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India in talks with 50 nations on fair trade deals: Piyush Goyal

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New Delhi, Nov 28: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday that India is currently engaged in discussions on fair and balanced trade deals with 14 countries or groups representing nearly 50 nations, including the United States, the European Union, GCC countries, New Zealand, Israel, Eurasia, Canada, South Africa and the Mercosur group.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here, the minister underlined that balanced and equitable trade agreements have already been concluded with Australia, the UAE, Mauritius, the United Kingdom and the four-nation EFTA bloc.

Highlighting broader global developments, the minister said that recent geopolitical and economic challenges have underscored the need for trusted partners and resilient supply chains. He stated that India’s expanding network of free trade agreements (FTAs) and economic partnerships is aimed at building long-term cooperation anchored in fairness, transparency and mutual benefit.

Goyal said that the idea of self-reliance is central in India’s civilisational ethos, recalling references from the Bhagavad Gita and Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on Swadeshi. He said that self-reliance has historically guided India’s progress and continues to remain central to the country’s economic strategy. He added that this vision has been strengthened through the focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Referring to the recent EFTA agreement, the minister noted that the bloc has committed to invest $100 billion in India across innovation and precision manufacturing. He underscored India’s cost competitiveness in research and innovation, stating that high-quality innovation undertaken in India can be achieved at a fraction of the cost compared to Europe or the United States.

The Minister highlighted India’s strengths in innovation and technology, supported by a young demographic, increasing digital adoption and a growing talent pool. He said that India’s large number of STEM graduates and widespread internet access create strong potential in emerging areas such as applied artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and deep-tech innovation.

He noted that the recently announced $12 billion Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund, along with ongoing support to startups and deep-tech industries, will further accelerate India’s innovation ecosystem.

Goyal emphasised the importance of strengthening skilling to prepare India’s youth for future opportunities. He said that unlike many developed economies facing ageing populations, India’s youthful demographic is quick to adapt to emerging technologies and has already demonstrated high engagement with digital platforms. He added that this readiness positions India to play a major role in the global technology landscape.

The minister outlined India’s strengths through the ‘PESTLE’ framework, noting that Prime Minister Modi has consistently advanced the vision of self-reliance across sectors. He said that politically, a stable and predictable government committed to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” has enhanced investor confidence. In the economic domain, initiatives such as the National Manufacturing Mission and the Rs 25,000 crore Export Promotion Mission are supporting India’s rise towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

On the social front, he highlighted that the four Labour Codes ensure better wages and protections, while the Antyodaya approach has supported the fulfilment of basic needs.

In the technology sector, Goyal pointed to initiatives aimed at reducing external dependence, including the Semiconductor Mission (Rs 76,000 crore) and the Rs 7,000 crore programme for permanent magnet production, which strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply chain security. In the legal domain, he referred to ongoing reforms, including progress toward Jan Vishwas 3.0, designed to enhance ease of doing business.

He further noted that the ‘Atomic Energy Bill 2025’ marks a historic shift by opening up the nuclear sector to strengthen energy sovereignty.

The Minister urged FICCI to adopt a mission-driven approach to promoting innovation, deepening research and development, strengthening industry-academia linkages and supporting India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

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MCX gold may test Rs 1.39 lakh support, silver outlook remains weak amid global uncertainty: Analysts

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Mumbai, July 18: MCX Gold and Silver are expected to remain volatile in the near term as investors assess geopolitical developments in the Middle East, movements in crude oil prices, and the US Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, according to market analysts.

Analysts said MCX Gold ended the week on a negative note but managed to stabilise around the key psychological support level of Rs 1,40,000.

They believe a decisive break below this level could accelerate selling pressure and drag prices towards the Rs 1,39,300-Rs 1,38,700 support zone.

“MCX Gold ended the week on a negative note but managed to find support near Rs 1,40,000 and is attempting to stabilise above this key level. A decisive break below Rs 1,40,000 could extend the decline toward the Rs 1,39,300–Rs 1,38,700 support zone,” as per the market expert.

“On the upside, immediate resistance is placed at Rs 1,40,700–Rs 1,41,000, followed by Rs 1,42,000–Rs 1,42,700. A sustained move above these resistance zones could strengthen recovery momentum,” an analyst stated.

MCX Silver also ended the week with a cautious negative bias, continuing to trade below key resistance levels.

Analysts expect resistance in the Rs 2,17,000-Rs 2,18,000 range, followed by Rs 2,20,000-Rs 2,21,000.

“On the downside, Rs 2,15,000–Rs 2,14,000 remains the immediate support zone, while a break below this area could drag prices toward Rs 2,11,000–Rs 2,10,000,” a market expert mentioned.

“Overall, the broader trend remains weak, with sustained strength above key resistance levels needed to signal a meaningful recovery,” the analyst stated.

Globally, COMEX Gold also finished the week with a negative bias while attempting to hold above the important $4,000 support level.

Analysts said a break below this mark could trigger fresh selling towards the $3,920-$3,900 zone, whereas a recovery above $4,050-$4,070 could lift prices towards $4,120-$4,150.

COMEX Silver remained under pressure as well, with prices trying to sustain above the $55-$54.50 support area.

Analysts noted that a decisive break below this range could lead to further weakness towards $53, while a move above $56.50-$57 could improve sentiment and potentially drive prices towards $59.

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RBI slaps fines on 2 Muthoot Group firms for breach of rules

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Mumbai, July 17: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on Muthoot Finance Limited as well as Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited for non-compliance with the central bank’s Know Your Customer (KYC) directions.

The RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 5.80 lakh on Muthoot Finance Limited and Rs 2.70 lakh on Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited for the breach of its regulations, according to a statement issued on Friday.

The RBI said that it carried out statutory inspection of Muthoot Finance Limited with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2025.

Based on the supervisory findings of noncompliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions.

After considering the company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI concluded that the company failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts; and it also failed to put in place a robust software for effective identification and reporting of suspicious transactions.

In the case of Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited also, the RBI conducted a statutory inspection of the company.

Based on the supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions.

After considering the company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the company failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts, with such periodicity being at least once in six months.

According to the RBI, the action in both cases is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the companies with their customers.

The imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the companies, the RBI said.

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Bomb threat note found on IndiGo Ahmedabad-bound flight; police launch probe

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Bengaluru, July 17: A hoax bomb threat found inside the lavatory of an IndiGo flight bound for Ahmedabad triggered a security scare at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, leading police to register an FIR and launch an investigation into the incident.

The threat was discovered on Thursday evening aboard IndiGo flight 6E-6423, which was scheduled to depart for Ahmedabad at 8 p.m.

According to police, a handwritten note bearing the message, “Don’t go. Bomb Hai! Please,” was found tucked inside the aircraft’s forward lavatory around 25 minutes before take-off.

The discovery prompted airport authorities and security personnel to immediately activate standard safety protocols.

The aircraft was subjected to a thorough security check, but no suspicious object or explosive material was found during the search.

Following the incident, IndiGo lodged a formal complaint with the airport police, stating that the hoax threat had caused operational disruption and raised serious safety concerns for passengers and crew.

Based on the airline’s complaint, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and initiated an investigation to identify the person responsible for leaving the note and ascertain the motive behind the false bomb threat.

Meanwhile, last month, another IndiGo flight carrying around 180 passengers from Lucknow to Delhi was grounded after a bomb threat was discovered written on a tissue paper inside one of the aircraft’s lavatories, triggering a comprehensive security response at the airport.

The flight, scheduled to depart from Lucknow at 10:45 a.m. on June 12, was preparing for take-off when crew members were alerted to a possible security threat on board.

The aircraft was immediately halted at the apron and prevented from departing as security agencies initiated standard emergency procedures.

The scare began after a tissue paper bearing the word “bomb” was found inside one of the aircraft’s toilets.

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