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The US Department of State (DoS) announced on Wednesday that, starting December 15, all H-1B visa applicants and their dependants will be required to make their social media profiles public as part of enhanced national security vetting. This policy, which also applies to F, M, and J visa seekers, aims to identify applicants who may pose a threat to national security or public safety. The DoS emphasized that visa adjudication is a national security decision, and applicants must demonstrate their eligibility and intent to comply with visa terms. Experts warn that this shift towards more granular, technology-driven screening could slow down processing times and increase the risk of arbitrary denials, particularly for those with past online activity. Critics argue that the policy compromises personal privacy and safety, exposing applicants to potential scrutiny from various actors, including hostile governments. 
Published: Dec 04 2025, 8 pmeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on Thursday for a pivotal two-day visit, focusing on enhancing bilateral trade amid ongoing US sanctions. The leaders, who shared a handshake and a hug, discussed addressing the significant trade imbalance, with India’s exports to Russia at just $4.9 billion compared to imports of $63.8 billion in FY25. Russia aims to increase its imports from India, particularly in agriculture and technology, as both nations target $100 billion in trade by 2030. The agenda also includes potential defense agreements, including the sale of Su-57 fighter jets, and the establishment of a local currency trade mechanism to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized the need for diversification in trade, while discussions on a timeline for an India-EAEU free trade agreement are anticipated at the formal summit on Friday.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIndiGo Airlines faced significant operational disruptions on Thursday, cancelling over 350 flights due to a severe pilot shortage, affecting major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The cancellations led to travel chaos for thousands, with 95 flights grounded in Delhi, 118 in Mumbai, 70 in Hyderabad, and 99 in Bengaluru. In Pune, the situation worsened as other airlines experienced delays due to occupied parking bays. An emergency landing of an IndiGo flight in Mumbai following a bomb scare further compounded the airline's troubles. Passengers reported not only delays but also missing luggage, with complaints about poor communication from the airline. IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, acknowledged the challenges in restoring operations and called for staff unity to navigate the crisis, emphasizing the need to return to punctuality amid ongoing operational hurdles.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's organic food exports have faced a downturn, with 3.68 lakh tonnes valued at $665.97 million in FY25, a rise from 2.61 lakh tonnes worth $494.80 million in FY24, but still lower than previous fiscal years. Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh, attributed this decline to sluggish global demand, trade uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory changes affecting certification processes. The United States and the European Union remain key markets, but challenges such as a reduction in accredited certification bodies for EU exports have increased costs and limited market access. Singh emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing the food processing sector through various initiatives aimed at improving returns for farmers and boosting organic exports. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is actively implementing the National Programme for Organic Production to support these efforts.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 8 pmeznews.inStorage levels in 166 major Indian reservoirs remain below 90% capacity, currently at 86.41%, despite a 47% surplus in rainfall in the southern region since November 27. The Central Water Commission (CWC) reported that the current storage is 7% higher than last year and 22% above the 10-year average. However, the rest of the country experienced deficient rainfall, with an overall shortfall of 21% last week. Only the western region reported storage above 90%, with reservoirs filled to 94%. The southern region's reservoirs are at 84%, with Tamil Nadu at 93%. Central and northern regions show varied levels, with Madhya Pradesh at 90% and Rajasthan at 97%. The eastern region's reservoirs are at 79%, with Assam notably low at below 45%. Experts suggest that the remnants of cyclone Ditwah and the onset of La Niña may bring additional rainfall, potentially stabilizing storage levels.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a significant initiative to provide fresh milk to Indian Army personnel stationed in remote areas, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is establishing a solar-powered milk processing plant in Kargil, capable of processing 10,000 litres daily. This facility, one of the highest-altitude renewable-energy dairy plants in India, aims to meet part of the Army's daily requirement of 20,000 litres. NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah highlighted the project's collaboration with the Ladakh UT Dairy Cooperative Federation and the Central government's approval for a ₹12.6 crore grant towards the ₹25 crore unit. The new plant will complement an existing 5,000-litre facility in Leh, which has been operational since February 2024. NDDB's innovative approach includes specially designed vans for milk collection from remote villages, enhancing supply efficiency and supporting local farmers. This initiative reflects NDDB's commitment to improving dairy infrastructure in challenging terrains while ensuring the Army receives fresh milk.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 6 pmeznews.inBEML Ltd has announced a significant ₹157 crore contract to produce 15 sets (30 cars) of Switch Rail Grinding Machines for Loram Rail Maintenance India Private Ltd, a leader in rail maintenance technology. These machines, intended for Indian Railways, are essential for the upkeep of railway switches and crossings, which are particularly susceptible to wear. Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director of BEML, emphasized that this order represents a key step in enhancing India's rail infrastructure with advanced, homegrown solutions. The high-performance machines aim to minimize maintenance downtime, extend the lifecycle of rail assets, and improve overall rail operations. This development underscores the ongoing commitment to modernizing India's railway system. The announcement was made on December 4, 2025.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe European Union (EU) is poised to implement restrictions on rice imports from India and other Asian nations to safeguard its domestic growers and millers, despite ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement with India. A new "specific automatic safeguard mechanism" will be introduced, which will activate if rice imports exceed historical averages, imposing most-favoured-nation tariffs to protect the EU market. This legislation, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, follows a significant increase in rice imports from countries like India and Pakistan, raising concerns about market dynamics shifting towards an oligopoly. The EU's rice production has declined by 10% over the past two decades, prompting calls from the Federation of European Rice Millers for higher tariffs on imported rice to mitigate perceived market distortions. Meanwhile, eight European rice-producing countries have formed an alliance, EURice, to address trade challenges collaboratively.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is shifting its focus to encourage states to initiate their own renewable energy (RE) bids, as the Centre-controlled Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) face a backlog of nearly 44 GW of projects without buyers. MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi highlighted that states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan are becoming key players in the country's RE growth by tailoring tenders to meet local needs. As of September 2025, REIAs had issued letters of award for 43.942 GW, but power sale agreements remain unsigned. Sarangi noted that the demand for renewable energy is set to rise alongside electricity needs, emphasizing the importance of state participation. He acknowledged challenges in grid integration and the necessity for enhanced battery storage, while also pointing to the significant contributions of distributed renewable energy initiatives, which are adding 12-15 GW annually.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has instructed IndiGo to stabilize its operations and develop a staggered recruitment plan amid ongoing flight disruptions linked to the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The directive follows the airline's recent cancellation of hundreds of flights, attributed primarily to rostering constraints under the new FDTL regulations, which came into effect on November 1, 2025. A senior government official indicated that IndiGo requires significantly more than its current workforce of over 5,000 pilots to meet operational demands. In response, IndiGo has begun adjusting its schedules and has arranged accommodations for affected passengers. Meanwhile, the Airline Pilots’ Association of India has raised concerns about the airline's planning and regulatory oversight, suggesting that airlines had ample time to prepare for the new norms but delayed necessary adjustments. The government expects airlines to submit comprehensive manpower plans to ensure compliance with FDTL requirements.
Published: Dec 04 2025, 7 pm
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