India's coal imports rose by 2% to 182.02 million tonnes between April and November this year. Monthly imports for November dropped to 19.57 MT due to sufficient domestic supply, leading to reduced demand. Coking coal imports also decreased slightly as the government pushes for increased domestic production.
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Budget 2025 income tax expectations: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is urged by EY to raise the basic income tax exemption limit from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and lower tax rates in the upcoming Budget 2025.
Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan critiqued the Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs on about 60 countries, calling it a 'self-goal'. He noted that this move would primarily impact the US economy rather than India.
Global stock markets declined as US President Trump's higher tariffs on key trading partners triggered retaliatory actions from Canada and China. The sensex fell below 73,000, and Nifty dropped for the 10th consecutive session. Safe haven investments rose while oil prices fell, impacting international benchmarks.
Rural poverty in India has notably dropped to 4.86% in 2023-24, down from 25.7% in 2011-12, driven by government support. Urban poverty also declined to 4.09%. Increased consumption and infrastructure developments have contributed to narrowing the rural-urban income gap, with significant improvements in rural livelihoods.
India views the USA's announcement of 26% reciprocal tariffs as a 'mixed bag' rather than a 'setback.' The imposition includes a universal 10% tariff on all imports starting April 5, with an additional 16% from April 10. Discussions on a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations continue, aiming for completion by fall.
Automobile exports from India saw a notable 19% increase in 2024, reaching 50,98,810 units compared to 42,85,809 units in 2023. The growth was driven by strong demand for two-wheelers, passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles, particularly in emerging markets such as Latin America and Africa.
The rupee fell to a record low of 85.53 against the dollar, driven by panic dollar buying and increased demand from the month-end, leading RBI to intervene by selling dollars. Despite RBI's intervention, higher US Treasury yields, crude oil prices, and foreign fund outflows kept the rupee under pressure.
Vivo India and Dixon Technologies are forming a joint venture for contract manufacturing electronics, including smartphones. Dixon will hold a 51% stake. The partnership aims to boost local manufacturing and Vivo's presence in India, with the JV handling some of Vivo's OEM orders and potentially those of other brands.
Irdai has proposed a cap on health premium hikes for seniors, limiting increases to 10% without prior approval. Insurers must also seek approval before discontinuing policies for the elderly, and are encouraged to standardize hospital costs, similar to PMJAY. New guidelines mandate transparency in justifying any price hikes for senior citizens' health insurance.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the importance of maintaining fiscal responsibility in public finance, highlighting the need to balance borrowing with sustainable growth. She warned against excessive debt, citing long-term implications, and praised the collaborative efforts in the GST Council to generate revenue responsibly.