Economy

Why India's state accounts don't add up, distorting deficits and debt

Misclassification is rife, affecting compliance under FRBM Act, and distorting revenue surplus, fiscal deficit and debt ratios. IMF doesn't like it. Now, CAG is set to clamp down on the bad practic

FY26 GDP to grow at 7.4%, shows resilience despite external headwinds

The First Advance Estimates have incorporated industrial production data for two additional months (October and November), along with select lead indicators for December

E-way bill generation hits fresh high in December on strong goods movement

December saw the highest-ever e-way bill generation, signalling strong goods movement, improved consumption, and the impact of GST 2.0 rate rationalisation

Govt launches 2-day conference on labour codes, asks states to notify rules

This is the first of six regional conferences planned by the Central government, covering all states, Union territories and key stakeholders

FY26 first advance GDP estimates show infra investment up, consumption flat

NSO data shows infrastructure investment gaining momentum in FY26 on strong public capex, while household consumption growth is expected to ease marginally

Fiscal deficit target in reach despite lower nominal GDP growth estimate

The Budget estimates for this year had assumed a nominal GDP growth of 10.1 per cent

Cut imports, boost exports to become 3rd-largest economy: Gadkari

The road transport and highways minister noted that the use of bio-bitumen, a petroleum-free component, in road construction is a transformative step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047

India's economy to grow 7.4% in FY26, first advance estimates show

The projection formed part of India's first advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP), which is subject to revisions as data coverage improves

UBS cuts rupee March forecast to 92, expects short-lived US deal relief

From near 90 per dollar levels currently, UBS's forecast implies a roughly 2 per cent depreciation over three months, well beyond the March ​forward rate that's near 90.55

India should boost silver processing and diversify imports, says GTRI

In FY25, India exported just $478.4 million of silver products while importing $4.83 billion, underscoring its deep import dependence

Indian exporters risk losing US orders without January trade deal

The punitive 50 per cent US tariffs since August already hurt the exporters' order volumes in the typically busy winter and Christmas season in 2025

India imported €144 billion worth of Russian oil since Ukraine war: CREA

India has been the second-largest buyer of Russian oil behind China, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)

Piyush Goyal's Brussels visit to give final push to EU FTA negotiations

Goyal will visit Brussels on Jan 8-9 to hold high-level talks with EU officials, as India and the European Union seek to resolve key differences and fast-track their long-pending free trade agreement

OECD Pillar Two safe-harbour rules offer limited relief to Indian MNEs

Tax experts say the extension is relevant for Indian MNEs with overseas operations, even though India itself has not yet implemented Pillar Two

First FY26 GDP advance estimates on Wednesday; growth seen at 7.4% or above

The First Advance Estimates provide the earliest projection of annual economic growth by the statistics ministry and forms the base for key FY27 Budget calculations

Ind-Ra sees 'Goldilocks' FY27 as domestic reforms offset tariff risks

External demand is expected to fare better in FY27 than in FY26, aided by recently concluded trade agreements with the UK, New Zealand and Oman, and the prospect of a US trade deal later in the fiscal

India's service sector growth plunges to 11-month low in December

The HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers' index (PMI) fell to 58 in December from 59.8 in November

Big capex challenge: Few sectors left to absorb infra spending push

With roads and railways nearing capacity limits and aviation largely privatised, the government is turning to ports and shipping to sustain its capex push in FY27

Broken Data: How states misclassify spending and distort fiscal math

The CAG has noted that such misclassification affects compliance under the FRBM Act, distorting revenue surplus, fiscal deficit and debt ratios

Farm producers' income more than doubled during Modi years, shows new paper

A study by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand shows farmers' income jumped 126 per cent between 2014-15 and 2023-24, surpassing the target of doubling farmers' incomes set by the Modi government