A potential Iran war scenario could deliver a combined Rs 97,000 crore shock to India's aviation and food services sectors, according to estimates from the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). Aviation faces a projected Rs 18,000 crore hit, while food services bear the heavier exposure at Rs 79,000 crore. The figures reflect the outsized downstream risk that Middle East conflict poses to India's consumer and transport economy. Aviation's exposure stems from route disruptions and fuel cost escalation tied to regional instability, while food services face supply chain stress from edible oil and commodity price spikes typically linked to Gulf region tensions. Both sectors are high-employment, margin-sensitive industries where cost shocks transmit quickly to operators and consumers. The PHDCCI estimate signals that Indian business chambers are formally stress-testing geopolitical scenarios, a shift that could shape near-term lobbying for fuel subsidy buffers or supply chain policy interventions. Investors in listed airline stocks and food services chains should monitor any further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz corridor.
HDFC Bank's board has approved Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner and financial services secretary, as its Part-time Non-Executive Chairman from June 30, 2026. His chairmanship still requires RBI approval, but the move ends the bank's prolonged search for a permanent board leader.
Indian startups raised $1.1 billion across 16 deals in the week of June 21-26, 2026, up 2.5 times from the prior week, with CRED's $900 million Series H led by Meta accounting for most of the total. Square Yards became India's 131st unicorn after closing a $95 million round.
Jet fuel costs dropped sharply after a US-Iran interim peace deal, but airlines are expected to use the savings to rebuild margins rather than cut fares. Tight capacity, aircraft delivery delays, and weak budget carriers give major carriers unusual pricing power heading into the second half of 2026.
Meta is investing $900 million in CRED at a $4.5 billion valuation, the largest Indian startup round of 2026, as founder Kunal Shah moves to a global leadership role at WhatsApp. Miten Sampat takes over as interim CEO, and a major employee stock buyback is expected within weeks.
