The Times of India

Dalal Street investors lost Rs 6.6 lakh crore as escalating West Asian war triggered a sharp fall in stock markets. The Sensex closed 1.3% lower at 80,239 points, reflecting heightened geopolitical risks and investor uncertainty. Foreign funds led the selling, with outflows reaching nearly Rs 3,300 crore.

Prime Minister Modi condemned military strikes on UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, signaling disapproval of Iran's actions without naming the country. He also spoke with Israeli and Jordanian leaders, emphasizing peace and the well-being of the Indian diaspora. India's stance reflects its strategic alignment with GCC countries for energy security and diaspora welfare.

A total lunar eclipse, also known as Chandra Grahan, will occur on March 3, 2026, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Holi. This 'Blood Moon' event will be visible in India, with the latter part of the eclipse occurring around moonrise.

The Home Ministry has established two new empowered committees in West Bengal to expedite citizenship applications under the CAA, bringing the total to four. These panels will finalize citizenship grants for persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who arrived before December 31, 2014.

Saudi Arabia significantly boosted crude oil supplies to India in February, nearly matching Russia's top position. This surge, the highest in six years, reflects a shift by refiners away from some Russian volumes. However, ongoing Gulf disruptions may force India to seek alternative import routes, potentially altering the supply landscape.

Delhi High Court has revived disciplinary proceedings against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede concerning drugs seized in a 2021 case. This decision overturns a previous relief granted by the Central Administrative Tribunal. The proceedings relate to allegations of Wankhede threatening to implicate actor Shah Rukh Khan's son in the Cordelia cruise drug bust.

A US-Israel attack on Iran and the killing of its supreme leader have created a significant divide. Opposition parties, including Congress and Left, are criticizing the government's response. They call for condemnation of the killings and emphasize diplomacy. The Prime Minister's recent visit to Israel is also a point of contention. India has urged restraint and dialogue to ease tensions.

Amidst rising doping cases, the National Medical Commission has urged doctors nationwide to exercise caution when prescribing to athletes. This directive aims to prevent banned substances from entering sports through routine prescriptions, contaminated supplements, or deliberate cheating. Doctors are advised to familiarize themselves with WADA's prohibited list and ensure proper documentation for any necessary banned medications.

Pump prices for petrol and diesel have remained unchanged since April 2022. Domestic fuel prices have stayed steady even when global fuel rates climbed due to higher crude costs.

Air India Express will resume flights to and from Muscat on Tuesday, March 3, after a temporary halt due to the Middle East conflict. Services to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will continue to be suspended until March 3. The airline cited airspace closures in the region impacting operations.

How much are China, Japan, India, and South Korea exposed to Middle East oil supply disruption risks? Where do their strategic oil reserves stand? Lets take a look:

The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning, declaring that judicial orders based on AI-generated, non-existent judgments will be treated as misconduct, not mere errors. The apex court is examining the implications of artificial intelligence in court proceedings and has sought responses from top legal officials. This move follows a case where a trial court relied on fabricated judgments.

The rate will be formally notified by the Government of India, after which the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will credit the interest to subscribers accounts.

India is closely monitoring its crude oil and fuel supply amid escalating Middle East tensions. The government assures domestic availability and affordability of petroleum products. Disruptions in Qatar's LNG production and Saudi Arabia's oil refinery have already impacted global markets, with European gas prices surging.

Estimates placed IIP at 169.4 for January 2026, compared with 161.6 in January 2025. This follows a stronger reading in December 2025, when industrial production had grown by 7.8 per cent.`

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C T R Nirmal Kumar asserted the ruling DMK would struggle to win over 30 seats without the Congress, citing the national party as a 'natural partner'. Kumar also criticized the BJP's 'religious-based politics' and accused the DMK of inaction, while TVK finalized its preparations for all 234 constituencies.

Indian stock markets experienced a significant downturn on Monday, with the Nifty50 and Sensex both registering substantial losses. Escalating Middle East tensions, rising crude oil prices, and consistent foreign investor withdrawals fueled widespread selling. Upstream oil producers and defense stocks bucked the trend, showing gains amidst the broader market decline.

An Indian national has died after an oil tanker, the MKD VYOM, was attacked by an unmanned boat off the coast of Oman. The strike caused a fire and explosion in the vessel's engine room. This incident occurs amid heightened tensions and ongoing retaliation campaigns in the Gulf region.

Ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran is impacting India's economy, particularly through rising crude oil prices and potential trade disruptions. Policymakers are monitoring the situation, with immediate effects seen in energy costs and stock market declines. Broader consequences include inflation, current account deficit widening, and supply chain interruptions.

Dalal Street will observe a holiday on March 3rd for Holi, providing a break for traders and investors. The stock market operates on weekdays, excluding weekends and exchange-declared holidays, with specific timings for pre-open, regular trading, closing, and block deal sessions.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday launched key women-centric initiatives at the Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi programme, including the free LPG cylinder scheme for ration card holders and the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana.

Escalating Middle East tensions are significantly impacting India's oil imports, with crude prices surging due to concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. This could lead to higher inflation and increased costs for everyday products. Experts warn of potential price hikes and widening deficits, urging investors to prepare for a volatile market.

India and Canada aim to boost bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030, accelerating negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Leaders discussed critical minerals, uranium, and defense cooperation, with several MoUs exchanged, including those on CEPA Terms of Reference and critical mineral collaboration.

Aviation and travel stocks experienced sharp sell-offs as fresh Middle East hostilities disrupted regional air traffic. Several countries shut their airspace, impacting major hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. IndiGo suspended flights to the Middle East, offering customers flexibility for bookings made before February 28, 2026, for travel until March 7, 2026.

The appeals arose from consumer complaints filed by flat purchasers between 2017 and 2019 before the NCDRC. The respondents had booked residential flats in the developers Parsvnath Exotica project between 2007 and 2011 and had paid almost the entire sale consideration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced deep concern over the escalating Middle East situation. This follows significant military action by the United States and Israel against Iran. The strikes led to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. India will work with regional nations to ensure the safety of its citizens.

Global oil markets are preparing for potential supply disruptions after US airstrikes on Iran over the weekend revived concerns that shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could be affected.

The escalation has raised expectations of increased export opportunities and strengthened investor sentiment toward the sector. Paras Defence led the gains, climbing 13.5%. Meanwhile, HAL, BEL and Bharat Dynamics advanced by up to 3.5% on the BSE.

Gold price prediction today: Rising tensions in the Middle East and developments around US, Israel and Iran are expected to keep gold prices volatile this week, says Manav Modi, Senior Analyst, Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has alerted states to potential tensions due to the Iran conflict, urging vigilance against inflammatory religious gatherings and radical preachers. Authorities are monitoring individuals and groups to prevent unrest, with precautionary measures already implemented in Jammu and Kashmir following protests over the killing of Iran's supreme leader.