Page 2 - Himanshi Bhardwaj

WPI inflation rises to 38-month high of 3.88% in March on fuel, inputs

Wholesale inflation surged to a 38-month high in March, driven by fuel, primary goods, and manufactured products, with analysts expecting further upward pressure

IMF lifts India FY27 growth to 6.5% as lower US tariffs offset risks

IMF has raised India's FY27 growth forecast to 6.5 per cent, saying lower US tariffs could offset the impact of West Asia tensions even as global growth and trade outlook weaken

SVAMITVA boosts rural credit access, loan amounts rise 23%: EAC-PM

SVAMITVA scheme is boosting rural credit access, with property cards enabling households to use land as collateral and increasing sanctioned loan amounts by 23%

Retail inflation rises to 3.4% in March on higher food, fuel prices

India's retail inflation rose to 3.4% in March, driven by higher food and fuel prices, with economists warning of further upside risks amid global uncertainties

9.85 mn houses power rural-led unincorporated construction surge: NSO

NSO study shows household-led construction dominates unincorporated sector with strong rural skew, high labour intensity and reliance on internal funding

ADB pegs India FY27 growth at 6.9% supported by reforms, trade deals

Multilateral lender predicts economic growth to rebound to 7.3% in FY28 driven by EU trade pact and a rise in government staff's income

West Asia oil shock threatens India despite robust buffers: World Bank

High oil prices pose risks but India's strong buffers, resilient exports and policy space can help navigate global uncertainty, says the World Bank

Women's credit expands, but entry of new borrowers slows: NITI report

Lending to women continues to grow, but share of first-time borrowers declines in microfinance, even as retail credit sees rising participation

Centrally funded infrastructure projects log 17.02% cost jump in February

Cost overruns in centrally funded infrastructure projects rose to 17.02 per cent in February, pushing revised estimates to Rs 42.5 trillion across 1,948 ongoing projects

West Asia tensions likely to heighten fiscal risks, says Govinda Rao

Economist M Govinda Rao warns rising geopolitical tensions could expose India's fiscal vulnerabilities, calling for reforms in GST, deficits, and public spending

GeM records ₹18.4 trillion GMV since inception; MSMEs dominate FY26

Government e-Marketplace records strong procurement growth, with MSMEs leading participation and AI-driven tools enhancing transparency, efficiency, and monitoring across transactions

'₹12,754 cr misclassified, ₹54,282 cr in pending utilisation certificates'

Audit shows delays, misbookings affecting transparency in Union accounts

States spend just 55% of annual capex target by February: CAG data

Twenty-two states spend just over half of their FY26 capex target by February, lagging behind the Centre, while revenue spending and tax collections show steadier progress

IIP growth rose to 5.2% in February as manufacturing output climbs

Industrial output growth edges up to 5.2% in February, led by manufacturing recovery, while electricity and mining output show mixed trends amid global pressures

Unincorporated sector establishments increased 8% last year, shows survey

India's unincorporated sector saw nearly 8% growth in establishments and over 6% rise in employment in 2025, with GVA expanding 10.87%, reflecting steady expansion

Expedite WPI base year revision, says Parliamentary panel report

Committee asks DPIIT to align WPI with revised GDP, CPI and IIP series, and roll out producer price indices to improve price measurement and data accuracy

India Inc to pull back on capex by 16.5% in FY27, says NSO Survey

Private sector capex intentions decline 16.5 per cent to Rs 9.55 trillion in FY27, reflecting a cautious investment outlook despite modest rise in per-enterprise spending

Capex pours into 3 states, yet efficiency blooms elsewhere: Report

UP, Maharashtra, and Gujarat dominate capital expenditure, while Karnataka and Telangana lead in capital efficiency, highlighting divergence in investment patterns across states

Super-rich tax may address inequality, says former CEA Kaushik Basu

Kaushik Basu says progressive taxation on very high incomes can reduce inequality without weakening enterprise, while experts stress restoring trust through jobs and welfare systems

Green industrial push 'strategic necessity', says EAC-PM chairman

EAC-PM Chairman S Mahendra Dev says geopolitical tensions and energy shocks highlight need for green industrialisation to ensure energy security and sustain growth