-The Hindu On conservating estimate, exports will cross $750 billion amid global headwinds, said Commerce Secretary India’s merchandise exports contracted 1.15% in August to $33 billion, while inelastic imports of petroleum and coal remained firm, lifting imports above the $60 billion mark for the sixth successive month. The country’s goods trade deficit moderated slightly from the record $30 billion in July, but remained the second highest on record at $28.68 billion, more than...

-The Telegraph Overall current account deficit in July rises to $21.04 billion (merchandise and services), commerce ministry reports on Friday Mumbai: Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Michael Patra has tried to soothe concerns about the anticipated surge in India’s current account deficit, suggesting that the country will not be roiled by a crisis if the CAD climbed to anywhere between 2.5 and 3 per cent of GDP. “Our experience has been that...

-The Telegraph Food prices, which account for nearly half of the consumer price index basket, softened last month The finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are in discussions on the inflation trajectory amid the easing of global commodity and crude oil prices. A Reuters poll of economists forecast retail inflation at a five-month low in July at 6.78 per cent. But it is still above the RBI’s upper threshold...

-Down to Earth blog Palm oil is water-intensive and requires large patches of land India is the second-largest consumer of edible oil globally and its largest importer. While the government has taken several initiatives over the years to increase the domestic production of edible oils, its shortage and high price are often in the news. Palm oil production grew between 2015-2016 and 2020-2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 per cent,...

With the release of a UNDESA report on the World Population Day this year i.e., July 11, once again the debate on who's responsible for the population growth in India has resurfaced. Titled World Population Prospects 2022, the report states that the global population is expected to touch 8 billion on November 15, 2022, and India is projected to exceed China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.  As soon as...