Economy

New I-T Act to enable AI-driven, rule-based tax system from April 2026

CBDT chief Ravi Agrawal said the new Income Tax Act, effective April 2026, will create a rule-based, AI-enabled tax ecosystem aimed at reducing disputes, improving certainty and enhancing compliance

Five FTAs to be operational this year, says Piyush Goyal at EPM launch

Piyush Goyal said FTAs with the UK, Oman, New Zealand and the EU will be implemented this year as India launches new schemes under the Rs 25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission to boost exports

USTR team may visit India in March-end to sign interim trade agreement

A USTR delegation is expected to visit New Delhi in late March to sign the interim India-US trade deal, as negotiators meet in Washington to finalise the legal text ahead of April rollout

Govt publishes handbook on employer compliance under Labour Codes

Labour Ministry releases a handbook outlining 23 compliance actions for employers under the four Labour Codes, offering clarity ahead of final rules expected by the end of the fiscal year

Core infra sectors growth slows down to 4% in January: Govt data

Crude oil and natural gas output recorded negative growth in January

Private sector growth hits three-month high in Feb as new orders pick up

Companies recruit additional staff and scale up output as sales improve

Govt announces seven measures, credit assistance to help boost exports

These measures are part of the ₹25,060 crore export promotion mission. Out of 10 components of the mission, three have already been rolled out in January

India-US interim trade pact to be operationalised in April: Piyush Goyal

He also said that India's free trade agreements (FTAs) with the UK and Oman are likely to be implemented in April

India, US to hold 3-day talks from Feb 23 to finalise leagl text for ITA

Under the interim trade pact, both sides would extend duty concessions to each other on a number of goods traded between them

Saudi crude imports rise, narrowing Russia's lead in India's oil market

Russia will still be the country's biggest supplier this month if flows reach the top of Kpler's range at 1.2 million barrels a day, but shipments are set to drop even further

India's flash PMI rises to 59.3 in February on strong manufacturing growth

The improvement was supported by robust total new orders which rose at he quickest pace since November

New GDP series may introduce more categories to track consumption basket

Panel report released by the National Statistics Office signals shift to more granular expenditure tracking

Beyond diplomacy: India and Brazil should seize this strategic opportunity

Brazil President Lula's India visit signals a shift towards deeper economic and technology cooperation; both nations must close the trade-investment gap and align on global governance reform

India likely to join US-led 'Pax Silica' strategic bloc on Friday: Report

India is likely to formally join the 'Pax Silica' initiative on Friday, people familiar with the matter said

Partnered prosperity in a Globalist Gambit: Mapping India's trade ascent

The past months have witnessed trade deals with economic giants augmenting investor-friendly confidence in India's global trade agenda

India sheds defensive stance, negotiates future-focused trade deals: Goyal

Piyush Goyal says India has moved beyond apologetic trade talks, using FTAs as strategic tools to secure long-term economic gains while protecting sensitive sectors

Europe backs India's AI push and supports early ratification of trade deal

European leaders back early India-EU trade deal ratification at the AI Impact Summit, deepening cooperation on AI, semiconductors, digital governance and strategic growth

Govt looks to unlock ₹80,000 crore via rail PSU stake sales by FY30

The Centre plans to raise about ₹80,000 crore by diluting stakes in seven listed railway PSUs over FY27-FY30 as part of Railways' asset monetisation drive

States' fiscal arithmetic tightens in FY27; deficit seen at 3% of GDP

Ind-Ra expects states' fiscal deficit to widen to 3% of GDP in FY27 due to higher revenue spending, with SASCI-linked borrowing potentially lifting it to 3.5% of GDP

India's crude oil import bill drops 19% in January on softer global prices

India's crude oil import bill fell sharply in January as the Indian basket price averaged $63.08/bbl - $17 lower than last year - easing the country's overall energy burden