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With the Motto of Serving the Nation and the Public at Large, Round the Clock,  Indian Oil Corporation Limited continue operations and logistics coordination across the country to ensure uninterrupted availability of Petrol (MS), Diesel (HSD) and LPG amid a sharp increase in fuel demand in several regions.

In recent period, IndianOil has witnessed significantly higher offtake of petroleum products, driven by seasonal agricultural activity and harvesting operations across multiple states. Additional demand pressure has also emerged due to migration of retail customers to IndianOil Retail Outlets due to lower price compared to other suppliers as well as a visible shift of institutional and commercial consumers to retail fuel outlets.

IndianOil continue to maintain uninterrupted supplies and timely replenishment across markets through their extensive nationwide network of terminals, depots, pipelines, LPG bottling plants and retail outlets. Supply teams, transport networks, terminal operations and select Retail Outlets are functioning 24×7 to ensure seamless product movement, true to the spirit of “We are always There”.

IndianOil would like to reassure consumers that adequate stocks of Petrol, Diesel and LPG are available across the country and all necessary measures are being taken to maintain smooth and uninterrupted supplies in keeping close coordination with state administration.

IndianOil is continuously reviewing stock positions and closely coordinating on logistics and distribution planning to efficiently meet the enhanced demand scenario.

Citizens are advised to continue with normal purchasing behaviour and avoid unnecessary panic buying. Consumers are also requested to rely only on official communications issued by authorised agencies and IndianOil for accurate information related to fuel availability.

Alappuzha(Kerala), May 24 (BNP): Veteran environmentalist Devaki Amma G will be honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri 2026 for her extraordinary contribution to environmental conservation and afforestation. The 92-year-old conservationist from Muthukulam in Kerala’s Alappuzha district has earned national recognition for transforming barren land into a thriving green ecosystem through decades of tireless dedication.

Over the last four decades, Devaki Amma single-handedly developed a five-acre man-made forest, popularly known as “Tapovanam,” on sandy and once unproductive ancestral land. What began as a personal effort gradually evolved into a self-sustaining ecosystem with thousands of trees, medicinal plants, birds, insects, and aquatic life, making it a model of grassroots environmental restoration.

Recognised among the country’s “unsung heroes,” Devaki Amma has been honoured for her unwavering commitment to biodiversity conservation and afforestation. Despite physical challenges and limited institutional support, she continued planting and nurturing saplings for over 40 years, inspiring generations through her dedication to protecting nature.

Today, Tapovanam serves as a living classroom for students, researchers, and environmental enthusiasts, while also offering medicinal resources to local communities. Devaki Amma’s Padma Shri recognition highlights the importance of individual efforts in ecological preservation and sustainable living.

Hyderabad, May 23: A fire incident was reported at a life sciences facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, one of India’s leading biotech and research hubs. The facility is operated by Rx Propellant, a life sciences infrastructure platform owned by global fund Actis and British International Investment (BII).

According to preliminary assessments, the fire is believed to have been caused by a safety lapse within the facility. The incident resulted in extensive material and structural damage to the premises occupied by a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) operating within the building.

The affected laboratories and research environments play a critical role in drug discovery and clinical research activities. As a result, the incident has led to significant disruptions in ongoing research programs, project timelines, and client deliverables undertaken by the CRO.

Further investigations are currently underway to ascertain the exact cause of the incident and assess the full extent of the damage. 

May 23 (BNP): India’s landmark lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, has received the prestigious 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, marking a major global recognition of the country’s achievements in space exploration. The honour was presented during the AIAA ASCEND 2026 Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 21.

The award recognises Chandrayaan-3’s historic feat of becoming the first spacecraft to successfully soft-land near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023 — a scientifically significant region that had never before witnessed a surface-level landing mission. The achievement strengthened India’s position among leading spacefaring nations and opened new possibilities for future lunar exploration.

India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, accepted the award on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organisation during the ceremony. He highlighted India’s long-term ambitions in deep-space exploration and human spaceflight while underscoring the growing cooperation between India and the United States in the space sector.

The Goddard Astronautics Award is regarded as the highest honour bestowed by AIAA for notable achievements in astronautics and commemorates pioneering rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard. Chandrayaan-3’s recognition reflects India’s expanding scientific capabilities and its rising global influence in advanced space research.

Bhubaneswar, May 23: World Trade Center Bhubaneswar organized the WTC Women’s Forum Meet – WAVE (Women as Vibrant Entrepreneurs: Connect, Collaborate & Conquer) on May 22, 2026, at the IDCO Conference Hall, Bhubaneswar. The event brought together women entrepreneurs, professionals, and members of the WTC network to discuss business opportunities, collaboration, skill development, and institutional support.

Representing Shreyas WebMedia Solutions, Senior Management Team K. Gouri and Bhumika Lenka actively participated in the forum and interacted with fellow WTC members during the networking sessions.

During the meeting, all participating members introduced themselves and shared details about their businesses, future plans, and entrepreneurial journeys. Several members discussed their interest in expanding into import and export activities and highlighted the challenges they face in areas such as market access, logistics, international trade guidance, business networking, and regulatory processes. The forum created an open and supportive platform where members could voice their concerns and seek guidance from WTC Bhubaneswar.

The discussions aimed to help the organization better understand the needs of entrepreneurs so that suitable support, mentorship, and business solutions could be provided through the WTC network. Members also exchanged ideas on collaboration opportunities and explored ways to strengthen women-led businesses through global trade connections.

Key agenda points included planning for Raja Parba celebrations, arrangements for International Yoga Day, and a proposed visit to the World Skill Centre on June 5. The meeting also emphasized member engagement, institutional strengthening, and the importance of creating opportunities for professional growth and international business exposure.

Representatives from Shreyas WebMedia Solutions described the event as highly informative and beneficial, noting that it provided a valuable opportunity to connect with WTC members, understand industry challenges, and build meaningful professional relationships.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks followed by high tea, encouraging further networking and interaction among participants.

 By:- Kayla Lenz

URBANA, Ill  Spring peepers are singing, and walleye harvesters are ready to go out on Mille Lacs Lake, as they have for hundreds of years. The walleye spawn is on.

Some areas of the lake are known as walleye spawning areas to locals, but which areas are the most important? New research from the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign identified six “hotspots” for walleye spawning and found that about 96% of walleye displayed some degree of loyalty to spawning sites throughout the lake.

Walleye, known as Ogaawag in Ojibwe, are a beloved and culturally important species for recreational anglers and indigenous harvesters alike, and protecting this species is in everyone’s best interests. But walleye populations in Mille Lacs have declined over the last several decades, hitting an all-time low in 2016 and showing slight recovery since then. Declines have largely been attributed to poor recruitment (i.e., survival from hatching to age 2) related to environmental change, habitat degradation, overfishing, and changing ecosystem dynamics. 

“As the very first protectors of water and fish, we care deeply about the habitats which give life to the Ogaawag that sustain us,” said Kelly Applegate, Commissioner of Natural Resources for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. “By learning more about important Ogaawag spawning sites, we can obtain valuable knowledge, allowing us to further build on our centuries-old reputation for successfully and sustainably managing our fisheries resources.”

The science

Scientists with the Mille Lacs Band and Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission tracked the movements of 70 walleye during their annual spring spawning periods in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Walleye were surgically implanted with transmitters that ping (send unique numbers for that fish, time, date, temperature, and pressure information) to receivers as the walleye swim by. This information allowed researchers to identify where the most walleye were detected and where they spent the most time during their spawning period, and quantify how many fish returned to the same spawning areas between years.

The study showed walleye have very high rates of spawning site fidelity. 

“Approximately 96% of the fish in this study spawned at the same site in 2019 and in 2020. These fish use the same areas to spawn year after year, which means that their reproductive success is tied to a specific place,” said lead study author Kayla Lenz, a doctoral student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois.

The authors also identified six “hotspot” locations that had higher rates of walleye detections during the spawning period than other areas in the lake. Lenz added, “These ‘hotspots’ were located in areas with rocky substrates, exposed to wind and wave action, and near undeveloped shorelines. These habitat conditions likely increase reproductive success of walleye.”

What it means

These findings have implications for protecting walleye in Mille Lacs and elsewhere, Lenz says. Environmental variables, such as wind direction, temperature, and wave action, may play a role in selecting which sites walleye return to and could be used to predict where walleye spawn in a waterbody. If these characteristics were to be altered  such as a breakwall interrupting wave action on a reef, development of marinas, addition of docks, and chemical control of vegetation  spawning could be disrupted, and reproduction and/or survival of offspring may decrease. 

In this study, the areas that have been identified as primary walleye spawning habitats largely consist of sparse areas of shoreline with little to no human development. 

“Development of these areas may have temporary or permanent negative effects on walleye reproduction and recruitment,” Lenz said. “On the other hand, watershed-level management that mitigates the effects of erosion, pollution, and climate change could benefit walleye and many species in Mille Lacs Lake.”

How the public can help

The researchers say landowners and everyday users of the lake could help protect these fish by limiting use of habitat-disturbing wake boats in spawning areas; refraining from putting out docks until after the spawning season; planting riparian buffer zones along the shoreline that help prevent erosion; and limiting use of chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and algicides within the watershed, which have been shown to reduce survival of young fish. These actions help to preserve habitats that are essential to the continued persistence of this beloved species.

More information about this study can be found in “Identifying Spawning Sites and Fidelity of Ogaa  Implications for Fishery Stewardship,” available online in Frontiers in Fish Science [DOI:10.3389/frish.2026.1758559]. Authors include Kayla Lenz, Aaron Shultz, Carl Klimah, and Adam Ray. Funding for the study was provided by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission’s board of commissioners and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Tribal Wildlife Grant. The study was also supported by Grant or Cooperative Agreement No. G21AC10796 from the United States Geological Survey through the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Karnataka, May 23 (BNP): A doctor from Karnataka has turned barren, rocky land into a thriving mango orchard, producing nearly 30 tonnes of chemical-free Kesar mangoes with the help of Israeli farming technology and sustainable agricultural practices.

Dr. Sameer Nair, an Ayurvedic practitioner based in Belagavi, transformed over five acres of rocky terrain into a high-density Kesar mango plantation after adopting Israel-inspired cultivation techniques. Beginning the venture in 2019, the orchard started yielding fruit within three years and has witnessed rapid growth since then, with production expected to touch nearly 30 tonnes this season — almost six times higher than earlier harvests.

Unlike traditional mango cultivation, which generally involves fewer trees per acre and longer waiting periods, Dr. Nair implemented high-density farming by planting around 700 saplings per acre. Supported by drip irrigation, solar-powered systems, and water conservation structures, the orchard has significantly improved productivity while reducing resource wastage.

The farm follows nearly 95 per cent organic practices, relying largely on cow dung-based manure and farm waste instead of chemicals. The mangoes are allowed to ripen naturally on trees without artificial ripening agents, aiming to preserve both taste and consumer health. Each fruit is also protected using eco-friendly bags to shield it from insects, harsh weather, and microbial damage, while enhancing quality and colour.

Sold under the brand “Vaishali Farm Kesar Mango,” named after his mother, the produce has attracted strong customer demand, with buyers visiting the orchard directly and exports reaching overseas markets in previous seasons. Dr. Nair is now reportedly planning to process surplus mangoes into pulp for long-term preservation.

Dr. Nair’s success story highlights how a blend of modern agricultural innovation and eco-friendly farming can transform unproductive land into a sustainable, profitable venture.

Kolkata,  May 23: Century Plyboards Ltd., one of India’s manufacturers of plywood and  wood panel products, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended March 31,  2026. 

Highlights 

• Net revenue from operations for the year ended March 31, 2026 stood at INR 4,646 crs on a  standalone basis and INR 5,397 crs on a consolidated basis. 

• Earnings before depreciation, interest and tax (EBDIT) for the year stood at INR 661 crs. • Earnings before depreciation, interest and tax (EBDIT) excl forex for the year stood at INR 702 crs. • Profit after tax (PAT) for the year stood at INR 268 crs. 

Operational & Strategic Developments 

During FY26, Century Plyboards continued to advance its growth strategy through targeted capacity  expansion, brand-building initiatives and operational improvements across its core wood panel businesses.  The Company commissioned and scaled up additional capacities in particle board, MDF and plywood,  including the launch of India’s largest particle board manufacturing facility near Chennai. It also improved  utilisation at its newer MDF plants to support rising demand from the housing, infrastructure and renovation  segments. Century Plyboards further strengthened brand and design engagement with the launch of  Century Arena in Mumbai and the unveiling of its Annual Lookbook 2026–27, showcasing future-ready  designs and product innovation across categories. 

Alongside portfolio premiumisation and digital initiatives aimed at enhancing dealer engagement, inventory  management and service efficiency, sustainability and CSR remained integral to the Company’s operations.  Key initiatives during the year included increased adoption of renewable energy, agroforestry programmes,  community development efforts at Adigam Bhumi, and Century Plyboards’ contribution to a state-of-the-art  cardiac Cath Lab in Guwahati. Collectively, these efforts have strengthened the Company’s operational  platform, enhanced brand relevance, and improved its readiness to capitalise on long-term opportunities in  India’s evolving building materials and interiors market. 

Business Outlook 

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Mr. Sajjan Bhajanka, Chairman, Century Plyboards (India)  Ltd., said,

“Our performance in Q4 FY26 reflects steady improvement, supported by healthy demand, higher  volumes and better capacity utilisation across key segments. Plywood continued to perform strongly, while our  newer MDF and particle board capacities began contributing more meaningfully as utilisation improved. With  continued focus on cost discipline and operational stability, we remain confident of delivering consistent  performance, supported by our strong brand and expanding manufacturing footprint.” 

Mr. Keshav Bhajnaka, Executive Director, Century Plyboards Ltd. added,

“Over the past year, we have made  meaningful progress in capacity expansion, cost optimisation and portfolio strengthening. The commissioning  of new facilities and the stabilisation of recent investments are beginning to translate into operating leverage. 

With the market increasingly shifting towards branded, value-added wood panel products, and with our  continued focus on efficiency and innovation, we remain optimistic about the long-term growth opportunity.”

Bangalore, May 22, 2026 : 

Dr. Bhargav Mallappa, Chairman of the Akhila Sevak Samaj Sangh, has formally written to the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Karnataka seeking immediate intervention and a high-level cyber-forensic investigation into alleged unauthorised mobile surveillance and suspicious digital monitoring activities.

In the representations submitted under the banner of the Akhila Sevak Samaj Council, Dr. Mallappa expressed serious concern over what he described as repeated and unexplained tracing, monitoring, and interception-related activities involving certain mobile connections. He stated that the matter raises significant concerns regarding privacy, digital security, and misuse of communication systems.

The letters urge the Karnataka government to direct the Cyber Crime Cell and relevant technical authorities to conduct a detailed forensic examination of the suspected activities, including verification of technical routing patterns, signalling records, and location-based service (LBS) data linked to the identified mobile numbers.

Dr. Mallappa noted that any form of surveillance or interception carried out without legal sanction or procedural transparency poses a serious challenge to citizens’ constitutional rights and personal liberty.

“Digital privacy and communication security are integral to the rights of every citizen. Any suspected misuse of surveillance mechanisms or unauthorised monitoring must be investigated swiftly and impartially to maintain public trust and prevent further misuse,” Dr. Mallappa stated.

He further called upon the state authorities to ensure a transparent and time-bound inquiry into the matter and to take appropriate action against any individual or entity found responsible for unlawful digital interference.

Read Letter Here: https://businessnewsthisweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Chief_Minister_Karnataka_Request-2.pdf

New Delhi, May 22 (BNP): What started as a satirical online campaign fuelled by memes, sarcasm and political commentary has rapidly transformed into one of India’s biggest digital sensations. The “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), a meme-driven social media movement born out of public outrage and internet humour, has crossed 15 million followers on Instagram within just five days, overtaking the online popularity of India’s major political parties.

Operating under the handle @cockroachjantaparty, the platform has surged ahead of established political organisations in a dramatic display of internet influence. While the official Instagram account of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently has around 8.7 million followers, the Indian National Congress — one of India’s oldest political parties with a history spanning over 140 years — has approximately 13.2 million followers. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), founded in 2012, trails with nearly 1.9 million followers.

The movement reportedly emerged in response to controversial remarks linked to concerns surrounding unemployed youth, quickly evolving into an online expression of frustration over issues such as joblessness, inflation, governance and social inequality. Through viral reels, satire, memes and politically charged humour, the page has struck a chord with younger internet users, particularly Gen Z audiences.

In a country where political influence is traditionally built over decades through organisational networks and electoral outreach, the meteoric rise of the Cockroach Janata Party has triggered widespread discussion over the growing role of digital culture in shaping public discourse. Supporters see it as a symbolic protest movement reflecting youth dissatisfaction, while critics argue that viral popularity may not necessarily translate into meaningful political engagement beyond social media.

The trend has also attracted attention from prominent public figures and online influencers. Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan and leaders including Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad have publicly reacted to or expressed support for the viral trend, adding to its visibility and political intrigue.

As the “Cockroach” trend continues to dominate social media conversations, questions remain over whether the phenomenon will remain a meme-powered online moment or evolve into a broader expression of political sentiment among India’s youth.