Can Israel-Iran conflict wreck India's Economy?

The escalating warfare between Israel and Iran is sending tremors far beyond West Asia, with India bracing for significant economic and strategic consequences. Following Israel's deadliest aerial assault on Iran on 13th June 2025 and Iran's swift ballistic retaliation targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa, the conflict threatens to disrupt India's vital economic lifelines. Energy Security Under Threat
India's heavy reliance on crude oil imports—over 80% of its needs—makes it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint now shadowed by Iranian warships. Brent crude has already surged 9%, whilst Indian oil giants BPCL, HPCL, and Indian Oil have suffered 3.5% stock losses. The ripple effects could trigger transportation cost increases, manufacturing slowdowns, rupee depreciation, and a widening fiscal deficit—all hampering India's post-COVID economic recovery.advertisementTrade Corridors at RiskIndia's basmati rice exports to Iran, worth over 6,374 crore in 2024-25, face severe disruption as Iranian buyers delay payments beyond 180 days. The broader India-Israel trade relationship, valued at $10.1 billion across defence, agri-tech, and AI sectors, now operates under security scrutiny. Most critically, India's $85 million investment in Iran's Chabahar Port—designed to unlock Central Asian markets—faces an uncertain future as the facility becomes a potential target.Digital VulnerabilityPerhaps most surprisingly, 95% of India's international data traffic flows through undersea cables routed via the Middle East. Previous disruptions to major cables in the Red Sea have already caused bandwidth chaos, threatening India's $245 billion digital economy. With Mumbai, Chennai, and Kochi serving as key cable landing zones, a single break could slash regional bandwidth by 70%.advertisementStrategic Partnerships in JeopardyIndia's defence relationship with Israel, including purchases of Heron Mark-2 drones and Harop munitions, now carries diplomatic risks. The Adani Group's $1.2 billion acquisition of Haifa Port—a cornerstone of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)—finds itself in a city under missile attack.As India navigates this crisis, the conflict underscores a harsh reality: in an interconnected world, neutrality offers no immunity from regional wars that threaten global supply chains and economic stability. Must Watch

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Time of India

38 minutes ago

• Time of India

Israel's multi-layered defense and strategic counteroffensive highlighted amid intensifying conflict with Iran

The recent hostilities between Israel and Iran on Friday have escalated into a complex military confrontation that underscores Israel's advanced multi-tiered air defense capabilities alongside strategic precision strikes deep inside Iranian territory. Israel has successfully intercepted a significant number of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missiles, while simultaneously conducting targeted airstrikes on Iranian missile launchers and nuclear-related infrastructure. The Israeli Air Force (IAF), supported by naval defense systems such as the Barak MX, intercepted over 15 Iranian UAVs in a single day, maintaining an overall interception rate exceeding 90% against hundreds of drones and missiles launched since the conflict's escalation. The lengthy flight time of Iranian drones—approximately nine hours—has allowed Israel to effectively deploy interceptors and scramble fighter jets to neutralize threats well before they reach populated areas. Despite the high interception rate, missile strikes caused injuries and damage in Haifa and Beersheba, with at least seven lightly wounded in Beersheba and two injured in Haifa, including a teenager in serious condition. In retaliation, Israel launched precision airstrikes involving over 60 aircraft targeting missile launch sites, storage facilities, and nuclear program-related sites across central and western Iran. Among the key targets was the headquarters of the SPND nuclear project , a critical component of Iran's advanced weapons development efforts. Israeli officials reported the elimination of key Iranian military commanders and disruption of planned missile barrages aimed at southern Israel. Live Events Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to intensify strikes against Iranian internal security institutions and regime symbols to destabilize the regime, with Iran continuing to expand its missile arsenal. However, Israel maintains sufficient interceptor missile stockpiles and is adapting its defense systems, including deploying new interceptors specifically designed to counter UAV threats. This conflict has evolved into a high-stakes tit-for-tat exchange, with both nations demonstrating advanced military technologies and a willingness to strike strategic targets beyond their borders. Recent intelligence has revealed covert Israeli drone manufacturing facilities inside Iran, while Iran's use of cluster warheads highlights the evolving and covert nature of this confrontation. Israel's ability to intercept the vast majority of Iranian UAVs and missiles while conducting deep strikes into Iranian territory reflects a blend of technological superiority and tactical planning that might shape this prolonged conflict. With current hostilities numbering at least 24 Israeli and over 600 Iranian deaths since June 13, with hundreds more wounded, authorities emphasize the importance of adhering strictly to safety protocols.

The Hindu

40 minutes ago

• The Hindu

How PM Modi celebrated International Yoga Day since 2015

Yoga has become a cultural link that unites individuals from different continents, with the yearly celebrations of International Yoga Day evolving into a worldwide phenomenon. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word 'yuj' and means to 'join' or to 'yoke'. It is a pathway to positive changes in body and mind. After coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations General Assembly. Recognising its universal appeal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. This year marks the 11th International Day of Yoga, and PM Modi led the celebrations from Visakhapatnam. Here's a look at how Mr. Modi celebrated International Day of Yoga from 2015 to 2025: 2015: Rajpath (Kartavya Path) A massive yoga demonstration was held at Rajpath with Mr. Modi calling it 'Yogpath'. Barring the 'vrikshasana', he followed the entire Common Yoga Protocol that had been put together for the record­ attempting event on Rajpath to mark the worldwide celebration of the first International Yoga Day. 'Yoga for Harmony and Peace' was the slogan for the first International Day of Yoga. 2016: Chandigarh Leading the second International Day of Yoga in Chandigarh, Mr. Modi pitched the ancient Indian discipline as a viable solution for countries with low health budgets. Over 30,000 people took part in a 45-minute yoga session at the Capitol Complex. 2017: Lucknow Massive yoga practice sessions and demonstrations took place across the country and the world on the third yoga day with Mr. Modi leading from Lucknow. Addressing a huge gathering at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Mr. Modi said, 'The traditional practice has now become part of every person's life.' 2018: Dehradun Mr. Modi performed yoga with over 50,000 enthusiasts at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus in Dehradun and said the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as a 'powerful unifying' force in a strife-torn world. 'Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg, Himalayan highlands or sunburnt deserts, yoga is enriching millions of lives all over the world,' he said. 2019: Ranchi India celebrated the fifth International Yoga Day on June 21, 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other Ministers and key BJP leaders , led yoga demonstration which was attended by thousands of citizens at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi, Jharkhand. 2020: At home celebrations amid COVID-19 In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, International Yoga Day 202 was celebrated on digital media platforms, and there were no mass gatherings. The theme was 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family'. In his nearly 15-minute address, Mr. Modi said that due to the pandemic, the world was feeling the need for yoga more than ever. 'If our immunity is strong, it is of great help in defeating this disease. For boosting immunity, there are several methods in yoga, various 'asanas' are there. These 'asanas' are such that they increase the strength of the body and strengthen our metabolism,' he said. 2021: Yoga a 'ray of hope' amid COVID-19 Mr. Modi termed yoga a 'ray of hope' and a source of strength in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. He also spoke of the M-Yoga application, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The app has videos of yoga training based on a Common Yoga Protocol and is available in different languages. 2022: Mysuru Yoga brings peace to our universe, Mr. Modi said, as he led the main event of the International Day of Yoga in the backdrop of the iconic Mysuru Palace. Thousands of people joined the Prime Minister in the mass Yoga demonstration. 'This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us,' he said. 2023: U.N. Headquarters Mr. Modi-led Yoga celebration at the U.N. headquarters in New York created a Guinness World Record for the participation of people of most nationalities. The historic event was attended by top U.N. officials, diplomats and prominent personalities. 2024: Srinagar Addressing the 10th International Day of Yoga event in Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), with the Dal Lake in its backdrop, the PM said those who practice yoga could use any incantations 'whether it's Allah, Ishwar or Waheguru'. Mr. Modi also said that 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognised by the Yoga Certification Board instituted by the Ministry of AYUSH. 2025: Visakhapatnam The Prime Minister led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations and participated in a Yoga session at an event in Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking about this year's International Day of Yoga theme, 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', the Prime Minister said it conveys a fundamental truth: the well-being of all life on Earth is interconnected. International Yoga Day 2025 — In pictures 1 / 21 He made an appeal to the global community, proposing that 'this Yoga Day marks the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes global policy.'

Economic Times

41 minutes ago

• Economic Times

Sebi's June 2025 board meeting: A regulatory makeover with market empathy

Simplification of Institutional Fund Raising Startup Founders Rejoice Live Events Freedom to Merchant Bankers Welcome to Indian Markets Key Message: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in its last board meeting unveiled a sweeping set of regulatory reforms that reflect both market responsiveness and forward-looking policymaking. This meeting wasn't just a quarterly update — it was a full-body reset on many longstanding regulatory frameworks, aimed at easing compliance burdens, deepening market access , and aligning Indian capital markets with global meeting also marked a strategic recalibration of SEBI's regulatory posture. It demonstrated a commitment to reducing compliance friction while safeguarding core market integrity. In doing so, SEBI is responding to the evolving expectations of a maturing market, one that now hosts retail participation at scale, large institutional flows, digitised securities infrastructure, and increased cross-border also gave its green light to a streamlined disclosure regime for Qualified Institutions Placements. The lengthy and often duplicative disclosure requirements will give way to concise, issue-specific and material risk disclosures, leveraging publicly available data. Companies will no longer need to reproduce financials already present in the public domain, making capital-raising quicker and more new-age tech companies decide to go public, they reach a point where they can no longer use the ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) benefits available to startup promoters. At the same time, the founders are usually classified as 'promoters' in the draft prospectus (DRHP) because of their combined shareholding. Once identified as promoters, and given the rules that apply to listed companies under SEBI's ESOP regulations, they are no longer allowed to receive ESOPs—regardless of whether the company is still considered a has been a long-standing problem, and many industry bodies, including FICCI, have given representation to the regulator to address this concern. Resultantly, SEBI in the floated consultation paper of March 2025 sought to clarify the treatment of Employee Stock Ownership Plans granted to per this recent progressive decision, the startup founders classified as promoters can now continue to hold and/or exercise share-based benefits, such as ESOPs, even after the company lists, provided these benefits were received at least one year prior to filing the previously proposing that merchant bankers separate their non-regulated activities into a different legal entity, SEBI has eased its stand. Merchant bankers can now conduct regulated as well as certain non-regulated, fee-based financial services within the same entity — provided they comply with their respective financial sector regulators' guidelines and SEBI-prescribed conditions. This was in direct response to feedback from key industry bodies like FICCI, which warned of unnecessary cost and a move intended to enhance flexibility for companies considering reverse flipping and improve investor participation, SEBI approved amendments to its ICDR Regulations. Following a consultation paper of March 2025, SEBI relaxed the one-year minimum holding period requirement for equity shares arising from the conversion of fully paid-up compulsorily convertible securities acquired under approved schemes. Investors can now offer these shares in a public issue, harmonising these provisions with the existing minimum promoters' contribution requirements.'Ease of Doing Business is not a dilution — it is a deliberate design. But it must be paired with credible safeguards, professional discipline, and investor-first thinking.'With reforms addressing Alternative Investment Funds, Real Estate and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (REITs/InvITs), Merchant Bankers, Debenture Trustees, and more, SEBI is laying down a unified, consistent, and future-compatible regulatory said, there is scope to do more. The regulator could further simplify the capital-market instruments — for example, by allowing a fast-track conversion process for Private InvITs to list as Public InvITs. Steps like these will make the Indian capital markets even more accessible, liquid, and investor-friendly.