Economics
Trade, fiscal policy, banking, agriculture and economic indicators
Indian negotiating team headed to US next week for another round of trade agreement talks
An Indian negotiating team, led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, will travel to Washington DC from April 20–22 for the next round of bilateral trade agreemen...
India’s exports rise 4.22% to USD 860.09 bn in FY26; imports grow 6.47%, trade deficit widens
India's combined merchandise and services exports reached a record USD 860.09 billion in FY2025-26, a 4.22% increase over USD 825.26 billion in FY2024-25. Me...
US blockade to choke Iran’s economic lifelines—its ports. From Kharg to Chabahar
The US naval blockade imposed on April 13, 2026, after failed Islamabad peace talks threatens all 11 of Iran's ports located in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of ...
Oil falls for second day on expectations US-Iran talks may resume
Global crude oil prices declined for a second consecutive day on April 15, 2026, as markets priced in expectations that US-Iran ceasefire talks would resume....
Gold loans emerge as second largest retail credit product after home loans
Gold loans have emerged as India's second-largest retail credit product after home loans, according to data from TransUnion CIBIL, with outstanding balances ...
Jeh Aerospace inks pact with Liebherr-Aerospace to supply high-precision components
Jeh Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based precision aerospace and defence manufacturing company, has signed a long-term agreement (LTA) with Liebherr-Aerospace & Tran...
Rupee settles 9 paise lower at 93.44 against U.S. dollar
The Indian rupee settled approximately 9 paise lower at ₹93.44 against the US dollar in mid-April 2026, continuing a period of elevated exchange rates driven...
Wholesale inflation rises to a 3-year high of 3.88% in March
India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rose to 3.88% in March 2026, the highest level in three years, up sharply from 2.13% in February 2026. Th...
Russia raking in a windfall from Hormuz blockade. Export revenues doubled to $19 bn in March, says IEA
Russia's crude oil and petroleum product export revenues nearly doubled to $19 billion in March 2026, up from $9.7 billion in February, according to the Inte...
Climate-hit Kashmir saffron farmers battle rising porcupine menace
Saffron farmers in Kashmir's Pampore region — the world's primary source of Kashmiri saffron — are facing mounting losses from the Indian crested porcupine (...
Saudi Arabia to lend another $3 bn to Pakistan to boost forex reserves, days after $5 bn pledge
Saudi Arabia announced an additional $3 billion deposit/loan to Pakistan on April 15, 2026, days after pledging a separate $5 billion — bringing total Saudi ...
India’s unemployment rate edges up to 5.1% in March as urban joblessness rises
India's overall unemployment rate edged up to 5.1% in March 2026 from 4.9% in February 2026, the highest level since October 2025, according to CMIE data. Ur...
Indian agricultural sector under threat by trifecta of below-Normal Monsoon, El Nino, and West Asia war: ICRA
The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) first long-range forecast (LRF) for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon pegs seasonal rainfall at 92% of the Long Period A...
India’s March trade deficit narrows to $20.67 billion on year
India's merchandise (goods) trade deficit narrowed to USD 20.67 billion in March 2026, down from USD 21.70 billion in March 2025, as both exports and imports...
Gems and jewellery exports fall to five-year low on U.S. tariffs
India's gems and jewellery exports fell to a five-year low as shipments to the United States plunged 45% year-on-year to USD 5.09 billion, according to data ...
Indian official team to visit Washington next week for trade talks
An Indian negotiating delegation is travelling to Washington for three-day trade talks from April 20-22, 2026, to resume discussions on an interim bilateral ...
India‘s textile and apparel exports degrow by -2.22% in FY 26: Govt Data
India's total textile and apparel exports for FY2025-26 stood at USD 35.16 billion, a degrowth of 2.22% compared to USD 35.96 billion in FY2024-25, according...
India-UK trade agreement may come into force next month: Commerce Secy
India's Commerce Secretary confirmed that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is expected to come into operation "sometime in May"...
India’s trade deficit narrows to $20.67 billion in March on West Asia risks
India's merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $20.67 billion in March 2026, compared to $27.1 billion in March 2025 — a significant contraction, but for reas...
Crude unlikely to return to pre-war levels soon; India's import bill may rise $70bn annually: Report
Brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher estimates India's annual oil import bill could surge by more than $70 billion due to persistently elevated crude prices stemmin...