Economics
Trade, fiscal policy, banking, agriculture and economic indicators
Expert Explains | What the China-Pakistan peace plan for West Asia says about China’s stakes and global trade
On March 31, 2026, China and Pakistan jointly launched a Five-Point Initiative for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East region The initi...
Iran-Israel war: OPEC+ hikes oil production quotas, issues warning
OPEC+ agreed on Sunday (April 5, 2026) to raise oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day (bpd) from May — the second consecutive monthly increase of ...
GST Council meeting likely in end-May or June
The 57th GST Council meeting is expected to be held only towards the end of May or in June 2026, later than usual. The delay is directly linked to ongoing as...
CII seeks urgent support as West Asia war-led supply chain crisis deepens
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has submitted a comprehensive 20-point policy agenda to the Union Finance Ministry, seeking urgent support for Ind...
What to expect from China’s new 5-year plan—trade innovation, tensions with partners
China's National People's Congress formally adopted the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) in March 2026, setting out the country's economic and technological p...
Trump threatens to hit Iran’s infrastructure on Tuesday if Strait of Hormuz remains blocked
US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran's power plants and bridges starting Tuesday (April 7, 2026) if the Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed ...
India may restrict sugar export as likely to allow higher ethanol blending with petrol
The government is considering restricting sugar exports for the 2025-26 season as it plans to allow higher ethanol blending with petrol, diverting more sugar...
Iran war starts pinching U.S.; gas prices, transport costs surge
The average price of petrol (gasoline) in the US rose to $4.09 per gallon by April 3, 2026 — up more than $1 from just before the war began, the highest sinc...
RBI MPC: Malhotra & co expected to keep rates unchanged in first policy since US-Iran war, says SBI report
SBI Research has projected the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee will maintain the policy repo rate at 5.25 percent at its April 6–8 meeting, marking the first...
Geopolitics overtakes economics as key driver of global trade flows: Experts
Experts and trade analysts now say geopolitical flashpoints — not economic fundamentals — have become the primary drivers of global trade flows in 2026. The ...
Iran attacks energy infrastructure across UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait
Iran launched drone strikes targeting energy and industrial infrastructure across three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states — UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait — in...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump believes deal with Iran possible by April 6, says 'they are negotiating now'
US President Donald Trump stated he believes a deal with Iran is possible by April 6, 2026, saying "they are negotiating now" — though Iran's foreign ministe...
Moody's cuts India's FY27 GDP growth estimates to 6% amid West Asia conflict
Moody's Ratings slashed India's GDP growth estimate for FY2026-27 to 6%, down from its earlier forecast of 6.8%, citing the escalating conflict in West Asia....
Aid groups warn war in West Asia is hindering food, medicine from reaching millions
Major international humanitarian organisations warned that the ongoing war in West Asia has severely disrupted global aid supply chains, leaving millions of ...
Economists see RBI holding rates in April policy review on inflation fears amid West Asia crisis
A broad consensus among economists projects the RBI will keep the benchmark policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent at the April 6–8 MPC meeting The West ...
West Asia crisis: Jaishankar speaks to Qatari PM, UAE foreign minister
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held separate telephone conversations with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani ...
Govt steps up LPG supply, urges calm amid Hormuz concerns
The government has ramped up the sale of small 5-kg LPG cylinders — approximately 6.6 lakh bottles sold since March 23, 2026 — as part of broader steps to me...
CII's 20-Point Policy Agenda calls for coordinated fiscal, financial and trade response to West Asia crisis
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) submitted a 20-point policy agenda to the Ministry of Finance calling for coordinated fiscal, financial, and trade...
RBI expected to hold rates steady in first monetary policy since West Asia conflict: SBI Report
An SBI Research report has projected that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent at the April 6–8 Monetary ...
National Maritime Day: India's oil lifeline churns through conflict waters
India observed its 63rd National Maritime Day on April 5, 2026 — a date that acquired unusual salience given the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, thr...