Page 24 - West Asia

West Asia conflict prompted MPC status quo, flag external sector risks

RBI holds rates amid West Asia risks, as MPC flags inflation, supply shocks, and external pressures while maintaining a cautious growth outlook

I've turned bullish on the markets after a long time: Andrew Holland

Andrew Holland, head - new asset class, Nippon India Asset Management in a Q&Q with Puneet Wadhwa says that the markets are assuming that the West Asia conflict won't be prolonged.

UK, France convene fresh summit of military planners on Hormuz reopening

Planners from more than 30 countries will participate in the talks in a two-day conference in north London, which will "advance military plans to reopen the Strait

Best of BS Opinion: West Asia risks, RBI stance, AI, GDP debate

From West Asia tensions and RBI policy signals to AI in drug trials, fiscal risks, GDP debates and India-China strategy, today's BS Opinion offers a wide-ranging view of key economic and geopolitical

India's fertiliser production sees weakest growth in 13 years in FY26

India's fertiliser output contracts in FY26, hit by LNG shortages and shutdowns, marking the sector's weakest performance in over a decade

India's crude oil import bill fell 5% in March amid West Asia conflict

Crude import bill declines despite higher prices as supply disruptions from West Asia reduce volumes, while petroleum exports and net oil imports also fall

Sensex, Nifty gain nearly 1% to close at their highest in six weeks

Benchmark indices rise nearly 1 per cent, led by banking stocks and improved sentiment after RBI easing and hopes of de-escalation in the Iran-US conflict

Crisis response: Things could get tough if the conflict continues

Fragile West Asia ceasefire and oil risks test India's economy, as the RBI balances rupee stability, inflation control, and growth amid rising global uncertainty

The West Asia Challenge: Govt must revisit its macroeconomic assumptions

West Asia tensions threaten India's fiscal balance, growth outlook, and external stability, forcing a rethink of macroeconomic assumptions

West Asia war has delayed India-GCC FTA negotiations: NITI Aayog

Trade Watch report highlights geopolitical risks to trade diplomacy, flags vulnerabilities in gems and jewellery sector and calls for structural reforms

₹1.68 trn in less than 4 months: War, oil rally drive record FPI outflows

Valuation premium not justified, rupee depreciation a major concern: Experts

West Asia conflict: Office construction activity declines to 4-quarter low

Office supply dropped sharply in Q1 2026 due to geopolitical uncertainties, even as strong leasing demand, led by GCCs, tightened vacancies and supported rental growth

West Asia conflict: Govt reviews rural schemes, ₹17K cr for MGNREGA wages

The government has reviewed preparedness of rural welfare and infrastructure programmes in view of the potential impact of the West Asia sitution on supply chains and prices, and said that MGNREGA rural employment scheme will continue uninterrupted with Rs 17,744 crore being released towards wage payments. In an official statement, the Ministry of Rural Development said it is closely monitoring developments that may have indirect implications for rural livelihoods, housing construction, road development and watershed activities, while ensuring continuity of benefits, timely fund flow and smooth execution of schemes. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) will remain fully operational till the proposed VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, comes into force, with no disruption in wage employment, it said. All statutory entitlements, including demand-based work and timely wage payments, will continue without dilution and existing wage rates will remain applicable. The

Railways mulls relief for container train operators hit by West Asia crisis

relief being considered so that long-term losses to operators can reflect in freight volumes

10 Indian vessels have transited via Hormuz since conflict began: Govt

Government prioritises LPG tanker movement through Strait of Hormuz even as cooking gas shortage persists and regional tensions disrupt supply chains

How the energy crisis amid the West Asia tensions has hurt India

In this session, Vaibhav Maloo, Managing Director, Enso Group, explains the impact of the war-led energy crisis on India. >

Doubts over talks between Iran, US as tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan moved ahead Monday with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire, even as renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz raised questions about whether the meeting would take place. Over the weekend, the US attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that it said had tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's joint military command vowed to respond, and its Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told his Pakistani counterpart that American threats to Iranian ships and ports were "clear signs" of Washington's disingenuousness ahead of the planned talks, Iran state media reported. With tensions flaring and the ceasefire due to expire midweek, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic contacts with both Washington and Tehran over the past 24 hours with the goal of resuming the talks on Tuesday as planned, according to two Pakistani officials involved in the preparations. They spoke on condition o

West Asia war: Trump to send team to Pak; Iran rejects talks citing breach

Trump says US officials will visit Pakistan for Iran talks as ceasefire nears end; Iran denies agreeing to talks, accusing the US of violating the truce and raising tensions further

US Navy seizes Iranian-flagged ship near Hormuz, Tehran vows swift response

The United States attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had tried to evade a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran's joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile ceasefire into question days before it expires. It was the first interception since the US blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran's joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation, the state broadcaster said. With the US-Iran standoff over the strait sharpening and the ceasefire expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump's earlier announcement that US negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday for new talks with Iran now stood. The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen. Trump on social media said a US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian-flagged ship, the Touska, to stop and then ..