•The Indian government is preparing to allow the budget deficit to widen to 4.8% of GDP for the current fiscal year, exceeding the previous 4.3% target.
•India’s Finance Ministry reassured credit rating agencies that the fiscal deterioration is due to external geopolitical pressures rather than policy changes.
•The U.S. government identified 16 strategic minerals with zero domestic production, classifying the reliance on imports as a national security threat.
