Economy & Policy News

Reliance drives India's Venezuela oil imports to seven-year high in Oct

Venezuelan crude deliveries to India are expected to more than double to about 465,000 barrels a day this month, from 196,000 in September, according to Kpler estimate

FX reserves fall for fourth week, down $50 billion from September peak

The reserves have dropped from their recent peak of $785.71 billion on September 4, a decline of about $50 billion in less than a ‌month

Digital credit push for micro firms as govt asks banks to step up lending

Banks have been asked to strengthen end-to-end digital lending and widen access to UPI credit lines as the government pushes deeper financial inclusion

Piyush Goyal invites US firms to explore investment opportunities in India

He met President and COO of Blackstone Jonathan Gray, and Chairman of Blackstone's International Private Equity business Prakash Melwani

India gains ground in cleantech manufacturing as supply chains diversify

Policy support, a large domestic RE market and the global push to diversify supply chains are drawing manufacturing investment to India, though batteries and upstream solar components need to catch up

Coming soon: Faceless assessment for businesses with CGST registrations

Move aims to address a key administrative problem faced by large businesses with operations spread across multiple locations

Proposed GST changes aim to make India's services exports more competitive

Proposed changes seek to widen the definition of services exports, ease rules around overseas branches and allow faster GST refunds through a risk-based mechanism

India sets up unified transport authority to reshape infra planning

The ITLA will function as the apex body for integrated transport and logistics planning, research, project appraisal and monitoring, policy support and data analytics

India services PMI rises to 55.2 in September amid demand recovery

India's services sector growth rose to a three-month high in September as new orders and international demand improved, while input-cost pressures eased to a 10-month low

World Bank lifts India FY27 growth view to 7.1% on robust domestic demand

World Bank raises India's FY27 growth forecast to 7.1 per cent from 6.6 per cent but flags risks from high oil prices, El Niño and capital flow volatility

Union Cabinet approves ₹10,000 crore commitment to SME Growth Fund

The fund will provide growth capital to SMEs seeking to expand capacity, adopt technology, enter global markets, make acquisitions and join global value chains

Monsoon deficit threatens crop output, adds to food inflation risks

India ended the southwest monsoon season with a 13 per cent rainfall deficit, with uneven distribution hurting key farm regions and raising concerns over kharif yields, rabi sowing and food prices

Flexi staffing employment rises 2.6% in Q1FY27, manufacturing leads

India's formal flexi staffing workforce reached 1.95 million in Q1FY27, up 7.5 per cent year-on-year, as manufacturing and consumer-facing sectors drove hiring

Centre expands permissible works under VB-G RAM G by 41% over MGNREGA

The Centre has raised permissible works under VB-G RAM G to 375 from 266 under MGNREGA, adding a dedicated category for extreme weather and disaster preparedness

India's manufacturing sentiment improved in Q2FY27, shows Ficci Survey

India's manufacturing sentiment improved in Q2 FY27 with capacity utilisation rising to 75% and 95% units noting steady or higher output, says Ficci survey

Cabinet approves new body to integrate transport and logistics planning

The Union Cabinet approved setting up of a Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring in the broad domains of transportation and logistics.

RBI set for first rate hike in almost four years as rupee, inflation weigh

A hike would put the Reserve Bank of India alongside Asian peers that have already begun tightening and mark the first such move under Governor Sanjay Malhotra

GST arrests may need court nod: What it could mean for taxpayers

A proposed GST rule could shift arrest powers from tax officers to courts. Here's how GST arrests work now and what could possibly change

Govt may tap Taiwan, Singapore institutes to build chip talent pool

"The idea is to develop a steady pool of trained semiconductor engineers and shop-floor workers for allied components who can be hired directly from these institutes"

Trade negotiations with US have reached a 'plateau': FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says further concessions for either side 'very difficult'