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Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) is set to transition entirely to the Singara Chennai National Common Mobility Card starting August 1, 2025, following its introduction on April 14, 2023. As part of this shift, CMRL will cease top-ups for the existing CMRL Travel cards at all 41 metro stations. Passengers can continue to use the remaining balance on their CMRL Travel cards until it falls below ₹50, at which point they must surrender the card at CMRL ticketing counters. In exchange, they will receive the Singara Chennai Card at no cost, with their deposit and remaining balance transferred to the new card for continued use. Other ticketing options, such as QR tickets, will remain available. This move aims to streamline the travel experience for commuters in Chennai. 
Published: Jul 21 2025, 8 pmeznews.inRENK Group AG, a German supplier of drive solutions for military and civil applications, has inaugurated a new production facility in Shoolagiri, Krishnagiri district, marking a significant investment in the Indian market. This development underscores RENK's commitment to supporting India's defence modernisation and industrial growth, as highlighted by CEO Praveen Mohan, who described the facility as a "statement of trust, partnership, and future ambition." The new site, part of a broader expansion in Tamil Nadu, will cover 7,000 square meters and focus on producing gear units for various sectors, including military vehicles and energy. RENK has a history of contributing to India's defence capabilities, having supported projects like the Arjun tank and INS Vikrant. In fiscal year 2024, the company reported revenues of EUR 1.14 billion, reinforcing its role as a key player in both military and civil applications.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIndia's civil aviation regulator plans to recruit 190 technical personnel by October to tackle staffing shortages, a move prompted by concerns over regulatory capacity following the Air India Flight AI-171 crash. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, highlighted that 103 posts were filled last year but acknowledged the challenge of finding qualified experts. He noted that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently operating at only 50% of its sanctioned strength, necessitating enhanced regulatory oversight as the aviation sector expands. Naidu praised the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau for its thorough investigation into the June 12 crash, which killed 260 people. He emphasized the importance of evidence-based conclusions and cautioned against speculation, asserting that the government is committed to fair compensation for all victims and will publish a final report grounded in facts.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA Parliamentary panel has proposed significant amendments to the new Income Tax Bill, which aims to replace the outdated Income Tax Act of 1961. Chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, the 4,575-page report recommends a standard 30% deduction calculated after municipal taxes and allows pre-construction interest deductions for let-out properties. It also suggests that taxpayers be permitted to claim TDS refunds post-ITR filing due date without penalties, easing burdens on small taxpayers. Tax experts have praised the recommendations for promoting fairness and transparency, including the reintroduction of Nil withholding certificates to prevent refund backlogs for zero-tax cases. The committee's interventions aim to clarify definitions and restore balance in tax regulations, particularly regarding inter-corporate dividends and charitable trusts. The government plans to review these recommendations and introduce a revised Bill for consideration, with the new law expected to take effect from April 1 next year.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 8 pmeznews.inACME Group is seeking approval from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for a pilot programme to test the use of anhydrous and aqueous ammonia, alongside green ammonia, as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional urea fertilizer. Aqueous ammonia boasts a nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of 60-65%, double that of urea, while anhydrous ammonia achieves 82%. With urea imports reaching 5.65 million tonnes last year, the shift to ammonia could significantly reduce fertilizer volume and improve soil health. ICAR's director general confirmed that the proposal is under review, with the natural resource management division already approving it. ACME plans to invest ₹13,000 to ₹15,000 crore in a new plant, pending ICAR's clearance, and aims to commence trials by the next rabi season. The Agriculture Ministry will amend the Fertiliser Control Order to facilitate farmer application once validation is complete.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn June, the growth of India's eight core infrastructure sectors fell to 1.7%, down from 5% in the same month last year, although it showed improvement from May's 1.2%. These sectors, which include coal, crude oil, natural gas, fertilizer, electricity, refinery products, steel, and cement, account for over 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Notably, coal production dropped by 6.8%, and crude oil output decreased by 1.2%, while electricity generation also fell by 2.8%. Conversely, cement and steel sectors experienced significant growth, with outputs rising by 9.2% and 9.3%, respectively. Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA Ltd, noted that despite the slight year-on-year improvement, five of the eight sectors still contracted. Looking ahead, ICRA anticipates IIP growth to range between 1.5% and 2.5% for June, with industrial growth data set to be released on July 28.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Konkan Railway has introduced a new service for private car owners, facilitating travel between Kolad in Maharashtra and Verna in Goa, set to commence on August 23. This innovative service aims to reduce travel time to just 12 hours, with trains departing at 5:00 PM and arriving at 5:00 AM the next day. Each train can carry 40 cars, with two vehicles loaded onto each of the 20 wagons. The freight charge is ₹7,875 per car, alongside a registration fee of ₹4,000 at booking. Passengers can travel in the attached 3AC or second seating coaches, with fares of ₹935 and ₹190 respectively. Bookings will be open from July 21 to August 13, 2025. However, the service is contingent on a minimum of 16 car bookings; otherwise, trips will be cancelled with full refunds issued. This roll-on-roll off (Ro-Ro) service enhances connectivity between the two states.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inAs of July 18, farmers in India have completed sowing in 65% of the normal area for the kharif season, covering 708.31 lakh hectares (lh), an increase from 680.38 lh a year ago. While the area for paddy, pulses, and nutri/coarse cereals has risen, oilseeds and cotton acreage has declined. The pace of sowing has slowed, with only 110 lh sown in the week ending July 18, down from 160 lh the previous week. Despite a 4% overall increase in kharif sowing, concerns remain regarding tur, cotton, and soyabean crops. The India Meteorological Department reported a 7% increase in monsoon rainfall, although some regions experienced deficiencies. Notably, paddy acreage rose by 12.4% to 176.68 lh, while urad and arhar pulses saw declines. Sugarcane planting remains stable at 55.16 lh, with no recent updates on sowing areas for other crops.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's pulse production is projected to increase by approximately 8 million tonnes over the next decade, reaching over 25.2 million tonnes, according to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook for 2025-2034. This growth is attributed to enhanced yield improvements and intensified land use, with about half of the increase expected from intercropping pulses with cereals, particularly in Asia and Africa. The global supply of pulses is anticipated to rise by 26 million tonnes, with India contributing significantly as the largest producer. The Indian government has introduced high-yielding hybrid seeds and a minimum support price to stabilize farmers' incomes, although pulses are not as widely included in procurement programs as wheat and rice. Meanwhile, Canada is set to remain the leading exporter, with its pulse exports projected to grow from 4.9 million tonnes to 5.7 million tonnes by 2034, followed by Australia and Russia.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA mini trade deal between India and the US appears increasingly unlikely ahead of the August 1 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, following a recent round of negotiations in Washington that yielded no significant progress. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has emphasized that August 1 is a "hard deadline," with no extensions anticipated. As a result, New Delhi must prepare for the potential imposition of tariffs or seek a further delay, which US officials have suggested is improbable. The Indian negotiating team, returning from Washington, is set to engage in further discussions with US officials in late August. Meanwhile, attention is shifting towards securing a broader bilateral trade agreement by Fall 2025, with India aiming for a deal that ensures mutual benefits and improved market access for its exporters. The backdrop includes previous announcements of tariffs by former President Trump, which have been postponed multiple times amid ongoing trade negotiations.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 7 pm
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