Gujarat

Gujarat govt presents ₹4.08 trn Budget; big push to tourism, sports infra

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai on Wednesday presented a Rs 4.08 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27 in the Assembly with a focus on tourism promotion and creation of sports infrastructure ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The Budget, with an estimated surplus of Rs 974 crore and no new taxes, continued the 5 per cent tax rebate for electric vehicles. The total outlay increased by Rs 37,803 crore or 10.2 per cent to Rs 4,08,053 crore over the previous financial year, Desai said. A major highlight of the Budget was the state government's roadmap to develop Ahmedabad as an "Olympic Ready City" ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which Gujarat will host. The minister proposed an allocation of Rs 1,278 crore for infrastructure related to the upcoming Games. This includes the development of international-level sports complexes and stadiums, and strengthening urban transport connectivity around key venues. A total provision of Rs 1,331 crore has been made for the sports departme

Two Iranians nabbed with over 200 kg chemical substance off Gujarat coast

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Coast Guard have apprehended two Iranian nationals with more than 200 kg of a chemical substance in the high seas off the Gujarat coast, an official said on Tuesday. The ATS received a tip-off regarding a suspected chemical being brought within Indian waters near the international maritime boundary line (IMBL), around 140 nautical miles from the Porbandar coast, ATS Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sunil Joshi said. In a joint operation with the Coast Guard lasting eight to 10 hours, two Iranian nationals were apprehended with 203 packets of suspected chemicals around 8 pm on Monday, he said. The suspected chemical substance was being bought on a speed boat, prima facie, from Iran, and was to be handed over to a person from Punjab, the official said. The speed boat was seized, and packets containing white powder were brought to the Porbandar coast guard station for further forensic analysis, he said. In April last year, the ATS and the

28 schools in Ahmedabad, Vadodara receive bomb threat; searches underway

More than 25 schools in Gujarat's Ahmedabad and Vadodara districts received bomb threat emails on Monday, following which the campuses were evacuated and search operations were undertaken, officials said. Nothing suspicious has been found so far, they said. More than 15 schools in Ahmedabad and 11 in Vadodara received bomb threat emails, the officials said. After being alerted, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) teams rushed to carry out searches, police officials said.

Centre launches digital coupons for PDS in Gujarat on pilot basis

India pilots CBDC-based digital food coupons in Gujarat, enabling beneficiaries to redeem ration entitlements through programmable e₹ instead of physical grain

Maximum professors hired in TN followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat: UGC data

Tamil Nadu is leading the way in hiring professors of practice (industry experts) in its Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to UGC data. Professors of practice (PoP) are distinguished industry experts and professionals appointed by HEIs to teach, mentor and bring real-world experience into the classroom, aiming to bridge the gap between academia and industry. The University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022 released guidelines to hire PoPs to inject professional acumen into classroom environments. The position is strictly temporary and does not displace sanctioned posts. Eligibility demands a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience - ideally in senior positions. According to the data, 1,841 PoPs have been hired by 349 HEIs so far, the maximum of them being in Tamil Nadu (395). While 193 PoPs have been hired in Maharashtra (193), Gujarat and Karnataka have appointed 179 and 170 professionals, respectively. Leading the way in hiring

Gujarat's 6th Vande Bharat Ahmedabad-Udaipur train to be inaugurated Feb 16

Indian Railways is committed to regional development and providing better connectivity through upgraded stations, new rail lines and state-of-the-art facilities

Govt clears road projects worth ₹11,000 cr in Maha, Gujarat and Telangana

The government has approved road projects worth more than Rs 11,000 crore in Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat, according to official statements. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved the rehabilitation and upgradation of the Ghoti-Trimbak (Mokhada)-Jawhar-Manor-Palghar section of NH-160A in Maharashtra at a total capital cost of Rs 3,320.38 crore. The region west of Nashik, particularly around Ambad and Satpur, hosts a dense cluster of industrial units developed by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. This generates significant freight traffic, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said in a statement on Saturday. The CCEA approved the rehabilitation and upgradation of the 154.635 km section of NH-160A in Maharashtra on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, MoRTH said. The project has been proposed in line with the PM GatiShakti principles and will connect 6 PM GatiShakti Economic Nodes, 01 Social Nodes and 8 Logist

Gujarat signs LoI with Starlink for satellite internet in remote areas

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the agreement aims to improve high-speed internet access in areas where telecom infrastructure remains limited

Gujarat leads India in renewable energy, contributes 16.5% of total

As of Dec 31, 2025, Gujarat had become the first largest contributor to the country's renewable energy capacity, with cumulative installations reaching 42.583 GW

Gujarat's GIFT City attracts world's biggest reinsurers, including Lloyd's

Global reinsurers including Lloyd's of London plan to enter India via GIFT City, betting on tax incentives and access to the country's fast-growing insurance market

PRAGATI in Gujarat: Accelerating the growth engine via proactive governance

PRAGATI has functioned not only as a review platform but also as anticipatory governance

DP Abhushan eyes Rs 4,000 cr revenue in FY26; plans multi-state expansion

Jewellery retailer DP Abhushan, which is eyeing Rs 3,900-4,000 crore revenue this financial year, is planning to foray into Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, a top company executive has said. "We are currently present in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with 11 stores in 10 cities. Now we have a plan to expand into more states and are entering into Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, by adding 3-5 stores annually. We are in expansion mode and expecting around Rs 3,900-4,000 crore revenue in 2025-26. In FY25, we closed the revenue at Rs 3,300 crore," DP Abhushan Promoter Vikas Kataria told PTI. The company is planning for 20-25 per cent annual growth. Besides, after 2-3 years, D P Abhushan is planning to expand to the North and other parts of the country. The Ratlam-headquartered company has Rs 15-20 crore capex to fund its expansion, he said adding that "we are doing this funding through internal accrual". At present, the company has a debt of Rs 170-180 crore. "At present,

SDHI secures $227 million shipbuilding contract from European firm

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) on Friday said it has bagged a USD 227 million (around Rs 2,080 crore) contract from Europe-based Rederiet Stenersen AS. The company has received the order to manufacture and supply six 18,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) IMO Type II chemical tankers from its shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat. Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, in a statement, said the order valued at USD 227 million is one of India's largest single commercial shipbuilding orders and the first chemical tanker order placed with an Indian shipyard. The contract bagged from European shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS also includes an option for six additional vessels. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 33 months, with subsequent deliveries planned at regular intervals. Each tanker will have an overall length of approximately 150 metres and a beam of approximately 23 metres. The vessels will be designed by Marinform AS and StoGda Ship Design & Engineering and classed by ...

India's export growth will come from states that are truly prepared

Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu together account for roughly 56% of India's exports, with Gujarat alone contributing close to 30%

Gujarat Metro ridership jumps fourfold in 3 years; hits 0.15 million daily

With Phase-2 completed, the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro now spans 68 km with 53 stations, reducing dependence on private vehicles

Maruti Suzuki plans expansion, to invest ₹35,000 cr in new Gujarat plant

Production at the plant is expected to begin in financial year 2029 and will add to the annual production capacity of 2.4 million vehicles for Maruti

Trade powerhouse Gujarat's record slips over petroleum product exports

Relying on the volatile sector has caused the state's share of national exports to slide

Essar signs MoU to invest ₹5,100 crore in Gujarat bio-fuel project

Essar Future Energy Limited on Monday announced it would establish a large-scale bio-fuel complex in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district with a proposed investment of Rs 5,100 crore. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government at the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Rajkot. "The project involves a proposed investment of Rs 5,100 crore and is expected to generate around 350 direct employment opportunities, with operations targeted to commence by 2029," a release from the company said. Under the MoU, Essar Future Energy will establish a large-scale bio-fuel complex in Devbhumi Dwarka district, with an initial feedstock processing capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), it added. The project will be developed as an SEZ unit and will focus on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, offering clean fuel solutions for aviation, shipping, and road transport, the release said, adding that it is expected to contribute to regional .

India rapidly advancing towards becoming 3rd-largest economy: PM Modi

He said the expanding new middle class and their growing purchasing power are among the major factors that have made India a country of immense possibilities

PM takes part in Shaurya Yatra in Somnath, 108-horse brigade part of parade

A group of men playing 'damru' and 108 horses drawn from different parts of Gujarat were part of the Somnath temple's Shurya Yatra on Sunday which saw Prime Minsiter Narendra riding an open-top vehicle. The yatra began from Shankh Circle, and the prime minister travelled the nearly one km stretch towards Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle, that faces the Somnath temple complex. A group of men, wearing playing the 'damru' formed part of the parade and preceded the prime minister's vehicle in sequence. Modi carried a drum in his hand, which he played briefly at the beginning of the procession before handing it over to security personnel. The crowd, which lined the streets on both sides, cheered, and many showered floral petals as the procession moved ahead, while artistes performed on different dance forms of India on various stages mounted at regular intervals along the parade route. The brigade of 108 horses stood out in the procession, whose riders wore a starch white shirt paired with k