The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas stated on Saturday that there are still 17 Indian-flagged ships sailing in the western Persian Gulf area with about 460 Indian seafarers on board.

Additionally, the government stated that appropriate measures are in place to protect their safety as maritime conditions change.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways claims that it is carefully monitoring ship movements, port activities, and the safety of Indian sailors while simultaneously guaranteeing uninterrupted maritime trade.

The ministry claims that all Indian seafarers in the area are safe and that there have been no reports of incidents involving ships flying the Indian flag in the last 24 hours.

Additionally, it stated that the Green Sanvi, an LPG ship carrying 46,650 metric tons of LPG cargo and 25 seamen, had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

In the western Persian Gulf area, there are still 17 Indian-flagged ships, and the Directorate General of Shipping is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with Indian Missions, RPSL agencies, and ship owners.

Since it went live, the DG Shipping Control Room has answered 5,015 calls and 10,425 emails, and it is still open around the clock. Over the course of the past 24 hours, it has received 31 phone calls and 129 emails.

According to the government, the Directorate has also helped more than 1,320 Indian sailors return safely thus far, including 190 in the last 24 hours from airports and various regional locations throughout the Gulf.

India’s port operations are still running smoothly, with no congestion reported. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry’s State Maritime Boards have all attested to their effective operation.

Additionally, the ministry said it is working with Indian missions, the Ministry of External Affairs, and other marine stakeholders to safeguard seafarer welfare and maintain maritime operations.

In the midst of worldwide uncertainties, the government is intensifying its efforts to reduce any interruption to gasoline supply chains.

As the government increases its efforts, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), the state-run oil marketing company (OMC), assured on Saturday that there are enough supplies of petrol, diesel, and LPG throughout the nation.

The PSU company stated that it is closely monitoring its nationwide distribution network and taking the necessary measures to stop the illegal hoarding and sale of LPG cylinders.

The firm issued a public warning on X, urging consumers not to engage in panic purchasing or make needless LPG reservations, highlighting that despite worries brought on by tensions in West Asia and disruptions around important shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz, supply chains remain stable.

We at IndianOil are dedicated to making sure there is enough petrol, diesel, and LPG available throughout the nation. According to the post, the firm is taking the necessary steps to stop the hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders by constantly monitoring the supply chain.

The promise comes at a time when there are worries about potential interruptions in the global oil supply caused by increasing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Indian refiners have actively obtained crude oil supplies for the next months, according to authorities, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of the availability of fuel on the local market.

According to authorities, refiners may also choose to purchase crude from a variety of geographic locations for business reasons, which will lessen the effects of global volatility.

India has lately imported a shipment of LPG from Iran, according to the oil ministry, which has arrived in the western port city of Mangalore and is now being unloaded.

Despite organized efforts to guarantee smooth distribution and avoid any manufactured shortages, the authorities insisted that the supply of fuel for domestic use remains steady.

In addition, in order to refute disinformation and allay public concerns about the availability and distribution of LPG, 21 states and Union Territories are holding press briefings.

In addition to the timely dissemination of reliable information via social and electronic media, the government has instructed the Chief Secretaries of all states and UTs to increase proactive public communication, such as daily press conferences at senior levels.

Additionally, on presentation of a valid ID, OMCs provide 5-kg LPG cylinders at petrol pumps and distributors without needing proof of address.

You may buy the 5-kg FTL cylinders by producing any acceptable identification at the local LPG dealership. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that there is no need for address verification.

Over 71,000 of these cylinders were sold in one day recently, and about 5. 7 lakh have been sold overall since March 23.

In a nail-biting match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, the Rajasthan Royals defeated the Gujarat Titans by a thrilling six runs thanks to a spectacular last over from pacer Tushar Deshpande.

Riding on excellent half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajasthan scored a respectable 210/6 in 20 overs after choosing to bat first. Sai Sudharsan’s superb innings led Gujarat’s chase, but the hosts narrowly missed out despite a late push from Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada.

During the Power-play, Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi exerted pressure on the Gujarat bowlers, propelling Rajasthan, who had won the toss and opted to bat, to a strong start. Jaiswal was hitting well through the off side as the pair raced to 69/0 in six overs. In the end, Rashid knocked off Sooryavanshi for a quick 31 off 18 deliveries, breaking the stand.

Before being caught by Rabada for 55 runs off 36 balls, Jaiswal maintained the momentum and reached a well-timed fifty.

With a few wickets falling, Rajasthan momentarily lost steam, but Jurel made sure the innings kept moving forward.

With five fours and five sixes, the wicketkeeper-batsman hit 75 off 42 balls in the closing overs, having paced his innings well. Rajasthan’s score exceeded 200 thanks to cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and the middle-order hitters.

As Kumar Kushagra made his debut and started the innings with Sudharsan, GT were without their usual captain, Shubman Gill, who was sidelined for the game due to a muscular spasm.

The pair established a solid start, reaching 56 without loss in the power play, while they were chasing 211. Sudharsan appeared to be in great form, hitting the ball cleanly against both speed and spin. The opening stand came to an end when Kushagra was caught at long-on by Riyan Parag after scoring a useful 18 off 14 deliveries.

Gujarat was still well behind, thanks to Sudharsan’s continued domination and smooth half-century. With a brilliant four-wicket haul that gave him his best stats of the competition, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi led Rajasthan to fight back and flip the game. Sudharsan’s magnificent 73 off 44 balls saw him eliminate the threat of Bishnoi before quickly taking out Washington Sundar and Glenn Phillips.

Gujarat went from a commanding position to 133/5 as wickets continued to fall, and the heat increased as Jos Buttler was caught by Nandre Burger.

Rashid and Rabada launched a surprising counterattack at the moment when Rajasthan seemed to have the upper hand. With aggressive hitting, the pair, who shared a 43-run partnership, scored quick runs, including a massive six from Rabada and a few astute boundaries from Rashid, which drastically changed the game.

RR captain Parag gave Deshpande the responsibility of getting the 11 runs that were needed in the last over. The pacer performed admirably under extreme pressure, consistently hitting his yorkers and keeping the batsmen at bay.

The turning point occurred when Rashid tried a long shot but was intercepted by Jofra Archer in the deep, giving Gujarat an excessive amount to accomplish.

In the end, what was the first nail-biter of the season came down to Deshpande, who only allowed four runs in the last over to give Rajasthan an exciting victory.

Brief scores:
Rajasthan Royals 210/6 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 75, Yashasvi Jaiswal 55; Kagiso Rabada 2-42)
Gujarat Titans 204/8 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 73, Jos Buttler 26; Ravi Bishnoi 4-41, Tushar Deshpande 1-24)

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced on Friday that world food commodity prices rose for the second consecutive month in March, primarily due to higher energy prices driven by the escalation of the conflict in West Asia.

The average value of the FAO Food Price Index, which monitors monthly fluctuations in the global prices of a selection of internationally traded food products, was 128. 5 points in March, representing a 2. 4% increase from February and a 1. 0% increase over the previous year.

According to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero, price increases since the start of the conflict have been small, mostly caused by higher oil prices, and mitigated by abundant global cereal stocks.

“However, if the conflict lasts more than 40 days with high input costs and current low margins, farmers will have to choose between farming the same with fewer inputs, planting less, or switching to less intensive fertilizer crops. Those decisions will have an impact on future yields as well as influence the cost of our food supply and commodities throughout the remainder of this year and the whole of next year,” Torero said.

Higher global wheat prices, which rose 4. 3% due to drought-related deterioration of crop prospects in the United States of America and expectations of reduced plantings in Australia due to higher fertilizer costs, were the main factor behind the 1. 5% increase in the FAO Cereal Price Index from the previous month.

Concerns about fertilizer affordability and indirect support from increased ethanol demand prospects connected to rising energy prices were countered by abundant global availability, which led to a minor increase in maize prices globally.

Due to harvest timing, lower import demand, and currency depreciations versus the US dollar, the FAO All-Rice Price Index fell 3. 0% in March.

From February, the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose 5. 1% to be 13. 2% higher than its level a year earlier. The surge in crude oil prices caused by spillover effects and catalyzed expectations of increased biofuel demand are mirrored in the rise in international prices for palm, soybean, sunflower, and rapeseed oil.

Due to rising pig meat prices in the European Union in anticipation of growing seasonal demand, as well as rising global bovine meat prices, particularly in Brazil, where tight cattle availability restricted exportable supplies, the FAO Meat Price Index increased by 1. 0% from the previous month.

Due to logistical difficulties restricting market access in the Near East, the cost of poultry and ovine meat decreased.

In March, the Sugar Price Index rose by 7. 2% and the FAO Dairy Price Index increased by 1. 2%.

A generally favorable global supply outlook for the current season, supported by excellent harvest progress in India and Thailand, was offset by increased expectations that Brazil, the major sugar exporter, would use more sugarcane to make ethanol in order to combat rising international crude oil prices.

FAO predicts a 1. 7% decline in global wheat production this year to 820 million tons, as most of the world’s wheat crop has already been planted.

The cast and crew of the online series “Panchayat” have begun production on the fifth season. The creators of the show celebrated its sixth anniversary on Instagram on Friday and formally announced the start of production for the series’ highly anticipated fifth season.

The post includes behind-the-scenes footage as well as screenshots from the program. “6 years of being in Phulera and never wanting to leave,” they penned in the caption. “PanchayatOnPrime, New Season, Now Filming“.

Since its premiere in 2020, Panchayat has consistently gained popularity and established itself as one of the most cherished shows in India, winning audiences over over several seasons. Audiences were especially enthralled by Season 4.

Fans have been impatiently anticipating a return to their beloved Phulera after the dramatic cliffhanger in Season 4.

With Sachiv Ji strategizing his next move after getting his CAT results, Manju Devi reeling from the sting of defeat in the Panchayat elections, and Pradhan Ji visibly shaken by the outcome, the previous season came to a close.

With twists and turns sprinkled with Phulera-style humor, drama, and genuine moments, Season 5 is prepared to continue exactly from this tense point.

Panchayat Season 5, which is produced by The Viral Fever, written by Chandan Kumar, and directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, is the work of Deepak Kumar Mishra & Chandan Kumar. The popular cast of Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha is brought back by the season.

The series not only solidifies its connection with viewers with each new season, but also draws them further into the world of Phulera gaon, the fictitious little hamlet in the heart of India that has become a global cultural sensation.

Prime Video will host the debut of the popular show’s new season.

In light of the supply chain interruptions caused by the Iran war, a meeting was held on Friday among top government officials, including the Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the Power Secretary, and the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), to explore ways to increase the domestic production of induction heaters and cooking utensils in order to reduce the usage of cooking gas consumption, according to official sources.

Since the start of the West Asia crisis, there has been a surge in demand for induction heaters and other electrical items. India needs to be ready for any problems that may arise if the war lasts for more than a few months, a top official said.

The meeting to assess the situation occurs as officials get ready for a prolonged struggle and evaluate the effects of the disruptions to the importation of oil, gas, and petrochemical products. To address supply issues and alleviate cost pressures, the government has already cut import tariffs on a number of petrochemical items.

The government’s priority, according to sources, is to guarantee the availability of essential items and lessen reliance on imports in the face of the worldwide uncertainties brought about by the Middle East war.

The near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s energy supply passes, has hampered oil imports from the Middle East. This has been compounded by damage to vital energy infrastructure, such as a significant liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar, which has heightened the uncertainty surrounding these imports.

In order to make up for the gap in imports, India has diversified its oil imports and is now purchasing more crude from Russia and African nations like Nigeria and Angola. In addition to the United States, Indian oil businesses are also getting gas from other sources.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said in a national address that the US military will strike Iran very hard for the following two or three weeks, adding to the ambiguity around the situation in the Middle East. According to him, the US would restore them to their rightful place in the Stone Age.

“There was no oil or gas being pumped in the Middle East back then,” Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, said hours later on X.

The threat has been reiterated by Trump as the conflict has entered its second month and the deployment of US troops in the area has persisted. Iran has also turned down reports of ceasefire talks and a 15-point peace plan, describing it as “exceedingly maximalist and unreasonable. “

The Punjab Kings defeated the Chennai Super Kings by five wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, thanks to skipper Shreyas Iyer’s fifty and Priyansh Arya’s opening blitz of 39 runs off 11 balls, giving them their second victory in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

With a strong beginning that set the tone for the Punjab Kings’ pursuit of 210 against the Chennai Super Kings, Priyansh Arya kicked off the chase. Arya, who was brought in as a replacement, made his goals plain.

From the start, he went after Khaleel Ahmed. His entrance was distinguished by a forceful six over midwicket and a sharp, direct four. Although Khaleel was able to make some progress against Prabhsimran Singh, he nonetheless allowed 14 runs in the opening over.

Arya assaulted Matt Henry in the second over, scoring 4, 6, and 4 to get 25 runs in only six deliveries. There was no respite. Arya had already accumulated 27 runs off eight balls, easily locating the boundary, when PBKS reached their fifty in an amazing 3. 2 overs. This was a daring and contemporary approach to T20.

He went all out in the power play to take control of the chase after seeing a target of more than 200. Even if his 39 off 11 at a strike rate of 355 wasn’t enough to win the game on its own, it did show what it means to be an aggressive opener in modern cricket: deal as much damage as possible early on and set a foundation.

Prabhsimran maintained the momentum on the other end, but CSK attempted to seize control by introducing Noor Ahmad as an impact bowler and Rahul Chahar as a spin bowler. But PBKS continued to press, with Cooper Connolly displaying intent against spin.

But at a crucial moment, when Shreyas Iyer strode confidently to the crease with a chance to score, a pricey error on a low-risk second call cost PBKS their momentum. Sarfaraz Khan made a superb backup play and tossed a precise throw to the non-striker’s end to get Prabhsimran (43) out after Connolly brought him back, while Noor Ahmad raced from midwicket to intercept the ball.

From a full toss that he was unable to fully get beyond mid-off, Conolly holed out. He will regret that lost opportunity throughout the lengthy journey home. Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera are still at the crease for PBKS, who need 83 runs off 49 balls to stabilize the chase.

In contrast, CSK’s spin options are few. They are ahead of Rahul Chahar by two and Noor Ahmad by one. Following that, it will be the pacers’ responsibility to complete the task since they have been giving up runs throughout the night.

Chennai Super Kings scored 209/5 thanks to late cameos from Sarfaraz Khan (32 off 12) and Shivam Dube (45 off 27), who were accompanied by Ayush Mhatre’s outstanding 73 off 43.

Sanju Samson (7) once again succumbed early in CSK’s innings, highlighting his difficulties with movement. In the face of the early setbacks, Mhatre took command, demonstrating excellent intent and readiness, particularly against short pitches.

After perfecting his pull shot, he went on to defeat the pacers, hitting five sixes and four fours to reach 59 off 32 balls in nine overs.

Despite Mhatre’s dominance, Ruturaj Gaikwad (28 off 22) had trouble getting things moving, and he fell at a moment when CSK needed it most. Despite the Power-play, Mhatre persisted in setting the agenda by deftly using clever positioning and rapid modifications to combat the wide yorker plan.

His termination turned out to be a pivotal moment. Mhatre had scored 73 of those runs—almost 60%—at 123, demonstrating CSK’s excessive reliance on him, as the remainder of the batting lineup only managed to score 38 runs off 32 balls, with 12 extras.

Then, with an imaginative cameo using ramps and skillful touches to combat pace and yorkers, Sarfaraz injected late momentum, hitting at 266. Despite his early challenges, Dube persevered and maintained a calm, unbroken 45 to anchor the death overs.

With 209/5, CSK also recorded their first 200-plus score at Chepauk since April 2024, indicating a comeback to their prolific run-scoring peak.

Shreyas Iyer maintained perfect composure during his innings, seamlessly switching between 4 off 5 and 50 off 26. As the captain of the PBKS, he maintained control of the situation by selecting his pitches with care and ensuring that the chase remained on track. But Iyer was playing exceptionally well, and everything appeared to be going in PBKS’ direction.

However, CSK responded by taking Iyer out and having Nehal Wadhera shift the momentum back in their favor with two wickets off successive deliveries.

But as PBKS ended the game, winning by five wickets, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis made sure there were no further hiccups.

Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings 209/5 in 20 overs (Ayush Mhatre 73, Shivam Dube 45 not out; Vyshak Vijaykumar 2-38, Yuzvendra Chahal 1-21)
Punjab Kings 210/5 in 18.4 overs (Shreyas Iyer 50, Prabhsimran Singh 43, Priyansh Arya 39; Matt Henry 2-54, Anshul Kamboj 2-47)

In response to the rumored large layoffs by Oracle Corporation, CPI-MLL lawmaker Raja Ram Singh said on Thursday that “workers cannot be treated as expendable” and that the government should act right away to safeguard workers’ rights and promote accountability in the IT industry.

Singh, who represents Bihar’s Karakat constituency in the Lok Sabha, sent a letter to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to express his deep worry and anger over claims that the multinational technology company has fired about 12,000 people in the nation.

In addition to questioning corporate responsibility and the government’s reaction to these changes, he called the step a significant danger to job security.

The lawmaker made the case that India’s policy environment, which includes tax breaks, public infrastructure, and a friendly commercial climate, greatly benefits firms like Oracle.

He stressed that these benefits are provided in the hopes that businesses will help create jobs and promote economic stability.

He said that firing thousands of workers with little to no warning goes against the fundamental ideals of human dignity and job security.

Who will be responsible for their lives and the welfare of the thousands of families left behind after they are fired without notice? Singh inquired.

He also stated that this implied social compact is undermined by the massive layoffs, particularly when there is little or no notice, and that the basis of secure and respectable employment is weakened as a result.

Singh requested that the ministry question Oracle about the extent and manner of the layoffs in its correspondence.

He asked that the appropriate actions be taken to avoid arbitrary mass layoffs and that any breaches of labor legislation be held accountable.

It is impossible to undermine the respect of work. Singh emphasized that the government must take a hard line to prevent Indian workers from being seen as expendable.

According to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, India is in a “sweet spot” with the trade deal and has the “best” agreement with the United States among its rivals.

Speaking to the media at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which was recently held in Cameroon, the minister said that India should receive preferential market access under the bilateral trade agreement signed with the United States.

A tariff exemption on certain product lines is considered preferential market access.

The interim trade pact with the US, which significantly reduced the tariffs imposed on India from 50% to 18%, was finalized on February 2.

The tariffs were later deemed unlawful by the nine-member US panel on February 20. The Donald Trump administration then imposed a 10 percent tariff on all trading partners right away.

India and the US continue to engage in discussions for a bilateral trade agreement that will benefit both countries, despite geo-political turbulence. Both parties are putting forth a concerted effort to reach a trade deal that would boost economic collaboration and business opportunities in both countries.

Additionally, India and the United States are strengthening diplomatic and economic ties in a number of industries, such trade, defense, and supply chain collaboration.

At the WTO’s “MC14” meeting, India reaffirmed the necessity for a lasting solution on public stockholding and a Special Safeguard Mechanism in agriculture, according to Goyal.

“The Modi Government continues to be dedicated to safeguarding the interests of our farmers and maintaining food security. “India represents what is correct,” the minister stated.

In a message on X, Goyal stated, “We opposed plurilaterals like the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement and did not consent to their inclusion into the WTO framework without adequate safeguards and consensus at WTO MC14. ”

Goyal stressed India’s active participation in the heated discussions on WTO reforms at the WTO summit, protecting the interests of our people, particularly our farmers and fishermen.

Additionally, he highlighted how India reaffirmed its unwavering dedication to fostering a fair, transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system.

At the ‘MC14‘ WTO conference, it was emphasized that India has been employing sustainable fishing methods for millennia, according to Goyal.

At the briefing, the minister stated, “India demands fair, development-oriented outcomes that greatly benefit our fishing community. “

India’s domestic market for automotive metal forming is expected to almost double to $90–95 billion by FY30, with an annual growth rate of about 12%, as global supply chain realignments shift value concentration toward process-led manufacturers.

India’s auto component industry, which includes casting, forging, stamping, and machining, surpassed $80 billion in size in FY25 and became a net exporter during the year, with exports totaling about $23 billion, according to an analysis by Avendus Capital.

The shift, it claimed, represents not just a rise in scale but also a structural improvement in the complexity of production, quality standards, and integration with the global economy.

Additionally, the study emphasized the ongoing shift in global automotive supply chains, where original equipment manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers are diversifying their sourcing bases in the face of geopolitical uncertainty and cost constraints.

Cost competitiveness, engineering skills, and a well-established supplier ecosystem are helping India establish itself as a popular manufacturing location.

With ever-increasing demands for accuracy, weight reduction, and complexity, the paper also highlighted that key metal-forming techniques are still necessary for both internal combustion engine and electric vehicle platforms.

It also highlighted India’s possible advantage in ICE components as global suppliers shift funds toward electrification and reduce investment in ICE-related production, resulting in a supply deficit in drivetrain components like crankshafts, gears, and axles.

The aftermarket prospect offers additional upside because there are more than 1. 5 billion ICE vehicles in the world’s car parc.

According to Koushik Bhattacharyya, Managing Director and Head of Industrials Investment Banking at Avendus Capital, the Indian auto component industry is shifting from a growth phase driven by scale to one that is focused on capability consolidation. India is in a great position to seize this chance, especially in essential metal-forming sectors, as worldwide supply chains change.

From a deal activity perspective, the industry is experiencing increasing interest from international private equity companies and strategic purchasers, with investors favoring companies that have strong process experience, an export orientation, and scalable manufacturing platforms.