Economy

India’s pharmaceutical exports are showing renewed strength, with industry leaders signaling confidence in achieving double-digit growth in the coming period. Rising global demand for affordable medicines, expanding market access, and improving supply-chain resilience have collectively supported the upward trajectory. Exporters are increasingly focusing on complex generics, specialty drugs, and regulated markets to drive value growth alongside volumes.

Reserve Bank of India kept its key policy interest rate unchanged, signaling a calibrated approach as the economy navigates firm growth alongside lingering inflationary pressures. The decision reflects confidence in India’s macroeconomic resilience while underscoring vigilance on price stability. With domestic demand holding up and global uncertainties persisting, the central bank opted for continuity over abrupt policy shifts.

India stands at a pivotal moment where artificial intelligence could dramatically reshape its media and entertainment economy. According to industry veteran Uday Shankar, AI is not merely a technological upgrade but a structural catalyst capable of doubling India’s share in the global media landscape. From content creation and distribution to monetization and audience analytics, AI offers unprecedented scale and efficiency.

Goods and Services Tax collections in Jammu and Kashmir have touched Rs. 24,080 crore over the past three years, reflecting steady improvement in tax compliance and economic activity across the Union Territory. The figures indicate a gradual broadening of the tax base and more effective revenue administration following structural reforms. Officials and analysts view the trend as evidence of increasing formalization of businesses and improved enforcement mechanisms.

India’s retail sector is on track for a dramatic expansion, with its market size projected to double by 2035, according to a new industry report. The forecast reflects the combined impact of rising household incomes, rapid urbanization, digital adoption, and changing consumer behavior. From traditional brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce and omnichannel formats, retail is evolving into a more organized, technology-driven ecosystem.

India’s securities market is set to undergo a structural shift as stricter credit rules for stockbrokers come into force from April 1, 2026. The new framework aims to curb excessive leverage, strengthen risk management, and enhance investor protection by tightening how brokers extend credit to clients. Regulators believe the measures will improve market stability and reduce systemic risk, particularly during periods of heightened volatility.

The Indian government has approved Startup India Fund 2.0, a Rs. 10,000 crore fund-of-funds aimed at accelerating the country’s startup ecosystem and channeling long-term capital into innovation-driven enterprises. Building on the foundation of its predecessor, the new fund is designed to improve access to patient capital, strengthen domestic venture funding, and support startups across sectors and geographies.

The long-negotiated trade accord between India and the United Kingdom is expected to be operational from April 2026, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral economic relations. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, will allow 99 percent of Indian exports to enter the British market at zero duty, while India will gradually reduce tariffs on selected British goods, including automobiles and Scotch whisky. A parallel social security arrangement, the Double Contributions Convention, will ease compliance burdens for temporary workers.

India’s banking system continues to witness robust lending activity, with credit growth holding steady at 14.4% year-on-year, underscoring sustained demand across retail, services and industrial segments. The double-digit expansion reflects resilient economic activity, steady consumption patterns and improving corporate balance sheets. While deposit growth remains comparatively moderate, banks have maintained lending momentum through calibrated liquidity management and selective risk underwriting.

India’s securities market regulator has underscored the transformative potential—and emerging risks—of artificial intelligence in financial markets, calling for a forward-looking regulatory approach that evolves alongside technological innovation. The SEBI chief highlighted concerns surrounding algorithmic opacity, systemic vulnerabilities and data governance while reaffirming the regulator’s commitment to fostering innovation responsibly.