Economy

India-EU FTA legal scrub to end in 10-12 days; pact likely by Dec 31: Goyal

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says the India-EU free trade agreement is on track for signing by December-end, while reiterating India's demand for a competitive edge in the interim US trade deal

Uttar Pradesh trade show may generate ₹25,000 crore boost for MSMEs

UPITS 2026 aims to connect nine million MSMEs with global buyers, targeting ₹20,000 crore in business opportunities and boosting Uttar Pradesh's export ambitions

West Asia crisis caused ₹74,781 cr loss on fuel sales for oil firms: Puri

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said rising crude prices during the West Asia conflict led to ₹74,781 crore in losses for state-run OMCs till June 30

Bhajan Lal Sharma's big build: Reshaping Rajasthan through infrastructure

Bhajan Lal Sharma discusses investment conversion, ease of doing business, tourism, fiscal discipline and his government's vision for a developed Rajasthan

Govt ramps up share sale plans to cushion budget from oil price impact

Life Insurance Corp. of India, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., and several state-controlled banks are among eight companies identified by officials for stake sales in the coming months

'Powered' up: Pvt projects pipeline expands 70% in Q1 to ₹13.1 trn

Private sector project announcements jumped over 70% in Q1FY27, led by power projects, even as government capex plans more than halved amid fiscal pressures

NITI Aayog plans policy to recover critical minerals from mine waste

A technical committee is examining royalty, incentives and commercial viability for extracting critical minerals from mining waste before submitting policy recommendations to the government

Datanomics: India's protein intake still comes largely from cereals

The debate over eggs in PM Poshan meals highlights a deeper issue: cereals remain India's primary protein source, with states having diversified diets showing better child nutrition

The new EPF playbook: Flexible withdrawals and firmer compliance

The notified framework under the Social Security Code retains contribution rates, eases withdrawal rules, mandates digital compliance and strengthens governance for exempted provident fund trusts

Moscow imports gasoline from New Delhi to mitigate fuel shortages

Russia begins importing gasoline from India to ease fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure, as energy trade between the two countries expands

Manufacturing PMI falls to 3-month low in June amid int'l demand slowdown

Output, new orders, exports and hiring lose momentum as softer demand and intense competition weigh on factory activity, though the sector remains in expansion territory

Russian crude oil imports reach record high in June as discounts widen

Russian crude imports rose to a record 2.58 million barrels a day in June as discounts widened and refiners diversified sourcing amid supply constraints from West Asia

GST collections rise 11% in June driven by robust import revenues

While net GST collections, after adjusting for refunds, increased to ₹1.62 trillion, gross GST collections rose to ₹1.95 trillion

VB-G RAM G Act comes into force: Centre hikes average wages by 10%

The Centre has notified minimum wages under the new VB-G RAM G scheme, raising the national effective floor wage to ₹327.4 a day, while Congress called the rates inadequate

AI becomes largest hiring driver as GCCs ramp up demand for digital talent

India's GCC hiring continues to grow despite a broader slowdown in white-collar recruitment, with AI skills driving nearly two-thirds of new jobs in 2026

ATF price slashed by ₹5/litre to ₹110 as global oil prices soften

This is the first reduction since the West Asia crisis led to a spike in jet fuel rates to a record high

Next trade order needs stronger developing-world voice: ICC Chair

Harsh Pati Singhania says his ICC tenure will focus on giving developing economies a stronger voice in global trade, AI governance and digital standards

Odisha approves ₹5,468 crore scheme for free education from KG to PG

The state Cabinet has approved a five-year scheme to provide free education in government and aided institutions, benefiting over 32 lakh students annually from the 2026-27 academic session

Centre lowers broken rice content in PDS rice, targets ₹2,161 crore savings

The permissible limit has been reduced from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for raw rice and from 16 per cent to 5 per cent for parboiled rice

Sitharaman begins four-day France visit to deepen economic, strategic ties

The finance minister will co-chair the India-France Economic and Financial Dialogue, meet business leaders and participate in a global economic forum during her four-day visit