Economy
US trade officials to visit India next week to advance bilateral trade pact
A US delegation led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch will visit India from June 1-4 to advance negotiations on the proposed bilateral trade agreement
 "US trade officials to visit India next week to advance bilateral trade pact")
Supreme Court upholds 28% retrospective tax on online gaming firms
Top court also upholds states' right to ban online betting, gambling
 "Supreme Court upholds 28% retrospective tax on online gaming firms")
Cabinet extends SARTHAK-PDS scheme for 5 yrs with ₹25,530-crore outlay
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the SARTHAK-PDS scheme till March 2031 to strengthen foodgrain distribution and modernise the public distribution system
 "Cabinet extends SARTHAK-PDS scheme for 5 yrs with ₹25,530-crore outlay")
GST 2.0 guidelines fail to resolve refund delays, say experts
Businesses continue to struggle with delayed inverted duty refunds, despite means for quicker provisional payouts
 "GST 2.0 guidelines fail to resolve refund delays, say experts")
FY27 toll collection growth may moderate to 5-7% amid West Asia conflict
Crisil Ratings says slowing commercial traffic and geopolitical tensions may temper toll collection growth in FY27, though credit profiles of road assets are expected to remain stable
 "FY27 toll collection growth may moderate to 5-7% amid West Asia conflict")
Cabinet approves Sarthak-PDS scheme to modernise ration distribution
The Union Cabinet approved the Sarthak-PDS scheme, allocating ₹25,530 crores to support state governments' distribution of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
 "Cabinet approves Sarthak-PDS scheme to modernise ration distribution")
FM Sitharaman forgot fourth F - falling private investment: Congress
Congress targets Centre over economy, says Sitharaman ignored "fourth F" of falling private investment
 "FM Sitharaman forgot fourth F - falling private investment: Congress")
India and Canada to conclude Cepa by November, says Piyush Goyal
Carney, after a meeting with Goyal, called the Cepa between the two nations a "game changer".
 "India and Canada to conclude Cepa by November, says Piyush Goyal")
West Asia war: CNG prices rise by ₹2 a kg in Delhi, fourth hike in 2 weeks
MGL discontinues subsidies for commercial users
 "West Asia war: CNG prices rise by ₹2 a kg in Delhi, fourth hike in 2 weeks")
Lessons from income surveys by other countries offer a blueprint for India
What India's statisticians will actually borrow from any of this, and how well they will replicate in the Indian context is, however, yet to be seen
 "Lessons from income surveys by other countries offer a blueprint for India")
Moderation in revenue growth, margin looms for textile MSMEs: SME Tracker
Export-oriented RMG clusters such as Tirupur and Bengaluru are likely to see better revenue growth than domestic-focused clusters such as Kolkata and Kanchipuram
 "Moderation in revenue growth, margin looms for textile MSMEs: SME Tracker")
Anti-dumping duties can save India $3 billion per year in forex: Report
A report by C-DEP and Centre for WTO Studies says implementing pending DGTR recommendations could reduce forex outflow and support domestic industry with limited inflationary impact
 "Anti-dumping duties can save India $3 billion per year in forex: Report")
India's carbon market gathers pace as export markets raise cost of business
India's carbon market framework is moving towards implementation under the CCTS, but experts warn that verification gaps, weak penalties and limited sectoral coverage remain major concerns
 "India's carbon market gathers pace as export markets raise cost of business")
Credit guarantee scheme: Loan limit for large MFIs increased to ₹1K crore
Disbursements under the scheme are yet to begin, as microlenders had flagged that the ₹300 crore cap for large institutions was inadequate
 "Credit guarantee scheme: Loan limit for large MFIs increased to ₹1K crore")
Grade-A office vacancies may fall up to 16% in FY27: Crisil Ratings
Crisil Ratings says healthy leasing growth and steady demand-supply dynamics may reduce vacancy levels, though AI-led disruptions and geopolitical risks remain concerns
 "Grade-A office vacancies may fall up to 16% in FY27: Crisil Ratings")
Binding national floor wage may redefine states' minimum wage structures
India's new Labour Codes introduce a binding national floor wage, but experts warn the absence of a clear wage-setting formula could create uncertainty and uneven implementation
 "Binding national floor wage may redefine states' minimum wage structures")
Organised plywood industry flags diversion of agriculture-grade urea
The organised plywood sector has urged the Centre to curb diversion of subsidised agricultural urea into industrial use amid rising fertiliser subsidy costs and supply pressures
 "Organised plywood industry flags diversion of agriculture-grade urea")
Centre may have to tweak VGF rules for strategic Rs 48,862-cr Galathea port
The Great Nicobar transhipment port project may require major tweaks to viability gap funding norms amid strategic imperatives, commercial risks and environmental concerns
 "Centre may have to tweak VGF rules for strategic Rs 48,862-cr Galathea port")
Experts seek import discipline, trade reforms amid West Asia tensions
Experts at a Think Change Forum roundtable called for tighter import controls, tax stability and faster trade remedies to protect India's economy from global disruptions
 "Experts seek import discipline, trade reforms amid West Asia tensions")
Enforcing anti-dumping duties can save India ₹28,540 cr annually: Report
The report has examined the effects of anti-dumping duties on downstream costs, inflation, MSMEs, domestic capacity, and investments
 "Enforcing anti-dumping duties can save India ₹28,540 cr annually: Report")