Economy

Rare Earth Corridor gains momentum as Andhra targets ₹50,000 cr investment

State plans integrated rare earth ecosystem with mining, processing and manufacturing as India seeks to reduce dependence on China for strategic minerals

FTAs boost global demand for Indian talent, expand mobility options

Mobility provisions in India's trade deals are opening new visa pathways for skilled workers, as countries across Europe, Asia and Oceania seek Indian talent to address labour shortages

No plan to raise petrol, diesel prices after polls: Govt official

Retail petrol and diesel prices have remained unchanged for a record fourth year, even as conflict in West Asia has pushed crude oil costs up more than 50 per cent over the past two months

Hiring sentiment improves in H1FY27 but growth remains selective: TeamLease

TeamLease report sees modest rise in hiring outlook for April-September FY27, with firms focusing on productivity-led roles amid rising cost pressures and selective expansion

Trade split on cotton duty cut; risks flagged for farmers, CCI

As industry seeks lower cotton import duty amid rising prices, sections of trade warn it could hurt farmers, trigger distress selling, and lead to losses for the Cotton Corporation of India

India's industrial output growth slows to 5-month low of 4.1% in March

India's industrial production growth decelerated to a five-month low of 4.1 per cent in March on account of subdued manufacturing growth and almost flat expansion in the power sector amid the West Asia crisis, according to official data released on Tuesday.

Govt clarifies SEZ goods re-exported from DTA eligible for duty drawback

The instruction clarifies that goods supplied by an SEZ unit to the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) after payment of customs duties will be treated as imported goods if later re-exported

PPP lens shows India as world's third-largest economy in real terms

PPP-based estimates show India as the world's third-largest economy, highlighting how currency distortions mask real purchasing power, domestic demand strength, and global economic influence

China supplies over 30% of industrial goods; overdependence critical: GTRI

China accounts for 43 per cent of India's electronics imports, 40 per cent of machinery and computer imports, and 44 per cent of organic chemicals

Insurance for All by 2047: What India needs to fix to meet the goal

Irdai's 'Insurance for All by 2047' vision aims universal coverage, but falling penetration, rural access gaps and affordability challenges raise questions over achieving the target

Heatwaves, weak monsoon and oil surge may push India's inflation higher

This year's adverse weather conditions will likely push inflation above 5 per cent in the fiscal year beginning April 1, exceeding the RBI's projection of 4.6 per cent

NSO moots a new Index of Service Production with 2024-25 as base year

NSO proposes GST-based Index of Service Production to track high-frequency trends in services sector, addressing gaps in short-term economic indicators

India-New Zealand free-trade agreement sealed, to kick in by December

India gains 100% duty-free mkt access, $20 bn FDI commitments in 15 years

EOU to DTA services: RBI should allow payment in foreign exchange

TNC Rajagopalan answers readers' SME queries related to GST, export and import matters

Energy-driven economic shocks must be offset by productivity gains: CEA

CEA V Anantha Nageswaran calls for productivity gains to counter energy shocks from West Asia, highlights role of digital public infrastructure in building economic resilience

NCS portal registrations decline in FY26 amid Centre's digital push

Registrations of placement organisations saw the steepest fall, plunging 90.6 per cent from 181 in FY25 to just 17 in FY26

UP pushes pvt industrial park policy; firms eye plug-and-play projects

The push is part of a broader effort to accelerate infrastructure development and expand industrial capacity

India-New Zealand trade pact cuts fruit tariffs, boosts exports and visas

The agreement, concluded in December, will see New Zealand eliminate duties on all Indian exports, while India will reduce tariffs on 95 per cent of imports from the South Pacific nation

Basmati rice exporters urge govt action on shipping charges amid Iran war

The forum said war-risk surcharges have ranged from $800 to $6,000 per container, often imposed without prior notice or revised after cargo has already moved

India-New Zealand FTA to be signed today: Key gains, sectors, and impact

The agreement covers 20 chapters, including trade in goods, rules of origin, services, customs and trade facilitation, SPS, TBT, trade remedies, dispute settlement and legal provisions