News on Indian Economy
The latest state-wise data shows that Maharashtra, the country’s top producer, posted the sharpest increase, with output rising 23% to 9.92 million tonnes as of April 15, 2026, up from 8.06 million tonnes a year earlier. Karnataka, the third-largest producer, also recorded a strong gain, with production climbing 16.7% to 4.71 million tonnes from 4.04 million tonnes.
A quantum ecosystem is the full network that allows quantum science to grow into an industry. It includes universities doing advanced research, startups building hardware and software, large companies investing in use-cases, government funding and policy support, skilled talent pipelines, testing and fabrication infrastructure, and real-world sectors such as defence, healthcare, finance and communications that can use quantum technologies.
The newly notified SEZ marks an important milestone in India’s push to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem. According to the government, the Dholera unit will function as an AI-enabled semiconductor fabrication facility, supported by enabling infrastructure and a dedicated approval mechanism aimed at streamlining operations and logistics.
The official figures show that merchandise exports in FY26 stood at US$441.78 billion, while services exports were estimated at US$418.31 billion. On the import side, total goods and services imports rose to US$979.40 billion, leaving India with an overall trade deficit of US$119.30 billion, wider than the US$94.66 billion gap recorded in FY25.
The latest figures suggest that India’s trade relationship with China is growing in scale, but in a highly uneven manner. Reports citing the data said India’s exports to China rose to roughly US$19.47 billion, while imports from China climbed to around US$131.63 billion during the fiscal year.
The growth is being driven by three reinforcing trends: cheap mobile data, rising smartphone penetration, and heavier digital-content consumption. India’s telecom base remains one of the biggest structural supports for OTT expansion.
The domestic market is also expanding in value. According to data cited by GJEPC from the De Beers study, India’s natural diamond jewellery market was officially estimated at ₹785 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach ₹1,520 billion by 2030, implying a 12% compound annual growth rate. The same study says the addressable market already includes 67 million women across SEC A and B households in Tier 1 to Tier 5 cities, with average spending per diamond piece at roughly ₹1.4 lakh.
The pitch for a new scheme comes after the first smartphone PLI delivered results well above its original targets. The Ministry of Electronics and IT said on April 1, 2026 that the PLI scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (LSEM) had achieved ₹17,519 crore in investment against a target of ₹7,000 crore, ₹11,01,813 crore in production against a target of ₹8,12,550 crore, and ₹6,20,974 crore in exports against a target of ₹4,87,530 crore by February 2026.
EVs accounted for 21% of its 2025 India sales and 26% of its Q1 2026 sales, while the company reported more than 70% share of India’s luxury EV segment in the first quarter. This suggests that the future expansion of the luxury market in India may be increasingly tied to electrification, not just conventional premium sedans and SUVs.
India’s mutual fund industry closed FY26 on a stronger footing, with total assets under management
