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Budget Express 2026

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Ishaan Gera

Associate Editor

Moneycontrol

Rupee enters longest undervaluation stretch in seven years as real rate slips to 97.47

BUSINESS

Rupee enters longest undervaluation stretch in seven years as real rate slips to 97.47

October marked the third straight month of undervaluation, driven by a weak NEER and unusually low inflation

Tariff effect? Informal trade establishments shrink in Q2 as manufacturing and services expand

BUSINESS

Tariff effect? Informal trade establishments shrink in Q2 as manufacturing and services expand

Informal trade units fell to 23.9 million in the July–September period from 25.2 million in the April–June quarter

Two in five informal firms now use the internet, MoSPI survey shows

BUSINESS

Two in five informal firms now use the internet, MoSPI survey shows

India adds nearly 3 lakh more firms over the last three months

Over a quarter of regular workers exceed 48-hour workweek limit

BUSINESS

Over a quarter of regular workers exceed 48-hour workweek limit

PLFS data shows Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan record some of India’s longest work hours; new labour codes could bring major relief once enforced

Rajasthan, Punjab rely most on informal regular work; workers set to benefit from labour-code rollout

BUSINESS

Rajasthan, Punjab rely most on informal regular work; workers set to benefit from labour-code rollout

PLFS data shows Rajasthan and Punjab have among the highest levels of informality, with over three-fourths of regular workers lacking written contracts

India’s economy likely expanded 7.3% in Q2: Moneycontrol poll

BUSINESS

India’s economy likely expanded 7.3% in Q2: Moneycontrol poll

On a full-year basis, economists expect GDP to grow 6.9 percent in FY26; inflation to ease to 2.1 percent

India looks to overhaul GDP methodology ahead of 2026 revision

BUSINESS

India looks to overhaul GDP methodology ahead of 2026 revision

New base year, expanded datasets and double-deflation in manufacturing to reshape national accounts framework

India’s shift toward formalisation was already underway as written contracts rose, paid leave benefits expanded

BUSINESS

India’s shift toward formalisation was already underway as written contracts rose, paid leave benefits expanded

PLFS 2023–24 shows steady gains in written contracts and paid leave, even as social-security coverage remained uneven

Securities-related UPI payments shrink for fifth straight month in October

BUSINESS

Securities-related UPI payments shrink for fifth straight month in October

Market-linked transactions fall 8.6% even as most consumption categories show strong festive gains

India’s business activity slows to six-month low in November

BUSINESS

India’s business activity slows to six-month low in November

Flash PMI drops below 60 for the first time since June as global uncertainties weigh on growth

CAG mandates uniform accounting framework for states by FY28

BUSINESS

CAG mandates uniform accounting framework for states by FY28

Reform aims to improve fiscal comparability, streamline mineral revenue reporting and strengthen expenditure transparency

Core sector output stalls in October; slips to 14-month low

BUSINESS

Core sector output stalls in October; slips to 14-month low

Output declines across coal, natural gas and electricity pull down overall index despite strength in steel and cement

UPI failures drop sharply this festive season; SBI’s glitch rate falls to one-third of last year

BUSINESS

UPI failures drop sharply this festive season; SBI’s glitch rate falls to one-third of last year

Most major banks register their smoothest UPI performance since 2022, with PSU lenders showing the steepest improvement

CAG will add ESG criteria in PSU audits soon

BUSINESS

CAG will add ESG criteria in PSU audits soon

30 listed and 18 unlisted PSUs to be brought under sustainability-linked audit norms in the coming year

Liquor shops see festive surge in UPI payments; bar spending remains subdued

BUSINESS

Liquor shops see festive surge in UPI payments; bar spending remains subdued

At-home celebrations fuel a sharp rise in liquor-store payments, while bars and lounges struggle to regain festive momentum

Stubble burning cases spike outside Punjab as Delhi’s air worsens

INDIA

Stubble burning cases spike outside Punjab as Delhi’s air worsens

Even as stubble burning becomes more dispersed, Delhi’s air quality remains poor

Gujarat and Maharashtra could gain from US tariff rollback, India’s agri exports have been turning to industrialised states

BUSINESS

Gujarat and Maharashtra could gain from US tariff rollback, India’s agri exports have been turning to industrialised states

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra, Karnataka accounted for nearly half of India’s farm exports in FY25

Bihar’s stagnant exports and weak investment pipeline will deepen jobs challenge

BUSINESS

Bihar’s stagnant exports and weak investment pipeline will deepen jobs challenge

The state’s export share remains stuck at 0.5%, while FDI inflows rank among the lowest in India

Unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2% in Oct; urban unemployment at three-month high of 7%

BUSINESS

Unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2% in Oct; urban unemployment at three-month high of 7%

Rural unemployment, meanwhile, eased to 4.4 percent, compared with 4.6 percent a month earlier, helping keep the overall rate unchanged

US tariff easing to open export opportunities worth $511 million for India

BUSINESS

US tariff easing to open export opportunities worth $511 million for India

Relief for spices, coffee and tea exporters as US President Trump rolls back tariffs

Jeevika, women, poverty reduction belts powered NDA’s Bihar surge in 2025

INDIA

Jeevika, women, poverty reduction belts powered NDA’s Bihar surge in 2025

Across the 100 constituencies where SHG members account for the largest share of the population, the NDA secured 58 percent of seats in 2025, up from just 23 percent in 2020

Rahul Gandhi effect: NDA leads in 89% seats where Congress' 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' crossed in Bihar

INDIA

Rahul Gandhi effect: NDA leads in 89% seats where Congress' 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' crossed in Bihar

Across 183 constituencies that fell along the Rahul Yatra route, the NDA posted an 89.1 percent seat share, significantly higher than its 54.1 percent share in the same seats in 2020

Jan Suraaj edges CPI(ML)(L) in vote share, but struggles to beat NOTA in over 25% of its seats

INDIA

Jan Suraaj edges CPI(ML)(L) in vote share, but struggles to beat NOTA in over 25% of its seats

AAP, Tej Pratap Yadav’s JJP and BSP could not beat NOTA in over half of their contests

Bihar election results: Can Tejashwi’s RJD lose more? Margin data shows the party’s vulnerability runs deeper

INDIA

Bihar election results: Can Tejashwi’s RJD lose more? Margin data shows the party’s vulnerability runs deeper

Across the state, 12 of RJD’s seats were led by margins under 2,000 votes, the highest among all parties

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