Top Business & Market Headlines Today — BL Morning Report, August 26, 2026

Defence Ministry opens DRDO’s conventional missile tech to private companies In a major step towards opening up missile manufacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the transfer of DRDO-developed conventional missile technologies to private companies. The decision comes nearly three months after businessline reported on the government’s plan to reduce the dominance of defence PSUs in missile production. Earlier this year, several DRDO tactical missile projects were allocated to a mix of public and private firms, including Adani, Bharat Forge, ICOMM and Solar Defence, signalling a broader push to expand private sector participation in defence manufacturing. Centre weighs 100% random dope testing of airline pilots The Centre is considering expanding mandatory drug testing for airline pilots from the current 10 per cent requirement to 100 per cent, with tests conducted at random intervals. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the proposal has been communicated to the DGCA. If implemented, India would become the first country to require random drug testing for all airline pilots. Indian airlines currently employ more than 11,000 pilots, with the total pilot population in the country estimated at around 25,000. US sanctions four Indian firms under Iran-focused ‘Operation Economic Outcast’ The United States has sanctioned four India-based companies for their alleged involvement in importing Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products under its new Operation Economic Outcast campaign targeting Iran’s revenues. The companies named are Portease Partners LLP, Sadashiva Overseas Ltd, PP Softtech Pvt Ltd and Prakrutees Infra Impex India Pvt Ltd. The Indian government is monitoring the situation and awaiting further details on the nature and scope of the sanctions before deciding its response. Karnataka suspends food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket over Datura listings Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences and registrations of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after poisonous Datura fruits and seeds were found being sold on their platforms as food products. The regulator has directed the companies to immediately remove all Datura-related listings, advertisements and promotional material. Officials said Datura is poisonous and its sale for human consumption is not permitted under food safety regulations. (Research and VO: Siddharth Mathew Cherian)