HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) has announced a major investment of Rs 2,600 crore in the specialty and fine chemicals sector in Punjab, signaling a strategic diversification beyond traditional refining operations. The announcement was made by industrialist Lakshmi Niwas Mittal during the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2026. In addition to the chemical sector expansion, the company plans to enter the fuel retail market by establishing 500 fuel stations across India. 

India’s aviation sector faced a major operational disruption in December when hundreds of IndiGo flights were cancelled due to a shortage of pilots linked to new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations. In response, the airline has provided compensation totaling approximately Rs 163.92 crore to affected passengers, largely through travel coupons. Government officials have confirmed that corrective measures are being implemented to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

Tata Motors has secured orders for more than 5,000 buses and chassis from multiple state transport undertakings across India, reinforcing its strong position in the country’s public transportation and commercial vehicle market. The orders cover a broad portfolio of passenger mobility solutions, including the Magna, Cityride, Starbus, and Starbus Prime models. These vehicles will be deployed by state transport corporations in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Kerala, Haryana, and Telangana, along with regional operators in Karnataka and Chandigarh. 

Officebanao, a Delhi-NCR-based commercial interiors startup, has secured nearly USD 4 million, equivalent to approximately Rs 35 crore, to expand its operations and strengthen its presence in India’s growing commercial real estate sector. The investment forms part of a broader USD 7.7 million fundraising round that values the company at around USD 70 million post-money. 

India’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refill bookings have declined from approximately 88.8 lakh to around 77 lakh, signaling a slowdown in precautionary purchases as authorities reassure citizens about the stability of fuel supplies. Despite geopolitical tensions in West Asia, the government has confirmed that petrol, diesel, and cooking gas remain readily available across the country. 

Artificial intelligence is poised to trigger one of the most transformative technological shifts in modern history, according to Samsung Electronics Mobile Experience Business Chief Operating Officer Won-Joon Choi. Speaking at a recent media interaction following the launch of the company’s S26 smartphone, Choi emphasized that the AI revolution is inevitable and will influence nearly every aspect of human life.

Global venture capital firm Accel, in partnership with the Google AI Futures Fund, has announced the five startups selected for the 2026 Atoms AI Cohort, a program designed to accelerate the development of next-generation artificial intelligence technologies. Chosen from more than 4,000 applicants, the startups will receive funding of up to Rs.16.6 crore (USD 2 million) along with advanced computing credits worth approximately Rs.2.9 crore (USD 350,000). 

India’s wholesale price inflation continued its gradual upward trend in February 2026, reaching 2.13%, according to the latest government data. The increase marks the fourth consecutive monthly rise and was largely driven by higher prices in manufacturing, basic metals, textiles, food articles, and non-food commodities. Although vegetable prices declined slightly compared with the previous month, broader commodity cost pressures pushed the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) higher. The inflation rate rose from 1.81% in January but remained below the 2.45% recorded in February 2025.

The Punjab government has unveiled plans to establish three large-scale exhibition centres aimed at strengthening the state’s industrial and commercial ecosystem. The proposed facilities will be developed in Ludhiana, New Chandigarh, and Amritsar, providing businesses with modern venues to showcase products, attract investors, and promote trade opportunities. The initiative was announced during discussions with industry leaders at the Progressive Punjab Investment Summit, where policymakers and entrepreneurs examined key economic challenges and opportunities in the state.

India’s equity markets witnessed a sharp decline last week, resulting in a massive erosion of Rs 4.48 lakh crore in the combined market valuation of the country’s ten most valuable companies. The downturn was triggered by rising global crude oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, which intensified investor concerns about inflation and economic stability. Banking giants State Bank of India and HDFC Bank recorded the steepest losses in market capitalization.