The upcoming Union Budget to be presented on February 1 is likely to assume a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth between 10 and 10.5 per cent for FY26, a Business Standard poll of 10 economists showed. The first advance estimates released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) had estimated a nominal GDP growth of 9.7 per cent for FY25. Nominal GDP, calculated at current market prices, factors in the effect of inflation. It is used as the base to calculate crucial macroeconomic indicators, such as fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, and debt-to-GDP ratio.
Seeking to put an end to the controversy over George W Bush's remarks on food habits of Indians, US Ambassador David Mulford dismissed suggestions that the President had made any critical comments. Bush has come under all round attack from political parties for his comments that improving food habits in India were among the reasons for the increase in global prices of foodgrains.
Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal is set to attend a two-day meeting from October 23 at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, that would focus on finding solutions and giving the 'necessary political push' for at least some crucial global trade issues. Next week's meeting comes ahead of the WTO's 13th ministerial conference (MC13), scheduled in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. It will see participation of senior government officials from all WTO member nations.
'Unless a comedian is involved in something society deems unforgivable...'
The department for promotion of industry and internal trade has rejected Walmart-backed Flipkart's proposal seeking approval for entry to the food retail sector, citing a regulatory issue, an official said on Monday. The government permits 100 per cent foreign direct investment in food retail for food produced and manufactured in India.
Maggi will not have it easy, all authorities train guns on the brand regarding food safety.
Over-exfoliating can irritate your skin and lead to dryness. During winter months, limit exfoliation to once or twice a week, depending on your skin type, advises Dinyar Workingboxwala, celebrity aesthetician and co-founder of the beauty products brand, BiE.
'For us, it's "keep moving and keep building a critical mass", which is commensurate with the size of the country.'
'In today's world, more than ever, we feel the need for comfort, for love. There is so much to reassure us here -- the beautifully captured billowing embrace of the smoke, the golden light, the subject's expression as he prepares the food for sharing.'
The company, which has recently made a foray into the frozen food segment under ITC Master Chef brand targeting both retail and food services players, is also planning to expand its reach to over 30 cities in the retail segment and 100 cities in food services segment during the period. ITC will be the third major organised player in the frozen food segment after McCain, which is mainly in the vegetarian segment and Venky's, which is in non-vegetarian.
These are the highlights of the Union Budget 2025-26 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Saturday.
'Adventure travel, cultural tours, and wellness retreats are in high demand.'
A new study on the impact of global warming on global food production by researchers of a US university says that in 20 years since 1981, there had been an annual loss of about $5 billion for the major cereal crops in the world. The Chennai-based MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) is implementing a project on vulnerability assessment and enhancing adaptive capacity to climate change (V&A Programme) in semi-arid India.
Retail inflation declined to 6.83 per cent in August after touching a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent in July, mainly due to softening prices of vegetables, but still remains above the Reserve Bank's comfort zone. The overall inflation in the food basket stood at 9.94 per cent in August as against 11.51 per cent in July, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Tuesday. Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 7 per cent in August 2022.
Fiercely original filmmaking from a director whose even just good enough attempt fares much better than your average blockbusters, observes Mayur Sanap.
Eggs top the list of best fertility super-foods because they are loaded with minerals, vitamins and all the necessary nutrients needed for a healthy body.
'We have to be prepared for the larger disruption that is likely to take place.'
Everything you need to know about Coldplay's concert at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium on January 18, 19 and 21.
The Centre on Monday announced seven big programmes for the holistic growth of agriculture and allied sectors with a total outlay of nearly Rs 14,000 crore, as it aims to improve farmers' income. The Union Cabinet approved seven big-ticket programmes related to the farm sector, including a Rs 2,817-crore digital agriculture mission and a Rs 3,979-crore scheme for crop science. "The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved seven schemes to improve farmers' lives and increase their incomes at a total outlay of Rs 13,966 crore," an official statement said.
Retail sales of vehicles across categories in India grew by 11.21 per cent at 32,08,719 units in November, as compared to 28,85,317 units in the same month last year riding on two-wheeler demand, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations said in Monday. Retail sales of two-wheelers were at 26,15,953 units last month, as compared to 22,58,970 units in November 2023, a growth of 15.8 per cent buoyed by the festive spillover.
The dairy major is transforming into a full-fledged F&B and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) player, reports Vinay Umarji.
Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director of Nestl India, is set to retire on July 31 next year, marking the end of an era that began 26 years ago with the Nestl group, a multinational giant in the food and beverage space. His tenure is perhaps most famously defined by his role in reviving the Maggi noodles brand. When Narayanan stepped into leadership at Nestl India in 2015, the company was facing criticism: the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had ordered a nationwide recall of the popular Maggi noodles due to high levels of lead found in the product.
"The food processing industry in India is one of the largest in terms of production, consumption, export and growth prospects."
'Inflation is not good for industry. Nor for the economy as a whole.'
Cracking the whip, Railways have imposed heavy fines totalling Rs 11.5 lakh on nine caterers including Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation for serving "bad quality" food in trains.
'I find his sense of history astounding, not just history of film, but of life in general.' Another fascinating excerpt from Sangeeta Datta's book Shyam Benegal.
The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy on Tuesday said industrial production growth is likely to decline in the second half of the current fiscal, while the first advanced estimate of kharif crop showed a 10 per cent drop in food production.\n\n\n\n
'Not just women, but even men are judged by the colour of their skin and have to fight prejudice every day.'
'The decision to supply free food grains is not an economically sound decision because the government will find it very difficult in future to charge anything for food grains.'
Simplifying investment policies at the micro level and introducing a time-bound framework will be critical for India's growth targets, notes Krishna Ella.
The GST Council, in its meeting on Saturday, is likely to decide on reducing tax rates on life and health insurance premiums, while hiking it on high-end wrist watches, shoes and apparels, besides considering a separate 35 per cent tax slab for sin goods. The 55th meeting of the GST Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising state counterparts, is likely to discuss rate rejig in about 148 items, besides, it will also deliberate on bringing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), a major component for airline industry's operation cost, in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) fold.
After Reliance Industries and the Aditya Birla Group, the Tata Group is poised to become the next big name to feast on the burgeoning food retail sector.
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) State of the Economy report for October acknowledged a slowdown in some high-frequency indicators but expressed confidence in a recovery, aided by consumption demand during the festival season. "In India, aggregate demand is poised to shrug off the temporary slowdown in momentum in the second quarter of 2024-25 as festival demand picks up pace and consumer confidence improves," said the report released on Monday.
Growth in corporate profits needs to be commensurate with wages to boost the economy, Economic Survey 2024-25 said, noting that sharp disparities between the two pose risk to the economy by curbing demand. The document tabled in Parliament on Friday noted that while the labour share of GVA (gross value added) shows a slight uptick, the disproportionate rise in corporate profitsredominantly among large firmsaises concerns about income inequality.
Wholesale price inflation remained in the negative territory for the fourth month in a row in July at (-)1.36 per cent, even though prices of food items, especially vegetables, skyrocketed. The inflation, however, has inched up from (-)4.12 per cent recorded in June fuelled by 62.12 per cent rise in vegetable prices. In July last year, wholesale price index (WPI) was 14.07 per cent.
'We are not asking for incentives, but at least taxation can be aligned such that the rupee tax on consumers remains the same.'
As per the first quarter figures on industrial production released by Central Statistical Organisation on Friday, the electricity sector registered a growth of 8.3 per cent as against 5.3 per cent a year ago.
