India and Chile on Wednesday reviewed the progress of negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), with both sides discussing ways to accelerate talks and deepen bilateral economic engagement, reported PTI.The issue came up during a meeting between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Chile’s Vice-Minister of International Economic Relations Paula Estevez Weinstein in Yaounde, […]
US stock markets today (March 25, 2026): S&P 500, Nasdaq & Dow rally over 1%; Brent crude slides on renewed hopes of Iran war pause
US stock markets jumped on Wednesday while oil prices declined as hopes resurfaced for a possible pause in the war with Iran, lifting investor sentiment across global financial markets.The S&P 500 rose 1.1% in early trading after the United States delivered a proposal to Iran aimed at halting the conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average […]
Delay in FSSAI finalising front of pack labelling rules unusual by its own norm
While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has claimed in the Supreme Court that the framing of front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) regulations would take longer and sought more time, a look at several regulations framed by the authority in the last ten years shows that the average time taken to frame one or […]
Cabinet extends IVFRT 3.0 scheme for 5 years to make immigration faster, safer and more efficient
The Union Cabinet has approved continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) scheme for another five years from April 1, 2026, with a budget outlay of Rs 1,800 crore, in a move aimed at strengthening border management and improving services for legitimate foreign travellers, the government said.The extension — not a fresh […]
Cabinet approves UDAN 2.0 at Rs 28,840 crore to expand regional air connectivity
The Union Cabinet has approved a modified UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme worth Rs 28,840 crore aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity through new airport infrastructure, enhanced financial support for airlines and operational assistance for smaller aerodromes.Under the revamped programme, 100 new airports will be developed in challenge mode, with an estimated average […]
60 million barrels of Russian crude booked by Indian refiners amid global supply strain
Indian refiners have stepped up purchases of Russian crude as they lock in supplies for the coming month, with around 60 million barrels secured, according to people aware of the developments. The move comes as disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict continue to affect global oil flows.The cargoes have reportedly been contracted at […]
Amid US-Iran war, Nayara plans 35-day shutdown for maintenance; 8% of India’s refining capacity may take a hit
The company had postponed maintenance work at its 20 million tonnes-per-year Vadinar refinery in Gujarat. (AI image) Russia’s Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy is planning to halt operations for around 35 days starting early April, a move that could temporarily take nearly 8% of India’s refining capacity offline and tighten domestic fuel availability, according to people familiar […]
$20 billion bet: ONGC eyes its oil exploration programme with deep-water drilling rigs; eye on energy security
ONGC floated a tender for these rigs as it looks to accelerate hydrocarbon exploration under the government’s Samudra Manthan mission. (AI image) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation or ONGC is expected to spend about $18–20 billion on hiring deep-water drilling rigs for what could become its largest-ever oil exploration programme, according to people familiar with […]
‘No shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG’: BPCL, HPCL, IOCL soothe fuel concerns in India
Amid rising concerns about fuel supply in the country, several oil giants have issued clarifications stating there is no shortage, calling such rumours “completely false” and assuring that supply remains normal and sufficient. The statements come at a time when global oil supplies are disrupted due to Iran’s chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz amid […]
ITC, Tata Power & more: Top stocks to watch for on March 25, 2026
Morgan Stanley initiated its coverage on Fractal Analytics with the target price at Rs 946. Analysts said they see Fractal Analytics as a challenger in the tech services space. With its strong positioning in data and analytics (a segment growing faster than overall IT services spend), and its platform-centric approach to delivering agentic AI services, […]