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India's electronic goods exports experienced a remarkable surge of 37.99% during the April to November 2025 period, reaching $31.10 billion, up from $22.53 billion the previous year, according to government data. The United States emerged as India's largest and fastest-growing market, with exports more than doubling to $13.87 billion, a 134.91% increase from $5.90 billion in the same timeframe. The US alone contributed nearly $8 billion to this growth, driven by strong demand for Indian electronics and telecom equipment. Other notable markets included China, where exports soared by 158.95%, and the United Arab Emirates, which saw a 54.46% rise to $2.93 billion. Additionally, exports to Hong Kong and Israel grew by 70.11% and 86.45%, respectively. This robust performance reflects enhanced domestic manufacturing capabilities and India's increasing integration into global supply chains, positioning electronics as a key component of the country's export growth strategy. 
Published: Dec 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced significant amendments to the National Pension System (NPS) to enhance flexibility for non-government subscribers. Under the new rules, non-government subscribers can withdraw up to 80% of their accumulated funds exceeding ₹12 lakhs post-retirement, a notable increase from the previous 60% limit. For those with pension wealth of ₹8 lakhs or less, full withdrawal is permitted after 15 years of contributions or upon reaching 60 years of age. The revised guidelines also allow subscribers to remain invested until age 85 and stipulate that in the event of a subscriber's death before annuity purchase, the accumulated wealth will be transferred to nominees. Additionally, provisions for premature exit and withdrawal due to citizenship renunciation have been clarified, ensuring that at least 80% of the corpus is used for annuity in such cases.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is actively engaging with various stakeholders, including exporters and state governments, to address the impact of recent US tariff measures, Minister of State for Commerce Jitin Prasada stated in Lok Sabha. The US has imposed additional tariffs of 50%, including a 25% penalty on India's purchase of Russian oil, which took effect in August. In response, the Indian government is implementing a multi-faceted strategy to mitigate these effects, including pursuing a bilateral trade agreement with the US, introducing trade relief measures, and enhancing domestic demand through GST reforms. The newly launched Export Promotion Mission (EPM) aims to support sectors hit hardest by tariffs, such as textiles and marine products, by sustaining export orders and protecting jobs. Despite a decline in exports to the US in September and October, there was a rebound in November, and India remains optimistic about negotiating a trade deal to reduce tariffs.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inUnion Minister for Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized the government's commitment to workers' welfare at the Labour & Employment Summit – 2025, where 16 Central trade unions united to address what they termed "misinformation" regarding the new Labour Codes. These codes, notified on November 21, aim to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women, guarantee minimum wages, and extend social security to over 400 million workers. Mandaviya highlighted the extensive consultations with trade unions during the drafting process, aimed at incorporating workers' concerns. He urged unions to actively engage in educating workers about the reforms' benefits. The summit, attended by various union leaders and dignitaries, precedes a planned nationwide protest by opposition-affiliated unions, set to discuss the Labour Codes further in a meeting on December 22. The Minister called for ongoing feedback from trade unions to enhance the implementation of these transformative reforms.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Grain Ethanol Manufacturers’ Association (GEMA) has called on the Indian government to increase the Ethanol Blending with Petrol (EBP) programme beyond the current 20% limit, citing significant unused distillery capacity and the need to boost domestic demand. GEMA's president, C K Jain, emphasized that the existing ethanol capacity, which stands at approximately 1,000 crore litres, was developed in response to a national mandate and should be fully utilized to maximize economic and environmental benefits. The association proposed measures such as accelerating the rollout of Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and improving ethanol dispensing infrastructure, which could save India up to ₹2 lakh crore annually in foreign exchange. While GEMA argues that the current situation reflects strategic planning rather than speculative investment, some experts caution that the heavily regulated environment may have led distilleries to overcommit financially. The EBP programme was initially designed to evaluate various factors, including feedstock availability and rural impact.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn New Delhi, Congress MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal, led a protest against the newly introduced Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, which aims to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005. The opposition criticized the bill for removing Gandhi's name and altering the Centre-State funding ratio from 90:10 to 60:40 for most states, arguing it undermines the job guarantee scheme. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the bill, claiming it enhances employment by increasing guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125. Opposition leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, expressed concerns over the financial implications and the frequent renaming of schemes, with Tharoor cautioning against tarnishing the name of Ram. The Congress announced a nationwide agitation in response to the government's refusal to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inDefence Minister Rajnath Singh, during the Defence Estates Day celebrations in New Delhi on December 16, 2025, emphasized the need for enhanced accountability and citizen-centric governance within India's cantonments. He proposed two key initiatives for the Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE): reducing litigation related to defence land and establishing a Citizen Satisfaction Index to improve service delivery. Singh praised the DGDE as a model of transparency and efficiency, aligning its goals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a developed India by 2047. He urged the organization to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, suggesting the introduction of Annual Challenge Statements to address persistent issues like rent recovery. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of a centralized litigation management system and improved land records to shift from reactive to preventive governance. Singh reiterated that transparency and integrity must underpin public service to strengthen the defence ecosystem and the nation.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inVedanta Aluminium has announced the expansion of its Lanjigarh Refinery, increasing its capacity to 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), which now positions it as the world's second-largest alumina refinery outside China. This development enhances India's total alumina refining capacity to nearly 13 MTPA, making the country the third-largest producer globally. The Lanjigarh facility alone accounts for 38% of India's alumina output, solidifying its status as the largest single-location alumina refinery in the nation. In November, the refinery achieved a record monthly production of 254,000 tonnes, reflecting an 8% month-on-month increase and a remarkable 68% year-on-year growth. Vedanta's CEO, Rajiv Kumar, emphasized the expansion as a significant milestone in building a competitive aluminium ecosystem, while Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO of Vedanta Alumina Business, highlighted the precision and collaboration involved in the project, which began its expansion journey in 2020.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has reported to Parliament that no renewable energy projects have yet been connected under the Green Energy Corridor Phase-II (GEC Ph-II) scheme, which aims to integrate approximately 20 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy across several states, including Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Despite the approval of 91 packages, with 73 tendered and 67 awarded, progress remains stagnant. Minister of State Shripad Naik confirmed this in a Rajya Sabha response. The GEC, initiated in 2015, seeks to enhance transmission infrastructure to match India's growing renewable capacity. While Phase I has successfully commissioned 27.45 GW, including 7.45 GW under the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS), challenges persist in the Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) projects, prompting extensions for several states until December 2025. Timely execution of Phase II is deemed critical for the effective utilization of renewable energy resources.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 7 pmeznews.inGrain commerce platform Arya.ag has reported a robust 25% increase in net revenues for the first half of the fiscal year, reaching ₹299.45 crore, up from ₹238.34 crore last year, driven by heightened demand for its storage and post-harvest management solutions. Profits before tax surged 39% to ₹32 crore, reflecting strong operational momentum. The company's storage business saw inward volumes rise over 40% year-on-year, while its fintech sector emerged as a significant growth driver, with disbursements climbing 50% to ₹1,301 crore. Arya.ag facilitated a gross trade volume of ₹330 crore as of September 25, contributing to seamless market linkages for agricultural producers. Co-Founder Anand Chandra emphasized the strength of their integrated platform model, which combines physical infrastructure with digital innovation, positioning the company to achieve its target of 30-40% growth for the full fiscal year amid increasing demand for organized agricultural solutions in India.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 7 pm
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