FTAs: Goyal says India shaping free trade agreements prioritising domestic industries; addressing their ‘concerns and needs’

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal affirmed that India’s free trade agreements (FTAs) prioritize domestic industry interests through extensive stakeholder consultations, carefully balancing offensive and defensive needs. He emphasized pursuing trade pacts with complementary economies, ensuring national and public interests are upheld. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said India is shaping its…

Read More

UPS vs NPS: Deadline to choose between Unified Pension Scheme and National Pension System extended; check details

The finance ministry has extended the deadline for central government employees to choose between the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and the National Pension System (NPS) by three months, from June 30 to September 30, 2025.The move comes after various stakeholders, including employee unions and retirees’ associations, sought more time to assess their options. The UPS,…

Read More

No more TACO? What happens to Trump’s tariffs after US attack on Iran? From ‘World Chickening Out’ to ‘No One Chickens Out’ – here’s what may happen

Donald Trump’s decisions on tariffs have become more crucial than ever. (AI image) US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have had one important consequence – globally markets are aware that Donald Trump will not always ‘chicken out’! US President Donald Trump’s military strike on Iranian nuclear installations, alongside Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran, has introduced…

Read More

India’s private sector: PMI surges to a 14-month high of 61.0; strong demand lifted activity in June

India’s private sector activity showed strong momentum in June, reaching its fastest pace in over a year, as firms ramped up production to meet booming domestic and international demand. These figures marked nearly four straight years of growth, fresh survey data released on Monday.The HSBC Flash India Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P…

Read More

PAN-bank link on income tax website: NPCI enables real-time verification via API; faster refunds, fewer errors expected

The national payments corporation of India, NPCI, has introduced a new facility for real-time PAN and bank account validation on the Income Tax department’s e-filing website. Announced in a circular dated June 17, 2025, the initiative aims to streamline the verification process for taxpayers linking their PAN with their bank accounts.The facility, launched through a…

Read More