PolicyDhara

India’s merchandise exports rose 26.1% YoY to US$ 43.8 billion in August 2026, while slower import growth narrowed the trade deficit to US$ 26.9 billion.

Today, the Reserve Bank released the data1 related to the 2025-26 round of its annual survey on computer software and information technology enabled services (ITES) exports. The survey2 collects details on India’s exports of software services {computer services and ITES/business process outsourcing (BPO) services} as per type of activity, on-site/off-site nature of services, country of destination and modes of supply. For 2025-26 round of the survey, 7,569 software export companies were co

Russia marked 22 per cent growth in trade with China in the first half of 2026, putting it on track for a record-breaking year. Three decades of growth have made China indispensable to Moscow, while sanctions-evasion networks have eased Russia’s isolation and increased dependence on Beijing. Wary of over-reliance, Russia has pivoted towards India and Africa since 2022, but these ties are unlikely to replace China. The post Russia-China trade ties grow amid sanctions appeared first on Gateway Hou

We, the people behind Zerodha, have been actively investing not just in start-ups but also in social enterprises and nonprofits that create a positive impact in society.  We use the word ‘invest’ and not ‘donate’ because we firmly believe that funding nonprofit social enterprises and endeavours is an investment in the future. They are as important to us as our for-profit start-up investments. For instance, with the Rainmatter Foundation, we have committed significant philanthropic capital t

New Zealand's parliament has passed legislation implementing its free trade agreement with India, eliminating or reducing tariffs on 95% of exports. The deal includes a US$ 20 billion New Zealand investment commitment in India over 15 years.

India aims to raise food processing levels to 25-30%, supporting greater value addition, lower post-harvest losses and stronger export opportunities for the food processing sector.

India will continue as the Official Partner Country at Gulfood 2027, with an APEDA-InD Events Dubai MoU aimed at expanding global market access and export opportunities for Indian agricultural and processed food products.

India's cumulative exports for April-August 2026-27 rose 15.55% to US$ 399.27 billion, led by strong growth in electronic goods and engineering goods. August 2026 alone saw total exports grow 25.41%, narrowing the trade balance deficit year-on-year.

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (MHCA), which came into force in 2018, marked a significant shift in India's approach to mental healthcare. The MHCA seeks to protect the rights of persons with mental illness by recognising their autonomy, legal capacity, and right to access mental healthcare and treatment without discrimination.  The importance of this legislation can be understood amidst the long history of abuse, stigma, discrimination, and coercion experienced by people with mental healt

Global leaders praised India's hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit and the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026. The declaration addressed global trade concerns, health cooperation and the priorities of the Global South.

India and MERCOSUR have signed a protocol recognising electronic Certificates of Origin, supporting paperless trade, faster customs procedures and more efficient preferential trade.

India and Canada have begun the fourth round of CEPA talks, targeting US$ 50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 through stronger market access and economic cooperation.

India-UAE bilateral trade is targeted to reach US$ 200 billion by 2032, with CEPA, investment flows and BRICS cooperation expected to create new opportunities for businesses.

BRICS exports surged nearly sevenfold to US$ 6 trillion in 2024, underscoring the bloc’s growing trade potential and scope for deeper economic integration.

The India-EU FTA will provide concessional duty access for up to 2.5 lakh Indian passenger vehicles annually, with the quota set to rise to 4 lakh vehicles over 10 years.

Uttar Pradesh recorded US$ 5 billion in exports to BRICS and partner nations, highlighting the state's growing presence in international markets and export potential.

Mr. Piyush Goyal called on BRICS countries to expand opportunities for women-led enterprises through better credit access, market platforms and predictable trade rules.

Mr. Jitin Prasada laid the foundation stone for a BEDF Basmati and Organic Training Centre in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. The centre will support farmers with quality seeds, organic farming training and export handholding.

Commerce Secretary Mr. Rajesh Agrawal said the India-US trade deal is largely finalised, with market access details being worked out. He also highlighted India's potential to grow fintech exports from US$ 8 billion to US$ 60-80 billion.

**Shreya Banchhor INTRODUCTION Less than a month ago, the Supreme Court declined a fresh probe into the Reliance-owned animal rescue and rehabilitation facility, Vantara, despite new information regarding alleged illegalities in animal imports being received from various international investigative sources, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) […] The post Justice in the Dark appeared first on Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

In 2023, SNRas Systems, a social enterprise, came to Villgro, a support organisation for social enterprises, with a problem that had nothing to do with their business model. They had 19 patents in aquaculture technology, contracts with retail chains, and a clear path to scale. What they lacked was INR 50 lakh in working capital to expand to new markets. Every bank they approached said the same thing: insufficient collateral. This is a familiar scenario for anyone working with impactful early-sta

India’s Eurasian shift will play itself out in the upcoming BRICS Summit. This is in contrast to just four years ago, when India cultivated the West, especially the U.S., in the aftermath of the 2020 Galwan clashes. Now with the U.S.’ tough tariffs and trade negotiations, India has made space to lean towards the Eurasian groupings, emphasising its long-held foreign policy principle of strategic balancing. The post India’s diplomatic shifts in SCO and BRICS appeared first on Gateway House.

Russia-China ties have come a long way from the tensions of the Cold War. Since Russia’s relationship with the West began deteriorating in 2008, China has emerged as a counterweight, with growing economic and cultural ties. In 2026, 83% of Russians viewed China favourably, while bilateral trade grew 22%. This relationship seems rock-solid, and even a thaw with the West is unlikely to alter its course. The post The Russia-China bilateral deepens appeared first on Gateway House.

India’s economic growth is projected to remain above 7% in FY27, with strong investment activity, rising corporate capital expenditure and export growth expected to increasingly drive the country’s economic expansion.

Mr. Piyush Goyal called for India to become a global medical and healthcare destination, citing FTA access worth US$ 60 trillion in combined GDP.

BCG-ACMA report projects electronics will make up 50-55% of a car's cost by 2030, up from 30-35% in 2020. This shift presents a major localisation opportunity for Indian auto component makers across sensors, ECUs and battery management systems.

Mr. Piyush Goyal called for resilient, globally integrated healthcare supply chains and greater R&D investment at Bharat Health Global Expo 2026.

GeM and the Textiles Committee have signed an MoU to promote recycled and upcycled textile products through public procurement. The initiative aims to build a circular economy ecosystem benefiting women, MSMEs and local recyclers.

The India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), implemented in 2000, has significantly expanded India–Sri Lanka trade, investment and tourism. But it now needs to be deepened beyond goods to make the most of the modern, supply-chain-driven global economy. Any ISFTA 2.0 should update rules of origin, liberalise services, digitise customs, strengthen investment protections and deepen connectivity to help Sri Lanka integrate into India-centred supply chains. The post Striking a new bargain on Ind

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit from September 12-13, 2026, amid adverse geopolitical circumstances. With Russia at war in Ukraine and Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia caught in the U.S.-Israel conflict, the BRICS grouping faces its biggest test yet. Yet its members remain committed to the “BRICS spirit” and promoting a fair international order. Can India use the summit to advance peace and development? The post BRICS’ Delhi summit: an intense agenda appeared first on Gateway House.

India is strengthening its data centre ecosystem through ease-of-doing-business reforms, with potential investments of around US$ 200 billion expected to support the sector's expansion and growing AI infrastructure demand.

Finance Minister Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman held bilateral meetings with key global partners during the G20 meetings to strengthen trade, investment, infrastructure financing and cooperation in emerging technologies.

India’s e-commerce market is projected to reach US$ 345 billion by 2030, driven by rapid growth in quick commerce, AI adoption and rising online consumption across Tier II and Tier III cities.

The Districts as Export Hubs Initiative now covers over 770 districts, aiming to strengthen local export ecosystems, improve market access and unlock the global potential of district-specific products and services.

The India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), implemented in 2000, has significantly expanded India–Sri Lanka trade, investment and tourism. But it now needs to be deepened beyond goods to make the most of the modern, supply-chain-driven global economy. Any ISFTA 2.0 should update rules of origin, liberalise services, digitise customs, strengthen investment protections and deepen connectivity to help Sri Lanka integrate into India-centred supply chains. The post Modernising the India-Sri Lan

India's real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27, reaching US$ 856.60 billion and beating the RBI's 7% estimate. Growth was broad-based, supported by manufacturing, services, investment and strong export performance.

India and Denmark held the 4th JWG meeting in Copenhagen to strengthen cooperation in MSME development, innovation and intellectual property. The engagement included visits to Danish innovation hubs and participation in the Nordic-India Startup Summit 2026.

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi held talks with Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin on trade, energy and defence at the SCO summit in Bishkek.

More than 40,000 State-level business reforms have been implemented over the past decade, with Gujarat emerging as a front-runner in improving the ease of doing business.

India and Argentina advanced cooperation across lithium, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies and trade facilitation, with bilateral trade crossing US$ 6.50 billion in 2025.

India and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in startups, deep-tech, innovation and MSMEs at a roundtable in Tokyo. The partnership will focus on patient capital, technology collaboration, manufacturing integration and greater investment linkages between the two startup ecosystems.

India and Morocco agreed to double bilateral trade over the next five years, while establishing a Joint Working Group to explore a Preferential Trade Agreement and improve market access.

India’s steel sector recorded continued growth in April–July 2026, with crude steel production rising 2.4% to 56.2 MT and finished steel consumption increasing 7.9% to 56.0 MT. Finished steel exports grew 35.0% to 2.29 MT, while imports rose 36.6% to 2.77 MT during the period.

The Mecca Accord between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan has raised some red flags in the region, and in India. One element remains unchanged: India’s value to Riyadh as an energy importer. With demand security holding more weight than supply security in an uncertain future, a major and growing oil importer like India is more important than the cash-for-security arrangement the Kingdom has signed with Pakistan. The post Mecca Accord and India’s energy security appeared first on Gateway House.

As Israel readies for its national elections in October, a new actor has stepped into the national scene and will likely influence the polling. This is the Israeli-Jewish diaspora, which comes in all dimensions of Judaism and democracy. For the first time, they feel the need to actively cast their vote, given its criticality and the yearning for political change. The post A new actor in Israel’s 2026 election appeared first on Gateway House.

The proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between India and the U.S. aims to enhance trade relations by reducing barriers and increasing cooperation in various sectors. But negotiations have reached an impasse largely due to the tariffs implemented during Trump's second administration. India is maintaining a firm stance on key issues rather than softening its position. The post New tariffs complicate India-U.S. trade negotiations appeared first on Gateway House.

India is expanding its free trade agreement network, with negotiations underway with 8-9 additional country groups and nations, aiming to increase preferential market access and integrate India further into global value chains.

India-Cambodia bilateral trade grew over 36% to US$ 406.78 million in FY 2025-26 as both countries discussed deeper cooperation in trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital payments and customs.

India is targeting US$ 433.43 billion in electronics production by FY31, with electronic component production projected to rise more than 14-fold to US$ 129.90 billion.

India is strengthening trade and investment ties with Japan through a 200-member business delegation, with a focus on manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, automotive, steel and other high-technology sectors.

India and Singapore strengthened economic cooperation through high-level ministerial and business engagements focused on trade, investment, technology, agri-exports, fintech, Global Capability Centres and sustainable infrastructure.

India aims to raise gems and jewellery exports to US$ 100 billion by 2040 by advancing design-led manufacturing, branding, technology adoption and value addition under the ‘Crafted in India’ proposition.

India and Singapore are strengthening economic ties through ministerial and business-level engagements focused on investment, market access, technology, skills, agri-food exports and advanced manufacturing.

Just four months ago, India and Bangladesh seemed determined to move beyond the difficulties faced during the two-year transition of Mohammad Yunus. But former PM Sheikh Hasina’s audio address to her constituents via Delhi changed the mood. Can the realists and pragmatists in Delhi and Dhaka rebuild and strengthen a coalition of mutual interests? The post Pragmatising India-Bangladesh ties appeared first on Gateway House.

India is increasingly converting its FTA network into export opportunities, with rising preferential trade utilisation, wider product access and stronger market linkages supporting merchandise and services exports.

India-Japan economic ties continue to deepen, with bilateral trade reaching US$ 27.5 billion in FY26 and Japan emerging as India’s fifth-largest source of FDI, while Uttar Pradesh offers growing opportunities for Japanese investment.

India’s coconut sector is expanding beyond traditional farming, with exports of coconut products rising 62% to US$ 795 million in FY26, supported by government initiatives in productivity, value addition and market access.

L&T’s latest Middle East order strengthens its offshore engineering and project execution portfolio while supporting the utilisation of its integrated manufacturing and fabrication capabilities.

Lupin’s USFDA approval for Pitolisant tablets expands its US generic portfolio, adding a bioequivalent treatment option for excessive daytime sleepiness in two approved strengths.

Corrigendum-1: EOI for the study titled “Strengthening India’s Deep-Tech Startup Ecosystem for Industrial Transformation” niti_admin Tue, 08/18/2026 - 16:53 Weight 0 Download (999.21 KB)

India’s 79-year transformation has expanded its economic scale, strengthened infrastructure and digital connectivity, improved social indicators and diversified trade and manufacturing, positioning the country for its next phase of growth.

India’s expanding FTA network is improving market access for MSMEs, particularly in labour-intensive and manufacturing sectors, while encouraging greater participation in global value chains and export markets.

STP units recorded estimated exports of US$ 87.57 billion in FY26, strengthening India’s IT and IT-enabled services export ecosystem.

Seven states have introduced dedicated GCC policies targeting around 1,380 Global Capability Centres and 1.18 million jobs by 2031, led by Karnataka and Maharashtra.

India’s engineering services exports have expanded nearly eightfold in a decade, reflecting rising global demand for Indian engineering, R&D, product development and specialised technology capabilities.

India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem is gaining global scale, with exports reaching Rs. 4.24 lakh crore in FY26, mobile phone exports expanding sharply and rising female participation supporting employment and domestic manufacturing.

India’s pharma exports grew 6.8% in Q1 FY27, supported by drug formulations and biologicals, while strong growth in vaccines and bulk drugs and expanding demand across global markets strengthened the sector’s export performance.

India’s automobile market recorded strong July momentum, with passenger vehicle dispatches rising 34.3% and two- and three-wheeler sales registering double-digit growth ahead of the festive season.

India is targeting US$ 1 trillion in exports in FY27, supported by 15% export growth in the first four months, expanded market access through nine FTAs and efforts to strengthen the global competitiveness of Indian manufacturers.

India’s festive hiring landscape is shifting towards specialised frontline roles as e-commerce, quick commerce and organised retail expand fulfilment networks and strengthen workforce readiness.

PM GatiShakti has enabled evaluation of 396 infrastructure projects worth US$ 207 billion, with 198 projects currently under implementation across key infrastructure sectors.

The North Eastern Region holds nearly 96.6% of India’s agarwood resource base, with a new roadmap aimed at strengthening value addition, market access and exports of agarwood and oud oil.

MSME procurement through GeM reached US$ 26.84 billion in FY2025-26, with the platform strengthening participation of startups, women entrepreneurs and SHGs.

L&T plans to bid for India’s US$ 764 million rare-earth magnet incentive programme, supporting domestic manufacturing and reducing dependence on China.

India has officially launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for 2028-29. This will be India’s ninth time on the UNSC. The election is strict and process-driven. The campaign has been launched well in time to ensure election with the highest possible number of votes to signal global acceptance of India, now the world’s most populous country, as a permanent member of the UNSC. The post India bids for UNSC appeared first on Gateway House.

GeM has facilitated over US$ 222.22 billion in cumulative procurement, with its next phase focusing on Artificial Intelligence, last-mile access, credit, sustainability and wider participation.

The National Handloom Designers’ Conclave highlighted the importance of market-oriented design and stronger market access in improving sales and income opportunities for India’s weavers and designers.

DGFT’s integration with ICEGATE enables authenticated digital verification of voluntary duty payments, reducing documentation, manual checks and compliance requirements for exporters seeking closure of AA and EPCG authorisations.

APEDA facilitated the first-ever export of 1 metric tonne of mustard honey from Tripura to Dubai, opening international market opportunities for local beekeepers, farmers and FPOs.