Daily News - Wednesday, 22 April 2026

India’s Infra Investments to Hit US$288 billion Despite Global Crisis (Fortune India)

India’s infrastructure growth remains resilient despite the West Asia crisis and global uncertainty, according to Crisil Ratings. Krishnan Sitaraman, Chief Ratings Officer, said investment growth in key sectors renewables, roads, real estate, and new-age industries, is expected to stay strong at 45-50% across FY26-FY27, in line with the pace of the past two years. Total investments in these sectors are projected to reach ₹23-24 lakh crore (USD $276-288 billion), supported by government initiatives and healthy corporate balance sheets. Renewable energy remains the first pillar, with annual capacity additions of 50-55 GW, alongside plans to scale battery storage to 208 GWh by 2030 under the Ministry of Power. The roads sector is set for revival, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) expected to monetise assets worth ₹70,000-80,000 crore (USD $8.4-9.6 billion) to fund expansion. Meanwhile, data centres are projected to grow 35-40% annually through FY28, driven by AI and cloud adoption, while green hydrogen and battery manufacturing gain momentum under India’s decarbonisation push.

India Taiwan Secure WTO Deferral on Information and Communication Technology Duty Ruling Until October 2026 (The Hindu Businessline)

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in Geneva on April 21, 2026 accepted a joint request from India and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) to defer adoption of a ruling against India’s import duties on ICT products until October 27, 2026. The case, initiated by Taiwan, challenges India’s tariffs on cellular telephones, data transmission equipment, and parts of telephone sets, which a WTO panel in April 2023 found to violate global trading norms. India argues these products fall under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA-2), which it never signed, as it remains bound only by ITA-1 (1997) that did not require eliminating duties on such goods. The DSB has already granted eight prior extensions at the request of both parties, reflecting ongoing bilateral engagement to resolve the matter outside formal adoption. The Commerce Ministry has emphasized that India is seeking a negotiated solution to protect domestic industry while avoiding escalation. The dispute highlights broader challenges in WTO enforcement, as the Appellate Body remains non-functional due to member disagreements, leaving several trade disputes unresolved.

Hydrogen and Ethanol Seen as Future of India’s Transport (money control)

At the Green Transport Conclave hosted by the Indian Federation of Green Energy on April 21, 2026, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari urged India to target 100% ethanol blending in petrol to achieve energy independence. He stressed that the West Asia war has exposed vulnerabilities in India’s oil imports, making self-reliance in the energy sector urgent. Gadkari highlighted that the upcoming Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) III standards, effective April 1, 2027, will have minimal impact on electric and flex fuel vehicles, but will pressure conventional petrol and diesel cars. India currently blends 20% ethanol in petrol, a milestone launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, but Gadkari argued that scaling to full blending is essential for sustainability. Ethanol and hydrogen were identified as key alternative fuels to reduce dependence on crude imports and cut emissions. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is expected to coordinate with the Petroleum Ministry and industry stakeholders to accelerate adoption.

Indian Government Clears 5 Million Tonnes of Wheat Exports Amid Surplus (mint)

Union government approved an additional 2.5 million tonnes of wheat exports, raising total permitted shipments to 5 million tonnes of wheat and 1 million tonnes of wheat products such as flour, suji, and maida . The decision, reviewed by an empowered group of secretaries under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, aims to enhance market liquidity, prevent distress sales during peak arrivals, and stabilize domestic prices. Wheat acreage during the Rabi 2026 season rose to 334.17 lakh hectares (33.4 million ha), up from 328.04 lakh hectares (32.8 million ha) last year, reflecting farmer confidence supported by MSP and procurement mechanisms. Production for 2025-26 is pegged at 120 million tonnes, according to the second advance estimates released on March 10, ensuring ample supplies. Earlier approvals included 500,000 tonnes of wheat products in January and 500,000 tonnes of wheat products plus 2.5 million tonnes of wheat in February, showing a calibrated expansion of export limits. Policy experts like Binod Anand, member of the MSP committee, noted that timely exports will ease stock pressure, improve farmer realizations, and maintain food security.