Today, trade is no longer just about economics. It is increasingly used as a geopolitical tool. Tariffs are imposed as pressure tactics, and economic dependence is sometimes used strategically. In this context, the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Ministerial Conference (MC14), to be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Africa (March 26-29, 2026), comes at an important moment….
A surge in global oil prices triggered by escalating tensions in West Asia is beginning to ripple through India’s domestic energy economy, disrupting cooking gas supplies and accelerating a shift toward electric alternatives. Brent crude has climbed over $100/bbl in recent weeks amid fears of supply disruptions through key shipping routes, raising concerns for India,…
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Shipping and Waterways Ministry, and Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry, (right) addressing the media at Inter Ministerial Briefing on Recent Development in West Asia at National Media Centre, in New Delhi on March 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma Addressing looming concerns about India’s…
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth ₹4,741.22 crore on March 17, 2026, according to exchange data. FIle | Photo Credit: PTI Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended nearly 1% higher on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), extending their winning run to the third day in a row, amid a slight drop in crude oil…
Image used for representational purposes. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto The rupee slumped 23 paise to close at a record low of 92.63 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), weighed down by a stronger greenback and sustained FII outflows. Elevated crude oil prices in global markets amid intensifying conflict in West…
Image for representational purposes only. | Photo Credit: PTI The Union Government has written to State governments and Union Territories urging them that pending applications for laying of city gas distribution pipelines (CGD) be given deemed approval and new applications be accorded approval within twenty-four hours, Sujata Sharma, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) told reporters here in an inter-ministerial briefing here…
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance noted “flaws in planning” by Niti Aayog when it comes to its finances. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance pulled up the Ministry of Planning for not “planning” its finances better. The committee found that despite spending less than half of the budget…
LPG Gas Cylinder being unloaded at a distribution centre in New Delhi on March 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), had clarified that LPG biometric Aadhaar authentication (eKYC) is only required for unauthenticated LPG customers and not for all customers. The…
Indian-flagged LPG carrier Nanda Devi, carrying 46,500 MT LPG for ship-to-ship transfer, arrives at Vadinar port, in Gujarat, on March 17, 2026 | Photo Credit: PTI India’s second LPG carrier ‘Nanda Devi’ arrived safely at Vadinar port in Gujarat on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of gas after navigating the Strait of…
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. File | Photo Credit: PTI India remains engaged with the U.S. on a trade deal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday (March 16, 2026). Sources in the government, however, said that India will now sign a trade deal with the U.S. only once that country has settled its “tariff architecture”…
