India exports fall 7.44% in March to $38.92 bn amid Middle East disruption, trade deficit at $20.67 bn

India’s merchandise exports declined 7.44% year-on-year to $38.92 billion in March as disruptions in key trade routes amid the Middle East conflict weighed on outbound shipments.Imports also fell 6.51% to $59.59 billion from $63.75 billion in the year-ago period, reflecting the impact of tensions affecting routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, according to government…

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Ignorance of tax laws no excuse! Missed filing ITR on time? Why Delhi High Court refused to condone delay in this case

Delhi High Court has held that ignorance of tax laws, lack of awareness of deductions, or general assertions of hardship do not constitute “genuine hardship”. (AI image) In a significant ruling on the scope of condonation powers under the Income Tax Act, the Delhi High Court has held that ignorance of tax laws, lack of…

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Atmanirbhar Bharat 2.0 push: Amid Middle East conflict, India working on self-reliance in energy, nuclear power

PM Modi has asked ministries and government departments to review the evolving situation and draw up both immediate and long-term plans. (AI image) Atmanirbhar 2.0: The Middle East conflict has led India to re-work its self-reliance strategy to shield key supply chains and strengthen energy security in response to the global economic disruption triggered by…

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Asian stocks today: Markets rally as hopes of US-Iran talks lift sentiment, oil prices ease

File photo (Picture credit: AP) Asian markets rose on Wednesday, following strong gains on Wall Street. Lower oil prices and renewed hopes for talks between the United States and Iran increased investor confidence.MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 1.5% to a six-week high, while Japan’s Nikkei gained 1.2%, inching closer to its…

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Higher Trump tariffs soon? US Treasury Secretary Bessent says rates could be restored by July

Soon after the US Supreme Court verdict, Trump announced a 10% universal tariff. (AI image) Will Donald Trump administration’s high reciprocal tariffs come back to haunt global economies? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday indicated that Trump’s tariff measures could be reinstated by July, potentially returning to the levels that existed before the Supreme Court…

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Drone-based land mapping boosts rural credit flows

MUMBAI: Govt’s shift to drone-based land mapping has lifted rural credit flows, with sanctioned loan amounts rising 23% after residential plots were converted into verifiable collateral under the SVAMITVA scheme, according to an April 2026 working paper published by the economic advisory council to the Prime Minister.The move replaces informal land demarcation with legally recognised,…

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