Economy

The RBI's six-member Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Sanjay Malhotra, has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, just as markets expected.

RBI introduces compensation of up to Rs 25,000 for victims of small-value fraudulent digital transactions to boost trust in digital payments amid rising fraud.

The new series of CPI (base year 2024) is to be released on Feb. 12, 2026. The new series of GDP (base year 2022-23) is slated for release on Feb 27, 2026.

The pause in RBI policy rates comes after a cumulative 125 basispoint reduction since February 2025, a cycle aimed at supporting economic recovery amid evolving global and domestic conditions.

The decision was largely anticipated, with 34 out of 39 economists polled by Bloomberg correctly predicting the hold.

CREDAI West Bengal president Sushil Mohta said the government's plan to modernise district towns was a positive step and would support balanced urban growth.

The structure of hiring in Indias IT sector is changing. As automation and new delivery models gain ground, companies are reassessing how many people they need — and what kind of skills matter most in the next phase of growth.

European climate and energy policies are set to be among the issues discussed by the EU leaders at their informal gathering in Belgium on Feb. 12.

Goyal told reporters that a legal agreement for the first tranche of the pact is expected to be signed by mid-March.

The terms of reference (ToR) outline the scope and modalities of a proposed trade pact. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal presided over the signing ceremony of the ToRs with GCC.

Banks have also raised the matter with Financial Benchmarks India Ltd., which sets valuation prices for bonds, in separate meetings over the last few months, they added.

Senior US officials will visit India for the signing event and details of the agreement will be shared afterward, sources said.

Economists also do not expect major changes in growth or inflation forecasts. In December, the RBI raised its GDP growth projection for FY26 by 50 basis points to 7.3%.

Economists see RBI keeping the repo rate unchanged as inflation rises from recent lows, growth holds up and the impact of earlier easing continues to filter through the economy.

At the ministerial hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, India backed the newly launched Forum on Resource, Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE).

Jaishankar highlighted India's efforts towards greater resilience through initiatives including National Critical Minerals Mission and Rare Earth Corridors.

Japan's currency has weakened for the past four trading days, and is approaching 157 against the dollar on Thursday morning.

Markets put the chance of a quarter point rate cut at less than 1% and only one of 32 economists surveyed expects a reduction.

The move will meaningfully boost offtake for Indian solar manufacturers, support scale up of exports, and deepen longterm supply linkages between the two countries, he noted.

Igor Yushkov, a leading expert at the National Energy Security Fund, said that Indian refiners cannot fully stop the import of Russian crude.