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More than a month after Gujarat's government unveiled a ₹10,000 crore relief package for farmers impacted by unseasonal rains, only ₹5,330 crore has been disbursed, benefiting 17.92 lakh farmers—just 58% of those who applied for assistance. Following the announcement on November 7, over 30.71 lakh farmers registered for aid, with applications from 26.6 lakh farmers approved to date. This relief initiative supplements a previous ₹947 crore package announced on October 20 for farmers affected by rains in August and September. Additionally, the government plans to purchase ₹15,000 crore worth of kharif produce, including groundnut and soybean, at minimum support prices (MSP). So far, 10.49 lakh tonnes have been procured, amounting to ₹7,537 crore disbursed to 2.18 lakh farmers. The government has established 317 procurement centres across 114 talukas and will begin purchasing 100% of Pigeon pea produce at MSP from December 22. 
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA recent survey by Mercer indicates that average employee salaries in India are projected to rise by 9% in 2026, as companies refine their remuneration packages to include short-term incentives and skill-based pay frameworks. Covering over 8,000 roles across more than 1,500 firms, the survey highlights that salary increases will be influenced by individual performance, inflation, and market competitiveness. Malathi KS, Mercer’s Rewards Consulting Leader for India, noted that organizations are redesigning their reward strategies to enhance workforce engagement and adaptability. The high-tech and automotive sectors are expected to see the highest salary increases, at 9.3% and 9.5%, respectively. Additionally, the implementation of new labour codes is anticipated to strengthen social security and preventive healthcare. As India navigates digital transformation and evolving workforce expectations, some companies are reassessing employee increment eligibility to manage costs effectively.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's renewable energy sector has seen significant financial mobilization, with public sector banks and institutions deploying approximately ₹7.16 lakh crore over the past five years. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) highlighted the need for an estimated ₹30.5 lakh crore from FY24 to FY30 to achieve a target of 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity. Minister Shripad Naik noted that while investments in the sector have surged from ₹0.66 lakh crore in FY21 to ₹2.68 lakh crore in FY25, further financing is essential, particularly for emerging areas like battery storage and green hydrogen. The Reserve Bank of India has also increased loan eligibility for renewable energy projects. Notably, investments in the sector reached nearly $18 billion in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing previous annual totals, driven by global interest and supportive policies.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a significant shift for India's energy landscape, the Lok Sabha has passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, which ends over six decades of state monopoly on nuclear power. Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh hailed the legislation as a "nuclear renaissance," aimed at achieving a target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. The Bill allows private entities to build and operate nuclear plants, while also capping operator liability at the equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR). However, the Opposition staged a walkout, arguing that the Bill undermines the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, by shielding suppliers from liability for defective equipment. Critics, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, expressed concerns over public safety and environmental risks, labeling the Bill as a dangerous move towards privatized nuclear expansion. The legislation is expected to be reviewed in the Rajya Sabha soon.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia and Oman are set to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) on Thursday in Muscat, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. The FTA aims to enhance India's exports across various sectors, including engineering goods, electronics, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, while also facilitating the movement of workers. Delays in finalizing the agreement were primarily due to concerns over Oman's Omanisation policy, which mandates local recruitment, and fears regarding potential misuse of the treaty by China. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is already in Muscat for the signing, emphasized the FTA's potential to create significant opportunities, particularly in textiles, auto components, and renewable energy. With bilateral trade between India and Oman reaching $10.6 billion in FY25, Oman is positioned as a crucial partner, potentially serving as a gateway to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and beyond.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's coffee exports are projected to surpass $2 billion in 2025, more than doubling in value over the past five years due to rising global prices amid supply challenges. As of December 16, 2025, shipments reached $1,968 million, a 21% increase from $1,630 million the previous year. In rupee terms, exports rose by 26% to ₹17,106 crore. Despite this growth in value, the volume of coffee exported has declined by 6% to 3.66 lakh tonnes, as some European buyers have turned to cheaper alternatives. Indian robustas and arabicas command significant premiums in global markets, with robusta parchment AB priced $1,000-1,100 per tonne above London prices. India ranks as the seventh largest coffee producer and fifth largest exporter, contributing about 5% to global coffee exports, with Italy, Germany, and Belgium being the top destinations.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a volatile trading session, India's benchmark indices saw declines, with the SENSEX closing at 84,559.65, down 120.21 points, while the NIFTY fell by 41.55 points to settle at 25,818.55. In contrast, crude oil prices rose by 23.00 to reach 5,094.00, while gold and silver saw gains, with gold increasing by 138.00 to 134,547.00 and silver surging by 7,135.00 to 204,890.00. Amid these market fluctuations, trade expert Biswajit Dhar emphasized India's strategic balancing act between the US and Russia, highlighting the importance of Russia's support in armaments and energy. He advised that India should maintain its current stance, particularly as it navigates its trade policies in light of upcoming developments in 2025, while also advocating for diversification of export destinations, particularly towards developing nations.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia, which commands approximately 70% of the global turmeric market, is facing increasing competition from countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, and several African nations, which are rapidly expanding their production capabilities. N Bhavani Sri, Secretary of the National Turmeric Board, emphasized the urgent need to enhance the quality of Indian turmeric to meet international standards, particularly by increasing curcumin content and reducing moisture levels. During the inaugural Turmeric Value Chain Summit 2025, she noted that top exporters are seeking quality seed material cultivated under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Despite India's dominant position, high rejection rates in the US and European markets highlight the challenges ahead. Stakeholders, including Palle Ganga Reddy and K Surendra Mohan, called for scientific studies and better communication with farmers to improve quality, while V Praveen Rao advocated for a shift towards high-value turmeric production. The summit was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry in collaboration with the National Turmeric Board.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA select committee has recommended significant amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aimed at expediting insolvency processes and enhancing governance. Chaired by Baijayant Panda, the committee's report, presented in the Lok Sabha, advocates for rationalising creditor-initiated, group, and cross-border insolvency frameworks, alongside establishing statutory timelines for case resolutions by insolvency tribunals. Key proposals include defining conduct standards for the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to improve governance and predictability, and clarifying the definition of "corporate debtor" to encompass foreign entities. The committee also suggested revising liquidation procedures to prevent automatic appointments of resolution professionals as liquidators and recommended a three-month timeline for appeals to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. These amendments are expected to be discussed in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, reflecting a concerted effort to streamline insolvency processes in India.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIn 2025, India faced significant diplomatic and economic challenges, primarily due to the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January. Trump's administration imposed a steep 50% import duty on most Indian goods, including a 25% penalty on discounted Russian oil, targeting India's close ties with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. Despite these pressures, India maintained its non-aligned stance, continuing oil purchases from Russia while engaging in complex trade negotiations with the US. Indian exporters demonstrated resilience, achieving a 2.6% year-on-year increase in goods exports during the April-November period. Additionally, India advanced its trade relationships, implementing a free trade agreement with the EFTA bloc and finalizing negotiations with the UK. As 2026 approaches, India must navigate ongoing tariff uncertainties from the US and regulatory challenges from the EU, all while managing its delicate geopolitical relationships.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 6 pm
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