Author: Rishabh Sharma

NEW DELHI — In a move to strengthen the judicial leadership of the national capital’s tax tribunal, Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal has been designated as the Vice President of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) Delhi Bench.

SRINAGAR/JAMMU — In a strategic move to streamline tax litigation in the region, Jitendra Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Vice President of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) bench for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

NEW DELHI — In a regulatory filing on March 25, 2026, GAIL (India) Limited announced a six-month extension for the completion of critical sections of its Jagdishpur–Haldia–Bokaro–Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) project. The state-owned gas major has moved the deadline for the Durgapur–Haldia and Dhamra–Haldia sections from March 2026 to September 2026. Project Status and Revisions The delay affects the final stretches of the massive “Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga” project, which aims to provide natural gas to India’s eastern states. Durgapur – Haldia Section: Total Authorized Length: 3,306 km. Balance Work: Kolkata – Haldia stretch. New Deadline: September 2026. Dhamra – Haldia…

MUMBAI — In a monumental move for India’s energy sector, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has launched a global tender valued between $18 billion and $20 billion for deepwater drilling rigs. This represents the largest offshore exploration programme in the company’s history, aimed at drastically reducing India’s dependence on energy imports. The tender seeks to hire a specialized fleet of drillships and semi-submersible rigs capable of operating in ultra-deepwater frontier basins. This massive investment is a cornerstone of the government’s ‘Samudra Manthan’ initiative, which targets untapped hydrocarbon resources in high-potential offshore regions. Key Highlights of the Tender Investment Scale:…

NEW DELHI — In a major push for science diplomacy, Secretary (South) Dr. Neena Malhotra led a high-level “CSIR Capabilities Discovery Session” yesterday at the India International Centre. Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the event hosted Ambassadors and High Commissioners from across the Global South, including representatives from Oceania, the Gulf, West Asia, North Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. The session aimed to reinforce South–South cooperation by showcasing India’s scalable and affordable technological solutions. Dr. Malhotra, joined by CSIR Director General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, emphasized…

NEW DELHI — Leading members of India’s opposition parties staged a high-profile protest in the Parliament House complex on Wednesday morning to highlight a growing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply shortage affecting domestic and commercial sectors. Gathering near the Makar Dwar, prominent leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule, and SP’s Dharmendra Yadav held a massive banner titled ‘Empty Cylinders, Empty Promises’ while raising slogans against the government. The protest reflected widespread concern over increasing wait times and delivery delays for cooking gas cylinders across the country. Geopolitical Context and Government Strategy The reported supply crunch stems directly…

GANDHINAGAR — In a landmark legislative development, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has successfully steered the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 through the State Assembly. Following an intensive seven-hour debate, Gujarat officially becomes the second state in India, after Uttarakhand, to implement a common legal framework for all citizens. The new code replaces various religious personal laws with a unified set of regulations governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships. While the ruling government defines the move as a fulfillment of Article 44 of the Constitution, opposition parties—including the Congress and AAP—have raised concerns regarding its impact on fundamental…

MUMBAI — In a significant leadership succession at one of India’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies, the Board of Directors of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited (JBCPL) has officially appointed Aman Mehta as the Managing Director.

CHENNAI — In a major leadership confirmation for the specialized power systems sector, the Board of Directors of High Energy Batteries (India) Limited has officially approved the re-appointment of Dr. GA Pathanjali as Managing Director.

NEW DELHI — In a major leadership development for India’s steel behemoth, Anish Sengupta has officially entered the race for the position of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).