Daily News - Monday, 9 March 2026
Middle East Conflict Puts USD $11.8 Bilion Indian Agri Exports at Risk (Economic Times)
India’s agricultural exports worth USD $11.8 billion (≈ INR ₹980 billion) to West Asia are under threat due to the ongoing regional conflict, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). In 2025, West Asia accounted for 21.8% of India’s total agri exports, with key shipments including rice, bananas, onions, vegetables, pulses, nuts, coffee, tea, and spices. Rice faces the largest potential impact, with exports worth USD $4.43 billion (≈ INR ₹368 billion) to Gulf markets, representing 36.7% of India’s global rice exports, directly affecting farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Other major exports at risk include bananas (USD $396.5 million ≈ INR ₹33 billion), onions and garlic (USD $111 million ≈ INR ₹9.2 billion), tea (USD $410.1 million ≈ INR ₹34 billion), coffee (USD $240.7 million ≈ INR ₹20 billion), and processed food, sugar, and cocoa preparations (USD $1.35 billion ≈ INR ₹112 billion). Dairy exports worth USD $281.1 million (≈ INR ₹23 billion) and beverages worth USD $197.5 million (≈ INR ₹16 billion) are also vulnerable, with West Asia accounting for 28.9% of India’s dairy exports and 43.3% of beverage exports. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is monitoring the situation as shipping disruptions, rising insurance costs, and logistical uncertainty threaten farmers, food processors, and India’s broader agri-trade dependence on Gulf markets.
Indian Banking Sector Undergoes "Great Reset" With Foreign Entrants (Business Today)
India’s banking sector is undergoing a major transformation, driven by reforms from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and policy direction from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The RBI has permitted UAE’s NBD to acquire a controlling stake in RBL Bank and Japan’s SMBC to enter YES Bank, while MUFG and Mizuho Financial Group are investing in NBFCs like Shriram Finance and Avendus Capital. Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2026-27 announced a review panel to align banking with India’s USD $7-10 trillion (≈ INR ₹581-830 trillion) GDP target over the next decade, aiming to build globally competitive banks. According to S&P Global, only SBI (43rd) and HDFC Bank (73rd) ranked among the world’s top 100 banks by assets in 2025, underscoring the need for scale. The RBI has also introduced reforms such as easing M&A financing, adopting Expected Credit Loss (ECL) provisioning from FY27, and consolidating regulations, while Tier-1 capital of scheduled commercial banks has risen 3.2 times from INR ₹8T in 2016 to over INR ₹26T in 2026. The BT-KPMG Survey recognized ICICI Bank as Bank of the Year for the fifth consecutive time, while HSBC India and L&T Finance won multiple awards, and former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das received the Lifetime Achievement Award, highlighting the regulator’s central role in India’s financial reset.
Indian States spent only 51.8% of FY26 capex budget till January (Business Standard)
India’s states have spent only 51.8% of their FY26 capital expenditure (capex) budgets between April and January, according to data from the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA). This amounts to about INR ₹4.3 trillion (USD $52 Billion) out of the total INR ₹8.35 trillion (USD $100 Billion) allocation, reflecting sluggish infrastructure investment at the state level. In contrast, the Union government’s capex reached INR ₹8.4 trillion (USD $101 Billion) in the same period, maintaining momentum under the Ministry of Finance. The fiscal deficit stood at INR ₹9.81 trillion (USD $118 Billion), or 63% of the full-year target, compared to 74.5% utilisation last year, while the revenue deficit narrowed sharply to INR ₹1.96 trillion (USD $23.6 Billion), or 37.3% of the revised estimate. Seven major states Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh together spent INR ₹2.12 trillion (USD $25.5 Billion), showing only 1.5% year-on-year growth in capex. The Reserve Bank of India’s State Finances Report warns that weak state-level spending could undermine long-term infrastructure creation, even as the Centre plans to scale up capex to INR ₹12.2 trillion (USD $147 Billion)
EFTA Investments Begin Flowing Into India: Iceland Commits USD $30 Million (Economic Times)
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has begun channeling investments into India following the signing of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in March 2024. Iceland has announced a USD $30 million (≈ INR ₹2.5 billion) investment into a Maharashtra-based firm, marking the first major FDI inflow under the pact. The agreement, negotiated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aims to boost bilateral trade and attract USD $100 billion (≈ INR ₹8.3 trillion) in investments from EFTA countries over 15 years. EFTA members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are focusing on sectors such as pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, IT services, and manufacturing. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has highlighted that this investment signals confidence in India’s regulatory framework and growth prospects. Analysts note that the Icelandic investment is strategically aligned with India’s push for green technology and sustainable industrial growth, setting the stage for deeper European engagement in India’s economy.
