Daily News - Tuesday, 28 April 2026

987 Investment Proposals Received for Uttar Pradesh’s 594 km Manufacturing Belt (Fortune India)

The Ganga Expressway, a ₹46,660 crore (USD $5.6 billion) project under the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), is being transformed into an Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster (IMLC) across 12 districts including Meerut, Bulandshahr, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, and Prayagraj. Spanning 594 km from Meerut to Prayagraj, the corridor will host 12 industrial nodes over 6,507 acres, with 987 investment proposals worth ₹46,660 crore (USD $5.6 billion) already received. The largest cluster is in Bulandshahr (2,798 acres), while others are distributed strategically to balance industrial growth. The project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and driven by the Yogi Adityanath government, aims to reduce logistics costs, improve freight movement, and connect 500+ villages with urban markets. By integrating manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, E-commerce, and agro-processing, the corridor is expected to significantly enhance supply chain efficiency and competitiveness. This initiative positions Uttar Pradesh as a manufacturing and logistics hub, aligning with India’s broader industrial policy under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Indian Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Meets S&P Global Chief to Discuss Energy Supply Chain (Business Standard)

Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri met Dave Ernsberger, President of S&P Global, to discuss the demand-supply situation in global energy markets and strategies for building resilient energy supply chains. Puri emphasized India’s dual approach: strengthening domestic exploration and production while accelerating clean energy initiatives such as Green Hydrogen, biofuel blending, and alternative fuels, under the oversight of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. He described these measures as critical to creating a resilient, sustainable, and future‑ready energy ecosystem for India. The meeting also highlighted India’s role in stabilizing global energy markets amid geopolitical volatility. Separately, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Puri to request uninterrupted supply of 967,949 commercial LPG cylinders for the Char Dham Yatra (April-November), plus an additional 48,397 cylinders (5% extra) for disaster management during the monsoon season. Dhami stressed that uninterrupted energy supply is vital for the state’s tourism‑driven economy, which relies heavily on religious and adventure tourism.

Oil India & Indian Oil Corporation Find New Oil, Gas Reserves in Libya (News18)

Oil India Limited (OIL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), as part of an Indian consortium, have announced a new oil and gas discovery in Libya’s Ghadames Basin (Block Area 95/96), covering 6,630 sq km and operated by SIPEX (Sonatrach Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation Libya Branch). OIL holds a 25% participating interest, with a programme to drill eight exploratory wells; the latest well A1-96/02 has been officially recognised by Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) as the fifth discovery in the block. Earlier drilling between 2012-2014 had already yielded four successful finds out of five wells, underscoring the basin’s hydrocarbon potential. The discovery strengthens India’s overseas energy portfolio, aligning with the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas strategy to diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on a limited set of exporters. Appraisal work will now assess the size and commercial viability of the reserves, with expectations that this will support India’s long‑term energy security amid rising demand and global supply chain uncertainties. This marks a significant milestone in India’s international exploration footprint, reinforcing partnerships in North Africa.

India to Launch High-Sea Fishing Permits for Domestic Vessels (The Hindu Businessline)

Government of India will begin issuing Letters of Authorisation (LoA) to Indian companies and vessels for high-sea fishing beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), extending regulatory frameworks already applied within the EEZ. The move, overseen by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, aims to formalise India’s participation in international waters, where European and Chinese vessels are currently active, and to retain skilled Indian fishermen who have long been recruited by Iran, Oman, and Gulf nations. India, the world’s second-largest fish producer with 8% of global output, has 2.38 lakh registered fishing vessels, of which 64,187 mechanised vessels will require access passes for deep-sea operations. Already, 4,000 passes have been issued under new EEZ rules, which also ban foreign vessels from Indian waters. The government has eased visa rules for technical staff and clarified that marine products caught in high seas will not be treated as imports when landed in India, boosting export competitiveness. According to Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi, small-scale fisheries remain central to food security and livelihoods, but high-sea fishing will unlock new opportunities for Indian crews, especially from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, known globally for their seamanship.