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The Indian government is preparing for the upcoming Census, with the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs approving the inclusion of caste enumeration. The Union Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 allocates over ₹500 crore for Census-related activities, but significantly more funding will be necessary to complete the Census and update the National Population Register (NPR). A 2019 Cabinet decision estimated the Census would cost over ₹8,700 crore, with an additional ₹3,900 crore for the NPR. Originally scheduled for 2020, the Census was postponed due to the pandemic. While no specific timeline has been announced, it is anticipated that the Census will commence before the Bihar Assembly elections later this year. To facilitate this, the government may introduce a Supplementary Demand for Grants (SDG) in the monsoon session of Parliament, a move that reflects the political urgency surrounding the Census process. 
Published: May 01 2025, 10 pmeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, marking a significant milestone in India's maritime infrastructure. The port, developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd at an estimated cost of ₹8,867 crore, is poised to enhance India's position in global trade and shipping. Modi arrived by helicopter and inspected the facilities before formally commissioning the first phase of the project, attended by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The deep-water port, which received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4, 2024, is expected to serve as a major transshipment hub, facilitating increased cargo movement and boosting economic growth in the region.
Published: May 02 2025, 11 ameznews.inA new initiative, iSPEED (INROAD Skilling and Production Efficiency Enhancement Drive), has been launched under Project INROAD to bolster India's natural rubber ecosystem, particularly in the Northeast and West Bengal. This ₹145 crore initiative aims to enhance the quality of natural rubber and directly benefit over 200,000 smallholder farmers through structured skill training and modern infrastructure. Funded by four members of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), including Apollo and MRF, INROAD represents a pioneering effort where the tyre industry invests ₹1,100 crore in developing new rubber plantations and improving processed rubber quality. Despite significant growth in rubber cultivation, challenges such as limited access to scientific techniques and processing infrastructure persist. iSPEED will address these issues by establishing smokehouses, sheet rolling machines, and processing centres, while promoting community-based knowledge transfer among small landholders. The initiative was inaugurated with the launch of smokehouses in Tripura and Assam.
Published: May 02 2025, 12 pmeznews.inS&P Global has revised India's growth forecast for the current fiscal year (2025-26) down by 20 basis points to 6.3%, and for the following year (2026-27) by 30 basis points to 6.5%, aligning with similar adjustments made by the IMF and World Bank. These projections are below the Reserve Bank of India's earlier estimate of 6.5%, which was reduced from 6.7%. Looking ahead, S&P Global anticipates growth rates of 7% for fiscal year 2027-28 and 6.8% for 2028-29. The agency attributed the downward revisions to global economic trends, particularly the impact of rising tariffs in the US, which have reached levels not seen in over a century. This has led to a broader decline in GDP growth forecasts across major economies, including a 0.7 percentage point drop for China and significant reductions for emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Published: May 02 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted Air India a temporary exemption to extend maximum flight duty hours for pilots and cabin crew on long-haul routes, as the airline navigates the challenges posed by Pakistan's airspace ban. Effective from April 30 for two weeks, the exemption allows for increased duty periods—up to 16 hours for flights under 12 hours and 24 hours for longer flights—along with additional rest periods. This decision comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following a recent attack in Kashmir, which has led to higher operational costs for Indian airlines. Air India estimates it could incur around $600 million in extra expenses if the airspace ban persists for a year and has sought government compensation. Concerns have been raised among pilots regarding increased workloads, prompting the DGCA to engage with airlines to ensure crew safety and well-being during this period of heightened demand.
Published: May 02 2025, 12 pmeznews.inUS Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur, has sparked optimism regarding a potential trade deal with India, which could significantly impact various sectors. Following the finalization of negotiation terms by the White House, Indian stocks have surged, attracting over $1 billion in foreign investment in April alone, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions with Pakistan. The Indian rupee has also strengthened, reaching a seven-month high, bolstered by trade expectations and a supportive central bank. Key sectors under scrutiny include pharmaceuticals, where major companies like Sun Pharmaceutical and Cipla are poised for potential gains, and automotive parts, which face challenges from proposed tariffs. The textiles and apparel sector may benefit from reduced competition, while electric vehicle manufacturers like Tata Motors could feel pressure from negotiations over import duties. The specifics of the trade agreement remain eagerly anticipated by investors and industry stakeholders alike.
Published: May 02 2025, 12 pmeznews.inUnion Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to inaugurate a new special train service connecting Dr MGR Chennai Central to Bhagat Ki Kothi near Jodhpur, Rajasthan, via video conference on Saturday. The Railway Board has approved the introduction of Train No. 20625/20626, which will operate five days a week. The inaugural journey is scheduled to depart Chennai at 17:30 on May 3, arriving in Bhagat Ki Kothi at 12:30 on the third day. The train will feature a diverse coach composition, including two AC two-tier coaches, four AC three-tier coaches, four AC three-tier economy coaches, six sleeper class coaches, four general second class coaches, one Divyangjan-friendly second class coach, and a luggage-cum-brake van. It will make stops at several key stations, including Vijayawada, Warangal, and Vadodara, before reaching its final destination.
Published: May 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia's manufacturing sector experienced its most significant growth in ten months in April, driven by strong export demand and increased production, despite companies raising selling prices at the fastest rate in over 11 years. The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 58.2, slightly up from March's 58.1, indicating robust activity. Chief India economist at HSBC, Pranjul Bhandari, noted that the surge in new export orders suggests a potential shift in production to India amid changing trade dynamics. Consumer goods manufacturers reported the highest growth, while overall new orders remained strong, close to an eight-month high. The hiring pace also increased, with manufacturers offering more permanent and temporary contracts. Despite moderate input cost inflation, firms raised selling prices significantly, reflecting healthy demand. Business confidence remains high, with over 30% of manufacturers anticipating increased output in the coming year.
Published: May 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndian Railways has launched a nationwide competition inviting professionals, college students, and school students to design standardised digital clocks for railway stations across the country. The initiative aims to unify the appearance of clocks at platforms and stations, with a grand prize of ₹5 lakh for the winning design. Each category will also feature five consolation prizes of ₹50,000. Participants can submit their designs online from May 1 to May 31, ensuring that entries are high-resolution and original, accompanied by a concept note. Students in the school category must provide a valid school ID, while college entrants must be enrolled in recognised institutions. All submissions should respect intellectual property rights. Entries can be sent to [email protected]. This competition reflects Indian Railways' commitment to enhancing the passenger experience through innovative design.
Published: May 02 2025, 8 ameznews.inMumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has refuted claims made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding pressure tactics to shift airline operations to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). In a statement released on Thursday, MIAL emphasized that it has adhered to a transparent and consultative process, engaging stakeholders since 2018 in the master planning of NMIA. The airport operator highlighted that recent operational adjustments, including the suspension of freighter operations and slot reductions for West Asian airlines, are part of necessary infrastructure upgrades overseen by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India. MIAL firmly rejected IATA's insinuations, asserting that airlines retain full autonomy over their network planning and that there has been no attempt to influence traffic movement between the two airports. The NMIA project, envisioned in 1997, is seen as a significant national infrastructure development.
Published: May 01 2025, 9 pm
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