Business
India’s Trade Deficit With China May Reach $106 Billion In 2025: GTRI
NEW DELHI: India’s trade deficit with China is expected to reach $106 billion in 2025 as imports are rising faster than the country’s exports to the neighbouring country, think tank GTRI said on Friday. It said that the country’s exports to China fell from $23 billion in 2021 to...
Donald Trump Signs Defence Law Backing Deeper India-US Ties, QUAD
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed into law an annual defence policy bill that highlights broadening America’s engagement with India, including through the Quad to advance the shared objective of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and address the challenge posed by China. The National Defence Authorisation...
Funds For Rural Roads Scheme Grossly Underutilised
NEW DELHI: The Centre has spent only about Rs 2,000 crore so far in the current financial year under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), accounting for just 10.5% of the Rs 19,000 crore allocated for the scheme in the Union Budget. Even if another Rs 2,000...
India Accelerates Free Trade Agreements To Counter US Tariffs And Expand Exports
NEW DELHI: India has accelerated a push to finalize several free trade agreements over the next few months to offset the impact of steep US import tariffs and widen export destinations during growing global trade uncertainties. New Delhi is in advanced talks with the European Union, New Zealand and...
India–Oman CEPA Sealed In Muscat, Opening A New Chapter In Trade And Investment Ties
CHENNAI: India and Oman have taken a significant step on Thursday towards deepening their economic relationship with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, a move that is expected to substantially expand trade, investment and broader commercial engagement between the two countries. The agreement was signed in Muscat...
Pension Sector Set For Full Foreign Ownership As FDI Cap Rises To 100%
NEW DELHI: India’s pension sector is poised for a structural shift, with the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit set to be raised to 100%, in line with the insurance sector. The move follows Parliament’s approval on Wednesday to increase the FDI cap in insurance from 74% to 100%, a...
Parliament Panel Flags Delays In Operationalisation Of Mines
NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary Panel has flagged delays between mine auctions and operationalisation and has urged the government to explore setting up an inter-ministerial committee to monitor the post-auction progress for mineral and critical mineral projects. The panel also stressed that critical mineral projects should be given priority in...
SEBI To Revamp M&A Rules To Protect Retail Investors, Expedite Deals
MUMBAI: The Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) plans to amend its merger and acquisition rules, including barring acquiring companies from offering higher prices or additional compensation to major shareholders, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The reforms aim to level the playing field for smaller and...
Parliament Passes Bill To Allow 100 Per Cent FDI In Insurance Sector
NEW DELHI: Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent from the current 74 per cent, which is expected to increase insurance penetration, lower premiums, and boost job creation. The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025,...
ARCs Looking To Net 120% Jump In Recoveries From Road Assets Next Fiscal: Crisil
MUMBAI: Asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) are set to see a strong step-up in cumulative recovery rates for stressed operational road projects with recovery rates doubling to 120% by next fiscal over fiscal 2025 levels on the back of healthy annuities and toll collections. This will ride on timely annuity...
Trade Pact With Oman To Benefit Key Labour-Intensive Sectors: Commerce Minister
NEW DELHI: A free trade agreement, to be signed between India and Oman on Thursday, will open up opportunities in trade and joint investments to address the markets in the region concerned and beyond, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. He listed sectors like textiles, footwear,...
Indian Railways Electrifies 99.2% Of Network, Outpaces Japan, Russia, And China
NEW DELHI: Indian Railways has reached a major milestone by electrifying 99.2% of its broad gauge network, putting India ahead of countries like Japan (39%), Russia (52%) and China (82%), according to the Ministry of Railways. This brings the country closer than ever to having a fully electrified railway...
FPI Debt Inflows Hinge On Trade Deal Clarity, Rupee Stability
MUMBAI: Foreign investors began withdrawing from government securities in December, ending five straight months of inflows. The expectation of no more rate cuts, elevated global yields, and a declining rupee are the factors which contributed to the outflows, said market participants. A clarity on the trade deal and a...
Govt Likely To Remove 50% Cap On Sales Of Coal From Captive Mines
NEW DELHI: The central government has proposed removing the 50 per cent ceiling on the sale of coal and lignite produced from captive mines, a move aimed at clearing accumulated stockpiles and increasing mineral availability in the market. This is part of a series of reforms proposed in a...
Rupee Slips Past 91 Against Dollar Amid FPI Outflows, Riskoff Trade
MUMBAI: The rupee breached the 91-per-dollar mark to hit a fresh low of 91.09 on Tuesday, pressured by persistent foreign outflow, riskoff trade in global markets, and delay in India-US trade agreement, dealers said. It strengthened marginally towards the end of the session to settle at 91.03 per dollar,...
Tata, Reliance, Adani Among Top Five Recipients Of LIC’s Investments
NEW DELHI: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has invested the maximum amount of Rs 88,404 crore in the Tata Group, followed by an infusion of Rs 80,843 crore in HDFC Bank and Rs 60,065.56 crore in Reliance Group, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Adani Group attracted an investment...
Govt Proposes Major Overhaul In Compilation Of Revised GDP Series, Seeks Feedback
NEW DELHI: The new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) series is set for a major overhaul with the government proposing various changes, including the adoption of the Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose (COICOP) 2018 for the compilation of private final consumption expenditure. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme...
Policy Tailwinds To Lift India’s Growth To 7.5% In FY27: Axis Bank
NEW DELHI: Axis Bank expects India’s growth to be above trend in 2026-27 (April-Mar) at 7.5%, on the back of structural and regulatory reforms, lower borrowing costs, accelerated capital formation and a cyclical boost from policy easing, Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist, Axis Bank and Head – Global Research at...
