Economy & Policy News

Datanomics: Three key industries fare poorly in new core sector series

India's core sector output grew 7.9% in September, but crude oil, natural gas and fertilisers continued to lag, with all three recording negative Y-o-Y growth in the first half of FY27.

FCNR(B) a strong insurance policy, but repayment risks loom: Uday Kotak

At the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2026, Uday Kotak said the FCNR(B) scheme had given India three to five years to strengthen its macroeconomic and financial position

India, US fine-tuning trade agreement; most discussions over: Goyal

Addressing the India-Netherlands Business Forum, he said India has concluded nine free trade agreements in the last four and a half years

Expecting 50 bps rate hike in Dec, may impact credit demand: SBI chief

Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2026: SBI Chairman CS Setty says higher rates could moderate discretionary spending and consumption credit

ASUSE to track hurdles faced by women entrepreneurs, shift to FY cycle

The annual survey of unincorporated enterprises will add questions on gender-specific business constraints and shift to an April-March cycle from 2027 to improve policy-relevant data

India's credit-to-GDP ratio to rise as credit access expands: Economists

Speaking at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2026, economists called for wider credit access, productive lending, stronger domestic capital markets and sustained investment to drive growth

Rajasthan to align quality of polytechnic colleges with industry demands

Recently, 'Samvad' (dialogue) programme was held in Jaipur, chaired by Srinivas, to discuss the strengthening of government polytechnic colleges and improvement of the quality of technical education

Govt likely to extend duty-free cotton imports through Dec to curb prices

India, the world's biggest cotton ‌producer after China, waived the 11% customs duty on cotton imports for five months from June 1 through October 31 to boost supplies during the lean season

Centre committed to reducing fiscal deficit, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Addressing concerns about the national debt, she said that since the post-Covid period, every nation has faced debt challenges

Avg India oil prices hit 15-year high: Threaten OMC margins, strain Centre

The oil price surge is putting pressure on fuel retailers and government finances, raising concerns over inflation and a widening fiscal deficit

Missing in workforce: Apprenticeship ladder still harder for women to climb

Women accounts for 29.5% of apprentices under NAPS in FY27 so far

Urban centres can't be effectively run from state capitals: Rajiv Gauba

Gauba urged states to introduce structural reforms in municipal administration, adopt the Mayor-in-Council system and ensure timely municipal elections

Satellite lights, Google Trends can help estimate state growth: RBI report

Combining night-time illumination and Google Trends data reduced errors in quarterly growth estimates by up to 62 per cent across three industrial states

Statsguru: From poverty to paycheque, here is India's missing link

India's poverty declines, but low wages and limited regular jobs remain key challenges

MP semicon summit draws ₹15,425 cr investment proposals, 14k jobs in sight

Madhya Pradesh has received investment proposals worth over ₹15,425 crore in semiconductors, electronics and high-tech sectors, with more than 14,450 jobs expected to be created

Crude nears $120 as W Asia risks collide with Fed rate decision: Analysts

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil futures for November delivery climbed Rs 406, or 4.32 per cent, during the holiday-shortened week, to close at Rs 9,800 per barrel

Govt extends deadlines for cos to file annual financial statements, returns

The extension of deadlines follow representations from stakeholders as they were facing issues in submitting the annual statutory filings through the MCA 21 portal

Delhi govt begins identifying ineligible old-age pension beneficiaries

The verification process was to begin earlier, but it was halted as permission for Aadhaar authentication of the beneficiaries via a third party was not allowed

German firms see India as manufacturing, R&D hub, not just market: Goyal

Piyush Goyal said German companies, including Siemens Healthcare, Volkswagen and Skoda, see India as a partner for manufacturing, research and innovation. Around 2,000 German firms operate in India

Govt bonds log worst losing streak in 30 years as crude, US yields rise

Indian government bond yields rose for a tenth straight week as elevated crude prices and US yields weighed on sentiment, while forex reserves fell $65 billion over six weeks