The Economic Times

With the economy operating close to capacity, the survey notes that structural reforms will be required to lift the investment rate and further improve total factor productivity to achieve faster growth. It projects real GDP growth for FY27 in the range of 6.8-7.2%, while the Union Budget may assume nominal GDP growth of 9.8-10.2%.

The Economic Survey recommends amending the definition of a 'government company' to allow the government to reduce its stake to 26% in listed state-run firms. This move could facilitate further monetization of holdings in blue-chip companies like ONGC and SBI, enabling them to operate as professionally managed entities with dispersed ownership.

India should prioritize a bottom-up, sector-specific AI approach over chasing frontier-scale models due to capital and infrastructure constraints, the Economic Survey 2025-26 stated. The survey highlighted entry barriers in AI development and the need to balance data center expansion with resource competition, while also emphasizing AI adoption for manufacturing competitiveness.

The survey also stresses that while policy reforms are essential, process reforms are equally critical, underscoring the need to ease regulatory hurdles and improve the ease of doing business. This assumes greater importance at a time when there is an urgent need to attract both domestic and foreign investment. Global turbulence has heightened risks to capital flows, which could have severe repercussions for the economy. Enhancing India's investment attractiveness is, therefore, imperative.

India has secured crucial advantages from the European Union regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. These include MFN-like status, a technical dialogue for clarity, and potential for Indian verifiers. Assurances on carbon pricing policy recognition and a flexible agreement framework are also in place. These measures aim to facilitate Indian industry's access to the European market.

India's new Consumer Price Index series, effective February 12, will reduce food and beverage weight to 36.75% from 45.86%, reflecting evolving household spending. This shift aims to stabilize inflation readings and offer a more balanced monetary policy outlook. The revamped index also incorporates online market prices and rural housing rent for a comprehensive view.

An American delegation met with Indian oil companies and industry leaders at India Energy Week to discuss increasing imports of US hydrocarbons and civil nuclear energy technologies. The US reaffirmed its commitment to a strong energy partnership, focusing on expanding reliable energy exports and supporting affordable, dependable energy supplies for India.

India and the European Union have concluded a free trade agreement, set to be implemented this year. Under the pact, EU banks will be allowed to open 15 branches in India over four years. The agreement also includes provisions for 100% FDI in insurance and 74% in banking services, alongside safeguards for domestic industries and intellectual property rights.

Karnataka-based Aequs reported a 51% revenue jump to Rs 326.2 crore in Q3FY26, driven by strong aerospace performance and consumer demand. Despite a rise in net loss due to investments and listing expenses, the company's EBITDA significantly increased. Aequs also announced its entry into UAV manufacturing and received PLI approval for electronics components.

India's Economic Survey 2025-26 reveals women face workplace hurdles like limited mobility and rigid schedules. It calls for flexible work, equal pay, and safety measures to boost female employment. Women spend more time on unpaid caregiving, impacting their paid work participation. Recent years show a rise in women joining the workforce and a drop in unemployment.

Mastercard exceeded fourth-quarter profit expectations due to resilient consumer spending, particularly in travel and essentials. The company announced plans to lay off approximately 4% of its global workforce, impacting over 1,400 employees, to reallocate investments. This strategic restructuring is expected to incur a $200 million charge in the current quarter.

Goldman Sachs offloaded over 65.27 lakh shares in Manappuram Finance for approximately Rs 190 crore, with Morgan Stanley as the buyer. In a separate transaction, CLSA sold 71.61 lakh shares of Sunteck Realty for Rs 269 crore, with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley acquiring them.

The price of gold tumbled more than five percent Thursday as traders reassessed the market after recent record highs for the precious metal seen as a safe-haven investment. Silver plunged more than eight percent, while copper and nickel prices also fell.

Nasdaq reported strong fourth-quarter profits, exceeding expectations due to market volatility. The company saw a significant rise in new listings, with a promising outlook for accelerated initial public offerings in 2026. Nasdaq's revenue from data and listing services increased, and its financial technology and index businesses also showed robust growth. The exchange operator is expanding its services beyond trading.

India is set to expand its Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) with nearly 2,900 km of potential corridors identified to boost economic growth. The Delhi-Meerut line has already shown significant employment and accessibility gains. The initiative also prioritizes women's employment and integrates Transit-Oriented Development for sustainable urban growth, reducing emissions.

India's Economic Survey 2025-26 projects robust growth of 6.8-7.2% amid global fragmentation, highlighting medium-term priorities like manufacturing and skill development. Experts view this as a strategic advantage, with potential GDP growth revised to 7% driven by capital expenditure and reforms. The survey emphasizes attracting global capital through faster execution and regulatory certainty.

India and the European Union have finalized a free trade agreement after nearly two decades of negotiations, creating a vast market and eliminating EU tariffs on 90% of Indian goods. This landmark deal, relaunched in 2022, aims to boost bilateral trade and cooperation across various sectors, including services and agriculture, while safeguarding sensitive domestic industries.

Domestic markets rebounded strongly, ending higher on optimism from the Economic Survey projecting robust FY27 growth and anchored inflation. Metals outperformed, FMCG, IT and autos lagged. Nifty stayed above the 50 EMA, with resistance at 25,500 and support near 25,200.

Global industry bodies and experts have lauded the India-EU free trade agreement as strategic and timely, calling it the 'mother of all deals'. The pact, expected to be signed this year, promises reduced tariffs and better market access, enhancing diversification for exporters and consolidating a fast-growing strategic partnership.

India is implementing a comprehensive strategy of policy, regulatory, and financial measures to meet significant energy storage targets by 2030 and 2032. These initiatives aim to integrate renewable energy sources reliably by expanding revenue streams for storage and supporting manufacturing through Viability Gap Funding and Production-Linked Incentives.

Central infrastructure projects exceeding Rs 150 crore each have accumulated a cost overrun of Rs 5.42 lakh crore as of December 2025. A total of 1,392 projects, with a revised cost of Rs 35.10 lakh crore, are being monitored. The Transport & Logistics sector leads in project numbers, highlighting a focus on connectivity.

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week, still consistent with a relatively low level of layoffs, though lackluster hiring is stoking anxiety among households over the labor market.

Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd on Thursday reported an 11 per cent rise in consolidated profit after tax at Rs 63.74 crore in the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, aided by lower expenses.

The Economic Survey warns that India's biofuel mandates, particularly for ethanol, risk distorting cropping patterns and food prices. While the program has saved foreign exchange and boosted farmer income, administered pricing favors maize, leading to its sharp rise while pulses and oilseeds stagnate. This shift threatens agricultural diversity and food security.

U.S. software stocks fell on Thursday after SAP's cautious cloud outlook and a post-earnings drop in ServiceNow shares reinforced investor concerns about mounting competition from artificial intelligence-related companies.

Nifty posted a third straight gain, led by financials and energy, while autos and IT capped upside. Technicals remain positive above the 50 EMA, with resistance near 25,500. Analysts recommend buying Oil India and ABB India on bullish setups.

India's economic growth forecast is strong, driven by domestic demand and government reforms. However, the finalization of a Free Trade Agreement with the United States is a key factor that could impact this growth. Currency depreciation also presents a challenge, potentially offsetting trade benefits. Self-reliance in critical sectors like semiconductors and defense is highlighted as important for India's future.

German software company SAP's 2026 cloud revenue forecast failed to meet market expectations on Thursday and the company's shares fell by 15%, marking their steepest one-day decline since October 2020.

Dixon Technologies reported a sharp Q3 slowdown as mobile segment revenues fell 27% and operating profit dropped 26% amid weak smartphone demand and rising memory costs. Overall revenue grew marginally, while net profit jumped on a one-time stake sale gain.

Big Tech earnings so far this week have sent a clear warning: investors are willing to overlook soaring spending on artificial intelligence if it fuels strong growth, but are quick to punish companies that fall short.

Wall Street opened mixed on Thursday, as investors waded through mega-cap tech results that showcased another surge in AI spending, while the Federal Reserve held rates steady as widely expected.

Canara Bank posted a 26% rise in Q3 net profit to Rs 5,155 crore, supported by 14% advance growth, higher operating income, and improving asset quality, with gross and net NPAs declining significantly year-on-year.

The Economic Survey proposes reimagining the e-Way Bill system to facilitate logistics rather than solely for enforcement. Reforms could include wider use of e-seals and electronic locks integrated with vehicle tracking, shifting towards risk-based alerts and reducing discretionary checks. This aims to deregulate the logistics ecosystem, cutting costs and delays for trade while maintaining effective tax oversight.

India's Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran stated that addressing pending issues like land reforms and bringing fuels under GST could boost economic growth to 8%. The Economic Survey 2025-26 projects GDP growth between 6.8-7.2% for the next fiscal year, a stable outlook despite a depreciating rupee.

Cupid announced a 4:1 bonus issue alongside stellar Q3 results, with profit surging 196% and income doubling. Record EBITDA margins, strong export demand and FMCG growth marked its strongest-ever quarter, reflecting confidence in long-term expansion and wider retail participation.

Paytm Q3 Results: Financial services technology platform Paytm on Thursday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 225 crore in the third quarter. This compares with a loss of Rs 208 crore in the year-ago period. On a sequential basis, profit jumped 971% from Rs 21 crore posted in the preceding September quarter.

India has replaced the MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Act 2025. This new law guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually. The move follows a significant decline in MGNREGS work demand and a strengthening of rural economic conditions. The Act aims to enhance accountability and infrastructure outcomes.

States' spending on populist doles is raising concerns. The Economic Survey warns this fiscal indiscipline will increase borrowing costs for the nation. While the Centre has managed its finances, rising state deficits and cash transfers pose risks. This impacts investor confidence in general government finances. The long-term economic costs of such transfers may also be significant.

India is set to revise its inflation measurement, significantly reducing food's weight in the Consumer Price Index to 36.75%. This shift aims to stabilize inflation readings, impacting monetary policy. The updated basket will reflect current spending, incorporating rural rents and e-commerce prices for a more accurate economic picture.

ITC Q3 Results: FMCG major ITC's December quarter consolidated net profit stood at Rs 4,931 crore, flat compared to Rs 4,935 crore reported in the year ago period.

Dabur India posted a 7% rise in Q3 profit and 6% revenue growth, led by FMCG expansion, strong India market share gains and double-digit international growth. Sequential profits jumped sharply, underscoring resilient demand, brand strength and broad-based category performance.

Staffing and workforce solutions provider Quess Corp reported a 32 per cent year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 55.09 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.

Mobility and automotive solutions company KPIT Technologies on Thursday reported a 28.7 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 133.30 crore for the December quarter, primarily weighed down by a one-time statutory impact related to new labour codes.

Indias Economic Survey has underlined the urgent need to strengthen long-term capital markets to support infrastructure development and climate-related investments. The report flags shallow corporate bond markets, underdeveloped municipal bonds, and the risk-averse nature of institutional investors as key challenges. It recommends measures such as rationalising tax treatment for debt instruments and strengthening credit enhancement mechanisms to deepen market participation and improve maturity p

The Economic Survey 2025-26 advocates for protecting honest officials from vexatious prosecution to foster an entrepreneurial state in India. It calls for legal frameworks to safeguard good-faith decision-making, distinguishing errors from corruption, and re-orienting agencies like the CAG to prioritize learning over blame.

Leading air-conditioning maker and engineering services provider Voltas Ltd on Thursday reported a 35.4 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 84.46 crore for the December quarter of FY26.

The Economic Survey advocates for a shift from entity-based to activity-based regulations, focusing on transaction risk and function to prevent regulatory arbitrage. This approach aims to foster a diversified financial ecosystem where banks, NBFCs, fintechs, and market lenders compete on a level playing field, ensuring systemic stability and promoting innovation.

Indian markets rose for a third day, led by financials and energy. Hindustan Copper hit a record, L&T and Vedanta gained, eClerx jumped on results, while BEL slipped on brokerage views and Five-Star fell after earnings pressure elsewhere persisted modestly.

Piramal Pharma swung to a Rs 136 crore Q3 loss as revenue fell 3%, hit by CDMO destocking, weak US biopharma funding, trade uncertainty and regulatory delays. Management sees recovery signs, cost controls cushioning EBITDA, and expects a stronger Q4.