Business

Hindustan Zinc Partners with Tata Steel to Boost Low-Carbon Steel Production New Delhi, March 23 — Hindustan Zinc Ltd on Monday announced a strategic partnership with Tata Steel to expand the use of its low-carbon zinc solution, EcoZen, in steel manufacturing.The collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to integrating climate-focused strategies into their core operations and supply chains.EcoZen: A Low-Carbon Zinc Solution for Sustainable Manufacturing In a regulatory filing with the BSE, Hindustan Zinc said the partnership will deepen the integration of EcoZen into sustainable steel production.EcoZen is manufactured using renewable energy and has a verified carbon footprint of less than one tonne of CO₂ equivalent per...

Healthcare Sector Tops Cyberattack Targets in India: Seqrite Report New Delhi, March 23 — India’s healthcare sector faced the highest number of cybersecurity attacks between October 2024 and September 2025, according to a report released by Seqrite, part of Quick Heal Technologies Ltd..The report found that while healthcare led in attack volume, the education and manufacturing sectors together accounted for nearly 47% of all cyber threat detections in the country during the period. 3.79 Million Cyberattacks Target Healthcare and Pharma The healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors recorded 3.79 million cyberattack detections, making up 14.24% of total incidents nationwide.According to the report, hospitals and clinics across India faced...

No Proposal for Farm Loan Waiver, Says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman New Delhi, March 23 — The central government is not considering any proposal for a complete farm loan waiver, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on Monday.Responding in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the government is instead focusing on strengthening farmers’ financial stability through targeted schemes and improved access to institutional credit. Government Focuses on Credit Support via Kisan Credit Card Scheme The government continues to provide timely and affordable credit to farmers through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme. Under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), crop loans of up to ₹3 lakh are offered at subsidized...

Modi Addresses Lok Sabha on West Asia Conflict, LPG Shortage Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed the prevailing situation in West Asia “worrisome” as it is having a very adverse impact on the global economy and the livelihoods of people. Modi is expected to address the Lok Sabha around 2 pm on Monday, focusing on the ongoing West Asia conflict.Congress Urges Action on West Asia and Domestic Concerns The Congress urged India to take the lead in peace talks in West Asia and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inform citizens about the measures being taken to address the LPG shortage and rising inflation. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that Modi should have spoken earlier, emphasizing the need to address the...

Two More Indian LPG Tankers Transit Strait of Hormuz New Delhi, March 23 – Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, have resumed their journeys from the Persian Gulf, ship tracking data indicates. The vessels are expected to cross the war-affected Strait of Hormuz before heading to Indian ports.Vessels Navigate Tensions The LPG tankers, sailing in close proximity on Monday afternoon, were located near the waters between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands. This positioning likely aimed to clarify their identity to Iranian authorities prior to traversing the Strait.Recent Arrivals and Stranded Vessels Previously, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying approximately 92,712 tonnes of LPG – roughly a day's cooking gas...

India’s Electricity Generation Capacity Reaches 524 GW India’s installed electricity generation capacity has reached 524 GW as of February 28, 2026, according to information shared with the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik reported that the nation has transitioned from a power deficit to a power sufficient state.Capacity Expansion Since 2014 The country has added 296.388 GW of generation capacity since April 2014, significantly strengthening the power sector through expanded capacity and improved infrastructure.Power Supply and Demand Electricity supply has largely kept pace with demand over the last three financial years and the current fiscal, with only minor shortfalls. These shortfalls are primarily...

LPG Coverage Reaches Near-Universal Levels Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana New Delhi, March 23 – India has achieved near-universal LPG coverage thanks to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), with approximately 10.56 crore connections established as of March 1, 2026, according to a statement made to Parliament on Monday. Maharashtra currently has 52.60 lakh PMUY connections, while Gujarat boasts 43.92 lakh connections.The government recently approved the release of an additional 25 lakh LPG connections during the 2025-26 financial year to address pending applications and further saturate LPG access across the country. As of March 1, 2026, Maharashtra received approximately 0.48 lakh new connections, and Gujarat approximately...

Lok Sabha Referrals Corporate Laws Amendment Bill to Joint Parliamentary Committee New Delhi, March 23 – The Lok Sabha referred the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on Monday following a voice vote. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman initiated the referral after the Bill was introduced.Opposition members, including Manish Tewari of the Congress, Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress, and T Sumathy of the DMK, voiced concerns that the legislation would dilute provisions requiring companies to contribute 2 per cent of their profits to corporate social responsibility (CSR).Finance Minister Sitharaman refuted these allegations, stating the Bill stemmed from two years of deliberations and...

EPFO to Automate Recovery of Unclaimed Funds, Targeting Rs 5,200 Crore New Delhi – The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is preparing to significantly increase efforts to recover unclaimed funds held in inactive accounts. The organization plans to implement an automated settlement system, aiming to directly credit balances to subscribers’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, eliminating the need for traditional claim filing processes.Automated Settlement Mechanism The proposed system will initially process approximately 25% of Aadhaar-verified inactive accounts, representing an estimated 8 lakh accounts. This initiative is projected to recover a total of Rs 5,200 crore in unclaimed funds.Breakdown of Unclaimed Balances Analysis...

Bosch and Tata AutoComp Form Joint Venture for Electric Mobility Joint Venture Details Bosch Ltd and Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd announced the formation of a joint venture focused on the engineering, manufacturing, and sales of eAxle systems and electric motors in India. The partners plan to hold equal shares in the venture, with operations slated to begin by mid-2026, subject to regulatory approvals. The joint venture’s registered office will be located in Pune.Strategic Objectives The venture aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies and expand the regional footprint for both companies within the e-mobility space. Bosch intends to leverage India’s position as the world’s third-largest automotive market to strengthen...

Crude Oil Prices Surge to ₹9,617 Per Barrel Amid Geopolitical Tensions Crude Oil Futures Rise Sharply New Delhi – Crude oil prices experienced a significant increase on Monday, rising by ₹359 to ₹9,617 per barrel in futures trade. This marks the fourth consecutive trading session of gains, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia and growing supply concerns.The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) witnessed a substantial jump in crude oil prices for the April contract, climbing by ₹359, representing nearly 4 per cent. Similarly, the May-delivery contract increased by ₹436, or approximately 5 per cent, reaching a lifetime high of ₹9,407 per barrel.International Market Reaction In international markets, West Texas...

Ayushman Bharat Scheme Sees 11.69 Crore Hospital Admissions Authorized New Delhi, March 23 – As of February 28, 2026, a total of 11.69 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Parliament was informed on Monday.Hospital Admissions Breakdown According to a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav stated that 6.74 crore of these admissions occurred in private hospitals.Ensuring Access to Treatment Strict guidelines are in place to ensure hospitals provide treatment to beneficiaries without refusal, the Minister noted. Patients experiencing denial or irregularities can file complaints through the Centralised Grievance Redressal Management...

Indian Bank Raises ₹5,000 Crore in Long-Term Infrastructure Bond Issue Mumbai, March 23 – Indian Bank announced today that it successfully raised ₹5,000 crore through a 10-year long-term infrastructure bond issue. The bond carries a coupon rate of 7.15 per cent.The lender received significant interest in the offering. Market sources reported two bids totaling ₹3,100 crore at a 7.13 per cent coupon rate. Furthermore, the bank received two bids each valued at ₹4,100 crore and ₹5,050 crore, both offering a 7.15 per cent coupon. One additional bid for a total value of ₹5,075 crore was also received.Indian Bank’s initial target was to raise ₹5,000 crore, including an additional ₹3,000 crore under a greenshoe option. The bonds have been...

RBI Injects ₹79,256 Crore in Liquidity, Deficit Remains Mumbai, March 23 – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provided ₹79,256 crore in short-term liquidity to the banking system on Monday through an overnight variable rate (VRR) auction.Liquidity Injection Details The RBI announced that the funds were injected at a cut-off and weighted average rate of 5.26 percent, as per a central bank release.Liquidity Levels Despite a significant drop in surplus liquidity due to advance tax payments, the amount injected was lower than the previously notified amount of ₹1 lakh crore. Currently, liquidity in the banking system is estimated to be in deficit of approximately ₹65,395.64 crore as of March 23.Recent Liquidity InjectionsMarch 20: The...

IEA Warns of Major Economic Fallout from Middle East Energy Disruptions Iran War Damages Over 40 Energy Assets Across Nine Countries Canberra, March 23 – The International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has warned that the Iran war is causing severe and widespread damage to energy assets across West Asia, with no country immune to the resulting disruption in oil and gas supplies.According to Birol, over 40 energy assets are “severely or very severely” damaged in nine countries within the region.Economic Impact Comparable to Past Crises Birol stated that the current disruptions are equivalent to the combined impact of the two major oil crises of the 1970s and the 2022 natural gas crisis following Russia’s invasion...

Sensex and Nifty Plunge as Global Tensions Weigh on Indian Markets Market Overview The benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced a significant downturn on Monday, reflecting a broader weakness in Asian markets fueled by escalating tensions in the Middle East. The fourth week of heightened regional instability contributed to a negative investor sentiment. Key Market FiguresSensex: Fell by 1,972.77 points, representing a 2.64% decrease, closing at 72,560.19. Nifty: Dropped by 636.35 points, equating to a 2.75% decline, and ended at 22,478.15.Sector Performance Among the 30 companies in the Sensex, InterGlobe Aviation, Titan, UltraTech Cement, Trent, Bharat Electronics, and Adani Ports were among the worst performers. Conversely...

New Delhi – India will implement the new Income Tax Act, 2025, starting April 1, 2026, but taxpayers will not need to file returns for the current financial year. Returns can be prepared and filed under the existing Income Tax Act, 1961, officials and tax experts confirmed. This approach ensures a smooth, year-by-year transition to the new legislation.FY26 Income Assessed Under Current Law Income earned from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, will be assessed and filed under the current Income Tax Act, 1961, for the Assessment Year 2026-27. The new Income Tax Act, 2025, will only apply to income earned from FY 2026-27 onwards, according to experts.CBDT Announces Revised Rules for Salaried Employees The Central Board of Direct Taxes...

Economic Survey Highlights Growth and Revenue Projections New Delhi, March 23 – Delhi’s economic outlook for 2025-26 has been outlined in the 2025-26 economic survey tabled in the Delhi Assembly by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The survey projects significant growth in per capita income and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).According to the report, Delhi’s per capita income at current prices is anticipated to reach Rs 5,31,610, representing a 7.92 per cent growth over the 2024-25 fiscal year. Furthermore, the survey indicates that Delhi’s per capita income is estimated to be approximately 2.5 times higher than the national average for 2025-26.The budget for 2025-26, totaling Rs 1,00,000 crore, includes Rs 59,300 crore allocated for...

LetzRyd Secures USD 4 Million in New Funding Round Investment Details New Delhi-based mobility fleet platform LetzRyd announced on Monday that it has raised USD 4 million (over Rs 35 crore) in a new funding round.Investors The round was led by JIF Capital Ltd. and included participation from Japan-based venture capital firm 15th Rock, and existing investor UNLEASH Capital Partners, Inc.Funding Utilization The fresh capital will be strategically deployed to bolster LetzRyd’s fleet network, scale its operating platform, and enhance technology-driven fleet and driver lifecycle management. Specifically, the funds will be used to strengthen systems that improve vehicle utilization and service efficiency. Furthermore, the investment will...

Frammer AI Partners with ABS-CBN to Integrate AI into Video Workflow New Delhi, March 23 – Frammer AI, an Indian artificial intelligence (AI) technology company, has entered into a partnership with ABS-CBN, one of the world’s largest media networks.AI-Powered Video Optimization Frammer AI specializes in using AI to optimize how media organizations process, edit, and publish videos. Founded in 2023 by the former management team of NDTV, the company collaborates with entertainment, sports, and news publishers globally.Replacing Wildmoka The partnership sees Frammer AI integrating its AI technology into all video processing and editing workflows for ABS-CBN, a media conglomerate based in the Philippines. This marks a significant shift...