Business Archives - National Times

13 Apr

Chandigarh Pushes PNG Adoption, Urges Shift from LPG in Fully Covered Sectors

nishuthapar10 CommentsBusiness

Chandigarh (Naval Kishore) — The Chandigarh Administration has accelerated the expansion of its Piped Natural Gas (PNG) network across the city, urging residents in fully covered sectors to transition from LPG to PNG to ensure uninterrupted and safer cooking fuel access.According to the advisory, PNG infrastructure is now fully operational in Sectors 32 to 38, 40, 42 to 44, 46 and 48 to 51. Partial availability has been reported in sectors including 10, 11, 17, 22, 26, 28, 30, 41, 47, as well as Manimajra and Industrial Area Phases I and II. Residents in these partially covered areas have been…

13 Apr

Dalal Street Opens Deep in Red as Crude Rally and Geopolitical Tensions Shake Investor Confidence

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingDalal Street

Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): Indian stock markets started the week on a weak note, with benchmark indices witnessing a steep decline in early trade on Monday, driven by surging oil prices and escalating global uncertainties. The BSE Sensex slipped sharply at the opening bell, losing over 1,600 points, while the Nifty 50 dropped around 400 points, reflecting a broad-based sell-off across sectors. The fall follows a spike in international crude oil prices, with Brent crossing the $100-mark after diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran failed to yield any breakthrough. Concerns over a potential disruption in oil supply intensified after…

08 Apr

Centre Clears Path for Women’s Reservation by 2029, Plans Early Delimitation and Seat Expansion

nishuthapar10 CommentsBusiness, IndiaIndia, Narendra Modi cabinet decision, Nari Shakti Vandan Act amendment, women reservation

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved key amendments to enable the rollout of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by the 2029 general elections.The move seeks to fast-track the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which originally linked the reservation to a delimitation exercise after the 2026 Census. To accelerate the process, the government plans to introduce two Bills in Parliament.The first Bill will amend provisions in the 2023 law to allow reservation without waiting for the post-2026 delimitation. The second will modify the…

08 Apr

Court Permits Amritpal Aide Varinder Fauji as Witness in Gurpreet Harino Murder Case

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessMp Amritpal Singh, Murder case, Punjab Police, SIT, Witness

Gurpreet Singh :- In a significant development in the Gurpreet Singh Harino murder case, a local court has permitted the Special Investigation Team to present Varinder Singh Fauji, a close associate of Amritpal Singh, as a prosecution witness, a move expected to strengthen the ongoing investigation. Gurpreet Singh was shot dead in his native village on October 9, 2024. Investigators believe the हत्या was the result of a larger conspiracy, with multiple individuals allegedly involved. During the course of the probe, the name of Amritpal Singh also surfaced. He is currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National…

05 Apr

Fuel Shock Hits US Economy as Iran Conflict Drives Up Costs Across Sectors

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, Trending, World NewsIran, US

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The ongoing conflict involving Iran is beginning to ripple through the United States economy, with rising fuel prices pushing up transportation costs and triggering new charges for consumers and businesses alike. Petrol prices have surged sharply in recent days, climbing to an average of $4.09 per gallon — more than a dollar higher than pre-conflict levels and the highest since mid-2022. Diesel, a critical fuel for logistics, agriculture and construction, has seen an even steeper rise, reaching $5.53 per gallon, significantly higher than last year’s figures. The spike in fuel costs is already prompting major companies to…

04 Apr

Ensuring crop procurement and timely payment is government’s priority: Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsBusinessfarmer payment Haryana, grain market transparency, Haryana crop procurement 2026, Ranbir Gangwa Hisar mandi

Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana’s Minister for Public Works and Public Health Engineering, Ranbir Gangwa, emphasized on Saturday, April 4, 2026, that the state government’s primary focus remains the seamless procurement of crops and ensuring timely payments to farmers. During an inspection of the Hisar Grain Market, the Cabinet Minister asserted that the new systems implemented in the mandis are designed entirely in the interest of local farmers. These measures aim to prioritize the purchase of local produce while bringing much-needed transparency and accountability to the entire procurement cycle. Accompanied by senior administrative officials, Gangwa held a detailed meeting with farmers,…

02 Apr

Equity Markets Tumble as Crude Oil Rally Deepens; Sensex, Nifty Under Pressure

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingCrude Oil, Iran

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): Indian stock markets faced a sharp sell-off on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and a spike in oil prices rattled investor confidence. The BSE Sensex dropped over 1,300 points to trade near 71,800, while the Nifty 50 fell by more than 400 points, slipping to around 22,300 levels during early sessions. The decline followed strong remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which dampened hopes of a near-term resolution and triggered a surge in energy prices. Brent crude rose sharply, crossing the $105 mark per barrel, intensifying concerns for import-dependent economies like…

01 Apr

TSX inched higher on Wednesday as Iran de-escalation hopes offset March losses

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, Canada

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s main stock index, the S&P/TSX Composite, opened higher on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as investors reacted to signals from Washington suggesting a potential end to the conflict in Iran. The move followed a bruising month for global markets; while the TSX ended the first quarter up 3.3%, it slumped by 4.6% in March as the Middle East war intensified and disrupted global energy routes. The early gains were largely driven by a stabilizing risk sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that U.S. forces could potentially withdraw from the region within two to three weeks, hinting…

01 Apr

Alberta Moves to Define ‘Alberta Whisky’ with New Bill to Boost Global Identity

nishuthapar10 CommentsBusiness

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The government of Alberta has introduced new legislation aimed at giving its whisky industry a distinct global identity, with officials saying the move could strengthen both local businesses and international recognition. The proposed “Alberta Whisky Act” seeks to formally define what qualifies as Alberta whisky, similar to how regions like Kentucky are associated with bourbon and Scotland with scotch. If passed, the law would establish clear production standards, ensuring authenticity and consistency in branding. Under the bill, whisky labelled as Alberta-made would need to use 100 per cent water sourced within the province, along with a specified…

30 Mar

Indian Rupee Hits Record Intra-Day Low of 95.22 Amid Global Volatility

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaDollar, Forex, Low, Oil, RBI, Rupee

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): The Indian rupee plunged to a historic intra-day low of 95.22 against the US dollar on Monday, March 30, 2026, as surging crude oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia continued to batter emerging market currencies. Despite a brief early-morning recovery, the currency's dramatic 160-paise swing during the session underscored the intense pressure on the Indian forex market. The decline follows a volatile Friday session where the rupee had already slumped 89 paise to close at a then-record low of 94.85. The trading day began with a glimmer of hope as the rupee opened at…