

The Core Report
The Core
Every Monday to Saturday, tune in as financial journalist and host Govindraj Ethiraj gives you the latest news in business, economy and technology
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Mar 8, 2026 • 28min
#817 Oil Prices: The Most Critical Indicator to Watch This Week
Saugata Bhattacharya, RBI Monetary Policy Committee member offering macro and policy perspective. Sourav Mitra, Partner in Oil & Gas at Grant Thornton Bharat with expertise in petroleum and LPG/LNG supply. They discuss why a spike in oil prices matters this week. They cover India’s LPG and LNG options, crude supply resilience, and how a global capital shortage could shape monetary policy and market risks.

Mar 6, 2026 • 41min
#816 Best Investment Strategy For 2026 Market Uncertainty | Govindraj Ethiraj | The Core Report Weekend Edition
Chintan Haria, Principal Investment Strategist at ICICI Prudential AMC, guides listeners through market shifts and asset-allocation thinking. He discusses why commodities and resources may lead the next cycle. He covers metals and safe positioning, sector rotation with defensive picks, retail flows shaping markets, and using hybrids and dynamic allocation to navigate 2026 uncertainty.

Mar 5, 2026 • 25min
#815 Markets Jump In Best Session In Over A Month
C S Vigneshwar, President of FADA, speaks on booming retail vehicle sales, falling inventories and rising demand for CNG, LPG, hybrids and EVs. Sehul Bhatt, Director at CRISIL/Crystal Intelligence, breaks down LNG movements, gas supply risks and the price implications for India's energy security. Markets jump, airlines add long-haul capacity and India’s West Asia trade exposure also feature prominently.

7 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 25min
#814 Markets Take A Fresh Knock
Sudhir Sethi, founder of Chiratae Ventures and veteran deep tech investor. Ajay Bhalotia, leader in Indian basmati exports and rice trade logistics. They discuss blocked basmati shipments, port delays, storage charges and government coordination. They also cover India’s AI ambitions, where deep tech funding must come from and practical AI use cases for industry.

Mar 3, 2026 • 27min
#813 Qatar Supply Halt Squeezes Gas Flow to Critical Industries
Amit Goenka, founder and leader of Nisus Finance Group, talks real estate funds and structured capital in India. He discusses Qatar’s LNG halt and its hit to gas supplies for fertiliser and power. He covers surging oil and freight rates and the ripple effects on trade. He explains why real estate funds and REITs are gaining traction and how they can democratize asset ownership.

Mar 2, 2026 • 19min
#812 Markets Take A Beating On War Tensions
On Episode 812 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Shajikumar Devakar, Co-Founder & CEO at Neo Wealth Management, as well as Ajay Kedia, Director at Kedia Advisory.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(00:50) Markets take a beating on war tensions but seem to have avoided the worst, for now(04:37) Indian carriers are second most affected even as thousands of passengers continue to be stranded in West Asia(05:05) What are ultra high networth investors doing at a time like this?(11:54) Prices of commodities including oil spike, where could they go nextRegister for India Finance and Innovation Forum 2026https://tinyurl.com/IFIFCOREFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube

Mar 1, 2026 • 27min
#811 Dalal Street on Weak Footing Post US-Israel Attack On Iran
On Episode 811 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to George Koshy, CEO of LetsSolv as well as Vivek Kumar, Economist at QuantEco Research.SHOW NOTES(00:00) The Take(05:44) Dalal Street on weak footing post US-Israel attack on Iran(07:51) A new GDP series is out and last quarter growth is at 7.8%. What changes?(16:34) The Emirates are pulling out all stops to make tourists and passengers feel safe(22:27) OPEC is raising oil output in anticipation of supply challenges: Macro impact on India.(24:26) New SEBI Notification on Gold and Silver(25:24) February GST CollectionsRegister for India Finance and Innovation Forum 2026https://tinyurl.com/IFIFCOREFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube

Feb 27, 2026 • 43min
#810 Inside Chevron Bengaluru Tech Hub Powering Global Energy | Govindraj Ethiraj | The Core Report Weekend Edition
How is Chevron India’s Bengaluru tech hub powering global energy operations?In this episode of The Core Report, Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Akshay Sahni, Country Head, Chevron India, about how Chevron’s Engineering & Innovation Excellence Centre in Bengaluru supports worldwide oil & gas operations using AI, seismic imaging, real-time well monitoring, digital twins, robotics, and industrial IoT.From deepwater drilling projects 34,000 feet below sea level to LNG assets in Australia and shale production in the Permian Basin, this conversation explores how technology and data science are transforming oil exploration, refinery operations, carbon capture, and lower carbon energy systems.We discuss:• How AI is reshaping oil & gas exploration• Why Bengaluru plays a mission-critical role in Chevron’s global operations• Robotics, drones, and predictive analytics in refinery safety• The economics of energy transition and LNG• What the future of fossil fuels and lower carbon energy looks likeFor India-based professionals in business, consulting, finance, and technology, this episode offers deep insight into how global capital, geopolitics, and engineering innovation intersect.Energy demand is rising. Technology is accelerating. And India is increasingly at the center of global infrastructure.Subscribe to The Core Report for conversations on business, global markets, geopolitics, and the energy transition.CHAPTERS:(00:00) Introduction(00:31) How Technology is Redefining Earth Sciences (02:05) Engineering India’s Low-Carbon Energy Future (05:12) Role of AI and High-Performance Computing (08:44) Chevron’s Strategic Technology Hub in India (12:15) Leveraging Local Engineering and Digital Talent (15:30) Balancing Global Reliability with Sustainability Goals (19:12) Navigating the Complex Multi-Energy Transition (23:45) Future Opportunities in the Indian Energy Sector (28:30) Integrating Renewables into Traditional Supply Chains (33:15) Global Innovation Models for Net-Zero Targets (38:50) Scaling Clean Affordable Energy for Billions (42:26) Final Thoughts

Feb 26, 2026 • 29min
#809 Fresh Twist To India-US Tariff Deal
On Episode 809 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Kunal Khattar, Founder at AdvantEdge. We also feature an excerpt from Episode 3 of our series “Eye On Retail”.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the day(01:09) Fresh twist to India-US tariff deal as US Commerce Secretary Lutnick drops by(03:37) Why you have to brace for a warmer March and what that could mean.(04:36) Thousands of companies have filed lawsuits against the US Govt seeking tariff refunds that could touch $130 billion(05:55) How both US and China are ganging up against India’s subsidies for manufacturing(07:17) The Government jumps into ride-hailing business. What does this mean for consumers and drivers?(19:37) CAR revised by DGCA(20:21) India’s Warehousing GrowthRegister for India Finance and Innovation Forum 2026https://tinyurl.com/IFIFCOREEye on Retail, Episode 3: https://youtu.be/xfwUKbBv3cE For more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube

Feb 26, 2026 • 37min
India’s Warehousing Growth: 533 Million Sq Ft And Rising | Eye On Retail | Govindraj Ethiraj | The Core Report
India’s warehousing growth has crossed 533 million sq ft — and it’s still rising. Behind this surge lies a deeper transformation of India’s logistics sector, supply chain infrastructure, e-commerce ecosystem, industrial real estate market, and manufacturing ambitions.In this episode of Eye On Retail By The Core Report, an initiative supported by Flipkart, Financial Journalist Govindraj Ethiraj in conversation with Yogesh Shevade, Head of Logistics & Industrial in India, JLL and Balbirsingh Khalsa, Executive Director – Industrial Capital Markets, National Director, Knight Frank, decode the forces reshaping India’s logistics and warehousing landscape.As India aims to move from a $4 trillion economy toward a $30 trillion vision, logistics is no longer a backend function — it is a strategic growth engine. Post-GST reforms, institutional investment inflows, multimodal logistics parks (MMLPs), rail freight corridors, quick commerce, Tier 2 and Tier 3 city expansion, and automation are redefining how goods move across the country.For India-based professionals tracking infrastructure development, supply chain optimization, economic reforms, manufacturing growth, private equity investment, real estate capital markets, and e-commerce logistics, this episode offers deep strategic insight.⏱ Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Highlights on India’s Logistics Transformation(02:17) The Boom in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Warehousing Ecosystem(06:00) Post-GST Evolution: How Reform Triggered Institutional Investment(09:45) Share of E-commerce in India’s Logistics Sector(11:01) Optimizing the Pie: Transportation Costs, Labour Economics & Efficiency Gaps(17:30) Investment Realities: Land Prices, IRR Expectations, Vacancy Trends & Capital Flows(27:45) Future Infrastructure: The Shift from Road to Rail & Multimodal Logistics Parks(29:50) Path Ahead: Core Challenges and Growth Opportunities in Indian Logistics(33:12) Role of Government in Logistics & Infrastructure Development(35:05) Closing: Policy Synergy, Gati Shakti & India’s Supply Chain FutureThis discussion explores:• How GST transformed India’s supply chain and warehouse strategy• Why transportation contributes nearly 50% of logistics costs• The rapid growth of Tier 2 & Tier 3 warehousing hubs• The rise of quick commerce and 10–15 minute delivery ecosystems• Automation vs labour economics in Indian industrial real estate• Rail vs road freight efficiency and multimodal infrastructure• Land price escalation, IRR expectations, and investment risks• Why manufacturing, exports, and policy reform are critical to India’s next growth phaseThe bigger question:Can India reduce logistics costs from 12–14% of GDP toward global benchmarks?Will rail freight and multimodal parks unlock long-term efficiency?Is Tier 2 India the next supply chain frontier?And how sustainable is the quick commerce model?If you follow the India growth story, economic policy, infrastructure investment, industrial corridors, supply chain strategy, or the future of e-commerce, this episode connects macroeconomic ambition with on-ground execution.Watch till the end for a sharp assessment of the opportunities — and the structural challenges — shaping India’s logistics future.


