Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Red Alert: North India in a Heatwave Grip

North India is reeling under a severe heatwave, with Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan placed under a red alert. Temperatures are soaring 5°C above normal, with Delhi’s heat index touching 45.5°C and Rajasthan’s Ganganagar hitting a blistering 48°C, the highest in the country.

The India Meteorological Department blames the heat on a lack of thunderstorms and an anti-cyclonic system parked over the region. Relief is expected only after June 14, with light rain and gusty winds likely to bring a 2–4°C dip.

Meanwhile, the south is facing the opposite extreme—Karnataka and coastal Maharashtra are under red alert for heavy rains, and Kerala and Tamil Nadu are bracing for extremely heavy downpours from June 14 to 17.

 India’s Big Nuclear Bet: Small Reactors, Big Goals

India’s nuclear journey just took a strategic leap—with Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) leading the charge. Heavyweights like Reliance, Adani, Vedanta, Indian Railways, and JSW are onboard, powering a plan to build compact 220-MWe reactors for captive industrial use.

The government’s pitch: private players fund it, NPCIL runs it, and post-commissioning, the plant is handed to NPCIL for ₹1—while the user keeps the power. At least five BSRs are targeted by 2033, as India aims to scale nuclear capacity from 8.78 GW to 100 GW by 2047.

Why now? Rising power needs from AI, crypto, and industrial growth demand low-carbon, stable energy. Nuclear fits the bill—and India is betting big on going small.

Wheat Stays Home: India Stands by Export Ban

Even with a record wheat harvest of 115.4 million tonnes expected this season, India is keeping its wheat export ban in place. In a WTO submission, the government cited food security concerns for itself and neighbouring nations.

Imposed in May 2022, the ban has sharply reduced exports—from 4.7 million tonnes in FY23 to just 2,749 tonnes this fiscal. Only diplomatic and humanitarian shipments have been allowed.

The government says global volatility, inflation risks, and upcoming festivals and state polls demand price stability. Critics argue it disrupts supply chains, especially after the Russia-Ukraine war hurt global grain flows. But for now, India’s wheat isn’t going anywhere.

 Adani’s ₹2.5 Trillion Playbook

“We only do two things—energy and logistics,” says Sagar Adani, and that’s exactly where the Adani Group is putting its money. The conglomerate plans to raise ₹2.5 trillion ($30 billion) over the next five years to fund a $100-billion capex spree.

Even as the group navigates US investigations and controversies, it’s doubling down with ₹1.3–1.7 trillion in annual investments, largely in infrastructure and clean energy.

Adani Green, copper and aluminium expansions, a planned demerger of the airports business by FY28, and a mega cement merger are all part of the game plan.

With low-cost power and transport as their advantage, and 20% of India’s private capex under their belt, the Adanis are clearly not slowing down—they’re powering through.

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