Economy & Policy News
Rupee weakens to record closing low, approaches 96 against the dollar
Persistent importer demand, elevated crude oil prices and West Asia tensions pushed the rupee to a record closing low despite RBI intervention
 "Rupee weakens to record closing low, approaches 96 against the dollar")
Actions will be needed if shocks get entrenched, says RBI governor Malhotra
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says fuel price hikes may be passed on to consumers if elevated crude oil prices persist due to the West Asia conflict
 "Actions will be needed if shocks get entrenched, says RBI governor Malhotra")
Can a 15% gold duty fix India's trade deficit? The math is not simple
India may need a steep fall in gold imports to ease its trade deficit, but high prices, investment demand and smuggling risks complicate the duty hike's impact
 "Can a 15% gold duty fix India's trade deficit? The math is not simple")
Govt approves ₹37,500 crore plan to boost domestic coal gasification
The scheme is expected to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imports of products such as LNG, urea, ammonia and methanol
 "Govt approves ₹37,500 crore plan to boost domestic coal gasification")
Gold imports from Dubai may increase after import duty hike: GTRI
India had allowed imports of gold from Dubai at tariffs one percentage point below the normal Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rate through a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system
 "Gold imports from Dubai may increase after import duty hike: GTRI")
India hikes import duty on gold and silver to 15%, platinum to 15.4%
The Centre has increased customs duty on gold, silver and platinum imports to conserve foreign exchange and protect macroeconomic stability amid rising global uncertainty
 "India hikes import duty on gold and silver to 15%, platinum to 15.4%")
IFAD looking to make 3-4 direct investments in India in next one year: AVP
IFAD's AVP Donal Brown said that the funding agency is now increasingly looking to fund 3-4 direct investments in the private sector over the next year
 "IFAD looking to make 3-4 direct investments in India in next one year: AVP")
Cash-transfer promises rise, but can states afford the welfare bill?
As cash-transfer politics becomes embedded in elections, the bigger challenge for states may lie not in announcing welfare promises, but in sustaining them fiscally
 "Cash-transfer promises rise, but can states afford the welfare bill?")
India's vegetable oil imports jump 13% in H1 2025-26 on palm oil surge
The world's largest cooking oil consumer imported 7.04 million tonnes in the same period a year earlier
 "India's vegetable oil imports jump 13% in H1 2025-26 on palm oil surge")
OMCs bleed ₹30,000 crore a month: How long can India hold down fuel prices?
India is shielding consumers from rising global oil prices, but OMC losses are surging. How long can fuel prices stay frozen before fiscal pressure forces tough decisions?
 "OMCs bleed ₹30,000 crore a month: How long can India hold down fuel prices?")
Fuel prices may rise if West Asia war drags on: RBI Guv Sanjay Malhotra
His remarks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voluntary austerity, including cutting down on petrol and diesel use and putting off gold purchases, to preserve foreign exchange reserves
 "Fuel prices may rise if West Asia war drags on: RBI Guv Sanjay Malhotra")
India raises import duties on gold: A timeline of hikes, cuts and comebacks
India raises gold, silver and platinum import duties to curb overseas demand, ease pressure on forex reserves and narrow current account deficit amid global uncertainty
India has 60 days of crude, LNG, 45 days of LPG, no supply issues: Puri
Speaking at the CII Annual Summit, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India's oil companies are losing ₹1,000 crore every day and the under recovery is going to be ₹1,98,000 crore
 "India has 60 days of crude, LNG, 45 days of LPG, no supply issues: Puri")
India set for record DAP import in single tender amid supply fears
The purchases, equivalent to about a quarter of India's annual DAP imports, are likely to tighten global supplies and support prices
 "India set for record DAP import in single tender amid supply fears")
Govt raises import tariffs on gold, silver to 15% to curb imports
The higher duties could dampen demand in the world's second-largest consumer of precious metals, although they may help narrow India's trade deficit and support the rupee
 "Govt raises import tariffs on gold, silver to 15% to curb imports")
West Asia crisis a 'live balance of payments stress test': CEA Nageswaran
OMCs losing ₹1K cr a day, says Puri; doesn't rule out fuel price hike
 "West Asia crisis a 'live balance of payments stress test': CEA Nageswaran")
'Permitted unless prohibited': NITI Aayog's next-gen reforms guidebook
Govt looking to clear regulatory 'cholesterol': Gauba
 "'Permitted unless prohibited': NITI Aayog's next-gen reforms guidebook")
How NPS Swasthya model may reshape elderly healthcare financing in India
PFRDA's proposed NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme seeks to combine retirement savings with healthcare financing, potentially reshaping elderly-care funding beyond traditional insurance models
 "How NPS Swasthya model may reshape elderly healthcare financing in India")
India's retail Inflation at 3.48% in April on higher food prices
Retail inflation inched up to 3.48% in April as food prices rose further, while experts warned of indirect pressure from higher global energy costs and a potentially weak monsoon
 "India's retail Inflation at 3.48% in April on higher food prices")
Mandaviya calls for joint effort to tackle worker issues during crises
Mandaviya said the government has readied the facility for withdrawal of 75 per cent of provident fund (PF) balance through ATMs and will soon roll it out
 "Mandaviya calls for joint effort to tackle worker issues during crises")