Retail prices are seen rising at a faster rate in the coming months as producers pass on more of their input price increases on account of the war in West Asia, with a sub-par monsoon seen as another upside risk.
Industrial growth for the last three years has been revised upwards. Under the 2022-23 IIP series, industrial growth in 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 is now estimated at 6.7%, 6.4%, and 4.3%, respectively, up from 5.9%, 4%, and 4.1% in the old 2011-12 series.
Speaking to reporters, Sharma said that the proposal is still at an early stage and declined to comment on a timeline for these reserves to be created.
The “other travel” segment — covering holiday expenses and international credit card bill settlements — accounted for $623 million (over Rs 5,900 crore) in the month of March 2026, highlighting the discretionary overseas spending.
The RBI’s gross forex sales of $29.6 billion in March was the highest in 13 months and occurred even as net FDI during the month was in positive territory for the second month running.
The move underscores a cautious and calculated approach as economic risks resulting from the West Asia conflict have led to heightened uncertainty for both the inflation and growth outlook despite the US and Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire.
Under the Foreign and International Monetary Authorities (FIMA) Repo Facility, central banks such as the RBI can place their holdings of US Treasuries with the Fed for one or seven days and get dollars in return.
India had, in recent months, cut down significantly on its oil imports from Russia amid trade negotiations with the US, as Washington made it a pre-requisite for scrapping its 25% additional penal tariff on New Delhi.
Policy makers in the government are of the view that this change, which is in line with global practice, will lend the government more space to enhance its development spending. Further, they see the pace of fiscal consolidation to be more gradual.
'In this deal, how much was geopolitics a factor since the EU probably felt being pushed to a corner because of what had happened with the US. And India too, given how things unfolded for it.'
Higher revenues and improved earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margins are expected to offset the high capital expenditure of the companies covered by Fitch Ratings, its analysts said in a note.
Though the Indian economy is not fully immune to the external sector headwinds, coordinated fiscal, monetary and regulatory policies have helped build resilience over the years, it said.
Buoyed by stronger-than-expected economic momentum and a steady cooling in inflation, the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Friday unanimously cut the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.25 per cent, a move that is likely to bring down lending and deposit rates across the banking system. The reduction — […]
‘Physiotherapy was very painful’: Sonu Nigam opens up on health scare, specialist explains
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Sonu Nigam opens up about his battle with a painful health condition before a live performance. He has been undergoing MRI, CT scans, and physiotherapy for a pinched nerve, which can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. Treatment options include rest, physiotherapy, medication, and surgery if necessary. Seek medical attention for this condition that can greatly impact daily life.
