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Gulmarg is set to host the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) from February 23 to 26, featuring four medal events: ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and snowboarding. Following a successful first phase in Ladakh, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya expressed optimism about the event, noting the timing is ideal as it follows the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This year’s abundant snowfall, with Gulmarg receiving around 3.5 feet and the Apharwat Peak area over 5.5 feet, has created perfect conditions for winter sports, a stark contrast to last year's postponement due to inadequate snow. Over 1,000 athletes are expected to participate, with local businesses anticipating a boost in tourism and sales. Hotel occupancy is already high, reflecting the community's eagerness for the event to revitalize the local economy. 
Published: Feb 13 2026, 7 pm ISTeznews.inThe Jammu and Kashmir government's recent Budget aims to revitalize the struggling poultry sector, which has seen a significant decline since the 2019 abolition of the Lakhanpur toll tax. This tax previously provided a protective buffer for local producers by imposing a ₹9 per kilogram levy on imported poultry, but its removal has led to an influx of cheaper poultry from other states, drastically undercutting local production costs. Industry leaders, including Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of the Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association, report that the market share of locally produced poultry has plummeted from 85% to just 15-20%, resulting in many small farms shutting down and a slowdown in new investments. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced plans to establish 800 commercial and 50,000 backyard poultry units to boost local production, industry representatives stress that without protective measures, recovery remains uncertain.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 7 pm ISTeznews.inKerala has launched the Nawodhan Scheme, a collaborative farming initiative aimed at revitalizing fallow agricultural land and boosting the state's self-sufficiency in horticultural produce, particularly fruits and vegetables. The scheme addresses the shortage of such crops by promoting modern, high-yield farming practices through a partnership model, where landowners retain ownership while skilled farmers and agri-entrepreneurs manage cultivation. With around 1 lakh hectares of cultivable land currently unused, Nawodhan aims to bring at least 30% of this land into productive use. Participants will operate under a formal Service Level Agreement, ensuring landowners receive a share of the revenue while investors handle all farming operations. The Kerala Agribusiness Company (KABCO) will oversee the scheme, ensuring transparency and supporting stakeholders with market linkages and branding. This initiative is part of the KERA Project, backed by the World Bank, and is expected to create significant commercial farming opportunities in the state.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 6 pm ISTeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi officially commenced operations from his new office, 'Seva Teerth,' in New Delhi on February 13, marking a significant shift from the historic South Block. His inaugural actions included signing four key files, notably the 'PM RAHAT Scheme,' which aims to provide cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims, addressing the critical need for immediate medical assistance. This initiative is expected to save thousands of lives, as delays in treatment during the 'golden hour' often lead to fatalities. Additionally, Modi announced plans to double the number of 'Lakhpati Didis' to 6 crore by March 2029, and increased the loan target for the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to ₹2 lakh crore. He also launched the Startup India Fund of Fund 2.0, with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore, to bolster innovation in advanced technologies.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 6 pm ISTeznews.inTea prices at Kochi auctions have surged due to rising demand and dwindling supply, particularly for orthodox leaves, which saw an increase of ₹15 per kg. Traders attribute this price hike to lower temperatures in high-altitude tea-growing regions, adversely affecting production and leading to reduced arrivals at the auction. In Sale 7, 1,57,560 kg of orthodox leaves were offered, achieving a remarkable 97% sales rate, with strong interest from buyers in CIS and Middle Eastern countries. The auctioneer, Forbes, Ewart & Figgis, reported that whole leaf and brokens prices rose by ₹5 to ₹10, while clean black and well-made medium whole leaf and brokens increased by ₹10 to ₹20. CTC leaf also performed well, with 91% of the 37,000 kg offered sold, and CTC dust prices remained steady, with 93% of the 5,90,812 kg offered sold, indicating robust market demand.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 5 pm ISTeznews.inThe Indian Government has approved the export of an additional 2.5 million tonnes (mt) of wheat, 0.5 mt of wheat products, and 0.5 mt of sugar to stabilize domestic markets and support farmers. This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of current stock levels and prices, with the Food Ministry emphasizing that wheat stocks held by private entities are 3.2 mt higher than last year, ensuring sufficient domestic availability. The total wheat in the central pool is projected at 18.2 mt by April 1, 2026, coinciding with the next harvest. The increase in wheat acreage for the Rabi 2025-26 season reflects farmers' confidence due to assured minimum support prices. Additionally, the new sugar export permits will be limited to willing mills, requiring them to export at least 70% of their allocated quantity by June 30, 2026, to manage surplus effectively.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 4 pm ISTeznews.inA recent study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) reveals that inefficiencies in marine fisheries infrastructure are leading to a staggering global loss of 25 to 35 million tonnes of fish annually. In developing countries, fish loss accounts for 20-35% of total production, with some regions facing losses as high as 75%, threatening both nutrition security and economic sustainability. Presented at an international workshop in Puducherry, the study highlights that 20-60% of fish caught in Asia is lost along the value chain, primarily due to inadequate facilities at landing sites. P. Krishnan, Director of BOBP-IGO, emphasized the need for a comprehensive upgrade of the fisheries value chain, including improved cold storage and processing technologies. Drawing on successful models from Norway and Iceland, the report advocates for technological adoption and policy alignment to reduce post-harvest losses in the Bay of Bengal region.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 3 pm ISTeznews.inAyekart, an agritech firm co-founded by Debarshi Dutta, aims to streamline India's fragmented food and agriculture supply chain through its digital infrastructure platform. Launched in September 2021, Ayekart connects farmers and last-mile retailers using a technology-driven, asset-light model, facilitating direct supplies to processors across 22 states without the need for storage assets. The company sources around 15 commodities, including coffee from Araku Valley, and has recently expanded its operations internationally, opening an office in Singapore and attracting interest from the Middle East and Africa. A key feature of Ayekart's model is immediate payment assurance for suppliers, mitigating working capital risks. The firm also operates as a distribution partner for major consumer goods companies, managing over 40 warehouses and reaching approximately 300,000 retail touchpoints. Additionally, Ayekart invests in capacity-building initiatives, training over 60,000 farmers and assisting farmer producer organizations in securing funding.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 3 pm ISTeznews.inIn January 2026, the Indian automobile sector achieved record domestic wholesales, with significant year-on-year growth across all vehicle categories, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Passenger vehicle dispatches rose by 12.6% to 449,616 units, while two-wheeler sales surged by 26.2% to 1,925,603 units. Three-wheeler wholesales also saw a robust increase of 30.2%, reaching 75,725 units. The total number of vehicles sold domestically climbed 23.5% to 2,450,944 units. SIAM's Director General, Rajesh Menon, attributed this positive trend to sustained demand following a GST rate reduction and supportive measures in the Union Budget 2026 aimed at bolstering India's manufacturing sector. Exports mirrored this growth, with passenger vehicle exports up 33.4% to 76,822 units, two-wheeler exports increasing by 20% to 456,435 units, and three-wheeler exports soaring by 54.6% to 36,879 units, contributing to an overall export growth of 23.5%.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 1 pm ISTeznews.inChilly weather conditions in Munnar and the Nilgiris since December are raising concerns among tea producers, who fear that prolonged cold spells could adversely affect output. Anil George, Vice President of Harrisons Malayalam Ltd-SBUA, reported a sudden temperature drop to 2–3°C on February 11, leading to frost in several tea estates, an unusual occurrence for this time of year. The frost has damaged tender tea leaves, impacting production, particularly in the Nilgiris district, where green leaf arrivals have plummeted. Dhananjayan Krishnamurthy, president of the Nilgiris Bought Tea Leaf Manufacturers Association, noted that many factories are operating only once a week due to a severe leaf shortage, affecting small growers and factory workers. The sharp temperature variations and low humidity are creating unfavourable conditions for tea growth, with crop losses in Munnar estimated at around 100 hectares. Kerala's tea production, primarily from Munnar, is projected at 64 million kg, with 25% from this region.
Published: Feb 13 2026, 1 pm IST
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