Economy
Cabinet approves India-New Zealand trade pact, paves way for signing
Once signed, this deal will mark India's seventh trade agreement since 2021 and a part of its diversification strategy at a time when global trade is up for a major reset
 "Cabinet approves India-New Zealand trade pact, paves way for signing")
India-Oman trade agreement opens the door to social security talks
In 2024, India's bilateral services trade with Oman stood at $863 million, with exports of $665 million and imports of $198 million, resulting in a surplus of $447 million for India
 "India-Oman trade agreement opens the door to social security talks")
Piyush Goyal to make final push for India-EU discussions in new year
Government officials said that India and the EU are continuing to engage with each other to narrow the differences and close the free trade agreement (FTA) talks at the earliest
 "Piyush Goyal to make final push for India-EU discussions in new year")
Govt to release compliance handbook for new labour Codes: Labour secy
Gurnani said that both the Centre and state governments will help the labour inspectors understand their new role of inspector-cum-facilitator and provide them with training
 "Govt to release compliance handbook for new labour Codes: Labour secy")
Net direct tax collections rose 8% to ₹17.04 trn until December 17
Net direct mopup growth lags Budget goal
 "Net direct tax collections rose 8% to ₹17.04 trn until December 17")
Artificial Intelligence: From workforce disruption to innovation engine
AI is already delivering higher productivity, faster decision-making, and better outcomes across industries
 "Artificial Intelligence: From workforce disruption to innovation engine")
Destination Europe: India's EV exports surge makes a mark in the West
But the country's shipments to traditional strongholds in Africa and Latin America remain tethered to internal combustion engines
 "Destination Europe: India's EV exports surge makes a mark in the West")
Net direct tax collections reach ₹17.04 trillion till Dec 17 in FY26, up 8%
Net direct tax collections for FY 2025-26 rose 8 per cent to ₹17.04 trillion as on December 17, led by higher corporate tax and lower refunds
 "Net direct tax collections reach ₹17.04 trillion till Dec 17 in FY26, up 8%")
India's trade deficit with China may reach $106 billion in 2025: GTRI
In 2025, exports are estimated to improve to $17.5 billion, still well below earlier levels, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said in its report
 "India's trade deficit with China may reach $106 billion in 2025: GTRI")
India imposes five-year anti-dumping duty on some Chinese steel imports
India has imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on China's cold-rolled electrical steel after a DGTR probe found low-priced imports were hurting domestic manufacturers and squeezing profitability
 "India imposes five-year anti-dumping duty on some Chinese steel imports")
Why China rose and India lost ground in the global middle-class map
An unambitious elite spoiled by finance - plus a working class held back by inadequate education and inequities of caste and gender - are stymying the emergence of a global middle class in India
 "Why China rose and India lost ground in the global middle-class map")
Trade deal: India gets zero-duty access on over 99% exports to Oman
Second Cepa with a Gulf nation; labour-intensive sectors to get full benefit
 "Trade deal: India gets zero-duty access on over 99% exports to Oman")
Datanomics: More women seek jobs, but stiff labour market a challenge
Despite a sharp rise in women's labour force participation, India has seen little improvement in female employment rates or women's share in labour income
 "Datanomics: More women seek jobs, but stiff labour market a challenge")
RBI likely made $30 bn intervention in FX market in Jun-Oct period
India's foreign exchange reserves stood at $703 billion in June 2025 but declined to $687.2 billion in the week ended December 5, as per the latest data released by the RBI
 "RBI likely made $30 bn intervention in FX market in Jun-Oct period")
Stalin seeks solution to US tariff issue, warns of layoffs in textiles
Stalin said the impact is spreading across districts, with exporters in Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Erode and Karur facing a combined daily revenue loss of ₹60 crore
 "Stalin seeks solution to US tariff issue, warns of layoffs in textiles")
India's crude oil import bill flat in November despite higher purchases
India's oil imports were worth $9.9 billion, largely unchanged Y-o-Y in November, as global prices slid
 "India's crude oil import bill flat in November despite higher purchases")
Food-delivery platforms generate ₹1.2 trillion, support 1.37 million jobs
Study by NCAER and Prosus finds sector growing faster than economy, boosting restaurants and labour markets
 "Food-delivery platforms generate ₹1.2 trillion, support 1.37 million jobs")
Chhattisgarh Assembly passes its biggest supplementary budget of ₹35K cr
To strengthen the paddy procurement mechanism, ₹12,424 crore has been provided to the Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) to offset procurement losses
 "Chhattisgarh Assembly passes its biggest supplementary budget of ₹35K cr")
India-Oman free trade pact to give new energy to bilateral ties: PM Modi
PM Modi informed the gathering about the reforms, including GST and IBC, India has implemented in the recent years
 "India-Oman free trade pact to give new energy to bilateral ties: PM Modi")
India consolidating role as global services exporter; EU, China lag: KKR
While Europe doesn't have a strong system for offering financial services, China needs a stronger domestic services industry to create jobs and help its economy move out of deflation
 "India consolidating role as global services exporter; EU, China lag: KKR")
