Bharat Taxi Service Will Expand to All Big Cities, Talukas in Next 2-3 Years: MoS Cooperation
The Indian government announced that the cooperative‑run ride‑hailing platform Bharat Taxi will be rolled out to all major cities and talukas within the next two to three years. Launched last month by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the service currently operates in Delhi‑NCR and Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Somnath and Dwarka. To date, roughly 400,000 drivers have registered, gaining access to a mobile‑app booking system that is linked with Delhi Police for security. The expansion aims to boost driver earnings and provide cooperative ownership across the country.
Finmin Seeks Parliamentary Approval for ₹1 Lakh Cr ‘Economic Stabilisation Fund’ to Face War-Induced Volatility
India’s Finance Ministry has asked Parliament to approve a ₹1 lakh crore Economic Stabilisation Fund aimed at cushioning the economy from market turbulence caused by the war in West Asia. The fund is part of the second batch of Supplementary Demands for...
India’s Defence Shift: Rising Capex, Falling Imports
India has become the world’s fourth‑largest defence spender, with the FY27 Union Budget earmarking $85 billion—a 15 % year‑on‑year rise and 15 % of total spending. The country’s defence capital expenditure has been climbing steadily, funding aircraft, ships, drones and advanced technologies. Exports...
Iran War Casts Shadow on Valley’s Famed Handicraft Industry
Handicraft exporters in Kashmir warn that the escalating Iran‑US‑Israel conflict is casting a shadow over their Gulf‑focused market. The war threatens to raise freight costs, delay shipments and dampen discretionary spending, echoing disruptions experienced during the Russia‑Ukraine war. The sector,...
Karnataka Plans to Build Common Airport for 3 Northern Districts
Karnataka’s Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil announced plans for a shared airport serving Ballari, Koppala and Vijayanagara, with the final site to be decided after consultations with the chief minister and local representatives. The state had previously acquired 900 acres...
West Asia Tensions Pose Twin Challenges for Indian Paper Industry
West Asian geopolitical tensions are creating a dual challenge for India’s paper sector by driving up energy costs and threatening key export markets. In FY24‑25, the industry shipped $980 million of paper and paperboard, with roughly $290 million (30%) destined for West...
An Export Grid that Bears Fruit
India’s west‑coast logistics bottleneck is easing after Jaigad Port inaugurated a plant‑quarantine office and a NABL‑accredited FSSAI laboratory. The new facilities enable local certification, cutting container transport costs by up to ₹60,000 and reducing logistics expenses by 10‑15 percent. With a...
Aircraft Leasing Gains Altitude at GIFT City
Aircraft leasing activity in India's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City surged from 63 units in December 2024 to 196 units by December 2025, a 211% increase. The leased fleet, now valued at $6.886 billion, attracted $615 million of financing...
Don’t Target Seafarers in War Zone: IMO
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned a deadly strike on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz that killed four seafarers and injured three, highlighting the heightened danger for roughly 20,000 crew members stranded in the Persian Gulf amid the...
Indo-US Trade Talks Reset; Deal Now Expected in 3-4 Months
Indo‑US trade talks have been reset after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, activating the joint statement’s review clause. Both governments now have a three‑to‑four‑month window to reassess the proposed preferential...
West Asia Crisis: Ministry Asks Ports to Consider Waiving Charges, Issues SoP
India’s Union Shipping, Ports and Waterways Ministry issued a standard operating procedure to mitigate disruptions from the West Asia crisis. The SOP authorises ports to consider waiving or reducing charges such as vessel fees and storage rent on a case‑by‑case...
Commerce Ministry Assures of Restoration of Full RoDTEP Benefits to Exporters From April 1: FIEO
India's Commerce Ministry announced that the full Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) benefits will be reinstated from April 1, 2026, after a temporary 50% reduction that lasted until March 31. The scheme, which refunds 0.3%‑3.9% of...
Gold Price Will Continue to Rise as Central Banks Continue to Diversify Into Non-Dollar Reserves: SBI Research
Gold prices have surged 47.6% since August 2025, reaching $5,092 per ounce, as central banks shift from Treasury securities to gold. The United States and Germany now report gold comprising over 80% of their reserve portfolios, with Italy and India also...
Global Economy Faces Inflation and Growth Test Amid Escalating Conflict in Iran - Goldman
Goldman Sachs warns that a temporary spike in crude to $100 a barrel could shave 0.4 percentage points off global GDP growth and lift headline inflation by up to 0.7 points. The firm’s baseline scenario still sees oil easing to...
West Asia Conflict Poses Near-Term Challenges to Indian Economy: RBI MPC Member
RBI monetary‑policy committee member Nagesh Kumar warned that the West Asia conflict creates near‑term headwinds for India, notably higher oil prices, export disruptions and reduced remittances. He stressed that inflation remains benign, with headline CPI at 1.3% in December 2025...
Strong Demand, New Launches Drive Double-Digit Growth in Auto Wholesales in Feb: Report
India's auto industry recorded double‑digit wholesale growth in February 2026, driven by robust demand across all segments. Strong consumer sentiment after GST cuts and a wave of new model launches lifted volumes, especially in commercial‑vehicle and two‑wheeler categories. Tata Motors...
MIHAN Project Generates 1.27 Lakh Jobs, 120 Firms Invest in Nagpur Hub
Maharashtra’s Multi‑Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN) in Nagpur has generated 127,225 jobs, according to IT Minister Ashish Shelar. The hub has attracted investment from 120 companies, with 90 already operating in the SEZ and non‑SEZ zones. The state government...
West Asia Tensions May Cloud India’s Coffee Export Momentum
Indian coffee exports are accelerating, with January‑February shipments up 40% to 80,931 tonnes and total 2025 sales surpassing $2 billion. The West Asia and North Africa region, accounting for roughly 20% of exports, is now a key growth market after Europe....
War Risk Insurance Premiums for Ships Likely to Rise Amid West Asia Crisis: Experts
War‑risk insurance for vessels is set to rise sharply as insurers cancel coverage amid the West Asia conflict. Premiums for hull and cargo have jumped to about 1 % of cargo value, up from 0.25‑0.5 % previously. Shipping lines are rerouting around...
India’s Current Account Deficit Widens to $13.2 Billion in Q3FY26
India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $13.2 billion in Q3FY26, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, up from $11.3 billion and 1.1% a year earlier. The increase was driven primarily by a larger merchandise trade deficit of $93.6 billion and higher net outflows...
Indian Buyers May Find Pistachios, Figs and Raisins Pricey Following Gulf Crisis
Indian buyers are likely to face higher prices for pistachios, figs and raisins as the Gulf crisis shuts key Iranian and Afghan export routes. Pistachio prices have risen about ₹100 per kilogram, while figs are up a similar amount and...
VOC Port to Invest ₹15,000 Cr in Outer Harbour Project to Be a Transhipment Hub of South India
VO Chidambaranar Port (VOC Port) announced a ₹15,000 crore investment in its Outer Harbour project, slated to add 4 million tonnes per annum of cargo capacity by 2030. The expansion includes two 18‑metre draft berths capable of handling vessels up to 250,000 DWT, complementing an...
Passengers Stranded at Delhi's IGI Airport Amid Escalated Israel-Iran Conflict
Passengers at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were left stranded after a wave of flight cancellations triggered by airspace closures across the Middle East. The closures follow coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, prompting the Ministry of Civil...
How AI Adoption Is Reshaping India’s Agri Sector: Risks, Opportunities & Advisory Imperatives
Artificial intelligence is moving from pilot projects to core policy in India’s agriculture, backed by the Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack and NITI Aayog’s AI strategy. AI‑driven precision farming, climate forecasting and market analytics are already improving yields, water use and...
China Eastern Airlines to Expand India Operations, Plans Mumbai-Shanghai Service From May
China Eastern Airlines will launch a Mumbai‑Shanghai service in May, operating four weekly flights with an Airbus A330. The carrier also plans to revive its Kunming‑Kolkata route for the summer season. Its Shanghai‑Delhi flight, upgraded to a daily schedule, is...
PM Modi Urges India Inc to Step up Investment in Infrastructure and Innovation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a post‑Budget webinar, urged India Inc to dramatically increase investment in infrastructure and innovation. He highlighted a ten‑fold rise in public capital expenditure over the past 11 years, from roughly ₹2 lakh crore to over ₹12 lakh crore,...
India’s Fiscal Deficit Touches ₹9.8 Lakh Crore in April–January
India’s fiscal deficit for April‑January 2026 hit ₹9.8 lakh crore, about 63 % of the government’s full‑year estimate. Net tax receipts climbed to ₹20.94 lakh crore, while non‑tax revenue rose to ₹5.57 lakh crore. Total government outlays increased to ₹36.9 lakh crore, with capital expenditure reaching ₹8.4 lakh crore. The widening...
Food Processing Minister Paswan Raises Concerns Regarding ‘False Narrative’ Against Processed Food by Influencers
India’s Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan warned that social‑media influencers are propagating a false narrative that processed foods are unhealthy, harming industry growth. Speaking at the ANVESH‑2026 conference, he urged a coordinated effort, including a national campaign and influencer partnerships,...
CDSCO Eases Drug Testing Approvals, New Fast-Track System From June 1, 2026
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) will issue No Objection Certificates (NOC) for drug‑sample testing immediately upon receipt of applications, eliminating the prior detailed specification review. Companies can begin laboratory testing at designated Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and other central...
Govt Plans to Expand Domestic Shipping Industry to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Vessels: Sanjeev Sanyal
India is launching a ₹77,000 crore programme to build a domestic merchant fleet and expand shipbuilding, aiming to cut its reliance on foreign vessels that handle more than 90% of imports and exports. The plan prioritises ship construction, port upgrades, and...
Acceleration in India’s per Capita Income Growth Has Been Faster than in GDP Growth: Poonam Gupta
RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta said India’s per‑capita income growth has outpaced overall GDP growth, driven by a sharp slowdown in population growth. From $274 in 1981, per‑capita income reached about $2,700 in 2024 and is projected to hit $4,346...
India Pauses Its Trade Team Visit to Evaluate US Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
India has postponed its scheduled trade delegation visit to Washington after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Trump. The court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the tariffs, prompting Trump...
‘Green’ Growth on Inland Waterways
The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) unveiled a ₹1,500 crore roadmap to expand India’s inland water transport network, laying foundations for projects exceeding ₹150 crore, including cruise jetties in six states. Cargo movement on national waterways surged to 145.84 million tonnes in 2024‑25,...
India’s GDP Growth to Moderate to 7.2% in Q3FY26: ICRA
ICRA projects India’s year‑on‑year GDP growth to ease to 7.2% in Q3 FY 2025‑26, down from 8.2% in the prior quarter. The slowdown is driven by weaker services (+7.8% versus +9.2%) and agriculture (+3.0% versus +3.5%) growth, even as industrial output...
Indian Labour-Intensive Exports to Face Lower 10% Surcharge After US Court Axes Trump’s Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 18% reciprocal tariffs imposed on Indian goods, prompting President Trump to replace them with a uniform 15% worldwide tariff under Section 122. This adjustment lowers the levy on Indian labour‑intensive exports—textiles, leather, shrimp—from the...
RBI Likely to Go for a Prolonged Policy Rate Pause: ICICI Bank Report
The Reserve Bank of India kept its policy repo rate steady at 5.25% on February 6, signalling a neutral stance. ICICI Bank Global Markets expects this will translate into a prolonged pause through 2026‑27 as core inflation stays benign and oil‑price...
Strong Manufacturing Growth Lifts Flash PMI to Three-Month High of 59.3 in Feb
India’s flash Composite PMI rose to 59.3 in February, its strongest level in three months, driven by a surge in manufacturing activity. Total new orders grew at the fastest pace since November, pushing output to a four‑month high, while services...
Govt Identifies L1 Insurers for Restructured Weather Crop Insurance Scheme in J&K
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has appointed Agriculture Insurance Company of India and Tata AIG General Insurance as the lowest‑bid insurers for the Restructured Weather‑Based Crop Insurance Scheme. The scheme will protect apple and saffron growers in Kashmir and mango,...
Embraer and Mahindra Eye India MRO Hub if C-390 Wins IAF Contract
Embraer and India’s Mahindra Group announced a joint plan to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the C‑390 Millennium, contingent on the aircraft winning the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) contract. The two firms have...
APSEZ Signs MoU with French Port to Deepen Cooperation on Trade Facilitation
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with France’s Port of Marseille Fos to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation, port innovation and energy transition. The pact will create an IMEC Ports Club to coordinate the...
India’s Data Centre Boom Raises Concerns over Power Supply and Grid Capacity
India’s data‑centre market is expanding rapidly, with annual capacity additions of about 0.5 GW. Today, data centres already draw up to 15% of local grid capacity and could consume 30‑35% by 2030. Roughly one‑third of the power comes from renewable PPAs,...
Shahpurkandi Dam Set for Commissioning, Ravi Waters to Boost Irrigation in Jammu and Punjab
India’s Shahpurkandi Dam is slated for commissioning by March 31, 2026, enabling the diversion of surplus Ravi River flows that previously entered Pakistan. The project will channel this water into irrigation schemes across Jammu’s Kathua and Samba districts and Punjab’s drought‑prone...
Indian Entrepreneur to Invest ₹214 Crore in AI-Powered Hydroponic Farming in Karnataka
Indian entrepreneur Vivek Raj is investing ₹214 crore to build an AI‑powered hydroponic farm on 16 acres in Moodbidri, Karnataka. The venture, Panama Hydro‑X, has filed four AI patents covering disease detection, smart lighting and crop monitoring after spending ₹146 crore on...
Exports Rise 0.61% to $36.56 Billion in January
India's merchandise exports rose modestly by 0.61% to $36.56 billion in January, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. Imports, however, jumped 19.2% to $71.24 billion, widening the monthly trade deficit to $34.68 billion. The fiscal‑year outlook remains positive, with total exports of goods...
Tamil Nadu’s $1-Trillion Economy Goal Could Be Delayed by a Year to 2031: Economic Survey
Tamil Nadu’s Economic Survey 2025‑26 projects its $1 trillion GDP ambition could slip from 2030 to 2031 if the rupee weakens faster than expected. The state posted a 16% nominal growth rate in 2024‑25, with manufacturing expanding 14.74% real and exports doubling...
IATA Expresses Concern over Suspension of Freighter Flights at Mumbai
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has voiced concern over a nine‑month suspension of dedicated freighter flights at Mumbai International Airport, slated from August 2026 to May 2027 for apron reconstruction. Mumbai handled 6.93 lakh metric tonnes of cargo between April...
Govt Aims to Revive Private Investment in Highway Construction
India’s government plans to award ₹1 lakh crore of highway projects to private developers by fiscal year 2027, aiming to raise private sector participation to 25 % of highway development next year from the current low single digits. The budget allocates ₹12.2 lakh crore to...
NISAR to Deliver 100m Soil Moisture Data Every 13 Days Across India: ISRO
ISRO announced that the NISAR satellite will provide soil‑moisture maps at 100‑metre resolution every 13 days, covering the entire Indian subcontinent. The data will be delivered to farmers, water‑resource managers and policymakers through existing digital platforms. By offering near‑real‑time moisture...
Dedicated Freight Corridor Won’t Divert Cargo Volumes to Competing Ports, Says APSEZ
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) says the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) will not erode cargo volumes at its flagship Mundra Port. The company cites Mundra’s deep draft, faster vessel turnaround and integrated logistics ecosystem as structural advantages...
India Must Shift From Growth at Scale to Productivity for Viksit Bharat 2047: KPMG Report
KPMG’s new report urges India to move from a scale‑driven growth model to one focused on productivity as it targets a Viksit Bharat by 2047. It outlines ten priority areas, including deepening manufacturing, upskilling a youthful workforce, modernising MSMEs, and...
