(Mint) After two lacklustre quarters, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) reported a rebound in performance in the March quarter (Q4FY25), driven by lower raw material costs and improved sales volumes—even as selling prices remained under pressure. SAIL’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) stood at ₹3,500 crore in Q4FY25, slightly higher on a year-on-year basis. This marks a turnaround after a 5% decline in Q3 and a steep 40% drop in Q2. The blended realization for the quarter fell 10% from a year earlier to ₹55,000 per tonne. However, the company managed to offset this decline with…
Author: Aruna Sharma
(HT) Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday announced that a centre will be built for the training of retired soldiers in the state. He said necessary action will be taken for this by the Sainik Welfare Department. Dhami made this announcement while participating in the dialogue programme ‘Ek Samvad: Veer Sainik Ke Saath’ (Dialogue with brave soldiers) on the success of Operation Sindoor at the Doon Sainik Institute in Garhi Cantt here. Dhami said that the unique example of bravery, sacrifice and unwavering dedication set by soldiers in Operation Sindoor will continue to inspire generations to come. “On April…
(HT) The government is turning to the northeast to help remedy a shortfall in the production of pulses and thereby tame food inflation. The Centre plans to launch a dedicated programme to leverage the high productivity potential of pulses in the northeastern region and expand the cultivable area as it seeks to ease food inflation, two people said. The Department of Consumer Affairs will shortly hold consultations with the state governments of Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, and Assam to identify land to grow pulses and draw a five-year roadmap. Details of additional land to be cultivated…
(HT) The finance ministry on Friday said it examined the draft guidelines on gold loan by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and suggested exclusion of small borrowers of up to ₹2 lakh from the provisions of the proposed norms amid opposition from a section of political parties in Tamil Nadu. The RBI on April 9 issued comprehensive draft guidelines on gold loans with a view to harmonise regulatory framework to enhance underwriting, collateral management and monitor the end-use of funds. It also proposed that all loans classified against gold will have a loan-to-value ratio of not more than 75%…
(HT) External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday asserted that India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and those who “sponsor, nurture and utilise” terrorism should be made to pay a heavy price. Speaking at a convocation ceremony of foreign students of Parul University in Gujarat’s Vadodara, Jaishankar also commented that it has become a “fashion in some quarters to openly become transactional” in international relations. “In Pahalgam (terror attack) what we saw was an attempt to devastate the tourism economy of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as an evil design to bring (about) religious…
(HT) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government marked its first 100 days in office on Friday with a show of confidence and purpose, unveiling a 22-page workbook that seeks to define its early imprint on the Capital. Chief minister Rekha Gupta called the 100-day mark a milestone of “decisive and impactful” governance, asserting that every day of the administration so far had been devoted to the service of Delhi’s 20 million residents. The workbook, she said, was a record not just of promises made, but of promises kept. Speaking to Hindustan Times on the sidelines of the event, Gupta…
(FE) Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has raised concerns over a troubling trend in India’s investment landscape, pointing to a sharp rise in dropped or cancelled projects by Indian companies. Citing recent data, Chidambaram said that the ratio of abandoned projects to new investment announcements has surged to 35.9 per cent in 2024–25. In a post on social media platform X, Chidambaram highlighted that while domestic investment plans are being scrapped at an accelerating pace, Indian companies are simultaneously ramping up their investments abroad. This dual trend, he warned, indicates weakening confidence in the Indian business environment. “The…
(FE) COVID-19 cases in India have surged yet again with an increase in numbers as the total tally of active COVID-19 cases in India reaches 3,395. As the death toll rises, Kerala becomes the first state to have over 1,000 active cases of COVID-19 alone. Delhi saw nearly three times growth in cases as it touched 375 and reported its first death on Friday, May 30. While the variant existence of JN.1 was incidental, the 60-year-old woman was undergoing a sensitive treatment of the intestinal tract, an area known to be attacked by the COVID-19 Omicron variant. States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka…
(FE) Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar with the release of a commemorative Rs 300 coin and a postal stamp at an event in Bhopal. Honouring the legacy of the legendary 18th-century Holkar ruler, PM Modi said the government’s vision of public service is inspired by Ahilyabai’s philosophy of governance—“to serve the people and improve their lives.” Focus on women-led development Highlighting Ahilyabai’s progressive views on women’s rights, PM Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to women-led development. “Millions of women have become homeowners for the first time. Out of the four crore houses built…
(HT) The Indian economy grew 6.5% in fiscal year 2024-25 and 7.4% in the quarter ending March, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Friday that underlines the nation’s position as the fastest growing economy in the world. In current dollar terms, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is now $3.9 trillion compared to $3.6 trillion in 2023-24, according to an estimate by research agency Crisil after the data was released. According to the International Monetary Fund, India is on pace to become the fourth largest economy in the world with GDP of $4.3 trillion in 2025-26.…