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India's edible oil imports surged by 51% in September 2025, reaching 16.04 lakh tonnes, up from 10.64 lakh tonnes in September 2024, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). This increase was driven primarily by a rise in crude palm oil (CPO), soybean oil, and sunflower oil imports, with CPO alone accounting for 8.24 lakh tonnes, compared to 4.32 lakh tonnes the previous year. However, imports of refined palm oil ceased due to a significant increase in the duty differential, which made it economically unviable. SEA Executive Director BV Mehta praised the government's decision to raise the duty difference as a strategic move to bolster domestic refining and align with the 'Make in India' initiative. Despite the monthly increase, overall edible oil imports for the first 11 months of the 2024-25 oil year fell by 3.8%, with a notable shift towards soft oils, which now comprise 50% of total imports. 
Published: Oct 15 2025, 6 pmeznews.inSelf-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN), a public charitable trust, is intensifying its efforts to empower women-led Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in rural India, with a new phase of its project supported by the Walmart Foundation. Following the success of its initial phase, which benefited over 24,000 women farmers, the second phase aims to reach 38,000 women across nineteen FPCs in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. During Phase I, the turnover of twelve FPCs surged by over 190%, and the average annual income of shareholders increased by ₹30,000. Women now make up 88% of the expanded shareholder base, which grew from 6,614 to 24,328. The initiative also established 34 Village Level Collection Centers, directly procuring 448 metric tonnes of produce from women farmers. The upcoming phase will focus on enhancing governance, empowering women leaders, and ensuring the sustainability of FPC operations.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inCisco India CSR and Social Alpha have launched the third edition of their accelerator programme, Krishi Mangal 3.0, aimed at fostering farmer-centric innovations. Seven startups have been selected to enhance their operations, focusing on climate resilience and income security to boost agricultural productivity and profitability. Each startup will receive milestone-based funding of up to ₹50 lakh, with the potential for an additional ₹2 crore, enabling them to engage with over 200,000 farmers and 150 farmer producer organisations across multiple states. The programme supports innovations leveraging artificial intelligence, IoT, and renewable technologies to tackle issues like soil degradation and supply chain inefficiencies. Notable participants include Ekosight Technologies and Rudra Solar Energy. Ganesh Neelam, Co-Founder of Social Alpha, emphasized the need for innovative solutions to help smallholder farmers navigate challenges exacerbated by climate change and economic pressures.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above rose for the third consecutive month, reaching 55.3% in September, up from 54.2% in June, according to the Statistics Ministry. However, the unemployment rate (UR) saw a slight increase to 5.2% in September, following two months of decline, with rural areas experiencing a rise to 4.6% and urban areas to 6.8%. Notably, the unemployment rate among urban females increased to 9.3%. The overall female unemployment rate also rose to 5.5%, influenced by higher rates among rural females. The LFPR for females reached 34.1%, the highest since May 2025, driven by improvements in rural participation. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) also climbed to 52.4%, the highest since May 2025, with female participation in rural areas increasing from 33.6% in June to 36.3% in September.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inTata Group's Air India is set to enhance its operations with the addition of 174 weekly flights across domestic and short-haul international routes for the winter schedule commencing October 26, 2025. This expansion aims to cater to the increasing travel demand and improve connectivity between major Indian cities and popular Southeast Asian destinations. Notably, flights between Delhi and Kuala Lumpur will rise from seven to ten weekly, while services to Bali will also increase to ten flights per week. Domestically, new direct services from Delhi to Jaipur and Jaisalmer will be introduced, alongside increased frequencies on routes to Udaipur, Jaipur, and Jodhpur. The airline is also bolstering its network in Central India with additional flights to Indore and Bhopal. This expansion coincides with the nearing completion of Air India's fleet retrofit programme, which has upgraded 26 of its Airbus A320neo aircraft, enhancing its service offerings as part of its transformation agenda.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIndia imports energy products from the US worth approximately $12-13 billion annually, with Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal indicating potential to increase this figure by a similar amount. As he prepares to join the Indian trade negotiating team in the US, Agrawal highlighted India's strategy to diversify its energy procurement, including crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal. He noted that past purchases have reached $23-24 billion, suggesting significant room for growth. While ongoing discussions aim to address tariff issues, Agrawal acknowledged the current challenges posed by the US government shutdown, which limits full-fledged negotiations. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal previously emphasized the importance of US involvement in India's energy security, aiming for price stability and diversified energy sources. Recent data shows US crude supplies to India have increased, although market share has fluctuated in recent months.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has opted to maintain the policy repo rate at 5.5% during its recent meeting from September 29 to October 1, 2025, despite unanimous agreement among members that there is potential for further cuts. The committee's neutral stance was debated, with two external members advocating for a shift to an accommodative position. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra emphasized the need to allow previous fiscal and monetary measures to take effect before considering additional rate cuts, citing ongoing global uncertainties and the evolving impact of recent government initiatives. Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta echoed this sentiment, warning that premature cuts could undermine policy credibility. Economists noted that while inflation has moderated, trade uncertainties pose risks to growth, suggesting a cautious approach to any future monetary easing. The MPC's next meeting in December may provide further clarity on potential policy adjustments.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAir India is in advanced discussions with Airbus and Boeing to significantly expand its fleet, potentially adding up to 300 aircraft, including 80 to 100 wide-body jets, as part of its turnaround strategy under the Tata Group. This follows earlier negotiations for 200 narrow-body jets and 25-30 wide-body aircraft. While Airbus has refrained from commenting on the negotiations, Air India and Boeing have not responded to inquiries. The latest plans aim to modernize the airline's operations and enhance its international network, particularly in the wake of a tragic Boeing 787 crash in June that resulted in 260 fatalities. The final distribution of the aircraft order between Airbus and Boeing remains undecided, with some orders possibly being options rather than firm commitments. This expansion reflects Air India's ambition to rebrand itself as a competitive global carrier.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian Commerce Ministry has established a commodity-specific fund to promote buffalo meat exports, requiring exporters to pay ₹250 per tonne to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for health certificates, effective October 29. This initiative is expected to generate over ₹30 crore annually, with 30% of the funds allocated for administrative costs and the remaining 70% dedicated to meat promotion. The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has mandated proof of payment to the Meat Export Development Fund (MEDF) for exporting chilled or frozen meat. Despite a decrease in shipment volume, buffalo meat exports rose 8.6% to $4.06 billion in 2024-25. The MEDF aims to enhance India's presence at international food events and facilitate trade delegation visits, addressing non-tariff barriers and promoting research in meat quality preservation. This follows the establishment of a similar fund for non-basmati rice exports.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centre for Agro Processing (FT-CFC) in Methagal village, Koppal district, on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity in the Kalyana Karnataka region. Funded through the Minister’s MPLAD scheme in collaboration with the Government of India and NABARD, the centre aims to promote value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and empower farmers as agripreneurs. Sitharaman highlighted Koppal's agricultural potential, contributing 10% to Karnataka's output, and emphasized the importance of skill-building and market linkages. The facility, managed by Gavisiddeshwara Farmer Producer Company, will process various fruits and is expected to generate ₹12.58 crore annually. Training programs in post-harvest management and digital marketing will cultivate a new generation of skilled farmers, while quality assurance will be maintained through accredited labs, ensuring products meet market standards.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inOverall capacity on India-West Asia routes has increased by 1.3% year-on-year, with Etihad Airways targeting growth in the corporate and premium leisure segments in India, according to CEO Antonoaldo Neves. The airline, which operates 183 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities, is set to enhance its offerings by introducing its new Airbus A321LR aircraft featuring private suites and lie-flat business class seats, starting with the Kolkata route. Neves noted that around 60% of seats on India-UAE routes are sold outside India, and the airline's premium cabin load factors have risen by 25% compared to last year. While competition has intensified, with rivals increasing flights between India and Abu Dhabi, Neves expressed optimism about the Indian market's potential, citing GDP growth and a thriving diaspora. He also highlighted the need for additional capacity to meet rising demand, as UAE carriers have fully utilized their air services agreement with India.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 6 pm
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