The Reserve Bank is expected to keep the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25% in its April monetary policy review, as rising inflation risks linked to the Middle East crisis cloud the outlook, according to a poll of economists cited by PTI.Geopolitical tensions, volatile commodity prices and sharp currency movements — with the rupee hitting record lows — have complicated the policy trajectory, with economists closely watching the central bank’s projections on growth, inflation and policy stance.“Given the uncertainty around crude oil prices and geopolitical developments, the RBI is likely to remain on pause in the April policy and closely monitor incoming inflation data before taking any further action,” said Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA, PTI quoted.SBI’s chief economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh said the central bank will be cautious in communicating its decision. “India is not unscathed from the current crisis and is feeling the mercury rising. Rupee is already hovering above 93 per dollar, and crude oil is adamant above USD 100 per barrel, resulting in a jump in imported inflation across states,” he said, adding that the projected “super El Nino” will also put pressure on inflation.Dipti Deshpande, principal economist at Crisil, said under the base case scenario where inflation remains close to the MPC’s target, the central bank may look through the supply shock and keep rates unchanged.The RBI has already cut the repo rate by 1.25% since last February, but has maintained status quo in its August, October and February 2026 policy reviews.The six-member Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled to begin its April meeting on Monday, with the final decision expected on Wednesday.Economists noted that although retail inflation has eased closer to the RBI’s medium-term target of 4%, the recent spike in crude oil prices has raised concerns over second-round effects on domestic prices, especially in fuel, transport and core inflation components.Estimates suggest that every USD 10 per barrel increase in crude prices could push inflation up by as much as 0.60%. Crude prices have surged from around USD 60 per barrel to over USD 100 since the conflict began in late February. The rupee has also weakened by more than 4% during this period, adding to imported inflation pressures.“We do not expect any change in repo rate or stance this time. The tone will be cautious, and what will be eagerly awaited is the RBI’s forecast of GDP and inflation under the prevailing uncertainty,” said Bank of Baroda chief economist Madan Sabnavis.HDFC Bank principal economist Sakshi Gupta said a rate move based on short-term developments may not be prudent given ongoing volatility in global commodity markets. “The central bank would prefer to wait for clearer signals on the inflation trajectory,” she said.Economists indicated that the RBI may revisit its inflation and growth projections in the upcoming review to reflect evolving global risks, with a possibility of upward revision in inflation forecasts if crude prices remain elevated.Given the current scenario, the policy focus is expected to shift towards inflation management rather than growth support.“While domestic growth conditions remain supportive, the persistence of global uncertainties could weigh on exports and investment activity, requiring the RBI to maintain policy flexibility,” said a treasury official at a private sector bank.The central bank is also likely to retain its neutral stance, signalling flexibility amid uncertain inflation dynamics and global developments. Liquidity conditions, transmission of past rate changes, financial market stability, currency movements, capital flows and bond market dynamics are expected to remain key considerations for policymakers.

India’s television market is headed for new challenges as manufacturers face rising input costs and shifting consumer demand patterns that are beginning to affect sales momentum. Industry players are facing a sharp escalation in the cost of key components such as memory chips (RAM), alongside higher plastics prices and increased ocean freight charges. These freight pressures have been linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. At the same time, depreciation of the rupee has added further burden to production expenses, pushing up retail prices of television sets across categories.Amid these pressures, several manufacturers have adopted different pricing strategies, with some absorbing part of the cost increases and others avoiding full pass-through to consumers in a bid to retain their share in India’s intensely competitive TV market.However, the rising price environment is beginning to influence buyer behaviour. Consumers are delaying purchases, and industry participants are reporting early indications of downtrading, where customers opt for lower screen sizes to manage budgets.“There will be a shift in the purchase of TV screen sizes. If a consumer is looking to buy a 55-inch screen size television, they might opt for a 50-inch screen size model instead. Consumers who were considering a 65-inch screen size TV are now settling for a 55-inch screen size,” said Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL) Director and CEO Avneet Singh Marwah, whose company holds brand licences for Thomson, Kodak and Blaupunkt among others.He added that pricing has moved up significantly over the past six months, noting that an entry-level 32-inch television, which had previously fallen to around Rs 9,000, is now being sold at about Rs 11,000.Despite the pressure on demand, financing options continue to provide some support to the market. Haier India President NS Satish said that instalment-based purchasing is helping maintain demand, particularly for larger screens.“Almost 50 per cent of our business happens on EMI,” he said, pointing out that even a price increase of around Rs 5,000 only adds a few extra monthly instalments. “When EMI is there, an additional hike of around Rs 5,000 is just three additional instalments,” he said.Satish noted that while some consumers are still upgrading to bigger televisions by opting for higher EMIs, a section of buyers is shifting towards smaller screen sizes due to affordability concerns. He also said companies have not fully passed on cost increases to consumers, with current pricing levels now close to pre-GST reform figures.According to Counterpoint Research, India’s television market is expected to see a slowdown in demand, with shipments projected to decline 5–6 per cent in Q1 and 3–5 per cent in Q2 of 2026. The pressure is being driven by rising RAM costs, freight disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions, and the impact of rupee depreciation on import-linked expenses.Anshika Jain, Principal Analyst at Counterpoint Research, said brands with integrated supply chains, such as Samsung, are better positioned to manage these cost pressures. She added that consumers are currently prioritising essential spending and postponing discretionary purchases like televisions.However, she ruled out a widespread downgrade trend in screen sizes, noting that while some downtrading is visible, the premium segment, especially 45 inches and above, remains steady, supported by EMI options that ease affordability.Jain also said the market could see a modest recovery during the festive season in the second half of the year, with larger screen sizes of 55 inches and above continuing to gain traction over the longer term as upgrade cycles gradually evolve.

NEW DELHI: With 11 needed off the final over, Riyan Parag took a gamble against Gujarat Titans. Despite having one over left from Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, and even two overs from Ravindra Jadeja, Parag turned to Tushar Deshpande – and the move paid off. The bowler delivered under pressure as Rajasthan Royals cruised to their second successive win, defeating the Shubman Gill-led side by six runs in a thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan believes the bold calls at the death will significantly boost Parag’s confidence as a leader.Parag first entrusted Jofra Archer with the 19th over before handing the final one to Deshpande.“This was the best game of the season so far. It was very important for Rajasthan that Riyan Parag commands that respect while leading the side,” Pathan said on JioStar.“He made that difficult call in the last over, and that decision went in favour of Rajasthan, which will give him a lot of confidence as a leader. He went to Jofra Archer to bowl that 19th over, and generally, you go with your more experienced bowler in the penultimate over.”Archer justified the move with a superb over, conceding just four runs and tightening the screws on Gujarat’s chase. Deshpande then held his nerve to defend 10 runs in the final over as Rajasthan Royals edged past Gujarat Titans by six runs.