Current Affairs - Economy

SEBI proposed a uniform 30-day lag on sharing and using stock price data to ensure investor education remains informative without turning into investment advice. The move addresses concerns that very recent data could be misused, while excessively old data reduces educational value. By standardising the time lag, SEBI aims to strike a balance between data protection and relevance of learning material. The proposal also helps clearly distinguish education from advisory or research activities, which require stricter regulatory compliance. As India’s securities market regulator, SEBI plays a crucial role in protecting investors, ensuring transparency, and maintaining fairness in capital markets.

India’s fiscal deficit for April–November FY26 reached 62.3% of the full-year Budget Estimate, amounting to ₹9.77 trillion. This rise is attributed to a significant 28% increase in capital expenditure aimed at infrastructure development, while net tax revenue growth lagged, declining to 49.1% of the FY26 target. The fiscal deficit indicates the gap between government spending and receipts, highlighting the need for borrowing to meet expenditure. Front-loaded capital spending, slower revenue mobilization, and adjustments like IGST settlements contributed to this higher share, reflecting pressures on fiscal management and macroeconomic stability during the first eight months of the year.

The Index of Industrial Production recorded a growth of 6.7% in November 2025, which was the highest level seen in the past 25 months. This 6.7% expansion was mainly driven by a strong recovery in manufacturing and a sharp rise in capital goods output. Higher manufacturing activity reflected improved demand, increased production, and better capacity utilization. At the same time, strong capital goods growth indicated renewed investment momentum in the economy. Overall, the 6.7% IIP growth highlighted improving industrial health and strengthening economic resilience in India.

India achieved a major economic milestone in 2025 by becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy in nominal GDP terms. With a GDP valued at $4.18 trillion, India moved ahead of Japan, which had long been among the top global economies. This achievement reflects strong domestic consumption, sustained structural reforms, rising investment activity, and robust GDP growth rates. Accelerating quarterly growth and positive projections from international institutions further underline India’s economic momentum. Surpassing Japan also signals a broader shift in global economic power toward emerging economies and strengthens India’s role in global economic decision-making.+

India’s eight core industries registered an overall growth of 1.8% in November 2025, reflecting modest but steady industrial expansion. The growth was mainly driven by strong performance in construction-linked sectors such as cement and steel, along with positive contributions from fertiliser and coal production. However, declines in crude oil and natural gas output moderated the overall growth rate. Since these core industries account for over 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), their performance plays a crucial role in shaping broader industrial trends and indicates continued resilience in infrastructure-related economic activity despite challenges in the energy sector.