Govt says sufficient wheat grains available to meet demands

Indian stock markets opened in the red on Thursday as escalating tensions in West Asia and again a sharp rise in crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.

Due to the current West Asia geopolitical situation and blockade on LPG imports, available supplies are being carefully rationed to ensure wider coverage, with domestic households being the top priority. The three major state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) have initiated a judicial distribution strategy to manage the available Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stocks.

The domestic stock markets opened with modest gains on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices supported investor sentiment, even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued to remain in focus.

Indian Oil Corporation has initiated measures to enhance Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) production and prioritise its availability for domestic consumers following geopolitical disruptions to global fuel supplies. In a statement on Tuesday, the corporation confirmed that the Ministry has taken steps for higher LPG production while securing stocks for domestic customers and essential non-domestic sectors.

The share markets in the country opened with a bloodbath on Monday as both benchmark indices declined sharply in the opening session amid a huge surge in crude oil prices and heavy selling across global markets.

Government sources have signalled an improvement in India's energy security, noting that the nation's stock levels are on an upward trajectory despite the volatility in West Asia. Officials indicated that recent assessments have provided the administration with a much-needed cushion, stating that "Energy stock position of India is improving" and that "As the situation is improving that is giving us greater confidence." This positive trend was further emphasised during high-level internal evaluations, with sources adding that "In our review meetings we are getting sense that our energy stocks are getting better."

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has officially denied reports circulating on social media regarding a partial shutdown of its facilities, asserting that its operations remain fully functional despite speculation of feedstock shortages. The state-controlled refiner issued a formal clarification on Saturday, following a post by OilPrice.com on X (formerly Twitter). The viral post had suggested that the 300,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery was shutting down units because Middle Eastern crude oil supplies were "stuck in the Gulf" due to regional tensions.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 7: Strengthening its commitment to advanced surgical care, Fortis Hospital Kalyan has introduced the ZEISS PENTERO 800 S, a next-generation surgical visualization system designed to enhance precision in complex neurosurgical and neuro-spine procedures. This marks the first installation of the technology at Kalyan, and the inauguration was done by Dr Rakesh Lalla (Additional Director-Neurology), Dr Jayesh Sardhara (Director-MIS Brain & Spine Surgery), Dr Rushabh Chheda (Asso. Consultant-NeuroSurgery), Dr Hemal Chheda (Asso. Consultant-NeuroSurgery) & Dr Ashutosh Pandey (Facility Director), along with the nursing & administrative teams.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced a farm loan waiver scheme under which eligible farmers with overdue crop loans will receive relief of up to Rs 2 lakh. Presenting the state budget for 2026-27, Fadnavis also proposed an incentive of Rs 50,000 for farmers who have been regularly repaying their loans.

After a rebound the previous session, Indian stock indices traded again in the red on Friday, ending the week on a weak note amid tensions in West Asia.