Page 4 - India

India–New Zealand seal FTA: What the trade deal means for both nations

India and New Zealand have concluded a free trade agreement after nine months of negotiations. The deal offers zero-duty access for all Indian exports,opens new visa pathways for skilled professionals

Rupee outlook: Why the currency may end 2025 around 90, despite RBI support | Stock market

The Indian rupee has been volatile against the US dollar this year. A new Business Standard poll suggests the currency may settle near 90 per dollar by the end of 2025

Explained: Securities Markets Code Bill

India’s securities laws are set for their biggest overhaul in decades. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has introduced the Securities Markets Code Bill, 2025

Explained: India-Oman trade agreement: Why the FTA matters

India and Oman have signed a major free trade agreement that gives Indian exports near-total duty-free access to Oman. From goods and services to jobs and geopolitics

Parliament clears 100% FDI in insurance: What it means

The Lok Sabha has passed an insurance reform bill, raising foreign direct investment in the sector to 100%. The government says this will bring capital, competition, and better coverage.

Big Nuclear Shift for India! All about the new SHANTI Bill and it's major provisions

India is on the brink of a major shift in its energy policy. The SHANTI Bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet and tabled in Parliament, could fundamentally change how nuclear power is built

Never allowed territory for activities against Bangladesh's interests: Govt

India on Sunday asserted that it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of Bangladesh and pressed for holding the upcoming parliamentary polls in that country in a peaceful atmosphere. India's reaction came hours after the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned Indian envoy to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, and conveyed its concern over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's "incendiary" statements from Indian soil. According to a readout released by Dhaka, the foreign ministry also brought to Verma's notice the activities of some members of Hasina-led Awami League while staying in India. "India categorically rejects the assertions made by the interim government of Bangladesh in its press note," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It said India has consistently reiterated its position in favour of free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere. "India has never allowed its territory to be used for activi

India not part of US-led nine-nation semicon supply chain coalition

The US has launched Pax Silica, a nine-member coalition to secure the semiconductor supply chain from minerals to AI infrastructure. India, building its chip ecosystem, has been left out

Goa nightclub fire: How the Luthra brothers fled India and were tracked down

A deadly fire at a Goa nightclub killed 25 people, and its owners fled India within hours. Their escape from an IndiGo flight to a Phuket hotel named Indigo didn’t last long.

Why India’s 2025 IPO wave failed retail investors

India saw 232 IPOs in 2025, a record year. But behind the frenzy was a harsh truth: from tech unicorns to big consumer brands, many of the year’s most hyped IPOs failed to deliver returns.

Mexico to raise tariffs on India and key Asian economies from 2026: What it means

Mexico has approved a major tariff overhaul that will impact imports from countries without trade agreements, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Starlink moves closer to India launch: What we know so far

Elon Musk’s Starlink is gearing up to enter India’s internet market with satellite-based services. Here’s a clear, concise breakdown of the regulatory status, expected pricing, competition.

India, EU aim to seal trade pact at the earliest: Commerce Secretary

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal held discussions with EU commissioner for trade and economic security, during December 8-9 to provide strategic guidance to the FTA negotiating teams

India, US seek additional punitive measures against LeT, JeM, their backers

India and the US have sought additional punitive measures like asset freeze and arms embargo by the UN against Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, their proxy groups and backers. The two sides also called for additional designations of ISIS and al-Qa'ida affiliates. These terror groups were designated by the UN and they have already been facing various punitive actions under the global body's sanctions regime. India and the US deliberated on boosting cooperation to combat terrorism at a meeting of their joint working group (JWG) on counter terrorism as well as during deliberations at 'designations dialogue', held on December 3 in New Delhi. In the talks, the Indian side thanked the US State Department for designating The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of LeT, as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The TRF had taken responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack. The two sides emphasised tha

NEW LABOUR CODES: IMPACT ON JOBS IN INDIA

Former labour secretary, Sumita Dawra, decodes the new labour codes, in a conversation with Nivedita Mookerji, executive editor, Business Standard, and AK Bhattacharya, editorial director,

India cautions lenders on financing new solar module units amid oversupply

Several Indian companies have expanded solar module capacity over the past three years, targeting exports to the United States

Enhancing margins: Weak rupee a silver lining for IT services companies

The Indian IT services industry derives roughly 90 per cent of its revenues from global markets-about 57 per cent from the US and around 28 per cent from Europe

RBI steers away from aggressive intervention as rupee touches new lows

RBI is intervening mainly to smooth volatility rather than defend specific levels as the rupee hits fresh lows amid outflows and trade-deal uncertainty, with its forward position limiting room to act

Putin in Delhi: Can India plug its $60bn Russia trade gap?

India and Russia are chasing a $100 billion trade goal, but India is staring at a $60 billion trade deficit driven largely by Russian oil.

ADB approves $650 mn loan to boost India's rooftop solar rollout by 2027

Multilateral development bank ADB has approved a USD 650 million (about Rs 5,780 crore) policy-based loan to help the Government of India accelerate rooftop solar adoption and expand access to clean, affordable energy for 10 million households by 2027. The financing under Subprogram 1 of the Accelerating Affordable and Inclusive Rooftop Solar Systems Development Program will support the government's flagship initiative Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) which aims to make rooftop solar systems widely accessible nationwide, ADB said in a statement on Tuesday. The programme is accelerating India's clean energy transition by removing long-standing barriers to rooftop solar adoption, including financing constraints and regulatory gaps, ADB Country Director for India Mio Oka said. It is making rooftop solar affordable and accessible for millions of households while creating green jobs, empowering women, and strengthening the financial health of the power sector, she