India has announced a plan to expand its export outreach to 50 countries, focusing on West Asia, Africa and other emerging markets, in response to steep US tariff hikes. The move follows Washington's decision to charge a 25% tariff on Indian imports, with an additional 25% imposed on August 27, 2025, the highest rate since the Great Depression. The tariffs, justified by the US as a response to India's continuous imports of subsidised Russian oil, apply to products including steel, aluminium, and automobiles. Rates will reach 50% on metals and 25% on imported cars, significantly reducing In
Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the world's second-largest rice exporter in the first half of 2025. India remained the leading exporter, with 11.68 million metric tonnes, up 36.5% year on year. Vietnam delivered 4.72 million metric tonnes, up 3.5%, while Thailand dropped to third with 3.73 million metric tonnes, a 27.3% decrease. Pakistan exported 2.76 million metric tonnes, while the United States exported 1.4 million, both of which represented significant reductions. Iraq and the United States were the top buyers of Thai rice, with Africa and China both remaining important markets.
Indonesia has made a significant step towards establishing its first nuclear power station, as the Indonesian Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) has approved the site evaluation for the ThorCon 500 plant on Kelasa Island, Bangka Belitung Islands. PT Thorcon Power Indonesia submitted the evaluation request on January 21, 2025, and it was completed in 126 working days, well ahead of the intended one-year schedule. Last month, the company received authority to commence detailed assessments of the site's suitability. The process will adhere to the Site Evaluation Program and Site Evalu
The Indian government plans to undertake an export promotion mission worth ₹2,250 crore to protect domestic industries from global trade challenges, especially those caused by US tariffs. The project aims to increase India's export footprint by increasing domestic consumption, entering new international markets, and strengthening supply chains. It will also help micro, small, and medium-sized businesses by making finance more accessible and creating an international warehousing infrastructure. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has previously informed export promotion councils and
Dr. Samir V Kamat, chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is certain that India would meet its defence export objective of ₹50,000 crore by 2028-29. He underlined the increased global interest in indigenous systems like as Pinaka, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), BrahMos, and Akash. Kamat noted that countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are looking into these technologies, with recent operational achievements like Operation Sindoor strengthening India's credibility. He expects defence exports to double within two to three
In July 2025, India's services industry witnessed a remarkable rebound, with the HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) climbing to 60.5, an 11-month high. S&P Global released the data, which shows solid momentum in one of the country's primary economic engines. A PMI number above 50 implies expansion, and July was the sector's 48th consecutive month of growth. Domestic sales remained solid while international demand surged. The new export business sub-index posted its second-best result in a year, indicating increased global interest in Indian service offerings. Finance,
Gujarat has retained its position as the leading state in India's export landscape, accounting for a significant portion of the country's overall export volume. Gujarat exported ₹9.83 lakh crore in 2024-25, representing 26.6% of India's total exports, according to the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) report. Jamnagar district led the country with ₹3.63 lakh crore in exports, primarily driven by petroleum products. Despite a dip in export value from ₹11.13 lakh crore in 2023-24 to ₹9.83 lakh crore in 2024-25, Gujarat remains intact. This decline is primarily due to p
India plans to launch a ₹20,000 crore Export Promotion Mission to protect its exporters from the impact of global trade disruptions, particularly US tariffs. The plan, which is set to launch in September, will be a collaborative effort by the commerce, MSME, and finance ministries. According to senior government officials, the mission will prioritise strengthening export credit availability, eliminating non-tariff trade barriers, and increasing India's brand exposure in overseas markets. The move is in response to the United States' recent imposition of a 25% tariff on goods of Indian or
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Varanasi, released the 20th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. Over 9.7 crore farmers in India received direct payments of ₹20,500 crore. This financial assistance was deposited directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, ensuring complete transparency and eliminating middlemen. The PM-KISAN plan, introduced in February 2019, provides ₹6,000 annually to eligible land-holding farmers in three equal payments. Since its launch, around ₹3.69 lakh crore has been distributed in 19 previous instalments. Th
India's economic trajectory has gained pace as inflation levels ease and exports show notable growth. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate fell substantially to 2.10% in June 2025, marking its lowest figure since January 2019. This figure remains within the Reserve Bank of India's target of 4% with a tolerance of ± 2%. Food inflation has dropped significantly, now at -1.06%, contributing to a reduction in household costs. Vegetables, grains, lentils, and dairy products showed major price drops. Wholesale inflation (WPI) also fell slightly to -0.13%, reflecting reduced costs for f