Economics
Trade, fiscal policy, banking, agriculture and economic indicators
Eight India-bound ships return after attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz
Eight India-bound ships carrying energy cargo — crude oil, LPG, and LNG — were forced to return after attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz when Iran reim...
Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over U.S. blockade
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz fully closed to commercial traffic, citing the continued U.S. naval blockade of...
India must remain ready for West Asia fallout, says Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the fourth meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on the West Asia situation on April 18, 2026, stressing t...
Rupee depreciation forces Indian firms to adopt Yuan payments, boost local sourcing
A weakening Indian rupee is compelling Indian businesses to make payments for Chinese imports in Chinese yuan (renminbi/CNY) rather than US dollars, reducing...
'Resume process of facilitating India-bound ships at earliest': MEA to Iran envoy after Hormuz firing
India's MEA summoned Iranian Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali and conveyed a "strong protest" over the firing on Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormu...
Iran closes Hormuz again, fires at two Indian carriers, Delhi summons Tehran envoy
Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and IRGC naval units fired at two Indian-flagged carriers attempting transit, in what became a major diplomatic incident ...
SHANTI Act push: Atomic Energy Commission clears FDI policy, sends it for inter-ministerial consultation
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has cleared the FDI policy framework under the SHANTI Act and forwarded it for inter-ministerial consultation The Sustaina...
Cabinet extends rural roads scheme, increases outlay by Rs 3,727 crore
The Union Cabinet approved an increase in the outlay for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III by ₹3,727 crore, raising the total revised allocation to ₹83,97...
To decongest, Cabinet clears Rs 24K-cr multi-tracking projects in UP, Andhra
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two railway multi-tracking projects on April 18, 20...
Govt nod for Rs 12,980-crore maritime insurance pool amid global shipping upheaval
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) on April 18, 2026, backed by a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore....
US makes a U-turn, extends sanctions waiver for Russian oil till May 16; India stands to benefit
In a reversal of its earlier position, the US Treasury Department extended a sanctions waiver permitting the purchase of Russian oil until May 16, 2026 — rep...
Govt sets up ₹12,980-cr maritime insurance pool
The Union Cabinet established the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) — India's first domestic sovereign-backed maritime insurance mechanism — with a s...
Cabinet extends PMGSY-III till 2028; outlay raised to ₹83,977 crore
The Union Cabinet on April 18, 2026, approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond its original deadline of March 2025...
One Indian vessel crosses Hormuz, four others turn back as IRGC opens fire
Ship tracking data showed oil tanker Desh Garima successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026, becoming one of the few Indian vessels to compl...
Iran war energy shock drives nuclear power plans in hard-hit Asia, Africa
The disruption to global energy supplies caused by the 2026 Iran conflict has accelerated nuclear power plans across Asia and Africa, as oil and gas shipment...
Two Indian ships reverse course in Hormuz strait, says vessel tracker
Two Indian-flagged vessels, including an Indian-registered super tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil, reversed course in the S...
India approves ₹12,980 crore maritime insurance pool amid rising shipping risks
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) with a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to ensure uninterrupted ...
India adds 55,200 startups in FY26; job creation tops 23.36 lakh
The government recognised 55,200 startups in FY 2025-26, the highest number in any single financial year since the launch of the Startup India initiative in ...
Recovery of energy flows will be ‘gradual rather than immediate’ as Hormuz re-opens post ceasefire
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, 2026, as part of a two-week ceasefire arrangement with the US, prompting a sharp drop in oil prices — Brent c...
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as US maintains blockade
Iran announced it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic after the April 8, 2026 ceasefire, but threatened to close it again as the US main...