Page 6 - Economy & Policy News

RBI dismisses gold sale rumours, physical reserves steady at 880.52 tonnes

The clarification from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) comes following reports that the RBI may have sold gold amounting to approximately $12 billion to shield its foreign-currency reserves

Engaged with US on Section 301 probe over forced labour concerns: Govt

US launched two separate Section 301 investigations on March 11 and 12, 2026, covering 60 economies over concerns related to forced labour and excess industrial capacity

India must challenge proposed 12.5% US tariff under Section 301 probe: GTRI

The US Trade Representative has proposed to impose 12.5 per cent additional duties on 54 countries, including India, for failing to prohibit the import of goods produced with forced labour

India's oil demand growth set for pandemic low on West Asia crisis

Oil demand growth is forecast at 78,000 barrels a day, according to Kpler Ltd., which has slashed its pre-war estimate by almost 40%

India, UK review CETA implementation, discuss roadmap for early rollout

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said in a post on X that they took stock of progress and worked though the sticking points

Spending cut by 50 ministries helps Centre meet FY26 fiscal deficit goal

Expenditure by 50 ministries and departments came in below revised estimates, helping the Centre contain the fiscal deficit despite lower-than-projected receipts

West Asia conflict: Trade optimism, supply crisis boost Indian tea demand

Merchant exporters are building inventories in anticipation of a recovery in shipments to West Asia, supporting orthodox tea prices despite higher freight costs and trade disruptions

Commerce ministry to launch PPI and a revamped WPI series on June 15

The new PPI framework is being built on supply and use tables, which officials said makes it more consistent with national accounts and reduces double counting

Datanomics: Can DKS sustain Siddaramaiah-led K'taka growth momentum?

As D.K. Shivakumar takes charge, Karnataka hands over a high-growth economy marked by rising incomes, expanding national share and investment-led fiscal management

Geopolitical uncertainty slows MSME credit growth: CRIF High Mark

CRIF High Mark said MSME credit growth moderated amid global uncertainty, while early-stage stress surfaced among micro borrowers, manufacturing firms and working-capital loans

Rupee weakness unlikely to trigger RBI rate hike; inflation in focus

June MPC meeting begins on Wednesday; decision to be announced on Friday

Fuelling the new normal: The high cost of insulating India's fuel users

India is bearing a high cost to insulate motorists, kitchens and flyers from large-scale disruptions in fuel supply

UK won't undermine India FTA benefits; steel imports below quota: Leong

House of Lords member Sonny Leong says the UK remains committed to the India FTA and that steel imports are currently well below proposed quota thresholds

Centre seeks state funding support for urban NH decongestion projects

States can choose from four funding models, including sharing land acquisition costs, to support ring roads, bypasses and elevated corridors around cities

Fuel price hikes could add up to 48 bps to inflation, warns Crisil

Crisil said cumulative increases in petrol and diesel prices could approach Rs 10 per litre, raising transport costs and exerting upward pressure on both food and core inflation

Odisha seeks Centre's backing for allocation of key mineral blocks to OMC

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has sought allocation of key bauxite and iron ore blocks to OMC and faster clearances to strengthen Odisha's mining sector

Energy ties in focus as Venezuela's acting President begins India visit

Delcy Rodriguez will visit energy installations, meet industry leaders and discuss bilateral cooperation as India increases Venezuelan oil imports amid West Asia disruptions

Why India needs cheaper finance to fight the rising cost of heatwaves

As heatwaves intensify, India needs more funding for climate adaptation. But rising borrowing costs and debt burdens are making climate finance harder and more expensive to access

Govt to phase out WPI, launch new Producer Price Index in 5 years

The five-year period would give sufficient time to users to switch from WPI to PPI

RBI may maintain status quo in June, hike rates twice in FY27: Economists

Most of the respondents expect the central bank to resume policy tightening later in FY27 amid mounting inflation risks