India Economy

Whether the AI bubble bursts or the borrowing binge continues, India will need to strengthen its defences

Today's Best of BS Opinion weighs GCC expansion, liquor prohibition, jobs and growth, corporate India, and India's economic roadmap

Eleven essays by noted economists and academics tackle questions concerning India's economy, society and polity, and explore pathways for the country to emerge from the prevailing turmoil

India’s investment cycle may be gaining momentum after years of subdued private capex. From AI infrastructure and renewable energy to defence manufacturing, three investment themes could shape

India's economic growth can translate into meaningful transformation only when its gains are shared fairly between workers and corporates, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran said, stressing that fairness is not an act of charity but a condition for a healthy and sustainable market economy. "Growth changes the country only when it is shared honestly between those who do the work and those who put up the money," he said at a keynote address at an AIMA event here. He argued that the debate over fairness should not be framed as a choice between workers and businesses. Instead, he said, both are part of the same economic bargain, with capital entitled to earn a fair return while workers must have a meaningful share in the prosperity generated by their work. "Fairness, of course, is not charity," he said, adding, a sustainable market ultimately depends on consumers having enough purchasing power to buy the goods and services businesses produce. "A healthy market needs ...

Nageswaran argued that India needs to rethink its development model for the AI era, using artificial intelligence to boost workers rather than replace them

The study done by global consultancy Systemiq said that about one-third of Himalayan glacier mass loss is linked to South Asian black carbon

The Indian economy can escape the 'middle-income trap' with substantial investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, French economist and inequality specialist Thomas Piketty said on Tuesday, stressing that involvement in global coalitions is essential to driving inclusive and sustainable growth. The middle-income trap is an economic situation when a country can no longer compete internationally in labour-intensive goods because wages are relatively too high, and also cannot compete in higher value-added activities because productivity is relatively too low. The result is slow growth, stagnant or falling wages, and a growing informal economy. The prominent economist emphasised that India's involvement in global coalitions is essential to driving inclusive and sustainable growth. "India can escape the middle-income trap, but this will require massive investment in education, health and infrastructure," Piketty told PTI in an interview. "We also need India to participate

Consumption-led sectors, including consumer goods, retail and leisure, are expected to remain the cornerstone of growth, reaching about $150 billion by FY31 at an annual growth rate of around 25%

Delhi's post-liberalisation growth turned it into a services powerhouse, but housing shortages, unplanned urbanisation, pollution and infrastructure gaps continue to test the capital

India's capex cycle gains momentum, creating opportunities across power, data centres, semiconductors and defence

India's economy started FY27 on a strong footing, but questions emerged over the 7.8 per cent GDP growth in Q1 and the methodology behind it

World Bank Executive Director Neelkanth Mishra said high-frequency indicators such as vehicle sales, cement volumes and credit demand point to strong economic momentum despite doubts over GDP data

The government has revised the GDP estimate for Q1 FY2025-26 following the introduction of a new GDP series with 2022-23 as the base year

India's economy has shown resilience despite tariffs and the West Asia conflict, with strong domestic demand, healthier balance sheets and investment supporting growth

Record forex reserves and stronger credit flows provided support, but uneven monsoon rains, food-price interventions and external risks kept policymakers on alert

India needs 9.25% growth rate to meet PM Modi's 2047 developed-nation goal, according to Ashok Lahiri, a senior official at the country's apex government-run think-tank

Business Standard's State Fiscal Health Tracker compares states and Union Territories on own revenue as a share of total revenue receipts. Here's what the FY25 Budget Estimates show

Six of the nine core sectors recorded growth in July, while natural gas, crude oil and fertilisers contracted; refinery products returned to growth after three months

Disaggregated figures for the top five categories showed month-on-month volatility.