India

India has announced an ambitious public–private partnership (PPP) investment pipeline valued at Rs 17 lakh crore, underscoring a renewed commitment to infrastructure-led economic expansion. The initiative aims to mobilize private capital across transport, energy, urban development, and social infrastructure, while easing the fiscal burden on public finances. By deepening private sector participation, policymakers expect to improve project execution, enhance efficiency, and unlock long-term value.

India’s residential real estate market witnessed a contrasting trend as housing sales softened while property prices continued to rise across the top eight cities. Moderating demand, affordability pressures, and selective buyer caution led to a dip in transaction volumes, even as strong input costs, limited premium inventory, and sustained end-user interest supported price appreciation. The divergence highlights a market transitioning from rapid post-pandemic expansion to a more balanced phase.

Gold prices surged to a fresh record of Rs 1,41,500 per 10 grams in Delhi, driven by strong global cues and heightened investor caution. The rally reflects growing demand for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical tensions, fluctuating currency markets, and expectations of monetary policy shifts by major central banks.

India’s economy is projected to grow at a robust 6.9% in fiscal year 2026-27, according to India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). The forecast reflects strong domestic consumption, sustained investment, and policy-driven support for infrastructure and manufacturing. Services, particularly IT and financial sectors, are expected to contribute significantly, while private consumption remains resilient amid moderating inflation. Ind-Ra highlights that fiscal prudence, favorable demographics, and targeted reforms will underpin growth momentum.

Gold and silver prices witnessed a notable rebound this week, fueled by geopolitical tensions in Venezuela and mixed economic data from the United States. Safe-haven demand surged as uncertainty in Venezuela raised fears of supply disruptions, while softer-than-expected U.S. inflation and employment indicators provided additional support for precious metals. Analysts suggest that these developments highlight the continued sensitivity of the gold and silver markets to global political events and macroeconomic indicators.

HDFC Asset Management Company has launched a Rs 2,500-crore private credit fund, marking a significant step in the evolution of India’s alternative investment landscape. The fund is designed to tap into the growing demand for structured credit solutions as traditional bank lending tightens and mid-sized enterprises seek flexible financing. By focusing on secured, yield-generating opportunities, the initiative underscores rising investor appetite for private credit as an asset class.

India’s Mission 100 Million Jobs represents one of the most ambitious employment-generation initiatives in the country’s modern economic history. Designed to address rising workforce participation and demographic pressures, the mission focuses on creating sustainable jobs across manufacturing, services, infrastructure, digital platforms, and green industries. By aligning policy reforms, private investment, skill development, and entrepreneurship, the initiative aims to convert economic growth into measurable employment outcomes.

India’s digital asset ecosystem entered a more regulated phase in 2024–25 as 49 cryptocurrency exchanges completed registration with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The milestone reflects the government’s intent to bring virtual digital asset platforms firmly within the country’s financial surveillance framework. Mandatory registration strengthens anti-money laundering safeguards, enhances transaction transparency, and aligns crypto businesses with compliance standards followed by traditional financial institutions.

Avenue Supermarts, which operates the D-Mart retail chain, reported a 13 percent year-on-year rise in revenue for the December quarter, with topline reaching Rs 17,612 crore. The performance reflects steady consumer demand, higher store footfalls, and disciplined expansion despite a challenging consumption environment. Growth was supported by mature store performance and incremental contribution from new outlets, even as margins remained under pressure from inflation and competitive pricing.

The Reserve Bank of India has reported that 98.41 percent of Rs.2,000 banknotes issued since their introduction have now been returned to the banking system, signaling the near-completion of the withdrawal exercise. The development reflects widespread public compliance and effective coordination across banks nationwide. Only a marginal portion of the high-denomination notes remains outside the system, largely due to logistical or individual delays.