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App available on App Store & Play Store WWW.FINANCIALEXPRESS.COM Vol. 19 No. 02 NOSTALGIA & NOVELTY FINANCIAL EXPRESS ON SUNDAY MUMBAI SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026 14 Pages, `12 P U B L I S H E D F R O M : A H M E D A B A D , B E N G A L U R U , C H A N D I G A R H , C H E N N A I , Air-fried samosas to royal iftar platters, how Ramazan traditions are evolving Page 7 READ TO LEAD H Y D E R A B A D , K O C H I , K O L K A T A , L U C K N O W , M U M B A I , N E W D E L H I , P U N E She power takes the spotlight WHAT'S INSIDE FE BUREAU Mumbai, March 14 EXPRESS AWARDS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS PRESENTED ONABRIGHTLY lit stage,amid ■ SPOTLIGHT, P5 THEPOPULATION PARADOX Longer lives, fewer kids — what the long-term demographic change could mean for future generations ■ WORDS WORTH, P4 ONEFOR THENOVICE Expert advice on how to read the markets and invest smartly IN THE NEWS Pollsahead,PM unveilsprojects inWB&Assam PM Narendra Modi unveiled projects valued at `18,680 crore in poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday, asserting that they will give new momentum to eastern India, boosting business and enterprise. Earlier in the day, he unveiled projects worth `23,550 crore in Assam's Silchar, ahead of elections. ■ PAGE 3 Wangchukwalks outofJodhpurjail afterNSArevoke CLIMATE activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur central jail on Saturday after the Union government decided to revoke his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) with immediate effect. ■ PAGE 2 applause and anticipation, a group of 13 trail-blazing women stepped forward on Saturday evening to receive recognition for their achievements at the Express Awards for Women Entrepreneurs 2026 (AWE). An initiative of The Financial Express in partnership with FICCI-FLO, the event was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai. In its fifth year, AWE has grown into one of the most credible platforms recognising women who lead with vision, resilience and impact. Some built startups from the ground up. Others led national and multinational teams, transformed industries, or championed social impact through business. Zia Mody, co-founder and managing partner, AZB & Partners, the unanimous choice for the Lifetime Achievement Award, rightfully said that“mediocrity is a sin that cannot be passed on”. Dedicating her award to her mother Zena Mody who was present on stage with brother Hormazd Sorabjee and her law firm partner Behram Vakil, she added,“My mother treated me more equal than my brothers.” The other awardees represented a cross-section of women shaping modern India: Jayshree Ullal (technology), Guneet Monga Kapoor (entertainment), Anamika Khanna (fashion), Priya Paul (hospitality), Vinati Saraf Mutreja (legacy entrepreneur), Neha Bansal (lifestyle), Geetha Manjunath (health & wellness), Priya Krishnan (education and skill development), Rohini Nilekani (social impact), Mariam Mammen Mathew (media), Ruchi Kalra (finance),and Preiti Patel,who ZIA MODY, CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, AZB & PARTNERS Mediocrity’s a sin that can’t be passed on. We need to help next gen to keep passion going Winners of the Express Awards for Women Entrepreneurs, in Mumbai on Saturday GUNEET MONGA KAPOOR, CEO & PRODUCER, SIKHYA ENTERTAINMENT Stories not being told are ones we’re not allowed to tell. But if someone does, it’ll be women (From left) E Kumar Sharma, senior deputy editor, FinancialExpress.com; Preetha Reddy, executive vice chairperson, Apollo Hospitals; Mallika Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, TAFE—Tractors and Farm Equipment; Zia Mody, co-founder and managing partner, AZB & Partners; Anjali Bansal, founding partner, Avaana Capital; and Shobhana Subramanian, deputy managing editor, Financial Express, at a panel discussion as part of the Express Awards for Women Entrepreneurs, in Mumbai on Saturday EXPRESS PHOTO BY SANKHADEEP BANERJEE An initiative by received the FICCI-FLOAward thisyearfor“breakingbarriers in the defence sector”. Patel, who is the founder- JSWtobuildcokingcoal mine in Mozambique FE BUREAU Mumbai, March 14 ing coal, the steelmaker said in a statement. MdR holds reserves of about 850 million tonne,with the potential to produce around 250 million tonne of usable coking coal. JSW Steel plans to develop the mine in phases, with the first phase expected to be completed over the next two-and-ahalf years and targeting production of 2.4 million tonne per annum of prime hard coking coal. JSW STEEL HAS announced the development of a coking coal mining project in Mozambique, marking a key step in its efforts to secure long-term raw material supplies for its steelmaking operations. The project, called Minas de Revuboè (MdR), is located in the Moatize coal basin in Tete Province and is expected to strengthen the company’s access to premium hard cok- Continued on Page 2 Another Tata car model punches its way to top 22,434 21,082 19,733 22,108 20,706 19,375 23,365 19,629 19,257 19,430 19,326 18,748 Baleno Fronx Nexon Nexon Dzire Punch Nexon Dzire Punch Rank 3 Nexon Dzire Swift Rank 2 22,083 20,791 20,087 Rank 1 Nexon Dzire Ertiga everycar in India bybecoming thecountry’stop-selling model in 2024, another Tata car is punching above its weight. Sales data sourced from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers shows that the Nexon was India’s top-selling model in five months of the last six. The surge in sales started in September 2025, when the Top 3 selling cars in India (units) 22,573 20,038 18,861 AFTER THE PUNCH humbled NEXON SALE SURGE Nexon Dzire Creta VIKRAM CHAUDHARY New Delhi, March 14 Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 2025 Nexon (22,573 units) outsold Maruti Suzuki Dzire (20,038) and Hyundai Creta (18,861). It continued its dominance in October (22,083) and Novem- EXPRESS PHOTO BY AMIT CHAKRAVARTY 2026 ber (22,434), but lost the position to Maruti Suzuki Baleno (22,108 units) in December. Continued on Page 2 Associate Partners promoter and chairperson of defence manufacturing firm Raspian Industries,admitted it was ‘tough’ to break the glass ceiling in a sector dominated by men. What kept her going though was her desire to participate in the‘security’ of the nation, which she saw as a responsibility of all and being ‘gender-agnostic’. She shared her award with two members of her team, both female gunsmiths,among the few in the country. Neha Bansal,co-founderof Lenskart, was described by Amit Chaudhary, also a cofounder at the firm, as being ‘limitless’ and capable of ‘doing wonders’. Continued on Page 2 Winners’ list: Page 2 VINATI SARAF MUTREJA, MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO, VINATI ORGANICS To preserve legacy, you’ve to innovate. Change is survival. You’ve to reinvent to maintain legacy 92,700tonneLPGenroutetoIndia Trump rejects efforts to end war,says will force Hormuz open ● Two Indian ships cross Hormuz, six more with LPG await SAURAVANAND New Delhi, March 14 TWO INDIAN-FLAGGED LPG carriers carrying about 92,700 metric tonne of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are now sailing towards Gujarat ports,offering relief to India’s cooking gas supply chain as tensions in West Asia disrupt shipping through the critical energy corridor. The vessels—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—crossed the narrow strait late Thursday night and early Friday morning and are expected to dock at Mundra and Kandla ports on March 16 and March 17,respectively. Announcing the development, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry, said: “They safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and are now proceeding towards India. These vessels are carrying approximately92,700 metric tonne of LPG; their ports of arrival will be Mundra and Kandla, with expected arrival dates of March 16 and March 17, respectively,”he said. Sinha said of the 24 Indianflagged vessels earlier positionedwestoftheStraitofHormuz,two have now crossed. No LPG forpiped gas users THE MINISTRYOF Petroleum and Natural Gas said on Saturdaythat it has barred consumers with piped natural gas connections from retaining,obtainingorrefilling domestic LPG cylinders under an amended supply order.The amendment also prohibits government oil companies from providing LPG connections orrefills to consumerswhoalreadyhave PNG connections, the ministry said in a statement. ---- REUTERS ABBAS ARAGHCHI IndiGo halts ops in region After two weeks of warwith Iran,White House now begging the world—including India—to buy Russian crude »INSIDE« FUEL SHORTAGES BEGIN TO THREATEN GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY PAGE 14 INDIGO HAS SUSPENDED flight REUTERS Washington/Dubai/ Jerusalem, March 14 Continued on Page 2 IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER Continued on Page 2 Smoke rises from the US embassy building in Baghdad, Iraq, following a missile strike by Iran on Saturday IRAN WARNED IT could hit selected targets, including US "hideouts" in the United Arab Emirates,andwarned civilians to evacuate on Saturday, projectingdefianceafterUSforces hit military sites at its own main oil hub a day earlier. Some oil-loading operations have been suspended in the UAE'sFujairahemirate,amajor bunkering hub and crude export terminal, industry and trade sources said, with TV footage showing plumes of operations to seven Middle Eastern destinations— Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah—untilMarch28aspart ofanetworkrealignmentinthe region.However,theairlinesaid it will operate 252 weekly flights to and from West Asia between March 16 and March 28. This includes 126 weekly flights to and from Saudi Arabia, 28 weekly flights to and fromOman,reportsFEBureau. US BEGINS EMERGENCY OIL RESERVE RELEASE OF 86 MN BARRELS PAGE 14 RUSSIAN REFINERY, PORT HIT BY DRONES; KYIV UNDER FIRE PAGE 14 AP dark thick smoke rising into the air. An Iranian military spokesperson called on people in the UAE to evacuate the ports, docks, and 'American hideouts'saying US forces had targeted Iranian islands from those areas. US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran's Kharg Island hub unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a warning that could furtherroil markets coping with a historic supply disruption. Continued on Page 2 50 SAILORS REMAIN WITH IRAN SHIP DOCKED IN KOCHI PAGE 14
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