest permissible 40% and top that with an additional excise duty. The idea is to ensure that the tax revenue on these products does not fall once levying of the compensation cess ends, now scheduled for March 31, 2026. The government…

US President Donald Trump has said that he made it clear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India will not be spared from Washington’s reciprocal tariffs, emphasising that “nobody can argue with me” on tariff structure. Trump made these remarks during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity recently. Fox News aired a joint television interview with President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday night. On February 13, hours before Prime Minister Modi’s bilateral meeting with Trump in the White House, the US President announced reciprocal tariffs. Under the plan, the Trump administration “will work strenuously to counter non-reciprocal…

New Delhi: The Indian economy likely grew by 6.4% in the third quarter of the current fiscal, driven by government spending, rating agency ICRA said on Tuesday. Bank of Baroda has projected a growth rate of 6.6%.These projections come ahead of government data on gross domestic product (GDP) estimates for the third quarter of FY25, scheduled to be released next week. In the third quarter of the previous fiscal, the economy had expanded by 8.6%. “India’s economic performance in the third quarter benefitted from a sharp ramp-up in aggregate government spending (Centre plus state) on capital and revenue expenditure, high…

India needs to allow the export of 100% broken rice after inventories of the grain reached a record high at the start of February, nearly nine times the government’s target, exporters told Reuters. Exports of 100% broken rice could help reduce stocks in the world’s biggest exporter and enable poor African countries to secure the grain at lower prices, as well as support Asian animal feed and ethanol producers that rely on the grade. “The government has way more rice than needed, so there’s no issue with supply. Given that, they should allow exports of 100% broken rice,” said B.V.…

The ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) is looking to utilise citizen-generated data (CGD) to monitor sustainable development goals (SDGs), it said on Monday. CGD is an important tool for addressing data gaps and promoting inclusivity, the ministry said.At a workshop organised by the ministry, Saurabh Garg, secretary, MoSPI, noted India’s engagement in participatory planning processes, social auditing and the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). He also acknowledged the challenges associated with harnessing citizen contribution to data, such as subjectivity, representativeness, privacy and security, scalability and sustainability. The workshop explored the relevance of the Copenhagen framework…

India on Monday vowed to buy more industrial goods from the United States, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s U.S. visit, while data showed the South Asian country’s merchandise trade deficit stood at $22.99 billion in January, in line with expectations. Economists had estimated the January trade deficit to be $22.35 billion, according to a Reuters poll. Also Read: India’s trade deficit widens to $23 billion in January Merchandise exports in January stood at $36.43 billion compared with $38.01 billion in December 2024. The imports for the month were $59.42 billion, while they were at $59.95 billion the month prior.…

NEW DELHI: Indian manufacturers are witnessing a rise in quality awareness, with the automotive and chemicals sectors leading the adoption of global certifications and quality protocols, according to a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).Other sectors, including capital goods and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), are also aligning with international benchmarks to boost exports and revenue growth, said the CII Manufacturing Competitiveness Study titled ‘Raising the Standard: Quality Transformation of Indian Manufacturing’. “Quality represents much more than product reliability or customer satisfaction; it is a strategic differentiator that has the power to shape India’s competitive positioning worldwide,” said Chandrajit…

The announcement to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US has boosted business confidence in both countries, as it can help further strengthen economic ties by leveraging their competitive strengths, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. During the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, India and the US announced to more than double the two-way commerce to USD 500 billion by 2030 and negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025. “The Prime Minister has brought back with him an agreement or…

BJP MP Baijayant Panda will lead the 31-member Select Committee tasked with reviewing the Income-Tax Bill introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The bill seeks to replace the existing Income Tax Act of 1961, aiming to simplify tax laws and provide greater clarity on tax-related matters. It was introduced by Sitharaman on Thursday and referred to the Lok Sabha select committee for further examination. The committee comprises 31 MPs: 14 from the ruling BJP, six from Congress, two from Samajwadi Party, and one each from TMC, DMK, TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), Shiv Sena, RSP, and Zoram People’s…

India’s inflation is expected to average around 4.8 per cent in 2025. According to a report by Centrum Institutional Research, the recent decline in consumer price inflation (CPI) for January could provide the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with enough room for another 25 basis points (bps) rate cut in the near future. “We expect inflation to average 4.8 per cent in FY25. This sharp slowdown in inflation will provide RBI enough room for another 25bps rate cut,” the report said. According to the report, last month’s drop in inflation was primarily due to a fall in food prices, especially…

New Delhi: India and the United States are looking to negotiate the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall this year. The deal will focus on increased market access and reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers for goods and services to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion a year by 2030 as part of ‘Mission 500’.The proposed deal, which would also focus on deepening supply chain integration, is among the key commitments Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump highlighted in a joint statement after their summit in Washington. The two leaders also…

The much awaited new income-tax bill has been tabled before the Lok Sabha and is likely to be implemented from 1 April 2026 once it receives necessary approvals. As highlighted by the Finance Minister in her budget speech earlier this month on 1st February, the new income-tax bill is expected to be clear and direct and easy to understand for both the taxpayers and the tax authorities. This aims to reduce litigation and enhance tax certainty by trusting the taxpayers.While the new income-tax bill is not expected to bring in any major changes in terms of provisions of law, monetary…

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday warned of 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they “play games with the dollar,” referring to discussions around non-dollar trade mechanisms. While Trump targeted Brazil, Russia, India, and China, sources clarified that BRICS has no proposal for a single currency, focusing instead on bilateral trade in national currencies.

Amid tariff crackdown by US President Donald Trump targeting several countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington DC on Thursday for his two-day visit to the US where he will hold bilateral talks with Trump. The fact that India has so far escaped Trump tariffs and PM Modi is meeting Trump within a month of his presidency underlines significance of India-US ties as well as Modi-Trump relationship. Yet, Trump is expected to drive a hard bargain with PM Modi while Modi is said to be prepared to negotiate a trade deal which will shield India from Trump tariffs. Also…

India’s electronics industry is pushing the government to further enhance trade ties with the US and boost bilateral trade to $750 billion by 2032 including $100 billion worth of electronics by leveraging existing policies and incentive frameworks. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump this week, the electronics industry said policy measures such as Press Note 3 and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have created strong opportunities for US firms to participate in the Indian market in a non-Chinese supply chain environment. Separately, it sought reciprocity from the US through favourable trade concessions, deeper technology…

India’s palm oil imports in January fell to their lowest in nearly 14 years as refiners turned to cheaper soyoil, driven by negative refining margins for palm oil, a leading trade body said on Wednesday. Lower palm oil imports by India, the world’s biggest buyer of vegetable oils, are likely to weigh on benchmark Malaysian palm oil prices and support U.S. soyoil futures. Palm oil imports in January fell 45% from December to 275,241 metric tons, the lowest since March 2011, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) said. India imported an average of more than 750,000 tons of palm…

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, India slashed customs duties on a range of products as Washington ratchets up threats of reciprocal tariffs. In the first round, the new Trump administration imposed tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada. Trump also said he will levy a 25% tariff on metal imports. Threat of action against India looms large as Trump has frequently called India a ‘Tariff King’. In a proactive move that could help reduce the risk, India’s February 1 budget reduced duties on fish hydrolysate for the manufacture of aquatic feed, specific waste and scrap items,…

Risks are higher for emerging Asian economies such as India and Thailand from Trump’s retaliatory tariffs but they are exploring options to strike a deal with the US, financial services firm Nomura said Tuesday. After imposing 10% tariffs on China and threatening to implement 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from all countries, US President Donald Trump has said that he will announce reciprocal tariffs on US imports from other countries this week. Nomura said that the imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the US could end up hurting emerging Asia including India, China and Thailand more than developed…

New Delhi, The agriculture ministry has revised guidelines for Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), increasing the procurement limit of crops to 25 per cent from 20 per cent. The guidelines has been revised to encourage states to implement the MIS. According to an official statement on Monday, MIS is a component of PM-AASHA scheme. The MIS is implemented on the request of state/UT government for procurement of various perishable agricultural/horticultural commodities such as tomato, onion and potato, etc, for which minimum support price (MSP) is not applicable and there is a reduction of at least 10 per cent in market prices…

For the first time in five years, since the extraordinary Covid-induced rate cuts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) last week voted for a 25 basis points cut in the benchmark repo rate to 6.25%. A slump in GDP growth rate, softening inflation and low urban consumption moved the RBI to cut repo rate.The rate cut, neatly dovetailing into the largest tax cuts in history announced less than a week before in the Union budget, is expected to help lower financing costs for homes, cars, or other discretionary purchases for common people. However, after the…

MUMBAI: Friday’s rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India is expected to take several months to fully reflect on lending and deposit rates, because of a liquidity deficit faced by banks, stiff competition for deposits and the resultant high cost of funds.While the rate cut is intended to ease financial conditions, experts suggest the broader effect on the banking system – particularly on loans linked to the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) and deposits – will not be immediate, although repo-linked borrowers have immediately benefited. “The transmission of Friday’s cut to bank lending rates for new loans…

New Delhi: India’s total trade is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4 per cent through 2033, reaching USD 1.8 trillion annually, according to a BCG report. A major factor fueling this surge is India’s growing appeal as a production hub for companies looking to diversify supply chains beyond China. The government’s substantial incentives for manufacturing, a vast low-cost workforce, and rapidly improving infrastructure are further strengthening India’s position. As a result, the country is becoming a preferred destination for foreign investment and trade collaborations. India’s trade growth will be geographically diverse. Trade with the…