Business
In A First, SBI Ropes In Japan’s MUFG Bank For M&A Financing Foray
MUMBAI: Within a month of the central bank issuing the final guidelines for acquisition financing, State Bank of India has roped in the Japanese banking giant MUFG Bank for this, along with collaboration in other financial deals, by inking a strategic partnership agreement, which also seeks to strengthen the...
Crisil Projects 7.1 Per Cent Growth For India In FY27, Flags West Asia Crisis
NEW DELHI: The Indian economy is projected to grow 7.1 per cent in the financial year 2026–27 (FY27), supported by private consumption and a mild pick-up in private investment, but with risks tilted to the downside as global trade tensions, tariff actions and geopolitical frictions keep the external environment...
Economists See Downside Risk Of Over 50 Basis Points To FY27 GDP Growth
NEW DELHI: A sustained surge in crude oil prices amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict could shave off more than 50 basis points from India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in FY27, economists warned on Wednesday. The Economic Survey 2025-26 projected real GDP growth for FY27 at 6.8–7.2%. Brent rose to...
Govt To Retain 2-6 Per Cent Inflation Target For FY27-FY31
NEW DELHI: The Centre has decided to keep the inflation target unchanged at 4%, with a tolerance band of two percentage points on either side, for the Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India for the next five years. A senior official confirmed this decision, noting that...
FDI Restrictions Relaxed For China, Other Countries Under Press Note 3
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday eased the restrictions on investments from countries sharing land borders with India, including China, by allowing investments through the automatic route for non-controlling stakes below 10 per cent. The amendments to Press Note 3 of 2020...
PM Modi Calls For Cushioning West Asia Crisis Impact Amid Supply Fears
NEW DELHI: Amid concerns over India’s energy security and a looming shortage of cooking gas and fertilisers due to the conflict in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked ministries to work in a collective and coordinated manner with respective stakeholders to cushion the impact on citizens,...
Blueprint For Multi-Domain Military Reforms, Capability Upgrades Unveiled
NEW DELHI: An ambitious vision document broadly outlining a series of strategic reforms, capability enhancements and organisational changes required to bolster the Indian military was unveiled by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday. The document, prepared by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), is a strategic blueprint to...
Centre Nets Rs 73,204 Crore From CPSE Dividends, Beats Target
NEW DELHI: The Centre’s dividend receipts from central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) have exceeded the budget target of Rs 71,000 crore by collecting Rs 73,204 crore as on Tuesday. In the revised estimates for FY26, the government pegged CPSE dividend receipts at Rs 71,000 crore, marginally higher than the...
Monthly SIP Contributions Decline By 4 Per Cent In February
MUMBAI: The mutual fund industry saw a 3.9% month-on-month drop in collections through systematic investment plans in February – from Rs 31,002 crore to Rs 29,845 crore. This was the first monthly drop since November. The contributing SIP accounts have also seen a decline of about 4.8 million from...
Govt Sets Up 17-Member Committee For Larger Reforms In SEZ Policy
NEW DELHI: The government is now planning to approach the process of reforms in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) ecosystem through a different route and for that it has set up a 17-member committee. The panel, composed of representatives of the Department of Commerce, Department for Promotion of Industry...
RBI Adopts Calibrated Approach To Liquidity Management Amid Tax Outflows
MUMBAI: To meet liquidity pressure because of advance tax outflows this month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has adopted a measured approach with its latest announcement of open-market operations (OMOs), worth ₹1 trillion. While the immediate trigger is seasonal tax outflows, market participants said the move reflected broader...
India Taps Alternative Crude Supplies As Iran Conflict Drags On
NEW DELHI: Indian refiners have begun negotiating for additional crude cargoes from the US, Russia and West Africa to ensure supplies remain adequate in the event of the Middle East conflict drags on for a longer period, industry officials and analysts said. Refineries, which convert crude oil into fuels...
Government Eases Approval For Minor Bilateral MoUs And Agreements, MEA Clearance Suffices
NEW DELHI: Bilateral agreements, which have no financial or serious security implications, will no longer require prior Cabinet approval with the Cabinet Secretariat making it clear in a recent communication that a green signal from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will suffice on the condition that it is...
Foreign Banks’ Credit Card Base Shrinks As Local Rivals Step Up
MUMBAI: Foreign banks, once dominant players in India’s credit card market, have been losing ground as domestic lenders expand aggressively in the segment. In 2025, foreign banks recorded around 6% year-on-year contraction in active credit cards, alongside a decline of over 63 basis points in their share of total...
Exports Across Sectors May Take A Hit: Report
NEW DELHI: Rising geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could affect several sectors of the Indian economy, including basmati rice, fertilisers, airlines and energy-linked industries, according to a report by Crisil Ratings. “If the ongoing geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle...
SBI Strongest Indian Bank; HDFC Bank Leads In Brand Value: Brand Finance
MUMBAI: State Bank of India (SBI) has been ranked the 16th strongest bank globally and the only Indian name with AAA+ rating, the highest accolade for brand strength, according to the 2026 Banking 500 journal released by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance on Thursday. The report also names HDFC...
India-Finland Sign MoU On Mobility Aim To Double Trade By 2030
NEW DELHI: India and Finland on Thursday agreed to double the bilateral trade to $ 2.6 billion in the next five years, on the back of opportunities offered by the Free Trade Agreement (FTA between India and the European Union. During the state visit of president of Finland Alexander...
Maharashtra Remains India’s Largest Economy But Posts Slowest Growth Among Top Four States
MUMBAI: Maharashtra continues to remain India’s largest state economy in absolute terms, but its economic growth has been the slowest among the country’s four biggest state economies over the past four years, according to official data. The state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected at Rs 42,67,771 crore...
