Beyond the barrel: How the US-Iran war is affecting India
India Today
With supply chains under strain, sectors from agriculture to manufacturing will feel pressure if the war is prolonged.
The war in West Asia has entered its 18th day. While energy remains the immediate concern for India, the ripples of supply chain disruptions, especially at the Strait of Hormuz, are being felt across sectors.
Agriculture will feel the impact. India depends on West Asian countries for about a third of its chemical fertiliser demand. Any disruption in supplies or shipping routes will tighten availability and raise import costs, increasing the government’s subsidy burden. An increase in fertiliser prices could also force farmers to reduce use, which could lead to lower yields.
Aluminium and copper are key industrial metals used in construction, power, electronics, and automobiles. They are used in wiring, machinery, and infrastructure, making them critical for both industrial activity and infrastructure development. Between April 2025 and January 2026, India imported about $3.4 billion worth of aluminium, copper, and their products from West Asia, amounting to approximately 18 per cent of its total imports in this category.
India also imports about 18 per cent of its raw plastic demand from this region. In the first three quarters of FY2026, India imported $2.4 billion worth of raw plastic from West Asian nations.
Raw plastic is widely used in packaging (which supports the food and FMCG industries), as well as in electronics, household items, and auto parts.
While India’s gems and jewellery market may not feel the heat immediately, it can face serious consequences. A significant amount of India’s gold imports and rough diamonds comes through West Asian countries before reaching Indian markets and processing centres like Surat.
Two years ago, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina warned of an alleged plot by a 'white man' to establish a Christian state. In 2025, the Mizoram CM said Ukraine war veterans were using the state to enter Myanmar. The arrest of 7 foreign nationals by the NIA has prompted experts to suggest that the incidents might be connected.
Pradyut Bordoloi was a dyed-in-the-wool Congressi who vowed to never leave the party. The physical attack on him in 2025, and the Congress embracing "communal elements" pushed the Lok Sabha MP into joining the BJP. Bordoloi's exit from the Congress after three decades is significant for the party and Assam's politics.
Rajya Sabha polls expose cracks in Congress discipline, with absenteeism and cross-voting costing key seats. Leadership struggles to rein in dissent, raising urgent questions about internal control and state-level coordination.
A man brought a foetus to the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking sympathy for his family's suffering. The petition was dismissed as unsubstantiated, with the court warning against theatrical gestures in judicial proceedings.
When the victim realised what had transpired for 48 hours, he lodged an FIR with the Cyber Crime Police in Greater Noida. Cyber crime officials said that they will investigate the matter further.
When the fire erupted, a few people jumped from the building to save themselves. However, many were trapped after the fire engulfed the only exit route of the building.
Notorious gangster Kundan Thakur, who openly threatened police in a call, was killed in an encounter in Bihar's Motihari that also left a constable and another criminal dead.
Suspicious movements inside the sack prompted the staff to open it. What they found shocked everyone in the office – an elderly man struggling to breathe.
Air travel rules are set for a shake-up as the government cracks down on hidden charges and pushes airlines to prioritise passengers. What changes for your next flight and what airlines must now do.
A domestic dispute turns deadly on Mumbai's lifeline, sparking a dramatic CCTV-led chase across cities. How police tracked the accused within hours and what led to the shocking crime unfolds inside.
Her health deteriorated after she had her tooth extracted at a private clinic in Hariharganj town. She was rushed to the Community Health Center. However, doctors could not save her.
The government told the Bombay High Court that the situation remains dynamic due to international developments, and emphasised that it may not be appropriate to deliberate such matters within court proceedings. He assured the bench that the government is taking all necessary remedial measures to ensure that global disruptions do not adversely impact domestic supply of LPG.