eznews.inIndia's aviation sector is poised for significant growth in 2026, with Boeing ramping up production of its 737 Max aircraft. In 2025, Indian airlines added a net total of 35 planes, following the induction of 79 aircraft but the return of 44 upon lease expiration, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. IndiGo led the additions with 22 new aircraft, while Air India Express and Akasa Air followed with 8 and 5, respectively. This marks a slowdown compared to 2024, when IndiGo alone added 59 planes. Akasa Air anticipates receiving 1-2 new aircraft monthly, aiming for a fleet of 45 Boeing 737 Max by year-end. Air India is set to enhance its fleet with six new wide-body planes, including Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. IndiGo is also preparing for growth, focusing on innovation and expanding its domestic and international networks. 
Published: Jan 01 2026, 6 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has announced a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) mechanism for pan masala, cigarettes, and tobacco products, set to take effect on February 1, 2026. Under this framework, the GST rate for these products will rise from 28% to 40%, while the compensation cess will be eliminated. This change is expected to increase the revenue share for states, as the combination of excise duty and the new GST rate will enhance the resources flowing to them. Article 270 of the Constitution allows Parliament to impose specific purpose cess, which cannot be shared with states, leading to the introduction of the compensation cess to address revenue shortfalls post-GST implementation. Despite the changes, the overall tax incidence on pan masala remains at 88%. The new mechanism aims to bolster public health and national security financing while reducing chronic tax evasion in high-risk sectors.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) achieved a record-breaking 21.63 billion transactions in December 2025, as reported by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This marks a significant year-on-year increase of 29% in transaction volume and a 20% rise in transaction value, totaling ₹27.97 lakh crore for the month. On average, 698 million transactions were processed daily, up from 20.47 billion transactions worth ₹26.32 lakh crore in November. Over the entire calendar year of 2025, UPI recorded approximately 228 billion transactions valued at nearly ₹300 lakh crore, surpassing the 172 billion transactions worth ₹246.82 lakh crore in 2024. Experts suggest that the next phase of UPI's growth will focus on innovative payment methods and enhanced user experiences, with NPCI's initiative to improve UPI Autopay seen as a crucial step towards increasing transparency and trust among users and merchants.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 pmeznews.inIn December, India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections saw a decline of over 5% in net domestic revenue, attributed to a surge in refunds, which rose by more than 62%. Despite this downturn, experts remain optimistic, noting that the overall gross collection increased by 6.1% to ₹1.74 lakh crore, driven by strong contributions from states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. The decline in net collections is linked to the recent GST rate reductions and the emergence of an inverted duty structure affecting various sectors. Analysts, including Vivek Jalan from Tax Connect, anticipate a rebound in GST collections over the next year as government spending boosts consumption. Saurabh Agarwal from EY India emphasized that the current moderation aligns with expectations following the government's rationalization efforts, which aim for long-term tax stability. As the Budget 2026-27 approaches, there is a call for continued focus on GST reforms to enhance compliance and revenue certainty.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's coffee exports for 2025 have surpassed the $2 billion mark for the first time, reaching $2.058 billion, a 22% increase from the previous year, driven by high prices and strong demand from the Russian Federation. Despite a 4.5% decline in overall volumes to 3.48 lakh tonnes, shipments of Arabica and instant coffees rose significantly. The value of shipments increased by 27% to ₹17,911 crore, with per unit realisations climbing 33% to ₹4.65 lakh per tonne. Notably, Arabica parchment exports rose by 5.5% to 38,326 tonnes, while instant coffee exports grew by 2.68% to 1.53 lakh tonnes. Italy remained the largest buyer, although its imports fell, while Russia emerged as the second-largest buyer, with a 20% increase in imports. Germany, the third-largest buyer, saw a significant decline in imports. India ranks as the seventh-largest coffee producer and fifth-largest exporter globally.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 6 pmeznews.inAs December's cold intensified, electricity consumption surged nearly 7% to 138.39 billion units, driven by increased use of heating appliances such as geysers and blowers, particularly in North India. Government data revealed that peak power demand also rose, reaching 241.20 GW compared to 224.23 GW in December 2024. This follows an all-time high of approximately 250 GW recorded in May 2024. Experts anticipate that power demand will stabilize in January as temperatures continue to drop, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting cold wave conditions in Delhi, where temperatures may fall below 5 degrees Celsius. On January 3, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 14.2 degrees Celsius, significantly below normal, while the minimum was 6.4 degrees Celsius, slightly below seasonal averages. Looking ahead, peak power demand is projected to reach 277 GW in the summer of 2025.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 3 pmeznews.inKochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) celebrated a significant achievement on New Year’s Day, recording a total of 161,683 passenger journeys across its integrated transport network, the highest single-day ridership since its inception. This milestone was facilitated by the efficient services of Kochi Metro, which extended operations until 2:00 am, accommodating 139,766 passengers. The Electric Feeder Bus service, operational until 4:00 am, also set a record with 6,817 passengers, while the Kochi Water Metro saw approximately 15,000 users during the festivities. KMRL Managing Director Loknath Behera attributed this success to collaborative efforts, emphasizing punctuality, cleanliness, and effective communication. The introduction of 15 electric feeder buses enhanced connectivity, encouraging more commuters. Since its launch in 2017, Kochi Metro has transported over 175.2 million passengers, with December alone witnessing 3.26 million journeys, reflecting a growing reliance on public transport.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's tea production in November 2025 fell by approximately 16.29% to 124.19 million kilograms, down from 148.36 million kilograms in the same month last year, primarily due to adverse climatic conditions affecting North India. Assam, the largest tea-producing state, reported a 10.59% decrease in output to 60.76 million kilograms, while West Bengal experienced a significant decline of 26.75% to 41.27 million kilograms. Notably, the Dooars and Terai regions in West Bengal saw declines of 24% and 30.06%, respectively. In contrast, Tamil Nadu, the third-largest producer, bucked the trend with a nearly 6% increase in production to 14.28 million kilograms. Overall, small growers faced a 20% drop in output, while larger producers saw a 10% decline. For the year-to-date, India's tea output reached 1,290.58 million kilograms, slightly up from 1,272.95 million kilograms in 2024.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIndia is nearing the completion of wheat sowing for the 2025-26 rabi season, with Agriculture Commissioner PK Singh reporting that 32.26 million hectares have been sown as of December 29, slightly below last year's total of 32.8 million hectares. Singh noted that sowing is largely finished nationwide, except for some areas in Bihar, and the total acreage could match last year's figures. Over 73% of the sown area features climate-resilient and bio-fortified seed varieties, enhancing resilience against adverse weather. The wheat crop is currently in excellent condition, with no reported issues from growing regions. Additionally, sowing of pulses and oilseeds is complete, while rice planting will continue until the end of January in southern India. An anticipated strong wheat harvest is expected to support government welfare programs and stabilize prices, while good yields of pulses and oilseeds may reduce import pressures.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIn the latest market update, India's benchmark indices showed positive movement, with the SENSEX rising by 61.70 points to close at 85,282.30, while the NIFTY gained 32.90 points, reaching 26,162.50. Commodity prices also experienced upward trends, with crude oil increasing by 3.00 to settle at 5,216.00. Gold prices saw a notable rise, climbing by 244.00 to reach 135,691.00, and silver followed suit, gaining 99.00 to close at 235,800.00. This overall positive performance reflects a resilient market sentiment amid ongoing economic developments.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 pm
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