INDIA
India-France defence ties move beyond fighter jets
France accounted for nearly 80% of India’s ship imports during 2019-2024, marking a sharp increase from around 16% in 2013-2018
ECONOMY
Business activity rises to a three-month high of 59.3 in February
The uptick was driven largely by a sharper increase in manufacturing output
BUSINESS
Digital gold, apparel and e-commerce drive January spike in digital payments
Digital gold purchases in January surged more than fourfold from a year earlier as overall digital transaction value rose to Rs 8.41 lakh crore
BUSINESS
Tamil Nadu tilts further towards welfare spending as social transfers gain priority in FY27
Rising allocations to social protection and income support come alongside reduced spending on industry, infrastructure-linked welfare and sanitation, reflecting a shift in Budget priorities
BUSINESS
Data is ‘raw material’ for AI, says statistics secretary Saurabh Garg
Garg described data as a potential “fifth factor of production”, alongside traditional inputs such as labour, capital, land and entrepreneurship
BUSINESS
Trump years saw India step up US cotton purchases; trade dynamics may shift again
India accounted for only 1.5% of US cotton exports in 2014, but that share rose to 7.7% by 2019
BUSINESS
Tamil Nadu’s subsidy bill swells as welfare push intensifies ahead of elections
In absolute terms, subsidy expenditure increased from roughly Rs 37,749 crore in FY24 to nearly Rs 59,526 crore, the highest in the country, in FY26
BUSINESS
India to remain fastest growing economy in Asia: Fitch Ratings
Fitch expects India’s economy to expand by 6.4 percent in 2026
BUSINESS
Pets, parties and personal effects drive January inflation despite softer food prices
Among the fastest rising categories, other personal effects recorded inflation of about 59%, far exceeding the national average
BUSINESS
Urban-rural inflation gap narrows as new CPI series reshapes price dynamics
The narrowing of the gap is largely attributable to changes in the weight assigned to food items in the CPI basket
BUSINESS
Telangana overtakes Kerala as highest inflation state, Assam records slowest rise
Most large states now hover close to the national average
BUSINESS
UP sees biggest Budget jump in 10 years as state gears up for polls
The state’s total expenditure is projected to rise to about Rs 9.13 lakh crore in FY27, up from roughly Rs 7.16 lakh crore in FY26, a 27% increase from the previous year
BUSINESS
January retail inflation at 2.75% in first print under new CPI series
First inflation reading under revised 2024-base series reflects lower food weight and broader consumption basket
BUSINESS
What changed? Tracking the revisions in the US–India fact sheet
Revised White House document dropped references to digital taxes, agriculture purchases and electronic-transmission duties, aligning it with the official joint statement
BUSINESS
40% or 37%: How much does food weigh in the new CPI series?
A key adjustment is the relocation of cooked meals and snacks from the food category to a new restaurants and cafés services subgroup
BUSINESS
Why Kerala may continue to see higher inflation even under the new CPI series
A key factor is the relatively high weight of non-food expenditure in Kerala’s inflation basket. At roughly 66%, non-food items account for a larger share than in most states
INDIA
Nachos to massagers and international flights: India’s new CPI basket expands as services weigh more
The revised basket also reflects the growing importance of services, discretionary consumption and urban lifestyles, with the weight rising to 30% from 23% earlier
BUSINESS
Unemployment dips, self-employment rises in Q3 FY26
Urban unemployment eased to 6.7 percent from 6.9 percent, reflecting improved job absorption across sectors
BUSINESS
US-Bangladesh deal may reshape dairy trade dynamics; New Zealand among those exposed
Preferential tariff access for US farm exports under a Bangladesh-US arrangement could gradually alter sourcing patterns
BUSINESS
Spinning a complex deal: Bangladesh-US pact may intensify competition for a quarter of India’s cotton trade
The biggest exposure lies in raw, uncarded cotton, which accounts for more than 70 percent of India’s exports to Bangladesh
BUSINESS
US defence exports surge post-pandemic; India emerging as key buyer amid strategic realignment
Rising US share in global arms trade and shifting export mix could shape future India–US defence ties
BUSINESS
Half of India’s exports to US could turn duty-free under interim trade deal
Around $14 billion additional exports may get zero-duty access as reciprocal tariffs ease further
BUSINESS
Section 232 carve-outs could ease tariffs on about $5 billion of Indian exports to US
In 2024, more than $8 billion worth of Indian exports were subject to Section 232 tariffs, which range between 25% and 50% depending on product categories. Nearly $4 billion of this exposure came from automobiles and auto components
BUSINESS
50%, 25% or 18%? What tariff applies to Indian goods today
The US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods in August, comprising a 25% reciprocal tariff and an ad valorem duty of 25% linked to India’s imports of Russian oil. That ad valorem levy was removed on February 6
