India’s banking system has returned to surplus liquidity for the first time in three months, thanks to sustained interventions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and improved market conditions. Liquidity Surplus Returns in March According to data, the banking system's liquidity stood at a surplus of ₹89,399 crore on March 30, rising from ₹71,672 crore a day earlier. This marks the first surplus since December...

The trade relationship between India and the United States has grown significantly over the past two decades, with the US emerging as India’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached a record high of $119.7 billion in 2024, reflecting deepening economic ties. However, as negotiations intensify ahead of US President Donald Trump’s April 2, 2025, tariff deadline, concerns over tariffs, market access, and trade imbalances...

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the “NITI NCAER States Economic Forum” portal on April 1, 2025, in New Delhi. Developed jointly by NITI Aayog and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the portal will serve as a comprehensive platform offering 30 years of economic, social, and fiscal data for all 28 Indian states. A Comprehensive Data Platform for Policymakers and Researchers The portal...

Institutional investors stand to unlock returns of up to 10 times their investment by adopting technology and artificial intelligence (AI) more strategically, according to a new report from McKinsey & Company. The report, titled "Unlocking Value from Technology and AI for Institutional Investors", outlines how asset managers, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds can drive returns, streamline operations, and strengthen risk management by leveraging...

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has mandated stock exchanges to begin monitoring position limits in index derivatives on an intraday basis starting April 1, 2025. However, to address industry concerns, the regulator has clarified that no penalties will be imposed for intraday breaches until further notice. Exchanges will be required to capture at least four random snapshots of positions throughout the trading...

In a significant policy direction, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has signalled a comprehensive clean-up of outdated regulations to simplify the compliance landscape for market participants. Speaking at the Mint India Investment Summit & Awards 2025, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said the market watchdog is committed to fostering an environment that balances investor protection with ease of business. “SEBI will weed...

India has officially crossed the $4 trillion GDP milestone, solidifying its position as the fifth-largest economy in the world. With a growth trajectory that continues to outpace other major economies, India is set to overtake Japan in 2025 and is on track to become the third-largest economy by 2027. India’s Rapid Economic Expansion According to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections, India’s GDP has doubled...

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Finance Bill, 2025, incorporating 35 key amendments, marking an important step in the Budget approval process. Among the major changes, the removal of the 6% equalisation levy on online advertisements, widely known as the ‘Google Tax’, stands out as a significant reform to align India’s tax structure with global economic conditions. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her response...

India’s Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced key regulatory relaxations for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), alternative investment funds (AIFs), and registered investment advisors (RIAs) as trading volumes in India’s cash equity market continue to rise. The changes, approved in SEBI’s first board meeting under new Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, include higher disclosure thresholds for FPIs, expanded investment options for AIFs, and greater...

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has actively investigated 35 cartel cases across various sectors over the past five years, according to a Lok Sabha response by Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The cases span industries including healthcare, railways, financial services, iron and steel, with nearly half categorized under miscellaneous industries. Expanding Investigations and Legal Reforms Between FY22 and FY25, 21 cases were referred...