ISRO Launches Mission MITRA in Ladakh to Study Astronaut Behaviour in Extreme Conditions
ISRO has launched Mission MITRA in Ladakh, positioning a test crew at roughly 3,500 metres to simulate space‑flight stressors such as hypoxia, low temperature and isolation. The five‑day analog study, running until April 9, is designed to capture physiological, psychological and operational data on astronaut‑ground team interoperability. Conducted with the IAF Institute of Aerospace Medicine and managed by start‑up Protoplanet, the mission directly supports the upcoming Gaganyaan crewed program. Findings will inform crew coordination, decision‑making and overall mission safety for future long‑duration flights.
Avoid Visiting LPG Distributors Unless Necessary, Use Digital Modes: Petroleum Ministry
The Indian Petroleum Ministry urged citizens to use digital platforms for LPG cylinder bookings and avoid unnecessary distributor visits amid heightened supply risks from the Strait of Hormuz closure. It announced extended booking intervals—25 days in urban areas and up...
Tamil Nadu MSMEs Face 50% Output Cut as Polymer Prices Soar Amid US-Iran War
Polymer prices surged about 70% in March as the US‑Iran war disrupted oil markets, forcing Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry plastic MSMEs to slash output by roughly 50%. Over 8,000 manufacturers, employing around 200,000 workers, are confronting raw‑material shortages and soaring costs....
Bank of Baroda’s Global Biz Crosses ₹30 Lakh Crore Milestone
Bank of Baroda’s global business—deposits plus advances—crossed the ₹30.78 lakh crore mark (about $3.7 trillion) in Q4 FY26, a 13.93% year‑on‑year rise. Global deposits grew 12% YoY to roughly $1.99 trillion, while advances surged 16.23% to about $1.72 trillion. Domestic retail advances jumped 17.93% to...
IndianOil Boosts Auto LPG Supply in Karnataka Amid Surge in Demand
Indian Oil Corporation Limited has ramped up its auto‑LPG supply in Karnataka as demand spikes following the shutdown of more than 300 private outlets. The state‑wide network now operates 55 Auto LPG Dispensing Stations, handling an average of 59.53 metric...
Sundaram Clayton Corrects Governance Lapse in Company Secretary Appointment
Sundaram Clayton is addressing a corporate‑governance lapse involving its Company Secretary, PD Dev Kishan, by converting his short‑term secondment into a full‑time Key Managerial Personnel role. The move also shifts his reporting line from TVS Holding’s CFO to Sundaram Clayton’s own hierarchy....
Emirates NBD Gets RBI Nod to Acquire up to 74% Stake in RBL Bank
Emirates NBD has secured Reserve Bank of India approval to acquire up to 74% of RBL Bank’s paid‑up share capital, with a mandatory minimum holding of 51%. The deal, valued at roughly $3 billion for a 60% controlling stake, triggers a...
Civil Aviation Ministry Puts on Hold Free 60% Seat Rule for Airlines
The Indian civil aviation ministry has suspended its earlier directive requiring airlines to offer 60 percent of seats free of charge. The pause follows airline objections over operational and commercial impacts, particularly on fare structures. The ministry cited the need to...
Myntra CEO Nandita Sinha Set to Exit Amid Leadership Churn at Flipkart Group
Myntra CEO Nandita Sinha is leaving the company after four years, with Flipkart Fashion head Sharon Pais poised to take over. The departure adds to a wave of senior exits at Flipkart, including its CFO, as the group readies for a...
Editorial. Up in the Air
India’s regional connectivity initiative received a fresh $3.5 billion boost as the cabinet approved a ten‑year outlay for the Udan scheme. Since its 2016 launch, Udan has helped 16.3 million passengers fly on subsidised routes and doubled the country’s operational airports to...
Russian Dy PM Manturov, Modi Discuss Trade, Energy, Fertilizers Amid West Asia Tensions
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to expand a strategic partnership covering trade, energy, fertilizers and investment. The talks, part of Manturov’s two‑day visit, focused on stabilising payment settlements, strengthening...
GE Shipping Adds Medium Range Tanker to Fleet, Stock Closes up 2.92%
Great Eastern Shipping (GE Shipping) announced the purchase of a second‑hand Medium Range tanker of about 49,420 deadweight tonnes, built in 2014, with delivery slated for the first quarter of FY27. The acquisition will be financed entirely from internal accruals,...
Centre Kicks Off Procurement Season with 18,000 Tonnes of Wheat, Targets 303 Lakh Tonnes
The Indian government launched the 2026 wheat procurement season on April 1, moving 17,883 tonnes of grain into the central pool. It has set an ambitious target of 303.36 lakh tonnes (about 30.3 million tonnes) to be bought by June 30, with state‑wise allocations ranging...
Intellect Design Arena Secures Order From Major Middle Eastern Logistics Firm
Intellect Design Arena announced that a major Middle‑East logistics firm handling over 90 million container shipments annually has selected its Purple Fabric Accounts Payable platform. The solution will automate high‑volume invoice processing using AI and large language models (LLMs). By ingesting...
InterCosmos Bags Early Stage Funding From IAN Angel Fund for Its Non-Toxic Propulsion Technology
InterCosmos, a Chennai‑based space‑tech startup, secured early‑stage capital from the IAN Angel Fund to fast‑track its HyperX non‑toxic propulsion system. The undisclosed investment will fund development and flight qualification, positioning HyperX as a safer, high‑performance alternative to conventional toxic propellants....
NCLAT Directs Lower Tribunal to Hear Belgotex Insolvency Plea Afresh
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) overturned a New Delhi NCLT order that had rejected Belgotex India's Section 9 insolvency petition against distributor Puneet India. Belgotex, a carpet and vinyl flooring maker, claimed Puneet owed roughly ₹2.41 crore (about $290,000) but...
Thomas Cook India Secures Top CRISIL Rating; Stock Jumps over 6%
Thomas Cook (India) Limited received a reaffirmation of its CRISIL AA/Stable and A1+ ratings, the highest for any Indian travel and tourism firm. The announcement sent the stock up 6.33% to ₹95.78 on the NSE. In the first nine months...
IndiGo Expands Network in Gujarat, Connecting More than 30 Destinations
IndiGo is expanding its Gujarat network, resuming flights from six cities on April 23 and linking them to over 30 Indian destinations and Dubai. The airline now operates more than 700 weekly departures from Gujarat and added 50 weekly flights to...
99.92% Villages in India Covered with Banking Outlets Within 5 Km Radius: Govt
The Finance Ministry reports that 99.92% of Indian villages now have a banking outlet—branch, business correspondent or India Post Payments Bank—within a 5 km radius, based on Jan Dhan Darshak data as of March 6, 2026. The government’s GIS‑based monitoring system tracks coverage and highlights...
Sathya Agencies Files Draft Papers with SEBI for ₹600-Cr IPO
Sathya Agencies Ltd, a Tamil Nadu‑based consumer‑electronics retailer, has filed a draft red‑herring prospectus with SEBI to raise about ₹600 crore (≈ $73 million) in an IPO. The offer splits evenly between a fresh issue of ₹300 crore and an offer‑for‑sale of another ₹300 crore by...
VOC Port Authority Commence Generation of Carbon Credit From Renewable Energy
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority has begun generating carbon credits from its renewable energy portfolio, registering five projects with a combined 12.4 MW capacity. The mix includes rooftop solar, ground‑mounted solar, and wind farms ranging from 400 kW to 6.3 MW. Over the next...
PM-KUSUM 2.0 Must Address the Overdependence on State Procurement
India’s PM‑KUSUM scheme has installed over 1 million solar irrigation pumps, proving that decentralized renewable energy can scale in agriculture. The current tender‑driven, state‑led procurement model, however, creates episodic demand spikes and leaves manufacturers and farmers waiting for the next tender...
Vedanta to Split Into Five Listed Companies Next Month
Vedanta Ltd. will split into five listed companies early next month, completing a restructuring plan aimed at reducing debt. The demerger will create Vedanta Limited for base‑metals and four spin‑offs—Vedanta Aluminium, Talwandi Sabo Power, Vedanta Steel and Iron, and Malco...
ENSO, Ethanol, and the Physics of a Sugar Bull Market
A La Niña‑driven moisture deficit over Brazil’s Centre‑South cane belt is creating a bullish signal for raw sugar that has not yet been priced into markets. Brazil, which accounts for roughly 40% of global sugar exports, typically sees yields dip three...
Pick of BL Commodities - March 29, 2026
China rejected three Indian rice shipments over alleged GMO contamination, signaling heightened trade friction. India is weighing "floor and ceiling" price clauses for key fertilizers as global prices surge and monsoon planting looms. Meanwhile, half of the nation’s 166 major...
JN Port Cargo Traffic Hits Record 100 Million Tonnes in FY26
Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA) reported a record 100 million metric tonnes of cargo handled in FY 26, with container traffic surpassing 8 million TEUs. The port also launched the JJS service, a new rotation connecting Indian terminals with key West Asia ports, inaugurated by MV SSF Dynamic....
UltraTech Settles Arbitration Dispute with Jaiprakash Associates over Dalla Super Unit and Mines
UltraTech Cement announced it has settled the arbitration with Jaiprakash Associates over the Dalla Super unit and its six captive mines, releasing ₹1,000 crore (≈$120 million) of Series A redeemable preference shares from escrow. The deal clears UltraTech’s claim to the assets and...
BonV Aero Partners with Israel’s ParaZero to Offer Drone Catchers
Indian unmanned systems firm BonV Aero has teamed with NASDAQ‑listed ParaZero Technologies to launch DefendAir, a hard‑kill counter‑drone system that captures hostile UAVs with kinetic nets. The system can fire five nets within a 50‑metre radius, neutralising drones from 30 cm...
Editorial. Weighty Matter
The GLP‑1 drug semaglutide has entered the Indian market as generic versions after its patent expired last week, driving monthly prices down from roughly $144 to $36. The steep discount makes the medication affordable for a broader segment of diabetics...
India, US Face Off over E-Commerce Moratorium at WTO Meet
India has asked WTO members to carefully reconsider the e‑commerce duty moratorium, warning of revenue losses and an ambiguous definition of "electronic transmissions." The United States, meanwhile, is pressing for the moratorium to become a permanent, duty‑free regime to protect...
SPJIMR Dean Varun Nagaraj Appointed to AACSB Board of Directors
Dean Varun Nagaraj of SPJIMR has been appointed to the AACSB Board of Directors, marking the first time an Indian business school is represented on the 110‑year‑old board. He will serve a three‑year term beginning July 1 2026 and will represent the Asia Pacific...
Arkade Developers Launches ₹230 Crore Luxury Project in Goregaon West, Stock Closes up 1.93%
Arkade Developers Limited unveiled Arkade Evoke, a luxury residential project in Goregaon West valued at roughly $27.5 million (₹230 crore). The 1.09‑acre development will feature premium 2‑ and 3‑BHK apartments with balconies, surface parking and cross‑ventilation, and is positioned near Bangur Nagar metro station. The...
Home Loan Interest Rate in 2026: Is This the Right Time to Lock Your Loan?
In 2026 Indian home‑loan rates hover around 10 % p.a., with SMFG Grihashakti offering a base rate of 10 %. A 0.25 % rate shift can cut total interest on a ₹4 million (≈$48,000) loan by about ₹2.12 lakh (≈$2,500) over 25 years. Lenders now price loans per...
Paisalo Digital Adds Indian Overseas Bank to Its BC Network
Paisalo Digital Limited announced that Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has joined its Business Correspondent (BC) network, marking the third public‑sector bank partnership after State Bank of India and Bank of India. The move expands Paisalo's Banking‑as‑a‑Service platform to 4,872 touch...
STL Redefines Optical Connectivity with India’s First Hollow Core Fibre Cable for Data Centre Networks
STL (Sterlite Technologies Ltd.) announced the launch of India’s first hollow‑core fibre (HCF) cable, a breakthrough that routes light through an air‑filled core and delivers roughly 46% faster transmission than conventional glass fibres. The hybrid cable integrates HCF with G.654.E...
Archimedis Digital Eyes ₹100 Crore Topline in FY27
Archimedis Digital, a life‑science IT services firm, aims to double its revenue to ₹100 crore (≈ $12 million) by FY27. Growth will be powered by AI‑related projects and a new AI Centre for Excellence in Tiruchirappalli, with the workforce expanding from about 250‑300...
Housing Sales to Remain Soft Unless Developers Shift Focus From Luxury to Mid-Income Segment: Nuvama
India's housing sales are projected to stay weak unless developers pivot from luxury projects to mid‑income and premium offerings, Nuvama reports. While sales value grew 18% YoY in February 2026, volume growth lagged at 11% and inventory stretched to 20...
Temasek-Backed Hospital Chain Manipal Health Files for India IPO
Manipal Health Enterprises, backed by Singapore sovereign fund Temasek, filed to raise roughly $852 million through an Indian IPO, offering 43.2 million new shares. The proceeds will primarily refinance debt and fund the recent $700 million acquisition of Sahyadri Hospitals, expanding Manipal’s specialty‑care...
Jindal Steel Doubles Angul Plant Capacity to 12 MTPA
Jindar Steel announced that its Angul plant in Odisha has doubled its steel‑making capacity from 6 MTPA to 12 MTPA, making it one of India’s largest single‑location steel facilities. The expansion lifts the company’s total crude‑steel capacity to 15.6 MTPA, including 3.6 MTPA at...
Supreme Court Grants Pension Relief to Women SSC Officers Denied Permanent Commission
The Supreme Court ruled that women Short Service Commission officers in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force who were denied Permanent Commission will receive full pension benefits. The bench deemed these officers to have completed the 20‑year qualifying service...
Crude Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Escalate over Infrastructure Threats
Crude oil futures surged on Monday as US‑Iran tensions escalated, pushing Brent crude above $108 per barrel and WTI close to $99. The rise was sparked by President Trump’s ultimatum to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s retaliatory...
Gold Price Slump Drags Shares of Manappuram, Muthoot Finance; Jewellery Stocks Slide
Gold prices slumped on March 23, pulling down the shares of India’s leading gold‑loan financiers. Manappuram Finance fell about 3% while Muthoot Finance dropped more than 5% in early trading. The decline also spread to jewellery retailers, with stocks like...
Delhi Power Rates May Rise in April as Govt Prepares to Clear Discom Dues
The Delhi government is set to clear over ₹38,000 crore in pending dues to the city’s three private power distributors, prompting a likely electricity tariff increase from April. The Supreme Court has mandated payment of ₹27,200 crore in regulatory assets, with the...
Tharoor Urges Govt to Defer CAPF Bill, Ensure Time-Bound Cadre Reforms
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has asked the government to defer the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) reform Bill slated for introduction in the Rajya Sabha, urging a referral to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for broader consultation. He stresses that the Ministry...
IFSCA Issues 60 Warnings in FY26 as Capital Market Intermediaries Breach Compliance Norms
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has issued 60 warnings to capital market intermediaries (CMIs) operating in GIFT City during FY26 for breaches such as unattended offices, missing key personnel, weak infrastructure, and use of remote‑access software for trading....
The 90-Minute Test: How Anand Mahindra Selects Leaders for Strategic Bets
Anand Mahindra uses a 90‑minute unstructured conversation to assess curiosity and decision‑making, forming the “Enable” pillar of the ESEE framework that identifies leaders capable of executing complex strategies without constant direction. This approach has guided strategic bets such as the...
India's Installed Energy Storage Capacity to Hit 346 GWh by 2033: Industry Paper
India’s stationary energy storage capacity is projected to surge from less than 1 GWh today to 346 GWh by 2033, according to a white paper unveiled at the SESI 2026 conference. The paper notes a pipeline of 92 GWh of battery energy storage system...
Non-Fossil-Fuel-Based Power Generation Capacity to Hit 786 GW or 70% Mark by FY'36: Government Report
India’s National Generation Adequacy Plan projects non‑fossil‑fuel‑based capacity to reach 786 GW – about 70 % of the total 1,121 GW target – by fiscal year 2035‑36. The current non‑fossil portfolio stands at 275 GW, representing 52.5 % of the 524 GW installed today. The plan...
Nifty Bank Prediction Today – March 18, 2026: Nifty Bank Futures: Bearish Inclination
The Nifty Bank index opened on March 18 with a modest gap‑up to 54,927, edging to 54,950 by mid‑session, a 0.15 % rise. While the advances‑to‑declines ratio of 11 to 3 suggests a short‑term bullish tilt, gains were led by Federal Bank and AU Small...
With Watchful Eye on Iran War, Crypto Dodges UAE Disruption
The ongoing US‑Israeli war on Iran has not halted the UAE’s burgeoning crypto sector. Because blockchain firms rely on cloud‑based infrastructure and virtual marketplaces, daily operations in Dubai continue with minimal interruption. Bitcoin has even nudged higher to nearly $74,000,...