Page 33 - Economy & Policy News

Why the monsoon could decide whether India's inflation stays in check

Food accounts for nearly 40% of India's CPI basket. That makes the monsoon one of the earliest signals of whether inflation stays under control or becomes a policy concern

ONGC approves strategic oil reserve expansion after Iran war exposes risks

The ONGC board gave the green light to add 1.75 million tons of capacity in Mangalore, Karnataka, to national crude reserves, according to a filing

From crops to consumers: How a weak monsoon affects India's economy

A poor monsoon can trigger a chain reaction across the economy, from lower farm output and higher food prices to weaker demand and changes in RBI policy

From splurge to squeeze: Women's cash schemes face fiscal reality

Widening deficits force states to rationalise and cut back outlays, reduce beneficiaries

Pandemic years raised debt levels: Here're top five indebted states

States' debt remains above pre-pandemic levels due to Covid-era borrowings, though interest-free central loans for capital spending have eased the overall burden

Reality check: From UP to TN, 5 states promise to chip in combined $5 trn

Rupee depreciation and slow growth weigh on states' ambitious economic goals

From Bihar to Kerala, state Budgets chart divergent paths in social welfare

High spenders continue to struggle with poor outcomes, while top performers pull ahead with lower resource allocations

Northeast focus picks up pace as Centre steps up infrastructure spending

The Centre has accelerated infrastructure and connectivity projects across the Northeast, positioning the Ashtalakshmi region as a gateway to Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy

The capex fault line running via Indian states: Odisha leads, Punjab lags

While Odisha commits 6.5% of its economic output to infrastructure, Punjab and Kerala are trapped by welfare and interest bills

Rich states pull ahead in tax self-reliance; Haryana tops, Bihar trails

Regions trailing in own tax revenue remain heavily dependent on central funds as the fiscal divide widens

Subsidy burden rises to ₹4.4 trn but moderating as states curb spending

States spent as much as 8.6 per cent of their revenue receipts on subsidies in FY18. Such spending rose to 9.4 per cent in FY21 and to 10.8 per cent in FY25

States up spending but get uneven results in health and education

Per-capita deficit and infrastructure gaps mean increased budgetary allocations are failing to deliver development targets

States' fiscal math in the age of 'freebies': Stable, but strains remain

While aggregate finances remain stable, high debt and welfare handouts weigh on some budgets

India's energy intensity falls 30% since 1991, easing oil shock risks

This means that while the economy may use larger amounts of energy on an absolute basis as it grows, it is now generating more output per unit of energy consumed than before

Dharavi redevelopment project: Maharashtra steps up land consolidation

Maharashtra has stepped up land consolidation for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, issuing lease termination notices while assuring rehabilitation for eligible residents

Centre waives Customs duty on charger parts and battery machinery

Duty exemptions on display assembly and wireless charging components, along with expanded relief for lithium-ion cell machinery, aim to boost domestic manufacturing and value addition

India to import uranium from Australia under nuclear deal, deepen ties

Both nations announce 18 outcomes, to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation

Montek Singh Ahluwalia urges states to ease retrenchment ceiling

Former Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia urged states to liberalise retrenchment norms and cut duties on industrial inputs to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness

CBDT to reflect foreign financial information in AIS, Form 26AS under AEOI

The tax department will upload foreign financial information received under international information-sharing agreements into taxpayers' AIS and Form 26AS to improve transparency and compliance

India, Aus deepen energy ties, operationalise civil nuclear cooperation

The two countries finalised arrangements for long-term Australian uranium exports to India and expanded cooperation in critical minerals, mining, renewable energy and energy security