ministry of statistics and programme implementation

The Central government will release unemployment figures monthly, starting May 15, covering January to March data initially. This initiative aims to increase the frequency and transparency of labour market data, a first for India. The government also plans to release private capital expenditure data by the end of April and expand data collection to include the service and informal sectors.

India's retail inflation hit a near six-year low of 3.34% in March, fueled by cheaper vegetables and protein-rich foods. This drop follows a recent repo rate cut by the RBI, which forecasts a 4% average CPI inflation for fiscal year 2025-26. Wholesale price inflation also decreased to a six-month low of 2.05%, driven by lower vegetable and essential food prices.

India's census of central government employees, a practice since 1960, has been stalled since 2011, despite its importance for welfare scheme planning. While employee numbers peaked in 1995 and later declined, women's representation steadily rose. The census, along with reports like the Employment Review, faces challenges with data collection and has been discontinued, raising concerns about informed policy-making.

India's IT hardware PLI scheme is boosting domestic laptop production as global brands partner with Indian manufacturers amid China-US trade tensions. Companies like Asus, MSI and HP are establishing or expanding local manufacturing, attracted by incentives.

Goa's government is set to conduct its first comprehensive survey of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), mirroring a similar initiative in Maharashtra. The survey aims to gather precise, geo-tagged data across all 21 disabilities recognized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission achieves a historic milestone. Turnover surpasses ₹1.70 lakh crore for the first time. Production and sales see significant growth over the past 11 years. Employment generation rises, benefiting nearly 2 crore individuals. Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme supports rural employment. Gramodyog Vikas Yojana receives increased funding. KVIC distributes machines and toolkits to boost micro-enterprises.

The UK government announced on Thursday it was lifting sanctions that were imposed on Syria's interior and defence ministries during the rule of the now-deposed Bashar al-Assad. "The following entries have been removed from the Consolidated List and are no longer subject to an asset freeze -- Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence," the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a notice.

A recent report highlights a significant increase in women's workforce participation in Gujarat between 2021-22 and 2023-24, particularly in rural areas. While rural women predominantly identify as self-employed, urban women are more likely to earn regular wages.