Business & Economy

New Delhi: Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee has described the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a “strategic alignment” that sends a clear message to the United States: “India does not need the U.S. as much as the U.S. thinks it does.” Banerjee made these remarks amid high U.S. tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump’s administration. While the deal is expected to bring significant benefits for India, Banerjee cautioned that these advantages will not materialize automatically. He emphasized the urgent need for India to improve logistics, delivery speed, and overall efficiency to fully capitalize on the FTA, which has been dubbed the “mother of all deals.” Strategic Significance Speaking in an exclusive conversation, Banerjee noted that India has...

New Delhi: India and Canada have held high-level discussions in the capital to strengthen cooperation in energy security, critical minerals, and renewable energy. The meeting, considered highly significant, comes at a time when India recently finalized a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with Tim Hudson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, to explore ways to collaborate in areas crucial for both countries’ growth. India views Canada as a key partner because it possesses resources essential for accelerating India’s development. Meanwhile, China is reportedly observing the developments closely, given the strategic importance of critical minerals. Sharing images from the meeting on social media, Goyal menti...

New Delhi:The Economic Survey 2025–26 has invoked the Yuddha Kand of the Ramayana to underline a crucial policy message for India — the need to learn strategically from adversaries without compromising national autonomy. Using the epic as a metaphor, the Survey refers to Lord Rama’s willingness to seek knowledge even from a defeated enemy, emphasizing that wisdom can be selectively adopted without absorbing values or systems that weaken self-reliance. The reference is presented as a framework for navigating today’s increasingly complex and uncertain global economic environment. The Survey notes that the international order is undergoing deep structural changes marked by rising geopolitical tensions, volatile financial conditions, and the gradual erosion of long-held assumptions about...

New Delhi: With just two days to go for the presentation of Budget 2026, India’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector is gearing up with high expectations. Industry leaders are urging Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to implement further tax relief measures and policies that can boost consumption and stabilize costs for domestic producers. Relief from Price VolatilityFMCG companies are seeking budget provisions that can shield domestic players from fluctuations in raw material costs and provide a stable operating environment. Industry representatives also hope for measures that will expand global market access for Indian products. Boosting Rural ConsumptionMayank Shah, Vice President of Parle Products, highlighted that FMCG sales are increasingly driven by rural and small-town...

India’s economy is on a strong upward trajectory, with growth accelerating, inflation easing, and both consumers and businesses increasing spending and investment, according to the Economic Survey 2026 presented on Thursday. Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran elaborated on the survey’s findings at a press conference, highlighting key indicators that point to a resilient and expanding domestic economy. GDP Growth Accelerates The survey projects real GDP growth to accelerate to 7.4% in FY26, up from 6.5% in FY25 and a pre-pandemic average of 6.4% (FY12-FY20). The growth is being driven by strong domestic demand, encompassing both private consumption and investment. Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE): Growth remains robust at 7.0% in FY26, slightly down fro...

Silver prices have been soaring at an unprecedented pace, outpacing gold, and raising concerns among investors and market analysts. A recent report by WhiteOak Mutual Fund has cautioned that speculative trading could trigger a sudden correction in silver, potentially causing sharp price fluctuations. Silver Hits New Highs On Thursday, silver prices on MCX crossed ₹4 lakh per kilogram for the first time. Remarkably, it has surged from ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh in less than two months, with just ten days pushing the price from ₹3 lakh to ₹4 lakh. The report, titled “Gold is Talking, Silver is Screaming: A Case for Prudent Repositioning”, highlights the parabolic nature of silver’s rally and signals potential risks. Gold vs. Silver: Diverging Signals According to the report, gold and sil...

New Delhi: The Indian government has indicated that the long-awaited India–United States trade agreement could be finalised within the current year, according to the Economic Survey 2026 tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday. The Survey noted that while India faces certain external challenges, there is no immediate threat of a major economic disruption. It cautioned, however, that slower growth among key trading partners, higher trade tariffs, and volatility in global capital flows could periodically impact India’s exports and investor confidence. Importantly, the Survey stated that ongoing trade negotiations with the United States are expected to conclude this year, which could help reduce uncertainty on the external front. India and the US have bee...

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2026 in Parliament on Thursday ahead of the Union Budget 2026, scheduled for 1 February. The survey paints a positive picture for India’s economy, projecting strong growth amid global economic uncertainties. India’s Growth Momentum According to the survey, India’s GDP is expected to expand at 7.4% in 2026, higher than the 6.5% growth recorded in 2025. Growth drivers include rising investment and a robust manufacturing sector. This estimate surpasses the 7.3% projection by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The survey notes that, despite India achieving its best economic performance in decades, global challenges such as geopolitical tensions, tight liquidity, and fluctuating demand have limited the benefits ...

New Delhi: Hindustan Copper Ltd. shares witnessed a sharp rally on Thursday, hitting their 52-week high amid a global surge in copper demand. Over the past four days alone, the stock has jumped 40%, while in the last 30 days, it has gained around 50%. In the past six months, the stock has soared over 180%. Market Performance On Thursday, Hindustan Copper shares rose 17.7% to ₹721 on the BSE. By 11:30 AM, the stock was trading at ₹731.55, up 15.62%. This rally began last week when the stock closed at ₹531.80 on 22 January, followed by consecutive gains of 5% on Tuesday and 12.5% on Wednesday, creating strong momentum in the metals sector. Global Copper Prices on the Rise The global copper market is witnessing significant price appreciation. On Thursday, MCX January copper contra...

New Delhi: Traditionally, retiring railway employees and officers in India were presented with a 20-gram gold-plated silver coin as a token of appreciation. However, the Railway Board has decided to discontinue this practice starting this month. End of a Long-Standing Tradition For decades, several Indian institutions, including the railways and armed forces, have followed British-era traditions. While some practices are gradually changing, the retirement gift of gold-plated silver coins has now been officially terminated. Reasons Behind the Decision Sources within the railways indicate that the move is driven by a combination of rising silver prices and concerns over fraudulent coins. Recently, reports from Madhya Pradesh revealed that some coins distributed to retiring staff ...