Economics
Trade, fiscal policy, banking, agriculture and economic indicators
West Asia conflict poses challenges to Indian economy via number of channels: RBI’s Malhotra in MPC minutes
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) highlighted that the ongoing West Asia conflict poses challenges to the Indian economy through several transmission channels ...
Suresh Babu assumes office as Chairman & Managing Director of BHAVINI
P.A. Suresh Babu, a Distinguished Scientist of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of the Bharatiya Nabhi...
State capex hits 2.7% of GDP under SASCI scheme: Report
A State Bank of India (SBI) Research report released in April 2026 found that state capital expenditure has risen to 2.7% of GDP in FY2024–25, up from 2.2% o...
Smartphones emerge as India's export champions in FY26
Smartphones emerged as India's single largest export category in FY26, surpassing traditional champions such as petroleum products and engineering goods. Tot...
Heatwaves will become a major threat to Indian rice production, Ganges and Indus River basin face the most intense risk: FAO-WMO report
A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) titled *Extreme Heat and Agriculture* has speci...
Iran fires at 3 container ships near Hormuz; one of them signalling Gujarat as destination
Iranian IRGC naval forces fired upon three container ships near the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, 2026, seizing two of them — MSC Francesca (Panama-flagged) ...
MPC meeting minutes: RBI governor flags inflation risks from energy prices, West Asia conflict & a potential El Niño
Minutes of the April 2026 MPC meeting revealed a detailed risk assessment of three convergent inflation threats: the West Asia conflict, global energy price ...
How electricity trading happens in India, and why a restructuring is on the cards
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued draft regulations — the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) (Second Amen...
India decides to import 2.5 million tonnes of urea at $935 & $959/tonne
India has decided to import 2.5 million tonnes of urea through an emergency global tender issued by Indian Potash Limited (IPL), the state-run procurement ag...
It’s an idea whose time has come: Oil Ministry on higher ethanol blending
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has described higher ethanol blending beyond 20% as "an idea whose time has come," indicating strong policy intent ...
India’s textile exports rise 2.1% in FY26 to ₹3.16 lakh crore, led by RMG
India's textile exports (including handicrafts) grew 2.1% in FY 2025-26 to ₹3,16,334.9 crore, up from ₹3,09,859.3 crore in FY 2024-25, according to data rele...
India’s urea stock at 4-year low ahead of kharif sowing season
India's urea stocks have fallen to a four-year low as the country approaches the critical kharif sowing season, raising concerns about adequate and timely su...
India-bound ship among two vessels ‘seized’ by Iran Guards in Strait of Hormuz
The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Epaminondas, en route from Dubai to Mundra Port in Gujarat, was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Na...
Unwrapping India’s plastic packaging problem: from boom to crisis
Transparent plastic packaging has driven extraordinary commercial growth — enabling longer shelf lives, supply chain efficiencies, and consumer culture — but...
Govt. alters aviation fuel norms to allow for blending with non-petroleum sources
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Amendment Order, 2026, dated April 17, 2026, which came ...
Intensifying extreme heat events raise risks to agri-food systems, says report
A joint report titled *Extreme Heat and Agriculture* released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorologic...
Iran seizes two ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire
Hours after the United States extended a ceasefire arrangement with Iran, Iranian forces seized two commercial vessels — the MSC Francesca (Italian-owned) an...
Caution at MPC as war muddies view
The minutes of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) April 2026 meeting (held April 6–8, 2026) revealed that members voted unanimously ...
Three vessels hit by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, crews safe
At least three merchant vessels were struck by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz, with crews reported safe; one vessel, hit 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman...
Iran tankers go dark to sail past US blockade laden with crude
Despite a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, at least 34 Iran-linked tankers and gas carriers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz by disabling or ma...