Finance Ministry

April 22, 2026 5:02 PM

Atal Pension Yojana crosses 9 crore enrolments, records highest annual subscriber addition

The government’s flagship social security initiative, Atal Pension Yojana (APY), has crossed a major milestone, with total gross enrolments surpassing 9 crore subscribers as of April 21, 2026. The scheme also recorded its highest-ever annual addition, with over 1.35 crore new subscribers joining during the financial year 2025-26, reflecting its expanding reach and growing acceptance among citizens, particularly in the unorganised sector. Launched in May 2015, APY is administered by the Pensi...

April 2, 2026 12:01 PM

Centre grants full customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products

The government has decided to provide full customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products till June 30, 2026, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the consequent disruptions in global supply chains, Finance Ministry said on Thursday. The measure, said the ministry in a statement, has been taken as a temporary and targeted relief in order to ensure continued availability of critical petrochemical inputs for domestic industry, reduce cost pressures on downstream sectors, and sa...

April 1, 2026 3:40 PM

Government announces one-time relief for SEZ units to boost domestic sales amid global trade disruptions

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Wednesday introduced a one-time relief measure allowing eligible manufacturing units in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to sell goods in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) at concessional customs duty rates. The move, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, aims to address challenges faced by SEZ units due to ongoing global trade disruptions. The relief will be effective from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, and is being implemented through a ...

March 24, 2026 4:39 PM

RBI, IRDAI and SEBI step up efforts to help citizens reclaim unclaimed financial assets

India’s top financial regulators - Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) - have intensified efforts to help citizens recover unclaimed deposits and investments through simplified procedures, digital platforms, and regulatory reforms. To boost public awareness and facilitate claims, the Department of Financial Services conducted a nationwide campaign titled “आपकी पँजूी,...

March 6, 2026 10:39 AM

8th Central Pay Commission invites stakeholder representations; online submissions open until April 30

The Eighth Central Pay Commission has invited representations and memorandums from stakeholders, including serving employees, pensioners, associations, unions and organizations, regarding pay structure and related matters. According to the Ministry of Finance, the Commission has provided a structured online format for submitting suggestions and representations through its official website, 8th Central Pay Commission portal (8cpc.gov.in). Stakeholders can also submit their memorandums through t...

January 1, 2026 4:35 PM

Year-ender 2025: DIPAM strengthens public finances through higher CPSE dividends, disinvestment and capacity building

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) played a key role in strengthening public finances and enhancing value creation in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) during 2025, according to Finance Ministry's year-end review. Through effective capital management, strategic disinvestment and focused capacity-building initiatives, DIPAM continued to advance market-oriented reforms while boosting non-tax revenue for the government. Rising Dividend Receipts from CPSEs De...

December 12, 2025 1:41 PM

Skilled workforce and stronger small enterprises could drive major job growth in India: NCAER report

A new report by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has found that boosting workforce skills and improving the productivity of small enterprises could significantly accelerate job creation in India, helping sustain GDP growth of around 8% in the coming years. The study, “India’s Employment Prospects: Pathways to Jobs”, authored by Professor Farzana Afridi and her research team, was released on December 11 by NCAER Vice Chairman Manish Sabharwal. The report highlights...

August 28, 2025 4:44 PM

India launches bold reforms to offset global trade pressures: Finance Ministry

The resilience of India’s external sector has been a key factor in maintaining a stable macroeconomic environment amid a global trade landscape marked by tariff adjustments and rising uncertainty, the Finance Ministry said in its Monthly Economic Review. The report stated that India has introduced bold reforms to mitigate the impact of global shocks. Persistent challenges such as tariff-related uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions have affected global trade. ...

July 28, 2025 5:11 PM

With resilient Q1 growth, Indian economy ‘steady as she goes’ in FY26: Centre

The first quarter of FY26 presents a picture of resilient domestic supply and demand fundamentals. With inflation remaining within the target range and the monsoon progressing on track, the domestic economy enters the second quarter of FY26 on a relatively firm footing, according to the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Review for June 2025, released on Monday. The report adds that the economy gives the impression of being "steady as she goes" for the current fiscal year (FY26). India’s m...

July 15, 2025 1:31 PM

India’s average inflation falls 3% in 11 years of Modi government

India’s retail inflation has averaged around 5% over the last 11 years, showing a steady decline in recent months and reaching a more than six-year low of 2.1% in June 2025. According to data from the Finance Ministry, the average inflation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure stands at 5.1%, a significant drop compared to the 8.1% in the UPA regime. Between January 2012 and April 2014, during the UPA era, retail inflation remained above 9% for 22 out of 28 months. During its final...