News on Indian Economy
The new brand brings together a range of marine mobility systems, underwater electronics and diving equipment designed and developed in India, with several products shaped around requirements associated with the Indian Armed Forces. The launch marks an effort to build domestic capability in a segment where specialised equipment has traditionally depended heavily on foreign suppliers.
he technology reached its decisive milestone on May 29, 2023, when NVS-01, the first second-generation NavIC satellite, was launched carrying an Indian atomic clock for the first time. Subsequent in-orbit analysis showed that the indigenous clock’s performance was comparable with the imported clocks previously used by the programme.
A major feature of UnikExo is its modular design. BIRAC officially describes the platform as a modular wearable robotic exoskeleton combining robotics, sensor-based motion tracking and intelligent control. The configuration is intended to reduce infrastructure requirements and make robotic rehabilitation more accessible than many imported systems, some of which can cost ₹1.5–2 crore.
The underwater programme itself predates the latest disclosure. VEDA Aeronautics Managing Director Dipesh Gupta confirmed during Milipol India 2025 that the company was designing an underwater decoy for the Navy, with the longer-term objective of evolving the technology into a miniature underwater attack drone. The September 2026 update therefore provides fresh visibility to an existing development programme rather than marking its original launch.
The capability is particularly relevant to defence operations because modern battlefields increasingly feature electronic warfare systems designed to jam or spoof Global Navigation Satellite System signals.
The revision applies only to exports. The government has made it clear that there is no corresponding change in the existing excise duty on petrol and diesel supplied for domestic consumption, meaning the latest notification does not directly alter the central tax burden on fuel sold at Indian retail outlets.
The new GOBARdhan framework came into effect on September 1, 2026, and will operate through FY 2035-36. Administered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the ten-year programme is intended to increase India’s domestic compressed biogas production nearly tenfold while creating a commercially viable market capable of attracting large-scale private investment.
The Income Tax Department announced the record after the August 31 filing deadline, thanking taxpayers and tax professionals for completing their returns. The assessment year covers income earned during Financial Year 2025-26, from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
Indian manufacturers are expected to seek improved access for products such as automobiles, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, machinery, engineering goods and selected industrial products. These sectors are among India’s strongest export categories, but tariff barriers can significantly affect their competitiveness in foreign markets.
The government’s target of ₹3 lakh crore in annual defence production represents a substantial expansion from the current level. Moving from ₹1.78 lakh crore to ₹3 lakh crore would require an increase of more than ₹1.2 lakh crore over the next several years, making sustained serial production across multiple major programmes essential.
