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Ease of doing biz calls for regulatory, process reforms

Against the backdrop of global challenges and heightened uncertainty, the Survey has backed reforms, including regulatory entities, and called for “creating a cadre of professionals”, who are adept in regulatory design and implementation, to improve the ease of doing business.“Policy reforms do matter. Process reforms arguably more so. Processes define the interaction between govt and…

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red flags over sustainability of unconditional cash transfers

Red flags over sustainability of unconditional cash transfers

Make Up 50% Of Rural Monthly Consumption New Delhi: Unconditional cash transfers (UCT) by state govts now account for nearly half of the monthly per capita consumption expenditure among the rural population, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability and medium-term growth, especially when there is no complementary investment skilling and human capital, Economic Survey said.It said…

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IT sector faces AI-era uncertainties as global model power concentrates, says Economic Survey

The Economic Survey has cautioned that India’s entry into the artificial intelligence era comes with “looming uncertainties” and structural asymmetries that could reshape labour markets and pose fundamental questions for the future of the Indian IT sector, even as the country seeks to harness AI-driven productivity gains.The Survey flagged the growing concentration of market power…

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Microsoft stock plunges 12.3%, drags Wall Street lower-here’s what driving the fall

Microsoft led a pullback on Wall Street on Thursday, with US stocks retreating from record levels after the tech heavyweight logged its steepest single-day fall in years, weighing on broader market sentiment. While gold prices also reversed sharply after a blistering run, reflecting a broader cooling of risk appetite across global markets.Microsoft sank 12.3% despite…

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India should prioritise trade opportunities over tariffs, says World Bank chief Ajay Banga

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga (Photo-AP) India should “think less” about tariffs and focus more on opportunities to expand trade, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said on Thursday, as geopolitical tensions continue to cloud the global trade outlook.Interacting with media during a visit to the Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) in…

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Rupee ends at record low of 91.99 against dollar amid foreign outflows, global risk aversion

The rupee settled at its all-time closing low of 91.99 against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by persistent foreign fund selling and risk-off sentiment in global markets, even as softer crude prices and a weaker dollar offered limited relief, PTI reported. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 91.95 and…

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indian ports

Budget 2026: Charting a course for ports – Two areas FM can address to bolster the sector

To increase the port capacity and also, cater to the advancements in shipping, development of mega ports (greater than 300 MTPA capacity with 18+ meter draft) is on the agenda. (AI image) By Jagannarayan Padmanabhan and Parul Singhal Garg Prioritising efficiency-linked incentives (ELI) and promoting compliance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are among key asks…

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Tariff war, AI bubble: Crisis worse than 2008 looming? Economic Survey explains what India should do

India’s strongest macroeconomic performance in decades has collided with a global system that no longer rewards macroeconomic success. (AI image) Economic Survey 2025-26: India stands tall in the global economic order – as the world’s fastest growing major economy that is exhibiting resilience in the face of global economic turmoil and Donald Trump’s tariff threat….

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Oil & steel of 21st century? India needs to catch up in AI race amid US–China rivalry, economic survey warns

AI-generated image “There is no time to waste,” the Economic Survey 2025–26 cautioned, as India confronts a rapidly hardening global order where technological capability, rather than military strength alone, will determine strategic influence. In an era marked by intensifying US–China rivalry and the emergence of America’s Pax Silica vision for the AI-driven world, the Survey…

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