Business

Former Coal India Executives Seek PM Modi’s Intervention Over Stagnant Pension Scheme 75 Former PSU Leaders Flag Concerns Over Coal Mines Pension Scheme Kolkata, March 24: A group of senior former executives from Coal India Ltd (CIL), its subsidiaries, and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in revising pensions for retired coal sector employees, highlighting that payouts remain unchanged over time.The appeal comes through a letter dated March 23, signed by 75 former chairpersons, managing directors, and directors of public sector undertakings. The signatories include prominent former CIL leaders such as S K Chowdhary, Prasenjit Kumar Sen Gupta, Partha S Bhattacharyya, Nirmal...

Aditya Birla Fashion Announces Pantaloons CEO Succession; Suraj Bahirwani to Take Charge from October 2026 New Delhi, March 24: Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) on Tuesday unveiled a structured leadership succession plan for its Pantaloons business, appointing Suraj Bahirwani as the designated Chief Executive Officer.Suraj Bahirwani Named CEO (Designated) for Pantaloons The company stated in a regulatory filing that its board, in a meeting held on March 24, 2026, approved Bahirwani’s appointment as CEO (Designated) – Pantaloons and Senior Managerial Personnel (SMP) effective April 1, 2026. He will formally assume the role of CEO – Pantaloons and SMP from October 1, 2026.Sangeeta Tanwani to Oversee Transition Until...

Asgard Alcobev Appoints Rohit Jain as Chairman Emeritus to Strengthen Strategic Continuity New Delhi, March 24: Asgard Alcobev Ltd on Tuesday announced the appointment of Rohit Jain as Chairman Emeritus and Strategic Advisor to the Board, reinforcing its focus on long-term governance and strategic direction.Five-Year Advisory Role Effective March 2026 The company stated that its Board has approved Jain’s appointment for a five-year term, effective March 21, 2026. The role is advisory in nature, and Jain will not serve as a director.Asgard Alcobev said the move is aimed at leveraging his extensive experience while ensuring continuity in strategic decision-making as the company advances its growth plans.Focus on Governance and...

95% of Women Open to AI Roles With Right Support, Report Highlights Gender Gap in Tech Leadership New Delhi, March 24: Around 95 per cent of women are willing to transition into AI-focused roles if provided with the right organisational support, according to a report released on Tuesday, underscoring the growing importance of artificial intelligence in reshaping career pathways.AI Seen as Key to Bridging Gender Gap in Tech The report by ANSR and Talent500 positions AI as a critical lever to address gender disparity in the technology sector. While India produces 43 per cent of the world’s female STEM graduates, representation remains uneven across the workforce, with women holding only 29 per cent of entry-level tech roles and just 14...

Swiggy Raises Platform Fee to Rs 17.58 Per Order, Matches Zomato Pricing New Delhi, March 24: Food delivery platform Swiggy has increased its platform fee to Rs 17.58 per order, according to details visible on its app on Tuesday. The move comes shortly after rival Zomato revised its own fee structure.This marks Swiggy’s first platform fee hike since September last year. With the latest revision, the company now charges Rs 17.58 per order, inclusive of GST.Zomato Fee Hike Brings Parity in Pricing Zomato had earlier, on March 20, raised its platform fee by Rs 2.40 to Rs 14.90 per order on a pre-GST basis. With GST applied, Zomato’s charges now align closely with Swiggy’s updated fee, effectively bringing both platforms to a similar...

India Builds World’s Largest Renewable Energy Park in Rann of Kutch to Boost Clean Energy Capacity Khavda Renewable Energy Park to Deliver 30 GW Hybrid Power Capacity New Delhi, March 24: India is transforming the vast salt flats of the Rann of Kutch into what is set to become the world’s largest single-site renewable energy project, underlining its push toward clean energy and long-term energy security.Spread across more than 72,000 hectares in Gujarat, the 30 GW Khavda Renewable Energy Park, also known as the Gujarat Hybrid Renewable Energy Park, is being developed as a large-scale solar and wind installation. Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly 18 million homes.Hybrid...

Quality Care India Partners with Intuitive to Expand Robotic Surgery Across Hospital Network Mumbai, March 23: Quality Care India Ltd (QCIL), a healthcare platform, has entered into an agreement with global medical technology company Intuitive to expand robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) capabilities across its multi-brand hospital network.The collaboration will cover QCIL’s key hospital chains, including CARE Hospitals, KIMSHEALTH, and Evercare Hospitals, with a focus on strengthening access to advanced minimally invasive treatments.Focus on Expanding Access in Tier II and Tier III Markets QCIL stated that the partnership is aligned with its strategy to enhance healthcare accessibility beyond metro cities. The initiative will...

Gold Prices Rebound in Delhi After Four-Day Decline; Silver Holds Steady New Delhi, March 24: Gold prices in the national capital snapped a four-day losing streak on Tuesday, rising sharply by Rs 1,200 to reach Rs 1.44 lakh per 10 grams, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Silver prices, however, remained unchanged at Rs 2.30 lakh per kilogram.Domestic Gold Recovers on Global Cues and Value Buying The precious metal with 99.9 per cent purity had settled at Rs 1,43,600 per 10 grams on Monday, inclusive of all taxes. Tuesday’s rebound reflects renewed buying interest in the domestic market after recent declines.Traders indicated that the recovery was supported by a rebound in global commodity markets, along with fresh...

Sensex, Nifty Surge Nearly 2% as Global Relief Rally Lifts Market Sentiment Mumbai, March 24: Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty staged a strong recovery on Tuesday, rising nearly 2% each, as easing geopolitical concerns triggered a relief rally across global markets.The rebound follows a sharp sell-off in the previous session, with investor sentiment improving after the United States announced a temporary halt to strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.Sensex Jumps Over 1,300 Points, Nifty Reclaims 22,900 Mark The BSE Sensex surged 1,372.06 points or 1.89% to close at 74,068.45, after touching an intraday high of 74,489.39, up 1,793 points or 2.46%.The NSE Nifty climbed 399.75 points or 1.78% to settle at 22,912.40...

India’s Flexible Office Space Market Triples to 114 Million Sq Ft by 2025 Strong Growth Driven by Corporate Demand and Workplace Strategy Shift New Delhi, March 24: India’s flexible office space market has expanded significantly, reaching an estimated 110 to 114 million square feet between 2020 and 2025, marking a threefold increase, according to a report released on Tuesday.The report, published by real estate consultancy CBRE in collaboration with FICCI, highlighted that the sector has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 23 to 25 percent over the past five years, reflecting sustained momentum in demand and supply.IT Sector Leads Demand, Global Firms Dominate Occupancy Demand for flexible office spaces in 2025 was largely...

Delhi Budget 2026–27: ₹13,034 Crore Allocated to Healthcare with Focus on Free Genetic Testing and Infrastructure Expansion New Delhi, March 24: The Delhi government has earmarked over 12.5 percent of its total budget for the healthcare sector in FY 2026–27, allocating approximately ₹13,034 crore. The move introduces key initiatives including free genetic testing for newborns, expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, broader healthcare coverage, and significant infrastructure upgrades.Chief Minister and Finance Minister Rekha Gupta presented a ₹1.03 lakh crore budget on Tuesday, with healthcare allocation rising by 1 percent from ₹12,893 crore in FY 2025–26.“This year, we focus on Accessible Healthcare and Secure Life. The goal is to...

India Gas Supply Update: Refineries at Full Capacity, LPG and PNG Distribution Remains Stable New Delhi, March 24: The government on Tuesday confirmed that all gas refineries across India are operating at full capacity, with 18,700 tonnes of commercial LPG lifted as of Monday, underscoring stable fuel availability amid ongoing geopolitical concerns.Refineries Running at Peak Capacity, Fuel Stocks Adequate During an inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Marketing and Oil Refinery, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, stated that all refineries are functioning at full capacity, ensuring uninterrupted supply. She emphasized that the country currently holds adequate stocks of petrol and diesel, with no reported...

India’s Energy Diversification Strategy Praised by Argentina Envoy, Highlights Lithium Collaboration India’s Long-Term Energy Strategy Gains Recognition New Delhi, March 24: Argentina’s Ambassador to India, Mariano Agustin Caucino, has described India’s ongoing efforts to diversify its energy and resource suppliers as a “wise strategy,” noting that the approach was already underway before recent global conflicts disrupted supply chains.Speaking in New Delhi, Caucino said the Indian government had proactively focused on reducing dependence on limited sources of energy and critical resources, reflecting a strong long-term strategic outlook.“Even before the last evolution of this conflict, the Indian government has been developing a...

Turmeric Exports from Marathwada Halted Amid West Asia Conflict, Prices Drop Sharply Domestic Turmeric Prices Fall as Export Disruptions Intensify Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, March 24: The ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has brought turmeric exports from Maharashtra’s Marathwada region to a standstill, triggering a sharp decline in domestic prices.Turmeric prices have fallen significantly from ₹16,500 per quintal to ₹13,000 per quintal, reflecting the impact of halted overseas shipments and weakening demand in export markets.Export Supply Chain Disrupted Across Key Producing Districts Shiv Sena MLC Hemant Patil said turmeric grown in Marathwada is primarily exported to Gulf and African countries, but the conflict...

Indian LPG Carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant Safely Transit Strait of Hormuz Amid Regional Tensions Vessels Carrying Over 92,000 Metric Tonnes of LPG Headed to Indian Ports New Delhi, March 24: The government confirmed that two Indian LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are currently en route to India, ensuring continuity in fuel supplies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, stated during an inter-ministerial briefing that Pine Gas is scheduled to reach New Mangalore port on March 27 with a cargo of 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG.Jag Vasant, carrying 47,600 metric tonnes of LPG, is...

Sterlite Electric Appoints Frederic Trefois as Group CEO to Lead Next Growth Phase New Delhi, March 24: Sterlite Electric on Tuesday announced the appointment of Frederic Andre M Trefois as its Group Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition as the company prepares for its next phase of growth in the power transmission and distribution sector.Trefois was previously serving as an independent, non-executive director on the company’s board, according to an official statement. With extensive experience in managing and overseeing companies, he is set to steer Sterlite Electric’s strategic direction amid evolving global energy demands.Leadership Backed by Global Industry Experience Commenting on the appointment, Pratik...

SEBI Proposes Gift Cards for Mutual Fund Investments to Boost Financial Inclusion New Delhi, March 25: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed the introduction of gift cards or gift prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) for investing in mutual funds, aiming to widen investor participation and enhance financial inclusion.Gift PPIs to Enable Gifting of Mutual Fund Investments According to SEBI’s consultation paper released on Tuesday, individuals will be able to purchase Gift PPIs and transfer them to recipients, who can then use these instruments to subscribe to mutual fund units. The move is designed to simplify onboarding of new investors into the mutual fund ecosystem.Funding, Validity, and Investment Cap...

Delhi Budget 2026-27: ₹3,942 Crore Allocated to Power Sector, Focus on Subsidies and Infrastructure Upgrade ₹3,500 Crore Earmarked for Power Subsidy New Delhi, March 24: The Delhi Budget 2026-27, presented by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the Assembly, allocates ₹3,942 crore to the power department, with a significant portion directed towards consumer subsidies and infrastructure development.Out of the total allocation, ₹3,500 crore has been earmarked for power subsidy payments. The government continues its existing subsidy framework, under which households consuming up to 200 units of electricity receive full subsidy, while those consuming between 201 and 400 units are eligible for a 50 percent subsidy.Push for Solar Energy and...

NeuEN Wins Numaligarh Refinery Green Hydrogen Tender at Record Low Price of ₹279/kg New Delhi, March 24: NeuEN Green Energy, a joint venture between Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Sembcorp Green Hydrogen India, has secured a major contract to supply green hydrogen to Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) at the lowest price discovered in India to date.Record-Breaking Green Hydrogen Price Discovered The company won the tender to supply 10,000 tonnes per annum of green hydrogen at a price of ₹279 per kg, marking a new benchmark in India’s green hydrogen sector. According to sources, competing bids in the tender were close, at ₹280 and ₹281 per kg, reflecting increasing cost competitiveness and market maturity.Green Hydrogen...

Escorts Kubota Secures 154 Acres in YEIDA for New Manufacturing Plant New Delhi, March 24: Farm and construction equipment manufacturer Escorts Kubota on Tuesday announced that it has been allotted a 154-acre land parcel by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) to establish a new manufacturing facility.Greenfield Project Planned in Sector-10 According to a regulatory filing, the allocated land is situated in Sector-10 of the YEIDA Industrial Area. The proposed facility will be developed as a greenfield project, aimed at expanding the company’s production capacity.The company stated that the new plant is part of its broader strategy to strengthen manufacturing capabilities, though specific operational...