Chief negotiators from India and the US are set to begin three-day talks in Washington to recalibrate the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) framework, following significant changes in the US tariff landscape, including a new 10 per cent tariff imposed on all countries.
India's foreign exchange reserves decreased by USD 11.413 billion to USD 698.346 billion during the week ending March 20, primarily due to a significant reduction in gold reserves, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Infosys reported a 20.8 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to 8,501 crore for the January-March quarter of FY26, with revenue from operations rising 13.4 per cent to 46,402 crore. The IT major has guided for a 1.5 to 3.5 per cent revenue growth for FY27, driven by momentum in financial services, utilities, and emerging AI services, despite a volatile macroeconomic environment and geopolitical risks.
A foreign brokerage warns that sustained crude oil prices above USD 100 per barrel could push India's inflation above the RBI's tolerance level, potentially triggering interest rate hikes.
US-based IT firm Oracle has reportedly laid off approximately 12,000 employees in India, with further layoffs expected. The company cited organisational changes and streamlining of operations as reasons for the retrenchment.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) pledges to collaborate with NADA and the Sports Ministry to address doping concerns after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) categorised India as a high-risk country for doping violations.
IT major Wipro reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,501.8 crore for March quarter FY26, a 1.89 per cent decrease from the previous year, amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment. The company also announced a mega Rs 15,000 crore share repurchase programme.
India has been designated as a country with an 'extremely high' risk of doping by World Athletics, leading to more stringent anti-doping measures for Indian athletes.
India's foreign exchange reserves decreased by USD 7.052 billion to USD 709.759 billion in the week ending March 13, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This decline follows a previous drop and comes after reserves reached an all-time high in February.
Russia and China vetoed a Bahrain-backed UN resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A resolution that was already diluted to secure their abstentions.
India's forex reserves dropped by $11.683 billion to $716.810 billion during the week ended March 6, the RBI said on Friday.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is shifting its focus from individual athletes to the criminal networks that supply performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), recognising that athletes are often victims of sophisticated doping operations.
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) cap on banks' forex positions provided only a temporary boost to the rupee, with the currency quickly reversing gains and breaching the 95-per-dollar mark due to persistent underlying pressures.
Afghanistan's anti-doping programme has collapsed since the Taliban's return to power, with no tests conducted for three years and the country's exiled anti-doping chief admitting there is currently 'no hope'. The programme faces numerous challenges, including a lack of Doping Control Officers, logistical issues, and political instability.
The Trump administration's proposed H-1B wage structure aims to increase pay for skilled overseas workers in the US by an average of $14,000, with Level I wages potentially rising to $97,746. This move, coupled with a weighted selection process favouring higher-skilled workers, is intended to curb abuse of visa programmes and ensure parity with American workers, but has already led to a sharp decline in H-1B applications, particularly from Indian IT companies.
The US blockade on Iranian ports is aimed to curb Iranian energy exports, thereby crippling its economy to force Iran back to the negotiating table, points out Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has banned Pakistani weightlifting officials for life and a weightlifter for four years due to doping violations.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced a 12.22 per cent increase in its net profit for the March quarter, reaching Rs 13,718 crore, alongside a 9.64 per cent rise in revenue from operations.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) claimed that Iran has asked US for a ceasefire. He said that Washington would consider it once the Strait of Hormuz is open.
Wipro, India's fourth-largest IT services company, has secured an eight-year deal with Singapore-based Olam group, valued at over $1 billion, and will also acquire Olam's IT and digital services arm, Mindsprint, for $375 million, marking one of its largest contracts to date.
The Indian rupee weakened against the US dollar due to sustained foreign fund outflows and uncertainties in West Asia, although lower crude oil prices and a positive opening in domestic equity markets limited the losses.
India and the United States are committed to finalising an interim trade agreement, despite recent challenges including the US imposing a blanket 10 per cent surcharge and India's decision to wait for a new global tariff architecture. The US Trade Representative's annual report highlights India's maintained high import tariffs and various non-tariff barriers across several sectors.
Industry experts and the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) advocate for a unified framework to address the significant supply gap in domestic cell manufacturing, crucial for enhancing India's energy storage capabilities and reducing reliance on imports.
India's foreign exchange reserves have surged to an all-time high, reaching USD 728.494 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India. This increase is attributed to a rise in foreign currency assets and gold reserves.
Oracle Corporation has reportedly laid off thousands of employees globally, including a significant number in India, with affected individuals receiving early morning termination emails and immediate laptop lockouts, despite the company posting record quarterly revenues of $17.2 billion.
Analysts warn that global markets are significantly underpricing the risk of an oil price shock, with Brent crude potentially soaring to $150 per barrel if the West Asia conflict escalates or damages critical oil and gas infrastructure. This could lead to severe inflation and economic repercussions, particularly for import-dependent nations like India.
India's forex reserves decreased by $2.119 billion to $723.608 billion during the week ended February 20, according to the RBI.
The Americans can occupy Bab el Mandeb, claim to have 'solved' the Strait of Hormuz crisis, declare victory that President Trump so desperately needs, points out Colonel Anil A Athale, former head of the history division, ministry of defence.
Fitch Ratings on Friday said persistently higher oil prices could cause India's retail inflation to rise faster than the expected gradual pace, and lead to a slowdown in economic growth in the first half of financial year 2026-27 (FY27).
The Madhya Pradesh government has formed a committee to monitor gas and oil supplies amid concerns over the West Asia crisis, assuring citizens that there are adequate stocks and no need to panic. The government is also working to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens from Gulf countries.
The family of a teenage girl critically injured in a school shooting in Canada has filed a civil lawsuit against artificial intelligence company OpenAI, alleging that its chatbot ChatGPT had prior indications that the attacker was planning a mass shooting.
India's forex reserves jumped $8.663 billion to hit a new all-time high of $725.727 billion in the week ended February 13, the RBI said on Friday.
Police raided the farmhouse of an IAS officer in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, detaining 18 people for alleged gambling and leading to the suspension of three police personnel.
Cognizant's Chief AI Officer, Babak Hodjat, highlights India's unique position in AI enablement due to its strong technology foundation and large pool of digitally skilled people. He emphasises the continued importance of developers in the age of AI and Cognizant's focus on becoming an 'AI builder' company.
Brent crude prices surged sharply on Monday, rising by more than 25 per cent to $116.5 per barrel, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has made crude prices bullish.
Qatar, India's largest supplier of imported natural gas, has declared force majeure on deliveries following a halt in production in the wake of an Iranian drone strike -- a disruption that has led to a cut in supplies to Indian industry by up to 40 per cent, sources said.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has enhanced its intelligence gathering tool to allow two-way communication with anonymous informers of doping and other ethical violations in athletics, while preserving their confidentiality.
India's forex reserves dropped by $6.71 billion to $717 billion during the week ended February 6, the RBI said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are actively pushing Trump to take the war to its bitter finish and 'erase' Iran's presence in the geopolitics of the region. Simply put, the two most powerful Sunni Arab oligarchies are on the same page as Israel. Such interference increases the risk of a breakdown in dialogue between the US and Iran, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 saw investment pledges of USD 240 billion from major players like Reliance, Adani, Google, Lightspeed Ventures, and Tata, signalling a significant boost to India's AI infrastructure and development.
