Coal import probe prompts Special Presidential Commission to review procurement procedures, state loss, and energy sector oversight.
Sri Lanka appointed a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to examine coal imports for power generation by Lanka Coal Ltd from the commencement of imports up to 16 April 2026, including whether the imports caused loss to the state and whether accepted procurement procedures were followed. The commission was constituted under the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Act and its special provisions. The inquiry followed concerns raised over coal procurement and alleged irregularities in the state supply chain for thermal power generation.

Norms Committees reform under DGFT aims to streamline duty-free import approvals and improve trade facilitation for exporters.
Strengthening of Norms Committees under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has been undertaken to improve the administration of the Advance Authorisation and Duty-Free Import Authorisation schemes under the Foreign Trade Policy. These schemes permit duty-free import of inputs physically incorporated in export products, with authorisations ordinarily issued against notified Standard Input Output Norms and, where such norms are unavailable, against self-declared input-output norms later examined and finalised by sector-specific committees. The reforms are directed at improving turnaround time, enabling earlier approvals, and making the norms fixation process more transparent and predictable.

Integrated Management System certification reinforces quality, safety, sustainability and facility management across a large office park portfolio.
Panchshil Realty's 12 office parks have obtained an Integrated Management System certification covering quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety management, and facility management. The certified portfolio spans IT, SEZ and mixed-use office parks and extends to end-to-end Integrated Facility Management services, including engineering operations and maintenance, soft services, safety and security systems, civil upkeep, and digital FM enablement. The certifications are presented as internationally accredited and tied to standardised systems, stronger operational frameworks, and global ESG-aligned service delivery.

India-US partnership gains momentum as diplomatic talks continue alongside bilateral trade agreement negotiations.
Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra discussed issues of mutual interest with Congressman Pete Sessions and appreciated his support for a stronger India-US partnership. The meeting formed part of ongoing diplomatic engagement as India and the US negotiated the finer elements of a bilateral trade agreement, following earlier finalisation of a framework for the first phase.

Special Economic Zone reforms support semiconductor manufacturing, with Dholera notified for India's first chip fabrication plant.
Government has notified a Special Economic Zone to be established by M/s. Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited at Dholera, Gujarat, exclusively for electronic hardware and software, including IT/ITES. The project is described as India's first chip fabrication plant and is set over 66.166 hectares with projected employment of 21,000 persons. The SEZ is intended to support semiconductor and electronics manufacturing through enabling infrastructure and a dedicated approval mechanism designed to streamline operations and logistics. The notification forms part of wider SEZ reforms that reduced land requirements, relaxed encumbrance norms, included free-of-cost supplies in Net Foreign Exchange calculations, and permitted domestic sales in the Domestic Tariff Area on payment of applicable duties.

Apricot export expansion boosts Ladakh farmers through international market access, value addition and reduced post-harvest losses.
Ladakh Administration signed an MoU with Lulu Retail, through APEDA and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, to export at least 1,000 tonnes of Ladakhi apricots this season. The exporter will procure, pluck, sort, process, package, transport and market the produce in international markets while preserving the identity of Ladakh-origin apricots. The initiative is aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, improving value addition and providing farmers better pricing and direct market access.

Asia growth outlook stays resilient as the IMF warns an energy shock may fuel inflation and tighten policy space.
Asia is projected to remain the main driver of global growth, with India and China contributing about 70 per cent of regional expansion. Growth in the region, after reaching about 5 per cent in 2025 despite US tariffs and trade uncertainty, is expected to moderate in 2026 and 2027. The IMF warned that the Gulf crisis energy shock could raise inflation, weaken external balances, tighten financial conditions and narrow policy space, requiring agile monetary policy.

Sustainable in-house glass bottling solutions support premium hospitality operations through training, hygiene compliance and plastic reduction.
Export order for sustainable in-house glass bottled water solutions was secured by PBP EcoAqua from a Kenyan hospitality group for premium hotel operations. The arrangement includes automated glass bottling and water treatment systems, together with installation, technical training, operational familiarisation and dispatch planning. The project emphasises hygiene compliance, operational efficiency and sustainability performance benchmarks, and is intended to reduce dependence on single-use plastic bottles through reusable glass packaging and safe, premium drinking water services.

China's first-quarter GDP growth reflects stronger supply, improved demand and resilience despite external geopolitical and trade pressures.
China's economy recorded five per cent growth in the first quarter, with GDP reaching 33.4 trillion yuan and growth accelerating from the previous quarter despite external fallout from the US-Israel war and wider geopolitical and trade uncertainties. The National Bureau of Statistics described the opening of the 15th Five-Year Plan period as a strong start, noting improved production and supply, firmer market demand, generally stable employment, moderately higher prices and continued progress in high-quality development.

Naval blockade enforcement against Iranian ports creates maritime uncertainty, inspection risks, and exceptions for humanitarian shipments.
US naval blockade of Iranian coastal areas and ports has been fully implemented, extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It applies to vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, while non-Iran-bound vessels retain freedom of navigation. Humanitarian shipments including food and medical supplies essential for civilian survival are permitted subject to inspection, and neutral ships may pass but remain liable to inspection. The blockade has created uncertainty because enforcement may occur after vessels clear the strait, and AIS manipulation further complicates maritime monitoring.

Electronics import dependence deepens as imports rise sharply and exports remain far below import levels.
Electronics imports crossed the USD 100 billion mark in 2025-26, rising to USD 116.17 billion from USD 98.65 billion in the preceding fiscal year. Electronics exports also increased to USD 48.0 billion, supported by smartphone shipments, but remained well below imports. The trade pattern was noted as indicating continued dependence on imported semiconductors, components and electronic equipment despite the manufacturing push.

Trade uncertainty and Middle East disruption weigh on exports as imports fall and the trade deficit narrows.
Goods exports declined in March because of trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, with shipments to West Asia and the Middle East contracting sharply. Imports also fell, led by lower crude oil and gold shipments, narrowing the trade deficit to a nine-month low. For the full fiscal year, exports reached an all-time high, imports rose, and the trade deficit widened. Services exports stayed robust, while China emerged as India's largest trading partner.

China becomes India's largest trading partner as bilateral trade expands and the trade deficit widens sharply.
China emerged as India's largest trading partner in 2025-26, displacing the US after four consecutive years of US leadership. Bilateral trade with China rose to USD 151.1 billion, driven by higher exports and imports, and India's trade deficit with China widened to USD 112.16 billion. Trade with the US remained significant, but export growth was modest and imports increased more sharply, reducing India's trade surplus.

Trade disruption and export slowdown in India deepened as West Asia conflict affected shipping and import flows.
India's merchandise exports declined sharply in March amid the West Asia crisis, while imports also fell, leading to a narrower trade deficit. The fall in outbound shipments was linked to disruption in international shipping routes, higher freight and insurance costs, and reduced trade with the Middle East, particularly in goods such as gems and jewellery, rice, engineering goods, petroleum products and electronic items. Lower crude oil and gold imports also contributed to the reduced deficit.

Trade pact recalibration drives India-US negotiations as tariff changes and Section 301 probes reshape the talks.
India and the United States are resuming chief-negotiator level talks on the proposed bilateral trade pact to finalise the legal agreement and adjust it to changes in the US tariff environment. The interim understanding reached in February now requires recalibration because the tariff architecture has changed, and the discussions will also cover recent Section 301 investigations and India's response to them.

India's trade estimates show stronger services exports, modest merchandise growth, and a wider overall trade deficit for FY 2025-26.
India's total exports of merchandise and services for FY 2025-26 are estimated to have grown, with merchandise exports showing only marginal expansion while services exports recorded stronger growth. Total imports also increased, leaving a wider overall trade deficit for the year compared with FY 2024-25. Merchandise trade data shows modest export growth alongside a sharper rise in imports, while services trade remained a major support area with an improved surplus.

Merchandise exports and imports fall amid West Asia disruptions, while annual goods and services trade still shows growth.
Merchandise exports and imports declined in March amid disruptions to major trade routes linked to the West Asia conflict, while the month's trade deficit widened. Annual trade data showed growth in goods and services exports, supported by services exports, even as trade with the Middle East fell sharply because of the conflict. The report also notes that the India-UK free trade agreement may come into force in the following month.

Trade talks and Section 301 probes shape India-US negotiations as tariff changes delay the interim agreement.
An Indian official delegation is scheduled to visit Washington for trade talks with United States authorities amid efforts to finalise the legal text of an interim bilateral trade agreement. The talks come after changes in the United States tariff architecture following a Supreme Court ruling and the postponement of earlier negotiations. The visit also coincides with two United States Section 301 investigations, including probes concerning forced-labour import bans and industrial practices affecting commerce.

Solar mounting system optimisation may improve yield and reduce project cost in utility-scale solar developments.
Independent techno-economic assessment of fixed-tilt and horizontal single-axis tracker systems indicates that tracker-based configurations may deliver materially higher specific yield and lower Levelized Cost of Energy under the study's modelling assumptions. The analysis across Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh compares energy yield and CUF under CUF-matched and constant-DC scenarios, highlighting the importance of site-specific evaluation in mounting system selection for utility-scale solar projects.

Soybean meal exports slump as West Asia disruption and high domestic prices weigh on India's trade performance.
India's soybean meal exports declined sharply in March because of persistently higher domestic prices and disruption in West Asia trade routes. Export volumes fell to about 60,000 tonnes from 1.62 lakh tonnes in the corresponding prior year month, with supply to Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman reported as affected by the regional conflict. Domestic consumption remained strong, rising to six lakh tonnes from five lakh tonnes a year earlier, supported by the animal feed industry.