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The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to convene on September 3-4 to deliberate on significant tax reductions. The council, which includes representatives from various states, will explore reforms aimed at simplifying the indirect tax framework, potentially consolidating it into just two primary tax rates. This initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on August 15, emphasizing the government's commitment to streamlining the tax system. The upcoming meeting is expected to address these changes, reflecting a broader effort to enhance economic efficiency and ease the tax burden on businesses and consumers alike. As discussions unfold, stakeholders will be keenly watching for the implications of these proposed reforms. This is a developing story. 
Published: Aug 23 2025, 9 ameznews.inIndia's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirmed on Saturday that trade negotiations with the U.S. are ongoing, but emphasized that New Delhi has "redlines" it must defend, particularly concerning the interests of farmers and small producers. This statement comes just days before the implementation of additional U.S. tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, linked to India's increased purchases of Russian oil. A planned visit by U.S. trade negotiators to India has been cancelled, dampening hopes for a resolution. Jaishankar criticized the U.S. approach, noting that President Trump's public foreign policy stance is unprecedented. He also pointed out that concerns over India's oil purchases are not consistently applied to other major buyers like China and the EU. Analysts warn that if the tariffs take full effect, India's economic growth could be adversely impacted by 0.8 percentage points in the coming years, potentially undermining its status as a global manufacturing hub.
Published: Aug 23 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe Adani Group has inaugurated a ₹600 crore logistics park in Kalamassery, Kerala, covering approximately 70 acres, with the promise of creating 1,500 jobs in the region. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan attended the ceremony, highlighting the project as part of the "Invest in Kerala" initiative, which aims to foster inclusive development. Ashwani Gupta, CEO of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, emphasized the park's role in establishing a comprehensive multimodal infrastructure in Kerala, linking air, sea, and land transport to enhance the state's economic prospects. The facility will incorporate electric vehicle charging stations and advanced logistics solutions, positioning it as a global logistics hub. Gupta noted that India's warehousing sector is growing at a 16% annual rate, and the new park will expand Adani's network to 21 logistics parks nationwide, with plans to increase this to 30, while also projecting that Vizhinjam port will soon handle over one million containers annually.
Published: Aug 23 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has announced strict enforcement of the newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which prohibits all forms of money-based gaming while allowing e-sports and social gaming. S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, emphasized that the government will utilize international processes, including Interpol, to target offshore money-gaming operators and shut down their services. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) will play a crucial role in blocking apps that violate the ban. The government's compliance-heavy approach follows a recognition of the inadequacies of self-regulation within the gaming industry, which has been linked to significant social issues, including addiction and financial distress. Krishnan highlighted the need to prioritize societal well-being over the interests of a few thousand jobs associated with money-gaming platforms, asserting that compliance with the new law will be enforced rigorously, even beyond India's borders.
Published: Aug 23 2025, 12 pmeznews.inMeghalaya is advancing its agrarian economy with the Vision @2032 initiative, aiming to transform the state into a $16 billion economy by its 60th anniversary. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma emphasizes agriculture as a key pillar under Mission 10, focusing on enhancing the incomes of small and marginal farmers. The state is developing sustainable agricultural value chains, particularly for high-potential crops like pineapples, which meet international quality standards. The recent Meghalaya Pineapple Festival showcased over 15.4 tonnes of pineapples, bolstered by partnerships with Reliance Fresh and Amazon Karigar. With over 500 farmer collectives mobilized, the state is investing in processing and logistics infrastructure, including cold storage and processing units, to minimize post-harvest losses. Export initiatives have gained momentum, with significant shipments to the EU and the Middle East. This comprehensive strategy aims to elevate farmer incomes and unlock Meghalaya's agricultural potential, aligning with the Chief Minister's vision.
Published: Aug 23 2025, 11 ameznews.inThe Indian government has launched the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Regulation Order, 2025, marking a significant reform in the vegetable oil sector, which is crucial for national food security. Despite being the fourth-largest oilseed producer globally, India imports around 60% of its edible oil. The new order, replacing the 2011 framework, aims to enhance transparency and market intelligence while enabling real-time monitoring of production and stocks. Effective from August 1, all vegetable oil producers must register with the Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils and submit detailed digital reports monthly. This digitisation addresses longstanding issues of price volatility and supply chain opacity, empowering inspectors to enforce compliance. VOPPA 2025 could serve as a model for managing other essential commodities in India, promoting structured oversight and potentially stabilising food inflation through consistent governance rather than reactive measures.
Published: Aug 23 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndian Railways has announced a record 380 Ganpati Special train trips for 2025, aimed at facilitating smooth travel for devotees during the festive season. This marks a significant increase from 305 trips in 2023 and 358 in 2024. Central Railway will operate the majority of these services, with 296 trips, while Western Railway will run 56, South Western Railway 22, and Konkan Railway 6. The special trains will serve numerous stops across the Konkan region, including key locations such as Ratnagiri, Kudal, and Udupi. The Ganpati Puja celebrations are scheduled from August 27 to September 6, 2025, with services commencing on August 11 to accommodate the expected surge in passenger demand. Detailed schedules are available on the IRCTC website and the RailOne app, as Indian Railways continues its commitment to providing safe and reliable travel during peak festive periods.
Published: Aug 23 2025, 7 ameznews.inIndia has emerged as the sixth-largest export market for the United States, according to data from the Economic Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture. However, Indian importers have recently "paused" their purchases of US agricultural products, particularly pulses and lentils, amid concerns that the Indian government may retaliate against US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. While some contracts have been signed, loading of shipments has been halted until the end of August, as buyers fear potential retaliatory tariffs. This situation is compounded by worries among US farmers regarding China's lack of forward contracts for soybeans and minimal corn purchases. Despite these challenges, US agricultural exports to India reached $2.27 billion in 2024, with significant shipments of tree nuts, ethanol, and cotton. India's recent decision to temporarily eliminate cotton import duties offers some relief to US growers, although this measure is set to expire on September 30.
Published: Aug 22 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has assured that fertilizer availability during the current kharif season is stable, emphasizing its commitment to timely and equitable supply for farmers. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has instructed officials to ensure sufficient fertilizer distribution amid reports of long queues at retail outlets. Meanwhile, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy raised concerns over black market sales of urea in Telangana, where prices have soared to ₹400 per bag, urging state intervention. In Uttar Pradesh, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Sahi discovered retailers charging above the maximum retail price for urea, leading to license suspensions. The Department of Fertilizers reported a total urea availability of 183 lakh tonnes, surpassing the pro-rata requirement of 143 lakh tonnes, with sales up 13 lakh tonnes from last year. The government attributed this stability to proactive diplomatic and logistical efforts, ensuring farmers face no shortages despite global supply challenges.
Published: Aug 22 2025, 9 pmeznews.inBasmati exporters in Punjab, responsible for 40% of India's aromatic rice exports, are seeking a permanent resolution to increasing rejections of their consignments by European countries, amid confusion over a High Court ruling. The Punjab government had issued a notification on May 10 banning 11 agrochemicals, followed by a July 15 notification adding 12 pesticides, including hexaconazole. However, a High Court interim order on July 30 stayed the May notification, leaving the July ban intact. Ashok Sethi, Director of the Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, highlighted the growing use of pesticides in basmati cultivation, which has led to residue issues affecting exports. Since 2012-13, the USFDA has rejected consignments due to maximum residue level violations. To address these challenges, the Association is collaborating with local agricultural bodies to educate farmers on pesticide use and is incentivizing those who comply with export standards. The next court hearing is scheduled for September 17.
Published: Aug 22 2025, 8 pm
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