Archives April 2026

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): Silver prices saw a noticeable dip on Friday, reflecting a cautious mood among traders. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, silver futures for May delivery dropped by ₹3,549, settling at ₹2,40,219 per kilogram—a decline of 1.46%.

Market activity showed moderate participation, with a turnover of 1,718 lots. According to analysts, the fall was largely driven by traders scaling back their positions, leading to a wave of selling pressure in the market.

This pullback suggests a shift in sentiment, as participants appear to be booking profits or adopting a wait-and-watch approach amid uncertain market cues. While such fluctuations are common in commodity markets, the sharp drop highlights how quickly prices can react to changes in trader confidence.

For investors, the movement serves as a reminder of the volatility in precious metals, where prices are often influenced not just by demand and supply, but also by broader market sentiment.

Apr 10 (BNP): In a key leadership move, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has announced the appointment of Sanjay Khanna as its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). The decision was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet following recommendations from the selection panel under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Currently serving as Director (Refineries), Khanna brings years of hands-on experience in refinery operations and large-scale project execution. He will take charge from the date he assumes office and is set to lead the company until his retirement on May 31, 2029, unless directed otherwise.

His elevation comes at a time when BPCL is navigating a rapidly changing energy landscape. With a strong technical and operational background, Khanna is expected to steer the company toward greater efficiency, expansion in petrochemicals, and a sharper focus on value-added products.

Beyond strategy, his leadership is likely to play a crucial role in balancing business growth with sustainability goals—an increasingly important priority for energy companies in India and globally.

As BPCL continues its transition amid evolving energy demands, Khanna’s appointment signals continuity in expertise while aiming for forward-looking growth and long-term energy security.

The Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) is positioning itself as a future-focused business school by combining global exposure, industry partnerships, and technology-driven learning to prepare students for evolving management careers.

At the centre of this transformation is the leadership vision of Dr. Prabina Rajib, Director of BIMTECH, who has emphasised building an institution rooted in innovation, industry integration, student development, and global engagement.

A key milestone in this journey is BIMTECH being recognised as a 2026 AACSB Global Impact Award winner for its “AI-Enabled Interview Mastery” initiative. The project, honoured in the Teaching & Learning Excellence category, uses AI-powered interview simulations to provide students with real-time feedback, helping them improve communication skills and professional readiness.

Beyond digital learning tools, the institute is expanding its global footprint through international academic collaborations, including programmes with Singapore Management University. It has also strengthened ties with industry leaders such as Swiss Re and UNIQLO, offering students direct exposure to real-world business environments.

BIMTECH has further enhanced experiential learning through facilities like the Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab and a Centre of Excellence established with Hexalog Technologies. These platforms allow students to work with industry-standard tools and engage in applied, hands-on problem-solving.

Officials said these initiatives are helping the institute strengthen key academic performance areas, including teaching quality, research output, industry engagement, and graduate outcomes. Over time, this approach is expected to improve BIMTECH’s national rankings and global academic reputation, positioning it as a modern benchmark in management education.

India is working on a plan to reduce carbon emissions from its steel industry by around 25%, as part of its broader efforts to decarbonise one of the country’s most energy-intensive sectors.

The steel sector is a major contributor to industrial emissions, and the proposed reduction is expected to be achieved through improved energy efficiency, greater use of cleaner technologies, and a gradual shift towards low-carbon production methods.

Officials said the initiative aligns with India’s long-term climate commitments and its goal of balancing rapid industrial growth with environmental sustainability. The focus will also be on promoting greener manufacturing practices without affecting production capacity or economic expansion.

The move is seen as a significant step toward transforming the steel industry into a more sustainable and climate-resilient sector in the coming years.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced a new healthcare-linked facility under ‘NPS Swasthya’, aimed at combining retirement savings with medical support for subscribers.

Under this initiative, eligible National Pension System (NPS) subscribers can now use a portion of their pension corpus to meet hospitalisation and in-patient treatment expenses, while the remaining funds continue to grow through market-linked investments.

Subscribers are allowed to access up to 25% of their “Net Eligible Balance” for medical emergencies. This marks a shift from the traditional NPS structure, where funds remain locked until retirement, offering greater flexibility during healthcare needs.

The programme has been developed through a partnership involving the pension regulator and multiple stakeholders, including pension funds and health insurance players. It is powered by Medi Assist’s digital “Maven” platform, which is integrated with the Central Recordkeeping Agency system for seamless processing.

The initiative also provides access to a wide hospital network across India, enabling cashless treatment facilities for subscribers in more than 1,500 cities, along with support for outpatient care services.

Officials said the move aims to strengthen India’s social security system by linking retirement planning with healthcare protection, ensuring financial support during medical emergencies without disrupting long-term savings.

Chennai, Apr 10 (BNP): Former India Test cricketer C D Gopinath, the last surviving member of India’s first-ever Test victory team, passed away in Chennai at the age of 96.

Gopinath was India’s oldest living Test cricketer and the second oldest in the world after Australia’s Neil Harvey. Born on March 1, 1930, he was part of India’s early Test journey and remains closely associated with one of Indian cricket’s most historic milestones.

He represented India in eight Test matches and also featured in 83 first-class games for India and Madras. A right-handed batter, Gopinath played during a formative era of Indian cricket and contributed to the team’s early development on the international stage.

He was part of the Indian squad that secured the country’s first-ever Test win against England, a landmark achievement in Indian cricket history.

Gopinath’s passing marks the end of an era, closing a chapter linked to the very beginnings of India’s Test cricket legacy.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): Equity mutual funds in India recorded a sharp rise in inflows in March, showing strong investor participation despite ongoing market volatility. Data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed that net inflows into equity schemes surged 56% month-on-month to ₹40,450 crore, compared with ₹25,978 crore in February.

The figure marks an eight-month high, reflecting continued confidence in equity-linked investments among retail investors.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) contributions also remained strong, rising 7.5% to a record ₹32,087 crore, indicating steady and disciplined long-term investing behaviour.

Across categories, large-cap funds saw healthy growth in inflows, while mid-cap funds recorded strong gains. Small-cap funds also attracted higher investments, reflecting broad-based interest across market segments.

However, the overall mutual fund industry saw volatility, with net outflows of ₹2.39 lakh crore in March, driven largely by movements in non-equity segments.

Market experts said the trend highlights sustained retail participation and growing preference for equities through SIPs, even in uncertain market conditions.