eznews.inIndia's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Wednesday that negotiations with the United States regarding a proposed bilateral trade agreement are advancing, with a US delegation currently in New Delhi for discussions. Goyal indicated a potential meeting with the visiting US officials, led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer, as they engage in two days of talks with Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal. This visit marks the second since the US imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods linked to Russian crude oil purchases. Both nations aim to finalize the first tranche of the agreement, which seeks to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Despite recent declines in India's merchandise exports to the US, the ongoing negotiations are seen as crucial for addressing tariff challenges and enhancing trade relations, with hopes of reaching a framework deal by the end of the year. 
Published: Dec 10 2025, 3 pmeznews.inAn internal investigation by Air India has revealed "systemic failures" that allowed an Airbus A320 to operate eight commercial flights without the necessary Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), endangering hundreds of passengers. The flights, which took place between New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad on November 24-25, were conducted without the mandatory safety permit due to lapses in compliance protocols among engineers and pilots. The report, dated December 6, highlighted missed opportunities for timely intervention and a lack of communication among stakeholders. Following the incident, which has drawn scrutiny from India's civil aviation authority, Air India acknowledged the gravity of the situation, suspended several employees, and committed to enhancing compliance measures. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since grounded the aircraft involved and initiated an investigation, while Air India faces potential penalties for the ARC violation.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's tea exports from January to October 2023 rose by 6.47% to 228.52 million kgs, driven by strong demand from key markets like the UAE and Iraq, despite a decline in shipments from the southern regions. In value terms, exports reached ₹6,882.91 crore, an 18% increase from ₹5,831.1 crore in the same period last year, according to provisional estimates from the Tea Board. North India saw a significant boost, with volume shipments up 19.55% to 153.22 million kgs and value rising by 27% to ₹4,959.49 crore. Conversely, South India experienced a 13% drop in volume to 75.30 million kgs, with value remaining stable at ₹1,923.42 crore. Adverse weather conditions have impacted tea production, which fell by 21% in October 2025 compared to the previous year. Overall, India's tea shipments in 2024 reached 256.17 million kgs, marking an 11% increase year-on-year.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has directed Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) to shift focus from traditional floating solar power tenders to solar-plus-battery storage bids. Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted this transition during a Lok Sabha session, noting the increasing preference for dispatchable renewable power among Discoms and end users due to declining costs. The government aims to enhance power supply during peak demand hours, moving away from plain solar configurations. India’s four REIAs—SECI, NTPC, NHPC, and SJVN—have collectively issued Letters of Award for 67,554 megawatts of renewable capacity since April 2023, with no cancellations reported. Additionally, states are actively issuing their own renewable power tenders, contributing to capacity growth across various sectors. The country has achieved 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources, reaching approximately 259 gigawatts as of October 2025, five years ahead of its Paris Agreement targets.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's SpiceJet is set to launch up to 100 additional daily flights this winter, responding to a surge in air travel demand amid ongoing disruptions faced by rival IndiGo. The airline's announcement, contingent on regulatory approvals, aims to enhance operational capacity in the aviation market. SpiceJet has recently inducted 17 aircraft into its fleet, utilizing a combination of damp-leased planes and returning its own aircraft to service, which will bolster its ability to meet high-demand routes. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha noted that operations are stabilizing following the IndiGo crisis, which prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue a Show Cause Notice to IndiGo for significant operational disruptions. The airline has been granted a 24-hour extension to respond to the notice, citing operational constraints affecting its extensive network.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndiGo Airlines has faced significant operational challenges, cancelling over 60 flights at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on Wednesday, despite CEO Pieter Elbers' recent assurances that the airline's operations were stabilising. The cancellations included 35 arrivals and 26 departures, following a government directive that reduced IndiGo's winter flight schedule by 10%, equating to approximately 220 flights. This comes after the airline had already cancelled 460 flights across six major cities earlier in the week. The Civil Aviation Ministry has mandated compensation for affected passengers, yet IndiGo has not clarified its policy on this matter. The situation has led to increased airfares on other domestic carriers and widespread disruption at airports. In response to the ongoing crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued show-cause notices to Elbers and COO Isidro Proqueras, while the government continues to monitor the airline's compliance with operational standards.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 1 pmeznews.inWillie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has commented on India's new flight duty regulations for pilots, describing them as significantly more restrictive than those in other regions. His remarks follow a week of operational disruptions at IndiGo, India's largest airline, which led to hundreds of flight cancellations and affected thousands of passengers. Walsh attributed these issues to inadequate planning in implementing the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, effective from November 1. While acknowledging the need for safety measures, particularly concerning pilot fatigue during night operations, he expressed disappointment over the consumer impact. In response to the disruptions, India's civil aviation ministry announced a 10% reduction in IndiGo's winter flight schedule to stabilize operations. Walsh emphasized that the changes, while challenging, are necessary for the industry's long-term safety and security.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY 2025-26 by 70 basis points to 7.2%, following two consecutive quarters of stronger-than-expected growth. The ADB attributes this increase to robust domestic consumption, bolstered by recent tax cuts, and a notable 8.2% GDP growth in the second quarter of FY 2025-26. While this projection is slightly below the Reserve Bank of India's estimate of 7.3%, it surpasses the government's earlier forecast of 6.3% to 6.8%. The ADB highlights strong performance in the manufacturing and services sectors, alongside resilient exports, although it anticipates a moderation in growth during the second half of the fiscal year due to easing government capital spending and potential impacts from elevated US tariffs. The agency maintains a growth rate of 6.5% for FY 2026-27, noting balanced risks, including trade tensions and weather-related shocks.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised its growth forecasts for developing Asia and the Pacific, projecting a 5.1% growth in 2025, up from 4.8% previously, driven by strong demand for high-tech products and India's robust economic performance. The 2026 growth estimate has also been raised to 4.6%. The region, which includes 46 economies from China to Samoa but excludes Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, is expected to see South Asia grow by 6.5% this year, with India achieving an impressive 8.2% in its fiscal second quarter. However, risks remain, including potential trade policy uncertainties and climate-related disruptions, as evidenced by severe flooding in Southeast Asia and renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. China's growth outlook for 2025 has been slightly adjusted to 4.8%, hindered by ongoing challenges in its property market. Inflation is anticipated to ease to 1.6% in 2025 before rising to 2.1% in 2026.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 12 pmeznews.inKamarajar Port Ltd (KPL), the 12th Major Port in India located in North Chennai, is set to upgrade its General Cargo Berth-1 (GCB-1) through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to enhance its capacity for handling clean, non-polluting cargo. The project, with a capital cost of ₹221 crore, will enable GCB-1 to manage 3 million tonnes annually. KPL has issued a tender for private companies to participate in the upgrade, which includes the installation of necessary cargo handling equipment and the development of a backup storage area. The concessionaire will operate the berth for 30 years, including a two-year construction period, and will be responsible for setting service tariffs. Currently, KPL has a cargo handling capacity of 58 million tonnes and is positioned to attract clean cargo volumes from Chennai port, bolstered by its superior connectivity.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 11 am
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