eznews.inA delegation of Indian officials, led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, is set to visit the United States next week to finalise the legal text for an interim trade agreement, with a signing anticipated in March, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. The visit, scheduled to commence on February 23, follows a joint statement released earlier this month, which outlined the framework for the agreement. Agrawal noted that the next step involves translating the agreed contours of the deal into a formal legal document. Ongoing virtual discussions are also taking place as both nations work towards solidifying the terms of the agreement. The development marks a significant step in enhancing trade relations between India and the US. 
Published: Feb 16 2026, 5 pmeznews.inIndia's merchandise exports saw a slight increase of 0.61% in January, reaching USD 36.56 billion, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. In contrast, imports surged by 19.2% to USD 71.24 billion, up from USD 59.77 billion a year earlier, resulting in a trade deficit of USD 34.68 billion for the month. Agrawal noted that exports are on an upward trajectory in both goods and services, with projections indicating that total exports for the fiscal year could exceed USD 860 billion. For the April-January period, exports rose by 2.22%, totaling USD 366.63 billion. The data reflects ongoing trends in India's trade landscape as it navigates global economic challenges.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 4 pmeznews.inDespite facing global economic challenges, Tamil Nadu's economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience, as highlighted in the State's 2025-26 Economic Survey. Contributing 9.4% to India's GDP, Tamil Nadu's economy reached ₹31.19 lakh crore in 2024-25, with a nominal growth rate of 16% and a real growth rate of 11.2%. The manufacturing sector outperformed the national average, achieving a real growth rate of 14.74%. The primary, secondary, and services sectors contributed 13.4%, 33.1%, and 53.6% to the Gross State Value Added, respectively. Notably, FDI inflows surged from US$2,436 million in 2023-24 to US$3,681 million in 2024-25, while merchandise exports nearly doubled from US$26.15 billion in 2020-21 to US$52.07 billion. Additionally, the state reported a decline in unemployment from 5.1% to 3.5%, with a per capita income of ₹3.62 lakh, significantly above the national average. Health indicators also showed improvement, with low infant mortality and high life expectancy rates.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 3 pmeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi's government is aiming to increase private investment in highway development to 25% by next year, a significant rise from the current low single digits. This initiative comes a decade after private investors withdrew due to concerns over revenue risks and bureaucratic hurdles. To attract global funds, the government is set to introduce new rules that promise revenue protection for developers, with plans to award projects worth ₹1 lakh crore ($11 billion) to the private sector by fiscal year 2027. The latest budget allocates ₹12.2 lakh crore for infrastructure, including a 6.9% increase for roads and bridges. The government is also addressing industry grievances related to project delays and competition, while establishing an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to bolster investor confidence. This renewed focus on private capital is part of a broader strategy to modernize infrastructure and enhance India's competitiveness against China.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 2 pmeznews.inUK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is leading a high-profile delegation to the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, which runs from February 16 to 20. Accompanied by AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, the delegation includes representatives from major British tech firms and organizations such as techUK and OpenUK. Lammy emphasized the summit's potential to forge strategic partnerships and investments that benefit workers in the UK, India, and globally, while ensuring robust safety standards in AI development. The event is expected to attract over 200,000 participants, including 20 world leaders and more than 100 CEOs, focusing on themes of people, planet, and progress through specialized working groups. Narayan will also visit Bengaluru to explore collaboration opportunities, highlighting the strong ties between UK and Indian tech sectors, with Indian firms having recently committed £1.3 billion in investments in the UK.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 1 pmeznews.inS Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, announced that the India Impact AI Summit 2026 has attracted over 250,000 participants globally, surpassing expectations. Speaking on the summit's inaugural day, he described the overwhelming enthusiasm for the event, which has led to full-capacity crowds at nearly all sessions. Krishnan emphasized that all registered attendees are welcome to participate in various sessions, except for those scheduled on February 19, and urged adherence to safety guidelines to ensure a smooth experience. The multi-day event, running from February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam, will feature the India AI Impact Expo 2026, officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Expo will showcase over 300 exhibition pavilions and 600 startups, highlighting international collaboration in AI. With more than 500 sessions planned, the event aims to foster partnerships and explore AI's transformative potential across sectors.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 1 pmeznews.inTea production in the Nilgiris district has been significantly impacted by a severe frost spell, leading to reduced offerings at the Coonoor auctions. The quantity of CTC leaf offered was just 775,617 kg, with an 88% sales rate, while dust grades saw 224,096 kg offered and an 89% sales rate, according to Global Tea Auctioneers. The cold temperatures have damaged tender tea shoots and slowed new growth, resulting in lower arrivals of green leaves and decreased overall production. This situation is particularly challenging for small growers and factory workers, as recovery will take time until temperatures rise and rains arrive. Despite the challenges, prices remained firm, with high-quality teas selling for ₹4 to ₹5 more, while primary whole leaf grades dropped by ₹5 to ₹6. The auction, identified as Sale No. 7, saw limited activity from blenders, affecting market dynamics.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 1 pmeznews.inWholesale price inflation in India rose to 1.81 per cent in January, marking the third consecutive month of increases, driven by higher prices in food, non-food articles, and manufactured goods, according to government data released on Monday. This uptick contrasts with a deflation of 0.43 per cent in December. Notably, inflation in food articles reached 1.55 per cent, while vegetable prices surged by 6.78 per cent. Manufactured product inflation also increased to 2.86 per cent, and non-food articles saw a significant rise to 7.58 per cent. However, the fuel and power sectors continued to experience deflation at 4.01 per cent. Retail inflation also edged up to 2.75 per cent in January. The Reserve Bank of India has cut policy interest rates by 1.25 percentage points this fiscal year, maintaining the key rate at 5.25 per cent as it monitors inflation trends.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 12 pmeznews.inCurrency in circulation (CiC) in India has surged to a record ₹40 lakh crore as of January 2026, reflecting an 11.1% year-on-year growth, driven by increased ATM withdrawals, particularly in Karnataka due to GST notices to small merchants, and a growing preference for cash in rural areas. Despite this rise, the cash-to-GDP ratio has declined to 11% from 14.4% in FY21, indicating a shift towards digital transactions, with UPI transactions reaching ₹28 lakh crore in January 2026. Economists from SBI noted that while cash demand correlates positively with GDP, it is not keeping pace with UPI growth, suggesting a greater reliance on digital payments. Additionally, rising precious metal prices have prompted households to recycle gold and silver, further contributing to CiC. The Reserve Bank of India has also directed banks to increase the availability of ₹100 and ₹200 notes in ATMs to enhance public convenience.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 11 ameznews.inIn a significant shift for global energy trends, 2025 marked the first decline in coal-based electricity generation in both China and India in half a century, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). While coal-fired generation remained largely stable worldwide, regional dynamics diverged sharply. In India, a surge in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, outpaced slower electricity demand growth, leading to a notable 20% increase in renewable generation. Conversely, China's coal output fell by approximately 1% due to a robust rise in renewables and nuclear power, despite a recovery in electricity demand during the latter half of the year. The IEA anticipates that China's coal decline will continue through 2030, while India's drop is expected to be temporary, with coal output projected to rise again. Overall, the shift reflects a growing reliance on low-emission energy sources amid changing consumption patterns.
Published: Feb 16 2026, 11 am
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