Economy

Jobs, TCS cuts, rail push: What Sitharaman's Budget 2026 means for common Indians

This year’s Budget places a strong emphasis on future-ready sectors, with a focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and battery storage

MSMEs get Rs 10,000-crore growth boost as Sitharaman's Budget seeks to create 'SME champions'

Sitharaman said the government will provide liquidity support and top up the Self-Reliance India fund with Rs 2,000 crore as part of a three-pronged strategy

India bond lending plan said to be stalled by tax uncertainties

No trades have been executed on a portal set up in July 2024 by the nation’s sovereign debt clearing house

Economic Survey flags rapid rail expansion as track commissioning doubles after 2014

The Survey noted that average annual commissioning of railway tracks rose from 1,499 km during 2004–2014 to 3,118 km between 2014 and 2024

Govt panel proposes cutting share of volatile food prices in inflation gauge

The new CPI series is expected to be released on February 12, according to the Economic Survey for fiscal year 2025-26

Economic Survey flags algorithmic bias, burnout risks for gig workers

The Survey highlighted concerns of algorithmic biases and burnout among gig workers, a growing workforce

Chanakya’s Arthashastra cited in Economic Survey 2026 as early model of economic statecraft

The emphasis comes as India remains among the world’s fastest-growing major economies for the fourth consecutive year.

World has turned more unpredictable and dangerous, global tensions inevitable: CEA Nageswaran

The top economist noted that safe heaven assets such as gold are reacting to new global factors

India keeps government procurement out of EU FTA, unlike UK deal

A government official said that India has not offered any commitments that would require opening central government tenders to EU companies, keeping this area outside the scope of the FTA

EU legal gateway office in India: What it means for workers, students and professionals

India and the EU concluded the long-awaited trade agreement on January 27, with the ratification process expected to be completed by the end of this year

From textiles to electronics: Check sectors set to score big gains from India-EU trade deal

The landmark trade deal provides unprecedented market access for Indian companies, with 99 percent of Indian shipments receiving preferential entry into the EU that can trigger a new era of industrial growth

OPINION | The Long Road to the EU–India FTA: What 22 years of negotiations reveal about India’s trade strategy

A more confident but also more cautious India has decided to bring the drawn-out negotiation to a close. The biggest gain of the successful conclusion will lie in greater predictability in the business environment

FTA with EU could add $50 billion to India’s trade surplus by FY31

The FTA between the two nations is expected to lower or eliminate tariffs for India’s labour-intensive sectors, while EU may gain greater market access for its high-end cars and wines.

EU’s new GSP suspension to impact just 2.7% of Indian exports, commerce ministry says

Under the GSP, developing countries like India benefit from reduced tariffs when exporting to the EU, making their goods more competitive

Centre stitches $1-bn package for footwear manufacturing to soften tariff blow: Report

The report said the package has not been finalized yet, but the discussions are at an advanced stage

Not all disputes can be termed as tax terrorism: Tax dept clarifies after SC's Tiger Global verdict

The top court on January 15 said that capital gains arising out of the US-based investment firm’s exit from Flipkart are taxable under domestic laws

Centre to start recovery of taxes from Tiger Global after SC verdict

The revenue department will initiate action to recover taxes, a finance ministry official said Friday

Tribal coffee growers need more support: Priyanka Gandhi asks Piyush Goyal for higher irrigation subsidy cap

She said that she came to know through media reports that the Coffee Board has forwarded a proposal to the Commerce Ministry to include coffee under the crop insurance scheme.

India a key growth engine for global economy, outlook upgrade later this month, says IMF

IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack noted that the latest economic data from India has come in stronger than expected, reinforcing the country's role as a major driver of global growth

OPINION | Why young urban Indians are walking away from health insurance

The problem is not attitude. It is product–market fit. Health insurance in India suffers from a structural mismatch with how healthcare is actually consumed in 2026

India's merchandise trade deficit marginally widens to $25 billion in December

India's exports to US increased 9.8% on year during April-December of FY26

Rising Chinese imports may trigger more trade curbs in India: S&P Global

The report said the Chinese exports to emerging Asian economies have risen in the last few years, affecting domestic markets and the global economic landscape

OPINION | India’s growth is holding up, but with narrower foundations

India’s growth risks becoming narrow and unequal unless productivity-led sectors generate large-scale employment, reconnecting economic expansion with jobs, incomes and inclusive development 

India’s IIP may get a major overhaul: MoSPI pushes chain-based index to track new industries

Traditionally, the IIP was compiled using a fixed-base Laspeyres framework, in which sectoral and industry weights remain unchanged until a base-year revision.

OPINION | A budget on a Sunday and other vignettes from India’s annual economic highpoint

India’s annual union budget has its roots in the 19th century. Change has been the only constant as practices have evolved to meet contemporary requirements