Union Budget 2026-27 exempts customs duty on rare minerals to boost Chhattisgarh's mining, industry and connectivity.
The Budget 2026-27 is presented as a 25-year vision focused on three priorities: elevating India's global economic position, accelerating infrastructure and industrial expansion for employment, and ensuring inclusive growth. It adopts the 16th Finance Commission recommendations and exempts customs duty on rare minerals to boost Chhattisgarh's mining and industrial activity. The Budget also commits targeted connectivity measures-national highway projects, Bharatmala approvals, UDAN air links, Krishi Udan inclusion for Raipur, and a significant railway allocation-to strengthen transport, logistics and regional development, while noting increased foreign trade agreements that support external market access.

India commits to USD 500 billion in US goods purchases over five years, including energy and aircraft, with safeguards.
India committed to a purchase commitment of USD 500 billion of US goods over five years, covering energy, aircraft and parts, precious metals, technology products, coking coal and high end machinery, with existing orders included. The framework relies on tariff differentials to preserve competitive advantage for Indian exports and anticipates sectoral demand (aviation, steel, data centres) to drive imports. It expressly provides safeguard mechanisms and sensitivity exclusions, with no duty concessions on dairy, GM products, meat, poultry, soya meal and corn, and is described as a work in progress joint statement.

India-US interim trade deal reportedly removes tariffs and barriers on US farm products, raising risks to Indian farmers and sovereignty.
The interim India-US trade framework reportedly includes zero tariff commitments on specified US agricultural products and removal of non tariff barriers, which the CPI(M) says will expose Indian farmers to subsidised competition, undermine support and subsidies, and harm livelihoods. The party warns the deal threatens national sovereignty and strategic autonomy, demands full parliamentary disclosure, and urges the government not to sign harmful measures; the government asserts safeguards protect farmers and domestic industry.

India-US trade agreement claimed to boost industry and protect farmers by excluding Punjab crops and dairy.
The India-US trade agreement is described as promoting industrial growth and exports while expressly excluding Punjab-produced crops from import commitments and providing protection for the dairy sector to safeguard farmers' interests. Separately, two senior Punjab IAS officers were suspended amid allegations linked to a prolonged procurement delay for anganwadi smartphones, prompting calls for Administrative Tribunal intervention to prevent alleged pressure on officers to engage in wrongdoing.

Indian exports gain a pricing edge after reciprocal tariffs cut to 18%, boosting competitiveness in labour intensive and agricultural sectors.
Reduction of India's reciprocal tariffs to 18% in the first phase bilateral trade framework with the United States is intended to secure market access and a pricing advantage for Indian exporters. Compared to higher levies faced by competitors (for example China 35%, Brazil 50%), the lower tariff is identified as enhancing competitiveness in labour intensive sectors and supporting agricultural exporters. The tariff cut is presented as commercially supported by industry and as a policy instrument to increase export value and farmers' incomes, with the framework expected to be signed by mid March.

Quota-based duty concession on DDGS to support animal and poultry sectors under the US-India trade framework.
India agreed to a quota-based duty concession on dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) for the US under the first-phase bilateral trade framework, providing managed market access via a quantitative quota to support animal husbandry and poultry feed needs while balancing domestic interests and addressing concerns about duty reductions.

India-US trade statement uses safeguards and calibrated openings to protect farmers while offering limited market access.
The India-US joint statement provides safeguards and calibrated market-opening measures to protect farmers and domestic industry from import surges while granting limited market access for certain pulses and lentils; no duty concessions were granted on dairy, genetically modified products, meat, poultry, soya meal and corn, with tariff differentials cited as an exporter advantage.

India-US trade deal threatens Jammu and Kashmir horticulture if zero tariffs allow US agricultural imports.
The article argues that the India-US trade arrangement's allowance of zero tariff imports of agricultural products threatens Jammu and Kashmir's apple and walnut producers, while the regional budget is criticised for not addressing unemployment and for fiscal losses from an electric-bus subsidy that has allegedly displaced private transport operators.

Free trade agreements require sharp, cautious negotiation balancing mutual sensitivities, rapport, and protection of national interests.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal described free trade agreement negotiations as intense processes requiring negotiators to be sharp and cautious because terms will affect nations for decades; he emphasised mutual respect for sensitivities, the utility of personal rapport to secure additional benefits, and the overriding need to protect national interests.

Delhi hotel tariffs skyrocket as AI summit drives unprecedented demand and room rates into lakhs.
Five-star hotel tariffs and occupancy in New Delhi have surged for India AI Impact Summit dates, with standard rooms usually priced Rs 20,000-40,000 now listed at rates approaching and in some categories exceeding several lakh rupees per night; premium suites and club-level categories command multi-lakh rates or face minimum-stay conditions, and leading properties are nearly sold out or listing steep peak-season pricing.

India-US trade deal excludes key agricultural products and bans imports of genetically modified products to protect farmers.
The interim India-US trade arrangement preserves national and farmer interests by excluding core agricultural commodities from tariff concessions, listing numerous staples, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, sugar, ethanol and tobacco as not eligible for tariff reductions, and affirming a prohibition on genetically modified product imports to protect seed and soil integrity.

India-US trade agreement to cut tariffs, grant zero duty in select categories, and boost MSMEs, exports and jobs.
The proposed India-US interim trade framework would expand market access for exporters and strengthen MSMEs and labour intensive industries while safeguarding agriculture. Reportedly, average US tariffs on Indian products would be reduced from about 50% to 18%, with zero duty in selected categories; tariff cuts for textiles and apparel and zero duty for silk products are expected to benefit cluster based, labour intensive regions.

India invited to join Pax Silica; interim trade framework reduces tariffs and removes punitive oil tariffs.
An invitation has been extended to India to join the Pax Silica initiative to secure and diversify silicon and critical minerals supply chains through cooperation on mining, processing, and related manufacturing; a forthcoming signing will integrate India into the programme. Parallelly, the parties reached an Interim Agreement framework under which India will reduce or eliminate tariffs on US industrial and agricultural goods and the US will reduce Indian tariffs to 18%, alongside an Executive Order removing a prior 25% punitive tariff on specified energy imports.

India's Russian oil purchases unclear after US lifted tariffs tied to a pledge to halt imports.
An executive order revoked an additional tariff in exchange for India's commitment to stop importing Russian crude and to buy U.S. energy; it contemplates recommending the reimposition of duties if the Secretary of Commerce finds India has resumed such imports. India has not confirmed the commitment, instead emphasising energy security and diversification driven by market conditions, and noting a recent fall in Russian oil procurement.

USTR map depicts Jammu and Kashmir and Aksai Chin as India; US and India agree to cut tariffs to 18%.
The USTR released a map showing Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan occupied Kashmir, and Aksai Chin as integral parts of India, signaling alignment with India's territorial claims. Concurrently, India and the US announced a first phase interim trade framework removing a 25% additional duty on Indian goods and reducing reciprocal tariffs, with US tariffs on specified Indian imports to be lowered to 18% to promote bilateral trade.

India trade agreements criticized; leader defends palm oil imports and questions opacity and commitments in the India-US trade deal.
Anand Sharma demands an apology for the Commerce Minister's criticisms of past trade pacts, defending palm oil imports as necessary and persistent across governments. He questions why CEPAs and bilateral trade agreements with regional partners were not cancelled if against national interest, and presses seven questions about the India-US trade arrangement, alleging opacity and potential commitments on agricultural and dairy market access that could affect sovereignty and multilateral trade obligations.

Global engagement should be free from external pressure and not driven by tariffs; buy domestic to support employment.
Global engagement should proceed without external pressure and not be tariff-driven; purchasing choices should favour Indian-made products to support domestic employment. The RSS frames its mission as societal unification through the shakha system, distinct from partisan politics and not seeking power. Hindutva is presented as a civic-cultural identity compatible with individual religious practice, with an emphasis on India leading by example and addressing criticisms through direct dialogue.

Global engagement should proceed without external pressure and not be tariff-driven, while buying local supports employment.
Global engagement is inevitable but must be pursued without external pressure and should not be tariff-driven; trade interactions must suit India's interests and environment. Citizens are urged to prioritise Indian-made products over foreign commodities where feasible to support domestic employment and job growth, as part of broader social priorities including harmony, environmental protection, self-awareness, family values and civic duties.

India-US interim trade framework reduces import duties to boost two-way trade and expand market access.
India and the United States have reached a framework for an interim bilateral trade agreement in which both parties will reduce import duties on selected goods to boost two way trade and expand market access, including for American farmers; this forms part of a series of trade deals that Indian officials say reinforce India's role as a trusted partner.

India-US trade agreement establishes reciprocal tariff cuts and duty removals to expand market access and two way trade.
Interim bilateral trade framework sets reciprocal tariff adjustments: the United States will reduce tariffs on specified Indian goods to 18% from about 50%, and India will eliminate or reduce import duties on all American industrial goods and a specified list of agricultural and food products, as the first phase of the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement, with formal signing expected by mid March.