BUSINESS
Sitharaman's ninth budget blends immediate concerns with long-term structural goals, emphasizing AI, hi-tech, and fiscal consolidation
The budget focuses on new economy sectors such as artificial intelligence, hi-tech, rare earths, and data centers. The budget also emphasizes fiscal consolidation, with a target to keep the fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP in 2026-27. The government plans to increase capital expenditure on infrastructure projects to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, while also promoting private investment.
BUSINESS
Budget 2026: Streamline land acquisition; utilise railways' vacant land
Establishing dedicated "land banks" at state and central levels, comprising readily available land parcels identified for industrial use, can significantly reduce negotiation complexities.
BUDGET
Budget 2026: Strengthen India's rare earth element (REE) ecosystem
Establishing a non-lapsable special fund for REE extraction and processing would provide the dedicated, long-term financial backing required to achieve these strategic objectives.
BUDGET
Budget 2026: India's EV sector needs a shift in strategy
A strategic focus on addressing deep-rooted issues like inverted duty structures and working capital inefficiencies will cultivate a stable, predictable, and competitive environment.
BUSINESS
Budget 2026: Ease of doing business & regulatory reforms crucial for growth
India's ambitious economic growth trajectory is intrinsically linked to creating a conducive and predictable regulatory environment for businesses.
BUDGET
Budget 2026: Build India's AI future
Government-enabled funds and budgetary grants for the development and implementation of AI-driven manufacturing solutions are essential to build India's AI future from the factory floor up.
BUDGET
Budget 2026: Time to set a 10-year calendar for privatising CPSUs
A systematic and transparent privatization programme for CPSUs is crucial for unlocking their true potential and significantly boosting India's economic growth.
ECONOMY
Economic Survey: India to stay in fast lane with 6.8-7.2% growth in FY27; medium-term growth pegged at 7%
The Survey said the trade deal with the US, expected to be concluded this year, should help ease uncertainty amid global trade tensions. Robust domestic consumption and macro fundamentals make India stand out among its peers, it said. It also makes a strong pitch for accelerating deregulation and pursuing a comprehensive national AI strategy to leverage India's talent and data.
BUSINESS
India–EU FTA: Government, private sector must seize opportunity to unlock gains, says EY’s DK Srivastava
One of the areas with significant potential under the evolving India–EU framework is defence manufacturing, particularly through joint ventures focused on co-development and co-production, Srivastava tells Moneycontrol
BUSINESS
Why India's IMF rating deserves nuanced understanding and not trolling
The detailed aspects of data frequency, timeliness, and granularity demonstrate India's comparatively robust statistical infrastructure. The IMF rating is not a judgment to warrant the kind of triumphalism or despair that has characterized some of the reactions.
BUSINESS
The Modinomics Buffet: Significant progress mixed with works in progress
India's economic landscape has undergone significant transformations, driven by strategic reforms and technological advancements, but some pain points need policy attention and implementation ironing.
INDIA
India’s atmanirbhar reforms doctrine is about self-respect and self-reliance: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the government's commitment to accelerated reforms, protecting exporters, and expanding economic growth into new areas, despite the challenges posed by US tariffs. In an interview to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Sitharaman stated that India will continue buying Russian oil if it serves the economy's interests, dismissing US President Donald Trump aide Peter Navarro's remarks as a "divide and rule" tactic. The government is preparing a relief package to support industries hit hardest by the 50% US tariffs, the government is working on measures to cushion the impact, including interest subvention schemes and export credit support.
BUSINESS
GST rate cut could set off consumption spike as economy sets eyes on faster track
With the new rates kicking in on September 22, just in time for the festive season, consumers can expect lower prices on essential items from soaps to cars. The tax cuts also extend to intermediates like cement, which could lead to reduced construction costs and create jobs. Paired with the recent income tax rate changes, this overhaul signals the government's focus on empowering India's vast consuming middle class to drive economic growth.
WORLD
Alaska P&L: Trump’s maximalism hits sobering reality as Putin wins the PR round
Trump's signature bravado was tempered by Putin's steady stance, leaving the war in Ukraine an unresolved puzzle, raising a critical question: did Trump end up conceding too much at a summit that promised too much, but delivered too little for Washington. Here’s a low down of the balance sheet at Anchorage.
INDIA
PM Modi unveils ambitious plan for atmanirbhar India; walks the talk on next-gen reforms
In his Independence Day speech, PM Narendra Modi outlined a bold plan to make India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar Bharat) through next-generation reforms, job creation, and simplified tax rules. He announced a national task force to accelerate growth, a new job scheme (PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana) to create 3.5 crore jobs, and a simplified GST framework to be announced by Diwali. Modi emphasized the importance of manufacturing, defence production, and critical minerals, and vowed to remove bureaucratic hurdles to boost homegrown industries.
BUDGET
FM Nirmala Sitharaman bets on salaried middle class to power economy
No taxes upto Rs 12 lakh annual income set to boost consumption spending; stays the path on fiscal consolidation with fiscal deficit target of 4.4 pc in FY26; farm economy in FM’s focus too with a slew of measures.
BUDGET
FM walks the talk on budget discipline; fiscal deficit target set at 4.4 per cent of GDP for FY 26
Primary deficit pegged at 0.8 per cent; debt-to-GDP ratio targetted to be brought down to 50 per cent (+_1) by 2031; another year of RBI dividend bonanza expected.
BUSINESS
GDP to grow at 6.3-6.8% amid global headwinds; eco survey asks govt to 'get out of the way' for businesses to prosper
Economic Survey sounds siren on protectionism and supply chain disruptions; industry needs to pick the tab on investment; jobs face AI reckoning.
BUSINESS
Tale of two halves: GDP growth moderates in Q2, but early signs of rebound seen in second half
The latest batch of high-frequency indicators suggests that India's economy has regained some momentum in October. Inflation, however, remains the elephant in the room that can potentially spoil the recovery party in H2.
BUSINESS
India’s Q1 GDP growth at 6.7 percent still towers over rest of the world
One of the surest signs of consumer spending can be seen in shopping malls and car showrooms. The data for the first quarter clearly suggest that consumer confidence is cheerful.
BUSINESS
Moderating inflation is a good sign, but private sector 'crowding in' needed in investment
If the inflation trendline holds for two more months, the RBI could well look at lower interest rates ahead of the festival season in October, the time when consumer buying peaks. The laggard, however, is the capital goods output, a proxy measure investment activity. A similar trend is noticeable in intermediate goods, where growth has plateaued.
BUSINESS
MC Opinion: Hindenburg questions India’s judicial system's fairness, SC included. This requires extensive substantiation
The latest report seems thin on details and lacks investigative rigour. It needs to be supported by enough corroborative evidence to substantiate the claims and not risk Hindenburg’s credibility.
BUSINESS
FM Sitharaman stands firm on fiscal discipline; RBI dividends help in juggling post-poll necessities
Fiscal deficit pegged at 4.9%; lower primary deficit target at 1.4% mirrors recovery in public finance health; rise in revenue expenditure to address political economy pain points; balancing of the fisc predicated on robust GST, corporate and individual income tax collections.
ECONOMY
Growth set to slow to 6.5-7% in FY25; Survey asks corporates to pick the baton on job creation
The Economic Survey 2024 asks government to 'let go' in some areas, perhaps as a signal for more privatisation and less interference for businesses to flourish
