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 for people aged 15 and above held steady at 5.2% in October, unchanged from September, according to the latest government data released on Monday. An easing in rural joblessness, down from 4.6% to 4.4%, was offset by a modest uptick in urban unemployment, which inched up from 6.8% to 7%, leaving the overall unemployment rate broadly stable from the previous month, showed the periodic labour force survey (PLFS) data released by the ministry of statistics & programme implementation (MoSPI). The unemployment rate measures the share of people in the labour force who are without work, actively seeking a job, and available to take up employment. To be sure, September marks the peak harvest season for kharif crops such as rice, maize, and cotton, a period when farm activity absorbs much of the rural workforce. As a result, fewer people in the rural areas typically seek employment during the following month. Meanwhile, women remained disproportionately affected in terms of unemployment, albeit for different reasons in urban and rural India, with the trend declining from the previous month. Unemployment among women edged down to 5.4% in October from 5.5% in September, driven largely by a decline in rural joblessness. Male unemployment held steady at 5.1%, as a slight improvement in rural areas, down from 4.7% to 4.6%, was offset by a marginal rise in urban unemployment. Estimates of the unemployed in current weekly status (CWS) give an average picture of unemployment in a short period of seven days during the survey period, the MoSPI survey said. "A person was considered unemployed in a week if he/she did not work even for one hour on any day during the reference week, but sought or was available for work at least for one hour on any day during the reference week," it added. The latest employment data underscores the dual challenge facing India's labour market: robust male participation coupled with persistently lower female participation, and higher engagement in rural areas than in cities, a pattern that continues to weigh on the country's employment landscape. The increase was driven largely by rural India, where participation climbed from 57.4% to 57.8%. Urban participation, however, slipped from 50.9% to 50.5%, highlighting the persistent structural divide between the two labour markets. Labour force refers to the part of the population which supplies or offers to supply labour for pursuing economic activities for the production of goods and services and therefore, includes both 'employed' and 'unemployed' persons, according to the survey. "Labour force, according to CWS, is the number of persons either employed or unemployed on an average in a week of seven days preceding the date of survey," it added. India's labour force participation rate (LFPR) for women aged 15 and above edged up to 34.2% in October, from 34.1% in September, the highest since May 2025, driven largely by increased participation in rural areas. Among rural men, LFPR rose to 78.4% from 78.1%, while rural women saw a similar uptick, climbing to 38.4% from 37.9% during the same period. In cities, however, the picture was more uneven. Urban male participation held steady at 75.3%, but the LFPR for urban women slipped to 25.4% in October from 26.1% in September, underscoring the persistent gender gaps that continue to shape India's workforce. The worker population ratio, a key gauge of how many people are actually employed, reflected the same rural-urban divide. Overall, WPR edged up to 52.5% in October from 52.4% in September. Rural WPR remained significantly higher, at 55.2%, compared with 47% in urban areas. Gender gaps were stark. In rural India, workforce participation among men rose to 74.8% and among women to 36.9%. In cities, men's participation held steady at 70.8%, while women's WPR slipped to 22.9% in October, down from 23.7% the previous month. The MoSPI has revamped the PLFS framework to provide more timely data. Starting with the April bulletin, the ministry began releasing monthly estimates of key labour market indicators, LFPR, WPR, and unemployment rate at the all-India level using the current weekly status approach. "It may be noted that, besides the first visit sample (25% of the total sample size) of October, 2025, three revisit samples of the months July to September, 2025 (75% of the total sample size) were also surveyed during October, 2025," the survey added.
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 >
SOLAPUR, India (Reuters) - India is likely to produce a record amount of sugar in the next marketing year from October after millions of farmers expanded cane cultivation, encouraged by ample water supplies and declining prices of competing crops, farmers and industry officials told Reuters. The rebound in production would allow the world's second-largest sugar producer to resume exports in 2025/26, they said, after a lack of rain cut cane yields and led to two years of restrictions. Indian exports could cap global sugar prices, traders said, by increasing supplies in the world market at a t ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said a massive disaster had struck three assembly constituencies in Mandi district due to a cloudburst, with Seraj constituency being the worst affected. He visited the impacted areas, met families at rehabilitation centres, and sought central help to deal with the crisis. Speaking to the mediapersons, CM Sukhu said, ... A massive disaster has struck the state in three assembly constituencies of Mandi district, caused by a cloudburst... Areas of the Seraj constituency have been ...Read More >
Hong Kong, December 3, (ANI): Mainland Chinese shoppers are once again flocking to stores in Hong Kong, but this time, their focus is on purchasing sanitary towels and other feminine care products, rather than infant formula, cooking oil, or Yakult drinks. This shift in shopping habits is driven by concerns over reports of contaminated and discoloured cotton fillings in similar products sold in mainland China. These safety issues have led many consumers to seek alternatives in Hong Kong, where the quality is perceived to be more reliable, Radio Free Asia reported. A shopper from Guangzhou, i ...Read More >
Hong Kong: Mainland Chinese shoppers are once again flocking to stores in Hong Kong, but this time, their focus is on purchasing sanitary towels and other feminine care products, rather than infant formula, cooking oil, or Yakult drinks. This shift in shopping habits is driven by concerns over reports of contaminated and discoloured cotton fillings in similar products sold in mainland China. These safety issues have led many consumers to seek alternatives in Hong Kong, where the quality is perceived to be more reliable, Radio Free Asia reported. A shopper from Guangzhou, interviewed by Radio ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Monsoon covered the entire country on Sunday, nine days before the normal date, advancing into the remaining parts of Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, west UP and Haryana, IMD said.This is only the fourth time in the past 25 years that monsoon covered NCR and remaining parts of northwest India the same day. The last time this happened was on July 13 in 2021, whereas the earliest date on which such an event took place was June 16 in 2013 -- the day Kedarnath witnessed a major disaster due to cloudburst and flash floods.It has taken monsoon 37 days to cover the entire country this time since its ...Read More >
Patna, July 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday made 15 major poll announcements for the disabled community during a program held at Patna's Bapu auditorium. Tejashwi promised that if his government comes to power in Bihar, a separate commission and department for disabled people will be formed. He said that the disability certificate process will be simplified to ensure easier access to government benefits, and disabled individuals will receive a pension of Rs 1500 per month, increasing by Rs 200 annually, reaching Rs 2500 in five years. He also pr ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26. It has raised the MSP for paddy by 3 per cent to Rs 2,369 per quintal for the season. The support price for common and A grade varieties has been increased by Rs 69 per quintal to Rs 2,369 and Rs 2,389 per quintal, respectively, for the forthcoming kharif season of 2025-26 crop year (July-June). Among pulses, support price for tur has been raised by Rs 450 to Rs 8,000 per quintal, while t ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 5 (ANI): Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the sixth convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar, and conferred degrees upon the graduates. On the second day of his visit to Jammu & Kashmir on Friday, Shivraj Singh said, 'I've been in Srinagar since yesterday. The cool breeze, the fragrance of the soil, the natural beauty, and the warmth of the people have truly touched my heart. Jammu & Kashmir is the crown jewel of ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 7 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has directed that all damage to highways, as well as rural and urban roads, caused by heavy monsoon rains, be repaired on a priority basis and restored to their original condition without delay, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a press release. In a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister emphasised that road networks--crucial for development and daily public transportation--must not remain damaged due to heavy rainfall, and that immediate repairs should be undertaken to ensure their continued operatio ...Read More >
MUMBAI: India is likely to produce a record 117.5 million tonnes of wheat in the year ending June 2025, the farm ministry said, above its March forecast of 115.4 million tonnes, as higher prices prompted farmers to expand the area planted with high-yielding seed varieties. India, the world's biggest wheat producer after China, produced 113.3 million tonnes of wheat in 2024, the farm ministry said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. However, a leading industry body said the crop was nearly 6.25% lower than the government's estimate. The country's rice production in 2025 is also set to c ...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 >
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 >
MUMBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee touched its strongest level in a month on Thursday, lifted by dollar sales from foreign banks and cutting of bearish bets on the local currency, while optimism surrounding a U.S.-India trade deal also aided sentiment. The rupee rose to a peak of 85.20, its best level since late May, before ending the session at 85.31, up 0.4% on the day. Dollar sales from foreign banks in the latter half of Thursday's session boosted the rupee, with the rise above 85.40 also triggering stop-losses on some wagers against the currency, traders said. Asian currencies ...Read More >
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami swapped his official duties for the humble task of a farmer on Saturday, personally participating in paddy sowing on his private farmland in Nagra Terai, Khatima. The rare gesture was a powerful tribute to the unwavering hard work, sacrifice, and dedication of the state's farming community. Embracing traditional agricultural practices, CM Dhami offered fervent prayers to Bhumiyan Devta (the deity of land), Lord Indra (God of rains), and Meghraj (God of clouds). These invocations were accompanied by the melodious, culturally significant ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): The Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), has launched a Community-led Salt Reduction initiative after studies revealed that average daily salt intake in both urban and rural India exceeds the World Health Organisation's recommended limit of 5 grams. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends consuming less than 5 grams of salt per person per day. Studies show that the average intake in India remains high, around 9.2 grams per day in urban areas and 5.6 grams in rural areas, both exceeding the recommended limit ...Read More >
Patna: While the monsoon brings respite from the heat, the threat of vector-borne diseases also increases during this time of the year.According to official data, so far 62 dengue cases have been registered in Patna district, along with seven chikungunya. Health experts have warned people to remain cautious as the peak season is just ahead.Officials said of the total 62 dengue cases, the majority were from the capital. When asked about the steps being taken by the department as cases are expected to increase with each passing day, Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh said they were on al ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...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 >
Vijayawada, July 6 (UNI) The Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department of Andhra Pradesh government is launching a focused 'smart Mosquito control' programme using Deep Technology to check vector- borne diseases. The Artificial Intelligence-powered Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS) will be launched on a pilot basis at 66 locations in six major municipal corporations in the state. SMoSS will primarily safeguard public health by curbing the dreaded mosquito menace and, it will also reduce operational burden on civic staff and cut costs of Urban Local Bodies. Th ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 8 (ANI): Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved 43 schemes and projects, including the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission, 35 per cent reservation for women native to the State and Rs 100 diesel subsidy for farmers. Bihar Chief Secretary S Siddharth said, 'Today, 43 agendas have been stamped in the Council of Ministers, in which the most important agenda is the formation of the Youth Commission. This commission is related to the youth of 18-45 years, which will have one chairman, two vice-chairmen and seven members.' 'The beneficiary group related to this includes ...Read More >
Hyderabad: With the early onset of pre-monsoon showers, farmers across Telangana have started their agricultural activities ahead of schedule. However, the agriculture department is facing strong criticism for failing to provide adequate fertilizers and seeds necessary for the current season. According to officials, there is a significant shortfall in the availability of essential inputs like urea and cotton seeds, which may negatively impact crop planning and productivity across the state. Also Read: Madhuri Dixit Recalls 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' Magic with Salman Khan as Monsoon Arrives For ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was a belligerent, brilliant, and breathtaking performance from the Chennai Bulls, who were crowned the first ever champions of the Rugby Premier League, here in Mumbai, at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex. The Chennai Bulls thrashed the Delhi Redz by a scoreline of 41-0 in the final, to clinch the title. In fact, the margin of victory is the biggest across Season 1 of the GMR RPL. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Heroes, who had finished top of the table in the league stage, came away with a third-place finish, after they won 17-12 against the Bengaluru Bra ...Read More >
New Delhi: The clock is ticking. Only a few days left before the July 9 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. Hopes of a limited trade deal between India and the United States still linger. But the mood around the negotiating table feels anything but settled. The White House has publicly hinted that the deal is all but done. In New Delhi, officials have echoed a similar sentiment, calling the potential agreement "big, good and beautiful". Trump claimed it would open Indian markets to American goods. But behind closed doors, things remain tangled in tough back-and-forth. Key concerns h ...Read More >
Chennai, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is set to launch the first camp of the 'Ungaludan Stalin' (Stalin with You) initiative on July 15 at Chidambaram Municipality in Cuddalore district. This ambitious public outreach programme aims to directly address citizens' grievances and deliver essential government services at their doorstep through a series of special camps across the state. According to an official release, the government plans to organise a total of 10,000 special camps between July 15 and November 2025, covering both rural and urban areas in all di ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Congress National General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday refuted reports regarding a meeting between the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar in New Delhi, as "purely imaginary". Answering a question by the media on a possible meeting as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar are in New Delhi over developments in the state, he dubbed them "purely imaginary." "I have no knowledge of any such meeting of LoP Rahul Gandhi with the Karnataka CM and Dy ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that as the Indus Waters Treaty has been put in abeyance, efforts will be made to ensure that more water reaches farmers in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. He said that 80 per cent of water from the Indus river system was flowing into Pakistan. "Giving 80 per cent water to Pakistan at that time was not justified. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan require water and that water is ours. Now we will utilize that water for our farmers," said Chouhan. Chouh ...Read More >