Kautilya

India’s E-Retail Market Hits $66 Billion as Growth Picks Up Pace

A major feature of this growth has been the widening of India’s digital consumer base. The report says the country’s annual active online shopper base is now nearing 300 million, while the seller ecosystem has tripled over the past five years. Growth is also becoming less metro-centric: Tier-II and smaller cities accounted for around half of incremental online orders in 2025, showing that the next phase of e-retail expansion is being driven as much by Bharat as by big urban centres.

India Emerges as a Fast-Rising Electro-Tech Manufacturing Hub

The shift is already visible in India’s energy and transport mix. The WEF-published piece says solar now contributes about 9% of India’s electricity, while coal consumption per person remains far below China’s at a similar stage of development. In transport, electric passenger vehicles are nearing 5% of total sales, and electric three-wheelers account for almost 60% of the market, making India a global leader in that segment.

World Bank Raises India’s FY27 Growth Forecast to 6.6% Despite Global Headwinds

According to the World Bank’s latest India Development Update, India’s economy grew 7.6% in FY2025-26, up from 7.1% in FY2024-25, supported by robust domestic demand, low inflation, tax measures and relatively accommodative financial conditions. The report says India remained the fastest-growing major economy during FY26, with manufacturing and services providing much of the momentum.

India Wins Four UN ECOSOC Body Elections in Diplomatic Boost

Among the key outcomes, former senior diplomat Preeti Saran was re-elected in her personal capacity to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. India also won seats in the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Committee for Programme and Coordination.

CARI Bengaluru Becomes First CCRAS Institute to Secure ISO 15189:2022 Accreditation

The accreditation confirms that CARI Bengaluru’s clinical laboratory meets globally accepted standards for accuracy, safety, and reliability in medical testing. According to the Ministry of Ayush, the laboratory now holds NABL accreditation for 50 test parameters and provides a wide range of services, including blood glucose, HbA1c, liver and kidney function tests, lipid and thyroid profiles, electrolyte analysis, and complete blood counts.