India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), on Thursday said there has been a significant shift in consumer preference towards piped natural gas (PNG), with adoption rising rapidly across the country. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Jain said that while compressed natural gas (CNG) continues to expand steadily across cities, PNG has witnessed a sharp increase in demand in recent months. "In March, we connected more than 10,000 households per day, adding over 300,000 new connections. This is a record achievement," he said, adding that the surge in demand continues even now. He noted that earlier, consumers preferred LPG due to its organised supply and reliability. However, there is now a growing realisation that domestic piped natural gas offers greater convenience. "People earlier believed LPG was better and reliably available, and it will continue to be so. But now people are realising that piped natural gas is even better than LPG," he said. Jain emphasised that there is no shortage of domestic piped natural gas in the country, and the government has been actively encouraging households to adopt PNG as an alternative cooking fuel. "The government has developed a medium-term vision where, along with LPG, another gas option should also be promoted. LPG will remain the primary program, but we are moving towards promoting piped natural gas as well," he said. He clarified that there is no shortage of LPG, CNG, petrol or diesel in the country, and the supply system remains robust. However, consumer behaviour is gradually shifting towards PNG as a more convenient option. "Just like water and electricity are supplied directly to homes, people are now seeing cooking fuel also being delivered similarly. Earlier, there was uncertainty, but now that is turning into confidence," he added. Jain also highlighted that even before the beginning of the conflict in West Asia, PNGRB had launched a nationwide campaign from January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026, to increase PNG penetration. Although initial progress was slow, the pace picked up significantly after recent geopolitical developments, including the Strait of Hormuz situation. "Following recent developments, the government directed state governments and companies to accelerate PNG expansion. Targets were made more ambitious, and the program has been extended for another three months," he said. He added that the current expansion targets are based on this revised framework, aimed at boosting domestic PNG adoption across the country. (ANI)
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (PTI) Ahead of BJD's 28th foundation day on December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to "raise voice against the BJP government's 'anti-people' policies" and also highlight the impact of high inflation, which hits the poor and middle class. "The party leaders and workers need to create awareness among people on the state B ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
Sivasagar, Jun 26 (PTI) Leakage of gas continued for the 15th day from a crude oil well of ONGC in Assam's Sivasagar district although the energy major on Thursday claimed that it is nearing to control the blowout. In its daily bulletin on the blowout, ONGC said it has achieved a key breakthrough in its ongoing operations in close coordination with international well control specialists from CUDD Pressure Control. "The team successfully cleared all remaining rig materials, including staircases, entangled wires and other structural components. "This critical step culminated in the safe remov ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 27 (UNI) The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has successfully capped a high-risk gas well blowout at its RDS 147A site in Sivasagar district, Assam, bringing an end to a 15-day-long emergency operation that triggered mass evacuation and widespread public anxiety. The gas well blowout, which began on June 12, involved an uncontrolled release of natural gas from one of ONGC's drilling sites -- a situation often considered one of the most hazardous in the oil and gas industry due to the risk of explosion and environmental damage. The blowout was finally brought under contr ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
The chip makers around the world felt the relief of a rumor suggesting that the sales curb to China could be less severe than previously expected. But the news didn't necessarily translate in a strong rally. ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) - Europe's biggest chip equipment maker that predicted a 30% fall to its Chinese revenue next year - closed 0.22% lower yesterday, while Tokyo Electron - which was up by more than 6% yesterday - couldn't extend gains at today's session. With US markets paused for the Thanksgiving break, France was at the heart of the attention yesterday. The political drama, there, only ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (VOICE) The output of India's eight core sector industries rose 4 per cent year-on-year in December, driven by an increase in the production of coal, steel, and electricity during the month, according to government data released on Friday.The eight core industries include coal, natural gas, crude oil, refinery products, fertilisers, cement, steel and electricity which comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The growth rate of the core industries, therefore, is an indicator of the overall industrial growth rate. Apa ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) The higher oil prices triggered by a brief Israel-Iran war have come down, but it is too soon to sound the "all clear" for the rest of the year, said a finance ministry report on Friday. The ministry's monthly economic review also stressed that with no major imbalances in the macro aggregates, a subdued inflation rate combined with a growth-supportive monetary policy stance, India's macroeconomic health is in a relative goldilocks situation. Also Read | UK F-35B Lightning II Stealth Fighter Jet To Be Moved to Thiruvananthapuram Airport's Repair Facility As It Awaits R ...Read More >
Listening to the sounds of nature such as birdsong reduces stress levels - but the sound of traffic increases them, new research shows. The research lends support for anyone who is a firm believer in the curative powers of a walk in the countryside or through a forest. In a study, 68 volunteers listened to three three-minute soundscapes: a nature soundscape recorded at sunrise in West Sussex, the same soundscape combined with 20 mile per hour road traffic sounds, and the same soundscape with 40 mile per hour traffic sounds. General mood and anxiety were assessed before and after the soundsc ...Read More >
New Delhi: The BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicle ban has been lifted in Delhi after the Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to the moderate category. The Supreme Court allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ease restrictions due to the improvement in the national capital's air pollution situation. Delhi had been facing high pollution levels, which led CAQM to enforce Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The court has now asked the commission to apply GRAP Stage 2. ...Read More >
Alipurduar, May 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation of a Rs 1,010 crore City Gas Distribution Project in West Bengal's northern district of Alipurduar and said that the state's development is key to India's future. The project aims to supply Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to 2.5 lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments, and establish 19 CNG stations. "The City gas distribution project in Alipurduar is our commitment to strengthening the region's clean energy infrastructure," Modi said at the outset. "Bengal's development is key to India's future," Modi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a significant move to boost infrastructure and community development, the Assam State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday approved key decisions under Mission Basundhara 3.0 and amended governance rules for autonomous councils and panchayats. The Chief Minister said: "The Cabinet cleared the allotment of government land for 942 infrastructure projects across 11 districts, including Kamrup, Barpeta, and Dhemaji. Barpeta leads with 170 proposals, followed by Dhemaji (207) and Lakhimpur (175)." CM Sarma told reporters here: "Add ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rate for October 2024 registered a modest increase to 3.5 per cent, up from 3.1 per cent in September 2024, according to the Quick Estimates released on December 12. According to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, sectoral analysis reveals mixed performances. Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity sectors reported growth rates of 0.9 per cent, 4.1 per cent, and 2.0 per cent, respectively. The manufacturing sector demonstrated resilience, with 18 out of 23 industry groups at the 2-digit N ...Read More >
New Delhi: ONGC's production trend is beginning to turn after eight straight years of fall as a key new field in KG Basin ramps up and the old Mumbai High asset arrests decline. ONGC's crude production rose 3% year-on-year in November to 53,804 tonnes per day (tpd) and the output growth so far in December has accelerated to 4.2% to 54,535 tpd, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The output was marginally higher in three of the first seven months this fiscal year but there is a cle ...Read More >
New Delhi/Guwahati, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) on Friday successfully capped the blowout in one of its wells in Assam's Sivasagar district, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has announced. Announcing the plugging of the blowout, Puri said in a post on X on Friday, "ONGC has successfully capped the blow out of well RDS#147A at 1115 hours hrs today. This blow out started on 12th June and has been capped successfully within the shortest possible time following all the best practices." He said the Crisis Manag ...Read More >
Dozens of two-wheelers skidded on a Hyderabad road after an oil tanker leaking fuel passed from the area. The incident which occurred on Hyderabad's Kushaiguda-Nagaram road left several bikers injured. In a video, which went viral after the accident, men and women were seen sprawled on the road along with their fallen two-wheelers. While some of them are still on the road, others can be seen attempting to pick up their vehicles. "A road stretch between ECIL & Keesara has turned slick due to a diesel spill. Motorists are urged to drive carefully and consider alternate routes to avoid accident ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 to expand the definition of mineral oils and include petroleum and natural gas passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri for consideration and passing. The Bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum. The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it. Also Read | Pune: Doctors Perform Rare Laser Surgery on Woman Pregnant With Monoam ...Read More >
Alipurduar (West Bengal) [India], May 29 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid foundation stone of City Gas Distribution project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts in West Bengal on Thursday. The project, worth over Rs 1010 crore, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 Lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments, and industries, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing around 19 CNG stations in line with the Minimum Work Program (MWP) targets stipulated by the Government. Also Read | Kerala Lottery Result Today 3 PM L ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Silver prices on Thursday, crossed USD 35 mark per ounce and hit its highest level since March 2012, boosted by a combination of factors such as weaker US dollar, rising geopoltical tension and robust industrial demand. 'With the trust in dollar decreasing silver appears to be a good avenue for money to move to and the Gold Silver ratio was recently above 1.10 so the only way forward was either silver prices rise up or gold prices fall, and thats what has happened silver has risen far more than gold,' said Mrinesh Jain Director, Bombay Bullion Metal Hub LLP. ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: In a major move aimed at reducing pollution and improving urban transport in Hyderabad, the Telangana government has approved the introduction of 65,000 new eco-friendly auto rickshaws within the city limits and the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The decision, driven by Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and aligned with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's vision, is expected to contribute to environmental sustainability and employment generation. The state issued GO No. 263 relaxing the long-standing cap on new auto rickshaw permits within Greater Hyderabad. For over two decades, restriction ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) The higher oil prices triggered by a brief Israel-Iran war have come down, but it is too soon to sound the "all clear" for the rest of the year, said a finance ministry report on Friday. The ministry's monthly economic review also stressed that with no major imbalances in the macro aggregates, a subdued inflation rate combined with a growth-supportive monetary policy stance, India's macroeconomic health is in a relative goldilocks situation. The brief Israel-Iran war, followed by the US intervention, pushed the price of crude oil sharply higher, it noted. "Its persis ...Read More >
In the Indo-Pacific region, if one development would prove to be a landmark event in the region's modern history, it would be the signing of the Treaty of Comprehensive Partnership between North Korea and Russia in June 2024. The partnership has paved the way for strengthening bilateral ties between Moscow and Pyongyang and marked the onset of the global order transition, which was already underway. The institutionalization of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan's trilateral security cooperation has also given Russia and North Korea another strategic reason to collaborate. Therefore, with the geo ...Read More >
New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) As the Delhi Assembly polls draw closer, AAP leader Satyendar Jain has said the people must decide whether they want to follow the governance model of developed nations like Sweden and France or end up like "failed states" such as Pakistan and Uganda. In an interview with PTI ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, Jain defended the AAP's welfare-driven policies, arguing that free healthcare, education and basic utilities are essential for national progress. "If we are wrong in providing free welfare schemes, then developed countries like Sweden, France and Denmark are ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The government announced on Saturday that it would grant permits for 65,000 green autorickshaws to ply within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. Permission has been granted for operating 20,000 electric autorickshaws, 10,000 fuelled by CNG, 10,000 by LPG and 25,000 retro-fitted electric three-wheelers. No permissions shall be given to petrol or diesel autorickshaws. Earlier, no new autorickshaws were delivered or sold to people unless they submitted a certificate issued by the transport department that they had scrapped their old vehicles. Government's special chief secretary Vikas ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs clarified India's position on importing crude oil from Iran on thursday, stating that energy purchases are based on 'market factors and the prevailing global situation.' 'Our energy requirements, or the energy purchases we make, are based on market factors and the prevailing global situation,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in THEIR weekly briefing. Further, the Ministry also expressed deep concerns about the situation in West Asia, including the Israeli attacks on nuclear scientists and certain universities in Iran. ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday warned educational institutions that cases would be booked against them if drugs were found in their premises. The CM announced that the state's Anti-Narcotics Bureau would henceforth be known as Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and was tasked with curbing the menace of narcotics in the state. Speaking at an event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 at Shilpakala Vedika here, Reddy placed an onus on educational institutions to ensure their campuses were free of drugs. "It is the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Gold prices plunged Rs 930 to Rs 97,670 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday as traders rushed to selling amid easing off Middle East tensions and favourable reports about a trade deal between the US and China. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 98,600 per 10 grams on Thursday. On Friday, gold of 99.5 per cent purity declined by Rs 850 to Rs 97,200 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had settled at Rs 98,050 per 10 grams in the previous market session. "Gold prices continue to cor ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi govt has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to enforce the ban on refuelling end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, with CNG pumps being exempted. According to a directive from Commission for Air Quality Management, beginning July 1, all EoL vehicles -- diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years -- will be prohibited from being refuelled in Delhi.The revised SOP states, "It is hereby clarified that CNG vehicles shall not be denied fuel. Accordingly, any reference to CNG in the SOP should be disregarded." The denial of fuel shall strictly apply on ...Read More >