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The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is advancing plans to construct multiple tunnels and high-altitude passes in eastern Ladakh to enhance all-weather road connectivity, a senior officer announced on Saturday. Col. Deepak Palande, director of Project Himank, highlighted that the initiative aims to improve access to strategic areas near the Line of Actual Control with China, with the planning phase nearing completion. The project includes the construction of tunnels along key passes such as Baralacha and Tanglang, with timelines ranging from five to seven years depending on geological factors. Currently, eight of the world's highest motorable passes are under Project Himank, including Umling La, the highest at 19,024 feet, soon to be surpassed by Mig La at 19,400 feet. The BRO is leveraging new technologies, including pre-cast methods, to optimize construction within the limited working season of six months. 
Published: Aug 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 19.15 km Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro on August 10, 2025, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra with 16 stations, at a cost of ₹5,056.99 crore. This project, which has faced multiple delays since its inception, aims to enhance the city's public transport network, particularly improving access to key areas like Central Silk Board and Electronics City. During the same event, Modi will lay the foundation stone for Phase-3 of the Metro, a 44.65 km extension costing ₹15,611 crore, as announced by Union Minister Manohar Lal. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya hailed the inauguration as a "landmark moment," highlighting the significant investment in Metro infrastructure that will benefit approximately 2.5 million residents. The Yellow Line's delays were largely due to issues with procuring rolling stock from a Chinese firm, which has since partnered with an Indian company to expedite delivery.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's cooperative sector is gearing up to take on ride-hailing giants Ola and Uber with the launch of a new taxi service branded as Bharat, expected by the end of this year. Backed by ₹300 crore in authorized capital, the Multi-State Sahakari Taxi Cooperative Ltd has already onboarded 200 drivers across Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. This initiative, formed by a consortium of eight cooperatives including the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and IFFCO, aims to provide better returns for drivers and affordable, safe services for passengers. The cooperative is entirely funded by its members, with no government stake involved. A tender has been issued to select a technology partner for a nationwide ride-hailing app, which is anticipated to be ready by December. The cooperative sector is leveraging its collective strength to compete in the burgeoning ride-hailing market, with membership drives underway to expand operations.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 5 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has mandated edible oil producers to submit monthly data on production, imports, and sales through a new portal, as part of an amendment to the Vegetable Oil Products Production and Availability (Regulation) Order of 2011, effective August 1. This initiative, aimed at enhancing compliance and data accuracy, requires producers to report detailed information on raw materials, manufactured products, and stock levels by the 15th of each month. The order empowers the Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils to conduct inspections and seize stocks if discrepancies arise. While the organized sector is prepared to comply, the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association has raised concerns about the challenges posed by the fragmented unorganized sector, which complicates data collection. The government hopes that improved data will facilitate better policymaking in the edible oil industry, addressing previous concerns over inconsistent reporting.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIndia's tea production experienced a notable decline in June 2025, dropping approximately 9% to 133.50 million kg, following a period of growth in the first five months of the year. In North India, production fell by 7.44% to 112.51 million kg, while South India saw a more significant decrease of 16.7%, with output at 20.99 million kg. Adverse weather conditions, including excessive rainfall and reduced sunlight, were primarily responsible for this downturn. Specifically, Assam's output decreased by 10% to 68.55 million kg, with the Assam Valley contributing to this decline. West Bengal's production slightly decreased to 40.61 million kg, although gains in the Terai and Darjeeling regions mitigated some losses. Tamil Nadu and Kerala also reported declines of 11% and 31%, respectively, highlighting the widespread impact of the weather on tea cultivation across the country.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's first bullet train service, set to connect Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) with key cities in Gujarat, including Vapi, Surat, Anand, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad, is expected to commence soon, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The high-speed train will operate at 320 km per hour, significantly reducing travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just two hours and seven minutes. During a virtual event from Bhavnagar, where he flagged off several new express trains, Vaishnaw highlighted ongoing railway projects in Gujarat and the rapid progress made under the Modi government, which has seen the laying of 34,000 km of new tracks over 11 years. He also noted the redevelopment of 1,300 railway stations and the introduction of new train services, including the Vande Bharat Express and Amrit Bharat Express, aimed at enhancing passenger experience with modern technology.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's significant imports of Russian crude oil, primarily transported via Suezmax and Aframax tankers, are poised for a major shift due to new sanctions from the European Union, which have lowered the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $47.6 per barrel. This change is expected to compel Russia to bolster its "dark fleet" to maintain deliveries to India, China, and Turkey. Maritime consultancy Drewry warns that a decline in Russian oil imports could lead India to revert to traditional suppliers in West Asia, increasing demand for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) at the expense of mid-sized tankers. The sanctions reflect a broader geopolitical strategy, with the EU focusing on limiting Russia's energy revenue while the US aims for diplomatic leverage over Iran. Despite these restrictions, Russian and Iranian oil continues to find its way to select markets, indicating the resilience of the parallel oil trade.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe National Statistical Office (NSO) is set to modernize its methods for calculating India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) by integrating new digital data sources. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, announced that the NSO will utilize data from the GST portal, vehicle registrations, and UPI transactions, alongside traditional sources, to update the GDP series with a new base year of 2022-23, expected to be released on February 27, 2026. Similarly, the CPI will shift its base year from 2012 to 2024, incorporating data from online platforms and administrative records for fuel prices. The revised CPI series, anticipated in early 2026, will feature an expanded item basket based on the 2023-24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. Additionally, a Working Group is reviewing the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), and the NSO plans to launch two new surveys focused on household travel and domestic tourism expenditure.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has called on the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to implement a concessional electricity tariff for compressed biogas (CBG) plants, highlighting that electricity costs constitute a significant operational expense, averaging 30% of overall operating costs. In a detailed submission, IBA noted that high industrial electricity rates, which can reach up to 48%, hinder the viability of CBG production. The association proposed shifting from the current industrial tariff of ₹7 per kWh to a domestic rate of ₹4.5 per kWh, which would alleviate financial pressures and enhance competitiveness in the sector. IBA Chairman Gaurav Kedia emphasized that such a policy change is crucial for achieving India's clean energy goals, including its commitment to a 50% non-fossil energy transition by 2030 and Net Zero emissions by 2070. Established in 2011, IBA aims to promote sustainable biogas solutions across the country.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 1 pmeznews.inIndian exporters across various sectors, including food, textiles, and marine, are urgently seeking government support in light of a new 25% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump, effective August 7. During a meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, industry representatives requested financial assistance, affordable credit, and incentives similar to the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. With interest rates in India ranging from 8% to over 12%, exporters argue that competing nations like China and Vietnam offer significantly lower rates, putting them at a disadvantage. The tariff is expected to severely impact sectors such as textiles, gems, and shrimp, with potential job losses looming as US buyers begin to cancel or delay orders. Industry leaders, including Sudhir Sekhri of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, have called for immediate government intervention to prevent further economic fallout.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 1 pmeznews.inOver 20 lakh farmers in Assam have received over ₹422 crore under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, officials announced on Sunday. The funds were disbursed as part of a nationwide initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi. The 20th instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme has benefited more than 20.31 lakh eligible farming families in the state, with each family receiving ₹6,000 annually in three instalments of ₹2,000. Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora highlighted the scheme's role in providing timely support to farmers, reflecting the government's commitment to their welfare. PM-KISAN, initiated on February 24, 2019, is recognized as the world's largest direct benefit transfer programme, aimed at addressing farmers' financial needs and boosting agricultural productivity. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the scheme for empowering farmers and acknowledged Modi's efforts in supporting the agricultural community.
Published: Aug 03 2025, 12 pm
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