Business highlights

Following are the top business stories at 1850 hours:

DEL40 BIZ-2ND LD SURVEY Economy to rebound in FY20; 8 pc sustained growth needed to achieve USD 5 tn target: Survey

New Delhi: India's economic growth will rebound from a five-year low this year, but would need a huge boost in spending and reforms to accelerate higher rate of expansion to double the economy's size to USD 5 trillion by 2024-25, the pre-Budget Economic Survey said Thursday.

DEL11 ECO SURVEY-LD GROWTH Economic Survey pegs GDP growth at 7 pc in FY20

New Delhi: The government Thursday projected the country's GDP growth for 2019-20 at 7 per cent, up from five-year low of 6.8 per cent, on the back of anticipated pickup in investment and consumption.

DEL15 BIZ-SURVEY-INFLATION Economy moves to low level of inflation in last 5 fiscals: Eco Survey

New Delhi: The country's inflation rate has moved to a more stable and low level in the last five fiscals, and controlling price surge remains a key policy focus area of the government, the Economic Survey for 2018-19 said Thursday.

DCM25 BIZ-SURVEY-INFRA India must spend USD 200 bn on infra annually; harnessing pvt investment a challenge: Eco Survey

New Delhi: India needs to almost double its annual spending on infrastructure at USD 200 billion and the real challenge lies in harnessing private investment, said the Economic Survey 2018-19 tabled in Parliament on Thursday.

DEL46 BIZ-SURVEY-LD POPULATION Raise retirement age, merge schools as India ages fast: Eco survey

New Delhi: Sounding a note of caution, the Economic Survey Thursday said India is set to witness a sharp slowdown in population growth over the next two decades, and suggested raising retirement age and merging schools as there would be less children.

DEL39 BIZ-SURVEY-ECONOMYSIZE Indian economy grows to USD 2.75 trn in FY19 despite slowing global economy: Economic Survey

New Delhi: The size of Indian economy has grown to USD 2.75 trillion in 2018-19 from USD 1.99 trillion in 2015-16 even as global economy has faltered, according to the Economic Survey 2018-19.

DEL44 BIZ-RUPEE-CLOSE Rupee gains 39 paise to 68.50 a US dollar ahead of budget

Mumbai:The Indian rupee Thursday furthered its gains by another 39 paise to 68.50 a US dollar, tracking firmer emerging market currencies, lower crude oil prices, even as participants keenly awaited the Union Budget to be unveiled on Friday.

DEL38 BIZ-LD STOCKS Sensex, Nifty extend gains for 4th day; all eyes on Budget

Mumbai: Equity benchmarks ended on a positive note for the fourth straight session Thursday after the Economic Survey projected India's economic growth rebounding from a five-year low to 7 per cent this fiscal.

DEL43 BIZ-SURVEY-PIOUS OBLIGATION Invoke pious obligation doctrine to make people pay debts: Survey

New Delhi: Invoke the doctrine of "pious obligation" as well as blend principles of behavioural economics with spiritual norm to tackle tax evasion and wilful defaults, suggests the Economic Survey.

BCM10 BANK-FRAUDS Banks see whopping 73% spike in frauds at Rs 71,543 cr in FY19

Mumbai: Banks have reported a massive 73 per cent increase in incidents of fraud worth Rs 71,543 crore in FY19, a senior Reserve Bank official said Thursday.

DCM12 BIZ-SURVEY-SWACHHBHARAT Many states became open defecation free, achieved 100 pc toilet coverage since SBM launch: Survey

New Delhi: Many states have achieved 100 pc open defecation free status and individual household latrine coverage since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission, one of the largest cleanliness drives in the world, the Economic Survey 2018-19 said Thursday.

DCM37 BIZ-SURVEY-LD BANKS Bad loans fall in FY19; capital inflows constrained: Eco Survey

New Delhi: The performance of banking sector has improved as bad loans declined in the last fiscal, but financial flows are constrained due to fall in money raised from capital markets and stress in the non-banking financial sector, the Economic Survey said Thursday.

DEL24 BIZ-SURVEY-AGRI Eco Survey calls for new policies to improve water efficiency in farm sector

New Delhi: India's Met Department has projected less rains in some region which could affect the crop production in those areas, the Economic Survey said, and called for framing new policies to improve water use efficiency in the agriculture sector.