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India
The Hindu BusinessLine

"West Asia Crisis has impacted fertilisers and Pharma sectors", says Union Minister JP Nadda

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers, Jagat Prakash Nadda, said that the ongoing West Asia crisis has affected global supply chains linked to the fertiliser and pharmaceutical sectors, but assured that the Government of India has taken adequate measures to ensure that farmers and consumers do not face any hardship. Addressing mediapersons in Shimla, Nadda on Saturday said India had proactively diversified its sourcing strategy and strengthened supply arrangements to shield the country from disruptions arising out of geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Responding to a question from ANI regarding the impact of the crisis on the pharmaceutical and fertiliser industries, Nadda said the government had adopted a multi-pronged approach to safeguard supplies of medicines, medical devices and fertilisers. "Despite the West Asia crisis, we have ensured that there will be no shortage of medicines, medical devices or fertilisers in India. Our farmers and citizens will not face any difficulty, and we have already diversified our supply sources to safeguard national interests." Said JP Nadda. "The situation in West Asia is a matter of concern, but we have strategically prepared ourselves. Despite the crisis, we are fully capable of ensuring that the people of India do not suffer any adverse impact. We have made all necessary preparations and have closely monitored pharmaceuticals, medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies," he said. Nadda said the government has also taken steps to secure fertiliser imports from countries outside the Strait of Hormuz region. "We have moved towards alternative sources of fertilisers and are issuing fresh tenders with countries such as Indonesia, Australia, Russia and China, which are outside the Strait of Hormuz route. We have sufficient fertiliser stocks for the ongoing Kharif season and are already preparing for the Rabi season," he said. The Union Minister asserted that the Centre's focus was not on predicting the duration of the crisis but on ensuring uninterrupted supplies for citizens."We are not asking whether the crisis will last 15 days or one month. Our priority is that our people should not face any difficulty. Farmers in the country will not be affected," he added. On being asked about the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters in Himachal Pradesh and other Himalayan regions, and concerns over extensive construction activities and highway cutting, Nadda acknowledged the concern and said the Centre had already initiated studies on the issue. "Your concern is very valid. I cannot authenticate all the reasons at this stage, but after the recent disasters, the Government of India assigned experts to undertake studies. Such analyses are being carried out not only for Himachal Pradesh but also for Uttarakhand," he said. Nadda said he was not immediately aware of the latest status of the reports, but confirmed that scientific assessments were underway to understand the causes behind the increasing incidents of natural disasters in the Himalayan region. The remarks came amid growing concerns over global supply disruptions due to tensions in West Asia and recurring extreme weather events that have triggered landslides, flash floods and infrastructure damage across Himalayan states in recent years. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

"West Asia Crisis has impacted fertilisers and Pharma sectors", says Union Minister JP Nadda
India
The Hindu BusinessLine

India's Russian oil imports rise in May as refiners boost purchases

India remained the world's second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May, importing an estimated 5.8 billion euros (USD 6.7 billion) worth of Russian hydrocarbons as refiners stepped up crude purchases from Moscow, European think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said in a report. Crude oil accounted for about 83 per cent of India's imports from Russia during the month, valued at 4.8 billion euros, while oil products and coal imports stood at 550 million euros and 429 million euros, respectively. "India's total crude import volumes recorded an 8 per cent month-on-month increase in May. This is partially explained by a 21 per cent month-on-month increase in Russian imports," CREA said. Some of India's largest refining hubs recorded notable increases in Russian crude arrivals. Unloaded volumes at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat rose 36 per cent from April levels, while deliveries to the Jamnagar refining complex in the state increased 14 per cent. According to CREA, state-run refiners also expanded purchases after resuming imports earlier this year. The New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam refineries, which had halted Russian crude imports at the end of November 2025, continued buying Russian oil after restarting purchases in March. Russian crude deliveries to New Mangalore rose 13 per cent month-on-month in May, while imports at Visakhapatnam jumped 42 per cent, it said. The Paradip refinery on Odisha's east coast also unloaded its highest volume of Russian crude in two years, underscoring the continued attractiveness of discounted Russian barrels for Indian refiners despite evolving geopolitical and sanctions-related pressures. India emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian oil since Western sanctions and trade restrictions reshaped global energy flows following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Indian refiners have consistently increased purchases of discounted Russian crude, helping offset higher energy costs while boosting refining margins and exports of petroleum products. The latest figures suggest Russian oil continues to account for a significant share of India's crude import basket, even as the country diversifies supplies from the Middle East, Africa and the United States. According to CREA, China bought 50 per cent of Russia's crude exports in May, followed by India (36 per cent), Turkiye (6 per cent), and the EU (5 per cent). "In May 2026, China remained the largest global buyer of Russian fossil fuels, accounting for 38 per cent (Euro 7.0 billion) of Russia's export revenues from the top five importers. Crude oil made up 69 per cent (Euro 4.8 bn) of China's purchases, followed by pipeline gas (Euro 618 million), then coal (Euro 525 million), and lastly LNG (Euro 510 million). Oil products (Euro 479 million) constituted the remainder of China's imports," it said. CREA said despite the EU's ban on imports of oil products made from Russian crude on January 21, 2026, 10 shipments of oil products from refineries using Russian crude were unloaded at EU ports in the month of May.

India's Russian oil imports rise in May as refiners boost purchases
India
The Hindu BusinessLine

Diesel curbs raise concerns for hospitals, IT parks dependent on generator power

The government move to restrict diesel purchases through petrol pumps is raising concerns among hospitals, IT campuses, data centres and industrial facilities that rely heavily on diesel generators not only as emergency backup but also as a regular source of power during peak-demand periods. The government on June 11 barred industrial, commercial and institutional consumers from purchasing diesel at petrol pumps and limited sales through retail outlets to 200 litres per customer or vehicle per day, a move aimed at conserving supplies and preventing diversion of fuel meant for retail consumers. Industry executives said the restrictions could disrupt fuel procurement for sectors where diesel generators remain critical to operations. Hospitals are among the most vulnerable. Large healthcare facilities typically maintain multiple diesel generator sets capable of powering entire campuses during grid disruptions and often run them proactively during surgeries, intensive-care operations and other critical procedures where even momentary voltage fluctuations can pose risks to patients. "Many hospitals do not depend exclusively on grid electricity for critical functions. Diesel generators are an integral part of operational planning because uninterrupted power is non-negotiable," said an executive at a hospital chain. Data centres, IT parks and telecom facilities also rely extensively on diesel-based backup systems to meet uptime commitments. Industry officials said many facilities routinely top up diesel inventories from nearby fuel stations to ensure uninterrupted operations. "Peak hour power tariffs in some states are higher than the cost of generating electricity using diesel gensets. And so many IT companies rely on diesel gensets to meet power demand during peak hours," another industry executive said. The restrictions could also increase operating costs for some industrial and commercial consumers. During periods of peak electricity demand, power purchased from the grid can become significantly more expensive than captive diesel generation, prompting some facilities to switch part of their load to generator sets to manage costs and maintain reliability. The government said the measures were prompted by "abnormal increases" in diesel and petrol sales at retail outlets as industrial and institutional consumers shifted purchases from bulk supply channels to lower-priced retail pumps, creating risks of local shortages. Under the order, such consumers will be required to source fuel through dedicated consumer pumps and bulk supply arrangements rather than retail outlets. Industry representatives are seeking exemptions and operational clarifications for essential services, arguing that hospitals, telecom networks, data centres and other critical infrastructure require assured access to diesel supplies regardless of prevailing market conditions. Executives said organisations with established bulk fuel contracts are likely to face limited disruption, but institutions dependent on flexible retail purchases may need to rapidly overhaul procurement practices if the restrictions are activated.

Diesel curbs raise concerns for hospitals, IT parks dependent on generator power
North America
CNBC Finance

Rivian CEO taking different approach than Elon Musk for humanoid robotics company

PARK CITY, Utah — Rivian Automotive CEO RJ Scaringe envisions a day in the not-so-distant future when the electric vehicle maker's manufacturing employees will have a new type of colleague: humanoid robots. "There's going to be thousands of people that are collaborating alongside these robots. They're going to be taking pictures, 'Hey, check this out! My co-worker's name is Phil, and he's a robot,'" Scaringe said during a media event for the launch of the Rivian R2 EV. The 43-year-old automotive enthusiast and tech entrepreneur started a robotics company last year called Mind Robotics. The company has raised more than $1 billion, according to Scaringe. Humanoid robots are designed to be shaped and move like people. Artificial intelligence algorithms power their abilities along with complex hardware like semiconductors. Proponents say they could be used in various settings, from factories to hospitality and even in the home, while others have raised concerns about the devices replacing human jobs. Scaringe said the company expects to reveal its first product in less than a year, with Rivian as a large minority shareholder and launch customer. Mind currently has roughly 20 open positions ranging from software and hardware engineers to data architects, according to its website. Scaringe, who is executive chair and acting CEO of Mind, told CNBC that the plan is to keep the robotics company separate from Rivian, as opposed to the automaker partially shifting to make humanoid robots, like Tesla CEO Elon Musk is doing with his company. "We have a deep relationship, and that was actually how we structured it," Scaringe said during an interview. "A big part of structuring the business was to allow me to be able to spend time on both." The robotics strategy adds to a narrative of Scaringe doing things differently than Musk, despite obvious similarities in their companies. There have been enough comparisons that Rivian has even been called the "anti-Tesla" and Scaringe has been referred to as the "anti-Elon." "I'd say there's a lot of alignment there, and I think that's because, obviously, I'm biased, but I think they're right ... that autonomy is a super important technology," Scaringe said about Tesla and Rivian. "But in terms of the products, they, in many ways, couldn't be more different." So far Rivian and Mind are assisting each other, though, much like Musk's companies have also done during developmental phases. That includes Musk's xAI company merging with SpaceX before the company's record-setting initial public offering on Friday as well as SpaceX purchasing vehicles from Tesla. Scaringe said Rivian will be a "huge beneficiary" of Mind, which is using data from Rivian for training its AI models. Along with Rivian's equity stake, the automaker will be Mind's first customer for the robots. "We realized it was such a big opportunity that deserved to be its own company," said Scaringe. He said he believes there is a multitrillion-dollar total addressable market for industrial labor.

Rivian CEO taking different approach than Elon Musk for humanoid robotics company
North America
CNBC Finance

Drugmakers race to find a place in the next wave of obesity drugs

Drugmakers are only months into introducing GLP-1 pills and navigating huge changes in how patients pay for weight-loss drugs. Even so, they're already outlining their visions for the future of obesity drugs. At the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in New Orleans last week, drugmakers pitched doctors and investors on the idea of new shots and pills, drugs that can be taken less frequently, and new treatments beyond GLP-1s that could come with fewer side effects. The attendees debated where all these new treatments might fit in, especially with Eli Lilly currently dominating the market for shots and impressing attendees with data from its experimental triple-acting drug retatrutide that produced the most weight loss seen yet. Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk showcased new GLP-1 pills they each introduced earlier this year. Both companies made the case that oral options are bringing more people into the market for weight loss drugs, with Novo touting that prescriptions of its Wegovy pill reached more than 3 million just five months into the launch. Behind the two market leaders are a wave of new entrants hoping to get into the massive market in the coming years. Structure Therapeutics and AstraZeneca each shared mid-stage data from their respective GLP-1 pills. Should those oral drugs succeed in Phase 3 trials, they would likely come to the market around 2029, three years behind Lilly, which introduced its small molecule pill Foundayo earlier this year (the Wegovy pill is an oral peptide). Structure Therapeutics CEO Ray Stevens thinks there will still be plenty of room in the market by then. "Who wins at the end of the day with competition? Patients, and that's really what this is all about," Stevens said, adding that being the second small molecule drug will be important. "We're really pushing hard to get into that second position behind orforglipron, now Foundayo." Pfizer also unveiled mid-stage data from a shot it gained through its $10 billion acquisition of Metsera. The drug showed the potential to be given monthly, which Pfizer thinks would be more convenient than the currently weekly shots. Another drugmaker, Amgen, is testing a different drug that could be given monthly or possibly even quarterly. Susan Sweeney, Amgen's executive vice president of obesity and related conditions, said the company sees an advantage in people not needing to take a weekly injection and instead thinking about treatment as little as four times a year. "For somebody who's lived with obesity for a long time, it can be a major advantage in not remembering your disease," she said. Some companies are looking beyond GLP-1 and other hot targets like GIP and glucagon to emerging areas like amylin, another hormone produced in the pancreas that helps people feel full. One company is Zealand Pharma, which presented mid-stage data from a drug called petrelintide that it's developing with Roche.

Drugmakers race to find a place in the next wave of obesity drugs
India
The Hindu BusinessLine

Blooming paradox: India’s flower industry hits record highs even as the Northeast withers

A woman labourer harvests marigold flowers at a field, in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, May 29, 2026. India’s floriculture sector is, by every headline metric, in full bloom. The area under flower cultivation has touched a record 4 lakh hectares in 2025-26, recovering sharply from a low of 2.82 lakh hectares in 2021-22. Gross value added from the sector has surged from ₹39,287 crore in 2019-20 to ₹51,643 crore in 2023-24. The numbers suggest an industry firing on all cylinders. Yet travel to the mist-covered hills of Arunachal Pradesh, and a very different story unfolds. In 2009-10, the state cultivated 1,200 hectares of cut flowers, producing 2,860 tonnes annually, enough to rank it among the country’s top two anthurium producers, trailing only Mizoram. It was a remarkable ascent for a state where commercial floriculture had barely existed a few years earlier. Today, that bloom has all but vanished. Farmers have drifted to other crops, and the anthurium, once the pride of Arunachal’s hills, has migrated south and east, finding new enthusiasts in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Bihar, West Bengal, and Kerala. The arc of anthurium in Arunachal is a parable for the central paradox of India’s flower economy: a sector setting records at the national level even as it quietly retreats across much of the Northeast, a region once seen as its next great frontier. That paradox has a structural explanation. The national boom is being driven not by new frontiers opening up but by old ones holding firm; farmers in established growing states expanding acreage despite mounting pressure from urbanisation and surging real estate values, racing to extract more from the land before it is swallowed by spreading cities. It is growth born as much of necessity as of opportunity. In the Northeast, by contrast, flower cultivation is losing ground to more immediately lucrative crops, hampered further by infrastructure gaps and the absence of reliable market linkages, leaving a region blessed with altitude, biodiversity, and climate sitting largely on the sidelines of an industry boom it once helped seed. Sikkim, a leading grower of orchid, reported the total area under flower cultivation at 242 hectares and production of 16,509 tonnes in 2025-26, which has been maintained at the same level as a decade ago. In 2015-16 also, the area and output were same. On the other hand, the area under flowers in Mizoram has shrunk to 50 hectares in 2025-26 from 240 hectare in 2017-18. Nagaland, on the other, has done exceptionally well as area under floriculture reached 1,190 hectares in 2023-24 from only 70 hectare in 2015-16, official data show. India started collecting area, production and other data on flowers only from 1993-94. Even the production number of cut flowers was added to the number from 2012-13 and until then it was only loose flowers. The share of floriculture in overall horticulture production, which reached a record 377.78 million tonnes and higher than even foodgrain output, has jumped from 0.76 per cent in 2014-15 to 1.2 per cent in 2025-26. Among the top states in flower production during 2023-24, the highest share in national output was recorded by Tamil Nadu (19 per cent), followed by Madhya Pradesh (14 per cent), Karnataka (12 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (11 per cent) and West Bengal (10 per cent). Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

Blooming paradox: India’s flower industry hits record highs even as the Northeast withers
India
The Hindu BusinessLine

Jio Platforms ranks as the only Indian company in global patent law treaty

Reliance Industrries’ Jio Platforms ranked in the global top 20 in the Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) rankings for 2026 released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. This places Jio among an elite group of global technology leaders like Huawei, Qualcomm, Google, Apple, etc and establishes India-origin innovation in the global technology creation landscape. Jio Platforms has filed 6,817 patents cumulatively as of March 31, 2026 and is developing sunrise technologies for the next wave of digital infrastructure including 5G/6G Radio, 5G/6G Core, satellite communications and JioBrain. Commenting on the achievement, Akash M. Ambani, Managing Director, Jio Platforms, said, “It demonstrates the velocity of innovation at Jio across multiple advanced technologies, which will continue to grow in coming years.” Of the total 6,817 patents, 2,393 patents have been filed in India and 4,424 across foreign jurisdictions. A total of 1,009 patents have been granted globally, comprising 538 grants in India and 471 in international markets. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Jio Platforms ranks as the only Indian company in global patent law treaty
India
The Hindu BusinessLine

Gadkari clears E100 fuel framework, paving way for ethanol-only vehicles in India

India has approved a regulatory framework for 100% ethanol (E100) as a vehicular fuel, allowing automakers, fuel retailers and testing agencies to develop and deploy ethanol-powered vehicles. The move goes beyond the E20 blending programme and aims to reduce crude oil imports, promote biofuels and support farmers. India has formally cleared the regulatory framework for the use of 100% ethanol (E100) as a vehicular fuel, a move that could accelerate the rollout of ethanol-powered cars and two-wheelers while deepening the country’s push to cut crude oil imports. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said he had signed the regulations authorising E100 fuel, creating a legal framework for automakers, fuel retailers and testing agencies to begin commercial deployment of pure ethanol-powered mobility solutions. “I signed the file at 8 pm today,” Gadkari said while addressing the Sugar, Ethanol & Bio-Energy India Conference in Nagpur. The approval, he said, would help reduce India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and expand the use of domestically produced biofuels. The decision marks a significant step beyond India’s ethanol-blending programme, which has focused on increasing ethanol content in petrol and is now nearing nationwide implementation of E20. By creating a regulatory pathway for E100, the government is effectively enabling vehicles designed to run entirely on ethanol, opening a new technology route alongside electric, CNG, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered mobility. Gadkari said flex-fuel vehicles are already entering the market. “Maruti Suzuki has launched the WagonR flex-fuel vehicle, and Hero has introduced motorcycles that can run on 100% ethanol,” he said. The minister added that more automakers are preparing to enter the segment. “Toyota and Hyundai are also expected to launch vehicles that can run on 100% ethanol,” he said. The regulatory clearance gives manufacturers the certainty needed to accelerate investments in flex-fuel engines and ethanol-compatible fuel systems after years of pilot projects and prototype showcases. For the automotive industry, the move creates an additional decarbonisation pathway at a time when manufacturers are investing across multiple technologies. Unlike conventional petrol-powered vehicles, E100-compatible vehicles require specialised engine calibration and fuel-system components because ethanol absorbs moisture more readily and can be more corrosive than petrol. The approval could spur fresh investments in dedicated flex-fuel platforms, localisation of components and ethanol-compatible powertrains, particularly among manufacturers seeking alternatives to full electrification.

Gadkari clears E100 fuel framework, paving way for ethanol-only vehicles in India
India
The Hindu BusinessLine

India Greenlights 100% Ethanol Vehicles

The future of mobility in India is getting a major green upgrade. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has officially signed the regulatory framework for E100, paving the way for vehicles that run entirely on 100% ethanol. This is a massive leap beyond the current E20 rollout, creating a brand new decarbonisation pathway for automakers and a major economic boost for India’s agricultural sector. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

India Greenlights 100% Ethanol Vehicles