IMF raises growth forecast for India; BJP's candidate list for Bihar polls

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY2025-26 to 6.6%, up from its earlier estimate of 6.4%, citing strong first-quarter performance that helped offset the impact of higher US tariffs on Indian goods. However, the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook lowered India’s 2026-27 growth projection to 6.2%. The revision comes amid ongoing trade tensions, with the US imposing 50% tariffs on several Indian exports, notably in the textile sector.

The BJP released its first list of 71 candidates for Bihar polls, featuring Deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, as Chirag Paswan’s influence within the NDA grows. The alliance has settled on a formula allotting 101 seats each to the BJP and JD(U), 29 to LJP (Ram Vilas), and six each to HAM and RLM, signalling a reduced role for the JD(U)