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Coonoor tea auction prices stable amid steady demand

Prices at the Coonoor tea auctions remained stable, bolstered by robust participation from blenders, upcountry buyers, and exporters. Traders noted strong demand from North India, attributed to reduced production due to winter conditions, while concerns over a potential decline in southern tea crops were raised, linked to the impacts of La Niña. Global Tea Auctioneers reported that 94% of the 1,535,140 kg of leaf grades offered were sold, alongside an 82% sale rate for 401,027 kg of dust varieties. High-priced teas and premium liquoring leaf grades saw slight declines of ₹2-3, although some lots fetched higher prices based on quality. In the CTC dust category, high-priced teas remained steady to slightly higher, while medium and plainer sorts experienced minor fluctuations. Overall, primary orthodox dust grades fell by ₹8-10, with notable withdrawals towards the end of the sale. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 4 pm

Viswanathan appointed chairperson, retains ChPA vice chair role

S. Viswanathan has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Chennai Port Authority (ChPA), effective Monday, following the departure of Sunil Paliwal. Paliwal stepped down from his role as Chairperson on November 30 to take on the position of Chairman at the Inland Waterways Authority of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. The announcement was made in a release from the ChPA. Viswanathan, who previously served as the Deputy Chairperson, will now lead the authority as it navigates the challenges and opportunities in the maritime sector. This transition marks a significant shift in leadership for the ChPA, which plays a crucial role in managing one of India's busiest ports. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 4 pm

India's October industrial output increases by 0.4%

India's industrial output experienced a modest growth of 0.4% year-on-year in October, a significant slowdown from a revised 4.6% increase in September, according to government data released on Monday. Manufacturing output rose by 1.8% in October, down from a revised 5.6% the previous month, while electricity generation plummeted by 6.9%, contrasting with a 3.1% rise in September. Mining activity also declined by 1.8%, compared to a 0.4% drop in the prior month. Notably, consumer durables, including cars and phones, saw a 0.5% decrease, following a robust 10% growth in September. Consumer non-durables fell by 4.4%, while capital goods output increased by 2.4%. The overall industrial output for the April-October period grew by 2.7%, down from 4% a year earlier, reflecting the impact of fewer working days due to major festivals and reduced electricity demand from the extended monsoon. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 4 pm

GST Collection Reaches ₹1.7 Lakh Crore

In the latest market update, the SENSEX closed at 85,631.60, down by 75.07 points, while the NIFTY fell by 30.45 points to settle at 26,172.50. In commodities, crude oil prices rose by ₹40 to reach ₹5,364.00, while gold and silver saw significant increases, with gold up by ₹1,238.00 at ₹128,121.00 and silver rising by ₹2,372.00 to ₹174,009.00. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry reported that GST collections for November reached over ₹1.7 lakh crore, reflecting a modest growth of 0.7% compared to the previous year, influenced by the recent GST rate cut effective from September 22. Domestic collections were over ₹1.24 lakh crore, down by more than 2% year-on-year, although imports saw a nearly 10% increase, contributing around ₹46,000 crore to the total. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 3 pm

West Bengal issues new tender for Tajpur deep sea port

The West Bengal government has issued a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of the Tajpur deep-sea port in East Medinipur, effectively terminating its previous tender process that had awarded the project to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). Initially, a provisional Letter of Intent was granted to APSEZ in October 2022 after it was selected as the top bidder. However, the state cabinet decided to pursue a fresh tender earlier this year, ending a four-year association with the Adani Group. The new RFP invites bids for the port's development on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis, with a 99-year concession period and state support for rail and road linkages. The project, which aims to attract investments of ₹25,000 crore, was first approved in 2016, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently confirmed its readiness for tender during the Bengal Global Business Summit. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 3 pm

Govt requests Parliament approval for ₹41,500 crore spending

On the opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament in New Delhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla oversaw proceedings as the Government sought approval for a substantial cash outlay exceeding ₹41,500 crore. This request is part of the first Supplementary Demands for Grants (SDG), which entails a total additional expenditure of over ₹1.32 lakh crore, with the bulk of the fresh cash aimed at fertilizer subsidies and compensating oil marketing companies for LPG under-recoveries. Notably, the overall fiscal deficit is projected to remain stable at 4.4% of GDP. The SDG document specifies that over ₹18,500 crore will be allocated for fertilizers, while ₹9,400 crore is earmarked for oil marketing companies. Additionally, over ₹2,500 crore is designated for Ladakh and ₹2,100 crore for Manipur as part of a development package. The SDG outlines necessary expenditures beyond the initial budget for the financial year. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 2 pm

Bills to Keep High Tobacco, Pan Masala Taxes Introduced

In a bid to sustain high taxation on tobacco products, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced two significant bills in the Lok Sabha on December 1, 2025. The "Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025" aims to impose a new cess on pan masala, while the "Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025" seeks to levy additional taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco items. Currently, these products are subject to a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 28% alongside a compensation cess, which is set to expire as the government nears the repayment of loans taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the cessation of the compensation cess, the new legislation will ensure that tobacco products continue to be taxed at the higher GST rate, maintaining the financial burden on consumers. The changes come as part of a broader rationalization of GST rates across various sectors. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 12 pm

Aviation Fuel Prices Rise 5.4%, LPG Rates Decrease

In a recent price revision, Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in Delhi saw a significant increase of ₹5,133.75 per kilolitre, bringing the total to ₹99,676.77 per kl, marking the third consecutive monthly hike. This 5.4% rise follows earlier increases of 1% and 3.3% in November and October, respectively, and is expected to exert additional pressure on airlines, which allocate nearly 40% of their operating costs to fuel. Meanwhile, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder was reduced by ₹10 to ₹1,580.50 in Delhi, continuing a trend of price cuts that have collectively lowered costs by ₹223 since April. Domestic LPG prices remain stable at ₹853 for a 14.2-kg cylinder. Fuel prices vary across cities due to local taxes, while petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged after a reduction last year. The revisions are conducted monthly by major state-owned oil companies based on international benchmarks. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 1 pm

India's Ethanol Blending Reaches 19.2% in 2024-25

India's National Policy on Biofuels has accelerated its target for ethanol blending in petrol, moving the goal of 20% blending from 2030 to the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, which runs from November 2025 to October 2026. As of October 2025, ethanol blending reached 19.97%, with over 77 crore litres stored. During ESY 2024-25, public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) received approximately 1,003 crore litres of ethanol, consuming 1,022 crore litres to achieve a 19.2% blending rate. The government has allocated 52 lakh tonnes of surplus rice and 40 lakh tonnes of sugar for ethanol production to meet the new target. Additionally, the price of ethanol from FCI rice has increased to ₹60.32 per litre for ESY 2025-26. OMCs have invited bids for 1,050 crore litres of ethanol, with a detailed supply schedule set for the coming months. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 1 pm

Ditwah weakens, closest to Chennai by noon

Rain and thundershowers from the remnant deep depression of Cyclone Ditwah were concentrated around and north of Chennai on Monday morning. The cyclone weakened into a deep depression overnight, located approximately 50 km east-southeast of Chennai and moving slowly northwards along the coasts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the system is expected to weaken further into a depression during the day. Heavy rainfall is anticipated across north Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Telangana, with thunderstorms expected to affect various regions, including Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, over the next few days. In light of the adverse weather conditions, the IMD has advised a total suspension of fishing operations along the affected coastal areas and cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea until Tuesday. sources

Published:
Dec 01 2025, 12 pm

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