Daily News - Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Commerce Minister holds meeting on promoting foreign investment (Financial Express)
India is working to attract more foreign investment as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with key industry stakeholders to discuss how FDI and FII processes can be simplified so that money, technology, and innovation can enter the country more smoothly and support job creation and advanced sectors like defence. He stressed that the government is committed to making India an easier place to do business through deregulation, decriminalisation of outdated laws, and significant reductions in compliance burdens that often slow investors down. As part of this push, the government is preparing the third edition of the Jan Vishwas Bill to further decriminalise legal provisions after already passing the first version in 2023 and placing the second before Parliament, signalling a steady move toward a more investor friendly environment.
India’s space economy set to jump from $8 bn to $45 bn by 2035: Jitendra Singh (Financial Express)
India’s space economy is entering a rapid expansion phase, with Minister Jitendra Singh projecting that the sector will grow from eight billion dollars today to around forty five billion dollars within a decade thanks to recent reforms that have integrated space activity more fully into the national economy. The India International Space Conclave highlighted both technological momentum and public inspiration, especially as India celebrated the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station, whose achievement reinforced the sense that ambitious goals are now within reach for the country’s youth and scientific community. Industry leaders noted rising global interest in India’s space capabilities and said the coming year will bring multiple rocket and satellite missions, underscoring a vibrant ecosystem supported by government, private industry, and international partners.
‘Fair, equitable, balanced’: Piyush Goyal’s requirements from a trade deal with the U.S. (The Hindu)
India and the United States appear to be moving closer to a limited trade deal, with Minister Piyush Goyal emphasising that both countries are equally committed to expanding commerce but insisting that any agreement must be fair, equitable, and sensitive to India’s farmers, fishermen, and small industries. His remarks come as the first phase of a reciprocal tariff arrangement is reportedly nearing completion and as formal trade talks resume after a pause caused by the US decision to impose steep 50 percent tariffs on Indian imports. Goyal pointed to India’s new long term LNG import contract with the US as evidence of trust and growing economic ties, and suggested that once the final balance is achieved, the two sides could soon announce positive news on the trade front.
Russian oil cargoes race to India as sanctions deadline nears (The Economic Times)
India is facing a complicated situation as several tankers carrying millions of barrels of Russian crude from newly sanctioned suppliers are still en route and may reach its ports only after the US deadline, creating uncertainty over whether these shipments can be unloaded without triggering secondary sanctions. The pressure is growing because most Indian refiners have already pledged to halt purchases beyond November 21 while Washington continues urging New Delhi to reduce its dependence on Russian barrels that help fund the Ukraine war, yet some companies like Nayara and Indian Oil still rely heavily on these supplies and may be seeking quiet exemptions that have not been publicly confirmed. If the vessels do not arrive before the deadline, they might end up idling offshore while traders decide whether to attempt ship to ship transfers or divert the cargoes to alternative regions such as Malaysia or China, highlighting the wider impact of sanctions on India’s energy security and the global oil market shift.
