Economy

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

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

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?

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

IFAD looking to make 3-4 direct investments in India in next one year: VP

IFAD's VP 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

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 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

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

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

'Permitted unless prohibited': NITI Aayog's next-gen reforms guidebook

Govt looking to clear regulatory 'cholesterol': Gauba

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

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

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

Moody's slashes 2026 India growth forecast to 6% amid high energy costs

Moody's said India is 'particularly vulnerable' to high oil prices given its heavy reliance on imported crude and LNG

West Asia conflict: Govt may rework strategic oil and gas reserves

Amid the West Asia crisis, the government is considering expanding India's crude oil, gas and LPG reserves to strengthen long-term energy security

Rupee hits fresh low of 95.75 per dollar amid crude oil, FPI pressure

Worst-performing Asian currency in 2026, second-worst since Iran war

Unlock value of existing gold through GMS, says Gem & Jewellery Council

Jewellery industry bodies and retailers back push to mobilise India's large stock of idle household gold through a strengthened Gold Monetisation Scheme

India plans 500 delegations, outreach to industry to boost FTA utilisation

Since 2021, India has finalised trade deals with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, Oman, New Zealand, EFTA bloc, UK and the EU.

Can India's cotton mission deliver without adopting new technology?

Experts argue that India's Mission for Cotton Productivity may struggle to revive yields and exports unless next-generation genetic technologies and science-led reforms are adopted