Economy
In a move that blends economic pragmatism with geopolitical messaging, the Indian government has suspended the 11% import duty on raw cotton until September 30, 2025. The decision, announced late Monday, eliminates both the 5% basic customs duty and the 5% agriculture infrastructure and development cess, offering immediate relief to India’s textile and garment industry…
Despite the looming threat of steep tariffs imposed by the United States, Russia has assured that its trade with India will remain unaffected, thanks to what officials describe as a “very special mechanism” designed to bypass Western sanctions and maintain uninterrupted bilateral commerce. The announcement comes in the wake of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska,…
India is poised for a transformative shift in its indirect tax regime as the government rolls out next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms. Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Dr. V Anantha Nageswaran has hailed the proposed overhaul as a “Diwali gift” for the nation, emphasizing that the reforms will reduce the tax burden on households…
India’s exporters, who play a vital role in strengthening the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and creating jobs, have once again voiced their concerns about the mountains of paperwork and bureaucratic delays they face daily. A leading factory owner recently appealed to the Modi government to simplify trade processes, arguing that unless regulatory bottlenecks are addressed,…
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Goods and Services Tax (GST) is expected to meet next week to deliberate on some of the most crucial reforms in the indirect tax system since its implementation in 2017. With several long-pending proposals awaiting consensus, the meeting comes at a time when both the Centre and states are…
India is intensifying its focus on critical minerals and rare earths as part of its broader push for economic security, green transition, and industrial growth. A recent report has outlined five strategic policy pillars that could pave the way for India’s self-reliance in rare earth elements (REEs)—a segment currently dominated by a few global players,…
India’s foreign exchange reserves are expected to record an increase in the latest reporting week, despite ongoing interventions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to manage the rupee’s volatility and the maturity of a large foreign currency swap facility. Economists tracking central bank data suggest that healthy capital inflows, strong remittances, and robust export…
Indian exporters could face a significant blow to their competitiveness in the United States market as rising tariff barriers threaten to make exports economically unviable, according to a recent analysis by Crisil Ratings. The report warns that multiple industries, from engineering goods and textiles to chemicals and metals, may experience margin pressures and potential market…
India’s energy strategy has once again come into the spotlight after Nobel Prize-winning economist Abhijit Banerjee urged policymakers to reconsider the long-term viability of importing discounted Russian oil. Speaking at a recent economic policy forum, Banerjee suggested that the benefits of cheap crude should be weighed against potential geopolitical and trade repercussions, particularly in light…
In a compelling conversation between Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, the billionaire investor stated that the current AI bubble—despite showing signs of hype and overvaluation—will ultimately generate more economic value than it destroys. The remarks, made during an interview on Kamath’s platform, reflect Khosla’s enduring optimism about the long-term…
