India’s coal imports from April 2024 to February 2025 saw a significant decrease of 9.2%, totaling 220.3 million tonnes (MT), down from 242.6 MT in the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Coal on Tuesday. This decline translates to foreign exchange savings of around $6.93 billion (₹53,137.82 crore), reflecting a major step towards reducing reliance on imported coal.

Notably, coal imports from the non-regulated sector, which excludes power generation, dropped sharply by 15.3%, highlighting a trend towards increased self-sufficiency. Despite a 2.87% rise in overall coal-based power generation during this timeframe, imports for blending in thermal power plants plummeted by 38.8%, indicating the effectiveness of India’s initiatives to rely more on domestic coal sources.

The Coal Ministry reported that the government has implemented various measures to enhance domestic coal production, including the introduction of Commercial Coal Mining and the Mission Coking Coal initiative. These initiatives have led to a 5.45% increase in coal output from April 2024 to February 2025 compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Despite these advancements, India still encounters challenges in fulfilling the demand for certain coal types, particularly coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are limited in domestic supplies. Consequently, coal imports remain vital for supporting key sectors such as steel, cement, and power generation.

The Ministry of Coal emphasized its commitment to bolstering domestic production and ensuring a stable coal supply to enhance energy security and foster long-term economic growth. As India’s coal sector undergoes transformation, the focus remains on reducing dependence on imports while ramping up domestic production capabilities.

India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation dropped to a 69-month low of 3.16% in April, attributed to decreasing food prices and the impact of a high comparison base, according to a government announcement on Tuesday.

“April 2025 saw a decline of 18 basis points in headline inflation compared to March 2025, marking the lowest year-on-year inflation rate since July 2019,” the government confirmed.

This marks the sixth consecutive month of declining CPI inflation, as it also remains below the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 4% for the third month in a row.

CPI inflation was recorded at 3.34% in March and 4.83% in April 2024.

Contributing to this decline, food inflation reached a 42-month low of 1.78%, a significant drop from the 26-month low of -10.98% seen last month. The food index decreased by 0.2% in April, with vegetable and pulses indices dropping 3.0% and 2.0%, respectively, from March. Conversely, the fuel and light index increased by 0.7% in April.

Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel, held steady at 4.1% for the second month in a row in April.

Rural inflation decreased to 2.92% in April, down from 3.25% the previous month. Meanwhile, urban inflation, although higher than rural inflation, also eased to 3.36% in April, down from 3.43% in March.

Tata Motors has reported a consolidated net profit of ₹8,556 crore for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2024-25, representing a significant decline of 51.2% from ₹17,528 crore in the same quarter last year. The company’s total income in Q4 FY25 was ₹121,012 crore, slightly up from ₹120,431 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

The company’s Q4 EBITDA stood at ₹16,700 crore, down by 4.1%, while EBIT rose to ₹11,500 crore, marking a year-on-year increase of ₹1,000 crore. The board of directors has proposed a final dividend of ₹6 per share, pending shareholder approval.

Despite challenges in the global economic landscape, Tata Motors anticipates that the luxury automobile segment will navigate these uncertainties more effectively. In their exchange filing, the company noted, “Tariffs and geopolitical actions are creating an uncertain operating environment, but the global premium luxury segment and Indian domestic markets are likely to adapt better.”

P.B. Balaji, Chief Financial Officer of Tata Motors, stated, “In spite of external headwinds, Tata Motors maintained strong performance in FY25, achieving record revenues and profit before tax. Our automotive business is now debt-free, which will lower our interest expenses. In this climate of uncertainty, we remain agile, continue to drive our growth agenda, and reduce our cash break-even while investing in the future. With the demerger approved by shareholders, we are on track to maximize the potential of each of our businesses.”

For FY25, Tata Motors Limited (TML) reported unprecedented revenues of ₹4,39,700 crore, with an EBITDA of ₹57,600 crore. The company achieved its highest-ever profit before tax (before exceptional items) at ₹34,300 crore, an increase of ₹5,000 crore year-on-year, and reported a net profit of ₹28,100 crore.

Over the year, Tata Motors Ltd became net auto cash positive, finishing with a net cash balance of ₹1,000 crore. The company’s statement highlighted that lower depreciation and amortization at Jaguar Land Rover, improved profitability in commercial vehicles, and savings in interest costs were largely offset by decreased volumes and lower operating leverage.