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Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on June 18, 2025, that the government plans to amend seed and pesticide legislation to ensure quality agricultural inputs for farmers. This decision follows widespread concerns raised during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign that engaged 1.34 crore farmers across 721 districts from May 29 to June 12. Chouhan highlighted the campaign's success, which involved 60,281 programs and collaboration between the Centre and states, featuring 8,280 scientists. He noted that complaints about substandard seeds and pesticides were prevalent, prompting the ministry to tighten regulations under the Seeds Act, 1966, and the Insecticides Act, 1968. Additionally, Chouhan emphasized the importance of incorporating farmers' feedback into future policies and announced plans for a similar campaign during the rabi season. He also addressed crop damage from wild animals, suggesting the use of AI for monitoring and deterrent systems. 
Published: Jun 18 2025, 3 pmeznews.inWipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN) has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in French aerospace manufacturer Lauak Group, as announced at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday. The deal, expected to finalize in the coming months pending customary conditions, aims to bolster Wipro's presence in the European aerospace market and enhance its global capabilities. Pratik Kumar, CEO of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, emphasized that the acquisition aligns with Wipro's vision of creating a comprehensive aerospace solutions platform, promising increased value and innovation for customers. The agreement will establish a joint board of directors, with Mikel Charritton remaining as CEO to ensure operational continuity. The combined entity will be branded as WIPRO LAUAK, with Charritton expressing enthusiasm for the partnership's potential to innovate and strengthen their market position.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday that India's fintech market is expected to soar to $400 billion by 2028-29, reflecting an annual growth rate exceeding 30%. Speaking at the Digital Payments Awards 2025, she emphasized the immense opportunities within the sector, urging innovators to "Innovate, Include, and Inspire." Sitharaman highlighted India's remarkable achievement of 80% financial inclusion in just six years, attributing this success to the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and noting that India accounts for nearly half of all global real-time digital payment transactions. She also pointed out the potential for Indian fintech innovations to serve as global public goods, with international merchant payments via UPI already accepted in seven countries. The rapid growth of the fintech sector, with nearly 700 entities joining the Account Aggregator platform in three years, showcases India's unique momentum in financial technology, positioning it as a leader in the global market.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 9 pmeznews.inPrithish Chowdhary, CEO of Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL), announced that the new forged wheel set plant, a joint venture with Ramkrishna Forgings, located in Gummudipoondi near Chennai, is set to be fully operational by March 2026. The facility will produce 228,000 wheels annually, with 80,000 designated for Indian Railways over the next two decades, catering to various train types, including metros and Vande Bharat trains. Chowdhary revealed that Indian Railways has ordered 250 Vande Bharat sleepers, with contracts split between Kinet Railway Solutions and a consortium of BHEL and TRSL. At the Uttarpara plant, production lines for Ahmedabad Metro and Vande Bharat coaches have been inaugurated, with prototypes expected by early 2026. The company has secured over ₹1,200 crore in orders for FY25, including significant contracts for freight rolling stock and propulsion systems. The facility, spanning 35 acres, faced initial delays due to visa issues for Chinese workers but has since resolved these challenges.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 7 pmeznews.inUnion Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a comprehensive review of the "Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan," a 15-day initiative aimed at connecting agricultural research with farmers, which concluded on June 12. A meeting scheduled for June 24 will gather state agriculture ministers, officials, and scientists to evaluate the campaign's success and develop future strategies. Chouhan emphasized the need for sector-specific discussions, starting with soybean productivity, and a stakeholder meeting is set for June 26 in Indore to address low yields and advocate for genetically modified technology. The campaign engaged 1.34 crore farmers across 721 districts, conducting over 60,000 programs. In response to farmers' concerns about seed and pesticide quality, the government plans to tighten regulations and amend existing legislation. Chouhan also committed to increasing field visits to enhance farmer engagement and incorporate their feedback into future agricultural policies.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 7 pmeznews.inCommuters in Bengaluru are expressing frustration over rising transportation costs following the Karnataka government's ban on bike-taxi services. IT professional Ajay, who previously paid ₹60-70 for an 8 km bike ride, now faces nearly ₹200 for the same distance in an autorickshaw, effectively doubling his daily commute expenses. Architect Neha anticipates needing an additional ₹3,000 monthly for travel due to the fare hikes. A senior executive from a ride aggregator noted a surge in autorickshaw demand, leading to dynamic pricing and longer wait times, with some users resorting to tipping to secure rides. Ella, a media professional, reported waiting 20 minutes for an auto and incurring a 35% congestion fee. The Karnataka High Court upheld the ban, prompting bike-taxi operator Rapido to pause services while seeking a resolution with the government. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 24.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIn a significant move to mend strained relations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, to discuss the resumption of Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) talks, which had been stalled for nearly two years. This meeting marked their first engagement since Carney took office in March 2025. Both leaders agreed to appoint new high commissioners to facilitate regular services for citizens and businesses, emphasizing the need for senior ministerial and working-level engagements to rebuild trust. The discussions also touched on potential collaborations in clean energy, digital transformation, and food security, while reaffirming a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. This reconciliation follows a tumultuous period in 2023, when accusations of Indian involvement in the murder of a Canadian Sikh separatist led to diplomatic expulsions from both nations.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inRetail inflation for oil and fat surged by 17.91% in May 2025, significantly up from a decline of 6.71% a year earlier, according to official data. The increase is attributed to various edible oils, with mustard oil at 19.61%, coconut oil soaring to 78.04%, and refined oils like sunflower and soybean at 24.27%. In response, the Indian government announced a drastic cut in the basic customs duty on imported crude edible oils from 20% to 10% on May 30, prompting many companies to reduce their maximum retail prices (MRP) and prices to distributors (PTD). The Department of Food and Public Distribution has conducted inspections across major refining facilities to ensure these price reductions benefit consumers. The government emphasized its commitment to maintaining price stability and will monitor compliance closely, warning of regulatory actions for any delays in passing on the benefits to consumers.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIntra-city logistics provider Porter has announced its expansion into Kozhikode, Tiruppur, and Rajkot as part of its strategy to grow its presence in four to five cities annually. The initial phase will launch two-wheeler services, with plans to introduce three-wheelers and Tata Ace vehicles in the coming months. The company aims to onboard 10,000-15,000 customers per city within the first year, enhancing its offerings across all regions for faster, reliable deliveries. Ankit Dwivedi, VP of Expansion, emphasized the importance of this move in transforming logistics in tier-II cities, creating gig opportunities, and supporting MSMEs. Each city presents unique logistical demands, from Kozhikode's trading ecosystem to Tiruppur's garment industry and Rajkot's industrial base. Founded in 2014, Porter operates in 26 cities and recently secured Series F funding, reflecting the growing logistics sector in India, which contributes significantly to the GDP and employment.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning for 14 of Odisha's 30 districts, effective until Thursday morning, as a well-marked low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal is expected to move towards Jharkhand. The IMD forecasts heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, from June 18 to 24. A Red Warning has been issued for Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, while Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and several other districts are under an Orange Warning. A Yellow Warning is in place for additional districts, with gusty winds of 30-40 km/h anticipated. Fishermen are advised to avoid venturing into the sea on June 18 and 19, and residents in affected areas are urged to prepare for potential evacuations. The IMD warns of possible localized landslides and damage to infrastructure, crops, and communication lines due to the severe weather conditions.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 6 pmeznews.inFlipkart has announced plans to transition a significant portion of its last-mile delivery fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, aligning with its commitment to sustainability. In a strategic move, the Hyderabad-based electric two-wheeler retailer, BikeWo Green Tech Ltd, has partnered with Instakart Services, a logistics subsidiary of Flipkart, to enhance last-mile delivery operations across India using electric and green vehicles. This collaboration aims to onboard over ₹100 crore worth of new business within two years, focusing on the quick commerce sector. BikeWo's Managing Director, Manideep Katepalli, emphasized the partnership as a shared commitment to climate-conscious growth, highlighting the importance of sustainable logistics as e-commerce volumes increase. The initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency while significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional logistics practices, marking a pivotal step in both companies' environmental initiatives.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 6 pm
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