Author: News Desk

and the United Arab Emirates are continuing to strengthen their strategic partnership across energy, trade, and defence, as wider geopolitical tensions in West Asia reshape regional priorities. At the centre of this evolving relationship is the shared interest in energy security, maritime stability, and long-term economic cooperation. The UAE remains one of India’s key energy suppliers, while India is a major consumer of Gulf crude and natural gas, making the relationship structurally important for both sides. Growing strategic alignment The leadership engagement between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has helped accelerate cooperation…

India’s defence exports have recorded an extraordinary rise over the past decade, growing nearly 25 times from ₹1,535 crore in FY17 to ₹38,400 crore in FY26, according to recent industry reports. The country is now aiming to further increase defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by FY29, reflecting India’s growing ambition to become a major player in the global defence manufacturing market. The surge has been driven by strong policy support, rising indigenous production, and the government’s Make in India initiative, which has encouraged both public and private sector participation in defence manufacturing. India currently exports a wide range of defence…

India and Vietnam have significantly strengthened bilateral relations during the state visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to New Delhi. The two countries elevated their ties to an “Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and signed 13 agreements spanning critical sectors including defence, technology, trade, culture, energy, and digital cooperation. Among the key agreements signed were collaborations in digital technologies, rare earth elements, critical minerals, digital payments, urban cooperation, and cultural exchange programmes for 2026–2030. The agreements reflect a growing convergence between the two nations in both economic and strategic priorities. Both countries also announced an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade…

Royal Enfield is set to make a major manufacturing expansion with a planned ₹2,200 crore investment in Andhra Pradesh, marking the company’s first significant expansion outside Tamil Nadu since beginning operations there in 1955. The new manufacturing facility and vendor park will come up in Satyavedu in Tirupati district and will be developed in two phases extending up to 2032. The project is expected to significantly strengthen Royal Enfield’s production network and support future growth plans. According to reports, the expansion could add nearly 9 lakh motorcycles to the company’s annual production capacity, taking advantage of growing domestic and international…

India’s services exports reached $421.3 billion in FY26, beating the earlier estimate of $418.3 billion. This pushed total exports of goods and services to a record $863.1 billion for the year, an official said on Wednesday. Services exports grew 8.7% compared to $387.55 billion in FY25. Overall exports rose 4.6% from $825.26 billion in the previous fiscal year. Officials said this is the highest level of total exports so far, supported by consistent performance across sectors despite global economic challenges. They also noted that every quarter of FY26 recorded record export levels. Growth in services exports was driven by strong…

India’s Zee Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against the Reliance-Disney joint venture, India’s largest entertainment company, accusing it of using Zee’s copyrighted music after licensing agreements had expired, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters. Zee is seeking $3 million in damages, alleging that songs from its music division were used without authorization on the Reliance-Disney streaming platform and several television channels after the agreements lapsed. The case, filed in a New Delhi court and reported for the first time by Reuters, marks the latest legal dispute between Zee and the entertainment giant created through the $8.5 billion merger of…

India’s Biocon is preparing for a leadership transition, with founder and chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw formally outlining her succession plan for the first time. She has named her niece, Claire Mazumdar, as the future successor to the biotechnology company she built from a small garage setup in Bengaluru in 1978. The announcement, made on May 5, marks an important moment for one of Asia’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, widely seen as a symbol of India’s global innovation in life sciences. However, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw clarified that she is not stepping down immediately, and the transition will happen gradually over time. Claire Mazumdar, 37,…

Mauritius is planning to attract around 100 high-net-worth individuals each year through its “golden visa” scheme, designed to bring in foreign capital and boost long-term investment in the economy. Under the program, applicants must invest at least $1 million within a year of arriving. Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam said the initiative was introduced after growing interest from foreign nationals looking to relocate with their families. The government expects participants to channel funds into key sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy, helping diversify and strengthen the economy. Mauritius joins a growing list of countries offering residency-linked investment…

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a major engineering and construction contract worth ₹2,500–₹5,000 crore to develop a coal-to-ammonium nitrate facility in Odisha, according to reports. The project has been awarded by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL), a joint venture between Coal India Limited and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. L&T confirmed in a regulatory filing that its Hydrocarbon Onshore division will execute the order. The contract involves building a nitric acid and ammonium nitrate plant on a lump-sum turnkey basis. Once completed, the facility is expected to produce around 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate per day, serving demand…

Reliance Industries is planning a scheduled maintenance shutdown at one of its crude processing units and select secondary units at its 660,000 barrels-per-day refinery, according to sources familiar with the matter. The shutdown is expected to last around three to four weeks later this month. The refinery, one of the largest in the world, operates two equally sized crude distillation units that primarily serve domestic fuel demand. The broader refining complex also includes a separate export-oriented refinery with a capacity of 704,000 barrels per day. Sources said the maintenance is likely to begin around mid-May, timed after Nayara Energy restarts…