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.
Chennai: The government has allowed Special Economic Zone units to sell in the domestic market at lower customs duties for one year, till March 2027. This offers some relief to exporters during disrupted global trade. The one-time concession is available from Wednesday, April 1. The concessions on customs duty include basic customs duty, Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Cess, and health cess. The concession ranges from 1 per cent to 20 per cent. For goods charged 7.5 per cent and 10 per cent, the concession would be 1 per cent, for those with 12.5 per cent and 15 per cent duty, the customs duty will come down to 10 per cent, for goods with 20 per cent to 12.5 per cent, between 20 and 30 per cent to 15 per cent and those ranging between 30 and 40 per cent to 20 per cent. The goods manufactured by such units, for which benefit is claimed under this relief window, should have undergone value addition of a minimum 20 per cent over the inputs. The emphasis on exports by SEZ units shall remain. DTA sales at concessional rates by the eligible SEZ units shall not be more than 30 per cent of the highest annual FOB value of exports in any of three immediately preceding financial years. The benefit covers a wide range of products -- from chemicals and fertilizers to textiles, footwear, and machinery. However, certain sectors have been excluded from this relief window on account of certain sensitivities and to protect the domestic industry, the government said. However, according to GTRI, the impact could be marginal. "Duty concessions are marginal -- 1 per cent in many products -- with no relief on IGST. Petrol and diesel are excluded, with only limited refinery products like petroleum coke included," it said. "If the objective is to boost domestic supply, stronger measures -- such as restricting exports of petrol, diesel and ATF, as practiced by countries like China and Singapore -- may be needed," added GTRI.
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 >
Mumbai, Feb 10: The rupee on Monday plunged 45 paise and moved closer to the 88 per US dollar-level, weighed down by the strength of the American currency tariff concerns, but eventually settled at 87.45, up 5 paise, following RBI intervention. The American currency gained in the overseas market after US President Donald Trump's plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, along with reciprocal tariffs targeting countries taxing US exports. The move has added jitters over the global trade war with China's reciprocal duties coming into effect, they said. At the interban ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the continuation of the interest subvention component under the modified interest subvention scheme (MISS) for loans to farmers during the financial year 2025-26, and approved the required fund arrangements, according to an official statement issued after the meeting. MISS is a Central sector scheme aimed at ensuring the availability of short-term credit to farmers at an affordable interest rate through Kisan credit cards (KCC). Under the scheme, farmers receive short-term loa ...Read More >
Jharkhand supplementary budget: The Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday (December 12) passed the second supplementary budget of Rs 11,697.45 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Following the budget's passage, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato adjourned the four-day session of the assembly sine die. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled the second supplementary budget, with the largest allocation of Rs 6,390.55 crore directed to the Women, Child Development, and Social Security Department. This significant funding aims to enhance the government's flagship initiative, the Maiyan Samman Yojana. Und ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 21 (ANI): The Centre is expected to continue its fiscal consolidation efforts in FY26, with a fiscal deficit target of 4.5 per cent of GDP, according to a report by Emkay Research. For FY25, the report noted that the fiscal deficit is estimated to track close to 4.7 per cent, while states are likely to record a fiscal deficit of 3.2 per cent of GDP. It said "we do not see the Centre deviating from its consolidation path in FY26, and is likely to target 4.5 per cent GFD/GDP. States, on the other hand, are likely to now hug the 3 per cent of GDP target (+/-0.2 per ce ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (VOICE) The output of India's eight core sector industries rose 4 per cent year-on-year in December, driven by an increase in the production of coal, steel, and electricity during the month, according to government data released on Friday.The eight core industries include coal, natural gas, crude oil, refinery products, fertilisers, cement, steel and electricity which comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The growth rate of the core industries, therefore, is an indicator of the overall industrial growth rate. Apa ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that his ministry's resolve is to increase the Kharif crop production while reducing the production cost. He added that the synergy between the agricultural research and the farmers will be increased. The Minister was speaking to reporters here after a meeting with the State agricultural ministers. "Today, I held a meeting with the Agriculture ministers of all the states...Agriculture is important for the country, whether it is a question of livelihood, employment, contribution to the economy or ...Read More >
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 22 (ANI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the current TDP-led government in the State, accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of failing to deliver on pre-election promises and engaging in financial mismanagement. The former chief minister also took aim at what he called the "yellow media" for biased reporting in favour of the ruling party. "I am not only fighting against Chandrababu Naidu but also against the 'yellow media'," Reddy said in a press conference. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the interest subvention component under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for farmers for the financial year 2025-26, and approved required fund arrangements. It is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at ensuring the availability of short-term credit to farmers at an affordable interest rate through Kisan Credit card (KCC). Also Read | Parcel Bomb Case: Odisha Court Convicts Accused Punjilal Meher, Sentences Him to Life Imprisonment. Under the Scheme: Farmers received short-term loans of up t ...Read More >
New Delhi: A surge in sales may be around the corner for some of India's leading packaged consumer goods makers, as cheaper inputs and lower import duties craft a perfect recipe for their next stage of growth. Companies and analysts alike said that falling prices of wheat, maize, barley and oils will help expand volumes, in a change from the recent experience of pricier products driving revenue. On 31 May, the government halved the basic customs duty on crude soybean oil, crude palm oil, and crude sunflower oil to 10%, eight months after raising it from nil to 20%. The move had prompted pack ...Read More >
Listening to the sounds of nature such as birdsong reduces stress levels - but the sound of traffic increases them, new research shows. The research lends support for anyone who is a firm believer in the curative powers of a walk in the countryside or through a forest. In a study, 68 volunteers listened to three three-minute soundscapes: a nature soundscape recorded at sunrise in West Sussex, the same soundscape combined with 20 mile per hour road traffic sounds, and the same soundscape with 40 mile per hour traffic sounds. General mood and anxiety were assessed before and after the soundsc ...Read More >
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia and Canada on Monday signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that aims to strengthen economic ties between the two G20 members, three years after negotiations began. The agreement will take effect in 2026 and was signed in Jakarta by trade ministers of both countries. Indonesia's trade minister, Budi Santoso, said Indonesia appreciated Canada's support for its plan to prioritise its critical minerals sector, which was vital for its sustainable growth. "Together, we advance sustainable critical mineral management, supporting Indonesia's net ...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 >
New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will commence customary pre-Budget consultations with various stakeholders beginning Friday. As part of the process, she will meet eminent economists on December 6 to seek their inputs regarding upcoming Budget amid seven-quarter low GDP print of 5.4 per cent recorded in the second quarter of the current financial year. It will be followed by a meeting with farmer associations and agriculture economists and stakeholders in MSME sector scheduled for December 7, sources said. Union Budget 2025-26 is likely to be tabled in Parliament o ...Read More >
The overall development of the country is not possible without the development of agriculture and farmers. The nation's economy can be strengthened by the development of agriculture, fishery production, and livestock, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday. Gracing the convocation ceremony of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology at Bhubaneswar, she said agriculture is facing new challenges such as natural disasters, adverse effects of climate change, decreasing per capita farm ...Read More >
New Delhi: The BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicle ban has been lifted in Delhi after the Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to the moderate category. The Supreme Court allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ease restrictions due to the improvement in the national capital's air pollution situation. Delhi had been facing high pollution levels, which led CAQM to enforce Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The court has now asked the commission to apply GRAP Stage 2. ...Read More >
New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday met farmers in Punjab and reviewed crops and production. Addressing a gathering, Chouhan said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is Viksit Bharat, and we are working tirelessly with that goal in mind. Our mission is to build a glorious, prosperous and powerful India. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. In the fourth quarter of last financial year, the country achieved a growth rate of 7.5 per cent, with agriculture contributing to 5.4 per cent of it. Agriculture still accounts f ...Read More >
Trump warns BRICS nations against replacing US dollar Dec 2 (Reuters) - A gauge of emerging market stocks rose on Monday, driven by positive manufacturing data from China and expectations of continued policy support from Beijing, while India's rupee hit a record low because of weaker-than-expected economic data. As of 0932 GMT, the MSCI's index for emerging market stocks had risen by 0.7%, on track for its biggest percentage gain in over three weeks. China's blue-chip CSI 300 climbed 0.8%, and the Shanghai Composite index jumped 1.1% after a private survey indicated that Chinese factory act ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rate for October 2024 registered a modest increase to 3.5 per cent, up from 3.1 per cent in September 2024, according to the Quick Estimates released on December 12. According to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, sectoral analysis reveals mixed performances. Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity sectors reported growth rates of 0.9 per cent, 4.1 per cent, and 2.0 per cent, respectively. The manufacturing sector demonstrated resilience, with 18 out of 23 industry groups at the 2-digit N ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Terming the 5.4 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter as a "temporary phenomena", FICCI President Harsha Vardhan Agarwal on Thursday said the industry body expects India to achieve 6.5-7 per cent economic growth in the current financial year, while projecting a pick up in private investment. In an interview to PTI, Agarwal, who is also the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Emami Ltd, said the RBI needs to manoeuvre a "tight-rope balancing act" between inflation and economic growth, as he opined that the central bank has been doing a prudent job. Notably, the FI ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 17 (PTI) Agri-solutions provider Coromandel International and Mahindra and Mahindra's farm equipment sector business vertical, Krish-e, on Tuesday announced a partnership to extend Coromandel's drone spraying services, Gromor Drive. Currently operational in seven key states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Gromor Drive's operations are supported by RPTO-trained pilots, according to a joint statement. Coromandel's drone services are positioned in the market through the support of its subsidiary, Dhaksha Unmanned Sy ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. Also Read | Delhi: High-Level US Team Arrives for Talks on Bilateral Trade Pact With India. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce gr ...Read More >
Since our last publication, the higher risk-sensitive EUR/CHF cross pair has wobbled as it grappled with the Eurozone's economic weakness and a looming unfavorable external trade environment due to further global supply chain disruptions due to incoming US President-elect Trump's 10% to 20% tariffs threat on other countries' exports to the US, inclusive of the Eurozone. The EUR/CHF inched lower in the week of 18 November (ex-post US Presidential election outcome on 6 November) and retested a key intermediate support of 0.9255, a key swing low made almost a year ago on 29 December 2023. Fig 1 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Tuesday said the government has taken measures to lower fiscal deficit and delivered a non-inflationary Budget, and hoped that the RBI's monetary policy will work in tandem with fiscal policy to support growth. He also said that although rupee depreciation increases inflation on imported inputs, it also adds to export competitiveness. Pandey said that the government has bettered its fiscal deficit projections for the current fiscal as well as the next. The fiscal deficit for FY'25 has been pegged lower at 4.8 per cent of GDP, low ...Read More >
New Delhi: Rare earth magnets, essential for EV motors, have become the latest flashpoint in India's growing electric mobility ambitions. These magnets power the core of Brushless DC (BLDC) and Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM), which drive most electric vehicles today, particularly two-wheelers. With China tightening export controls, Indian automakers now face serious supply-side disruptions. If the situation continues, industry experts warn that EV prices could rise, production could slow and expansion plans may take a hit. In April this year, China imposed an export curb on rare- ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce grown using natural and organic farming practices. The Chief Minister made these announcements ...Read More >
Beijing: China has expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States following recent threats by former President Donald Trump to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods. The statement comes amid growing tensions between the two economic giants over trade practices, technology policies, and geopolitical issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said that China was open to "constructive dialogue" with the U.S., emphasizing the importance of cooperation to ensure global economic stability. "China believes that both countries should seek common ground and manag ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The state govt on Tuesday received investment intent worth Rs 4.5 lakh crore on the first day of Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, and given the massive response the event has generated, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi feels they could see proposals worth four times than the target of Rs 5 lakh crore that had been set in the run-up to the business summit. "The investment proposals are likely to take a big leap as the investors are highly encouraged by the PM's assurances," Majhi said on a day his govt received over 100 investment intents and signed 54 MoUs in various ...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 >
NEW DELHI, June 5 (Reuters) - Indian and U.S. are holding high-level talks this week, aiming to finalise tariff cuts in sectors such as farm and automobiles as part of an interim deal, two government sources said, with an announcement likely later this month. A U.S. delegation led by senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) began closed-door, two-day discussions in New Delhi on Thursday with Indian trade officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal ...Read More >