Reducing Fertiliser Import Dependence Vital: Jat, Secretary DARE
Secretary M L Jat of India’s Department of Agricultural Research and Education urged a rapid shift toward self‑reliant fertiliser use as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat 2047 vision. India consumes roughly 33 million tonnes of fertiliser each year, with a sizable share imported, prompting a call for precision nutrient management, AI‑driven tools and sensor‑based applications. A proposed Mission Mode Programme, INSAM, aims to replace at least 25% of mineral fertiliser with organic manures within three years, leveraging indigenous minerals, waste‑to‑wealth recycling and biological inputs.
India–US Eye 'Big-Ticket Energy Deals' Soon as PM Modi, Donald Trump Discuss West Asia Crisis
India and the United States are moving toward large‑ticket agreements, especially in energy, after a 40‑minute phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. The leaders reviewed progress in their Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and stressed the...
IMF Raises India's Growth Forecast to 6.5% for FY27
The International Monetary Fund has lifted its forecast for India’s FY27 growth to 6.5%, up from 6.4% in January and 6.2% in October. The revision reflects a strong 2025 performance, a cut in U.S. tariffs to 10%, and offsets the...
WTO Likely to Release India's Trade Policy Review Report in July
The World Trade Organization will publish India’s Trade Policy Review (TPR) in July 2026 after a recent WTO secretariat delegation visited New Delhi. India, a top‑20 global trader, is reviewed every five years under the WTO’s schedule. The review will examine...
IMD Flags Below-Normal Monsoon for 2026; Rainfall Seen at 92% of Long-Term Average
India's India Meteorological Department (IMD) has projected the 2026 southwest monsoon to deliver 92% of the long‑term average rainfall, classifying it as below‑normal. The IMD defines below‑normal as any season falling below 96% of the long‑term average. The shortfall threatens...
India’s March Retail Inflation Quickens to 3.4% as US War on Iran Disrupts Global Trade Flows
India’s retail inflation accelerated to 3.40% in March, up from 3.21% in February, as U.S. naval actions against Iran disrupted global oil flows. The rise was partly driven by higher fuel costs, while gold prices fell about 11% and partially...
India's March Palm Oil Imports Fall 19% to Three-Month Low
India’s palm oil imports slumped 19% in March, falling to 689,462 metric tons—the lowest level since December 2025. The decline was driven by a rally in global tropical oil prices that prompted domestic refiners to delay purchases. Overall edible‑oil imports...
Prolonged War May Hit Rs 75,000 Crore Dividend Target
A prolonged war in West Asia is keeping global commodity prices high, threatening India's fiscal plan to collect a ₹75,000 crore ($9 bn) dividend from central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) this year. State‑run petroleum companies, which supplied a third of the ₹78,438 crore...
Net FDI Inflows Dip, Investors Opting for Mexico, Vietnam
India’s net foreign direct investment turned negative in January 2026, reaching –$1.39 billion as gross inflows fell 6.9% year‑on‑year to about $5.7 billion. Outbound repatriation surged to $4.9 billion, nearly doubling the previous month’s level. Analysts say investors are gravitating toward Mexico, Vietnam...
Coal Imports Fall 8.5% in February Amid High Stockpiles, Firm Global Prices
India’s coal imports dropped 8.5% in February, reaching 16.55 million tonnes, as record domestic stockpiles and firm seaborne prices curbed demand. Non‑coking coal fell to 9.80 MT, while coking coal rose slightly to 3.92 MT. Domestic production rose 4.98% to 1,047.5 MT, keeping power‑plant...
India-UK Free Trade Pact May Come Into Force From Second Week of May: Official
The India‑UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in July 2025, is slated to take effect in the second week of May 2026. The pact grants duty‑free access for 99% of Indian exports to the British market and cuts...
Microplastics in India’s Agriculture: A Growing Problem Demanding Urgent Action
India generates roughly 26 million tons of plastic waste annually, with about 9.3 million tons leaking into the environment and eventually fragmenting into microplastics that infiltrate agricultural soils. A National Academy of Agricultural Sciences study finds 20‑300 microplastic particles per kilogram in...
Piyush Goyal Holds Talks with Saudi Arabia Trade Minister on Stronger Supply Chains
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with Saudi Trade Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi to reinforce supply‑chain links amid disruptions from the West Asia crisis. The dialogue, part of broader talks with UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, highlighted...
Our Fisheries Exports Have Risen From Rs 60,000 Cr to Rs 68,000 Cr After US Tariffs: MoS Baghel
India’s fisheries exports have jumped from roughly Rs 60,000 crore (about $7.2 billion) to Rs 68,000 crore ($8.2 billion), a 25% increase, after the United States imposed new tariffs. Union Minister Satya Pal Singh Baghel announced the growth at the second National Veterinary, Dairy and Fisheries Symposium in Nagpur...
Fuel Shortages From Iran War Threaten Asia’s Biggest Food Staple
The six‑week war in Iran has driven diesel and fertilizer prices sharply higher, choking the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting imports of key agricultural inputs to Southeast Asia. Rice farmers in Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam face doubled or...
RBI Proposes Upper Layer NBFCs to Be Defined by Absolute Asset Size of ₹1 Lakh Crore+
The RBI has proposed a new, simple classification for upper‑layer non‑banking financial companies (NBFC‑UL) based on an absolute asset size of ₹1 lakh crore (about $12 billion). The move comes as Tata Sons, whose assets total roughly ₹1.89 lakh crore ($22.8 billion), seeks to avoid mandatory listing...
Rice Export Rules Relaxed for Select European Countries
India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced that the mandatory inspection certificate for rice exports will apply only to the EU, UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Exports to all other European nations are exempt for a six‑month period, easing...
Wholesale Rice Prices up 7% as West Asia Ceasefire Fuels Export Rush
India's wholesale rice prices jumped up to 7% in two days after a US‑Iran ceasefire sparked a surge in export orders to the Middle East and the United States. Prices had previously fallen up to 6% due to disruptions from...
Government Plans Weekly System to Track EXIM Trends
India's commerce ministry announced a new weekly monitoring mechanism to track export‑import trends and sectoral stress indicators. The system aims to identify supply‑chain disruptions, logistics bottlenecks, and rising input costs linked to geopolitical tensions from the Iran war. Customs officials...
Global Growth to Slow to 3.2% in 2026, Amid Largest Energy Shock on Record Due to West Asia Crisis: S&P...
S&P Global now projects global GDP growth slowing to 3.2 percent in 2026, down from 3.4 percent in 2025, as the West Asia conflict generates the largest recorded energy shock. Disruptions to oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to...
India Eyes 20 More Countries for Open Market Access in Next Big Trade Bet
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal announced that the government is negotiating free‑trade agreements with at least 20 additional countries, adding to the nine FTAs signed in the past 3½ years that already cover 38 developed nations. The new round targets...
ADB Ups India's FY26 Growth Projection to 6.9% on Strong Domestic Demand, Lower US Tariffs
The Asian Development Bank raised its forecast for India’s FY 26 GDP growth to 6.9%, citing resilient domestic demand and the recent easing of U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. The projection contrasts with the Reserve Bank of India’s more bullish 7.6%...
India Urges Iran to Speed up Oil Cargo Shipments Amid Ceasefire Window
India is urging Iran to accelerate the release of oil and gas cargoes bound for India, hoping to use a two‑week cease‑fire window to rebuild fuel inventories. Sixteen India‑flagged tankers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, and roughly 800 vessels...
West Asia Conflict Deals a Double Whammy to India’s Farm Sector: Pre-Harvest Cost Pressures, Post-Harvest Shipping Delays
India’s farm sector is hit by a double shock: pre‑harvest input costs and labour shortages are rising, while post‑harvest shipments of perishables are stalled due to the West Asia conflict. Crude oil prices have jumped to $120 a barrel, inflating...
RBI Monetary Policy: Currency Forward Curbs Temporary, Says Sanjay Malhotra
The Reserve Bank of India announced that its recent non‑deliverable forward (NDF) market curbs are temporary, targeting speculative pressure linked to the West Asia conflict. Banks must trim net open forex positions to $100 million by April 10, with no deadline extension,...
RBI Monetary Policy: Call Below Repo to Comfort Banks
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) clarified that call‑rate levels below the repo rate are a liquidity‑comfort measure, not a prelude to a rate cut. In March, the weighted‑average call rate (WACR) held at 5.25%, aligning with the 5.25% policy...
Tiruppur Garment Orders Drop 15% as US, Europe Demand Weakens Amid Iran War
Orders from the US and Europe for Tiruppur garment makers fell 15% YoY in March as inflation‑driven inventory gluts curb demand. The outbreak of the Iran‑Israel war halted shipments to West Asia, raising freight, insurance and oil costs. Raw material...
Mudra Loans Cross Rs 40 Lakh Crore, Nirmala Sitharaman Hails MSME Credit Push
The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has now disbursed more than ₹40.07 lakh crore (about $482 billion) across 577.9 million loans since its 2015 launch. Two‑thirds of those loans have gone to women entrepreneurs, with ₹9.02 lakh crore (~$109 billion) allocated in the Shishu tier alone. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the...
Piyush Goyal Urges Exporters to Tap India-US Portal to Boost Trade
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal called on exporters in both countries to adopt the newly launched India‑US trade‑facilitation portal. The digital platform is positioned as a “runway” for Indian services and product exporters seeking U.S. customers. Officials highlighted the bilateral...
IBBI Panel Suggests Project-Wise Insolvency Resolution for Real Estate Sector
India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board (IBBI) panel has proposed that insolvency proceedings for real‑estate developers be confined to individual stressed projects rather than the entire company. The recommendation includes mandatory project‑wise escrow accounts, consolidation of land and development rights, and...
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Launches India-US Trade Facilitation Portal
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri inaugurated the India‑US Trade Facilitation Portal during a virtual event in Washington, marking a concrete step toward deepening commercial ties. The portal is designed to streamline interactions between Indian and American firms, reinforcing existing supply chains...
Unseasonal Rain May Dent Wheat Output, Quality
Unseasonal rain and hailstorms across northern India have cut the 2025‑26 wheat harvest by an estimated 3‑4%, lowering total output from the projected 115 million tonnes. The excess moisture has also damaged grain quality, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and...
Fitch Upgrades Vedanta Resources to BB-, Outlook Stable
Fitch Ratings upgraded Vedanta Resources to BB‑ from B+, marking its highest bond rating in a decade. The agency cited expectations of higher commodity prices, increased volumes, and lower operating costs as catalysts for stronger earnings before interest, tax, depreciation...
Govt Extends Implementation Timeline for Quality Control Order on Electrical Appliances Till October
India's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has pushed back the start date for its mandatory quality control order on a broad range of electrical appliances to October 1, 2026, extending the deadline by six months. The order...
RBI Keeps Investment Limit for FPIs in G-Secs Unchanged for FY27
The Reserve Bank of India confirmed that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) can continue to hold up to 6 percent of India’s outstanding government securities through the general route for fiscal year 2026‑27. The split between the General and Long‑term sub‑categories remains...
NeSL Enabling Real-Time Access to Digital Debt & Claims Data in Insolvency Cases
National E‑Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) is now providing real‑time digital records of default (RoDs) to adjudicating authorities for insolvency cases. The 2026 IBC amendment designates RoDs as sufficient evidence, turning NeSL into a mandated gateway for all insolvency proceedings. More...
Record Run for Co, LLP Floats in FY26 Despite a Bump in March
India logged a record surge in corporate formations in FY 2025‑26, with company registrations up 37% to 247,658 and LLPs rising 40% to 86,476. The growth slowed in March, posting only a 6% increase for companies and 9% for LLPs amid...
Gold Imports Rise by Nearly 29% to $69 Bn in Apr-Feb 2025-26
India’s gold imports surged 28.73% to $69 billion in the April‑February 2025‑26 window, spurred by record‑high prices of roughly $1,825 per 10 grams. The influx pushed the trade deficit to $310.6 billion, up from $261.8 billion a year earlier. Switzerland remained the top supplier,...
Downward Revision of Global GDP Imminent Amid West Asia Crisis; Inflation Is Likely to Go Up
SBI Research warns that the global GDP growth forecast, currently around 3.2%, is likely to be revised downward as geopolitical tensions in West Asia intensify. The conflict is pushing crude oil above $100 per barrel and raising metal prices, which...
CII's 20-Point Policy Agenda Calls for Coordinated Fiscal, Financial and Trade Response to West Asia Crisis
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) praised the Indian government and RBI for swift, coordinated fiscal, monetary and trade actions following the West Asia conflict, noting early measures have steadied market sentiment. However, CII warned that supply‑side pressures in energy,...
Delhi High Court Asks CBDT to Clarify Tax on Partners’ Bonuses, Stays Recovery
The Delhi High Court has stayed tax‑recovering proceedings against a partner of SRB, EY’s audit arm, and directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to clarify the taxability of bonuses and performance‑driven remuneration paid to partners of professional firms,...
Textile Exporters Urge Govt to Waive Cotton Import Duty
Indian textile exporters have asked the government to suspend the 11% import duty on cotton, citing a recent 7‑8% rise in domestic cotton prices and an 11‑12% jump in ginned cotton costs. International cotton prices have also climbed 12‑15%, squeezing...
Tender Reforms Introduced in Infrastructure Projects: PWD Minister
The Delhi government has overhauled its tendering process for Public Works and Flood Control & Irrigation projects by making Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) submissions fully online. Previously, bidders had to physically deposit EMD at the project office, a practice that...
RBI's Benchmark Issuance Strategy to Boost Transparency, Liquidity in SDL Market: Experts
The Reserve Bank of India will pilot a Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS) for select states starting FY27. Under the scheme, states will issue State Development Loans in fixed tenor buckets—5, 10 and 15 years—according to a pre‑announced borrowing calendar, creating...
Income Tax Dept Opposes Benefits to Jane Street Singapore
India's Income Tax department has issued a draft assessment denying treaty benefits to Jane Street's Singapore subsidiary for FY 2023‑24. The department invoked the Multilateral Instrument‑Principal Purposes Test (MLI‑PPT) of the India‑Singapore tax treaty, alleging that the main purpose of...
India Inc Seeks Export Ban on Key Inputs, QCO Relief
Industry bodies, led by FICCI, have asked the Indian government to impose a temporary export ban on critical raw materials such as sulphur and non‑essential helium, while also relaxing Quality Control Orders to ease sourcing for SMEs. They propose fast‑track...
Govt Imposes Import Curbs on All Articles of Gold, Silver, Platinum
The Indian government has imposed a blanket import ban on all articles of gold, silver and platinum, overriding any existing contracts, letters of credit or advance payments. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced the revision of Chapter 71 of the...
Several Measures Announced to Cushion Exporters From Gulf Conflict Impact: DGFT
The Indian government announced a suite of measures to protect exporters from disruptions caused by the Gulf region conflict. Exporters of gems, jewellery, rice, pharma and other high‑value goods, which generated about $57 billion in FY 2024‑25, face rising freight costs, war‑risk...
New Creditor-Led IBC Framework to Put in Place Safeguards for Stressed Firm's Management
India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board has proposed a creditor‑initiated insolvency resolution process (CIIRP) that places strict limits on financial transactions by a stressed firm unless approved by the committee of creditors. Management will continue day‑to‑day operations but under the direct...
Lok Sabha Passes Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill
The Lok Sabha approved the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill on April 1, 2026, targeting 784 provisions across 79 central Acts. The legislation de‑criminalises 717 provisions and amends 67, aiming to rationalise over 1,000 offences. It is presented as a major...