India to receive two LPG cargoes via Strait of Hormuz soon

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 13, 2026 | Business

Each tanker carries roughly 40,000 tonnes, with the first expected in 2–3 days and the second by Saturday. (a file photo)
| Photo Credit:
RAY HENSEL

India is expected to receive around 80,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) via two vessels, one of which is likely to arrive via the Strait of Hormuz by Monday.

Sources said that one tanker was carrying around 40,000 tonnes of the critical cooking fuel. The vessel is expected to reach India in 2-3 days.

Another vessel will also sail to India doon, by Saturday, and will transit the Strait of Hormuz. It will be carrying an equivalent amount of LPG, said one of the sources.

PM Modi speaks with Iran leader

The development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself called Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday.

“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” PM said on X.

Jaishankar holds talks with Iran

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also been holding talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi both on Thursday and Friday. Both leaders have spoken four times since the US-Israel offensive on Iran (February 28).

Iran assures safe passage for India

Asked about allowing safe passage through the strait, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, on Friday said, “.Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours. We believe that Iran and India share common interests in the region…”

Iranian official emphasises global diplomacy

On Iran allowing Indian ships to transit the SoH, Representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, said, “Actually, there have been some discussions concerning this, and I am sure that India will benefit from oil, gas, and other resources. But I think the complete solution is that leaders of the world have to come together.”

They should go to the US and convince President (Donald) Trump that this war is an unjust war against civilians and that it has to stop, he added.

“They should also put pressure on the Zionist regime to stop this war. We didn’t create this war, we didn’t initiate this war, we didn’t start this war… We are ready to share our blood on the earth, but we are not ready to sell our dignity,” he emphasised.

Published on March 13, 2026

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Immediate PNG connections now available in Gujarat’s CGD areas

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 13, 2026 | Business

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel
| Photo Credit:
ANI

The Gujarat government on Friday evening decided to provide new piped natural gas (PNG) connections on an immediate basis to restaurants, hotels, educational institutions, as well as social and religious institutions in areas covered by City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies.

The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, which assessed the availability of PNG and other petroleum products in the state. Following the meeting, the government said there are adequate stocks of PNG available for domestic consumption across Gujarat. Officials also said the buffer stock of LPG in the state is improving on a daily basis, adding that adequate supplies of LPG, petrol and diesel are available. According to the government, consumers in urban areas can book an LPG refill after 25 days, while those in rural areas can do so after 45 days.

The state government also said the Union government has allocated 1,452 kilolitres of kerosene for rural Gujarat, which can be used for cooking and lighting purposes. The allocation will be distributed through district collectors, with priority given to rural families in interior areas, school hostels and mid-day meal schemes, registered old-age homes and other social organisations. Rural households will receive five litres each, while institutions such as schools will get 25 litres.

Published on March 13, 2026

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The Latest Fixed Deposit Interest Rates: Mar 13, 2026

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 13, 2026 | Business

A fixed deposit is a trusted way to maintain liquidity and earn an assured rate of return on the capital. Interest rates vary from one bank to another. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the interest rates on offer today.

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Bank	<1 year	1 to 2 years	2 to 3 years	3 to 5 years	w.e.f
FOREIGN BANKS
DBS Bank	6	6.6	6.4	6.4	Nov 14
Deutsche Bank	5	7	6.25	6.25	Jul 25
HSBC	4.1	5.5	5.35	5.5	Jul 17
Standard Chartered	5.75	6.6	6.5	6.5	Aug 29
INDIAN: PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS
Bank of Maharashtra	5.25	6.65	5.25	5.25	Jan 07
Bank of Baroda	6	6.6	6.5	6.4	Jun 12
Bank of India	5.5	6.6	6.3	6.25	Mar 02
Canara Bank	5.5	6.5	6.25	6.25	Jan 05
Central Bank of India	5	6.2	6.25	6	Dec 10
Indian Bank	4.75	6.6	6.15	6.05	Mar 03
Indian Overseas Bank	5.5	6.6	6.4	6.1	Dec 15
Punjab National Bank	5.6	6.6	6.3	6.1	Feb 24
Punjab & Sind Bank	4.85	6.75	6	5.95	Feb 16
State Bank of India	5.9	6.45	6.4	6.3	Dec 15
UCO Bank	6.3	6.45	6.1	6	Dec 11
Union Bank	6.1	6.6	6.25	6	Feb 11
INDIAN: PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS
Axis Bank	5.75	6.45	6.45	6.45	Mar 13
Bandhan Bank	4.20	7.25	7.25	7	Mar 06
CSB Bank	6.75	7	6.5	5.75	Sep 10
City Union Bank	6.25	7	6.5	6.25	Mar 11
DCB Bank	6.5	7	7	7.15	Jan 16
Dhanlaxmi Bank	5.25	6.95	6.25	7	Mar 01
Federal Bank	6	6.7	6.75	6.4	Mar 12
HDFC Bank	5.75	6.45	6.45	6.5	Mar 06
ICICI Bank	5.5	6.3	6.45	6.5	Mar 13
IDBI Bank	5.8	6.45	6.5	6.35	Feb 23
IDFC First Bank	5.5	7.2	7.2	7.2	Mar 04
IndusInd Bank	6.25	7	6.9	6.65	Sep 25
J & K Bank	6	6.75	7.25	6.65	Feb 11
Karnataka Bank	5.75	6.65	6.15	6.15	Aug 01
Kotak Bank	6	6.7	6.7	6.4	Feb 11
Karur Vysya Bank	6.65	6.55	6.55	6.55	Sep 26
RBL Bank	6.05	7.2	7.2	7	Sep 24
South Indian Bank	5.9	6.7	6.2	6.2	Mar 10
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank	6.4	7.1	6.6	6.6	Jan 08
TNSC Bank	6.85	7.6	7.1	6.85	NA
Yes Bank	6.5	7	7	7	Mar 05
SMALL FINANCE BANKS
AU Small Finance Bank	6.35	6.9	7.1	7	Jan 12
Equitas Small Finance Bank	6.35	6.9	7.4	7	Mar 02
ESAF Small Finance Bank	4.75	8	7.25	6	Mar 01
Jana Small Finance Bank	7	7.25	7.5	7.77	Jan 10
Suryoday Small Finance Bank	6.5	7.6	7.25	7.9	6-Mar
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank	6	7.5	7.5	7.25	Dec 01
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank	6	7.45	7.25	7.2	5-Aug

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Compiled by BankBazaar.com from respective bank’s website as on the date mentioned above. Note that fixed interest rates may be subject to a revision after a specified tenure depending on the bank’s T&Cs.

Some banks/FIs allow fixed rate only for a definite period and thereafter prevailing floating rates are made applicable.

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The Latest Home Loan Interest Rates: Mar 13, 2026

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 13, 2026 | Business

What are the various fixed and floating interest rates on offer for home loans today? Let’s take a comprehensive look at interest rates across banks and housing finance companies.

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Institution	Loan amount
Institution	Under Rs. 30 lakh	Rs. 30 to 75 lakh	Rs. 75 lakh Plus
BANKS (Floating rates)
Axis Bank	8.0-9.10	8.0-9.10	8.0-9.10
Bank of Baroda	7.20-8.95	7.20-8.95	7.20-8.95
Bank of India	7.10-10	7.10-10	7.10-10
Bank of Maharashtra	7.10-9.65	7.10-9.65	7.10-9.65
Canara Bank	7.15-10	7.10-10	7.05-9.90
Central Bank	7.10-8.70	7.10-8.70	7.10-8.70
DBS Bank	<=8.70	<=8.70	<=8.70
Dhanlaxmi Bank	8.20-12.0	8.20-12.0	8.20-12.0
Federal Bank	7.30-9.50	7.30-9.50	7.30-9.50
HDFC Bank	7.75-13.20	7.75-13.20	7.75-13.20
ICICI Bank	>=7.45	>=7.45	>=7.45
Indian Bank	7.15-8.55	7.15-8.55	7.15-8.55
IOB	7.10-8.20	7.10-8.20	7.10-8.20
IDBI Bank	7.35-11.95	7.35-11.95	7.35-11.95
J&K Bank	>= 7.25	>= 7.25	>= 7.25
Karnataka Bank	7.30-11.68	7.30-11.68	7.30-11.68
Karur Vysya Bank	8.50-10.65	8.50-10.65	8.50-10.65
Kotak Mahindra Bank	>=7.70	>=7.70	>=7.70
Punjab National Bank	7.25-9.0	7.20-9.0	7.20-9.0
Punjab & Sind Bank	7.30-10.70	7.30-10.70	7.30-10.70
RBL Bank	>= 9.0	>= 9.0	>= 9.0
State Bank of India	7.25-8.45	7.25-8.45	7.25-8.45
South Indian Bank	>=7.20	>=7.20	>=7.20
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank	7.90-9.30	7.90-9.30	7.90-9.30
UCO Bank	7.25-9.50	7.25-9.50	7.25-9.50
Union Bank of India	7.15-9.25	7.15-9.25	7.15-9.25
Yes Bank	9.0-11.50	9.0-11.50	9.0-11.50
BANKS (Fixed rates)
Axis Bank	14.00	14.00	14.00
Bank of Baroda	8.90-9.95	8.90-9.95	8.90-9.95
Canara Bank	8.50-10.75	8.50-10.75	8.50-10.75
ICICI Bank	8.65-11.80	8.65-11.80	8.65-11.80
IDBI bank	10.90-12.0	10.90-12.0	10.90-12.0
Indian Bank	9.25-9.45	9.25-9.45	9.25-9.45
Karnataka Bank	12.27-12.99	12.27-12.99	12.27-12.99
Punjab National Bank	8.30-10.55	8.25-10.55	8.25-10.55
Union Bank of India	11.4	11.4-12.4	12.4-12.65
HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (Floating rates)
Floating Rates:
Tata Capital	>=7.50	>=7.50	>=7.50
PNB Housing	7.75-10.05	7.60-10.05	7.50-9.95
Central Bank Housing	10-12.85	10-12.85	10-12.35
Samman Capital	>=8.75	>=8.75	>=8.75
Aditya Birla Housing Fin	>=7.75	>=7.75	>=7.75
Bajaj Finserv	7.15-20	7.15-20	7.15-20
GIC Housing Finance Ltd	>=8.80	>=8.80	>=8.80
Sundaram Home Finance Ltd*	>=10.65	>=10.65	>=10.65
Piramal Finance Limited	>=9.99	>=9.99	>=9.99
IIFL Home Finance	>=8.75	>=8.75	>=8.75
LIC Housing Finance Ltd	7.15-9.65	7.15-9.75	7.15-10.10
HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (Fixed rates)
LIC Housing Finance Ltd	10-10.25	10-10.25	10-10.25

–

Compiled by BankBazaar.com from respective bank’s website as on the date mentioned above. Note that fixed interest rates may be subject to a revision after a specified tenure depending on the bank’s T&Cs.

Some banks/FIs allow fixed rate only for a definite period and thereafter prevailing floating rates are made applicable. *Annual percentage rate; ^For Bureau Score 751 and above

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Rupee ends the week at an all-time low of 92.4550/dollar

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 13, 2026 | Business

Meanwhile, India’s foreign exchange reserves declined $11.683 billion to stand at $716.810 billion in the week ended March 06, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
ALASHI

The rupee closed at an all-time low of 92.4550 per US dollar in the week ended March 13, with factors such as the intensifying West Asia war, hardening crude oil prices, and FPI related outflows from the continuously falling domestic equity markets weakening it.

The rupee closed the week ended March 13 (Friday), 2026, at a record closing low, down 72 paise as compared with the previous Friday’s close of 91.74. In the preceding week, the rupee had closed 77 paise weaker.

Since the Israel-US alliance war with Iran started two weeks ago, the rupee has weakened about 150 paise. The Central bank has been intervening in the forex market, defending the currency at various levels, to reduce its volatility against the dollar.

The rupee opened about 16 paise weaker at 92.3450 per dollar on Friday and hit a high/low of 92.3050/92.4850.

Amit Pabari, MD, CR Forex Advisors, said a stronger dollar coupled with rising oil prices will exert pressure on the rupee.

“Since the conflict began, currencies of major energy-importing countries have weakened against the dollar….reflecting the higher cost of energy imports and the increased demand for dollars to pay for them.” he said.

Dilip Parmar, Senior Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, observed that the rupee weakened for the second consecutive week, settling at a fresh record low as a geopolitical worry weighed on the local currency.

“Surging global crude oil prices—driven by escalating tensions in West Asia—and sustained foreign fund outflows amid heightened risk aversion have kept the rupee under significant pressure. Furthermore, aggressive dollar demand from importers and traders intensified as the currency breached the record high,” he said.

Parmar noted that Spot dollar/rupee maintains a bullish bias, with immediate resistance anticipated between 92.50–92.70 and a support at 92.05.

Meanwhile, India’s foreign exchange reserves declined $11.683 billion to stand at $716.810 billion in the week ended March 06, 2026.

Published on March 13, 2026

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NHAI-backed Raajmarg Infra InvIT IPO subscribed 13.7 times

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 13, 2026 | Business

The initial public offering of National Highways Authority of India-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust was subscribed 13.74 times at the end of Friday. The ₹6,000-crore IPO received bids for 293.15 crore units against 21.33 crore units on offer, as per NSE data. The InvIT’s IPO price has been fixed at ₹99-100 per unit.

The portion for institutional investors received 19.14 times while non-institution portion received bids for 7.26 times.

Anchor investors

Ahead of the IPO, Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) mopped up ₹1,728 crore from anchor investors, who included LIC, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance and Bajaj Life Insurance.

The public InvIT aims to unlock the monetisation potential of the National Highway assets while creating a high-quality, long-term investment instrument primarily targeting retail and domestic investors.

The InvIT proposes an initial portfolio of five toll roads in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, operating under the Toll-Operate-Transfer model based on concessions granted by the NHAI to the project SPV.

The toll roads consist of five toll roads spanning over 260 km, forming part of the Golden Quadrilateral project.

Published on March 13, 2026

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