India seals deal to purchase Javelin anti-tank missile system from US

INDIA HAS finalised a deal to buy the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system from the United States. The Indian Army on Friday signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to buy the ordnance through the US Foreign Military Sales process.

FCNR(B) deposits push forex reserves to all-time high of $729 bn in August

THE RBI's concessional swap window for Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits has helped propel India's for-eign exchange reserves to a record high of $729.33 billion as on August 21. The FCNR (B) window has been operational since June 8.

Govt eases export SOP to help local defence firms tap global market

THE GOVERNMENT has introduced reforms aimed at reducing procedural requirements to allow the Indian defence industry easy access to the global market. In a statement Friday, the Ministry of Defence said it has simplified the defence export standard operating procedure (SOP) and the open general ex-port licence (OGEL) framework.

India, Kuwait hold inaugural key dialogue in Delhi to bolster defence ties

INDIA AND Kuwait on Friday held a key dialogue during which the two sides agreed to bolster bilateral defence cooperation across a wide range of areas, including training, mili-tary exercises, industry, and research and development.

Economy weathered West Asia shock. Now, reform for sustained growth

What's needed is for consumption and export growth rates to rise more structurally. The former is inextricably linked to the employment challenge

Problem with ethanol blending isn't sugar - it's reliance on grains; the way forward

INDIA'S ETHANOL blended petrol (EBP) programme was initiated primarily to benefit the sugar industry. For mills confronting stagnant sugar consumption demand amid rising production, ethanol created an additional revenue stream to enable them to make timely payments to cane farmers.

Industrial output up 6.7% in July, economy's strong start to FY27 continues

INDIA'S INDUSTRIAL sector maintained its strong start to 2026-27 despite the headwinds caused by the West Asia conflict, with its output rising 6.7% year-on-year in July, aided by robust double-digit growth in the production of capital goods.

This suggests investments were strong, a positive sign for the economy that has been waiting for the private sector capital expenditure cycle to take hold.

India, Canada aim to conclude trade talks by 2026-end

IN A bid to deepen bilateral economic and financial cooperation, India and Canada have said they are looking to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026 and initiate talks on a Bilateral Investment Treaty at the earliest.

Behind Nepal floods, rising risk of glacier collapse

THE FLASH floods that swept through parts of Nepal and Tibet this week have been attributed to a glacial collapse in the Himalayas. It sent ice and rock debris hurtling into the Lhende Khola and Bhote Koshi river system, event-ually reaching inhabited valleys. Generally, a glacial collapse refers to the sudden de tachment of a large mass of ice, rock and water from a glacier on a steep mountain slope. Geological factors like earthquakes, temperature changes, or other physi-cal changes unfolding within a glacier can influence such events.

PM visit to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic: Why Central Asia matters for India

PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi is headed to Central Asia over the weekend. He will be in Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 on a bilateral visit and in the Kyrgyz Re-public for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from August

31 to September 1.