eznews.inAir India Express is set to welcome its first line-fit Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft in New Delhi on Monday, marking a significant milestone as the first new aircraft acquired by the Air India Group since Tata's takeover nearly four years ago. Following the acquisition of the struggling Air India and the profitable Air India Express in January 2022, Tata Group announced a massive order for 470 planes in February 2023, with an additional 100 ordered in December 2024. The new aircraft, named VT-RNT in honor of Ratan Naval Tata, features a unique livery and will operate solely in economy class. Until now, the airline has only received white tail aircraft—those originally built for other airlines—due to global supply chain challenges. Air India Express has recently surpassed the 100-aircraft milestone, with plans to expand its fleet further in the coming years. 
Published: Dec 28 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia, home to nearly 8% of the world's species and over 7,000 medicinal plants, has significant potential in the global medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) market, yet its share remains limited. Maharashtra, with its diverse landscapes, is poised to lead in MAP cultivation, producing crops like turmeric and ashwagandha in key districts. Institutional support from agricultural universities and Farmer Producer Organisations enhances farmers' market access and cultivation practices. Rising global demand for plant-based products across various sectors presents opportunities for rural communities, particularly small farmers, to improve livelihoods through sustainable practices. Maharashtra's Natural Farming Policy aligns well with MAP cultivation, promoting organic production and higher income potential. However, challenges such as quality consistency and fragmented production hinder competitiveness. Addressing these issues through coordinated efforts and investment in infrastructure could position Maharashtra as a national hub for MAPs, driving economic growth and ecological conservation in India.
Published: Dec 28 2025, 10 ameznews.inDomestic airline IndiGo has cancelled 57 flights across its network on Saturday, attributing the disruptions to "bad weather" at various airports, as reported on its website. An additional 13 flights have been cancelled for Sunday, with two of those due to "operational reasons" and the rest linked to anticipated adverse weather conditions. The Gurugram-based carrier has faced ongoing cancellations for over a week, following earlier disruptions caused by new regulations on pilots' duty periods. The affected flights originate from multiple cities, including Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Delhi. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has designated the period from December 10 to February 10 as the official fog window, mandating airlines to roster pilots trained for low-visibility operations. Following significant cancellations earlier this month, IndiGo's domestic flight schedule has been reduced by 10%, limiting its operations to 1,930 flights per day under the current winter schedule.
Published: Dec 28 2025, 10 ameznews.inThe structural transformation of India's economy, traditionally viewed as a shift from agriculture to more productive sectors like manufacturing and services, is undergoing a significant reevaluation. While Nobel laureate Arthur Lewis emphasized agriculture's limited role in growth, his counterpart Theodore Schultz highlighted its potential as a growth driver through technological advancements. Recent Indian policies aim to reposition agriculture as a primary engine of growth, focusing on value chains that encompass processing, logistics, and retailing. The government is pursuing self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds, though experts caution that India may lack a comparative advantage in all areas. Successful agricultural growth will depend on effective participation in global value chains, optimizing production locations, and embracing new technologies. With food grain production surging, the government is also exploring new export markets and innovative uses for surplus crops, indicating a transformative approach to the agri-food system.
Published: Dec 28 2025, 9 ameznews.inIndia faces a persistent challenge with rural-to-urban migration, driven by unstable agricultural incomes and limited local job opportunities. This trend exacerbates urban overcrowding, straining infrastructure and public health, as highlighted by a report revealing significant productivity losses and a housing crisis in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. However, the bioenergy sector presents a transformative solution by stabilizing rural incomes through initiatives like the Ethanol Blending Programme, which links farmers directly to national energy demand, thereby reducing the economic pressures that drive migration. This sector not only creates direct and indirect jobs across various fields but also fosters local economic growth by providing energy security for rural enterprises. As India aims for a more balanced development by 2047, bioenergy emerges as a crucial strategy to empower villages, mitigate urban strain, and promote a self-reliant economy, aligning with global sustainable development goals.
Published: Dec 28 2025, 9 ameznews.inSilver prices surged to over $79 an ounce, marking an 18% increase last week, prompting speculation about potential market manipulation reminiscent of past events like "Silver Thursday." The CME Group announced new regulations, including a $25,000 initial margin for March 2026 silver derivative contracts, which could lead to the liquidation of positions lacking sufficient funds. This move aims to protect short sellers in the futures market, creating a "technical vacuum," according to traders. As silver's price fluctuated, it ended the weekend at $79.11, while March futures dipped to $77.19. Silver has risen 174% this year, outpacing gold and closely trailing platinum. Analysts suggest that geopolitical tensions, a lack of confidence in the dollar, and a physical silver deficit since 2020 are driving demand. Concerns are growing over the potential for a repeat of historical price crashes, with some traders fearing intervention to curb prices beyond $75 an ounce.
Published: Dec 28 2025, 7 ameznews.inAt the 108th Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association in Chennai, former Reserve Bank of India Governor C. Rangarajan emphasized the need for India to tackle diplomatic challenges, particularly the impact of the United States' 50% tariffs, to reduce economic vulnerability. He warned that heavy reliance on US exports could jeopardize India's economic stability and urged for enhanced diplomatic efforts. Rangarajan attributed the recent decline of the Indian rupee to capital outflows linked to strained India-US relations, which have shaken investor confidence. He noted that while India averaged 6.1% GDP growth from 2012 to 2023, an additional 1.3% growth is necessary to meet development targets by 2047. He called for increased private sector investment and highlighted the critical role of technology adoption, particularly artificial intelligence, in driving productivity and competitiveness across all sectors.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe United States is poised to see a significant increase in ethanol exports to India in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of growth, with volumes expected to reach record levels. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), exports from January to September 2025 totaled approximately 3,539 thousand barrels, slightly below the same period in 2020 but already surpassing the total for both 2022 and 2023. Analysts predict that total exports for 2025 will exceed those of previous years, driven by India's ambitious ethanol blending targets under its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme. Despite restrictions on using imported ethanol for blending, India has turned to US imports to meet industrial demand, allowing domestic supplies to be allocated for transportation. With ethanol blending in India rising from 2% in 2017 to a target of 20% by late 2025, the US is set to play a crucial role in meeting this demand.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 5 pmeznews.inNavi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial flight operations on December 25, 2025, marking a significant milestone in easing congestion at Mumbai's older terminal, which has been in service for over 80 years. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October, the airport saw a substantial increase in passenger bookings on its first day, with arrival loads rising to 85% and departures to 98%. Approximately 5,000 passengers were handled across 48 flights operated by five airlines, including IndiGo and Air India Express, connecting nine domestic destinations. The airport is currently operating for 12 hours daily, with plans to expand to 24-hour operations by February 2026. This new facility, developed by the Adani Group, positions Mumbai alongside major global aviation hubs and is part of a broader infrastructure initiative to enhance the region's air travel capacity.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has successfully addressed over 62,700 grievances and facilitated refunds totaling ₹45 crore from April 25 to December 26, 2025, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The e-commerce sector alone accounted for nearly 39,965 complaints, resulting in refunds of ₹32 crore, while the travel and tourism sector saw 4,050 grievances leading to ₹3.5 crore in refunds. The NCH, a key initiative of the Indian government, aims to provide effective and timely pre-litigation redressal of consumer issues, thereby alleviating pressure on Consumer Commissions. With over 1,027 convergence partners now involved, the helpline allows consumers to register complaints in 17 languages via various platforms, including a toll-free number, WhatsApp, and online portals. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to enhancing consumer rights and ensuring accessible grievance resolution across the country.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 3 pm
For the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
India
World
Economy
Science
Health
Showbiz
Contact