Economics
Trade, fiscal policy, banking, agriculture and economic indicators
India–US trade deal opens zero-duty window for exports worth $44 bn in first phase of pact
Indian exports worth approximately $44 billion will enter the US market with zero reciprocal tariffs under the first phase of the bilateral interim trade agr...
India-US trade deal: List of US goods that will attract ‘zero tariffs’ in India after BTA deal with United States
Under the interim trade framework, India agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on a wide range of US industrial goods and selected agricultural and food prod...
Energy security is supreme priority, says MEA as India seeks to diversify sources amid global shifts
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion Indians remains the government's "supreme priority." The MEA emph...
I-T dept releases draft rules, forms for new Income Tax Act; seeks public inputs
The Income Tax Department released draft rules and forms for the new Income Tax Act 2025, along with two navigators that map old rules and forms to their new...
IT department seeks feedback on rules that make filing easier under Income Tax Act, 2025
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) released draft Income Tax Rules and Forms under the new Income Tax Act, 2025, seeking public feedback until February...
India-US trade deal: Positive for seafood, neutral for most farm produce, small concern over corn and soya
The India-US interim trade framework reduces reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods entering the US from 50% to 18%, significantly benefiting India's seafood sec...
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, maintains neutral stance
The RBI retained the policy repo rate at 5.25% and maintained a "neutral" stance at its February 2026 MPC meeting, the first monetary policy meeting of calen...
RBI moves to shield customers from small fraud, caps compensation at Rs 25,000
The RBI released draft directions proposing that victims of small-value digital banking fraud receive compensation of up to ₹25,000, or 85% of the fraudulent...
RBI doubles collateral-free loans to MSMEs to Rs 20 lakh
The Reserve Bank of India announced that the collateral-free loan limit for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) will be doubled from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lak...
Monetary Policy Meet: Repo rate steady at 5.25%; FY26 GDP, inflation projections raised
The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluded its February 2026 bi-monthly meeting by keeping the repo rate steady at 5.25% with a unanimous vote. The ...
RBI Monetary Policy Meet 2026 LIVE: Fraud-hit customers will be compensated up to Rs 25,000, or 85% of amount
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), meeting from February 4–6, 2026, unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.2...
J-K has tapped less than a quarter of its hydropower potential: Economic Survey
According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir has harnessed only 3,540 MW — approximately 24% — of its identified hydropower potential of 14,86...
Oil and beyond: With Russia, India has to balance old ties, new realities
Despite sustained US pressure and tariff threats, India has continued purchasing Russian crude oil in 2026, with Russia remaining India's single largest crud...
RBI holds interest rates steady: What drove the decision?
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25% during its February 4–6, 2026 m...
Trump says India will stop buying Russian oil. That is easier said than done
US President Donald Trump publicly claimed India had agreed to stop purchasing Russian crude oil and would shift to Venezuelan and American supplies instead,...
Intent and outcome: On India’s climate budget for 2026-27
India's Union Budget 2026-27 has been critiqued for a mismatch between its stated climate ambitions and actual financial allocations — with significant headl...
Voluntary Retention Route – Imparting predictability and increasing ease of doing business
The Reserve Bank of India issued a circular (RBI/2025-26/205, A.P. DIR Series Circular No.21, dated February 19, 2026) rationalising the Voluntary Retention ...
India-US joint statement in days, tariff cuts in a week, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced in early February 2026 that a joint statement on India-US trade would be issued within days, with tariff cuts expect...
Duty cuts aimed at supporting local manufacturing, shouldn’t be viewed only from revenue lens: CBIC Chairman
The government defended its customs duty reductions in the Union Budget 2026-27, clarifying they are aimed at supporting domestic manufacturing and reducing ...
India, GCC ink terms of reference to formally launch trade talks
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed Terms of Reference (ToR) for an India-GCC Free Trade Agreement on February 5, 2026, at Vanijya Bhawan, Ne...