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, April 2 (UNI) India is working towards bringing into force a free trade agreement with Oman from May 1, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday at a presser after a series of engagements at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Cameroon. Highlighting the outcome of his bilateral meeting with Oman's leadership, Goyal said, "We are working towards bringing into effect the agreement with Oman... on 1st of May 2026," signalling a key step in expanding India's trade footprint in West Asia. The announcement came alongside a broader set of gains for India at the WTO meet, where the country played an active role in discussions on reforms, fisheries subsidies, e-commerce, agriculture and development issues. Describing the negotiations as "very intense," Goyal said, "The deliberations covered several issues like WTO reform, fisheries subsidies, investment facilitation for development, e-commerce work programme and agriculture along with developmental issues." Three important decisions were adopted during the ministerial. These include efforts to better integrate small economies into the global trading system through improved logistics, connectivity and border processes, reaffirmation of Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) provisions for developing countries, and the adoption of the first phase of the fisheries subsidies agreement. On fisheries, India secured recognition of its demand for a fair and balanced approach that allows policy space for developing nations while addressing concerns of overcapacity and illegal fishing. "We continue negotiations for the second phase so that countries like India get an opportunity to expand our fishing fleet, go into deep seas, increase incomes of our fishermen, and get a sufficient transition period," Goyal said. He stressed that India remains focused on safeguarding the interests of traditional fishermen. "India is focused on protecting our artisanal small fishermen who are practicing sustainable methods and helping us in food and nutritional security," he added, noting that India's long-standing sustainable fishing practices were widely appreciated. India also held its ground on key trade issues, particularly opposing the inclusion of Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) into the WTO framework without consensus among all members. "We have ensured that plurilateral agreements like IFD cannot be brought into the WTO framework without consensus... we will stand for what is right and protect the interests of developing countries," Goyal asserted. On the e-commerce moratorium, India reiterated that any extension must be aligned with progress on other critical issues, including the TRIPS non-violation mechanism, in order to safeguard domestic interests, especially those of farmers. The ministerial also laid down a broad roadmap for WTO reforms, with India playing a proactive role in shaping the outcome. Goyal emphasized that consensus will remain central to the WTO framework while ensuring space for developing countries to raise their concerns. India also pushed for bridging the digital divide, strengthening digital infrastructure in least-developed countries, and fast-tracking a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security. On the sidelines of the conference, India held 12 multilateral and 24 bilateral meetings with key global partners including the EU, US, Canada, China and the UK, focusing on expanding trade and investment ties. Goyal described the overall visit as productive, highlighting progress both on multilateral negotiations and bilateral partnerships. "A lot of outcomes multilaterally and bilaterally and certainly better tidings for the country in the days ahead," he said. The Commerce Minister was leading the Indian delegation at Ministerial Conference (MC) 14 at WTO held in Yaounde, Cameroon from March 26-29.
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 >
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 >
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 >
India has pledged USD 20 billion towards infrastructure development, prioritizing multimodal logistics, port connectivity, and trade facilitation, according to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He emphasized India's growing maritime capabilities and called for greater partnerships in seafarer recruitment. Strategic corridors like IMEEC, EMC, and INSTC are strengthening maritime connectivity and supply chains.India has committed USD 20 billion for infrastructure development, with a focus on enhan ...Read More >
This is a Mint Premium article gifted to you. Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The debate on laboratory-grown meat, dairy, and egg products may soon be settled, with the issue reaching India's apex food regulator, three people aware of the development said. The development comes in the backdrop of concerns about public health, food security and ecological sustainability. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put in place a regulatory framework for plant-based protein products, manufacturers and sellers of fermentation-derived and cultivated protein ...Read More >
ess than 24 hours after he asserted in Nigeria's Abuja that stepping out of the comfort zone, innovating and creating new paths has now become the very essence of today's India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told the gathering of world's most influential leaders converged in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Summit that the main reason for India's success lies in his government's 'back to basics' and 'march to the future' approach. Addressing the G20 session on 'Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty' at the bayside museum of modern art during the two-day 19th G20 Summit, ...Read More >
India readies a sea change for domestic shipping as well as global shipping through key bills The centre will move the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 and Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing during the winter session of parliament. These key legislations are aimed at holistic growth of Coastal Shipping and reducing the compliance burden for ships under the Indian flag. "The Merchant Shipping Bill deals with implementation of India's obligations under various International Conventions and technical aspects maritime and shipping sector's regulations. Coastal Shipping Bill wi ...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: 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 >
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 >
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Trade talks between Indian and U.S. officials have been extended into next week as both sides seek consensus on tariff cuts in the farming and auto sectors, aiming to finalise an interim deal before a July 9 deadline, Indian government sources said. A U.S. delegation led by senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) held two days of discussions in New Delhi with Indian trade officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, the sources said. "The two countries are actively engaged in focused discussions to facilitate greater mark ...Read More >
H.E. Josel Francisco Ignacio, current Ambassador of the Philippines to India shares his credentials with President Droupadi Murmu On 16 November 1949, the Philippines and India, the two independent democracies would forge diplomatic ties. The two republics were born just a few years apart, first set out on the road to their bilateral friendship and collaboration. This inaugurated a period of closer government interaction, commerce and investment, and other bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Building on much common ground in history, democratic ideals, socio-economic imperatives and aspi ...Read More >
Dharwad: Joint director of agriculture Manjunath Antarvalli has called upon the farmers to grow millets and supply quality food items to the domestic market. Speaking after flagging off 'Walk for Millet' organised by the agriculture department in Dharwad on Thursday, he said the farmers growing millets should be encouraged in all possible ways. "Popularly known as superfoods, the millets which are little wonders have been the most sought-after food post-pandemic. High in nutritional values, the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 26 (VOICE) India in 2024 saw a boom in employment rates, with women and youth leading the charge in workforce participation, according to a report.The report by Apna.co, a job and professional networking platform, showed women contributed an impressive 2.8 crore job applications -- 20 per cent higher than in 2023. Similarly, the youth posted a 27 per cent year-on-year increase in job applications. Women contributed an impressive 2.8 crore job applications out of a total of 7 crore, a 25 per cent year-on-year surge, in 2024. Flexible work opportunities, gender-focused initiativ ...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, May 26 (PTI) Alcoholic beverage maker's body CIABC has urged the government to adopt a phased reduction in import duties on liquor products under the proposed India-EU free trade agreement (FTA), while calling for strong safeguards to prevent misuse of trade concessions under the pact. In a submission to the commerce ministry, Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has proposed slashing the effective customs (or import) duty on bottled products like wines and spirits from the current 150 per cent to 100 per cent immediately and then down to a resting customs d ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): After a federal court of the United States struck down a reciprocal tariff announced by US President Donald Trump, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that India should proceed cautiously in its ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US. A Manhattan-based federal court on May 28 struck down Trump's move to impose reciprocal tariffs on the trading partners of the US and ruled that he can't use emergency power to impose tariffs on foreign countries; it has to come from Congress. The order of the court determined that the tariffs, ...Read More >
Still, the ongoing U.N. climate talks have thrown a spotlight on their efforts to tackle global warming. While the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, is tasked with agreeing a goal to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars for climate, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies half a world away in Rio are holding the purse strings. G20 countries account for 85% of the world's economy and are the largest contributors to multilateral development banks helping to steer climate finance. "The spotlight is naturally on the G20. They account for 80 percent of global emissions," U.N. Secretary Ge ...Read More >
The Indian government has announced a 375km rail network expansion, aimed at enhancing economic growth and connectivity in North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. With a total cost of approximately Rs79.27bn ($1.05bn), these projects are aimed to be completed within four years. Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, detailed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' approval of three railway infrastructure projects. The projects include the Jalgaon-Manmad fourth line (160 km), Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth lines (131km), and the Prayagraj (Iradatganj)-Manikpur thir ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jan 2 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday claimed that the Centre was trying to"bring back" the now-repealed farm laws, referring to the newly announced draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. The AAP-led Punjab government has termed the newly announced draft policy as an attempt to reintroduce the three central agricultural laws passed in 2020 "through backdoor." After a yearlong protest by farmers, the Centre had repealed the laws. Speaking to reporters here, Mann also stated that the demands of the protesting farmers pertain to the c ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) India and Belgium have agreed to establish mechanisms to resolve trade issues in areas such as pharma and agri products to boost bilateral trade, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The issues were discussed during the meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Bernard Quintin, in Brussels. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for January 21, 2025 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. "Regulatory barriers, pa ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) India and Belgium have agreed to establish mechanisms to resolve trade issues in areas such as pharma and agri products to boost bilateral trade, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The issues were discussed during the meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Bernard Quintin, in Brussels. "Regulatory barriers, particularly in the approval processes for pharmaceuticals and agri-products, were also discussed, with both sides agreeing to tackle these challenges through continuo ...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 >
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 >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government completes 11 years of governance, India's agricultural sector has undergone a profound transformation over the years which is rooted in the philosophy of Beej Se Bazaar Tak (seed to market), while also championing inclusivity, supporting small farmers, women-led groups, and allied sectors, while making India a global agricultural leader, said a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW). PM Modi also highlighted today about ensuring prosperity of farmers and also focussing on issues ...Read More >
Koraput, Dec 6 (PTI) Thirty-six-year-old Raimati Gheuria, a tribal woman from Odisha's Koraput district who has conserved 72 varieties of traditional rice and 30 types of millet has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) for her remarkable contributions to agriculture. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the honorary doctorate to Raimati at the 40th Convocation of OUAT on Thursday. Raimati of Nuaguda village in Koraput district, affectionately known as 'Mandia Rani' or 'Millet Queen', has been known for her relentless efforts in pre ...Read More >
Bengaluru, December 11: Flipkart-subsidiary Myntra was recently cheated by fraudsters who allegedly stole over one crores rupees this year during March and June. The scammers attacked the e-commerce company by exploiting some loopholes related to the Myntra policy and looted the money. The firm reported a loss of INR 1.1 crore in Bengaluru and INR 50 crore nationwide as the scammers abused the complaints and refund options. According to the reports, the crooks who ran the Myntra refund scam were traced back to Jaipur, Rajasthan. Most of them ordered expensive products online, such as branded ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) India should remain open to investments from China as other developed countries like the US and Germany, with the exception of a handful of sectors, 16th Finance Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya said on Thursday. He also cautioned that one has to be careful about investments from potentially "unfriendly countries" that might damage the interest of the nation. However, developed countries are accepting investments from China in any particular sector, India can also welcome such investments. "If the US is taking investment from China, if Germany is taking, I would ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is set to host the Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow in Mumbai on Monday. The event will be addressed by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for MDoNER, along with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Maeghalya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, MDoNER, and Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, MDoNER, will also attend, alongwith senior representatives from various northeast states. The Roadshow will feature B2G meetings, offering a unique opportunity for potential investors to inte ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The National Turmeric Board will help develop new markets internationally to promote exports and double production to about 20 lakh tonnes in the next five years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Inaugurating the Board, he also said that it would promote research and development into new products and develop on the country's traditional knowledge for value-added turmeric products. "Turmeric is also called as golden spice. India accounts for 70 per cent of global turmeric production... We are looking to double the production to 20 lakh tonne ...Read More >