US drops India tariffs by 32 points to 18 per cent; Trump announces deal with oil shift and $500 billion purchases
In a significant development, the United States and India have announced a new trade agreement aimed at enhancing bilateral economic ties. The deal includes a reduction in U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and commitments related to energy imports, though some details remain to be clarified. Key Provisions of the Agreement Tariff Reduction: The U.S. has […]
Defence: Govt grants Miniratna Category-I status to Yantra India Limited, boosting capital autonomy up to ₹500 crore
Yantra India Limited (YIL), a Schedule ‘A’ Defence Public Sector Undertaking formed after the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board in October 2021, has been granted Miniratna Category-I status following approval by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Congratulating the company for transforming from a government organisation into a profit-making corporate entity within about four years, the […]
What Is Biopharma SHAKTI? Inside the ₹10,000 Crore Plan to Make India a Global Biopharma Hub
The Union Budget 2026-27 has placed biopharma and biologic medicines at the centre of India’s healthcare and manufacturing strategy with the proposed launch of Biopharma SHAKTI, a national initiative backed by an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years. The scheme is aimed at strengthening the ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars while supporting the government’s […]
SAIL Taps Railway PSU RITES For Diesel Locomotive Leasing And Fleet Maintenance
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) will lease and maintain diesel locomotives for Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening logistics and operational efficiency across SAIL’s plants and mines. The MoU was signed by P K Baisakhiya, Executive Director (Operations), SAIL, and Sandeep Jain, Executive […]
India’s dedicated infrastructure financing body clears ₹3.03 lakh crore, deploys ₹1.09 lakh crore across key sectors
India’s development finance institution, the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), has accorded cumulative sanctions of approximately ₹3.03 lakh crore as of 31 December 2025, marking a significant expansion in long-term infrastructure financing capacity. NaBFID is a specialised infrastructure Development Financial Institution established in 2021 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to […]
National highways to go digital-secure as NHAI arm IHMCL signs strategic MoU with NFSU
The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to enhance digital security and data protection across national highway systems. The agreement focuses on collaboration in research, training, and consultancy, particularly in cyber forensics, […]
India installs 3.90 crore smart meters under RDSS, total crosses 5.28 crore across schemes
Smart meter installations under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) reached 3.90 crore as of 31 December 2025, the government informed the Rajya Sabha. Further, the total number of smart meter installations, including those done by the states, have reached 5.28 crore. The update was provided in a written reply by Minister of State for […]
India’s banking sector stress eases as GNPA shrinks from 14.58 per cent to 2.3 per cent; govt credits IBC, SARFAESI changes, and recovery push
India’s gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio has declined sharply from a peak of 14.58 per cent in March 2018 to 2.30 per cent as of September 2025, signalling a significant strengthening of the country’s banking sector balance sheets, the government informed Parliament. The data was provided in a written reply by Minister of State for […]
India’s retail investor count more than doubles to 12.5 crore in 5 years, youth drive market expansion
The retail participation in the Indian securities market is undergoing a rapid expansion with the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informing the Parliament that the number of unique individual investors in India has risen sharply from 5.1 crore in FY 2021 to 12.5 crore in FY 2025. In a written reply to a question in the […]
₹5,000 crore per City Economic Region proposed to expand infrastructure in Tier II and III cities
The Budget proposes mapping City Economic Regions based on specific growth drivers to amplify the economic potential of urban agglomerations. An allocation of ₹5,000 crore per region over five years has been proposed to implement development plans through a challenge mode supported by reform-cum-results-based financing. The focus will extend to Tier II and Tier III […]