Purbalee Dutta

In India’s rapidly expanding quick-commerce sector, the promise of “10-minute delivery” came to represent extreme convenience driven by nearby dark stores and streamlined logistics. However, as Blinkit drops this claim following intervention by the Labour Ministry, the focus is shifting amid growing concerns over the safety and well-being of gig workers. A delivery rider, who participated in a nationwide strike, said strict time expectations often led to customer harassment and risky behaviour on the road. He recalled being pressured during delays and even meeting with an accident due to constant calls from customers. The government’s intervention, he said, has brought…

Shares of National Aluminium Company (NALCO) jumped over 4% to ₹344.85 apiece, a fresh 52-week high, on the NSE in Tuesday's trading session after global aluminium prices rallied to a new record level. Aluminium prices surged past $3,000-per-tonne at LME amid constrained supply, with limits on smelting capacity in China and output curbs in Europe stemming from high power costs, tightening global inventories. Meanwhile, demand remains resilient, underpinned by steady consumption from the construction and renewable energy sectors, according to a Bloomberg report. Since NALCO is a major aluminium producer in India, a rise in prices can improve the topline of the company.…

Silver continues to lead gains in the bullion market, climbing to a fresh all-time high of $79.67 per ounce on COMEX for the March 2026 contract. This marks a jump of nearly 190% from its 52-week low of $27.545 per ounce. In the domestic market, silver prices on the MCX also scaled new heights, touching ₹2,39,397 per kilogram on Friday. Market analysts attribute the strong upward momentum in silver prices to a major structural change that is tightening the gap between demand and supply. Experts believe this shift is still unfolding and expect silver prices to potentially move toward the…

Billionaire Gautam Adani is consolidating his cement businesses into a single structure to streamline operations and better compete with market leader UltraTech Cement in India’s fast-consolidating infrastructure sector. Ambuja Cements’ board has cleared the merger of ACC Ltd. and Orient Cement Ltd. into Adani Cements, according to a stock exchange filing dated December 22, 2025. The move creates a unified “One Cement” platform, addressing overlaps that remained after Adani Group acquired Holcim’s India operations in 2022. The consolidation also brings Sanghi Industries and Penna Cement—both recent acquisitions—under the same umbrella. Following the merger, Adani Group’s holding in Ambuja Cements will…