NEW DELHI: Govt is likely to extend subsidies for electric two-wheelers under the PM e-Drive scheme until June, while subsidies for e-rickshaws may continue for two years or so. The scheme, initially notified in Sept 2024, is valid till March 31.“We are looking at extending the incentive for these two categories of electric vehicles. Since we have budget under this head, we want that more people get the benefit of the scheme,” a person aware of the development said. Under the scheme, e-two-wheeler and e-rickshaw buyers get subsidy of Rs 2,500 per kWh. Official data shows that out of Rs 1,772 crore subsidy earmarked for electric two-wheelers, about Rs 1,260 crore has been utilised. For electric three-wheelers, Rs 737 crore has been spent out of the Rs 907 crore allocation.Industry sources said e-rickshaw manufacturers have struggled to meet localisation norms under the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP), making it difficult for many players to qualify for subsidies. “In the e-rickshaw segment, localisation remains a challenge as several key components such as traction battery packs, motors and instrument clusters are still largely imported. This has limited eligibility for incentives and slowed fund utilisation,” an industry executive said. The Rs 10,900-crore PM E-Drive scheme aims to accelerate EV adoption and build charging infrastructure across the country. Incentives are offered as upfront price reductions for buyers, which are later reimbursed to manufacturers, while localisation norms are aimed at strengthening domestic EV manufacturing.The scheme has been extended by two years, from March 2026, to March 2028, to support the adoption of electric buses, trucks, and ambulances. The scheme aims to boost local manufacturing, requiring e-bus makers to localise traction motors, but so far, no electric buses or trucks have hit the road, according to department of heavy industry data. Officials said that trucks are in the process of getting tested before sales start.

NEW DELHI: Amid disruption in supply chains, including inputs for medicines to glass, sulphur, solvents and polymers, industry has approached govt with multiple suggestions, ranging from relief in loans for small businesses staring at turning to non-performing assets due to lack of gas availability to operationalising a “green corridor” for goods flow to ports such as Sohar, Jeddah and Khorfakkan.It has also called for restricting the use of certain inputs, such as helium, and developing a domestic war risk insurance market. The lack of gas for industries has affected several sectors, be it ceramic or dyeing units, steel, aluminium or plastics.While freight rates have gone up, reflecting in a 20% jump in Drewry World Container index between Feb 26 and Thursday ($2,279 for a 40-feet container), availability is becoming a challenge, which is hurting supply chains as ships take a longer route and go around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe or the US. Going forward, a container supply crunch is widely expected.TOI spoke to industry representatives and one of the suggestions in their proposals to govt is a time-bound freight support mechanism to offset the impact, especially for smaller businesses.The supply disruptions from West Asia are prompting Chinese companies to jack up active pharma ingredient rates, including for blood pressure and sugar medicines.There are suggestions to tap alternate markets for fertilisers (Canada for potash, Russia and Egypt for urea). And, same for sulphur where export curbs have been proposed, apart from sourcing from Russia, the US and Kazakhstan. When it comes to helium used for MRI, industry has suggested restricting non-essential use, sourcing from Russia and also recovery from geo-thermal sources.Some of the industrial clusters are also seeking access to alternate fuel, such as furnace oil, diesel and cooking to gas and permission for a quick switchover. In addition, like households, there is a suggestion to let industrial and commercial users, with dual fuel capability, prioritise piped gas over LPG.“There is a need to establish a technical priority, with 80-90% continuity of LNG supply on an average for industries, such as glass, speciality chemicals and ceramics for next four-six weeks,” said an industry executive. With furnaces shut due to unavailability of gas, food and pharma packaging as well as containers for vaccines may be hit.There are demands from industries, such as chemicals and petrochem, to suspend or reduce tariffs for three-six months due to a surge in costs.Besides, there are proposals for a Covid-like loan relief for sectors hit by gas supply woes. One of the suggestions is a sector-specific advisory by RBI, allowing banks to treat gas-dependent manufacturing clusters as a temporary event and allowing asset classification standstill for 90 days.There are also some medium- to long-term solutions with developing a permanent domestic war-risk insurance framework on conflict-related maritime disruption being flagged. Similarly, there have been calls for bilateral air freight agreements, with alternate routing countries in central Asia, east Africa and southeast Asia, apart from creating a hedging framework for ATF.But, it isn’t just airlines and shipping lines that have been hit. The impact is felt on export-import rail cargo, where volumes are said to be up to 40% lower in certain areas, forcing operators to stable around 50 rakes and empty wagon movement has risen to 15-20% compared with under 5% in normal times. Some relief has been sought from railways too.Further, road developers have suggested that the current situation should be a force majeure-line event and the project timelines should be extended due to the 30-40% rise in bitumen cost.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has transitioned from a mere sporting tournament into a global financial behemoth, recently crossing valuation milestones that have sent shockwaves through the sporting world. As the league cements its status as the second most valuable sports property globally per match, the off-field drama is proving to be just as explosive as the action on the pitch. The latest season hasn’t just been defined by centuries and wickets, but by a high-stakes digital spat involving the league’s ‘founding father’ and one of its most prominent current owners.

The fuse was lit following the historic sale of two of the league’s legacy franchises: the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The numbers involved are staggering. RR, originally purchased for approximately ₹270 crore in 2008, was recently valued at over ₹15,000 crore. RCB followed suit, with a valuation leap from ₹485 crore at its inception to a massive ₹16,600 crore.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka took to social media to celebrate these figures, attributing the exponential growth to the current governance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Goenka specifically praised the ‘architecture of the IPL’ and the ‘vision of Jay Shah,’ crediting the structuring of digital and broadcast rights for giving investors the confidence to pour billions into the ecosystem. While the tweet seemed like a standard congratulatory note on the league’s health, it acted as a lightning rod for the man who claims the original blueprint for the IPL.

1/ @rajasthanroyals, acquired for roughly ₹270 crore in 2008, have just been sold for over ₹15,000 crore. @RCBTweets, acquired for roughly ₹485 crore, sold for over ₹16,600 crore. Two franchises, same week, each over ₹15,000 crore.

That value was built by the architecture…

— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) March 25, 2026

Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts probable playing XI of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for IPL 2026

‘Clown’ remark sparks controversy as Lalit Modi hits out at LSG owner

The response from Lalit Modi, the former IPL Commissioner currently living in London, was swift and characteristically unfiltered. Modi, who was instrumental in launching the IPL in 2008 before his controversial exit, took direct aim at Goenka’s historical perspective—or lack thereof.

In a scathing retort, Modi labeled Goenka a ‘clown’ and suggested the billionaire was suffering from memory loss regarding who actually conceived the IPL model. Modi didn’t stop at professional critiques; he made it personal by comparing Sanjiv to his brother, Harsh Goenka, stating he wished the latter owned the franchise instead, calling him a true cricket fan.

Modi’s outburst underscores a long-standing tension between the league’s old guard and its current leadership. By claiming Goenka has zero knowledge and a swelled-up head, Modi is essentially fighting for his legacy, asserting that the current multi-billion dollar valuations are the result of the foundation he laid nearly two decades ago, rather than just the efforts of current BCCI administrators.

The controversy has divided fans and analysts alike. While many acknowledge the incredible job the current BCCI team has done in scaling the league to ₹16,000 crore valuations, others feel Modi’s foundational role in the IPL architecture is often unfairly scrubbed from the official narrative. As the IPL 2026 season kicks off, this war of words serves as a reminder that in the world of cricket’s elite, egos are often as large as the bank balances.

Seriously this guy really has a memory loss of who conceived the model. Thats ok. He just lives in his own world. We all know that 🤣🤣🤣 @DrSanjivGoenka is a 🤡
wish it was his brother @hvgoenka who owned the ipl franchise. He is a true cricket fan. Not this clown – who thinks… https://t.co/m8eBdAOHHX

— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) March 26, 2026

Also READ: Yograj Singh lambasts Ravichandran Ashwin over remarks on Arjun Tendulkar ahead of IPL 2026

The streaming world saw a major shift this week as Tectone announced he is leaving both YouTube and Twitch. The move comes shortly after he received a one-week ban from YouTube for “excessive swearing.” Because of the suspension, he could not upload videos or go live, which pushed him to rethink his future on the platform. Soon after, he shared a new update on X, confirming that he is now moving to Rumble as an exclusive streamer.In his announcement, Tectone made it clear that this is not a temporary break but a big decision. He said he is “done streaming on YouTube and Twitch” and will now focus fully on Rumble. He also shared that his first stream on the new platform is scheduled for March 28 at 9 AM CST. While he plans to upload censored videos on YouTube, his live content will now be limited to Rumble.

Tectone shifts to Rumble after leaving YouTube and Twitch over bans

Explaining his decision, Tectone openly criticized both platforms for their rules. He said, “I am now going to be a Rumble Exclusive Streamer,” and added that he is “done streaming on platforms that ban me over petty insults.” He also expressed frustration, saying that while he gets punished for language, others are allowed to make serious accusations or disrespect the country they stream from. This shows that he feels the rules are not applied fairly.This is not the first time Tectone has faced issues with streaming platforms. In the past, he has also been banned on Twitch, which has built a pattern around his content style. Some fans believe he often crosses the line, while others support him and think platforms are becoming too strict.Despite leaving, Tectone is not completely cutting ties with YouTube. He confirmed that censored versions of his videos will still be uploaded there. However, his main focus will now be on building his audience on Rumble, where he believes he will have more freedom.For now, all eyes are on how this move will work out. His switch also raises a bigger question about how much freedom creators should have online. When his first Rumble stream goes live, fans will be watching closely to see if this bold move pays off.

Hardik Pandya with MCA groundsmen

NEW DELHI: Team India all-rounder and Mumbai Indians Hardik Pandya once again showed that his impact goes beyond cricket, winning hearts with a thoughtful gesture off the field. During his preparation for the T20 World Cup, Pandya spent long nights training at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, often practising till almost midnight. During that phase, he had made a promise to the groundstaff who supported him tirelessly that he would reward them when he returned.