📰 India Business Brief: Top Headlines for April 03, 2026

Business Standard

• Stock Market Holiday: The BSE and National Stock Exchange (NSE) are closed today, April 3, for Good Friday. Trading in equities, derivatives, and commodities will resume on Monday, April 6.
• Aviation Policy Shift: The Civil Aviation Ministry has officially removed the ₹18,000 cap on domestic airfares as of late March, allowing carriers to adjust pricing in response to surging jet fuel costs caused by the West Asia war.
• Banking Regulatory Move: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for Dubai-based Emirates NBD to acquire a significant stake of up to 74% in RBL Bank for approximately $3 billion.
• Petrochemical Relief: To tackle supply disruptions and rising costs, the government has waived customs duties on critical petrochemical imports until June 2026, a move expected to cost the exchequer ₹1,800 crore.

Economic Times

• Indigenous High-Speed Rail: Indian Railways has unveiled plans for the "B35" bullet train, an indigenous upgrade capable of reaching 350 kmph. These trainsets are slated for seven newly sanctioned high-speed corridors spanning 4,000 kilometers.
• War Contingency Fund: New Delhi is reportedly preparing a ₹2.5 lakh crore "pandemic-like" financial package to insulate the economy from "war jitters" and ensure the stability of essential supply chains.
• Tata Digital Restructuring: A leadership reset continues at Tata Digital, with reports indicating imminent founder exits at BigBasket and 1mg as the group consolidates its e-commerce strategy.
• MSME Credit Focus: New editorial analysis highlights a push for "design-led" financing for MSMEs, moving toward cash-flow-based lending to help smaller firms scale despite global macroeconomic pressures.

Mint

• Bank Holidays: Public and private sector banks across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru are shut today. This is the first of several scheduled holidays in April, including Ambedkar Jayanti on the 14th.
• West Asia Crisis Impact: Global oil prices have seen a sharp spike, with US crude jumping 11% following US-Israeli strikes in Iran. India is actively coordinating with regional partners to ensure "safe passage" for LPG and LNG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Corporate Buzz: Ola Electric shares have surged over 20% in recent sessions, driven by positive sentiment surrounding new model launches and production scaling.
• Pharma Sector Risks: The Nifty Pharma index saw a 4% decline prior to the holiday as investors weighed the impact of potential 100% US tariffs on imported drugs threatened by the Trump administration.

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