Page 2 - Industry News

Noida International Airport starts cargo operations with first cargo flight

The Noida International Airport (NIA) began freight operations with the arrival of the first cargo plane on Wednesday, two days after starting commercial passenger flights on June 15. The first cargo flight, a Boeing 737-800F operated by Afcom Holdings between Chennai and Noida, was welcomed with a water cannon salute at the airport's cargo hub. AISATS Multi Modal Cargo Hub (MMCH) at NIA handled the domestic freighter flight at its integrated cargo terminal, with the aircraft carrying nearly 20 tonnes of mixed cargo, including perishables, consolidation shipments, auto components and mobile devices. This marked a major step towards establishing NIA as a logistics gateway for northern India by integrating air cargo handling, warehousing and multimodal connectivity, officials said. AISATS Chief Executive Officer Ramanathan Rajamani said the handling of the first freighter flight marked "the beginning of a new chapter in India's cargo and logistics journey". "As supply chains become

Industry leaders should engage with research institutes: Jitendra Singh

There is a need for deeper collaboration among research institutions, industry and startups to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into market-ready solutions and national development outcomes, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday. He said industry leaders should actively engage with research institutions and participate in shaping the country's scientific agenda. "The objective is not merely to generate knowledge but to create technologies, enterprises and solutions that contribute to employment generation, industrial competitiveness and improved quality of life," Singh said. He made these comments while addressing an industry-interaction session on the sidelines of the RISE Conclave 2026 in Bengaluru. Singh emphasised the importance of shared scientific infrastructure in reducing entry barriers for startups and small enterprises. The minister added that sophisticated facilities developed through public investment should increasingly function as common ..

Sebi pushes back merchant banker SBU and net worth norms deadlines

Markets regulator Sebi on Thursday extended the timelines for merchant bankers to comply with certain provisions related to separate business units (SBUs), net worth and liquid net worth requirements, citing operational challenges faced by the industry. Under the revised timelines, merchant bankers will now have until December 31 to transfer activities to separate business units in accordance with Sebi (Merchant Bankers) Regulations. Earlier, the deadline was July 3, according to a circular issued by the markets regulator. Further, the Phase I compliance deadline for enhanced net worth requirements has been extended to March 31, 2027, from January 2, 2027. The Phase II deadline has been shifted to March 31, 2028, from January 2, 2028. Similarly, compliance timelines for Phase I and Phase II liquid net worth requirements have been extended to March 31, 2027, and March 31, 2028, respectively. The deadline for merchant bankers to intimate Sebi regarding their categorisation as Categor

Centre may revise FY27 fertiliser subsidy maths after urea price drop

A sharp decline in global urea prices in the latest NFL import tender could prompt the government to reassess fertiliser subsidy estimates for FY27, officials said

Fertiliser stocks adequate, subsidy outgo may be reassessed: Govt

The government on Thursday asserted that the fertilisers stocks in the country is comfortable to meet the demand for the ongoing kharif season and said the subsidy estimates for the current fiscal could be reassessed considering the softening of urea prices in the global markets. At an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, Aparna S Sharma, additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, said, "The stock position of fertilisers in the country is comfortable. India's fertilizer security remains as strong as ever." Asked whether the Rs 3.4 lakh crore fertiliser subsidy estimates for 2026-27 would be revised downward due to a fall in global prices, she said the preliminary subsidy estimate was based on the presumption that the trend remains the same. "But, as a result of the recent tender that has been done on behalf of the government by our one of our entities will definitely have cause to reassess the subsidy figures, and we will have

Oil India signs pact with Canada's PTRC on clean energy research

Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Canada's Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) have signed a collaboration framework to jointly explore carbon capture, geothermal energy and other clean energy technologies, the companies said. The agreement aims to deepen energy cooperation between India and Canada as both countries pursue energy transition and sustainability goals. The framework was signed on June 10 in Calgary between PTRC, a Saskatchewan-based not-for-profit energy research organisation, and OIL, a Maharatna public sector enterprise under India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Indian firm said in a statement. The collaboration will focus on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), geothermal energy, subsurface energy technologies, and innovation-led research, including engagement with mc2+, India's startup platform backed by the petroleum ministry. Areas of cooperation include utilisation and permanent storage of captured carbon dioxide through geological ...

Air India AI171 crash anniversary: What happened since the tragedy

Almost a year after Air India AI171 crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, families of the victims await closure as the AAIB final probe report remains pending

Salary hikes may moderate in FY27. These sectors will still pay more

While overall pay hikes are set to cool in FY27, demand for specialised skills is expected to keep salary growth strong in EVs, fintech and healthcare

Three foreign universities get Centre's nod to set up Indian campuses

Two universities from the UK and one from Australia were granted Letters of Approval (LoAs) to establish campuses in India, the Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday. The move is aimed at strengthening the country's bid to becoming a global education hub under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, it said. The varsities granted letters were the University of Bristol and the University of York from the United Kingdom, both of which will set up campuses in Mumbai, and the University of New South Wales from Australia, which will establish its campus in Bengaluru. The LoAs were handed over by Higher Education Secretary and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Vineet Joshi in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a statement, the ministry said the LoAs were received in person by Executive Dean and Director, University of Bristol, Michelle Jones; Vice-Chancellor, University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education

Cotton price relief from duty cut may prove short-lived, traders warn

While cotton and yarn prices have eased after the import duty cut, traders caution that global price risks, El Nino concerns and the October import window could limit the benefits

India's ship certifier de-classed 235 vessels over sanctions since 2023

Since 2023, Mumbai-based IRClass has de-classed 235 ships from its registry, mainly oil tankers and also a few gas carriers, the non-profit organisation's Executive Chairman Arun Sharma said

Air India's revival on track, but aircraft delays hit growth plans: Wilson

Air India's foundations have been rebuilt over the last four years, but non-delivery of aircraft on schedule has significantly impacted growth and fleet modernisation, according to the airline's outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson. In an interview with PTI, Wilson, who is set to step down as the CEO and MD of Air India later this year, said he has no plans to take up another full-time executive position. The loss-making airline, which was privatised in January 2022 and is now jointly owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is in the midst of an ambitious transformation plan but has been facing multiple headwinds. Describing the journey at Air India as fantastic and incredible, 54-year-old Wilson mentioned various efforts, including the cultural transformation, merger of four airlines, rebranding and upgrading the product, which is well underway. On April 7, Air India announced the resignation of Wilson as CEO and MD. A New Zealander, he was appointed to the role in May 2022. On h

JSW Steel's May crude steel output rises 15% to 2.29 million tonnes

Output gains were driven by full operations at Dolvi and the ramp-up of JVML, while a key blast furnace at Vijayanagar remained shut for expansion

TVK govt reaches out to industry amid policy continuity concerns

Tamil Nadu government engages industry leaders, expedites approvals and assures policy support as it seeks to retain investor confidence and sustain investment momentum

Farmers procure 3.5 times more organic manure this kharif season

India imports a large quantity of urea and di-ammonium phosphate to meet local demand. Total domestic production of fertilisers, including urea

India's GLP-1 market enters slower growth phase after semaglutide surge

After a near fourfold expansion driven by generic semaglutide launches, India's GLP-1 market is showing signs of moderation as patient onboarding growth slows

India's engineering exports rise to $122 bn in FY26: Govt official

India's engineering exports have leapt from $70 billion in the financial year 2014-15 to $122.43 billion in FY 2025-26, which is a powerful validation of the country's development and progress, a senior official said on Monday. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary of Department of Commerce, said that the remarkable rise in the sector over the past 12 years reflects growing strength, competitiveness and resilience of the country's manufacturing and export ecosystem. He said that engineering exports have expanded from nearly $70 billion in fiscal 2015 to $122.43 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2026. Their share in India's merchandise exports has steadily increased from about one-fifth of total exports to nearly 28 per cent, reaffirming the sector's position as the largest contributor to the country's merchandise export basket, the official said. He said that this growth has been achieved despite an increasingly complex global trade ...

SpiceJet plans to induct 3 Airbus A320 planes on damp lease in July

Domestic carrier SpiceJet on Monday said it plans to induct three Airbus A320 planes on a damp lease next month to further expand its fleet. The company has already finalised a lease agreement (with the lessor) for these three narrowbody planes, the airline said in a statement. Along with this, SpiceJet said it has also ungrounded a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and put it back into commercial operations. The additional capacity will support the airline's network requirements during the busy travel season and provide greater operational flexibility across its domestic and international routes, it said. "These aircraft will help us meet growing passenger demand, strengthen operational resilience and enhance network flexibility during a busy travel period," said Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet. The airline, he said, continues to focus on steadily expanding its fleet and improving operational readiness as we move forward with our growth plans.

BaaS lowers entry cost of EV ownership, but may not always be cheaper

Battery as a Service reduces the upfront cost of buying an electric vehicle, but recurring payments, contract terms and resale concerns mean it works best for users with moderate distance driving

India is a significant player in Asia Pacific air traffic growth: IATA

India is a significant player in the growth story of air traffic in the Asia Pacific region, where the number of air passengers is projected to touch 4.1 billion by 2044, according to IATA. International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents over 370 airlines, accounting for around 85 per cent of the global air traffic. The number of air passengers in the Asia Pacific is projected to jump to 4.1 billion by 2044 from 1.7 billion in 2024, which would mean 2.4 billion additional passengers, as per IATA. At a briefing in the Brazilian city, the grouping's Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, Sheldon Hee, on Saturday, said India has been a significant player in the growth story for the Asia Pacific for the last several years. India is one of the world's fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets. The growth in the Asia Pacific has been strong over the last 5-10 years, and will continue to be strong in the next decade or so, he said. He listed out infrastructure, taxatio