India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
NEW DELHI: India's unemployment rate remained steady at 5.6% in June, unchanged from May, as an improvement in rural areas offset a rise in urban joblessness, official data released on Tuesday showed. Rural unemployment declined to 4.9% in June from 5.1% in May, while urban unemployment increased to 7.1% from 6.9%. The data reflects the share of individuals aged 15 and above who are actively seeking work and available for employment. "The decrease in the unemployment rate for rural areas for both males and females can be attributed to an increase in the share of own-account workers (self-employed) in June compared to May, along with a reduction in the number of unemployed persons," the statistics ministry said in a statement. "The rise in own-account work during this period may be driven by seasonal factors, prompting individuals to engage in small-scale or self-initiated activities (e.g., petty trade, repair work, or services)," it added. Youth unemployment edged up in June, with 15.3% of individuals aged 15-29 who were working or seeking work remaining jobless, up from 15% in May. The rate was higher among females (17.4%) than males (14.7%). Overall, the unemployment rate among women declined to 5.6% in June from 5.8% in May, while it remained unchanged at 5.6% for males. Among rural males, the rate fell to 5.1% in June from 5.3% in May, while for rural females it dropped to 4.4% from 4.7%. Among urban males, it rose to 6.4% from 6.2%, while for urban females it held steady at 9.1%. Labour force dips The labour force participation rate (LFPR) - which measures the share of population working or seeking work - declined marginally to 54.2% in June from 54.8% in May, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin released by the statistics ministry. The worker population ratio (WPR), or employment rate, fell to 51.2% in June from 51.7% in May. Female WPR saw a sharper drop, falling to 30.2% from 31.3%, while male WPR dipped slightly to 72.8% from 72.9%. The fall in LPFR and WPR was driven by seasonal agricultural patterns, extreme summer heat, and a shift of unpaid helpers, particularly from high-income rural households, towards domestic chores, the ministry noted. Female LFPR dropped to 32% in June from 33.2% in May, while male LFPR saw a slight dip to 77.1% from 77.2%. Among rural females, it fell to 35.2% in June from 36.9% in May, while among rural males it fell to 78.1% from 78.3%. The ministry said that over a 1-percentage point decline in rural female participation was due to a reduction in unpaid helpers engaged in agricultural work, as several of them reported engaged in domestic duties. "Additionally, the share of rural female workers in agriculture dropped from 70.2% in May to 69.8% in June 2025, indicating that reduced need for agricultural engagement among women, perhaps due to a decline in rural inflation," it added. Rural inflation declined to 1.7% in June from 2.6% in May. Youth LFPR declined to 41% in June from 42.1% in May. Female youth LFPR was 20.6% in June, significantly lower than 61% for males. The figures are based on the current weekly status (CWS), which measures an individual's activity by whether they worked or sought work in the seven days preceding the survey date.
nion Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje cited statistics in the Lok Sabha on Monday to show that youth unemployment rates in India were lower than global levels. The minister cited a report by the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Institute for Human Development (IHD) which states that the worldwide youth unemployment rate was 15.6 per cent in 2021. Further, as per World Employment and Social Outlook Trends, 2024 by ILO, globally, in 2023, the youth unemployment rate was 13.3 per cent. On the other hand, the latest annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (PTI) Ahead of BJD's 28th foundation day on December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to "raise voice against the BJP government's 'anti-people' policies" and also highlight the impact of high inflation, which hits the poor and middle class. "The party leaders and workers need to create awareness among people on the state B ...Read More >
Patna: Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor speaks during the 'Bihar Badlav' rally, in Patna, Friday, April 11, 2025. "Declare Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister candidate if he is the face of the NDA," challenged Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor on May 30, as he toured the state in his 'Bihar Badlav Yatra'. Mr. Kishor, a political strategist, who was instrumental in strategising several political campaigns, including those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, is setting himself up as a third alternative in Bihar beside the Mahagathbandhan (RJD-Congress-Left) and the Na ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Recent reductions in income tax burdens, benign inflation, lower interest rates and a favourable outlook for agricultural production are expected to support rural incomes and bolster overall consumption in India, according to a new report. Given that private final consumption expenditure constitutes nearly 60 per cent of India's GDP, it has a strong bearing on India's overall growth outlook. A sustained recovery in consumption is also vital for a meaningful pick-up in private sector capital expenditure. "We expect private consumption growth of 6.2 per cent in FY26 compared to an ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) YouTuber Samay Raina appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Delhi on Tuesday, months after he was summoned in connection with allegedly offensive and sexist content aired during his show "India's Got Latent", officials said. Raina was also among the five social media influencers who appeared before the Supreme Court in a case seeking action against them for ridiculing persons suffering from disabilities. Raina submitted his statement in response to the allegations to NCW officials. Officials said further steps will be considered after reviewing his ...Read More >
Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) [India] July 15 (ANI): The tribal-dominated Dantewada district is all set to make its footprint visible in the high-octane sport of Thai Kick Boxing, as young athletes here have clinched medals in international as well as national events. With the support of the Chhattisgarh Government, the youth of Dantewada are sharpening their skills and preparing for Thai Kick Boxing events to be held in the country and overseas. As Dantewada moves on the path to becoming a hub for producing Thai Kick Boxers, the district is also ready to shed its infamous identity that emerged du ...Read More >
India's growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.4% in the three months ended 30 September, or the second quarter of 2024-25, was a shocker. It undershot even the most pessimistic forecasts. It's the lowest level seen since the third quarter of 2022-23 and a sharp drop from 8.1% growth in the same period last year and also from 6.7% in the first quarter of 2024-25. The consensus expectation stood at about 6.5% and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was expecting around 7% growth till its October policy, only to pare it to 6.8%. Growth in gross value added (GVA), which is the preferred measure ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) The higher oil prices triggered by a brief Israel-Iran war have come down, but it is too soon to sound the "all clear" for the rest of the year, said a finance ministry report on Friday. The ministry's monthly economic review also stressed that with no major imbalances in the macro aggregates, a subdued inflation rate combined with a growth-supportive monetary policy stance, India's macroeconomic health is in a relative goldilocks situation. Also Read | UK F-35B Lightning II Stealth Fighter Jet To Be Moved to Thiruvananthapuram Airport's Repair Facility As It Awaits R ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Opposition parties in Maharashtra on Sunday decided to boycott the customary high tea event of the Fadnavis government on the eve of the Legislature's Monsoon Session, citing corruption, misuse of funds and the deterioration of the economic, social, administrative and moral situation. The opposition leaders alleged that not appointing the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly was a murder of the Constitution, and efforts are underway to curb democracy. The opposition parties claimed that amid rising corruption, unemployment, crime against women, fa ...Read More >
Jaipur: Police in Didwana have stepped up their probe into a cross-border smuggling case in which they arrested two arms and drug smugglers on June 27 for supplying Austrian Glock and Chinese Norinco pistols. It has emerged that the case has links to a massive Rs 300-crore heroin consignment seized by Punjab's Amritsar police near the India-Pakistan border in Barmer on June 30. Canada-based Joben Kaler was identified as the main overseas handler of the heroin consignment. Didwana-Kuchaman police had arrested Mohammad Ilyas from Khunkhuna and Amarjeet Singh Takhar, alias Prince, from Jalandhar ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jul 3 (PTI) Newly elected Ludhiana West MLA Sanjeev Arora was inducted as a Cabinet minister on Thursday while Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was dropped after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann effected the seventh Cabinet reshuffle in the past three years. Arora's induction followed Dhaliwal's resignation from the Punjab Cabinet. His lone portfolio, NRI Affairs, was given to the newly elected MLA. Arora was also given the portfolio of Industry and Commerce and Investment Promotion, which were earlier held by Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who is now left with Tourism & Culture Affairs, Labour ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Banking, postal and other services are likely to face disruption on Wednesday as more than 25 crore workers affiliated with central and sectoral trade unions have announced to go on strike across the country to protest against new labour codes and privatisation, and press for demands such as minimum wage of Rs 26,000 and old pension scheme, according to union leaders. The general strike is expected to disrupt services in sectors like banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highway and construction, a trade union official said. Also Read | PM Modi in Brasilia: PM Naren ...Read More >
As per Moneycontrol's calculations, a 7 per cent growth in the remaining two quarters will put India's GDP at 6.5 per cent. The Indian economy would find it challenging to achieve over 7 per cent growth for the fourth consecutive year, economists said. They pointed out that the second-quarter (Q2) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, which was announced on November 29, has made the task even more daunting for the government. "A sharper than expected growth slowdown in Q2 has tilted risks to our outlook of 6.8 per cent for the current fiscal downwards," said DK Joshi, chief economist, Crisil. ...Read More >
Kolkata: Traffic movement in parts of Kolkata was heavily affected on Tuesday due to demonstrations and processions carried out as part of the Bharat Bandh called by several trade unions and farmer organizations. Major traffic diversions were put in place across the city. A large procession was reported on the Sealdah Flyover and AJC Bose Road, leading to temporary roadblocks and diversions during peak hours. Authorities also confirmed a significant demonstration at Raja SC Mullick Road, causing slow movement and congestion in the surrounding areas. Commuters were advised to avoid affected r ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The government has procured 29.92 million tonnes (MT) of wheat during the 2025-26 Rabi marketing season (April-June) which represents a 13 per cent increase over the corresponding figure for the same period of the previous year and is the highest in the last three years, according to a senior official. This procurement is from a total 40.42 MT that arrived in the markets of the main wheat producing states across the country. The remaining portion has been bought by millers and traders at a price that cannot be less than the Minimum Support Price (MSP) paid b ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 7 (PTI) Authorities on Saturday barred Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah ground and the Jama Masjid in the old city here, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claimed that he was put under house arrest. "Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar deeply regrets to inform that the authorities have once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Eidgah as well as at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside," the management of the historic mosque said in a statement. ...Read More >
Chennai: Over the past decade India has lifted 171 million people from extreme poverty. Those living on less than $2.15 per day fell from 16.2 percent in 2011- 12 to 2.3 percent in 2022-23, finds the World Bank. However, Wage disparity remains high, with the median earnings of the top 10 per cent being 13 times higher than the bottom 10 per cent in 2023-24. Rural extreme poverty dropped from 18.4 percent to 2.8 percent, and urban from 10.7 percent to 1.1 percent, narrowing the rural-urban gap from 7.7 to 1.7 percentage points -- a 16 percent annual decline. India also transitioned into the l ...Read More >
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar suggests empowering rural youth to drive change in India's underutilized agricultural sector during his visit to Dr YS Parmar University. He advocates for direct subsidies to farmers, emphasizing the need for bridging the gap between production and market access and the use of AI for rural transformation. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has called for empowering rural youth to catalyze significant transformation in India's largely untapped agricultural sector. Dur ...Read More >
[BENGALURU] Gold prices fell on Monday (Jun 9) as a stronger-than-expected US jobs report cooled expectations of interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, while optimism over easing trade tensions between US-China weighed on the bullion's safe-haven demand. Spot gold fell 0.2 per cent to US$3,303.19 an ounce, as at 0056 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.7 per cent to US$3,323.40. Three of US President Donald Trump's top aides will meet with their Chinese counterparts in London on Monday for talks aimed at resolving the trade dispute between the two largest economies that has kept global markets ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) A paper by economic think tank NCAER has made a case for investment in skilling of workforce to increase employment in the labour intensive sectors by 2030. The paper titled 'The Landscape of Employment in India: Pathways to Jobs' said inter-sectoral linkages can have a multiplicative effect on employment in the aggregate economy, increasing employment by up to 200 per cent relative to existing scenario. Also Read | Bodoland Lottery Result Today, June 27, 2025: Assam State Lottery Sambad Friday Lucky Draw Results Declared, Check Winners List With Ticket Numbers. "On ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Gold prices climbed Rs 500 to Rs 80,900 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday due to persistent buying by retailers and jewellers, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity finished at Rs 80,400 per 10 grams in the previous trading session. The yellow metal has jumped nearly Rs 2,000 in the past three sessions. Silver also rallied Rs 700 to Rs 97,000 per kg on Thursday. The white metal settled at Rs 96,300 per kg in the previous session. The price of gold of 99.5 per cent purity also surged Rs 500 to Rs 80,5 ...Read More >
New Delhi: A paper by economic think tank NCAER has made a case for investment in skilling of workforce to increase employment in the labour intensive sectors by 2030. The paper titled 'The Landscape of Employment in India: Pathways to Jobs' said inter-sectoral linkages can have a multiplicative effect on employment in the aggregate economy, increasing employment by up to 200 per cent relative to existing scenario. "On the supply side, we show that increasing the share of skilled workforce by 12 percentage points through investment in formal skilling could lead to more than a 13 per cent inc ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) The higher oil prices triggered by a brief Israel-Iran war have come down, but it is too soon to sound the "all clear" for the rest of the year, said a finance ministry report on Friday. The ministry's monthly economic review also stressed that with no major imbalances in the macro aggregates, a subdued inflation rate combined with a growth-supportive monetary policy stance, India's macroeconomic health is in a relative goldilocks situation. The brief Israel-Iran war, followed by the US intervention, pushed the price of crude oil sharply higher, it noted. "Its persis ...Read More >
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 2 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati, on Wednesday, raised concerns over Uttar Pradesh government's recent decision to merge primary schools with fewer students with nearby institutions, saying that the decision appears to be 'Unjust, unnecessary, and anti-poor'. In a post on X, Mayawati said that the UP government's decision will affect children who receive accessible and affordable government education near their homes. 'The decision taken by the Basic Education Council, Government of Uttar Pradesh, to close numerous schools under the guise of m ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 10: The rupee pared initial gains and settled for the day higher by 3 paise at 85.70 against the US dollar on Thursday, supported by US-India trade deal optimism, even as domestic equity markets were closed in the negative territory. Forex traders said the Indian rupee ended the day in green against the US dollar amid firm expectations that India and the US will reach a deal soon. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on a positive note at 85.62 against the US dollar, and traded in a range of 85.70 and 85.53 during the day. The local unit finally settled for the day ...Read More >
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 13 (ANI): BSP Supreme Mayawati on Sunday held the party meeting at the BSP Central Camp Office in Lucknow. According to the release, the detailed review meeting was held, aimed and focused on the party preparation in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, along with efforts to strengthen the party base. The progress of directives issued on March 2 regarding the formation of party organisation committees was also assessed. During the meeting, serious concern was expressed regarding the rising iss ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Shimla, Jun 7 (PTI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday emphasised the need to empower the rural youth to become instruments of change in India's enormous but "underutilised" agricultural economy. Interacting with students, faculty and researchers during his visit to Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Solan, he also called for giving direct subsidy to farmers and claimed it will increase their annual income by Rs 30,000. Dhankhar said that instead of giving indirect subsidies on fertilisers, seeds and other inputs, farmers should get monetary assistance directly ...Read More >