Page 2 - Economy & Policy News

Expedite WPI base year revision, says Parliamentary panel report

Committee asks DPIIT to align WPI with revised GDP, CPI and IIP series, and roll out producer price indices to improve price measurement and data accuracy

Govt says fuel stocks adequate, urges public to avoid panic buying

The government is pushing a shift from LPG to PNG, with city gas companies accelerating connections and over 7,500 new domestic and commercial PNG links activated in the past day

Policy response to heatwaves remains cool even as nationwide instances grow

An early March heat spike has raised concerns of a prolonged summer as El Niño risks grow. While preparedness has improved, gaps in planning, funding, and implementation persist

India ready for peak power demand, but supply, transmission risks remain

India is better prepared to meet a record 270 Gw peak power demand this summer, supported by strong coal stocks and renewables, though geopolitical tensions and grid constraints pose risks

CIE scheme to be notified by mid-2026 to boost equipment manufacturing

The government will notify the CIE incentive scheme by mid-2026 to boost domestic manufacturing, raise value addition, and attract investments in construction equipment

Archaic tree-felling laws, policy gaps curb India's agroforestry potential

Experts flag outdated tree-felling rules and policy gaps as key hurdles to India's agroforestry growth, warning of rising import dependence despite strong domestic demand and export potential

E-way bill system reform to ease logistics, push trust-based compliance

Economic Survey 2025-26 outlines a shift in the GST e-way bill system from enforcement to a trust-based, technology-driven framework aimed at improving logistics efficiency and easing compliance

Delhi Budget 2026: Outlay of ₹1.03 trillion, focus on green initiatives

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said the FY27 Budget allocates 21 per cent of the outlay for environmental measures as the city continues to battle severe air pollution

Goldman Sachs cuts India's 2026 growth forecast to 5.9%, sees rate hike

The fresh cut in growth estimate by Goldman's analysts follows a change in their assumptions on oil prices and the period of disruption to supplies

Himachal Pradesh Assembly clears Bill to impose cess on petrol, diesel

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the fuel cess will provide a dedicated revenue stream to strengthen and effectively implement welfare measures for orphans and widows across the state

India Flash PMI slips to 56.5 in March, weakest expansion since 2022

India's private sector growth slows to its weakest pace since late 2022 as soft domestic demand and rising costs weigh, even as export orders hit a record high

LPG crisis: Smaller 10 kg cylinders instead of 14 kg? Govt reviews plan

While a proposal to supply smaller refills is under consideration, petroleum ministry officials have termed reports of such a move as "highly speculative", urging consumers not to believe rumours

Iranian oil offered to India at premium to Brent after US sanctions waiver

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has not received ‌a cargo from Tehran since May 2019 after it came under US pressure not to buy Iranian crude

From Indian films to Italian wine, Iran war ripples through global economy

India is among the most vulnerable to the war's fallout, with heavy dependence on imported crude and LPG, much of it routed via Hormuz, now facing disruptions and shortages

Govt collects ₹9,516 crore tax on undisclosed foreign assets in 3 years

Parliament informed that tax collections under the Black Money Act rose sharply, while probes into global leaks have led to over ₹41,000 crore in tax and penalty demand

No formal study on GST rate rationalisation's inflation impact: Govt

Government says no formal study has assessed GST rate rationalisation's inflation impact; GST revenue rose 8.1% in February, with rural consumption showing strong gains

Crackling logs push out the blue flame in India's elite club kitchens

The old fire is stoked again as firewood and electric fill the LPG gap, and menus shrink

Two more Indian LPG tankers cross Hormuz, set to reach India in two days

LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close to each other, started from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed

India's LPG supply shortage shows no sign of easing as new route opens

On the positive side, a new route, bypassing Hormuz, opened for India's LPG supplies from Saudi Arabia. But there is a supply shortage for March and a much bigger one for April as of date

High growth has not translated into meaningful job creation: Jayati Ghosh

India's economic growth has not translated into sufficient job creation, with weak formal employment and low female participation, says economist Jayati Ghosh