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India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal announced on Monday that a negotiating team will travel to Washington next week to finalize the legal text for an interim trade deal, anticipated to be signed in March 2026. Notably, discussions on digital trade commitments, including the removal of Digital Services Taxes (DST) and customs duties on electronic transmissions, have been deferred to future negotiations for a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement. Agrawal highlighted a significant development, stating that US tariffs on Indian goods are expected to decrease from 25% to 18% this week, enhancing India's competitive edge over countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam. In return, India is likely to reduce or eliminate import duties on various industrial and agricultural products, although sensitive sectors such as dairy will remain protected. Farmers' organizations are urging for more transparency regarding these concessions as negotiations progress. 
Published: Feb 16 2026, 9 pmeznews.inUnion Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to launch "Bharat-VISTAAR," an AI-based digital platform aimed at supporting farmers across India, during an event in Jaipur. Announced in the 2026-27 Budget, the platform will provide crucial information on weather, market rates, pests, soil health, crop advice, and government schemes via phone calls, chatbots, and a dedicated app. Initially available in Hindi and English, it will expand to include Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, and Kannada within three months, with plans to support a total of 11 languages. Bharat-VISTAAR will integrate resources from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to offer tailored agricultural advice, enhancing decision-making for farmers. The initiative is part of a broader "AI for Agriculture Roadmap," reflecting a significant shift towards data-driven farming practices, which experts believe could substantially boost agricultural yields in India.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 9 pmeznews.inThe India Energy Stack (IES), a set of open protocols designed to enhance interoperability in the power sector, is poised to revolutionize distributed renewable energy (DRE) initiatives, including the PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM programs, according to JVN Subramanyam, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, he highlighted that India has significantly increased its DRE capacity, adding nearly 18 gigawatts (GW) in just 15 months, compared to the previous decade. With a current solar power capacity of around 140 GW, of which 35 GW is DRE, India is investing approximately $9 billion in rooftop solar and $4 billion in agricultural solarisation. Subramanyam emphasized the need for AI to enhance predictability in energy generation and distribution, while International Solar Alliance Director General Ashish Khanna noted that only 15% of India's solar capacity is decentralized, indicating substantial growth potential in the sector.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 9 pmeznews.inDuring the AI Impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture, particularly in enhancing crop yields and farmer incomes. However, experts raised concerns about the unregulated nature of AI advisories in the sector, emphasizing the need for established standards to ensure accountability and quality. Santanu Chaudhary, former director of IIT-Jodhpur, stressed the importance of traceable and contestable AI guidance, warning that without proper protocols, claims of high accuracy could be misleading. The fragmented nature of Indian farmland poses additional challenges, as AI models may not perform consistently across different plots. International Telecommunication Union representatives noted the existence of over 200 approved AI standards for digital agriculture, which could aid countries in implementing effective AI solutions. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to launch the Bharat-VISTAAR scheme, aimed at addressing these challenges.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 9 pmeznews.inTVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italy's ALA Group, a global aerospace and defence supply-chain integrator, to explore joint opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors, particularly focusing on defence offset programmes. The collaboration aims to deliver integrated supply chain services throughout production and aftermarket lifecycles, initially targeting the Indian market with potential expansion to other regions. TVS SCS will leverage its extensive experience in defence and utilities from its UK operations, alongside its strong domestic presence in India, while ALA Group will contribute its global expertise and technology platforms. R. Dinesh, Executive Chairman of TVS SCS, emphasized the partnership's alignment with the company's strategy to enhance capabilities in complex sectors. ALA Group's CEO, Vittorio Genna, highlighted the collaboration as a foundation for sustainable growth in both civil and defence aerospace programs. Currently, TVS SCS generates around $140 million in annual revenue from these sectors, while ALA Group reported $345 million in 2024.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 8 pmeznews.inReserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra has urged micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to formalise their operations, uphold credit discipline, and embrace digital payments to enhance their resilience and competitiveness. Speaking at a meeting in Mumbai with MSME representatives, Malhotra highlighted the sector's crucial contribution to India's GDP, exports, and employment. He reaffirmed the RBI's commitment to improving access to timely and adequate formal credit for MSMEs, which accounted for 33% of bank credit to the industrial sector as of December 2025. The Governor also discussed various policy measures implemented by the government and the RBI to support MSMEs. He noted that formalisation, which includes obtaining necessary documentation like PAN and GSTIN, can be achieved through the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP), enabling these enterprises to qualify for loans under priority sector lending norms.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 8 pmeznews.inFrench agritech startup Brad Technology is actively seeking an Indian partner at the AI summit to expand its farm advisory services, which it believes hold significant potential despite challenges posed by small land holdings. CEO Olivier Lepine emphasized the company's focus on developing low-cost IoT solutions to gather soil and air data, specifically tailored for the Global South. He aims to assist small farmers in navigating the uncertainties of climate change by providing actionable insights through a vocal AI system that supports agronomists. While acknowledging existing Indian agri-tech firms, Lepine insists that his startup's unique vision—"ground truth, global vision"—can help make technology more accessible and affordable for farmers. Currently, Brad Technology has covered 10,000 hectares in France and is piloting a project in Morocco, offering a subscription model priced at approximately $100 per year. The company is open to collaborations with Indian startups to enhance its offerings.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's goods exports to China surged by 55.65% in January 2026, reaching $1.67 billion, while China remained India's largest source of imports, which rose 16.67% to $12.23 billion. This contributed to a widening trade deficit, which hit a three-month high of $34.68 billion, driven by a 19.19% year-on-year increase in imports to $71.23 billion, largely due to soaring gold and silver inflows. In contrast, overall exports grew only marginally by 0.61% to $36.56 billion, hampered by high US tariffs and global market volatility. Despite this, optimism remains as the US plans to reduce tariffs on Indian exports. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal projected total exports for the fiscal year to reach around $860 billion, with goods exports expected to be approximately $450 billion. The increase in gold imports, which soared by 349.22%, reflects inflated global prices, according to officials.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 8 pmeznews.inIndian customs officials have detained the Comoros-flagged vessel WIV Reyfa at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port, suspecting it of misdeclaring the origin of nearly 310 containers of dry fruit, primarily walnuts, purportedly from Afghanistan. The investigation, initiated following a tip-off from the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), has revealed a duty evasion of approximately ₹50 crore. One individual has been arrested in connection with the case. The DRI's findings suggest that unscrupulous importers have used forged transit documents to falsely claim the goods are of Afghan origin to exploit zero import duty benefits under the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The circular from the Central Intelligence Unit highlights significant deficiencies in the shipping records, indicating deliberate falsification. Customs officials are now demanding bank guarantees equivalent to the value of the imports, while one importer has sought legal recourse from the Mumbai High Court.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 8 pmeznews.inIndia has seized three U.S.-sanctioned tanker ships linked to Iran—Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafzia—amid heightened maritime surveillance aimed at curbing illicit oil trade. The vessels, which frequently altered their identities to evade law enforcement, were intercepted approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after suspicious activity was detected in India's exclusive economic zone. This crackdown aligns with improved U.S.-India relations, marked by Washington's decision to reduce import tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%, following New Delhi's commitment to halt Russian oil imports. The Indian Coast Guard has intensified its operations, deploying around 55 ships and 10 to 12 aircraft for continuous monitoring. The seized tankers are believed to be involved in complex ownership structures and mid-sea transfers, complicating enforcement efforts against sanctioned oil and fuel, which are often sold at steep discounts.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 7 pm
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