FPI flows into FAR securities turn negative amid global risks, oil surge

FPI flows into FAR government bonds turned negative in Mar 2026, with Rs 13,027 cr net selling, per CCIL, as risk appetite waned on West Asia tensions, oil >$100, rupee pressure and higher UST yields, dulling hedged returns. RBI support limited impact; 10Y yields seen range-bound at 6.55–6.75%.

India’s industrial diesel prices jumped ~25% to ~Rs112/L (Delhi: Rs109.6) from Mar 20, 2026, as OMCs hiked bulk rates amid high crude from the Iran war.

CBDT’s Income-tax Rules, 2026 streamline NPO/trust compliance: one form for registration and tax-deduction approval, CPC provisional nods with surrender/invalid options, change-accumulation form, 6-year records; prior OKs valid under IT Act, 2025.

Indian equities seen opening gap-down as Iran war and Hormuz blockade lift Brent 44% to $106.9. Oil shock stokes inflation/BoP risks; rupee hits 93.72/USD. FPIs sell Rs 82,700 cr; earnings likely cut, volatility high. Views split: buy select stocks vs wait. Sensex/Nifty down ~8% since war.

Indian equities seen opening gap-down as Iran war and Hormuz blockade lift Brent 44% to $106.9. Oil shock stokes inflation/BoP risks; rupee hits 93.72/USD. FPIs sell Rs 82,700 cr; earnings likely cut, volatility high. Views split: buy select stocks vs wait. Sensex/Nifty down ~8% since war.

India’s Income-tax Act, 2025 (effective Apr 1, 2026) simplifies compliance: a single tax year, clearer drafting, merged audit Form 26, tighter disclosures, revised TDS/TCS and return timelines, higher perquisite limits, and default new regime with higher exemption. 

Orissa HC upheld a tribunal order letting an 86-year-old live on the ground floor of his ancestral Bhubaneswar home, dismissing his son’s challenge under the Senior Citizens Act/Rule 19; father’s separate writ was rejected.

La Liga returns with a Madrid derby: Real host Atlético. Madrid miss Courtois; Bellingham possible, Mbappé to start. Atleti reshuffle midfield, Oblak doubtful. Match Mar 23, 1:30 AM IST at Bernabéu; in India, streaming on FanCode only.

The rupee fell 2.9% in March to a record 93.72/$ amid West Asia tensions, with RBI selling an estimated $26–27bn (c.$4bn Friday) to curb losses; its forward book deficit nears $100bn.

Arsenal face Man City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Mar 22 (10 PM IST). Arsenal chase first title since 1993; City seek more silverware after 2022–23 CL. Arsenal: Timber/Odegaard doubts, Merino out, Eze fit; Kepa may start. City: Trafford in goal, Gvardiol out, Guehi ineligible

Rubix reports rising capital efficiency in Indian states: Telangana (108%) and Karnataka (103%) lead. Capex stays concentrated in UP, Maharashtra, Gujarat (~30%). GFCF shifting from West; credit, project finance to rise.

KMCC, a Kotak Mahindra Bank unit, will sell 30.99% of Infina Finance for Rs 1,293.91 crore to Derive/Bright Star (9.9%), Jhunjhunwala trusts (12.1%) and KF Trust (9%, related-party). Stake falls to 19%, ending associate status. Closing by Mar 31, 2026; part of portfolio rationalisation.

West Asia’s crisis exposes India’s gas import reliance. The 1990s Iran‑Pakistan‑India pipeline, once a cheaper Iranian gas option, stalled over pricing, security in Pakistan, and US sanctions, and became a dormant IP project. 

A look at IPL greats who’ve never won the Purple Cap yet decide games through consistency and economy: Jasprit Bumrah (27 in 2020 but pipped by Rabada), Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin. Their control, pressure and roles often outweigh raw wicket totals.

CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal were arrested after an FIR alleged a ₹71 lakh crypto scam. The exchange denies wrongdoing, blaming impersonators and citing 1,212 fake sites, and says it’s cooperating with police.

The race for the final six 2026 World Cup berths climaxes as FIFA Play-Off Tournament and UEFA play-offs decide the last qualifiers and set the North America schedule. 22 teams—from debut hopefuls (Kosovo, Suriname, New Caledonia) to powers (Italy, Sweden, Poland, Denmark)—meet in high-stakes ties.

IPL 2026 starts Mar 28. Spotlight on LSG, with captain Rishabh Pant under twin pressure as batter and leader, says Faf du Plessis, after a mixed last season. With Hasaranga uncertain, spin could hinge on Digvesh Rathi and Shahbaz. Balaji backs three overseas batters plus a pace pick.

Dr Reddy’s launches Obeda, a generic semaglutide, in India a day after patent expiry, at ₹4,200/month for 2mg/4mg—~62% cheaper than Ozempic. Weekly prefilled pens; target 12m pens in year one and top‑5 share. Weight‑loss nod pending; Canada plans paused. India’s GLP‑1 market is ₹1,446 cr and surging

IMD forecasts rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds across India: snow/rain in Himachal and Uttarakhand; heavy rain in Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim; showers in NE, Vidarbha, AP/Telangana/Karnataka/TN/Kerala. Afterwards, max temps rise 3–8°C; Delhi 31/15°C, light rain possible.

The Civil Aviation Ministry said it would remove the temporary cap on domestic airfares from March 23, a restriction imposed after massive flight disruptions hit IndiGo in December 2025.

Iran's navy escorted an Indian LPG tanker through the Strait of Hormuz on a preapproved route after New Delhi’s diplomacy, signaling Tehran's bid to control traffic and favor friendly ships. With AIS off and GPS jammed, the risky transit ran long; Indian ships met it, showing a fragile opening.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce in the Rajya Sabha on Monday an "umbrella law" for central armed police forces (CAPFs) to regulate recruitment, deputation, promotion and other conditions of services of their officers, according to the List of Business issued by the House.

India raised commercial LPG allocation by 20% to 50% to ease the gas crunch, prioritising restaurants, hotels, canteens, food processing, community kitchens and 5kg FTL for migrants. Commercial users must register with OMCs and apply for PNG, as the govt pushes PNG amid West Asia–linked shortages.

Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward the US-UK Diego Garcia base; one failed mid-flight and the other was intercepted, causing no damage but signaling longer reach (~4,000 km). 

Kerala’s Assembly poll race intensified as LDF ministers and CPI(M) leaders, BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan, and Congress figures like K Muraleedharan filed nominations amid rallies. ECI: 362 candidates since Mar 19; deadline Mar 23. Voting Apr 9; counting May 4.

PM Narendra Modi spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, extending Eid and Nowruz greetings and hoping for peace in West Asia. He condemned attacks on critical infrastructure, warned of risks to stability and supply chains, urged maritime security.

IPL 2026 starts Mar 28 with RCB vs SRH. Spotlight on CSK: Robin Uthappa expects MS Dhoni in a mentor-cum-player role with limited on-field duty, batting lower as Gaikwad continues as captain; Samson a future option. Irfan Pathan gives MI a slight edge over CSK. 

Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu presented a ₹54,928‑crore Budget for 2026‑27, blaming the end of the revenue deficit grant (₹8,105 crore yearly loss), global conflict–driven LPG costs, and the BJP—sparking uproar. He set aside ₹500 crore to finish 300 works. The Budget is ~₹4,000 crore lower.

West Asia turmoil cripples Madhya Pradesh rice exports. Raisen basmati and Balaghat boiled non-basmati face port backlogs, 30% freight hikes and container shortages, shutting mills. Prices dip below MSP, farmers and SMEs hit; Gulf and East Africa shipments stall.

LPG crunch tied to West Asia conflict pushes Tamil Nadu hotels to firewood/induction, spiking costs—especially biryani—as firewood prices soar. Business down ~30% in Chennai; menus pared (no deep-fried, midday dosas cut). Some centralize cooking. Ramzan gatherings shrink; more hikes ahead.

India’s Railways back BEML-built B28 250 km/h trains for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor amid delays/costs with Japanese Shinkansen. Siemens to supply signalling. Experts urge prototype testing before scaling, cite BEML’s limited HSR experience, prefer import-then-indigenize.

The BJP released its third list for the Kerala Assembly polls, naming 11 candidates, including Karamana Jayan (Thiruvananthapuram), Raveendranath Vakathanam (Puthuppally), KR Rajesh (Chavara), RS Arun Raj (Chadayamangalam), V Ratheesh (Peerumade) and others across six more seats.

With nominations nearing, AIADMK-led NDA nears a seat-sharing deal: AIADMK to keep 160–170 of 234 seats to seek solo majority; EPS projected CM. BJP likely to get ~30, PMK ~17, AMMK 9, TMC 3. Amit Shah steering talks; Piyush Goyal to finalize. Smaller allies may contest on AIADMK/BJP symbols.

The Supreme Court warned that instant social-media uploads and police posts of accused—often handcuffed or paraded—fuel media trials and threaten fair trials. Hearing a PIL, it urged awaiting police SOPs on briefings, sought a broader framework, and had the plea withdrawn to refile after guidelines.

Pinarayi Vijayan, in PTI interview, called Rahul Gandhi and Congress the BJP’s “B-team,” accusing them of appeasement and communal alliances. He said the HC-monitored Sabarimala gold probe is on track, touted higher-education upgrades, and accused the Centre of hostility, including over Wayanad aid

During Eid in Rajasthan, Shia and Sunni groups protested attacks on Iran: marches in Jaipur’s Amber and Subhash Chowk, black bands/flags in Sikar and Ajmer, mourning Khamenei. Prayers stayed peaceful, Hindus welcomed worshippers, and police/RAF with drones kept order amid anti-US/Israel slogans.

Mumbai Indians’ Day 6 training offered a behind-the-scenes look: 3:30 pm hotel assemble, pitch prepped, sharp spells from Shardul Thakur and Trent Boult, hands-on inputs from coach Kieron Pollard, and umpires for match simulation, capped by Allah Ghazanfar’s birthday—momentum for IPL 2026.

Mumbai Indians’ Day 6 training offered a behind-the-scenes look: 3:30 pm hotel assemble, pitch prepped, sharp spells from Shardul Thakur and Trent Boult, hands-on inputs from coach Kieron Pollard, and umpires for match simulation, capped by Allah Ghazanfar’s birthday—momentum for IPL 2026.

Raymond Group chairman Gautam Singhania sustained minor injuries and was discharged after a speedboat from his yacht capsized near Felidhoo, Maldives. Seven were aboard; five fell into the sea. Two Indian nationals remain missing as the Coast Guard searches near Vaavu atoll/Keyodhoo.

A Parliamentary panel flagged severe underutilisation in 2025–26 for the Interlinking of Rivers under NWDA’s National Perspective Plan (BE ₹2,400 cr; RE ₹1,808 cr; spend ₹453 cr by Dec), citing delays in Daudhan, UP canals and MP. It urged faster, coordinated execution

United CEO Scott Kirby told employees the airline can withstand fuel spikes and Iran-related uncertainty thanks to a stronger balance sheet, ample cash and record bookings. United will assume high oil, trim weaker routes near term, avoid deep cuts, and keep investing in fleet, tech and hubs.

RCB kicked off IPL 2026 prep at Chinnaswamy with a high-energy session led by coach Andy Flower and a Kohli pep talk on the challenge of defending the title. Intense nets saw Iyer improve after DK’s tips, with Padikkal, Jitesh, Jordan Cox and Tim David tuning up. Bowlers impressed. 

Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar resigned at CM Bhagwant Mann’s direction after a video showed Amritsar Warehouse manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who later died, naming him before ingesting poison. Mann ordered a probe, vowing zero tolerance. SAD’s Majithia said Randhawa took Celphos

After Eid prayers, J-K CM Omar Abdullah urged an end to what he called an illegal US-Israel war, saying it destabilizes the Muslim world and affects India’s sentiments and energy supplies. He also criticized the continued Eid closure of Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, questioning claims of normalcy.

CPI(M)-led Left Front is centering its Bengal campaign on job creation to win back youth, promising an alternative jobs policy in its manifesto. Fielding many young candidates, it leans on door-to-door, small meets and organic social media. 

Indian wrestler Radhika (68kg) is provisionally suspended after CAS backed WADA’s appeal, overturning NADA’s clearance in her clenbuterol case and ordering reinvestigation. The case highlights probe gaps and food-contamination claims.

Three weeks into the US–Israel–Iran war, West Asia air travel is heavily disrupted: routes closed, airports hit, and jet fuel costs nearly doubled, pushing up fares and reducing capacity. Expect pricier, complex routings; DIY tickets carry risks. 

An Israeli strike on a Hezbollah-run health center in south Lebanon killed 12 medics, underscoring a wider campaign on the group’s civilian arms—banks, media, services. Over 1,000 dead, 1M displaced. Israel alleges military use; Amnesty disputes. Hezbollah and Iran vow to keep fighting.

South Korea: Suspected explosion sparked a blaze at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, killing 10, injuring at least 59, and leaving 4 missing. 500+ responders used robots amid collapse fears, removed reactive chemicals, and contained spread as President Lee ordered full mobilization.

Cuba refused a US Embassy request to import diesel for generators amid a US-driven fuel squeeze, raising the prospect of staffing cuts at both embassies. With Venezuelan oil gone, Cuba eyes Russian supplies, leans on limited power sources, holds cautious talks as Trump presses for change