eznews.inIndia has solidified its position as a leading producer and exporter of natural honey, primarily shipping to markets in the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The government has extended the minimum export price (MEP) for natural honey to $1,400 per tonne until March 31, 2026, following a reduction from $2,000 in August to enhance export competitiveness. In the current financial year, honey exports reached 60,002 tonnes valued at $117.97 million, with over 100,000 tonnes exported in the previous year. Major honey-producing states include Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Punjab. The government is also advancing the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) under the 'Sweet Revolution' initiative, aimed at boosting honey production and farmer incomes through organized beekeeping, with a budget of ₹370 crore remaining from an original allocation of ₹500 crore. 
Published: Jan 01 2026, 12 pmeznews.inThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to Air India regarding the operation of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, VT-ANI, which has reportedly experienced repeated technical issues. The notice, issued this week, highlights concerns over non-compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) during a flight on June 28, as well as safety issues related to aircraft dispatch and crew decision-making on flights AI 258 and AI 357, which operate on the Delhi-Tokyo route. Sources indicate that the regulator is particularly troubled by the airline's decision to operate the aircraft despite prior knowledge of its ongoing technical snags and system degradations. Air India has not yet commented on the matter, and it remains unclear whether the aircraft is currently out of operation.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 10 ameznews.inUnion Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced plans for a stringent law aimed at combating the sale of spurious seeds and pesticides, which would hold companies legally accountable for crop failures linked to substandard products. Speaking at a 'Shetkari Samvad' event in Maharashtra, he revealed that the proposed legislation would include provisions for penal and criminal actions against offenders. Chouhan also allocated Rs 367 crore to Maharashtra under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to bolster the agricultural sector. He emphasized the need for modernizing agricultural education to keep pace with technological advancements and proposed an independent certification system for organic farming to enhance market prices for farmers. Additionally, he warned against black-marketing of fertilizers and highlighted the importance of accurate crop damage assessments to maximize compensation for affected farmers. The minister also noted the allocation of 29 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the state.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 ameznews.inThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the distribution details of a $12 billion aid program aimed at supporting row crop farmers facing financial difficulties due to low crop prices and trade disputes. Under the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, rice, cotton, and oat farmers will receive the highest per-acre payments, with rice farmers set to receive $132.89, cotton farmers $117.35, and oat farmers $81.75. In contrast, soybean growers will receive only $30.88 per acre, a figure criticized by industry representatives as insufficient to maintain financial viability amid significant trade losses, particularly from reduced sales to China. The payments, based on 2025 planted acres and market conditions, are expected to be disbursed by February 28, 2026. The remaining $1 billion of the aid package is earmarked for specialty crop and sugar farmers, with distribution details yet to be finalized.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 ameznews.inIndia has extended its minimum export price (MEP) for natural honey to USD 1,400 per tonne for an additional three months, now lasting until March 31, 2026. This regulation, initially introduced in March 2024, prohibits exports below this price threshold. The key markets for Indian honey include the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, India’s honey exports reached a value of USD 177.52 million. To further support the sector, the Indian government has launched the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), aimed at promoting scientific beekeeping practices. The primary honey-producing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, and Rajasthan, contributing significantly to the country's honey production and export capabilities.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 11 pmeznews.inSagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd (SMFCL), a maritime-focused non-banking financial company, has officially entered the maritime lending sector by approving loans totaling approximately Rs 4,300 crore. Of this amount, Rs 4,000 crore is allocated for a greenfield port project, while the Dredging Corporation of India and Goa Shipyard will receive Rs 150 crore and Rs 110 crore, respectively, to enhance dredging capacity and indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. Inaugurated in June by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, SMFCL aims to address financing gaps in the maritime sector, targeting a loan book of Rs 8,000 crore by 2025-26. The corporation is also designated as the nodal agency for the Maritime Development Fund, which has a total corpus of Rs 25,000 crore. With upcoming guidelines for the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, SMFCL plans to offer tailored financial products to support various maritime projects and enterprises.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 11 pmeznews.inIndia's economy is projected to maintain strong growth despite facing near-term risks from external geopolitical and trade tensions, as highlighted in the latest Financial Stability Report (FSR) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Governor Sanjay Malhotra emphasized the resilience of the domestic financial system, supported by robust consumption, investment, and healthy balance sheets across financial sectors. While stress tests indicate that banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) can withstand adverse scenarios, the report warns of potential impacts from increased exchange rate volatility and a downturn in US equities. Household debt has risen to 41.3% of GDP, primarily driven by non-housing retail loans, yet remains lower than in many emerging market economies. Overall, the FSR underscores the importance of maintaining strong guardrails to protect the economy from external shocks while highlighting the stability of the financial system amid global uncertainties.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe Indian Finance Ministry has announced that from February 1, the Health Security se National Security Cess Act and the Central Excise (Amendment) Act will come into effect, maintaining the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on tobacco products, including cigarettes and pan masala, at 28%. The new cess will fund public health and national security initiatives, while revenues from excise duties will contribute to the divisible tax pool. The Central Excise (Amendment) Act introduces a new excise duty on various tobacco products, replacing the existing compensation cess, with rates ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹11,000 per 1,000 cigarettes, and up to 100% on nicotine products. This move ensures that taxation on these 'sin goods' remains high, even after the compensation cess, which was extended until March 2026 to offset revenue losses from the GST implementation during the pandemic.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe Indian government's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the automotive sector has made significant progress, with investments totaling ₹35,657 crore and cumulative incentives of ₹2,321.94 crore disbursed as of December 31, 2025, according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI). The initiative has also created nearly 49,000 jobs. The PLI scheme promotes products with a domestic value addition of at least 50%, with eight applicants in the champion original equipment manufacturer (OEM) category and ten in the component champion category receiving DVA certification for various electric vehicle models. Notably, incentives have been allocated for over a million electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and buses. In the first performance year of FY 2023-24, ₹322 crore was disbursed to four companies, while for FY 2024-25, ₹1,999.94 crore has been allocated to five approved applicants, including major players like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn the first four months of the 2025-26 sugar season, India’s sugar release quota has reached 88 lakh tonnes, marking a 4.3% decline compared to the same period last year. The government has allocated 22 lakh tonnes for domestic sales in January, a decrease of 2.2% from 22.5 lakh tonnes in January 2025, amid lower demand and sales, which have dropped by approximately 50,000 tonnes compared to October-November 2024. Karnataka's sugar factories face an 18% reduction in their sales quota, while Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have seen increases. Mills are allowed to swap domestic quotas for export quotas, with Karnataka's Sameerwadi sugar factory surrendering over 12,000 tonnes for this purpose. Overall, India’s sugar production is projected to rise to 343 lakh tonnes, up from less than 300 lakh tonnes last season, despite a reduction in the ethanol quota from 35 lakh tonnes to 29 lakh tonnes.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 8 pm
For the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
India
World
Economy
Science
Health
Showbiz
Contact