A country can be growing fast and still have things to worry about.
India entered the world's top five digital economies this week, while new tech initiatives emerged from the Northeast and athletes delivered on the international stage.
Yet economists are once again watching three familiar variables: oil prices, inflation, and the monsoon.
Here's what caught our attention.
Science
💊 New Drug Doubles Survival in Pancreatic Cancer
A new experimental drug, daraxonrasib, has shown early results that nearly double survival time compared to chemotherapy. Patients lived around 13+ months vs under 7 months on chemo in early trials.
How It Works: The drug targets RAS proteins, which drive pancreatic cancer growth by staying permanently “on.” Daraxonrasib blocks this signal by binding with a helper protein, slowing tumor growth in a new way.
Why It Matters: While not a cure, experts call it a major step forward. Pancreatic cancer is often detected late, has low survival rates, and few treatment options so even extra months of life and a new treatment pathway are significant.
Economy
India’s economy faces three big tests
Three risks could test India’s economy next
According to the Department of Economic Affairs’ Monthly Economic Review for May, India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, supported by strong domestic demand, easing inflation, and steady public investment.
But the report flags three key risks:
Oil prices: Any escalation in West Asia could push up crude prices, making fuel, transport, and imported goods more expensive.
Food inflation: A weaker-than-expected monsoon could affect crop output and put pressure on food prices.
Global uncertainty: Trade tensions and geopolitical conflicts continue to cloud the outlook for exports and investment.
Despite global uncertainty, the review finds India's growth outlook remains relatively strong. Read More
Why it matters: Oil prices and monsoon rainfall have shaped some of India's biggest inflation spikes in the past. If either turns unfavourable, the effects can ripple through fuel costs, food prices, and interest rates.
India & the World
India enters the top 5 digital economies
India has been ranked the 5th most digitalised economy globally, according to a new report by the State Bank of India (SBI).
The ranking reflects the rapid adoption of digital public infrastructure, including UPI, Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and direct benefit transfers, which have transformed everything from payments to public service delivery.
The report notes that India's digital ecosystem now processes billions of transactions annually, with UPI alone handling over 18 billion transactions a month.
India now ranks behind only a few countries, despite serving one of the world’s largest populations. Read More
From the edges
Tripura bets on digital governance Officials and policymakers gathered in Agartala for the Tech Saksham workshop, which focused on strengthening digital governance and improving the delivery of public services through technology-driven solutions.
Mizoram launches MizoTaxi app The Mizoram government has launched MizoTaxi, a state-backed ride-booking platform designed to ensure government-approved fares and bring greater transparency to local transport services.
Sports
India shines at Asian U-20 Athletics Championships India continued its strong showing at the Asian U-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, taking its medal tally to eight medals and moving to second place in the overall standings.
Sumit Antil sets another world record Paralympic champion Sumit Antil broke his own world record in the men's F64 javelin event, crediting Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra for helping him refine his technique and mindset.
Also Read
Assam became the first Northeastern state to pass a Uniform Civil Code bill, with the opposition alleging it reflects the BJP's political agenda. Read More
The United Nations has lowered India's 2026 GDP growth forecast to 6.4%, while still projecting it to remain among the world's fastest-growing major economies. Read More
Rahul Gandhi's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "supervised" the NEET paper leak sparked a fresh political confrontation, drawing a sharp response from the BJP. Read More
New carbon disclosure rules and sustainability mandates are pushing ESG compliance higher on the agenda for Indian businesses, industry experts said. Read More
The Centre has exempted cotton imports from basic customs duty until October 30, aiming to ease supply constraints and support the textile sector. Read More
🌱Some of India's most significant changes are becoming visible - not because they happened overnight, but because they have been building for years.
What happens next may depend as much on resilience as on ambition.
