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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

Nadda's strategic meet signals urgency for chemical sector

New Delhi: As war simmers across the volatile landscape of West Asia, whether in the form of a direct confrontation between Israel, United States and Iran, or through Iran's hybrid warfare involving groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis, the tremors are no longer confined to the region's borders. They are coursing through the arteries of the global economy. India's chemicals and petrochemicals sector, heavily dependent on this region for critical raw materials, finds itself among the earliest...

Nadda's strategic meet signals urgency for chemical sector

New Delhi: As war simmers across the volatile landscape of West Asia, whether in the form of a direct confrontation between Israel, United States and Iran, or through Iran's hybrid warfare involving groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis, the tremors are no longer confined to the region's borders. They are coursing through the arteries of the global economy. India's chemicals and petrochemicals sector, heavily dependent on this region for critical raw materials, finds itself among the earliest and hardest hit by this geopolitical turbulence. It is in this backdrop that the recent meeting convened by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers J. P. Nadda at Kartavya Bhavan must be seen not as a routine consultation, but as a signal of strategic urgency. India's ambition to scale this sector from its current valuation of $220 billion to $1 trillion by 2040, and further to $1.5 trillion by 2047, will remain aspirational unless the country confronts its structural vulnerabilities with clarity and resolve. India today ranks as the world's sixth-largest producer of chemicals and the third-largest in Asia. The sector contributes 6-7 percent to GDP and underpins a wide spectrum of industries, from agriculture and pharmaceuticals to automobiles, construction, and electronics. It would be no exaggeration to call it the backbone of modern industrial India. Yet, embedded within this strength is a paradox. India's share in the global chemical value chain (GVC) stands at a modest 3.5 percent. A trade deficit of $31 billion in 2023 underscores a deeper issue: while India produces at scale, it remains marginal in high-value segments. This imbalance becomes starkly visible when disruptions in West Asia choke the supply of key feedstocks, shaking the very foundations of domestic industry. Supply Disruption The current crisis has laid this fragility bare. Disruptions in the supply of LNG, LPG, and sulfur have led to production cuts of 30-50 percent in several segments. With nearly 65 percent of sulfur imports sourced from the Middle East, the ripple effects have extended beyond chemicals to fertilisers, plastics, textiles, and other downstream industries. Strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz have witnessed disruptions, pushing shipping costs up by 20-30 percent and adding further strain to cost structures. This is precisely where Nadda's emphasis on supply chain diversification and resilience appears prescient. In today's world, self-reliance cannot mean isolation; it must translate into strategic flexibility. While India imports crude oil from as many as 41 countries, several critical inputs for the chemical industry remain concentrated in a handful of sources, arguably the sector's most significant vulnerability. Opportunity Ahead A recent report by NITI Aayog outlines a pathway to convert this vulnerability into opportunity. It envisions raising India's GVC share to 5-6 percent by 2030 and to 12 percent by 2040. If achieved, the sector could not only reach the $1 trillion mark but also generate over 700,000 jobs. However, this transformation will demand more than policy intent, it will require sustained investment and disciplined execution. The most pressing challenge lies in research and innovation. India currently spends just 0.7 percent of industry revenue on R&D, compared to a global average of 2.3 percent. This gap explains why the country remains largely confined to basic chemicals, even as the world moves toward specialty and high-value products. Bridging this divide is essential if India is to climb the value chain. Equally constraining is the fragmented nature of the industry. Dominated by MSMEs with limited access to capital and technology, the sector struggles to compete globally. Cluster-based development models offer a pragmatic way forward, such as PCPIRs and the proposed chemical parks.

Serial thief nabbed with stolen gold

Dombivli: A seasoned female thief responsible for a string of thefts targeting women commuters on Mumbai’s suburban railway network has been arrested by the Dombivli Railway Police. The accused, identified as Vaishali Sachdev (25), was caught red-handed with stolen goods including gold ornaments, mobile phones, and cash. Police confirmed that she has multiple criminal cases registered against her across several stations.


The arrest was made on Wednesday evening after Sachdev attempted to flee from a ladies’ compartment of the Asangaon-bound local train at Dombivli station. Alert fellow commuters, who had just realized their belongings were missing, raised an alarm. Spotting her suspicious behavior and attempting to deboard hastily, passengers confronted her. She was quickly apprehended with the help of railway police officers present on the platform.


Senior Railway Police Inspector Kiran Undare revealed that Sachdev is a repeat offender with at least 10 cases registered against her at different police stations. "She has a deceptive appearance and would often pose as a regular commuter in women’s compartments. Once inside, she would engage women in casual conversation and take advantage of the crowd to snatch wallets, gold ornaments, and phones," he said.


Over the past few months, a surge in thefts reported by women passengers at Kalyan, Dombivli, Titwala, Asangaon, and Thane stations had baffled police. The thefts followed a similar pattern, raising suspicions about a common perpetrator. Dombivli Railway Police launched surveillance operations and laid traps to nab the suspect.


Upon her arrest, police recovered an Apple iPhone valued at Rs. 70,000, cash amounting to Rs. 5,100, and 13 stolen mobile phones from her possession. The recovered goods are being returned to the rightful owners, and further investigation is underway to trace the rest of her network, if any.

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