Budget 2026: Finance ministry address changed, but why budget printing still happens at North Block

The address of the finance ministry may have changed, but when it comes to guarding the country’s most closely held financial secret, tradition still holds firm on Raisina Hill.Even after the ministry’s move to the new Central Secretariat offices at Kartavya Bhawan last year, the printing of the Union Budget — among the most confidential…

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Trade data: Exports grow 1.9% in December despite global headwinds; trade gap edges up on higher imports

India’s merchandise exports rose 1.87% year-on-year to $38.5 billion in December 2025, even as higher imports led to a marginal widening of the trade deficit, official data released on Thursday showed, PTI reported.Imports increased 8.7% during the month to $63.55 billion, pushing the trade deficit to $25.04 billion in December. This compares with a deficit…

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India’s GCC momentum: No longer offshore units, they are growth and job creation engines — and why they can’t be ignored

India’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem is entering a decisive phase. Long seen as cost-efficient offshore back offices, GCCs are now becoming central to how global corporations build products, deploy technology and make strategic decisions. With evolving hiring patterns, and traditional IT services firms feeling the heat, the GCC story has moved well beyond topline…

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Budget 2026 expectations: Why India must put prevention at the centre of healthcare reform

Medical inflation is the most pressing concern at the moment. By Srikanth KandikondaAs India prepares for the Union Budget 2026-27, stakeholders across sectors are sharpening their focus on measures that can strengthen economic resilience and citizen welfare in the coming year. In the healthcare and insurance space, expectations are anchored in a sustained commitment to…

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