Economics
Trade, fiscal policy, banking, agriculture and economic indicators
India made long push with Trump behind scenes to clinch US deal
A detailed account of India's back-channel diplomatic campaign with the Trump administration reveals a sustained effort spanning several months to secure...
India–US trade deal announced | Uncertainty over for global capital, China+1 strategy back in game: CEA
Following the announcement of the India-US interim trade deal, India's Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran declared that 'uncertainty is over...
Cash transfers now take 20% of state subsidies — 16th finance panel sounds alarm, seeks exit clauses
The 16th Finance Commission's report flagged that large-group unconditional cash transfers now constitute 20.2% of total state subsidy expenditure (2025-26...
From calling India ‘tariff king’ to 25% extra duty for Russian oil, Trump finally fixed the tariff at 18%, one of the lowest
An analytical account traces the arc of Trump's tariff posture toward India: from publicly calling India a 'tariff king' and threatening punitive measures...
FC bats for discom privatisation, debt clean-up via SPVs
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, has recommended that states actively pursue privatisation of electricity distribution companies...
Jumping hurdles: How India managed to diversify exports in the face of US tariffs
Despite facing a 25% U.S. reciprocal tariff since mid-2025 — which caused US-bound Indian exports to fall 28.5% between May and October 2025 — India's...
US agriculture secretary signals more exports to India, fuelling import concerns
Following the India-US interim trade deal, the US Agriculture Secretary stated that American farm products have gained fresh market access in India, calling...
US trade deal: Farmers secure, agriculture and dairy interests protected, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated in Parliament and at public events that India's agriculture and dairy sectors have been fully protected in the...
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Indian Railways achieves second mountain tunnel breakthrough in Palghar
On February 3, 2026, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) achieved a breakthrough in the second mountain tunnel (MT-6) on the...
India ‘commits’ to $100 bn/year US imports for 5 years; energy, aircraft parts, tech to dominate
As part of the India-US interim trade framework announced on February 6, 2026, India expressed intent to purchase approximately $500 billion worth of US...
Finance Commission strikes a balance – addresses southern states’ concerns, and equity
The 16th Finance Commission released its report (covering 2026-31), introducing a revised horizontal devolution formula that addresses the long-standing...
India-US agree on a big deal, it marks a welcome shift to freer trade, a domestic reform agenda awaits
India and the United States announced a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement on February 3, 2026, following Prime Minister Modi's visit to Washington....
India-US trade deal: How Indian exports diversified in the face of US tariffs, which sectors struggled
Faced with escalating US tariffs — rising to 25% under the Trump administration's 'reciprocal tariff' framework and as high as 50% on some Indian goods...
India’s rocky road to trade deal with US: The flip-flops, political pitfalls
India and the United States have been locked in protracted trade negotiations, with a framework for an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) announced by...
India-US trade deal may have a $100-bn opportunity for India’s electronics exports. Here’s why
India and the United States agreed on a trade framework announced in February 2026 following a telephonic conversation between PM Modi and US President...
How does the trade deal with the US affect India’s macroeconomic outlook?
The India-US interim trade framework announced in February 2026 has significant implications for India's broader macroeconomic picture, particularly its...
US farm exports to India have been surging even with no trade deal
US agricultural exports to India surged significantly in the period leading up to and during the India-US trade negotiations of 2025–26, even in the absence...
A cautious nudge: On the 16th Finance Commission’s recommendations
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, submitted its report on February 1, 2026, covering the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The...
Hope and uncertainty as India and US strike long-delayed trade deal
The United States and India announced a framework for an interim trade agreement on February 6, 2026, following PM Modi's visit to Washington during which a...
Defence budget through the years: Big leap for 2026-27, but what numbers since 1999 reveal
The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence — the highest-ever allocation, representing a 15.19% jump over the previous...