The Times of India

Mumbai, Delhi, and Noida power companies lead in performance for 2024-25. Adani Electricity Mumbai, TPDDL, and NPCL secured top positions. Delhi's discoms also excelled in consumer service. These rankings highlight operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The surveys aim to drive improvements across the power sector.

Iranian President Pezeshkian urged the India-led BRICS to play an independent role in halting aggressions against Iran amid escalating Middle East tensions. He highlighted alleged US and Israeli unlawful attacks and crimes, emphasizing Iran's opposition to nuclear weapons. PM Modi condemned attacks on energy infrastructure and called for dialogue and peace.

AIADMK, a key NDA ally in Puducherry, has agreed to contest from two constituencies, Uppalam and Orleanpet, to uphold coalition dharma. The party expressed confidence in winning both seats and asserted its claim for a share in power if the alliance secures victory in the upcoming Assembly polls. This decision follows seat-sharing talks with ruling AINRC and BJP.

Indian pharmaceutical giants like Sun Pharma, Torrent, and Dr. Reddy's have launched affordable semaglutide, a groundbreaking weight-loss drug, following Novo Nordisk's patent expiry. This move significantly reduces therapy costs, offering patients greater access to treatment for obesity and type-2 diabetes. Torrent Pharma even introduced both oral and injectable versions, marking a significant step in addressing India's growing metabolic disorder crisis.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan sharply criticized Congress and Rahul Gandhi, labeling them the B-team of BJP and accusing them of failing to learn from past experiences. He highlighted their repeated allegations against Arvind Kejriwal despite court dismissals and claimed Congress aligns with the BJP at both national and state levels.

India anticipates meeting peak summer electricity demand despite Middle East conflict, relying on coal, renewables, and battery storage. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal stated limited gas dependence shields the system. A 4 GW imported coal plant and fast-tracked wind projects will bolster supply, while solar covers daytime needs and batteries address evening demand.

India imports a big percentage of its crude oil, LPG, and LNG needs and a substantial portion of that transits through the Strait of Hormuz which is a narrow maritime route, in effect closed since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war.

Addressing a public gathering here on the completion of four years of the Uttarakhand government, the Defence Minister expressed pride and confidence in the government led by CM Dhami and attributed the state's growth to him.

Rahul Gandhi criticizes the central government over the rupee's record low. He warns of inevitable inflation due to the West Asia crisis impacting fuel prices. Gandhi states production and transport costs will rise, hitting small businesses. He predicts hikes in petrol, diesel, and LPG prices after state elections.

Six years after locking foreign capital out of the door, India has opened it just wide enough. The Cabinet's amendment to Press Note 3 clears the fog around who can invest from where. What it does not do is throw open the floodgates.

Assam's election campaign is set to be dominated by key issues including eviction policies, infiltration concerns, and development projects. Political parties will debate the government's actions on land reclamation and child marriage, while illegal immigration and the CAA remain contentious. The ruling alliance will highlight welfare schemes and job recruitment, facing opposition critiques on development disparities and crime against women.

When the BJP swept to power in 2014 with a decisive majority in the Lok Sabha, it did not carry that dominance into the Rajya Sabha. The Upper House, by design, is insulated from electoral waves. Its members are elected by state assemblies, and their terms are staggered, ensuring continuity and preventing sudden shifts. This meant that even as the BJP commanded brute strength in the Lower House, it remained a minority in the Upper House for years. That imbalance mattered!

Local body poll results in Kerala signal a potential shift, with the Congress-led UDF gaining momentum against the ruling LDF. The UDF secured key urban strongholds, raising concerns about anti-incumbency for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's government. The BJP also shows strategic expansion, hinting at a more competitive assembly election.

The US faces a paradox in its conflict with Iran, relying on the nation's oil to stabilize global markets while simultaneously trying to weaken it. Disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on energy infrastructure have sent prices soaring, forcing Washington to ease sanctions on Iranian crude. This move offers temporary relief but highlights the limited options available.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'moral cowardice and political betrayal' over the Centre's silence on the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Ramesh highlighted the government's lack of condemnation or diplomatic initiative to de-escalate tensions, questioning the PM's inaction despite his recent visit to Israel and claimed friendships.

Global markets are experiencing volatility due to the Middle East conflict, leading to significant investor wealth erosion. Experts advise retail investors to remain patient and avoid panic-driven decisions, emphasizing that short-term market swings are normal. India's strong economic fundamentals and robust capital markets support a long-term investment perspective.

India sees a cautious easing of maritime movement as three crude oil tankers successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, with two more LPG tankers preparing to follow. This comes after diplomatic engagements with Iran, ensuring safe passage for Indian vessels amidst regional tensions. The successful transits underscore India's commitment to securing unhindered movement for its fleet.

Foreign portfolio investors continued their withdrawal from Dalal Street this week, with net outflows reaching Rs 35,475 crore. Middle East tensions and elevated crude oil prices have fueled investor caution, leading to a risk-off approach. This sustained selling trend marks the highest monthly outflow for 2026 so far.

The Middle East conflict's fourth week is impacting global economies, with nations like Germany, Italy, Britain, Japan, and India facing significant energy cost pressures and supply chain vulnerabilities. Iran's role in the Strait of Hormuz is a key concern. Countries are implementing austerity and cost-control measures amid rising inflation and currency depreciation.

Indian refiners are considering resuming Iranian crude oil purchases following a temporary US sanctions waiver. This move aims to ease an energy crunch caused by Middle East supply disruptions, with millions of barrels of Iranian crude already in transit. Clarification on payment terms from Washington is awaited before finalising shipments.

Eid-ul-Fitr has arrived, marking the end of Ramadan with joyous celebrations. This guide offers a collection of heartfelt, fun, and spiritual messages to share with loved ones via WhatsApp and social media.

Congress leader Shama Mohamed on Friday raised concerns over the low representation of women in the party's candidate list, urging Rahul Gandhi to intervene. In a post on X, Mohamed said that out of 92 tickets, only nine had been allotted to women. She also pointed to the Lok Sabha elections, where just one woman was fielded among 16 candidates in Kerala.Denied but not defeated, she wrote, appealing to Rahul Gandhi to support women leaders in the state unit.

Amidst Middle East conflict and soaring oil prices, Indian oil companies have increased premium petrol variants by over Rs 2 per litre. However, retail prices for regular petrol and diesel remain unchanged, while industrial diesel costs have surged by Rs 22 per litre due to global crude oil volatility.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in Kolkata, accusing the Centre of trying to remove voters through SIR and impose Presidents Rule. She said her government would resist such moves and protect peoples rights. Her remarks come amid a political row over electoral roll scrutiny ahead of the assembly elections, with the TMC alleging attempts to target genuine voters and divide society.

India's crude oil imports have significantly dropped in March due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing refiners to pivot towards Russia and African producers. Russia has emerged as the largest supplier, nearly doubling its shipments, while African nations like Angola have also increased their exports to compensate for reduced Middle Eastern supplies.

Amidst the ongoing war with Iran, the Trump administration is releasing 45.2 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to curb soaring oil prices. This move, part of a global effort, involves lending crude to energy firms with repayment including a premium, aiming to stabilize markets without taxpayer cost. The reserve, holding significant oil, is expected to grow upon repayment.

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas revealed his company's Comet browser on iOS defaults to Google Search for navigational queries, acknowledging Google's superior performance in these areas. This pragmatic approach positions Comet as a complementary tool, blending Google's speed with Perplexity's advanced AI capabilities for more complex needs.

Price Of War: Job-Loss Fears Grow In Labour-Intensive Sectors

The US has granted a 30-day waiver on Iranian oil shipments currently at sea, aiming to stabilize global energy supplies amid escalating Middle East tensions. This move, intended to inject approximately 140 million barrels into the market, follows similar relaxations on Russian oil. While the US asserts control over revenue, Iran claims no surplus oil is available.

'Not same as charge', P 24

Tells BMC To Abide By Audit Of Afforestation