India’s GDP Growth to Slow to 6.4% in FY27 Amid Geopolitical Headwinds: UN Report
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific projects India’s GDP growth will decelerate to 6.4% in FY27, down from 7.4% in FY26, before modestly rising to 6.6% in FY28. Inflation is expected to climb to 4.4% in FY27, still within the RBI’s 2‑6% tolerance band. The outlook aligns with forecasts from the Indian government, RBI, ADB and the World Bank. Geopolitical tensions in West Asia and higher energy and food prices are identified as the main headwinds.
India, South Korea Working to Double Bilateral Trade by 2030: Piyush Goyal
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal announced a dedicated South Korean industrial township and a $6 billion steel plant in Odisha as part of 16 new MoUs, aiming to double bilateral trade with South Korea to $54 billion by 2030. The two governments...
India's Core Sector Contracts 0.4% in March, Hurt by West Asia Conflict
India’s core infrastructure sector slipped 0.4% year‑on‑year in March, its weakest performance in nearly two years, as the West Asia war disrupted supply chains. Output fell sharply in energy‑intensive industries, with crude oil down 5.7%, coal 4% and fertiliser plunging...
Govt Doubles Down on Wheat Exports, Clears Extra 2.5 Million Tonnes
The Indian government approved an additional 2.5 million metric tonnes of wheat for export, raising the total wheat export quota to 5 million tonnes and wheat‑product quota to 1 million tonnes. The move follows a robust production outlook—120 million tonnes projected for 2025‑26 and...
The Week in Charts: IMF Growth Forecast, Inflation Climbs, TCS Payout, RBI Penalties
India slipped to sixth place in the IMF’s nominal GDP ranking for FY25‑26 and FY26‑27, falling behind the United Kingdom after a base‑year revision to 2022‑23 trimmed earlier over‑estimates. Retail inflation accelerated in March, spurred by higher fuel and food...
India, Austria Launch Fast-Track Investment Mechanism; Flag India-EU FTA as Key Trade Driver
India and Austria have operationalised a bilateral fast‑track mechanism (FTM) to accelerate investment approvals and resolve business disputes promptly. The launch, announced during Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker’s first official visit in over 40 years, underscores the strategic importance of the...
India to Continue Buying Russian Crude, LPG Despite End of US Sanctions Waiver
India’s major refiners have secured roughly 800,000 tonnes of LPG from Russia, Australia and the United States and are now negotiating additional imports. The United States’ one‑month waiver on sanctions for Russian crude and LPG has expired, but officials say India...
Europe to Face Fuel Shortage? Energy Agency Head Warns ‘Maybe 6 Weeks of Jet Fuel Left’ — Here's All We...
IEA executive Fatih Birol warned that Europe may have only six weeks of jet fuel left as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by Iran. The closure, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, is already tightening supplies of...
Oil Prices Trade Subdued Amid Fragile Ceasefire, Peace Deal Hopes
Oil prices edged lower on Thursday as Brent slipped to $94.68 and WTI to $90.96, reflecting a modest 0.26% and 0.36% decline respectively. Market sentiment was tempered by optimism over a cease‑fire expected to hold through 21 April and renewed Iran‑US...
India’s Unemployment Rate Edges up to 5.1% in March as Urban Joblessness Rises
India’s overall unemployment rate edged up to 5.1% in March 2026, driven by a rise in urban joblessness that reached 6.8%—a 0.2‑point increase from February. Rural unemployment remained virtually flat at 4.3%. The Periodic Labour Force Survey also showed a...
India’s March Trade Deficit Narrows to $20.67 Billion on Year
India’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $20.67 billion in March 2026, driven by a sharper decline in imports than exports. Exports fell 7.4% to $38.92 billion, while imports dropped 6.5% to $59.59 billion, easing the gap. Including services, the overall trade deficit contracted...
India’s Wholesale Inflation Rises to 3.88% in March, Highest in over 3 Years on Fuel, Metal Costs
India’s wholesale price index (WPI) jumped to 3.88% in March, the strongest reading in over three years, driven by sharp increases in crude petroleum, natural gas, and basic metals. Primary‑article inflation surged to 6.36%, while manufactured‑goods inflation rose to 3.39%,...
PNG vs LPG: What Are the Differences? Which Is More Affordable and Offers Uninterrupted Supply? FAQs Answered
The Indian government issued a new order on 12 April to accelerate piped natural gas (PNG) network expansion, while a 24 March mandate forces LPG‑cylinder users to switch to PNG when a connection becomes available, invalidating LPG after 90 days of non‑compliance. PNG...
Mint Explainer: Why Govt Wants Stricter Gold Hallmarking and What Will Change for Buyers
The Indian government will tighten gold hallmarking by requiring each jewellery piece to carry a distinct, non‑reusable Hallmarked Unique ID (HUID) linked to photographs, weight and dimensions. The Bureau of Indian Standards will mandate jewellers upload this data at the...
India's Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% in March
India’s retail consumer price index rose to 3.4% in March, up from 3.21% in February, aligning with the consensus forecast of 16 economists. The increase was driven by higher food prices, which jumped to 3.87%, and a surge in energy...