India’s March Crude Oil Imports Lowest in 5 Years as West Asia Conflict Chokes Key Transit Route
India’s crude oil imports fell to 18.9 million tonnes in March, the lowest level in five years, as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted about 30 % of cargoes that normally transit the route. Imports dropped 2.6 % month‑on‑month and 17 % year‑on‑year, marking the third consecutive month of decline. To compensate, India increased purchases of Russian crude at sea after a U.S. sanctions waiver, while Venezuelan supplies also rebounded. Regional oil inventories shrank sharply, reflecting tighter demand across Asia‑Pacific.
Attack on Indian-Flagged Ships Heighten Uncertainty over Hormuz Passage and Trade Flows
Recent attacks on Indian‑flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have reignited concerns over safe passage for India’s oil imports and broader maritime trade. Prior to the crisis, roughly 2.5‑2.7 million barrels per day of Arabian crude traversed the strait, making...
Morbi’s Ceramic Industry Restarts on Expensive PNG; Units Raise Prices by 40%
Morbi, which produces over 80% of India’s ceramic tiles and represents a ₹65,000‑crore ($7.8 billion) industry, is cautiously restarting as 250‑300 units resume operations using expensive piped natural gas (PNG). Gujarat Gas raised PNG rates from ₹41.5 ($0.50) to ₹73 ($0.88)...
Cabinet Nod for Continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III Till March 2028
The Union Cabinet approved extending the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY‑III) to March 2028, raising its outlay to ₹83,977 crore (about $10.1 bn). The extension also pushes completion of hilly‑area bridges to March 2029, allowing pending projects to be...
Cabinet Extends PMGSY-III Till 2028; Outlay Raised to ₹83,977 Crore
The Union Cabinet approved extending the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana‑III (PMGSY‑III) to March 2028, raising its budget to ₹83,977 crore (approximately $10.1 billion). The extension also pushes bridge completion in hilly regions to March 2029 and allows pending projects slated before 31 Mar 2025 to...
Godrej Agrovet Unveils Disha Programme to Empower Women in Agri Sector
Godrej Agrovet has launched Disha, a women‑focused career accelerator for BSc Agriculture and allied graduates, unveiled at its third Women in Agriculture Summit. The CSR‑driven programme, delivered with 1M1B Foundation and Ikka Learning Foundation, equips participants with sales, communication and...
Building Circularity at Scale: How Beverage Bottlers Are Powering India’s Recycling Ecosystem
India’s non‑alcoholic beverage market, worth about $15 billion in 2024, is set to grow at a 7.36 % CAGR through 2030, driving consumption of 250‑300 million plastic bottles daily. The government’s updated Plastic Waste Management Rules impose Extended Producer Responsibility and a 40 %...
Grain Economics of Whisky: How Barley, Water and Volatility Are Reshaping India’s Single Malt Playbook
India’s single‑malt whisky sector is moving beyond novelty by leveraging its native six‑row barley and diverse mineral water sources. The high diastatic power of six‑row barley ensures stable starch conversion even under climate‑driven crop variability, while contract‑farming partnerships improve kernel...
India’s Protein Revolution: Why Dairy Still Holds and Advantage over Alternatives
India’s protein market, worth $1.6 billion in 2026, is projected to exceed $2.2 billion by 2030 as rising incomes and health awareness drive demand. Despite this growth, roughly 73 % of the population remains protein‑deficient, creating a sizable consumption gap. Dairy retains a...
From Farm to Fashion: Why India’s Textile Future Begins in the Fields
India’s textile sector, a historic global powerhouse, now leverages Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 5F vision—Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign—to create a fully integrated value chain. The government’s PM MITRA mega‑textile parks and a Production...
West Asia Conflict Hits India’s Seafood Exports to Gulf Nations
The escalation of the West Asia conflict has virtually halted India’s seafood shipments to Gulf markets, wiping out roughly 90% of exports to the region. Industry estimates place the value of these exports at $240‑$300 million, about 3‑4% of India’s total...
India's First Maritime-Focused Lender Eyes $1 Billion FY27 Fundraise
India's first maritime‑focused NBFC, Sagarmala Finance Corp., plans to raise up to ₹10,000 crore (about $1.08 billion) in FY27 to expand lending for ports, shipbuilding and waterways. The fundraise will combine bonds, term loans and foreign‑currency borrowings, with the first bond issue...
Maize Prices Crash Below MSP in Telangana; Farmers Want State Govt to Procure Produce
Maize prices in Telangana have fallen to ₹1,600‑₹1,800 per quintal, well under the government‑set minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,400. Farmers allege a loss of roughly ₹641 per quintal and are demanding that the state open procurement centres to buy...
India’s Share of Global GDP Projected to Hit 7% by 2050: McKinsey
McKinsey projects India’s share of global GDP to climb from 3.7% in 2025 to 7% by 2050, underscoring the country’s rising economic clout. Private‑capital deployment surged to $44 billion in 2025, more than doubling its share of GDP to 1.42% over...
Singapore Airlines CEO Meets Tata Sons Chairman Chandrasekaran
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong met Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and senior Tata executives in Mumbai to discuss the struggling Air India, in which Singapore Airlines owns a 25.1% stake. The talks come as Air India reports a...
NSRCEL, Pernod Ricard India Foundation Conclude 3rd Cohort of Circular Economy Incubation Programme
NSRCEL, the IIM Bangalore incubator, and Pernod Ricard India Foundation have wrapped up the third cohort of their Circular Economy Incubation Programme. The initiative disbursed roughly ₹95 lakh (about $115,000) in grant funding to ten startups focused on climate‑smart agriculture, plastic and glass...
Northern Railway to Operate Regular Delhi-Kashmir Parcel Train Service From April 17
Northern Railway will launch a regular Delhi‑Kashmir parcel train on April 17, operating a trial service until May 31 before deciding on permanent status. The Joint Parcel Product‑Rapid Cargo Service runs between Adarsh Nagar in Delhi and Budgam in central Kashmir, using eight...
ITC Becomes First in India to Get FSA 3.0 Certification for Wheat and Paddy
ITC Ltd has become the first Indian company to secure the globally recognised Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA 3.0) certification for its wheat and paddy operations. The certification spans more than 22,000 acres across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, engaging roughly 3,500 farmers...
Polavaram Project: Construction of ECRF Dam to Be Be Completed by March 2028
The earth‑cum‑rock‑filled (ECRF) dam of Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram Multipurpose Irrigation project is slated for completion by March 2028, according to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The initiative has already absorbed roughly ₹27,089 crore (about $3.3 billion) in spending, with an additional ₹5,000 crore ($610 million)...
Govt Enhances C3, C4 Allocation for Pharma, Packaging Chemical Sectors to 1,000 Tonnes/Day
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has increased the daily allocation of C3 (propane) and C4 (butanes/butenes) streams to 1,000 tonnes for critical sectors such as pharmaceuticals, packaging and polymers. The boost represents a 25% rise from the initial...
Telangana Launches Project Sanjeevani for Integrated Trauma Care on Highways
Telangana launched Project Sanjeevani, a pilot integrated trauma‑care and highway‑rescue system on a 251‑km stretch of NH‑44 between Hyderabad and Adilabad. The initiative, part of the ‘Arrive Alive’ Road Safety Week and the 99‑Day Action Plan, is being implemented by...
TRI Launches Agri-Voltaic Project to Help Farmers Earn Double Income
Transform Rural India (TRI) has rolled out an agrivoltaic micro‑grid program in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, letting farmers generate solar power while cultivating crops on the same land. A 43‑kilowatt system now powers ten irrigation pumps across 100 acres, serving...
Temperatures May Trend up over North-West, Central India Until Weekend
The India Meteorological Department warned of a four‑to‑five‑day spell of rising temperatures across north‑west and central India as an anticyclone‑driven heat engine returns. Meanwhile, pre‑monsoon showers are forecast for the north‑east and hill regions, with isolated activity over Gujarat and...
India Inc Bets on Mid-Level Talent; Expects Moderate Salary Hikes: Report
India Inc is shifting hiring focus to mid‑level talent, with 49% of surveyed firms prioritising these roles for 2026‑27. Salary increases are expected to remain moderate, largely in the 5‑10% range, while 34% of organisations anticipate hikes above 10%. Attrition...
Maharashtra: Marathi Mandatory for Rickshaw and Taxi Drivers From May 1
From May 1, Maharashtra will require every licensed rickshaw and taxi driver to demonstrate basic reading and writing skills in Marathi. The Motor Transport Department will conduct a statewide inspection through its 59 regional offices, and drivers who fail the test...
India’s Soyabean Imports Surge to 3.09 Lakh Tonnes During Oct-Mar 2025-26 Oil Year
India’s soybean imports have surged to 3.09 lakh tonnes (≈309,000 t) in the Oct‑Mar 2025‑26 oil year, up sharply from just 0.02 lakh tonnes a year earlier. The rise reflects tighter domestic supply, with projected output falling to 110.26 lakh tonnes (≈11.0 Mt), a 14%...
India’s Strong Fundamentals to Cushion Oil Shock, Growth May Slow up to 80 Bps: S&P Global Ratings
S&P Global Ratings says India’s solid macro and financial fundamentals will cushion a sustained oil price shock, but growth could decelerate by as much as 80 basis points if Brent averages $130 per barrel in 2026. In a stress scenario,...
PM Modi Says Parliament Set to Amend Women’s Reservation Act for 2029 Rollout
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India’s Parliament will amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Act to enable a 2029 rollout of women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The amendment, slated for a special three‑day sitting from April 16‑18,...
France, UK to Lead Multinational Mission to Restore Navigation in Strait of Hormuz: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom will co‑lead a multinational, strictly defensive mission to restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative will convene a conference in the coming days with nations ready...
From Diesel to Daylight: How Government Solar Schemes Are Powering India’s Farmers
India’s PM‑KUSUM program, launched in 2019, is converting diesel‑run irrigation pumps to solar, with a central allocation of roughly $4.2 billion targeting 34.8 GW of capacity. By February 2026, more than 12 GW of solar pumps and rooftop systems were installed, reaching over 2 million...
The Next Energy Leap: Replicating Ethanol’s Success in Diesel
India is turning to bio‑isobutanol to replicate ethanol’s blending success in its diesel sector. Earlier biodiesel pilots with jatropha, used‑cooking‑oil and ethanol‑diesel blends faltered due to storage, flash‑point and supply challenges. Bio‑isobutanol can be derived from the same sugarcane feedstock...
Govt Defers Power Plant Maintenance for Three Months; Ready for Summer Demand
India’s Power Ministry has postponed scheduled maintenance at thermal power plants, freeing roughly 10,000 MW of capacity for the April‑June 2026 summer peak. The move is designed to offset an estimated 8,000 MW shortfall from gas‑based generators strained by West Asian supply...
West Asia Conflict: LPG Usage at 21-Month Low in March
India’s LPG consumption plunged 15.7% in March to 2.38 million tonnes, the lowest level in 21 months, as the West Asia conflict disrupted imports that transit the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, diesel and petrol demand surged to record...
E-Way Bill Generation Surged All Time High of over 14 Crore in March
India's GST Network reported a record 14.06 crore e‑way bills generated in March 2026, surpassing the previous high of 13.84 crore. The surge is attributed to year‑end stock clearance, the rollout of Form ENR‑03 allowing unregistered traders to file bills, and heightened...
Cotton Prices Firm up Tracking Global Prices
Cotton prices in India firmed above the ₹60,000 per candy (~$720) threshold for the first time this season, mirroring a rise in ICE futures that reached 73 cents per pound. The Cotton Corporation of India lifted the minimum support price...
Corn Prices Poised to Fall on Iran-US Ceasefire Pact
Corn prices have slipped to a four‑week low as the US‑Iran cease‑fire removes the immediate threat of nitrogen‑fertilizer disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts at BMI, a Fitch Solutions unit, lifted their 2026 average CBOT corn forecast to 458.2 cents...
Air India at Critical Stage of Transformation: Tata Sons Chairman
Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran told Air India staff that the carrier has entered a critical phase of its four‑year turnaround. The airline has added roughly 17,000 employees, merged four subsidiaries into two, modernized core systems and is expanding and refurbishing...
FYL91 Commences New Flights to Hyderabad, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada
Pure‑play regional carrier Fly91 launched daily flights linking Hyderabad with Rajahmundry and Vijayawada on April 10, 2026. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu virtually inaugurated the first Vijayawada‑Hyderabad service. The airline will double frequency to twice daily on both...
ASMS Launches Agri-Commerce Network AYOU in Hyderabad
Avio Smart Market Stack Ltd., formerly Bartronics India, is rolling out its agri‑supply platform AYOU in Hyderabad, with commercial operations slated to start next month. AYOU will aggregate fresh produce directly from farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations, then distribute to...
DGFT Rolls Out Procedure for Allocation of Calcined Coke
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a detailed procedure for allocating imports of calcined petroleum coke (CPC) for the aluminium sector in fiscal year 2026‑27. Applications are now open, and allocations will be based on the recommendations...
Qatar Vows to Remain Reliable Energy Supplier to India Amid West Asia Tensions
Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al‑Kaabi pledged to remain a reliable supplier of LNG and LPG to India during a two‑day visit by Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Qatar accounts for 45% of India’s LNG imports and 20% of its LPG, making it...
Govt Proposes Overhaul of Company Incorporation Rules to Cut Paperwork, Enable Risk-Based Checks
The Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs has released a draft to overhaul the Companies (Incorporation) Rules 2014, eliminating mandatory physical verification of registered offices and introducing risk‑based checks. The proposal also consolidates multiple filing forms into streamlined e‑forms and adds...
Gadkari Bats for 100% Land Acquisition Before Approving NH Projects
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said no new national‑highway project should be approved without 100 percent land acquisition. He raised the threshold from the existing 90 percent rule, linking full acquisition to the appointment of a project start date....
IMF Warns of Deepening Global Food Crisis as Fertilizer Prices Surge
The International Monetary Fund warned that soaring fertilizer prices are set to deepen the global food crisis, potentially pushing the number of people facing hunger above 360 million. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva highlighted that transport disruptions and higher input costs are...
Yara India to Ramp up Digital Strategy to Strengthen Retailer Connectivity
Yara India is accelerating its digital agenda by onboarding most of its channel partners onto the Retailer Ordering System (ROS) within the Yara Connect mobile app, boosting last‑mile product traceability. The move dovetails with expanded R&D into biological fertilizers, reflecting...
DGS Issues Direct Pass-Through of Port Concessions to Exporters Amid West Asia Crisis
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued an advisory requiring that all port concessions—detention charges, ground rent, and reefer plug‑in fees—be passed directly to exporters, eliminating the previous reimbursement process that caused delays. The directive also places monitoring duties on...
Tanker Carrying 15,400 Tonne of LPG Arrives at JNPA in Navi Mumbai
India's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority welcomed the India‑flagged LPG tanker Green Asha, which delivered 15,400 tonne of liquefied petroleum gas. The vessel successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, marking the first LPG cargo to dock...
Soybean Poised to Turn Bearish as US Farmers Shift From Corn
U.S. farmers are set to plant 84.7 million acres of soybeans—up 4% year‑over‑year—shifting acreage away from corn. BMI, a Fitch Solutions unit, raised its average 2026‑27 soybean price forecast to 1,130 cents per bushel, a 7.7% increase. Global production is projected at...
Centre to Provide up to 200 Tonnes/Day LPG to Ceramics, Pharma, Specialised Industries
India's Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has ordered a 70% LPG allocation, capped at 200 tonnes per day, for critical sectors such as ceramics, pharmaceuticals, polymers and other specialised industries that cannot shift to piped natural gas. The allocation...
Construction Equipment Sales Fall 13% in FY26 on Project Delays, Weak Execution: FADA
Construction equipment (CE) retail sales in India fell 13% year‑on‑year to 71,227 units in FY26, making the segment the sole laggard in the country’s auto retail market. The decline was driven by project‑level delays, a high base from FY25 pre‑buying,...