Category Public Finances and Macroeconomics

WhatsApp Image 2026 09 12 at 11.34.52 PM

Banking BHASHINI: Assessing Algorithmic Inclusion in Rural Credit Underwriting Markets

Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Agriculture, Food, Nutrition Security and Rural Development, Policy Update, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

India's financial inclusion landscape is undergoing a structural paradigm shift, transitioning from expanding basic brick-and-mortar banking access to deploying an intelligent, real-time digital public ecosystem. Traditionally, financial inclusion has been defined as the process of ensuring access to financial services, with timely, adequate, and affordable credit, primarily for vulnerable populations and low-income groups. However, actualizing this definition in rural credit markets has historically been hindered by two structural barriers: a lack of verifiable credit histories among thin-file borrowers and the linguistic exclusion of regional-language-speaking communities.

IMPRI Desk
September 12, 2026

WhatsApp Image 2026 09 12 at 11.22.28 PM

Mapping the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): Policies, Schemes and Initiatives

Policy Update, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Public Finances and Macroeconomics, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) came into being as an independent Ministry on 15 October 1999, formed by merging the erstwhile Department of Statistics with the Department of Programme Implementation. Its statistical lineage traces back to foundational institutions conceptualized by P.C. Mahalanobis is regarded as the architect of India's statistical system who established the National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1950, followed by the creation of the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in 1951.

IMPRI Desk
September 12, 2026

Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Scheme (2024): Clearing India’s Income Tax Litigation Backlog

Policy Update, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

The Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024 was introduced by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2024-25 held on 23 July 2024. The Scheme was later put into law through Chapter IV which contains Sections 88 to 99 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024. The rules and forms for this scheme were issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes on 20 September 2024, and it came into force on 1 October 2024. As per Circular No. 19 of 2024 of CBDT, the objective of this Scheme is to bring down the pendency of cases relating to income tax, faster realization of revenue for the government and providing relief to taxpayers from protracted legal process (Central Board of Direct Taxes, 2024).

IMPRI Desk
September 12, 2026

WhatsApp Image 2026 09 09 at 11.07.34 PM

The 2026 Fiscal Framework of Credit Cards under India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)

Policy Update, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

Over the past decade, India’s integration with the global digital economy has driven a rapid increase in foreign currency transactions by resident individuals. From overseas education expenses and international business travel to cross-border e-commerce subscriptions, resident taxpayers rely on a multi-tiered array of foreign exchange instruments. Historically, outward remittances and foreign currency expenditures have been governed by the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), which establishes an annual permissible cap of USD 250,000 per financial year for resident individuals.

IMPRI Desk
September 11, 2026

Financializing India’s Gold: An Empirical Audit of GMS and SGB Frameworks

Policy Update, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

India’s macroeconomic relationship with gold represents a complex intersection of socio-cultural security, retail asset preservation, and structural trade vulnerability. Privately held gold across Indian households and religious institutions is estimated to be between 25,000 and 28,000 tonnes.

IMPRI Desk
September 8, 2026

Capital Deepening vs. Total Factor Productivity under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0

Policy Update, Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Public Finances and Macroeconomics

The evolution of India's technology policy reached a turning point with the transition from the foundational phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 1.0) to the expanded mandate of ISM 2.0. Launched in December 2021 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) with a capital corpus of ₹76,000 crore , the program addressed physical deficits in domestic electronics manufacturing.

IMPRI Desk
September 8, 2026

WhatsApp Image 2026 09 08 at 4.42.50 PM 1

The ₹10,000 Crore SME Growth Fund & MSME Credit Assessment Model: Building Risk Capital and Dismantling Collateral Bottlenecks for Micro-Enterprises

Policy Update, Center for the Study for Finance and Economics, Public Finances and Macroeconomics, Public Policies, Programs and Schemes

The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector represents the foundational engine of India's macroeconomic growth, industrial development, and employment landscape. According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, MSMEs contribute approximately 31.1% of India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 35.4% of manufacturing output, and 48.58% of national exports, while supporting the livelihoods of over 32.82 crore people across more than 7.47 crore enterprises.

IMPRI Desk
September 8, 2026