India Must Pursue Value-Driven Critical Minerals Diplomacy in Africa
The recent Strait of Hormuz disruption highlighted India’s vulnerability to energy chokepoints and underscored the need for a resilient critical‑minerals supply chain. A forthcoming CSEP paper proposes a value‑driven diplomacy with Africa, focusing on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania to secure copper, lithium and battery‑grade resources. The strategy emphasizes joint geological mapping, ESG‑compliant mining, technology transfer and workforce development rather than mere ore purchases. By embedding partnerships in processing and green industrialisation, India aims to diversify inputs for its clean‑energy transition while offering African nations an alternative to Chinese dominance.
Rules Finalised, Rollout of All 4 Labour Codes Likely in April
The Indian government has finalized the rule‑making process for its four consolidated labour codes and is set to notify them in April 2026. Introduced in November 2025, the Code on Wages, Social Security, Industrial Relations and Occupational Safety, Health and...
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to Visit Canada in May for Trade Talks
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Canada in May 2026 to head a high‑level business delegation. The visit follows the launch of comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) negotiations on March 2, 2026, and aims to accelerate the...
India Sends 38,000 MT Petroleum to Sri Lanka Amid Global Energy Crisis
India shipped 38,000 metric tonnes of petroleum—20,000 tonnes of diesel and 18,000 tonnes of petrol—to Sri Lanka after a call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. The shipment arrived in Colombo on 28 March 2026, providing...
Finance Ministry Flags Rising External Risks as Trade Deficit and CAD Expand
India’s external sector is under strain as merchandise exports slipped 0.8% year‑on‑year while imports surged 24.1%, driven largely by gold and silver purchases. The trade deficit more than doubled to roughly $27.1 billion in February 2026, widening the current‑account gap to...
Reliance SEZ Export Duty Clarity Key Under India's Fuel Tax Rejig: Analysts
India introduced export duties of about $0.26 per litre on diesel and $0.36 per litre on aviation turbine fuel, while cutting excise duty on petrol and diesel by roughly $0.12 per litre. The new regime leaves the status of Reliance...
India's Economic Ties with Azerbaijan Improve Despite Political Drift
India’s outbound investments to Azerbaijan surged in 2025, reaching $56.0 million, a 29.8% increase over the prior year. Cumulative Indian capital in Azerbaijan has climbed from $480 million in 2016 to $1.26 billion by mid‑2025, reflecting a decade‑long expansion. While Azerbaijan assisted in...
India Supports Draft WTO Fish Declaration, Says Subsidised Industrial Fleets Cause Overfishing
India backed the WTO’s draft decision to keep negotiating fisheries‑subsidy rules, arguing that heavily subsidised industrial fleets drive overcapacity and overfishing. The draft calls for comprehensive discipline on such subsidies and includes special and differential treatment for developing countries. Commerce...
In Hawala Universe, It's a Partial Eclipse of Dollar
India's informal hawala market is trading the dollar‑rupee pair at a 1‑2% discount to the official rate, a rare reversal of the usual 2% premium. The shift stems from reduced gold smuggling out of Dubai, fewer Gulf‑bound travelers, and broader...
Press Note 3 of 2020 Amendment Provides for Beneficial Ownership Definition: Govt to Parliament
The government amended Press Note 3 of 2020 to define beneficial ownership for investors from countries sharing a land border with India, allowing them up to 10% equity via the automatic route and a 60‑day approval window. Foreign direct investment reached a...
WTO's Dispute Settlement System Should Be Fully Functional, Says Piyush Goyal
India urged WTO members to restore a fully functional dispute settlement system, warning that the current paralysis deprives nations of effective redress. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also called for a careful review of the ongoing moratorium on customs duties for...
India Holds Bilateral Meetings with EU, Russia, NZ, Others on MC14 Sidelines
India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal conducted bilateral meetings with delegations from the EU, Russia, New Zealand, Peru and Mexico on the sidelines of the WTO’s 14th ministerial conference. The talks reviewed progress on the recently concluded India‑EU free trade agreement and...
West Asia Conflict to Strain India's FY27 Fiscal Math, Says ICRA
India’s FY 2027 budget faces heightened pressure as the West Asia conflict drives global crude oil to $157 a barrel and natural‑gas prices to $22 per MMBtu, more than double pre‑crisis levels. Higher energy costs are expected to lift fertilizer and...
'Every War Has Collateral Impact, There Are Difficulties': Union Minister Piyush Goyal
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal warned that the ongoing global war, while not involving India directly, creates collateral trade difficulties for the country. He highlighted India’s aggressive trade‑diplomacy, noting free‑trade agreements with 38 developed nations that grant preferential...
India Can Mobilise Rs 8 Lakh Cr per Year for Road Projects: Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that India can mobilise up to Rs 8 lakh crore (≈ $96 billion) annually for road projects, combining roughly $60 billion from market issuances and $39 billion in budget support. He highlighted a 1:3 economic multiplier, noting that every rupee spent on...
Israel, Iran War: Goldman Sachs Slashes India Growth Forecast, Warns Currency Strain Will Force Rate Hike
Goldman Sachs trimmed its 2026 Indian growth outlook to 5.9%, down from a pre‑war 7% estimate, citing higher oil prices and prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. The bank now projects inflation at 4.6% and expects the Reserve Bank...
From India to Italy, Trump’s Iran War Is Rippling Through the World Economy
The US‑Israel war in Iran has sent oil, gas, aluminum and fertilizer prices sharply higher, pushing global inflation expectations upward. Elevated energy costs are already biting manufacturers, farmers and freight carriers from India to Italy, while the conflict has forced...
‘Outlook Has Grown More Daunting’: Moody’s Warns on Asia-Pacific Growth, Sees Slowdown to 4% in 2026 Amid Heightened Middle East...
Moody’s projects Asia‑Pacific GDP growth slowing to 4 % in 2026 and 3.6 % in 2027, down from 4.3 % in 2025. The downgrade reflects surging commodity prices from the Middle‑East conflict and lingering U.S. tariff uncertainty. Export performance remains resilient, driven by...
Sitharaman to Move Finance Bill 2026 and Corporate Laws Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha Today
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce the Finance Bill 2026 and the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Lok Sabha during the second phase of the budget session. The Finance Bill will operationalise the government’s fiscal proposals for FY 2026‑27, while...
India, EU Step up Engagement to Fast-Track Trade, Tech Talks
India and the European Union are accelerating post‑summit engagement through a series of high‑level visits and ministerial meetings. An 11‑member European Parliament delegation will travel to India, while senior officials will hold Indo‑Pacific consultations in May on maritime security and...
Fresh Family Income Survey Likely Ahead of CPI-IW Update
The Ministry of Labour and Employment plans a fresh Working Class Family Income and Expenditure Survey, the first in a decade, to support a base‑year update of the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI‑IW) to 2025. The survey will...
India, 39 Others Raise Concerns over China-Led Investment Pact Proposal
Around 40 countries, including India and Turkey, have lodged objections to a China‑led Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) proposal at the WTO ministerial meeting. Proponents aim to adopt the framework as a plurilateral agreement at the MC14 in Cameroon, arguing...
As Iran War Disrupts the Gulf, India's Growth Story Faces New Risks
India’s rapid economic rise is now threatened by the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, which jeopardizes the Gulf’s oil and gas supplies that account for 40 % of its oil and 80 % of its gas imports. Disruptions to export routes and a...
Nepal Poll Verdict a Chance to Reset India Ties After Lean Phase: Ex-PM Bhattarai
Former Nepalese prime minister Baburam Bhattarai says the recent general election, which delivered a landslide victory to rapper‑turned‑politician Balendra Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party, marks a political reset for Nepal. He argues the new mandate offers a chance to revive India‑Nepal...
Urban Boom: Telangana to Surpass National Average by Decade, Says Socio Economic Outlook
Telangana is projected to have an urban population exceeding 50% by 2026, far above the national average of 36%, and to reach 57.6% (about 2.3 crore people) by 2036. The state’s Socio‑Economic Outlook describes this as a historic urban transition that...
Spice Exporters Brace for Tough Times as US Buyers Stay Away
Indian spice exporters are confronting a sudden halt in US buyer outreach after the Iran war erupted, threatening a $500 million annual trade stream. The suspension of early‑year call‑ons has stalled order flow, while soaring freight, insurance and war‑risk surcharges inflate...
Govt Amends Norms for Exporters Availing the Interest Subvention Support
India revised the interest subvention rules for export credit effective Jan 2, 2026. The benefit now ceases when a loan is classified as a non‑performing asset and the Unique Identification Number cannot be transferred to another bank. Exporters must keep total...
ICAR–IVRI Achieves Breakthrough in Sahiwal Breeding Using Advanced Reproductive Technologies
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR‑IVRI) has produced the first indigenous Sahiwal calves using ultrasound‑guided ovum pick‑up, in‑vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (OPU‑IVF‑ET). Within five days in February‑March 2026, five healthy calves were born from a...
Anti Dumping Duty Suggested on Spandex, Raw Material for Foam Imported From China, Vietnam
India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies has recommended five‑year anti‑dumping duties on spandex and flexible slabstock polyol imported from China and Vietnam. The spandex levy ranges from $794 to $2,033 per metric tonne, while polyol duties are set between $72...
New Income Tax Act 2025 to Prioritize Simplicity and Stakeholder Engagement, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman
India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Income Tax Act 2025, which will replace the 1961 law on April 1 2026. The new act trims the text from 5.12 lakh words and 819 sections to 2.6 lakh words and 536 sections, aiming for clearer rules...
Government Unveils Rs 20000 Crore Credit Guarantee Plan for MFIs
The Indian government announced a Rs 20,000 crore credit guarantee scheme aimed at micro‑finance institutions (MFIs) to alleviate liquidity pressures. The programme applies to all bank‑sanctioned loans up to June 30, 2026 and imposes a 2 % rate ceiling above the marginal cost of funds....
No Severe Shocks Despite Crises, Says Sitharaman as She Highlights India's Economic Strength
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha that India’s economy has withstood the pandemic, supply‑chain strains, the Russia‑Ukraine war, and the current West Asia conflict without severe shocks. She highlighted the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2026, which adds...
Health Insurance Priority for Government, to Cover All by 2033: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that India aims for universal health‑insurance coverage by 2033, building on a market that insured 58 crore lives in FY 2024‑25. The sector’s premium volume hit Rs 1,17,505 crore, with public, private and standalone insurers contributing roughly equally. Recent regulatory...
Oil Shock: Panel Urges Finance Ministry to Craft Strategic Energy Mitigation Framework
India’s parliamentary panel urged the Department of Economic Affairs to develop a strategic energy mitigation framework to shield the economy from oil price volatility. The report highlighted the need for a coordinated national strategy on critical minerals, calling for diversified...
Pensioners’ Demands Echoed: Parliamentary Panel Seeks Hike in Minimum EPS Payout, Say Rs 1000 Insufficient
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has urged an urgent review of the Employees’ Pension Scheme’s Rs 1,000 minimum payout, which pensioners say is far below living costs. Protesters in Delhi are demanding the floor be raised to Rs 7,500 per month....
India’s Wholesale Inflation Hits 11-Month High of 2.13% in February
India’s Wholesale Price Index rose to 2.13 % in February, the highest level in 11 months, up from 1.81 % in January. The increase was driven primarily by higher prices for manufactured goods, basic metals, food articles and textiles. Primary articles saw...
New Labour Codes to Drive Wider Adoption of Fixed-Term Employment: Report
A Genius HRTech survey of 1,459 Indian firms shows 75 percent anticipate a surge in structured fixed‑term employment as the country’s new labour codes take effect. Only 40 percent say they are fully ready to implement the four consolidated codes, while 46 percent have...
Iran-US-Israel War May Cause Short-Term Economic Shortfall in India, Says Piyush Goyal
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India’s economy remains resilient despite the Iran‑US‑Israel war, though a short‑term dip in activity is expected. He cited strong fundamentals and a projected 7%‑plus growth rate for the next fiscal year. State Bank of...
India, UK Trade Pact May Come Into Effect in One Month From Now: Piyush Goyal
India and the United Kingdom are set to bring their Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) into force by mid‑April, just a month after the announcement. The deal grants duty‑free access for 99% of Indian exports to the UK market...
India’s Imports From China Slowed Overtime, Exports Grow Faster: Govt Tells Parliament
India’s imports from China have decelerated sharply, rising only 87.8% in FY2015‑25 versus a 618% surge in FY2005‑14, while exports to China accelerated to a 38.3% year‑on‑year gain in April‑January FY2024‑25 compared with a 13.8% import rise. The slowdown is...
India’s Forex Reserves Fall $11.68 Billion to $716.81 Billion, Biggest Drop in over a Year
India’s foreign‑exchange reserves dropped to $716.81 billion for the week ended March 6, a decline of $11.68 billion from the prior week—the steepest fall in more than a year. The Reserve Bank of India sold roughly $6.1 billion of dollars to defend the rupee...
Trust, Trade and the Slow Architecture of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
The India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was unveiled under India’s G20 presidency as a multi‑layered framework linking market access, digital connectivity and risk mitigation. Despite the shock of the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent Iran‑Israel‑U.S. clashes, India has kept the...
Centre Holds Back on Fuel Exports Ban Due to Logistics, Tax Hurdles as West Asia Conflict Rages
India has postponed a full ban on fuel exports despite a supply squeeze triggered by the Iran‑related West Asia conflict. The delay stems from logistical bottlenecks, the risk of breaching existing export contracts, and the need for a tax waiver...
Govt Set to Launch New Version of PM KUSUM Scheme Focusing on Agri Solar PV Component
The Indian government is preparing to launch PM KUSUM 2.0, a revamped version of the 2019 renewable‑energy scheme that will add a dedicated 10 GW agri‑PV component. The original PM KUSUM aimed for 34,800 MW of solar capacity and has already installed over 10 lakh standalone...
Fiscal Deficit as Percentage of GDP Revised Upwards for FY'23 to FY'25 After GDP Base Revision
India’s fiscal‑deficit ratios have been revised upward for FY 2022‑23 to FY 2024‑25 after the government adopted a 2022‑23 GDP base year. The new series shows deficits of 6.7 % in 2022‑23, 5.7 % in 2023‑24 and 4.9 % in 2024‑25, compared with earlier estimates...
India's Exports of Active Pharma Ingredients at Rs 41,500 Cr Surpassed Imports in FY25
India’s active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) market posted a landmark trade balance in FY25, with exports climbing to roughly Rs 41.5 billion while imports lagged at Rs 39.2 billion. The surplus marks the first time the sector has out‑exported its imports, signaling a maturing domestic...
Govt Eases FDI Norms for China, Other Countries Sharing Land Border with India: Sources
India has amended Press Note 3, easing foreign‑investment rules for all nations sharing a land border, including China. The change removes the mandatory pre‑approval requirement for investments from companies with shareholders in these countries, though approval remains required for any sector....
Shipping Cos, Vessel Operators Told to Refrain From Predatory Pricing Amid West Asia Conflict
India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued an advisory urging shipping companies, vessel operators and agents to stop predatory, non‑transparent pricing amid the West Asia conflict. The notice follows complaints from EXIM trade participants about multiple ancillary charges that inflate...
Place Audit Orders in Public Domain to Boost Trust: CIC to NFRA
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) to publish all orders, circulars, and policy decisions affecting audit practices on its website. The recommendation emerged from an RTI appeal concerning auditors' right to legal representation...
India's Shrimp Exports Surge Past Rs 50k Crore Amidst US Tariff Challenges
India’s shrimp exports are projected to exceed Rs 50,000 crore this fiscal, marking a 13‑15 % year‑on‑year rise after three years of stagnation. While shipments to the United States fell 15 %, the sector offset the loss by expanding into Vietnam, the EU and...
