‘Factually incorrect’: India rejects ‘payment issues’ claim over Iranian crude tanker’s diversion to China

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday dismissed reports suggesting that an Iranian crude oil shipment meant for India had been rerouted to China due to payment-related hurdles, asserting that such claims are incorrect. Clarifying the situation, the ministry said, “The news reports and social media posts of an Iranian crude cargo being…

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Mehli Mistry challenges eligibility of 2 trustees

MUMBAI: Months after his exit, former Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) trustee Mehli Mistry has challenged the positions of Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh on the board of the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, arguing they are ineligible under the 1923 deed, which bars non-Zoroastrians and non-Mumbai residents, and has called for an…

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Steep slide: Forex reserves decline over $10bn in a week

MUMBAI: India’s foreign exchange reserves fell sharply by $10.3 billion in the week ended March 27, 2026, taking the total to $688.1 billion, driven largely by a decline in foreign currency assets and gold holdings amid currency market intervention by RBI.The fall was led by foreign currency assets, which dropped by $6.6 billion. These assets,…

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Microfinance replaces informal credit: Report

MUMBAI: A structural shift is reshaping India’s microfinance sector, with regulated lenders displacing informal sources as borrowing from moneylenders fell to 1% in 2024–25 from 46% in 2011, according to a survey by Microfinance Industry Network and National Council of Applied Economic Research.The survey, which covered 10,342 borrowers across 10 states, shows a maturing market…

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PNB, Union & IDFC Bank see credit outpace deposit growth

MUMBAI: Credit growth continued to outpace deposit mobilisation for Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India and IDFC FIRST Bank at the end of the March quarter, reflecting sustained loan demand in a tight liquidity environment.Punjab National Bank reported global advances of Rs 12,61,420 crore as of March 31, 2026, up nearly 13% year-onyear, while…

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GI applications cross 2,000 mark on Centre’s push

HYDERABAD: The Centre’s push to ensure 10,000 geographical indication (GI)-tagged products by 2030 seems to have moved into a higher gear, with the total number of GI applications finally crossing the 2,000 mark to reach 2,013 as on April 2, 2026.While Kashmir Kagzi Badam was the 2,000th application to be filed on April 2 this…

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Sensex rises 185 pts on value buying, Rupee rebound

MUMBAI: Staging a spirited recovery, stock markets pared early losses to close higher on Thursday, sensex rising by 185 points and Nifty settling above 22,700 on strong value buying in IT and banking shares and a sharp rebound in the rupee.Rebounding more than 2,000 points from the day’s low, sensex finally settled higher by 185…

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