Govt extends RBI’s 4% retail inflation target framework till March 2031

The government on Wednesday extended the mandate for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to maintain retail inflation at 4 per cent, with a tolerance band of 2 percentage points on either side, for another five years ending March 31, 2031.The move continues the flexible inflation-targeting framework first introduced in 2016 and retained once earlier … Read more

India, Chile review progress in proposed trade pact talks ahead of WTO meet

India and Chile on Wednesday reviewed the progress of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), with both sides discussing ways to accelerate talks and deepen bilateral economic engagement, reported PTI.The issue came up during a meeting between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Chile’s Vice-Minister of International Economic Relations Paula Estevez Weinstein in Yaounde, … Read more

US stock markets today (March 25, 2026): S&P 500, Nasdaq & Dow rally over 1%; Brent crude slides on renewed hopes of Iran war pause

US stock markets jumped on Wednesday while oil prices declined as hopes resurfaced for a possible pause in the war with Iran, lifting investor sentiment across global financial markets.The S&P 500 rose 1.1% in early trading after the United States delivered a proposal to Iran aimed at halting the conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average … Read more

India should bring household gold stock into financial system, say experts

India must accelerate efforts to channel large household gold holdings into financial instruments, former Union minister P P Choudhary and senior market participants said, warning that continued physical hoarding limits the metal’s broader economic contribution, PTI reported.Speaking at an Assocham event, Choudhary, a member of the Parliamentary Standing Commission on Finance, said deeper financialisation of … Read more

Cabinet extends IVFRT 3.0 scheme for 5 years to make immigration faster, safer and more efficient

The Union Cabinet has approved continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) scheme for another five years from April 1, 2026, with a budget outlay of Rs 1,800 crore, in a move aimed at strengthening border management and improving services for legitimate foreign travellers, the government said.The extension — not a fresh … Read more

Stock Market Bank Holiday On Ram Navmi: Stock market holiday on March 26: Will NSE, BSE remain shut for trading on Ram Navmi?

March is inching closer to its end and many investors are concerned whether the stock market will remain closed on March 26 or March 27 on account of Ram Navmi. As per the Exchange’s official holiday calendar, Dalal Street is scheduled to remain closed on March 26 for the festival, offering participants an early pause … Read more

Gold price today (March 25, 2026): How much 24K and 22K gold cost in your city; check rates for Delhi, Mumbai & more

Gold futures traded higher on Wednesday tracking firm global cues and sustained buying interest in commodity markets. The overall tone in bullion remained positive as investors positioned ahead of key macroeconomic signals and currency movements.On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold contracts across near- and far-month expiries posted gains. The June contract was trading around … Read more

Amid US-Iran war, Nayara plans 35-day shutdown for maintenance; 8% of India’s refining capacity may take a hit

The company had postponed maintenance work at its 20 million tonnes-per-year Vadinar refinery in Gujarat. (AI image) Russia’s Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy is planning to halt operations for around 35 days starting early April, a move that could temporarily take nearly 8% of India’s refining capacity offline and tighten domestic fuel availability, according to people familiar … Read more

$20 billion bet: ONGC eyes its oil exploration programme with deep-water drilling rigs; eye on energy security

ONGC floated a tender for these rigs as it looks to accelerate hydrocarbon exploration under the government’s Samudra Manthan mission. (AI image) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation or ONGC is expected to spend about $18–20 billion on hiring deep-water drilling rigs for what could become its largest-ever oil exploration programme, according to people familiar with … Read more