9MAY 2026INDIA & GERMANY DEEPEN DEFENCE TIES WITH NEW INDUSTRIAL PACT STRATEGYANDHRA PRADESH BOOSTS GREEN ENERGY WITH RS 5,400 CRORE SOLAR PLANTINDIA CALLS BIDS FOR INR 7,280 CR RARE EARTH MAGNET SCHEMEIndia's fertiliser sector is one of the most tightly regulated industries in the country. Now, the industry is facing pressure from multiple directions at once, including state-level bans on non-subsidised products, tightening distribution controls, and increasing natural gas shortages. India's fertiliser industry started struggling when the Uttar Pradesh Government issued an order on January 9, 2026, banning the sale of non-subsidised fertilisers by companies and distributors authorised to sell subsidised products. This ban was retrospectively effective from January 1. The stated reason for this ban was the practice of "tagging," where farmers were compelled to purchase non-subsidised products alongside subsidised ones. Letters were sent to major fertiliser manufacturers, including IFFCO, KRIBHCO, Chambal Fertilisers, and others. India's coal gasification scheme is being projected as a major step toward energy security. But behind the Rs 37,500 crore announcement lies a deeper economic question. Is India preparing for a tougher global economy? The coal gasification scheme comes at a time when governments across the world are becoming more defensive. Trade routes are unstable. Fuel prices remain unpredictable. Global conflicts are disrupting supply chains. Countries are now focusing on survival as much as growth. The Union Cabinet recently approved a massive investment plan to expand coal gasification capacity. The government says the goal is to reduce dependence on imported natural gas, methanol, ammonia, and other chemicals. India has approved a major INR 504 crore EV charger expansion under the PM E-Drive scheme, clearing the installation of 4,874 public EV charging stations across the country to strengthen electric vehicle infrastructure and support the growing shift toward clean mobility in India. The initiative, announced by Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy at a national conference in Bengaluru, is expected to improve charging access in cities, highways, and key transport corridors.The approved projects include proposals from central public sector oil companies such as HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL, along with state governments including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries, receiving approval for 1,243 chargers with an allocation of INR 123.26 crore. Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, urged Uber to support its drivers to adopt Electric Vehicles (EV) in line with Prime Minister Modi's push for clean mobility on Tuesday. CII Annual Business Summit 2026 saw Joshi in a meeting with Uber CEO discussing EV adoption and consumer-related issues. Joshi expanded on the meeting as, "Being one of the largest networks, I have requested him and insisted to him that he should support the people, the drivers and the owners of the Uber fleet to convert into EV vehicles." Uber Technologies, Inc. is a global mobility platform headquartered in San Francisco, providing ride-hailing and food delivery services. Today, Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss the company's broader expansion and EV adoption plans. FROM BANS TO GAS CUTS: INDIA'S FERTILISER SECTOR STRUGGLESINDIA'S COAL GASIFICATION SCHEME RAISES QUESTIONS OVER ECONOMIC FEARSINDIA APPROVES RS 504 CRORE EV CHARGER EXPANSION UNDER PM E-DRIVEMINISTER PRAHLAD JOSHI CALLS UBER CEO TO LEAD INDIA'S EV ADOPTION
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