However, as is evident now, we were caught unawares. Mutated strain of the virus took India in its stride as we were yet to work out a robust vaccination strategy. To curb the spread and manage the health emergency getting out of control in view of paucity of beds, oxygen and ventilators, a large number of states-imposed lockdowns and other restrictions which continue till date. 

As is normal under such circumstances, the economy bears the brunt and that is what seems to have happened. The fragile economic recovery seen in the second half of FY21 seems to have gone derailed. Consumer confidence has hit a new low as shown in a recent survey. Different rating agencies and multilateral organizations have downwardly revised the growth projections for the current fiscal year. From a bullish 11-13% growth (in view of base effect), the projections are now for growths in single digits only.

Needless to say, the pitch for economic revival is queered.  But, curiously, as Covid infections come off from the peak levels and the recovery rates go up, a new kind of confidence is building up. The infection rates are coming down with as much alacrity as they had peaked.

Certainly, there is no room for any complacency as premonitions of a third wave have already been made. However, the vaccination strategy to inoculate a large number of Indians by the end of the year holds much hope. It has been observed that those countries that have already inoculated over 50% of their population have witnessed much less morbidity and mortality rates.

What also holds out hope are a range of high frequency indicators which show the resilience of the Indian economy and the entrepreneurship that shines through whenever an opportunity is provided. The economic growth in the fourth quarter of last fiscal has been better than expected. From a contraction of 24.4% and 7.4% in the first and second quarters, the economy turned around in the third one with 0.5% growth and ended the year with 1.6% growth in Q4.

There are a range of other indicators too. Industrial performance measured by IIP grew by 22.3 percent in March. Merchandise exports grew by 197 percent in April. The output of eight core infrastructure sectors grew by robust 7% in March. Manufacturing PMI has remained at a high of over 55 in March and April. GST revenue collection set a new record of Rs. 1.4 lakh crore in April.

If the tyre  production data for FY21, as released recently, is anything to go by, Tyre Industry will continue to put the wheels of economy in motion against all odds. No doubt, Tyre Industry's overall numbers are down in FY21. However when looked closely, there is ample evidence that points to the resilience  in the sector. Truck & Bus (T&B) tyre production, the bellwether of economy has turned in better performance in FY21 over FY20. And this despite the fact that April’20 was a washout in view of nationwide lockdown. Both T&B and Passenger Car tyre production touched significantly higher figures in March this year with T&B tyre production crossing 20 lakh numbers, a historic high.

FY21 will also go down as a landmark year when Radial Truck & Bus tyre production equalled that of Bias tyre production. Tyre exports from India have charted an upward trajectory in the second half of previous fiscal as the stability was achieved in the exports markets.

Forecast of a normal monsoon (third in a row) and the upcoming festive season can provide much-needed impetus to the economy if vaccination drive accelerates and Covid appropriate measures are followed strictly.

No doubt, the situation is still in a flux, and it is too nascent to gauge the true impact of the second wave on economic growth.  But ramping up the vaccination drive and inoculating the entire adult population as early as possible will help.

And there is a major shift again in the vaccination policy. As this column gets on the editor’s desk, the federal government has decided to provide free coronavirus vaccines to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18.

FY 21 could not live up to the expectations that most Indians had. Hope the next year will. (TT)

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Niutech Technology Group Co., Ltd. completed its group restructuring on 26 August 2026, drawing on nearly 40 years in industrial continuous pyrolysis. Its proprietary technology and complete equipment sets convert over 30 material streams, including waste tyres and plastics, into high-value recycled resources such as pyrolysis oil and combustible gas. Niutech spans high-end equipment R&D and manufacturing, project investment and construction and operation, supporting 10,000-tonne-scale projects in dozens of countries, including Germany, UK, Korea, Denmark and Brazil, while meeting developed-market environmental and technical standards.

Tightening regulation is accelerating demand. The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation raise recycled-material requirements and spotlight continuous pyrolysis. Niutech's new-generation large industrial continuous intelligent pyrolysis line delivers major gains in processing capacity, efficiency, cost control and product quality. In waste tyres, a single unit handles over 100 tonnes daily, with recovered carbon black exceeding 80 percent toluene transmittance, yielding high-grade commercial carbon black for tyre manufacturing.

For waste plastics, including low-value municipal, ocean, and textile streams such as mixed PP, PE, PS, ABS and nylon, one unit also processes over 100 tonnes daily without complex washing, sorting, drying or fine crushing. It produces stable pyrolysis oil, solid fuel and combustible gas, the latter cutting on-site energy use, while the oil can become chemical feedstock for new plastics. The line operates in multiple overseas markets.

In China, majority-owned subsidiary Hesheng Environmental Protection, commissioned in 2013, was the country's first continuous tyre recycling project and the sector's first to earn International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, operating stably for over a decade. In 2026, Hesheng launched a 100,000-tonne Phase II project, lifting capacity to 160,000 tonnes annually. A UK customer signed an RMB 198 million order after assessing Niutech's projects and global peers. Niutech is now advancing clean tyre pyrolysis oil research toward sustainable aviation fuel and other clean energy.

"The maturity of a technology is best verified through industrial projects. Our project references in China and overseas are becoming our most persuasive calling card," said the head of the marketing department at Niutech.

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Hankook Tire, the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA World Rally Championship, is proving its mettle at the season-ending Rally Italia Sardegna, scheduled for 1–4 October around Alghero on the Italian island of Sardinia. The 23rd edition of this historic gravel event now closes the 2026 calendar after Rally Saudi Arabia, originally slated as the finale, was removed from the schedule.

Because the Drivers' Championship will be decided in Italy, tyre performance and strategies for handling the demanding roads and unpredictable October weather are expected to be decisive. The rally covers 17 Special Stages totalling roughly 307.02 competitive kilometres on unpaved roads, where narrow, winding sections lined with trees and undergrowth, combined with blind crests, restrict visibility and leave little margin for error.

The route also includes Micky's Jump, one of the event's most recognizable features, as well as deep ruts created by repeated runs and rough, rocky stretches. These conditions place heavy demands on tyre durability and vehicle stability, making consistent control a critical factor throughout the event.

Hankook will provide its Dynapro R213 all-terrain rally tyre in Hard and Soft compounds for the finale. The tyre is engineered to absorb gravel impacts while delivering stable grip, precise handling and strong durability. At Round 12 in Chile, Toyota GAZOO Racing's Oliver Solberg took his second win of the year, securing Toyota the 2026 Manufacturers' Championship – its sixth straight since 2021 and 10th overall – leaving the drivers' title to be settled in Sardinia.

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The J&K Bank presents JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas 2026, recognised as one of the nation's most gruelling rally raids, drew to a close on 30th September following over four days of fierce competition through the high-altitude terrains of Lahaul-Spiti and Zanskar. The event assembled 50 cars and 80 riders, all confronting some of India's most unforgiving mountain routes where precision, endurance and rapid decision-making faced constant scrutiny.

Beginning with a flag-off from Manali on 26 September 2026, participants navigated rugged stretches across Lahaul and Spiti, including the formidable Kunzum La crossing, notorious for its extreme conditions and demanding driving lines. Steep inclines, unpredictable weather and altitude-related pressures placed relentless strain on both machines and competitors, underscoring the rally's reputation for testing speed alongside consistency.

From the outset, Rajiv Yadav asserted his presence by seizing the lead on Day One, building momentum while monitoring strong local challenger Aaryak Rana, who remained a closely watched contender during the early phases. As technical demands intensified, holding position became as vital as pursuing outright pace, with the standings gradually revealing those capable of blending speed with reliability.

A pivotal 72-km competitive stage, later run in reverse, introduced a fresh challenge by forcing competitors to recalibrate braking points, turn-in timing and pacing strategies on familiar ground approached from the opposite direction. A significant setback occurred when Lakhpa Tsering, the 2015 Raid de Himalaya champion, withdrew his Toyota Hilux due to a technical fault, highlighting how mechanical dependability proves as crucial as driving prowess in such events.

Following the reverse stage, Daksh Gill shifted the rally's momentum by clinching the next two stages, starting with the reverse Losar to Gramphu run. The competition then advanced towards Shinku La, climbing beyond 16,500 feet, where control, traction and throttle precision mattered more than raw speed. Gill's capacity to sustain pace in these conditions proved instrumental in shaping the final outcome.

Moving into the Zanskar Valley, competitors encountered one of the event's most punishing phases, featuring a high-speed run across dramatic, desert-like high-altitude terrain. Gill once again displayed remarkable pace and consistency, reaching speeds of up to 200 kmph during the Zanskar stretch, a decisive segment that reinforced the necessity of combining outright speed with control in extreme conditions. The rally ultimately concluded in Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar district.

In the Moto category, Dhritimaan Singh emerged victorious, with Happy Verma as runner-up and Nitish Bharadwaj taking second runner-up. The Xtreme four-wheel class saw Rajiv Yadav and Rohit Gowda triumph, followed by Aaryak Rana and Aditya Sharma as runners-up, while Daksh Gill and Virender Kashyap secured second runner-up. Adventure four-wheel honours went to Soham Hazra and Nirav Mehta, with Santosh HM and Prakash Muthusamy as runners-up, Chandra Mouli and Sri Sakthi Kumar N in third and Sachin Mandhwani with Adhitya Anthony in fourth.

A prize distribution ceremony, featuring regional cultural performances, was attended by dignitaries including Arava Gopi Krishna, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Transport and Housing and Urban Development; Moses Kunzang, Staff Officer to Chief Secretary; Tsewang Dorjai, DGM-cum-Zonal Head, J&K Bank; Rigzin Sangdup, SP, Zanskar; Gulam Mohammed, CEO, Tourism Development Authority and ADDC Kargil; and Sarwar Shehzad, SDM, Zanskar.

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Hankook Tire has underscored the competitiveness of its winter and all-season portfolio through strong showings in two recent independent assessments. The Kinergy 4S 2 all-season tyre and the Winter i*cept RS 3 winter tyre both earned top-tier results in tests conducted by Auto Zeitung, in its issue 20/2026, and by the Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) in August 2026. The evaluations positioned the manufacturer’s products favourably across multiple performance and economic criteria.

In the Auto Zeitung all-season comparison, the Kinergy 4S 2 was assessed in the widely used 225/45 R 17 fitment and received the publication’s ‘Highly recommended’ designation. The tyre demonstrated notable composure on snow, with predictable cornering behaviour that testers described as making it a comfortable winter-capable option. It also excelled in aquaplaning resistance while cornering and recorded the quickest wet-handling lap on the circular track. On dry surfaces, the editorial team noted trouble-free behaviour at the limits, solid projected mileage, and strong value for money.

The AvD’s 2026 all-season test delivered similarly positive outcomes. Evaluated in size 225/50 R 17, the Kinergy 4S 2 claimed the best value-for-money ranking and performed strongly in the economy and environment category, earning 4.78 out of five stars overall. It achieved five stars each for mileage and fuel consumption, along with 4.9 stars for tyre wear. Against a twelve-tyre field, it also placed highly for aquaplaning and aquaplaning in curves, securing 4.20 stars in the final ranking and an overall ‘Good’ rating.

Separately, the Winter i*cept RS 3, tested in 225/45 R 17, received an overall ‘Good’ verdict with 4.26 stars in the AvD winter tyre evaluation. It performed particularly well in snow braking and traction, scoring 4.4 and 4.3 stars, and in aquaplaning in curves and straight-line aquaplaning, with 4.5 and 4.4 stars. The tyre also earned 4.43 stars across economic and environmental criteria, including 4.6 stars for weight and 4.5 stars each for fuel consumption, mileage and tyre wear.

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