eznews.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 pmeznews.inOpen-end spinning mills in Tamil Nadu, numbering over 600, have reduced production by 50% to enhance profitability amid challenging market conditions. G Arulmozhi, president of the Open-End Spinning Mills Association (OSMA), highlighted that rising prices of cotton waste, a key raw material, have compounded losses, despite a decline in cotton and yarn prices. Daily production of cotton grey and colored yarn stands at approximately 25 lakh kg and 15 lakh kg, respectively. Cotton prices have dropped from ₹60,000 to ₹53,500 per candy, yet the cost of comber noil has increased from ₹100 to ₹113 per kg. OSMA is urging the state government to lower electricity tariffs and the central government to restrict cotton waste exports to stabilize the sector. Arulmozhi emphasized that utilizing domestic cotton waste for value-added products could significantly boost foreign exchange earnings, rather than exporting raw materials at lower prices.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association (TASMA) has called on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to extend the duty-free import of cotton beyond December 31, 2025, amid concerns of a potential cotton shortage due to declining production. TASMA President A P Appukutty highlighted that the government's recent extension of duty-free imports until the end of 2025 has allowed mills to source cotton at 11% lower prices, enhancing their competitiveness in the global market. This move is particularly significant given the 50% tariffs imposed by the US on all imports, which has strained the industry. The Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption has projected a lower production estimate of 292.15 lakh bales for the upcoming season, marking the lowest domestic availability in recent years. Appukutty emphasized that further extending duty-free imports would be crucial for mills facing low cotton arrivals.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 1 pmeznews.inIndia's dairy sector is facing a period of tighter supply and margin recalibration following a tumultuous three years marked by disruptions and recovery, as highlighted in a recent expert session by Systematix Institutional Equities. The post-COVID landscape of 2022-23 saw a significant drop in milk prices, adversely affecting farmers and leading to reduced cattle induction and milk output. However, from mid-2023, initiatives by cooperatives and private players, including sustainable fodder programs, revitalized supply, resulting in a nearly 25% increase in production during the October 2024-March 2025 flush season. Despite this temporary surplus, early rains and geopolitical tensions in 2025 disrupted supply, while festive demand further strained inventories. Consequently, procurement costs have risen, with some regional price hikes reported. Companies are now considering selective price increases and shifting focus to value-added products, as consumer preferences evolve towards milk-based alternatives and distribution channels adapt to e-commerce trends.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 12 pm
For the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
India
World
Economy
Science
Health
Showbiz
Contact