India’s New GDP Series to Dig Deeper Into District Economies
India’s statistical system is overhauling district‑level GDP measurement, shifting from a top‑down allocation model to a bottom‑up approach that uses granular data. The change, driven by the National Statistical Office and state directorates of economics and statistics, will incorporate new surveys such as the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises and the Periodic Labour Force Survey. These enhancements aim to produce more accurate District Domestic Product (DDP) figures, reflecting informal sector activity and local economic shocks. The initiative promises sharper insight into regional disparities for policymakers.
Iran Conflict Could Increase Challenges for Emerging Market Sovereigns: Fitch
Fitch Ratings warns that the ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict could create new credit risks for emerging‑market sovereigns. Disruptions to Gulf oil supplies may push energy import costs higher, strengthening the US dollar and tightening debt markets, especially for speculative‑grade issuers. Countries...
EPFO Budgets 12.4% Rise in 2026-27 Contributions
India’s Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has forecast a 12.4% jump in total contributions for FY 2026‑27, targeting ₹3.80 lakh crore, up from ₹3.38 lakh crore in FY 2025‑26. The increase is driven by the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, which seeks to create...
Centre May Extend Sector & Sponsored Schemes Beyond April 1 Amid Ongoing Review
The Indian government is likely to let central sector and centrally‑sponsored schemes run in their existing format beyond April 1, as ministries have not finished a comprehensive review tied to the Sixteenth Finance Commission. The evaluation, which includes third‑party reports, aims...
MoSPI to Launch New Surveys, Boost High-Frequency Economic Indicators: Saurabh Garg
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has completed base‑year revisions for the CPI and GDP and is now turning to high‑frequency economic indicators. A trial Index of Services Production (ISP) will be released in 2026, supported by a...
Not Going, Bananas: Ramzan Ripe Time for Most-Exported Fruit but Iran War a Spoiler
India’s banana exports, worth roughly ₹3,500 crore annually, are being hit by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockage has stranded 1,500–2,000 containers, valued at up to ₹200 crore, just as Maharashtra ramps up shipments for Ramzan demand across the...
Farm Worries Crop up as Fertiliser Companies Fear a Gas Crunch
India faces a looming gas crunch after Qatar halted LNG production, jeopardising the primary feedstock for urea manufacturing. The country currently holds only about two months of buffer stocks for urea and DAP, and prolonged shortages could force local plants...
WTO Meet: India Pushes Tech Transfer to Boost Developing Nations’ Trade
India has urged developed nations at the WTO ministerial to adopt concrete technology‑transfer measures that would help developing and least‑developed countries access advanced, environmentally‑sound inputs. The proposal highlights export controls on semiconductor chips and rare‑earth minerals, as well as rigid...
India-UK Trade Deal Faces Challenges Amid West Asia Conflict
India and the United Kingdom are set to activate the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) by early April, granting Indian exporters duty‑free access to 99% of the UK market. However, the ongoing West Asia conflict threatens to disrupt shipping...
NDAP Overhaul in Works to Handle Surge in Big Data
India’s National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) will undergo a major revamp as NITI Aayog seeks a private‑sector partner to redesign, operate and hand over the system. The upgrade aims to handle vastly larger data volumes, add advanced analytics and...
India’s Growth Is Structural, Not Cyclical
India’s growth is shifting from cyclical consumption to a structural, investment‑led model, driven by a surge in public capital expenditure that rose from roughly ₹4.4 lakh crore in FY 19 to over ₹11 lakh crore in FY 25. The government has paired this spending with tax stability, massive...
India Starts Countervailing Duty Probe Against Chinese PVC Resins
India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies has opened a counter‑vailing duty investigation into imports of Chinese PVC resins after domestic producers filed complaints. The petitioners, including Chemplast Cuddalore Vinyls, DCM Shriram and DCW Ltd, claim Chinese manufacturers receive government subsidies that enable...
Israel-Iran War to Discourage Investment Into India, Offset Trade Deal Positives: BMI
BMI warns that the Israel‑Iran conflict will increase policy uncertainty and deter foreign investment in India. The firm keeps its FY2026/27 GDP growth forecast at 7 % but flags geopolitical risks that could offset gains from new US and EU trade...
India's Cumulative Exports Rise to $720.76 Billion in Apr-Jan 2025-26, up 6.15%
India’s cumulative exports reached $720.76 billion in April‑January 2025‑26, a 6.15% increase over the same period last year. Services exports surged 10.57% to $354.13 billion, while merchandise categories such as electronics and pharmaceuticals posted broad‑based gains. Defence exports hit a record Rs 23,622 crore,...
India's Godavari Biorefineries to Start Grain-Based Distillery in June Quarter
India’s Godavari Biorefineries will commission a 200 kilolitres‑per‑day grain‑based distillery in the June quarter, adding the ability to switch between sugarcane and corn as feedstock. The move addresses margin pressure from fixed cane payments and volatile sugar prices, while leveraging the...
India Manufacturing Growth Hits Four-Month High in February, PMI Shows
India’s manufacturing PMI climbed to 56.9 in February, the strongest level in four months, driven by a surge in domestic new orders and higher production volumes. Export orders, however, slipped to a 17‑month low as U.S. tariff uncertainty lingered. Input‑cost...
West Asia Tensions May Squeeze Margins in Energy-Intensive Sectors
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are prompting concerns about rising energy costs for Indian firms, especially those in energy‑intensive sectors. While the overall share of power and fuel expenses in corporate cost structures has softened to about 4.3% in...
Iran Conflict Threatens India’s $4.5 Billion Electronics Exports to Gulf via UAE, Hormuz Route Disruptions
India’s electronics and tech exports to the Gulf, valued at $4.5 billion in FY26, face disruption as the Iran‑Israel conflict restricts airspace and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates, the second‑largest buyer, accounted for $4.1 billion of those shipments,...
West Asia Conflict May Spike Dal Prices; Rice Exports to Iran at Risk
The ongoing West Asia conflict is expected to push global pulse prices higher, threatening a rise in dal costs for Indian households. India imports roughly 5‑6 million tonnes of pulses from Myanmar, Canada and Africa, leaving the domestic market vulnerable to...
Uncertainty Looms as Shipping Is Hit, Exporters in Wait and Watch Mode
India’s Directorate General of Shipping issued urgent advisories for seafarers in the Gulf region, urging heightened security drills for Indian‑flagged vessels. Global carrier Maersk announced a repeat avoidance of the Red Sea, rerouting services around the Cape of Good Hope....
GDP Revision May Widen FY27 Fiscal Deficit Ratio, Raise Debt Path Concerns
India's new series GDP data for FY26 shows nominal output ₹345.47 lakh crore, about 3.3% below the budget’s estimate. This revision pushes the FY27 fiscal‑deficit ratio to roughly 4.46% of GDP, up from the projected 4.31%, and lifts the FY27 debt‑to‑GDP ratio...
GDP Revision Trims FY26 Size to ₹345 Lakh Crore; $4 Trillion Mark May Slip
India’s nominal GDP for FY 2025‑26 has been revised down to ₹345 lakh crore, a 3.3 % cut from the earlier ₹357 lakh crore estimate. In dollar terms this puts the economy at roughly $3.79 trillion, postponing the $4 trillion milestone to a later fiscal year. The downgrade...
To Deliver Speed to Exporters Customs Rules Must Be Recast: Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava
Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava urged a fundamental recasting of India’s customs rules to deliver speed and certainty for exporters. He highlighted that expanding trade volumes, deeper global value‑chain integration, and a booming digital commerce ecosystem demand more efficient, transparent procedures....
New Income Tax Regime: Monthly TDS Returns, HRA Tax Rule Recast on Wish List
The Indian government is preparing to shift Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) filing from a quarterly to a monthly cadence as part of the new income‑tax regime slated for April 1. A parallel proposal seeks to overhaul house‑rent allowance (HRA) exemptions,...
India's Gen X Pegged to Consume $500 Billion Worth of Goods, Services by FY30: RedSeer
India’s Generation X is projected to spend over $500 billion on goods and services by FY 30, according to RedSeer. The cohort’s spending will be led by preventive healthcare ($73 billion, 17% CAGR) and nutraceuticals ($20 billion, 25% CAGR). Premiumisation will also drive growth in...
India, Israel FTA: Next Round of Talks in May
India and Israel will reconvene for the next round of free‑trade agreement negotiations in May 2026, following a constructive first round held during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit. The initial talks covered goods, services, digital trade, rules of origin,...
Government Panel Said to Review Future of Key GM Food Crop
India’s ministerial panel will examine field trials of a genetically modified rapeseed (mustard) variety, a step that could reshape the country’s cautious stance on GM food crops. The review comes as the Supreme Court prepares to revisit a pending case...
India Braces for Unusually Hot March that Can Put Key Crops at Risk, Sources Say
India is expected to experience one of its warmest Marches on record, with temperatures projected up to 7 °C above normal in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh. These states produce more than 80 % of the nation’s...
Delhi-Katra Expressway Construction on Track, Will Be Completed by March 2027: NHAI
The National Expressway 5, linking Delhi, Amritsar and Katra, is slated for completion by March 2027 after a slowdown caused by Operation Sindoor and severe flooding. Construction, which began in April 2021, has regained momentum using segmental bridge technology and an elevated 21.5‑km corridor....
Nepal's Soyoil Exports to India Jump Tenfold on Duty Free Access
Nepal's soybean oil exports to India surged more than tenfold in 2025, reaching a record 694,153 metric tons and generating over $1 billion in revenue. The growth was driven by duty‑free access under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement, allowing Nepal...
Unlocking Rs 40 Lakh Crore: Govt's Mega Bet on India's Infra Future
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched NMP 2.0, a second‑phase asset‑monetisation drive that targets over 2,000 public infrastructure assets across 12 ministries. The programme aims to generate Rs 16.7 lakh crore in total proceeds, with Rs 10.8 lakh crore expected between 2025‑26 and 2029‑30. Revenues will be recycled...
Fresh Math for World's Fastest Growing Economy: What's Behind India's GDP Revision and Why It Matters
India will revise its GDP series on Feb 27, moving the base year from 2011‑12 to 2022‑23 to better reflect digital services, renewable energy and post‑pandemic consumption patterns. The overhaul introduces double‑deflation accounting, the Proportional Denton method for quarterly‑annual alignment, and...
India Is Conducting Exercise for Mapping Import Reliance
India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched an exercise to map import reliance by cataloguing goods that lack domestic manufacturing across all ministries. The initiative will compile five‑year public procurement data, targeting the $650 billion import...
Government Allows Export of 25 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat
The Indian government has approved a limited export of 25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and an additional five lakh tonnes of wheat products, despite the overall export ban remaining in force. The decision, taken in January and notified by...
India Overhauls GDP Data to Improve Accuracy, Official Says
India will revamp its real‑GDP calculation by adopting a double‑deflation approach that blends 500‑600 price items from the consumer‑price index and the wholesale‑price index, replacing the earlier 180‑item basket. The new methodology, slated for release on 27 February with a...
India’s Refund Rollback Lands Exporters with a Bigger Bill
India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade has slashed RoDTEP export rebates by 50%, cutting both rates and value caps across all eligible categories. The move raises the effective cost of exporting, especially for price‑sensitive goods such as textiles and raw...
Piyush Goyal Virtually Interacts with Canada Minister Maninder Sidhu, Discusses Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to revive the stalled India‑Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The dialogue coincides with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming visit to India and...
Kazakhstan to Supply Fresh Uranium to India Under New Deal to Fuel Nuclear Power Plants
Kazakhstan’s state‑controlled miner Kazatomprom announced a new contract to supply fresh uranium to India, reinforcing the latter’s nuclear fuel pipeline. The deal follows earlier agreements that delivered 2,100 tonnes in 2009 and 5,000 tonnes between 2015‑19. While exact volumes were...
Govt Plans Study to Assess Impact of Formalisation on Workers
The Indian government has commissioned a study to evaluate how rapid formalisation and digital transformation are affecting workers, especially those in the informal sector. The finance ministry tasked the labour ministry and EPFO to conduct the research through the Pandit...
India-France Tax Shift Threatens P-Note Trade
India is poised to amend its treaty with France, stripping French investors of the capital‑gains exemption for holdings under 10% and raising dividend withholding to 15% for those stakes. The change would also halve the dividend tax to 5% for...
EU-India FTA to Unlock Trade Growth, AI Collaboration and Resilient Supply Chains: Austrian Official
The European Union and India have reached a landmark free‑trade agreement that will slash tariffs on the vast majority of bilateral trade, covering 96.6% of EU exports to India and 99.5% of Indian exports to the EU. Austrian State Secretary...
US Tariffs on India Reset to 15% After Supreme Court Ruling: How Did Duties Swing From 26% to 50% and...
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act cannot be used to impose sweeping global tariffs, forcing the Trump administration to abandon the IEEPA‑based duties on India. Hours later, President Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade...
US-India Trade Marathon Eyes April Finish Line
India and the United States are moving toward an interim trade agreement that is expected to be signed in April, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced. Negotiators will convene in Washington from Feb 23 to finalize the legal text, converting a...
India Sets ₹25,000 Crore Export Engine in Motion as Goyal Launches Plan
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the ₹25,060‑crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a six‑year programme designed to boost outbound shipments and simplify export processes. The initiative consolidates multiple support schemes into a single, digitally driven framework aimed at micro, small...
Pax Silica Pact: India Plugs Into US Tech Alliance to Secure Chips, AI and Critical Minerals
India signed the Pax Silica Declaration at the India AI Impact Summit, formally joining the U.S.-led technology coalition that spans semiconductors, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. The pact reinforces a full‑stack supply‑chain partnership aimed at reducing reliance on hostile or coercive...
Infra Sector Outlook Cautious as Weak Q3 Performance Leads to 4% YoY Contraction: Nuvama Research
India's infrastructure sector posted a 4% year‑on‑year revenue contraction in Q3 FY26, driven by eroding order books, payment delays, prolonged monsoons and construction bans. Average EBITDA margin slipped 40 basis points to 10.1%, while adjusted PAT margin fell to 5.2%....
Labour Codes: Nearly Two Dozen Employer Compliances Listed
India’s labour and employment ministry has issued a handbook detailing nearly two dozen compliance obligations for employers under the four newly‑enforced labour codes. The codes—covering wages, social security, industrial relations, and occupational safety—replaced 29 legacy statutes on 21 November 2025. Obligations are...
India-EU FTA to Open New Avenues for Trade, Investment: PM Modi, Greek Counterpart
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis affirmed that the recently concluded India‑EU Free Trade Agreement will unlock fresh trade and investment opportunities between India and the European Union. The leaders discussed expanding cooperation under the India‑Middle East‑Europe...
India-France to Set up National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Kanpur
India and France announced a joint National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Kanpur to deliver advanced aeronautics and defence skill training. The centre will operate under the PM‑SETU scheme, which earmarks Rs 60,000 crore to modernise 1,000 ITIs across India. It will...
India–US Deal Under Fire as Kisan Bodies Call It ‘Anti-Farmer’, Urge President to Stop It
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has condemned the interim India‑US trade agreement, branding it anti‑farmer and urging President Droupadi Murmu to halt its signing. The coalition demanded the removal of the commerce minister and the IAS officer who signed a...
