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A successful bilateral trade agreement between India and the US could transform current challenges into economic opportunities by expanding market access and boosting exports, according to the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Review released on Tuesday.The report comes amid ongoing negotiations between the two nations, with an interim trade agreement expected before July 8. India is seeking full exemption from a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on domestic goods.The US had implemented the additional tariff on Indian products starting April 2, but suspended it for 90 days, until July 9. However, the baseline 10 per cent American tariff remains in effect.Despite global uncertainty, the report claimed India’s position as a leading investment destination. It stated that foreign direct investors are likely to respond positively to reforms that strengthen medium-term growth prospects.The ministry emphasised the importance of policies aimed at improving the productivity and skills of the country’s young workforce- key factors in stimulating investment and economic growth.India continues to maintain its status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with relatively limited downward revisions in growth forecasts. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2025), India’s real GDP growth for FY26 is projected at 6.2 per cent, 30 basis points lower than the January estimate, amid rising global uncertainties and trade tensions.Various institutions forecast India’s FY26 growth in the range of 6.3 to 6.7 per cent, underpinned by strong domestic fundamentals, prudent macroeconomic policies, higher government capital expenditure, and easing inflation.As of April 2025, the Indian economy demonstrates resilience, driven by robust private consumption, especially a rural rebound, and steady growth in services exports. “The services sector continues to post healthy expansion, offsetting softness in merchandise exports. The Indian rupee has remained relatively stable, and foreign exchange reserves continue to provide a cushion against external shocks,” the report stated.Government-led capital expenditure remains a key pillar of economic activity, helping shield the economy from external volatility. Direct tax incentives, fiscal measures, and the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy are expected to further support consumption and investment. “These could accelerate the recovery and push growth towards the upper end of forecasts, ranging from 6.3 per cent to 6.8 per cent, as cited in the latest Economic Survey,” the report added.“This may be no moment for self-congratulation but, equally, it is a moment to remember one’s strengths and leverage them to make oneself not just attractive but also indispensable to investors,” it further observed.However, the ministry cautioned that private sector capital expenditure could remain subdued due to tighter global financial conditions and lingering uncertainty.On inflation, the outlook appears encouraging. The report pointed to low core inflation and softening food prices. Future inflation risks are expected to be contained due to a strong rabi harvest, expanded summer crop coverage, and sufficient foodgrain reserves.Additionally, the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of above-normal monsoon rainfall and declining global crude oil prices are expected to further ease inflationary pressures.
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Modi’s Asia Double Play: Japan Now, China Next — What India Wants (and Risks)
ndia has kicked off a tightly choreographed Asia tour at a delicate moment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tokyo first, meeting Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, before flying to Tianjin for the SCO summit hosted by China. The sequencing matters: Japan is a steadfast strategic and economic partner; China is a rival with whom India still needs a functional modus vivendi. The backdrop? Up to 50% US tariffs on Indian exports, which raise the premium on diversified trade and investment ties. ReutersAP NewsThe Times of IndiaThe Guardian Why Japan first Tokyo and New Delhi are doubling down on a “special strategic and global partnership” built over two decades. Expect deliverables in economic security (critical minerals, supply chains), high-tech collaboration, and infrastructure. Reports suggest the leaders are setting a decade-long joint vision and pushing private-sector investment goals alongside people-to-people exchanges […]
Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
China exports: Global shipments rose 4.8% in May; inflow to US falls nearly 35% amid trade talks
[ad_1] China’s export growth lost momentum in May, rising 4.8% year-on-year, a sharp slowdown from the 8.1% surge recorded in April, as per the customs data released on Monday.The deceleration came amid a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, down 35% year-on-year, as tensions between the two economic giants continued to cloud trade prospects.The figures were released just hours ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations scheduled for later in the day, in London. These talks come after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics anticipated exports growth to revive in June, thanks to a 90-day suspension on most of the tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other.China’s imports also fell in May, down 3.4% year-on-year, leaving the country with a trade […]
Tata Motors future plans: Rs 33,000-35,000 crore investment to boost passenger vehicles; hoping to lead in EV segment
[ad_1] Automaking giant Tata Motors is planning massive investment plans for the future, earmarking Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore for FY 26-30 on product actions. The Mumbai-headquartered company is targeting 30 product actions, including the launch of seven new models, as it looks to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-evolving passenger vehicle (PV) market.As part of its long-term strategy, the automaker aims to secure a 16% market share, including electric vehicles (EVs), by FY27, rising to 18–20% over the next few years. Tata Motors expects the domestic PV industry to hit annual sales of 60 lakh units by 2030 and is positioning itself to ride that wave with a refreshed and expansive portfolio.“Looking ahead, we will strengthen our portfolio by FY30...7 new nameplates and 23 product refreshes will holistically enhance the portfolio,” the company told analysts in […]
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US Tariffs vs. India’s Trade Diplomacy: How New Alliances Are Shaping
India’s global trade playbook has shifted abruptly in 2025. The US recently imposed tariffs as high as 50% on Indian exports, citing New Delhi’s continued oil imports from Russia. The immediate fallout was brutal: the rupee sank to a record low, and Indian markets felt the shock. For a country that built its post-1991 trajectory on closer US ties, this tariff punch could have been destabilising. Instead, India is doubling down on multi-alignment diplomacy — diversifying trade and diplomatic engagement with Japan, China, Russia, and the SCO bloc. Why tariffs hit hard The US remains a top destination for Indian goods — from IT services to textiles. Tariffs of this magnitude erode competitiveness and raise uncertainty for exporters. Analysts warn of job impacts in labour-intensive sectors. The rupee’s plunge to historic lows only underscored the vulnerability. India’s counter-strategy Japan: Securing […]
Reliance AGM 2025: Jio IPO Timeline, New AI Subsidiary, and What It Means
Reliance Industries’ AGM has again doubled as India’s tech-policy bellwether. The biggest headline: Jio will file for an IPO in the first half of 2026, a move that could be among the largest listings on Dalal Street and a pivotal unlock of value for Reliance shareholders. In parallel, the company announced a dedicated AI subsidiary aimed at building domestic AI infrastructure and services. Reutersmint+1NDTV Profit Jio IPO: Why the timing matters Analysts have long argued that Jio’s value is partially buried within the conglomerate structure. A separate listing could surface value for a digital-and-telecom pure play with 500M+ users, deep fiber, and growing home broadband. International coverage pegs potential valuations in the eleven-digit-USD range if growth and ARPU trends hold through 2026. The listing window — H1 2026 — provides time to polish metrics, expand revenue lines (enterprise, broadband, OTT), […]
E20 Petrol in India: Green Revolution or Hidden Scam?
For the past few years, India has been pushing hard towards adopting alternative fuels and reducing its dependency on imported crude oil. One of the most talked-about initiatives is the rollout of E20 petrol, which is a blend of 80% petrol and 20% ethanol. On paper, this looks like a revolutionary step — it’s designed to reduce carbon emissions, cut down fuel imports, and boost ethanol demand that directly benefits Indian farmers. But there’s a rising question among common people: If E20 petrol contains only 80% petrol, why are we still paying the same price as regular petrol? Shouldn’t the price be lower since 20% of the mix is ethanol, which is significantly cheaper to produce compared to crude oil-based petrol? This is where many start suspecting that the promotion of E20 might not be as transparent as it seems. […]
Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
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