Business

New Delhi, February 22: The proposed excise duty waiver on biogas blended with compressed natural gas is set to reshape India’s renewable energy landscape, with the Indian Biogas Association stating that the move could unlock investments of up to ₹1 lakh crore if backed by a clear and predictable policy framework.The announcement follows provisions in the Union Budget 2026, which granted an excise duty waiver on Compressed Biogas blended with Compressed Natural Gas. The industry body described the measure as a significant milestone in advancing India’s energy transition aligned with its 2070 Net Zero target.5 Percent Blending Could Trigger ₹55,000 Crore Investment According to the association, even a modest nationwide biogas...

Mumbai, February 22: The combined market valuation of six of India’s top 10 most valuable companies surged by ₹63,478.46 crore last week, reflecting steady investor interest as benchmark indices closed in positive territory.The 30 share BSE Sensex ended the week higher by 187.95 points, or 0.22 percent, supporting gains in select heavyweights across sectors.Larsen & Toubro, SBI Emerge as Top Gainers Among the top performers, Larsen & Toubro recorded the sharpest rise in market capitalization. The company’s valuation climbed by ₹28,523.31 crore, taking its total market cap to ₹6,02,552.24 crore.State Bank of India followed closely, adding ₹16,015.12 crore to reach a valuation of ₹11,22,581.56 crore.Private sector lender HDFC Bank...

Strategic Location Chosen to Minimise Security and Seismic Risks New Delhi, February 22: The Reserve Bank of India has established a high-security Greenfield data center in Odisha, reinforcing its efforts to protect critical financial infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted functioning of core banking systems.The facility, located on an 18.55-acre campus at Info Valley II in Khordha near Bhubaneswar, has been strategically positioned away from India’s western and northern borders. Analysts tracking the sector noted that this reduces exposure to potential cross-border missile or drone threats. The site also lies outside the country’s highest seismic risk zones, lowering vulnerability to major earthquake activity and strengthening the...

India and US Pause Talks to Assess Legal and Policy Implications New Delhi, February 22: India and the United States have decided to reschedule their official meeting on the proposed interim bilateral trade agreement, as both sides move to assess the implications of a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down key tariff measures introduced by President Donald Trump.The three day meeting between teams led by the chief trade negotiators of India and the US was initially scheduled to begin in Washington on February 23. The discussions were aimed at finalising the text of the interim trade pact between the two countries.However, according to reliable sources, the visit of the Indian delegation will now take place after both...

Israel Targets 69,000 Indian Visitors as Tourism Rebuilds After Covid and War Mumbai, February 22: Israel is charting a steady recovery path for its tourism sector after facing the dual impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war, with a renewed focus on the Indian market. The country expects to regain and surpass its pre-pandemic visitor numbers from India by 2027, according to a senior tourism official.Speaking about the outlook, Galit Hoffman, Consul for Tourism Affairs, India, at the Israel Ministry of Tourism, said that Israel is aiming to reach around 69,000 Indian visitors within the next one and a half to two years, provided promotional efforts gather pace.Pre-Crisis Benchmark: 2019 Visitor Numbers In 2019, Israel welcomed...

Mumbai, February 22: IDFC First Bank on Sunday disclosed a fraud of ₹590 crore involving accounts held by the Haryana government at one of its branches in Chandigarh, triggering regulatory reporting, a police complaint, and an internal probe.Fraud Detected During Account Closure and Balance Transfer Request In a regulatory filing made in the early hours, the private sector lender said it had informed the banking regulator and lodged a police complaint following the detection of discrepancies.According to the filing, prima facie unauthorized and fraudulent activities were carried out by certain employees at a specific branch in Chandigarh. The issue involves a defined set of accounts linked to the Haryana state government and may...

New Delhi, February 22: India and Brazil have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in the postal sector, expanding collaboration in digital transformation, logistics, and inclusive service delivery, the Ministry of Communications said on Sunday.The agreement was signed by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Brazil’s Communications Minister Frederico de Siqueira Filho during the State Visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to India.Broad Framework for Postal Collaboration The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation between India’s Department of Posts and Brazil’s Ministry of Communications. It aims to reinforce the strategic partnership between the two...

Settlement Brings Relief to Realty Firm Mahagun The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has directed the withdrawal of insolvency proceedings against real estate firm Mahagun (India) after the company reached a settlement with its financial creditor.A two member bench of the appellate tribunal took note of a settlement agreement dated February 12, 2026, between Mahagun and IDBI Trusteeship Services. Following this agreement, the financial creditor moved an application seeking withdrawal of the insolvency case.In its order, the tribunal recorded that during the pendency of the matter, both parties had entered into a settlement. The applicant financial creditor sought permission to withdraw application IB 112 ND 2025.Insolvency...

10 Major Investments Cleared at HLCA Meeting Led by CM Mohan Charan Majhi Bhubaneswar, February 22: The Odisha government has approved 10 large industrial projects with a combined investment of Rs 44,200 crore, marking a significant step in strengthening the state’s industrial ecosystem. The approvals were granted at a High-Level Clearance Authority meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday evening.The projects span strategic sectors including semiconductors, rare earth manufacturing, cement, automobiles and auto-components, telecom infrastructure, and renewable energy. Officials said the initiatives are expected to generate employment for 8,765 people across eight districts such as Khurda, Koraput, Kalahandi...

Central Capex Declines Sharply in Third Quarter New Delhi, February 22: India’s capital expenditure recorded a sharp year-on-year contraction of 23.4 per cent in the third quarter of FY2025-26, according to data compiled by ICRA.The slowdown in Central government spending is expected to moderately temper economic growth momentum during the quarter. Despite this, overall economic activity continues to draw support from festive demand and improved capital spending at the state level.States Offset Central Slowdown With 21.9% Growth While Central capex weakened, state governments displayed stronger momentum. Data from 24 states showed that their combined capital outlay and net lending rose 21.9 per cent in Q3, reversing the contraction...

New Delhi, February 22: Local communities and grassroots organizations in India’s Himalayan region have triggered a systemic shift in climate policy through farmer-producer organizations, leading to higher farm incomes, improved crop productivity, and more resilient agricultural systems, according to a study by Indian Institute of Management Lucknow.The findings have been published in the prestigious Journal of Rural Studies, highlighting how community-led governance mechanisms are reshaping climate adaptation strategies in vulnerable mountain ecosystems.Farmer-Producer Organizations Drive Climate Resilience The research underscores the role of farmer-producer organizations in strengthening climate resilience across the Himalayan...

Chief Negotiators’ Meeting in Washington Deferred New Delhi, February 22: India and the United States have decided to reschedule the proposed meeting of their chief negotiators that was set to take place in Washington from Monday to finalize the legal text of the interim trade pact.The Indian delegation, led by Darpan Jain, Joint Secretary in the Commerce Ministry and India’s chief negotiator for the agreement, was scheduled to begin a three day meeting in the US on February 23.According to Commerce Ministry sources, both sides have agreed that the visit of the Indian Chief Negotiator and the team should be scheduled after each country has had sufficient time to assess the latest developments and their implications. The meeting will...

Indian Companies Post Strongest Earnings Growth in Eight Quarters in 3QFY26: Motilal Oswal Report Mumbai, February 22: Indian companies have delivered their strongest earnings performance in the past eight quarters during the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, supported by broad-based sectoral momentum and improving demand conditions, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.Nifty 500 Earnings Surge 19 Percent Year-on-Year The report, based on data compiled from the Nifty 500 universe, showed that aggregate earnings rose 19 percent year-on-year in 3QFY26.Excluding financial stocks, earnings growth was even stronger at 23 percent. When metal and oil and gas companies were removed from the calculation, aggregate...

Talks in Washington Deferred as Both Sides Review Latest Developments New Delhi, February 22: India and the United States have decided to reschedule the proposed meeting of their chief negotiators in Washington aimed at finalizing the text of the interim trade agreement, according to sources.The Indian delegation was originally scheduled to begin a three-day round of discussions in the US capital from February 23. However, both sides have now agreed that the visit should take place after further internal assessments.“Regarding the visit of the Indian team of negotiators to the US for the India US Trade Deal, both sides believe that the proposed visit of the Indian Chief Negotiator and their team should be scheduled after each side...

India has the potential to become a leading data center hub in the Asia-Pacific region, provided it can overcome complex power and grid challenges while aligning renewable energy integration with rapid digital expansion, according to a Deloitte report presented at the India AI Impact Summit.India’s Data Consumption Outpaces Data Center Capacity Despite accounting for nearly 20 percent of global data consumption, India hosts less than 5 percent of the world’s data centers. This disparity highlights a significant expansion opportunity.Debasish Mishra, Chief Growth Officer at Deloitte South Asia, described India’s position as a “unique structural opportunity” to rise as one of the world’s leading data center hubs.Lower construction...

Middle Eastern Suppliers Gain Share as Russian Volumes Face Sanctions Pressure New Delhi, February 22: India’s crude oil import strategy is moving into a phase of calibrated rebalancing, with Middle Eastern suppliers led by Saudi Arabia regaining market share even as Russian volumes remain significant but increasingly shaped by geopolitical and compliance constraints.According to shipping data and market assessments, India’s total crude imports averaged 4.85 million barrels per day between February 1 and 18. This marks an 8 percent decline from January’s average of 5.25 million barrels per day, following fresh United States sanctions on key Russian exporters and the European Union’s eighteenth sanctions package implemented last month...

Indian Stock Market Outlook: Sensex, Nifty Rebound as GDP Data, US Tariffs and F&O Expiry Come into Focus Mumbai, February 22: Investors are preparing for a data-heavy and event-driven week as global tariff developments in the United States, India’s upcoming GDP figures, and the monthly derivatives expiry are expected to steer market direction.The Indian equity market staged a strong recovery on Friday after witnessing a sharp fall of over 1 percent in the previous session, indicating resilience amid global uncertainties.Sensex and Nifty Close Higher After Sharp Rebound The 30 share BSE Sensex rose 317 points, or 0.38 percent, to settle at 82,814.71.The broader NIFTY 50 advanced 117 points, or 0.46 percent, closing at 25,571.25...

Strategic Pact Signed at India Brazil Business Forum Summit Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited through its subsidiary Adani Gangavaram Port Ltd has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with NMDC Ltd and Vale SA to develop an integrated iron ore blending facility and a dedicated Special Economic Zone at Gangavaram Port.The agreement was signed at the India Brazil Business Forum Summit in New Delhi during the official visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to a company statement.Integrated Iron Ore Blending Facility and SEZ-Based Ecosystem Under the MoU, the three companies will jointly develop, operate, and manage a Special Economic Zone based ecosystem focused on iron ore blending...

India’s coal demand, which remained subdued earlier in the current financial year, is now poised for a rebound as electricity consumption accelerates across the country, according to Vinaya Varma, Managing Director of mjunction services ltd.Power Consumption Recovery Signals Coal Demand Uptick Varma noted that after witnessing negative growth in October and November, power demand recorded a strong recovery in December, rising 6.3 percent. The upward momentum has continued into January, supported by harsh winter conditions and a broader improvement in economic activity.He said that the sustained increase in electricity consumption is expected to drive coal demand in the coming days, offering relief to the coal and power sectors...

New Delhi, February 22: The growing presence of Indian-origin executives at the helm of global technology giants should not be seen as a case of brain drain, but as a net positive for both India and the global economy, according to Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco.Talent Export Is Not a Zero Sum Equation Responding to the ongoing debate over whether India loses out when its top professionals assume leadership roles in the United States and other advanced economies, Patel dismissed the notion that the country suffers a loss.He rejected the zero sum framing of the issue and emphasized that India’s global talent footprint should be viewed as a strength rather than a setback.“I think of India as a net exporter...