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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced at the Munich Security Conference that India has increased its climate action spending from 3.7% to 5.6% of GDP over the past six years, underscoring the nation's commitment to meeting its carbon emission reduction goals. She emphasized that India is proactively investing in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies, with significant funding allocated in the Union Budget for 2026-27. Notably, India has already achieved two-thirds of its renewable energy commitments, four years ahead of schedule. Sitharaman also advocated for a differentiated approach to climate action costs, arguing that less polluting nations should bear a smaller financial burden. She highlighted the importance of resilience and adaptation in climate strategies, stressing that no single solution can address all climate challenges effectively. The Finance Minister's remarks reflect India's ongoing dedication to sustainable development amid global climate discussions. 
Published: Feb 14 2026, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has launched the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment) scheme, designed to provide cashless emergency care for road accident victims and enhance survival rates during the critical "golden hour." Approved by the Prime Minister as a priority initiative, the scheme allows eligible victims to receive treatment worth up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days post-accident, with stabilisation care for up to 48 hours depending on the severity of injuries. The initiative aims to tackle the high road fatality rates in India, where timely medical intervention can significantly reduce deaths. Integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112, the scheme facilitates quick access to hospitals and ambulance services. A digital platform will streamline accident reporting, hospital admissions, and claim processing, with reimbursements managed through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. Claims are expected to be settled within ten days, ensuring prompt financial support for hospitals.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 8 pmeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant visit to Assam on Saturday, inaugurating the region's first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Moran, a strategic development aimed at enhancing defense and disaster response capabilities. Arriving aboard a C-130J aircraft from Chabua airfield, Modi landed on a 4.2-km reinforced stretch of National Highway-37, which will serve both civil and military purposes, acting as an alternative to Dibrugarh airport during emergencies. The ₹100-crore facility is expected to bolster logistics and security in the Northeast, a region historically sensitive to geopolitical tensions. Modi expressed pride in the facility's establishment, emphasizing its importance during natural disasters. He was welcomed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other officials, and later witnessed an aerial display by the Indian Air Force. Sarma highlighted the event as a transformative moment for the region, reflecting Modi's commitment to securing the Northeast.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 5 pmeznews.inAdani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has expressed confidence that its flagship Mundra Port in Gujarat will maintain its market share despite the impending Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), which aims to enhance freight efficiency across northern and western India. APSEZ argues that Mundra's structural advantages, including shorter hinterland distances, integrated logistics, and superior vessel turnaround times, will keep it competitive. CEO Ashwani Gupta emphasized that the DFC's impact on Mundra's cargo volumes will be negligible, as the port's operational efficiencies and cost advantages remain unmatched. He noted that even with the DFC's improvements, Mundra retains a significant distance advantage over competing ports, which translates to lower costs for customers. Divij Taneja, CEO of Logistics at APSEZ, echoed this sentiment, projecting steady container volumes and targeting double-digit growth for Adani Logistics, despite potential shifts from road to rail transport.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 4 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has launched the second phase of the Startup India Fund of Funds (FoF 2.0), with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore aimed at fostering innovation in non-metro areas and mitigating early-stage startup failures due to funding shortages. Announced following a Cabinet meeting, the initiative seeks to mobilise venture capital for high-tech sectors requiring long-term investment, while also enhancing the domestic venture capital landscape. Since the inception of Startup India in 2016, the ecosystem has expanded dramatically, growing from under 500 to over 200,000 recognised startups. The previous FoF 1.0 successfully allocated its entire corpus to 145 Alternative Investment Funds, which in turn invested over ₹25,500 crore in various sectors. Additionally, the Cabinet approved eight infrastructure projects, including an extension of the Noida Metro Rail Project and multitracking initiatives across several states, with a combined investment exceeding ₹20,000 crore.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 4 pmeznews.inThe Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the successful development of a physics-based soil moisture retrieval algorithm at the Space Applications Centre (SAC-ISRO), which promises scientific robustness and operational accuracy. Utilizing data from the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), the algorithm systematically images the Indian landmass in S- and L-bands, generating high-resolution soil moisture products at 100m every 12 days. This data is crucial for monitoring crop health, irrigation needs, and drought risks, thereby playing a significant role in India's agricultural and water management strategies. The soil moisture products, which provide consistent estimates across diverse agro-climatic regions, will be generated at the National Remote Sensing Centre and made accessible through the Bhoonidhi Portal, facilitating support for farmers, planners, and researchers nationwide.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 4 pmeznews.inSouthern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Ltd (SPIC) has reported a significant increase in net profits after tax for the nine months ending December 31, 2025, rising to ₹182.01 crore from ₹136.22 crore in the same period last year. For the October-December 2025 quarter, the company posted a net profit of ₹54.07 crore, up from ₹38.50 crore in the previous year. However, total income from operations for the quarter declined to ₹778.39 crore, compared to ₹823.23 crore a year earlier, while total income for the nine-month period increased to ₹2,419.36 crore from ₹2,340.82 crore. The company noted that ₹20.10 crore of its other income was related to an insurance claim for profit loss due to operational shutdowns caused by floods. SPIC Chairman Ashwin Muthiah emphasized the company's commitment to sustainable production, while K R Anandan has been appointed as the new whole-time director (finance) and chief financial officer.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 4 pmeznews.inAndhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu unveiled a substantial ₹53,752 crore budget for the Agri and Allied Sectors for the 2026-27 financial year during a session in Amaravati. The budget allocates ₹14,277 crore for irrigation, ₹13,722 crore for the power sector, and ₹12,152 crore for the Agriculture Department, reflecting agriculture's significant contribution of 33.20% to the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of ₹17.62 lakh crore. Atchannaidu highlighted the state's impressive agricultural growth rate of 7.83%, surpassing the national average of 0.80%, and noted that Andhra Pradesh accounts for 10% of India's agricultural output. Additionally, ₹6,600 crore has been earmarked for the 'Annadata Sukheebhava - PM Kisan' financial assistance scheme, and the budget aims to expand micro irrigation by adding 3.75 lakh acres to the existing 5.5 lakh acres.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 3 pmeznews.inThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented stricter alcohol-testing regulations for pilots and cabin crew, mandating video-recorded breath-analyser tests and enhanced reporting protocols. Under the new Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), all crew members must undergo pre-flight and post-flight breath-analyser examinations, with recordings retained for six months. Operators are obligated to report any positive or missed tests within 24 hours. The regulations introduce a tiered penalty system, ranging from warnings to potential licence suspensions for serious infractions, including tampering with testing equipment. Notably, crew members assigned to flights carrying VIPs must undergo pre-flight testing, with no option for post-flight testing. The updated rules also extend to non-scheduled operators and flying training institutes, requiring daily testing of a proportion of student pilots. These changes come amid rising concerns over alcohol compliance following incidents involving unfit pilots, including a recent case involving an Air India pilot in Vancouver.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 1 pmeznews.inIndia must transition from a focus on growth at scale to enhancing productivity as it aims for Viksit Bharat by 2047, according to a KPMG report. Titled "Top 10 Priorities for India's Next Growth Phase," the report outlines a strategic agenda emphasizing manufacturing depth, human capital, and infrastructure efficiency. It highlights the need for a shift from assembly to comprehensive manufacturing, improved logistics, and a focus on quality outcomes in education and services. With a median age of 28 and a projected working-age population of over 1.13 billion by 2050, the report calls for operationalizing the National Education Policy and enhancing skills in advanced sectors. Strengthening MSMEs, which employ over 110 million, and improving infrastructure utilization are also critical. The report underscores the importance of fiscal discipline and private capital engagement, asserting that Viksit Bharat represents an ongoing commitment to building a prosperous, resilient, and inclusive nation.
Published: Feb 14 2026, 11 am
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