Page 3 - Industry News

D2C startups tap AI to improve delivery completion rates by 11%: Velocity

D2C brands are using AI tools to tackle last-mile challenges in smaller cities, boosting delivery success rates by 11% and cutting costly return-to-origin losses

Thiruvananthapuram's tourist hotspots feel the West Asia war pinch

War-linked travel disruptions and fuel shortages hit Kerala's tourism hubs, triggering cancellations, business losses, and fears of job cuts

The long reach of West Asia war: Sheffield of the East waits and watches

Furnaces cool faster than they should as Howrah's foundry belt sputters, with West Asia tensions choking fuel lines, snarling cargo routes, and stretching workdays thinner

Tea tribe community at centre of Assam election battle amid welfare push

Welfare measures, wage hikes and land rights outreach intensify as parties compete for tea tribe votes amid persistent socio-economic challenges in Assam's plantation belt

India's civil nuclear programme advances as PFBR turns critical: PM Modi

Once fully commissioned, India will become only the second country after Russia to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor

Mixed Q4 seen for top realty players amid launch delays, softer sentiment

West Asia conflict weighs on margins; prolonged war a risk to profitability

India Inc pay hikes pegged at 9.1% in FY26, says Deloitte report

Deloitte survey shows marginal rise in salary increments, alongside higher promotions, stable attrition trends, and continued moderation in hiring across sectors

SME Forum seeks govt support as fuel costs hit MSME clusters hard

Industry body flags rising fuel costs, shipping disruptions and labour stress in key clusters; proposes relief measures including subsidies, liquidity support and worker welfare schemes

Indian Railways approves ₹1,364 crore for Kavach, signalling upgrade

Projects include Kavach rollout on locomotives, fibre network expansion, and electronic interlocking systems to strengthen safety and communication infrastructure

Mines Ministry amends rules to include contiguous areas in leases

New rules allow inclusion of contiguous areas and associated minerals in leases, aiming to boost exploration, improve efficiency, and enhance critical mineral production

India's wind energy addition surges 46% to record 6.05 GW in FY26

Wind capacity addition rises 46 per cent year-on-year to a record high, driven by policy clarity, transmission readiness, and a strong pipeline of hybrid projects

Customs duty cut fails to lift plastic sector as input costs remain high

Industry says duty exemption on petrochemical imports has had limited impact as raw material prices stay elevated, demand weakens, and MSMEs face mounting stress

West Asia war: Pressure builds on developers to hike prices as costs rise

Rising construction costs raising margin pressures; timelines maybe pushed by 3-6 months; mid-to-small scale developers more impacted

Indian refiners defer maintenance shutdowns to meet local fuel demand: Govt

However, Nayara Energy will shut its 400,000 barrels per day Vadinar refinery for maintenance from April 9, tightening supply of ​liquefied petroleum gas in the country, she said

TDI Infratech to invest ₹750 crore in 150-acre township project in Ludhiana

In the township, the company said it will build luxury group housing, residential plotted developments and low-rise independent floors, targeting both end-users and long-term investors

Factories' tally in Uttar Pradesh jumps 17% to cross 32,000 mark

Uttar Pradesh's factory count crosses 32,000, reflecting a sharp rise in manufacturing activity driven by policy push, infrastructure growth and investor-friendly reforms

NMDC hikes iron ore prices by up to 11.1% with effect from April 5

The company, which is the country's largest iron ore producer, has increased the prices with effect from April 5, 2026

IEX sees highest-ever electricity traded volume of 141 BU in FY26

In financial year 2025-26, a total of 18.72 million Renewable Energy Certificates were traded in IEX, marking a 5 per cent year-on-year increase, according to a statement

Foreign firms lease record 9.1 mn sq ft office space for GCCs in Q1: CBRE

As per the data, the total gross leasing of office spaces rose 5 per cent across top 9 cities to 20.7 million square feet in January-March from 19.7 million square feet in the year-ago period

West Asia war hits henna exports from Rajasthan's Sojat, cargo stuck

Traders say the continuing conflict has severely impacted business operations, with its ripple effects being felt across countries, cities and even rural markets