India's new trade and defence deals signal strategic autonomy play amid global flux

Vivek Y Kelkar | May 21, 2026 9:39 PM

New Delhi: India has recently concluded deals with New Zealand, South Korea and Russia that are advantageous in headline terms, but signal more about India’s quest for strategic autonomy. They mark a deliberate shift in how New Delhi is deploying trade and defence alignment policies as calibrated levers of strategic autonomy amidst rising global rivalries and uncertainties. The agreements, different in scale and context, indicate a strategic logic: India is widening its economic and security options in a world where any singular dependence has become a strategic vulnerability.

Vedanta arm TSPL faces Rs 127 crore penalty in power misdeclaration case

IANS | May 21, 2026 8:11 PM

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Vedanta Limited on Thursday informed stock exchanges that the Supreme Court of India has ruled against its subsidiary Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) in a case related to alleged misdeclaration of power availability, resulting in a penalty payout of nearly Rs 127 crore along with applicable late payment surcharge.

India diversifying energy sources, deepening global strategic ties

IANS | May 21, 2026 5:22 PM

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's multi-nation tour highlights India's accelerating efforts to diversify energy sources, deepen strategic partnerships, and position itself as a key bridge between the Middle East and Europe in an increasingly fragmented global order, according to a news article.

FMCG major ITC clocks 72.4 pc drop in its Q4 net profit

IANS | May 21, 2026 5:16 PM

Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) FMCG major ITC on Thursday reported a sharp 72.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in consolidated net profit for the fourth quarter of financial year 2026 (Q4 FY26), mainly due to a high base effect from a one-time gain recorded in the corresponding period last financial year.