Economy
FTAs must drive exports, not just imports: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged Indian industry to use upcoming FTAs to boost exports and avoid a surge in imports
 "FTAs must drive exports, not just imports: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal")
Datanomics: Modi's visit may further boost trade ties with five countries
PM Narendra Modi's five-nation tour underscores India's push to deepen trade ties as exports to these countries outpace imports despite a cumulative trade deficit
 "Datanomics: Modi's visit may further boost trade ties with five countries")
RBI likely to hold repo rate at 5.25% through FY27, says India Ratings
India Ratings projects GDP growth at 6.7% and inflation at 4.4%, warning that higher crude prices and West Asia tensions may pressure growth and trade deficit
 "RBI likely to hold repo rate at 5.25% through FY27, says India Ratings")
India notifies standards for petrol blends with up to 30% ethanol
The move is part of the government's preparedness for the next phase of its ethanol-blending programme beyond E20, after advancing the deadline for 20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to 2025-26
 "India notifies standards for petrol blends with up to 30% ethanol")
India's oil trade deficit set to balloon to new high in FY27: Crisil
Crisil expects India's oil trade deficit and current account deficit to widen sharply in FY27 as Brent crude prices rise amid the West Asia crisis
 "India's oil trade deficit set to balloon to new high in FY27: Crisil")
PM Modi in Rome: Why India, Italy need to build a strategic future together
Rome increasingly understands that the future of European competitiveness, economic resilience and strategic diversification will depend upon trusted industrial partnerships beyond the Continent
 "PM Modi in Rome: Why India, Italy need to build a strategic future together")
India's two largest aviation hubs cut ATF tax. How much can airlines gain?
Experts said lower ATF taxes at India's two biggest aviation hubs could improve airline operating economics and margins, though passengers may not see meaningful fare cuts immediately
 "India's two largest aviation hubs cut ATF tax. How much can airlines gain?")
OMCs raise petrol, diesel price by 90 paise per litre, 2nd hike in a week
Petrol now costs ₹98.64 a litre in the national capital, from earlier ₹97.77 a litre and diesel is priced higher at ₹91.58 per litre
 "OMCs raise petrol, diesel price by 90 paise per litre, 2nd hike in a week")
Edible oil imports rise 3% in FY26 on Nepal duty-free surge: Industry body
Refined soybean oil made up the bulk of Nepal's exports to India, with smaller volumes of sunflower oil, RBD Palmolein and rapeseed oil also traded
 "Edible oil imports rise 3% in FY26 on Nepal duty-free surge: Industry body")
Petrol, diesel prices raised by 90 paise in second rate hike in a week
In Delhi, petrol now retails at ₹98.64 per litre, up by 87 paise, while diesel is priced at ₹91.58 per litre, higher by 91 paise
 "Petrol, diesel prices raised by 90 paise in second rate hike in a week")
Rupee slides to new low of 96.4/$; bond yield surge 7 bps to 7.13%
The rupee weakened to a fresh low and bond yields climbed sharply as rising crude oil prices and higher US Treasury yields rattled financial markets
 "Rupee slides to new low of 96.4/$; bond yield surge 7 bps to 7.13%")
West Asia crisis: India to buy Russian oil despite US waiver lapse
India will continue purchasing Russian crude oil despite the expiry of the US waiver, while fuel retailers' under-recoveries have narrowed after the recent price hike
 "West Asia crisis: India to buy Russian oil despite US waiver lapse")
Piyush Goyal urges industry to cut dependence on capital goods imports
Goyal urges industry to cut import dependence as rupee hits fresh low and exports push intensifies
 "Piyush Goyal urges industry to cut dependence on capital goods imports")
India, Sweden aim to double bilateral trade and investment in five years
India and Sweden plan to double bilateral trade and investment in five years, while India and Norway elevated ties into a green strategic partnership
 "India, Sweden aim to double bilateral trade and investment in five years")
RBI decides against imposing additional capital buffer on banks
The Reserve Bank of India said prevailing systemic risk conditions do not warrant activating the countercyclical capital buffer for banks at this stage
 "RBI decides against imposing additional capital buffer on banks")
Mospi open to revamping ASUSE to better capture handloom, handicraft sector
Mospi Secretary Saurabh Garg said the ministry is open to refining ASUSE to generate more granular and actionable data for the handloom and handicraft sector
 "Mospi open to revamping ASUSE to better capture handloom, handicraft sector")
Fisme to Siam: Share rising input cost burden with MSME vendors
FISME has asked SIAM and automobile OEMs to help MSME auto component suppliers absorb rising wage, energy and raw material costs linked to the West Asia crisis
 "Fisme to Siam: Share rising input cost burden with MSME vendors")
India's copper import bill crosses ₹1 trillion as structural gaps widen
India's copper imports have surged more than 350 per cent in less than a decade amid rising demand, stagnant mining output, and weak refining economics
 "India's copper import bill crosses ₹1 trillion as structural gaps widen")
Fuel price hike cuts OMC losses by 25%; daily loss drops to ₹750 cr
The increase followed daily losses, climbing to an unprecedented ₹1,000 crore per day. The losses in a quarter rose to ₹1 lakh crore - enough to wipe out earnings of an entire year
 "Fuel price hike cuts OMC losses by 25%; daily loss drops to ₹750 cr")
Current account deficit to widen to 2.3% of GDP in FY27 from 0.9% in FY26
While India is above all the thresholds currently, it would fall below the 10th percentile threshold if the estimates on the BoP play out
 "Current account deficit to widen to 2.3% of GDP in FY27 from 0.9% in FY26")