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India's oil and gas sector is set for steady growth through fiscal years 2026 and 2027, buoyed by strong refining margins and increasing demand, despite recent market volatility, according to Systematix Institutional Equities. The sector is expected to achieve average sales, EBITDA, and PAT growth of 6%, 12.9%, and 13.3% year-on-year for FY26, and 7.8%, 9%, and 10.1% for FY27, respectively. Key investment recommendations include Reliance Industries, GAIL India, Mahanagar Gas, and Gulf Oil Lubricants. Recent market fluctuations saw Brent crude prices drop by 22.9% year-on-year due to increased OPEC supply, while Gross Refining Margins surged by 85% month-on-month, reflecting lower crude costs and improved product cracks. Natural gas prices showed mixed trends, with US prices falling sharply, while Asian LNG prices rose due to regional demand. Overall, the sector's earnings showed a slight decline year-on-year but a sequential increase in Q4 FY25. 
Published: Jun 09 2025, 1 pmeznews.inLogistics provider Xpressbees has appointed Tarun Agarwal as Vice President of B2C First Mile, marking a significant addition to its leadership team. Agarwal brings over 31 years of experience in operations, logistics, and e-commerce, previously serving as Vice President of Operations at Ecom Express. His extensive career includes leadership roles at Aramex India, Delhivery, Snapdeal, and Blue Dart Express, where he managed operations across Delhi NCR and North India. Expressing enthusiasm for his new role, Agarwal aims to enhance the company's logistics solutions through technology and process innovation. Rahul Agarwal, Chief Operating Officer of Xpressbees, highlighted that Agarwal's operational expertise will be crucial in bolstering first-mile operations and supporting the company's growth in the B2C sector. Founded in 2015 as FirstCry's logistics provider, Xpressbees now offers comprehensive domestic and international supply chain solutions, operating over 260 hubs and 4,500 fulfillment centers nationwide.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 5 pmeznews.inThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that the monsoon will become active over the South Peninsula starting Thursday, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall, particularly in Karnataka. This weather pattern will extend to Konkan and Goa for three days from Friday, marking the end of a two-week hiatus following an early monsoon onset in Kerala on May 24. The IMD noted that a low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal, which is crucial for sustaining monsoon activity. Additionally, a western disturbance is influencing weather patterns, with anticipated interactions that could enhance rainfall across various regions. Heavy rainfall is already affecting Marathawada and South Interior Karnataka, with further precipitation expected in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other states. Thunder squalls are also forecasted in parts of Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar, with moderate rainfall expected in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIRB Infrastructure reported a nearly 9% year-on-year increase in toll revenue, reaching ₹581 crore in May 2025, compared to ₹536 crore in the same month last year. The IRB MP Expressway in Maharashtra was the largest contributor, generating ₹159.5 crore, up from ₹152.6 crore in May 2024. The IRB Golconda Expressway followed with ₹73 crore, an increase from ₹62.7 crore, while the Ahmedabad Vadodara Super Express Tollway contributed ₹68.7 crore, up from ₹64.5 crore. The company also noted a rise in toll revenue from the TOT-12 project Lalitpur Lakhnadon NH44, which collected ₹37.5 crore, compared to ₹35.5 crore last year. Deputy CEO Amitabh Murarka attributed the growth to the vacation season, despite minor impacts from pre-monsoon rains. He expressed optimism for continued growth, bolstered by the addition of new vehicles and ongoing project completions. IRB is India's largest integrated private toll roads developer, with assets exceeding ₹80,000 crore across 12 states.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 5 pmeznews.inDalmia Bharat, India's fourth-largest cement manufacturer, aims to boost its cement capacity from 49.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 75 mtpa by FY28, with a long-term goal of reaching 110-130 mtpa in Phase II. The company plans to invest ₹3,520 crore over the next two years, adding 3 mtpa in Pune and Belgaum. The cement sector is expected to see a growth rebound of 7-8% in FY26, following a subdued 5% growth last year due to general elections and erratic weather. Dalmia Bharat's leadership noted that the top four companies' market share has risen from 48% in 2021-22 to nearly 58% in 2024-25, with significant capacity changes occurring. Despite a 4.8% revenue decline in FY25, the company is focused on cost reduction strategies, including renewable energy use and supply chain optimization, to enhance profitability as cement prices begin to recover.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIn a significant breakthrough for India's agricultural sector, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have unveiled a new pigeonpea (tur dal) variety, ICPV 25444, capable of withstanding extreme temperatures of up to 45°C. This innovation could transform approximately 12 million hectares of rice fallows, which are currently underutilized due to high heat and water scarcity. The new variety not only promises to double yields from 1.1-1.2 tonnes to 2 tonnes per hectare but also reduces the time-to-harvest from 6-7 months to just four. Utilizing a technique called speed breeding, researchers have accelerated the breeding process, cutting development time from 15 years to five. This heat-tolerant cultivar has been successfully tested in states like Karnataka, Odisha, and Telangana, offering a potential solution to India's annual shortfall of 1.5 million tonnes in pigeonpea production, which currently necessitates $800 million in imports.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in Kasaragod, Kerala, has developed innovative cropping system models that significantly boost farm productivity and climate resilience, according to Director K Balachandra Hebbar. Notably, a model combining coconut, black pepper, banana, and pineapple yields net returns of ₹3.5-4 lakh per hectare annually, outperforming traditional coconut cultivation by two to three times. Another successful model integrates arecanut, black pepper, cocoa, and banana, generating net returns of ₹4.4-10 lakh per hectare. Hebbar emphasized the importance of adopting high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of plantation crops, such as Kalpa Ratna and Shatamangala, to enhance productivity. The CPCRI is also spearheading the 'Vikasit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' initiative, which aims to empower farmers through science-backed interventions and outreach efforts across 80-90 villages per district, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and improved crop management.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 4 pmeznews.inAt a press conference in Chennai on Monday, R.S.S. Satish Babu, President of the Ambattur Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association (AIEMA), expressed confidence that US President Trump's tariff policies and the current geopolitical climate would not significantly impact India's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He noted that the Ambattur Industrial Estate exports about 30% of its output, with 10-12% directed to the US, and welcomed the Reserve Bank of India's recent rate cut as a potential boost for MSME financing. The event coincided with the announcement of ACMEE 2025, an international machine tools exhibition scheduled for June 19-23 in Chennai, which aims to showcase advancements in manufacturing technology and promote investment. With 468 participants and 120 international brands expected, the exhibition is projected to attract over 35,000 visitors and generate business worth ₹750 crore, highlighting Tamil Nadu's significant role in India's MSME sector.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 3 pmeznews.inA fire broke out on the Singapore-flagged container vessel Wan Hai 503, approximately 70 nautical miles off the Beypore coast in Kerala, on Monday, leading to the loss of several containers into the Arabian Sea. The ship, which was en route from Colombo to Mumbai, experienced an explosion, resulting in burn injuries to some crew members. Of the 22 crew members aboard, those who jumped into the sea are reported safe and have been rescued onto life boats. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard swiftly deployed rescue teams to the scene, and there are currently no reports of fatalities. The Kerala government has instructed district collectors in Kozhikode and Ernakulam to ensure that any injured crew members receive necessary medical treatment. This incident follows the recent sinking of another vessel, ELSA3, off the Kerala coast, raising concerns about maritime safety in the region.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's forests, vital to the nation's ecology, are facing severe threats, having lost 2.33 million hectares of cover from 2001 to 2023, compounded by over 345,989 forest fires reported between 2020 and 2021. The crisis is particularly acute in mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, where mining has exacerbated forest degradation. In response, PRADAN, a 43-year-old organization, is spearheading community-driven initiatives like seed ball plantation, which involves encasing native seeds in soil and compost to protect them from environmental threats. This low-cost, scalable method allows for effective reforestation in challenging areas. Engaging local communities, especially women and youth, PRADAN has facilitated training and awareness campaigns, resulting in the sowing of 1.6 million seed balls in 2024. This initiative not only aids forest regeneration but also enhances soil health and biodiversity, offering a hopeful path towards sustainable environmental restoration in India.
Published: Jun 09 2025, 1 pm
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