Economy & Policy News

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

Weekly policy watch: India-New Zealand FTA, manufacturing output in focus

A new trade pact with New Zealand, industrial production data and manufacturing trends to shape India's policy and economic outlook this week

Ashok Lahiri to Gobardhan Das: A NITI reboot amid shifting global sands

The Centre has overhauled NITI Aayog's top leadership, appointing Ashok Lahiri as vice-chairperson and reshuffling full-time members ahead of key policy decisions for Viksit Bharat@2047

Q4 hit but private capital expenditure lifts FY26 investments 32%

While proposed investments from domestic private investors improved 40.7 per cent to ₹34.06 trillion, foreign investors' plans more than doubled, jumping 144.05 per cent to ₹6.91 trillion

Russian oil import data 'confidential', exempt under RTI, says CIC

During the hearing recently, the appellant argued that the information was not provided and said he wanted to understand how India is functioning in the sector

Why India must ramp up coal gasification as part of its energy strategy

India's abundant coal reserves and rising energy demand make coal gasification a key strategy to reduce import dependence, boost industrial fuel supply, and strengthen long-term energy security

Exports to New Zealand won't be taxed: Goyal ahead of FTA signing

The FTA aims to double bilateral trade and facilitate duty-free access to the island nation's markets for Indian companies, as well as bring in $20 billion of investment over the next 15 years

West Asia conflict: India leans on US for LPG amid Gulf supply crunch

Highest LPG volumes sourced from US, as imports from key West Asian suppliers decline

Weekly economy wrap: West Asia shock tests India, demand holds firm

Economy wrap April 20-26: From RBI caution to export resilience and trade tensions, the week showed an economy navigating global risks while leaning on domestic demand

FTA with New Zealand to benefit Agra's leather exporters: Piyush Goyal

The FTA aims to double bilateral trade and facilitate duty-free access to the island nation's markets for Indian companies, as well as bring in $20 billion of investment over the next 15 years

'India diversifying strategy to boost exports to China, reduce imports'

India's exports to China rose about 37 per cent to $19.47 billion in 2025-26 from $14.25 billion in 2024-25. The exports stood at $0.71 billion in 1997-98

Rupee 'fundamentally undervalued,' levels may attract investors: CEA

The currency has given up much of the gains fueled by the central bank's recent measures to curb speculative arbitrage bets that had pushed the rupee to record lows last month,