eznews.inIn the 2025-26 rice procurement season, states such as Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have offset declines in rice purchases from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, enabling the Centre to acquire 194.14 lakh tonnes (lt) of rice in the first two months, a 12.7% increase from 172.24 lt last year. The procurement period varies by state, with Punjab, traditionally the largest contributor, purchasing 104.80 lt—4% lower than last year—while Haryana saw a 30.4% increase to 35.96 lt. Notably, Tamil Nadu's purchases surged by 188% to 9.86 lt, and Telangana's rose by 52.2% to 17.05 lt. However, Uttar Pradesh's procurement fell by 18.8% to 6.05 lt. The government aims to procure 463.49 lt of rice this season, with total production expected to reach a record 124.50 million tonnes, according to the agriculture ministry. 
Published: Dec 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a recent interview, Anant Goenka, the young president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Vice-Chairman of the RPG Group, emphasized India's commitment to strategic autonomy and self-reliance, or '_Atmanirbharta_'. He urged the industry to rise to global challenges without relying on government support, highlighting the positive impact of recent GST cuts and income tax exemptions on private consumption and capital expenditure. Goenka outlined FICCI's priorities, including enhancing manufacturing's GDP contribution from 15% to 25%, fostering industry-academia partnerships, and improving trade and supply chains. He defended the new labour laws as beneficial for both workers and businesses, while also addressing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in relations with the US and Russia. As the Budget approaches, he called for increased support for export promotion, R&D investment, and a higher capex outlay for defence, underscoring the need for innovation and global market engagement.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended eight Air India staff members following a significant safety breach involving an Airbus A320 that was operated with an expired airworthiness review certificate (ARC). The DGCA's investigation revealed that the aircraft had been flown on the expired ARC for eight revenue sectors, prompting the regulator to ground the aircraft and initiate a probe into the incident. Sources indicate that the suspensions could lead to terminations, with department heads also potentially facing disciplinary action. Air India, which issues ARCs under delegated authority, has reported the incident to the DGCA and is conducting its own internal investigation to address system deficiencies. The regulator has issued ARCs for 69 out of 70 Vistara aircraft since their merger, with the DGCA overseeing the first renewal for the remaining aircraft. Air India has committed to cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) has launched the FASAL programme, which utilizes satellite technology to provide pre-harvest crop production estimates for 11 major crops across 557 districts in 20 states. Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Ramnath Thakur, detailed the programme's coverage, which includes states such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, employing multispectral and microwave satellite data for crop mapping and yield estimation. The initiative is a collaboration with ISRO, enhancing operational crop yield estimates through advanced models. In related news, Thakur reported significant drought damage to crops, with over 1.06 lakh hectares affected in Andhra Pradesh during the kharif season. Additionally, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh noted a steady increase in milk prices over the past five years, with procurement prices for buffalo and cow milk rising significantly, although the government does not regulate these prices.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inString Bio, a technology firm focused on sustainable agricultural solutions, has successfully conducted its inaugural field trials in Vietnam in partnership with the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI). The trials centered on 'CleanRise', a patented foliar microbial biostimulant designed to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and improve plant responses, ultimately increasing productive tillering and decreasing grain sterility. Previous studies in India indicated that CleanRise could reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions by up to 50%. The CLRRI trials, conducted during the Summer-Autumn 2025 season, tested CleanRise under various nitrogen levels in paddy fields. CLRRI representatives noted its compatibility with existing farming techniques and alignment with Vietnam's 'One Million Hectare Low-Carbon Rice Program'. String Bio's CEO, Ezhil Subbian, expressed confidence in CleanRise's potential for Vietnamese rice farmers, citing successful outcomes from Indian trials as a foundation for expansion.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inSR Satishchandra has been unanimously re-elected as President of the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd for the 2025-30 term, alongside Padmaraj Pattaje, who will serve as Vice-President. Satishchandra, a seasoned cooperative leader from Punacha village in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district, previously held the presidency from 2015 to 2020 and has over 25 years of experience in the sector. His counterpart, Pattaje, an agriculturist from Pattaje village in Kerala's Kasaragod district, has also been a Campco Director for two terms and is involved in various cooperative institutions. The leadership transition reflects a commitment to enhancing the cooperative's role in the agricultural sector, particularly in arecanut and cocoa marketing and processing. The announcement was made on December 2, 2025.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inAirbus is currently evaluating the impact of a newly identified fuselage quality issue on its A320 jets, which has resulted in "weak" deliveries for November, according to CEO Guillaume Faury. Speaking to Reuters, Faury described the situation as "another challenge" for the company, which is already facing a backlog in year-end deliveries. He indicated that assessments regarding December handovers would be conducted in the coming hours and days. November saw only 72 aircraft delivered, falling short of expectations, as some planes were halted during the transition from production to delivery due to concerns over their fuselage panels. Faury emphasized the need to evaluate both the affected aircraft and those scheduled for delivery by year-end, as Airbus aims to meet its target of 820 handovers. The company has refrained from commenting further ahead of its monthly orders and deliveries report set for release on Friday.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIndia's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has initiated an investigation into Air India after the airline operated an Airbus A320 aircraft eight times without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate, a crucial document that verifies adherence to safety standards. The DGCA has grounded the aircraft and de-rostered the personnel involved in this oversight. While the regulator did not disclose the specific aircraft type, sources confirmed it was an Airbus single-aisle jet. This incident marks another safety lapse for Air India, which has faced previous warnings from the DGCA regarding issues such as crew fatigue management and training. An Air India spokesperson expressed regret over the incident and stated that the airline has suspended the personnel responsible, pending further review. Airbus has yet to comment on the situation.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIn a stark warning about rising global protectionism, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reported that trade measures, including tariffs, affected imports worth $2,640 billion from mid-October 2024 to mid-October 2025, a significant increase from $611 billion in the previous year. The report highlighted that nearly 20% of world imports are now impacted by such measures, up from 12.6% a year prior. The US, while not explicitly named, has implemented reciprocal tariffs on various trade partners, notably affecting India, where exports to the US fell by 11.9% in September 2025 due to a 25% tariff and additional penalties on Russian oil purchases. Despite a record $86.51 billion in total goods exports to the US in FY25, concerns loom over potential declines in FY26 if tariffs persist. Okonjo-Iweala urged WTO members to seize this moment to reform the organization and enhance trade facilitation amid ongoing disruptions.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 5 pmeznews.inExperts assert that while India is advancing its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) initiatives, it is unlikely to become the country's primary energy source, remaining instead a component of a diversified energy portfolio. A recent report, “VISION 2040 - NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIA,” submitted to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), emphasizes the need for robust infrastructure to facilitate natural gas distribution. Arjun Murti from Veriten highlighted that abundant global LNG supply, particularly from the US and Qatar, could support India's energy needs, but LNG must compete with domestic coal, solar, and battery technologies. He noted that India's energy strategy should prioritize reliable and affordable sources, advocating for a diverse supplier base to mitigate reliance on any single country. As India’s energy demand grows, the integration of various energy sources, including renewables, will be crucial for a sustainable future.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 4 pm
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