India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), climbed to a 20-month high of 4.8% in August 2026, pushed up mainly by rising food prices. Economists say the sharper reading strengthens the case for the Reserve Bank of India to raise its policy repo rate at its October review, potentially reversing the recent easing bias.
India and New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement will come into force on 20 October 2026, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced. Under the deal, New Zealand will eliminate tariffs on all goods imported from India, while India will remove or reduce duties on 95% of its current imports from New Zealand. India's dairy and other sensitive agricultural sectors have been protected from concessions.
The HinduS&P Global Ratings has raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2026-27 to 7%, up from its earlier estimate of 6.6%. The agency cited robust industrial activity, healthy consumption, strong goods exports and accelerating government investment, which lifted June-quarter growth above expectations. S&P also expects the Reserve Bank of India to raise interest rates this fiscal year, echoing recent upgrades by Moody's and Fitch.
LivemintIAS officer Mandeep Bhandari has been appointed Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). A 2001-batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, Bhandari has held several key administrative and leadership roles across Jammu & Kashmir and central government departments during his career. The appointment forms part of a wider reshuffle of senior officers announced by the government.
The HinduThe Indian Coast Guard ship Shaunak has set sail for Australia with officers from the QUAD countries on board, as part of a joint maritime engagement. The initiative aligns with the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement of 26 May 2026, which reaffirmed the grouping's commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Hindu