Retail inflation: The jump in inflation was due to a rise in food prices as food inflation came in at 9.53 per cent in December

The reserves witnessed the steepest decline in nearly five months, falling $5.9 billion for the reported week, following a cumulative increase of $32.9 billion in the preceding seven weeks

According to available government data, exports from Rajasthan touched Rs 70,000 crore in the 2022-2023. Trade pundits expect it to reach Rs 80,000 crore in 2023-2024

While income taxes and corporate taxes are expected to grow at around 15 per cent in FY25, the government is likely to lower its target for disinvestment in the next fiscal year

Britain's economy struggled to gain momentum in 2023, as households were squeezed by rapid inflation and the highest Bank of England (BoE) interest rates in 15 years

Interim Budget 2024: The Centre will keep a focus on increasing the capital expenditure but it will most likely be at a slower pace than earlier, says Goldman Sachs

Analysts also anticipate that interest rates will drop at least 1.5 percentage points in the United States and Europe this year, which should improve demand for imported goods

Das says cybersecurity threat remains a major challenge

There is a need to rationalise customs duties particularly in those sectors which are growing at a healthy pace for the last several decades, an official said on Thursday. The official, however, said that providing a protection of high duty is required for the infant domestic industry. "But if the industry is 40-50 years old and has developed, has good competition, good investments and if they are globally known, then they should also be competing with the global firms," the official argued. Normally, customs duties or tariffs are used as a policy tool to ensure a higher level of protection for certain sectors to boost domestic manufacturing. These remarks assume significance as there is demand from countries which are negotiating free-trade agreements with India to cut down import duties in sectors such as auto and alcoholic beverages. Overall duties in certain segments are up to 150 per cent like alcoholic beverages. "There is a need for balancing in the duty structure. One cou