Economy
Centre hikes export duty on diesel to ₹55.5/l, ATF to ₹42/l; petrol nil
The Finance Ministry effected the hike through five notifications by raising the Special Additional Excise Duty on diesel to ₹24 per litre and adjusting the Road and Infrastructure Cess
 "Centre hikes export duty on diesel to ₹55.5/l, ATF to ₹42/l; petrol nil")
Diesel duty raised to ₹55.5/l, ATF to ₹42/l; petrol remains nil: Centre
As per the notification, export duty on diesel has been raised to ₹55.5 per litre from ₹21.5 per litre, while duty on ATF has been increased to ₹42 per litre from ₹29.5 per litre
 "Diesel duty raised to ₹55.5/l, ATF to ₹42/l; petrol remains nil: Centre")
Energy, defence, and trade on agenda as Foreign Secy Misri heads to Europe
West Asia crisis and its impact on energy security are expected to figure prominently in Misri's talks with the interlocutors in Paris and Berlin
 "Energy, defence, and trade on agenda as Foreign Secy Misri heads to Europe")
Reforms in India: From ease of doing business to ease of trusting systems
Trust is no longer just a matter of perception; it is a hard economic and governance variable
 "Reforms in India: From ease of doing business to ease of trusting systems")
Datanomics: Minorities face disadvantage in India's labour market
India's stable unemployment rate masks sharp disparities, with minorities facing uneven job access, lower participation and higher reliance on informal work
 "Datanomics: Minorities face disadvantage in India's labour market")
Vietnam's Vingroup signs pact to invest $6.5 billion in Maharashtra
Vietnam's Vingroup plans $6.5 billion investment in Maharashtra across urban infrastructure, EV mobility and renewable energy, boosting jobs and green growth
 "Vietnam's Vingroup signs pact to invest $6.5 billion in Maharashtra")
9.85 mn houses power rural-led unincorporated construction surge: NSO
NSO study shows household-led construction dominates unincorporated sector with strong rural skew, high labour intensity and reliance on internal funding
 "9.85 mn houses power rural-led unincorporated construction surge: NSO")
Oil prices set for biggest weekly loss in 10 months after US-Iran ceasefire
Brent crude futures were up 5 cents, or 0.05 per cent, at $95.97 a barrel by 1150 GMT
 "Oil prices set for biggest weekly loss in 10 months after US-Iran ceasefire")
ADB pegs India FY27 growth at 6.9% supported by reforms, trade deals
Multilateral lender predicts economic growth to rebound to 7.3% in FY28 driven by EU trade pact and a rise in government staff's income
 "ADB pegs India FY27 growth at 6.9% supported by reforms, trade deals")
Weekly sectoral stress indicator in the works: Commerce Secretary
Government plans weekly sectoral stress indicator to track trade and logistics disruptions as West Asia crisis raises input costs and supply chain concerns
 "Weekly sectoral stress indicator in the works: Commerce Secretary")
West Asia crisis must not become opportunity to profiteer: Sonowal
Shipping minister asks maritime players to avoid profiteering amid West Asia crisis, ensure transparency in charges and faster cargo clearance at ports
 "West Asia crisis must not become opportunity to profiteer: Sonowal")
West Asia crisis: Govt to set up weekly system to track EXIM trends
Exporters highlighted that stress in supply chains, logistics constraints and rising input costs can impact industries, such as apparel, leather, telecom/optical fibre and medical devices
 "West Asia crisis: Govt to set up weekly system to track EXIM trends")
India's forex reserves jump $9 bn to $697.1 bn in week ended April 3
In the previous reporting week, overall forex reserves had dropped by $10.28 billion to $688.05 billion
 "India's forex reserves jump $9 bn to $697.1 bn in week ended April 3")
India must rethink reliance on West Asia after current energy shock: ONGC
ONGC Chairman and CEO Arun Kumar Singh warned that a shifting global order and rising geopolitical tensions are undermining long-held assumptions about energy security
 "India must rethink reliance on West Asia after current energy shock: ONGC")
E-way bills hit record 140.6 million in March, up 13%, shows GSTN data
GSTN data shows e-way bill generation at record high in March, reflecting strong goods movement and compliance, though experts caution against treating it as a proxy for growth
 "E-way bills hit record 140.6 million in March, up 13%, shows GSTN data")
Domestic refiners splurge on Russian oil as sanctions threat begins to fade
Imports from Russia averaged 1.98 million barrels a day in March, the highest since June 2023, according to data from intelligence firm Kpler
 "Domestic refiners splurge on Russian oil as sanctions threat begins to fade")
ADB suggests unified social protection framework to cut duplication
This can enable a differentiated approach at the state level, where social protection needs can vary by demographic profile, employment structure, and fiscal capacity
India, US to boost cooperation in AI, critical minerals under Pax Silica
Talks in Washington focus on deepening tech and economic ties, with emphasis on AI, supply chains and strategic minerals cooperation under the Pax Silica framework between India and the US
 "India, US to boost cooperation in AI, critical minerals under Pax Silica")
Detroit of Asia sputters as LPG dries up, input costs spike, labour thins
In Chennai's auto nerve centre, Ambattur, prolonged conflict ripples through supply chains, delaying deliveries, raising costs, testing small manufacturers' resilience
 "Detroit of Asia sputters as LPG dries up, input costs spike, labour thins")
West Asia oil shock threatens India despite robust buffers: World Bank
High oil prices pose risks but India's strong buffers, resilient exports and policy space can help navigate global uncertainty, says the World Bank
 "West Asia oil shock threatens India despite robust buffers: World Bank")