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

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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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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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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What are ‘Trump Accounts’? How a $1,000 govt seed fund could reshape US child savings

Photo credit- AP The US government is set to roll out “Trump Accounts”, a new tax-advantaged investment programme aimed at boosting long-term savings for children, with more than 500,000 families already signed up ahead of its launch this summer, according to a Reuters report.Under the scheme, the US Treasury will deposit $1,000 as seed money…

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Centre tags coking coal as critical & strategic mineral to drive self-reliance in steel sector

The government has notified coking coal as a critical and strategic mineral, a step aimed at reducing India’s heavy dependence on imports and strengthening the domestic steel supply chain, according to an official statement.The move is expected to facilitate faster approvals, improve ease of doing business and accelerate exploration and mining activities, including the development…

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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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