February 03, 2026
26 articles published on this date
India–US trade deal announced | Uncertainty over for global capital, China+1 strategy back in game: CEA
Following the announcement of the India-US interim trade deal, India's Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran declared that "uncertainty is over ...
Cash transfers now take 20% of state subsidies — 16th finance panel sounds alarm, seeks exit clauses
The 16th Finance Commission's report flagged that large-group unconditional cash transfers now constitute 20.2% of total state subsidy expenditure (2025-26 B...
From calling India ‘tariff king’ to 25% extra duty for Russian oil, Trump finally fixed the tariff at 18%, one of the lowest
An analytical account traces the arc of Trump's tariff posture toward India: from publicly calling India a "tariff king" and threatening punitive measures, t...
FC bats for discom privatisation, debt clean-up via SPVs
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, has recommended that states actively pursue privatisation of electricity distribution companies (D...
Jumping hurdles: How India managed to diversify exports in the face of US tariffs
Despite facing a 25% U.S. reciprocal tariff since mid-2025 — which caused US-bound Indian exports to fall 28.5% between May and October 2025 — India's overal...
US agriculture secretary signals more exports to India, fuelling import concerns
Following the India-US interim trade deal, the US Agriculture Secretary stated that American farm products have gained fresh market access in India, calling ...
US trade deal: Farmers secure, agriculture and dairy interests protected, says Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated in Parliament and at public events that India's agriculture and dairy sectors have been fully protected in the framewor...
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Indian Railways achieves second mountain tunnel breakthrough in Palghar
On February 3, 2026, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) achieved a breakthrough in the second mountain tunnel (MT-6) on the Mumbai-Ahmedab...
India ‘commits’ to $100 bn/year US imports for 5 years; energy, aircraft parts, tech to dominate
As part of the India-US interim trade framework announced on February 6, 2026, India expressed intent to purchase approximately $500 billion worth of US good...
Decode Politics: RTI journey — From ‘dawn of a new era’ to fears of ‘tool for idle curiosity’
A long-form political analysis examined the trajectory of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 — two decades after its enactment — charting its evolution...
Decode Politics: How and why Manipur finally moved back towards an elected govt
On February 4, 2026, Manipur ended nearly a year under President's Rule with the swearing-in of BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh as Chief Minister, accompan...
Finance Commission strikes a balance – addresses southern states’ concerns, and equity
The 16th Finance Commission released its report (covering 2026-31), introducing a revised horizontal devolution formula that addresses the long-standing grie...
India-US agree on a big deal, it marks a welcome shift to freer trade, a domestic reform agenda awaits
India and the United States announced a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement on February 3, 2026, following Prime Minister Modi's visit to Washington. Th...
Expert Explains: What 2026 Delhi Declaration tells about India’s approach to the Middle East
The Second India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on January 31, 2026, co-chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the UAE's Fo...
India-US trade deal: How Indian exports diversified in the face of US tariffs, which sectors struggled
Faced with escalating US tariffs — rising to 25% under the Trump administration's "reciprocal tariff" framework and as high as 50% on some Indian goods (stee...
India’s rocky road to trade deal with US: The flip-flops, political pitfalls
India and the United States have been locked in protracted trade negotiations, with a framework for an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) announced by P...
India-US trade deal may have a $100-bn opportunity for India’s electronics exports. Here’s why
India and the United States agreed on a trade framework announced in February 2026 following a telephonic conversation between PM Modi and US President Trump...
How does the trade deal with the US affect India’s macroeconomic outlook?
The India-US interim trade framework announced in February 2026 has significant implications for India's broader macroeconomic picture, particularly its curr...
US farm exports to India have been surging even with no trade deal
US agricultural exports to India surged significantly in the period leading up to and during the India-US trade negotiations of 2025–26, even in the absence ...
A cautious nudge: On the 16th Finance Commission’s recommendations
The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, submitted its report on February 1, 2026, covering the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The Commissi...
A full stop: On the top court, the right to menstrual health and hygiene
On January 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of India held that the right to menstrual health and hygiene is an integral part of the right to life and dignity unde...
Hope and uncertainty as India and US strike long-delayed trade deal
The United States and India announced a framework for an interim trade agreement on February 6, 2026, following PM Modi's visit to Washington during which a ...
Adani Defence teams up with Italy’s Leonardo to tap India’s mega helicopter market
Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italy's Leonardo on February 3, 2026, establishing a strategic partnership to devel...
Hillock butchered, HC tears into Haryana govt for ‘environmental plunder’ at Charkhi Dadri mine
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court severely criticised the Haryana government over the destruction of a hillock due to alleged illegal sto...
When Shanti means nuclear energy
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act received Presidential assent in December 2025 after passing ...
Defence budget through the years: Big leap for 2026-27, but what numbers since 1999 reveal
The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence — the highest-ever allocation, representing a 15.19% jump over the previous ...