April 2, 2026
India exempts some petrochemicals from import duty amid Iran war
India on Wednesday exempted a range of chemicals from import duty for a limited period, according to a government notification issued, as it seeks to ease supply pressures linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The exemptions, effective from April 2 to June 30, cover products including ammonium nitrate, methanol, styrene, acetic acid and polyvinyl chloride, the order said.
The government described the move as targeted relief, with officials saying the measure is expected to benefit industries reliant on petrochemical feedstock and intermediates, while helping ease costs for consumers of finished goods.
https://p.dw.com/p/5BZCR
April 2, 2026
Oracle layoffs hit thousands of employees in India
Thousands of Oracle employees in India have received layoff notices as part of what the company described as a “reduction in force and other terminations,” according to media reports on Thursday.
Indian outlets said between 10,000 and 12,000 employees in the country could be affected. Earlier this week, CNBC reported that the US-based technology firm was cutting thousands of jobs globally. Oracle declined to comment on the CNBC report, according to Reuters.
On Wednesday, social media platforms, including LinkedIn, saw a surge in posts from Indian tech workers saying they had been laid off and were seeking new opportunities.
The technology giant had about 162,000 full-time employees worldwide as of May 2025.
The layoffs come as the company ramps up spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure to compete with cloud rivals such as Alphabet and Amazon.
Oracle is led by billionaire co-founder Larry Ellison, one of the richest people in the world.
https://p.dw.com/p/5BYlk
Welcome to our coverage
Good morning!
This is Shakeel from DW’s New Delhi studio, bringing you the latest updates from across India.
LinkedIn today is seeing a surge in posts from Indian tech workers laid off by Oracle. National media reports suggest that 10,000 to 12,000 Oracle employees in India may be impacted.
We’re also looking at the importance of the Indian census, the world’s largest population exercise, which will see more than three million officials take part in a long-awaited data collection process.
Meanwhile, amid a rise in jet fuel prices, IndiGo has announced a revised fuel surcharge on domestic travel.
For all this and more, stay tuned to our India live blog.
https://p.dw.com/p/5BYer
