Business

New Delhi, April 1 Coal India's subsidiary, SECL, announced on Wednesday that it had registered a 5.26 per cent increase in production and a 4.6 per cent increase in the volume of dry fuel supplied in 2025-26, signaling steady progress amid rising energy demand.SECL recorded a total coal production of 176.2 million tonnes (MT) in FY26, up 5.26 per cent from the 167.4 MT produced in 2024-25.The company's coal off-take in FY26 stood at 178.6 million tonnes, compared to 170.7 MT in FY25.With 364.3 million cubic meters of overburden removal from mining pits, SECL achieved its highest-ever overburden removal (OBR), it said in a statement."South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has achieved a significant milestone in FY 2025-26...

New Delhi, April 1 – The Indian real estate sector recorded the highest first-quarter inflow of institutional investments since 2022, amounting to $1.4 billion in January-March 2026, according to a report released on Wednesday.Despite registering a 62 per cent quarterly decline due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, investments surged by 74 per cent over the same period a year earlier, according to a Vestian report.This highlights strong investor confidence in India's real estate sector, even as global headwinds continue to intensify.Driven by strong demand from GCCs, commercial assets dominated investment activity in Q1 2026, accounting for 80 per cent of the market share, up from 38 per cent a year earlier...

New Delhi, April 1 The government has announced a one-time special relief measure in the form of certain duty benefits for special economic zones (SEZs), a move that would provide support to units in these enclaves amid global uncertainties.However, the exemption will only be available if the unit in the SEZ had commenced production of goods on or before March 31, 2025, the department of revenue has said in a notification dated March 31.They also have to prove that the goods for which the benefits of this exemption notification have been claimed, meet all the specified conditions."This notification shall come into force with effect from April 1, 2026," it said.It added that the goods for which exemption under this notification...

New Delhi, April 1 SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said on Wednesday that the government's decision to allow only a partial increase in jet fuel prices would be a significant relief for the country's aviation industry at a time of unprecedented global uncertainty.Public sector oil marketing companies, under the Ministry of Petroleum, in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, have decided to implement only a partial and staggered increase of 25 per cent or Rs 15/litre for domestic airlines, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X.Airlines are already incurring higher operational costs due to airspace restrictions in the West Asia region amid the conflict. The situation is forcing...

Mumbai, April 1 India's automotive metal forming market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent to reach USD 90-95 billion by FY30, driven by cost competitiveness, engineering talent, and a supplier ecosystem, a report said.The industry has crossed a critical threshold in recent years, exceeding USD 80 billion in size in FY25 and transitioning from being a net importer to a net exporter, according to a report by investment bank Avendus Capital.The report highlights a structural shift in global automotive supply chains that is driving value concentration towards process-led manufacturing segments, particularly metal forming.The industry, which involves key manufacturing processes such as casting...

New Delhi, April 1 Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Wednesday that the decision by public sector oil marketing companies to implement a partial and staggered increase in jet fuel prices for domestic airlines will help protect passengers from sharp fare hikes.Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) accounts for around 40 per cent of an airline's operational costs.Naidu said that ATF prices have been deregulated since 2001 and revised monthly based on international benchmarks.Facing extraordinary pressure due to global energy disruptions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a steep increase of over 100 per cent was anticipated from April 1, he said in a post on X."In this challenging context, the decision by PSU Oil...

New Delhi, April 1 – The government stated on Wednesday that domestic airfares are unlikely to see a sharp increase, as it has mitigated the impact of a steep rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices by allowing only a partial increase for domestic airlines.According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), ATF prices in India – deregulated since 2001 – are revised monthly based on international benchmarks. Given the current geopolitical situation, ATF prices for domestic markets were expected to rise by more than 100 per cent from April 1.However, in an effort to shield domestic air travel costs from a steep spike, public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, have...

Seoul, April 1 – US tech giant Apple has enhanced an emergency location-sharing feature on iPhones for South Korean users at the request of the Seoul government, officials said on Wednesday.The extension of the service's duration, from the previous five minutes to 30 minutes, came at the request of the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) to better help emergency responders accurately identify the locations of iPhone users in need of emergency assistance, reports Yonhap news agency.The agreement was reached after a series of meetings among the KMCC, Apple, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, and the Korea Internet & Security Agency."Samsung Electronics smartphones do not have such limitations as they...

New Delhi, Apr 1 Aviation stocks saw strong demand on Wednesday morning, with InterGlobe Aviation rising by over 9 per cent, despite a hike in jet fuel prices.InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, further jumped 9.41 per cent to Rs 4,315 on the BSE.The stock of SpiceJet surged 4.72 per cent to Rs 10.20.The price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre on Wednesday, mirroring the surge in global oil prices last month. However, for domestic airlines, the increase would only be 8.5 per cent.Domestic airlines will pay half of what other carriers, such as non-scheduled, ad-hoc, and charter airlines, would pay. For them, the prices have increased by Rs...

New Delhi, April 1 JSW MG Motor India reported a 19 per cent year-on-year increase in shipments to dealers in March, reaching 6,528 units.The March wholesale figures reflected sustained momentum across its internal combustion engine (ICE) and new energy vehicle (NEV) product lines, JSW MG Motor India said in a statement.The company announced that it will increase prices on the MG SELECT portfolio by up to 7 per cent, effective April 1, 2026, including flagship models such as the MG Cyberster and MG M9.The company has already announced a price increase of up to 2 per cent across its MG portfolio, effective April 1, 2026.

New Delhi, April 1 The state-owned Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has reported its highest-ever annual loan sanctions of ₹51,883 crore and disbursements of ₹34,946 crore in FY 2025-26, according to provisional data released on Tuesday.The outstanding loan book witnessed a significant expansion of 22 per cent to ₹93,075 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from ₹76,282 crore in the previous year, a company statement said late Tuesday evening.Loan sanctions during FY26 rose to ₹51,883 crore, marking a growth of 9 per cent over ₹47,453 crore in the previous financial year, according to the statement.Loan disbursements recorded a strong increase of 16 per cent, reaching ₹34,946 crore as against ₹30,169 crore in FY25...

Seoul, April 1: Fuel surcharges for flights operated by South Korean airlines have surged by as much as threefold from the previous month in April due to the spike in global oil prices, industry watchers said on Wednesday.Industry leader Korean Air raised its international one-way fuel surcharge to between 42,000 won (US$27.9) and 303,000 won for April, compared with 13,500 won to 99,000 won in March.On long-distance routes, such as those to New York, Chicago, Washington and Toronto, the surcharge rose 3.1 times to 303,000 won.Asiana Airlines Inc. also increased its surcharge range to between 43,900 won and 251,900 won for April, from 14,600 won to 78,600 won in March.Low-cost carriers that charge fuel surcharges in U.S. dollars...

Washington, Apr 1 The US has reiterated that India maintains "high" import duties on a range of goods, including agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and alcoholic beverages, along with various non-tariff barriers.India has consistently maintained that its duties are in compliance with the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).According to the US Trade Representative's 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on foreign trade barriers, released on March 31, given the significant difference between WTO-bound and applied rates, India has considerable flexibility to change tariff rates for both agricultural and non-agricultural products at any time, creating uncertainty for US workers, farmers, ranchers, and exporters.This...

New Delhi, April 1 The price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre on Wednesday, mirroring the surge in global oil prices last month, but for domestic airlines, the increase would only be 8.5 per cent.Domestic airlines will pay half of what other carriers, such as those operating on non-scheduled, ad-hoc, and charter flights, would pay. For them, the prices have increased by Rs 110,703.08 per kl, or 114.5 per cent, to Rs 207,341.22 per kl.Jet fuel prices were deregulated more than two decades ago, and since then, the rates have been aligned with benchmark international prices, according to an agreement with the airlines.However, since the surge in global energy prices...

New Delhi, April 1 – PSU oil marketing major Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has increased the prices of its premium fuels in the national capital.The price of XP100 petrol has been increased to Rs 160 per litre, up from Rs 149 previously. This high-octane fuel is primarily used in luxury vehicles and high-performance motorcycles to enhance engine efficiency.Similarly, the company has raised the price of Xtra Green diesel (premium diesel), which now costs Rs 92.99 per litre in Delhi, compared to Rs 91.49 previously.However, there has been no change in the prices of regular petrol and diesel, which remained stable across major Indian cities despite a rise in global crude oil benchmarks amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West...

Kolkata, April 1 The escalating conflict in West Asia is beginning to put pressure on India's real estate sector, with material prices rising, and industry leaders warning of a potential 5 per cent increase in construction costs if the hostilities continue through April.Construction schedules are also likely to be affected due to shortages of materials and resources if the conflict continues.Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, said the crisis is triggering a "classic cost-push cycle" for real estate, with crude oil prices moving from sub-USD70 levels in February to well above USD 110–120 per barrel in March, and natural gas witnessing sharp increases."We are already seeing this pressure across steel, logistics...

Mumbai, April 1 The rupee gained 15 paise to 94.70 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, tracking positive cues from domestic equity markets and the retreat of the US dollar overseas.However, the local currency remained under pressure due to higher crude oil prices and sustained withdrawal of foreign funds, even as banks moved to cut their net open position in the currency following the RBI mandate, forex traders said.Through its circular dated March 27, 2026, the RBI capped the Net Open Position (NOP-INR) for banks at USD 100 million, with compliance required by April 10.At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened stronger at 93.62 but pared all gains to trade at 94.70 against the greenback in early deals...

Mumbai, April 1 – The benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trading on Wednesday, driven by a sharp rally in global markets fueled by hopes of a potential de-escalation in the ongoing conflict in West Asia.The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped by 1,899.53 points to 73,847.08 in early trading. The 50-share NSE Nifty rose by 572.55 points to 22,903.95.All 30 Sensex-listed companies saw gains, with Trent, Bharat Electronics, Adani Ports, Bajaj Finance, InterGlobe Aviation, and Larsen & Toubro being the top performers.In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, China's SSE Composite index, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index all saw significant gains. The Kospi rose by nearly 7%, while the Nikkei 225...

New Delhi, April 1 – State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) made significant changes to the prices of both aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and commercial LPG on Wednesday, with rates surging sharply – including a more than doubling in jet fuel prices – in line with a spike in global oil prices amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.Jet fuel prices more than doubled to a record high, while commercial LPG rates also increased significantly, adding to cost pressures across various sectors.According to fuel retailers, the price of ATF in Delhi was increased by Rs 1,10,703.08 per kilolitre, or 114.5%, to Rs 2,07,341.22 per kl.This marks the first time that ATF prices have exceeded the Rs 2 lakh per kl mark.The previous peak was...

New Delhi, April 1 The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre on Wednesday, but domestic airlines will not have to pay this steep increase as a mechanism is being put in place to protect them.Meanwhile, the price of commercial LPG was also raised by Rs 195.50 per cylinder, reflecting the surge in global oil prices linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.According to state-owned fuel retailers, the price of ATF in Delhi was hiked by Rs 110,703.08 per kilolitre, or 114.5%, to Rs 207,341.22 per kl.As ATF is a completely deregulated product, its price is based on prevailing benchmark international prices. This is according to an agreement with the airlines...