MUMBAI: A structural shift is reshaping India’s microfinance sector, with regulated lenders displacing informal sources as borrowing from moneylenders fell to 1% in 2024–25 from 46% in 2011, according to a survey by Microfinance Industry Network and National Council of Applied Economic Research.The survey, which covered 10,342 borrowers across 10 states, shows a maturing market…
MUMBAI: Credit growth continued to outpace deposit mobilisation for Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India and IDFC FIRST Bank at the end of the March quarter, reflecting sustained loan demand in a tight liquidity environment.Punjab National Bank reported global advances of Rs 12,61,420 crore as of March 31, 2026, up nearly 13% year-onyear, while…
MUMBAI: India’s foreign exchange reserves fell sharply by $10.3 billion in the week ended March 27, 2026, taking the total to $688.1 billion, driven largely by a decline in foreign currency assets and gold holdings amid currency market intervention by RBI.The fall was led by foreign currency assets, which dropped by $6.6 billion. These assets,…
NEW DELHI: India’s vast informal manufacturing sector has seen jobs stay flat for nearly a decade, while the formal manufacturing sector has seen an increase, marking a sharp divergence in the growth trajectory of the two segments.An analysis of the latest unincorporated enterprises survey released last month showed that 3.5 crore people were employed in…
HYDERABAD: The Centre’s push to ensure 10,000 geographical indication (GI)-tagged products by 2030 seems to have moved into a higher gear, with the total number of GI applications finally crossing the 2,000 mark to reach 2,013 as on April 2, 2026.While Kashmir Kagzi Badam was the 2,000th application to be filed on April 2 this…
NEW DELHI: Fuel and raw material supply constraints, which have forced shutdowns in certain segments of manufacturing, especially small businesses, may hurt contractual and gig workers.Some signs of strain are visible in certain sectors, including steel, automotive, textiles, pharma, medical devices as fuel supply, input cost and availability (shortage) bite into operations, industry representatives and…
Pakistan will repay a $2 billion loan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of this month, a media report said on Friday.“The UAE recently asked for the immediate return of the funds in the wake of the recent situation in the Middle East following the US-Israel war on Iran,” sources told Geo…
NEW DELHI: Russia has offered to increase its supply of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India as the ongoing Middle East crisis adds volatility to the global energy market, reported PTI citing officials familiar with the discussions. The energy cooperation formed a key part of talks on Thursday between Russia’s first deputy…
Homesteading for Savings: 5 Ways Families Cut Costs and Boost Resilience With grocery bills climbing and household expenses stretching budgets thin, families are now turning to homesteading practices to cut costs and build financial resilience. Growing your own vegetables, raising backyard chickens and making homemade cleaning products are experiencing a surge in popularity as practical…
Pakistan has announced a sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices for the second time in less than a month, amid the ongoing Middle East war that has deeply impacted the global oil crisis.The latest hike is expected to worsen inflationary pressures and add to the economic burden on citizens already struggling with rising costs.The…