eznews.inIndia's cotton production for the 2025-26 season is projected to improve despite a 2.53% reduction in acreage, particularly in key states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, where farmers have opted for more lucrative crops. The overall cotton area has decreased to 109.64 lakh hectares, with Gujarat and Maharashtra seeing significant declines. However, timely rains and lower pest incidences have raised yield expectations, with estimates suggesting a total crop size of 325 to 340 lakh bales, up from 312 lakh bales last season. Southern states, particularly Karnataka and Telangana, are expected to see increased yields, potentially offsetting losses from the north. Despite this optimistic outlook, cotton prices are under pressure due to record imports and muted demand, prompting the Cotton Corporation of India to prepare for significant market intervention. The USDA anticipates a slight drop in imports as production rises, while global cotton production faces challenges from adverse weather conditions. 
Published: Sep 17 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is set to launch a ₹5,000 crore initiative aimed at promoting clean steel-making technologies to reduce carbon emissions, Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik announced at the ‘FT Live Energy Transition Summit India’ in New Delhi. The proposed National Mission for Sustainable Steel will allocate 75-80% of its funding to secondary steel producers, incentivizing them based on their emission reductions compared to previous years. This initiative aligns with India's commitment to the Paris Agreement and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Poundrik highlighted that the domestic steel sector, responsible for 12% of India's greenhouse gas emissions, has been growing at an average rate of 12% annually, with production reaching 152 million tonnes last year. He noted that the impact of US tariffs on Indian steel exports is minimal, as domestic consumption is expected to rise significantly, necessitating an increase in production capacity to meet future demand.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has recommended the adoption of the 'Kolkata Model' for assessing capital gains on Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) following the introduction of Section 45-5A in the Income Tax Act post-Finance Act 2017. This section mandates that capital gains be taxed in the year a completion certificate is issued, with the landowner's share valued at the stamp duty rate. The Kolkata Model employs a five-step process to identify potential non-compliance cases. It begins with gathering information from regulatory bodies like RERA, followed by identifying relevant JDAs, cross-referencing tax returns, verifying capital gains disclosures, and issuing summons if necessary. CBDT aims to implement this proactive approach nationwide to enhance compliance monitoring. Last year, the CBDT also sought data on occupancy certificates from field formations to streamline integration with tax systems, further supporting this initiative.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 10 ameznews.inExporters, importers, and logistics operators are sounding the alarm over significant delays in container movement between Kochi and Coimbatore, primarily due to stalled flyover construction and deteriorating road conditions. Travel times for container trailers, which typically take around four hours, have now ballooned to 8-9 hours, complicating logistics and jeopardizing vessel cut-off times, according to Dileep Abraham of the Custom Broker & Shipping Agents Association. The situation has led to increased operational costs, with trailer operators demanding higher charges to cover extra fuel and maintenance expenses. Prakash Iyer, chairman of the Cochin Port Users Forum, noted that the delays are impacting not only truck operators but also shipping lines, while S.P. Kamath of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged authorities to expedite roadworks that have lagged since February 2025. The ongoing issues threaten the competitiveness of Cochin Port and the livelihoods dependent on this vital trade corridor.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 11 ameznews.inIndia's exports to the United States have sharply declined, with August shipments plummeting to $6.7 billion, a 16.3% drop from July, marking the steepest monthly fall of 2025, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). This decline follows the Trump administration's imposition of high tariffs, which doubled to 50% by the end of August, significantly eroding the price competitiveness of Indian goods. Exports had already dipped in July and June, following a brief rise in May due to front-loaded purchases before the tariffs took effect. GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava noted that sectors heavily reliant on US markets, such as apparel and pharmaceuticals, are under severe stress, with potential losses of $30-35 billion in exports if the tariffs persist through FY 2026. He urged the Indian government to provide support to exporters to mitigate job losses and maintain trade performance.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 11 ameznews.inGlobal technology firm Thales has secured an 11-year avionics maintenance support contract with IndiGo, covering over 1,200 Airbus A320 aircraft, including more than 800 planes scheduled for future delivery. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, incorporates Thales' 'By The Hour' and 'Repair By The Hour' programmes, with maintenance operations to be conducted at Thales' facility in Gurugram, Haryana. Additionally, IndiGo has extended its contract with Thales' AvioBook for the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution by five years, enhancing paperless operations across its fleet. The AvioBook system, in use for over a year, has reportedly reduced paper consumption significantly and streamlined operations for over 2,000 daily flights. Thales, a prominent player in defence, aerospace, and digital sectors, has been operating in India since 1953, further solidifying its partnership with the airline industry.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has recommended that field formations adopt the 'Kolkata Model' for assessing capital gains on Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) following the introduction of Section 45-5A in the Income Tax Act post-Finance Act 2017. This section mandates that capital gains be taxed in the year a completion certificate is issued, with the landowner's share valued at the stamp duty rate. The Kolkata Model outlines a five-step process to identify potential non-compliance cases. It begins with gathering information from regulatory bodies like RERA, followed by identifying relevant JDAs, cross-referencing tax returns, verifying capital gains disclosures, and issuing summons if necessary. The CBDT emphasized that this proactive approach enhances compliance monitoring and could serve as a nationwide standard. Last year, the CBDT also sought data on occupancy certificates issued over the past three financial years to improve integration with tax systems.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia's e-commerce logistics market is poised for significant growth, projected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16% by FY30, according to a JP Morgan report. This expansion is largely attributed to increased customer engagement in tier-2 and smaller cities, alongside technological advancements that enhance operational efficiency. Despite this promising outlook, the broader logistics industry has struggled to keep pace with demand, facing challenges such as high scale barriers and insufficient investment. Many e-commerce logistics firms remain unprofitable, prompting potential consolidation if growth does not accelerate. Additionally, the report highlights the need for improved infrastructure in emerging markets and the adoption of technology, including AI and machine learning, to optimize delivery processes. As consumer expectations shift towards faster delivery options, major companies are increasingly offering same-day and next-day services, while large conglomerates are implementing omni-channel retail strategies to enhance customer experience.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 9 ameznews.inPunjab's border districts, including Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Kapurthala, Fazilka, and Ferozepur, have been severely impacted by recent floods, with Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian reporting damage to 5 lakh acres across 2,185 villages. At a national conference on the Rabi campaign 2025, Khudian urged the Centre to allocate an additional Rs 151 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to restore silted land and support the agricultural economy. He highlighted the urgent need for Rs 80 crore to provide certified wheat seeds to affected farmers and requested 637 quintals of mustard seeds and 375 quintals of black gram seeds. Khudian also called for timely supplies of fertilizers and the release of ₹8,000 crore in withheld funds. The Union Agriculture Minister assured that the Centre would take necessary steps to assist Punjab during this crisis.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 9 ameznews.inThe Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged the Indian government to refrain from imposing an export duty on low-grade iron ore, warning that such a move could lead to an annual revenue loss exceeding ₹800 crore from current production levels. In a letter to Union Minister of Mines G Kishan Reddy, the GCCI highlighted that the imposition of an export levy would severely impact Goa's mining sector, destabilize operations, and threaten thousands of jobs. The chamber emphasized the need to maintain the existing NIL export duty regime for low-grade ores, which are primarily unsuitable for domestic steelmakers due to their lower quality compared to ores from other states. With Goa's mining operations still recovering from years of suspension, the GCCI cautioned that any new levy could undermine investor confidence and hinder the fragile recovery of the state's mining-dependent economy.
Published: Sep 17 2025, 9 am
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