eznews.inThe Indian government is set to release a commemorative ₹200 coin to mark the 200th anniversary of Rani Channamma's victory at Kittur, a significant early resistance against the British East India Company predating the 1857 mutiny. While these coins are legal tender, they will not be circulated widely and can be obtained through designated agencies. The circular coins will measure 44 millimeters in diameter, feature 200 serrations, and be made from a quaternary alloy of silver, copper, nickel, and zinc. The obverse will display the Ashoka Pillar's lion capital, while the reverse will depict Rani Channamma, alongside inscriptions commemorating her legacy and the years 1824 and 2024. Rani Channamma, born in 1778, became queen after marrying Raja Mallasarja and led her kingdom in battle against British encroachment following her son's adoption, ultimately facing defeat and imprisonment before her death in 1829. 
Published: Oct 23 2025, 10 ameznews.inCommerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to address outstanding issues in the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) ahead of Goyal's upcoming visit to Brussels. This meeting follows the recent conclusion of the 14th round of negotiations, with both sides aiming to finalize the agreement by December. Since resuming talks in June 2022 after an eight-year hiatus, discussions have intensified, focusing on key areas such as market access and duty reductions. India's bilateral trade with the EU reached USD 136.53 billion in 2024-25, making the EU India's largest trading partner. The negotiations encompass 23 policy areas, including trade in goods and services, investment, and intellectual property rights. The EU is pushing for significant duty cuts on various products, while Indian exports, including pharmaceuticals and textiles, stand to gain competitiveness if the agreement is finalized.
Published: Oct 23 2025, 4 ameznews.inThe procurement of oilseeds and pulses at minimum support prices (MSPs) has yet to commence, despite government approval a month ago, primarily due to high moisture content, affecting farmers who have sold over 9 lakh tonnes of key crops since September 24. The Centre has sanctioned the procurement of tur, urad, moong, groundnut, soybean, and sesame in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 13,890 crore. While groundnut purchases in Gujarat are expected to begin next week, requests from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan for procurement are still pending. Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister announced the implementation of the Bhavantar Yojana for soybean, aimed at compensating farmers for price differences. Current mandi prices for these crops are significantly below MSP, raising concerns about farmers' earnings. The Centre has set procurement caps for various crops, with Nafed and other agencies tasked with managing the process.
Published: Oct 23 2025, 7 ameznews.inAn Indonesian delegation is set to visit India at the end of October to address the suspension of Indian groundnut imports, which was enacted on September 3 due to concerns over aflatoxin contamination. The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) confirmed that Indonesia has responded to India's outreach regarding the issue. Trade analysts anticipate that the visit will lead to the resumption of imports, contingent on the delegation's satisfaction with Indian export processes. Exporters have raised concerns about Indonesia's delayed notification of aflatoxin issues and its testing standards, which they argue do not align with World Trade Organization guidelines. Indonesia is a significant market for Indian groundnuts, accounting for a third of exports, and the suspension could cost India approximately ₹410 crore ($46.65 million) in lost revenue. As the kharif harvest begins, Indian exporters are eager to resume shipments amid ongoing challenges in agricultural export markets.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 11 pmeznews.inUnion Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the construction of a fourth railway line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu, spanning 30.02 km, with an initial cost of ₹714 crore and an estimated completion cost of ₹757 crore. The Southern Railway will execute the project, aimed at alleviating congestion on the heavily utilized three-line stretch, which currently operates at 87% capacity, projected to rise to 136% without intervention. The new line will enhance suburban connectivity, particularly benefiting daily commuters, students, and professionals in the rapidly developing areas of Tambaram, Guduvancheri, and Chengalpattu. Additionally, it is expected to generate 1.3 million tonnes of freight traffic annually, yielding ₹157 crore in extra earnings, as it serves numerous industrial units in the region. The project has received endorsements from key Railway Board officials and is part of the broader 'Energy, Mineral & Cement Corridor' initiative.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inBus service aggregators in India, such as redBus and AbhiBus, are enhancing their offerings through strategic partnerships, innovative features, and targeted digital campaigns to attract diverse customer segments. AbhiBus recently introduced a filter for booking trips based on bus age, while redBus launched a feature for booking connecting buses when direct routes are unavailable. Both platforms are expanding their inventory by onboarding state transport providers, including the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation. AbhiBus has reported a 56% year-on-year increase in bookings from the 18-30 age group, particularly in cities like Indore and Lucknow. Revenue from bus operations surged 93% to ₹76.6 crore in Q1 FY26, driven by rising customer demand. The Indian bus industry is projected to exceed ₹1 lakh crore by 2026, with significant growth potential as only 20% of bookings are currently made online, indicating a digital inflection point in the sector.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Department of Food and Public Distribution has called on edible oil manufacturers and processors to register and submit monthly returns as required by the amended Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Order 2025. This regulatory change aims to enhance oversight and transparency within India's edible oil sector. The department noted that many units have already complied by registering on the National Single Window System and regularly submitting their production and stock data. Non-compliance will be treated as a violation, with potential penalties under the amended VOPPA Order and the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008. To enforce compliance, the department plans to conduct inspections and field verifications of non-compliant units. This initiative is crucial for accurate data collection, real-time monitoring, and improved policy planning, ultimately supporting national food security and supply chain resilience.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian Ministry of Road Transport has announced that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will deploy Network Survey Vehicles (NSV) across 23 states, covering approximately 21,000 km of National Highways. This initiative aims to improve the riding experience for commuters by systematically collecting and analyzing road inventory and pavement condition data. NHAI has invited bids from qualified companies to implement this project, which utilizes advanced sensors and data acquisition systems to identify road deficiencies and inform maintenance and infrastructure planning. The data will be uploaded to NHAI’s AI-based portal, Data Lake, for analysis by experts, ensuring that insights lead to actionable improvements. The NSV system employs 3D laser technology and high-resolution cameras to automatically detect road defects, with surveys scheduled every six months to maintain up-to-date records for effective asset management.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Kochi Shipbuilding Summit 2025, inaugurated by Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Ltd., aims to position India as a global leader in shipbuilding by 2047. Jointly organized with the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), the summit emphasized leveraging India's skilled workforce and robust economy to rank among the world's top five shipbuilding nations. Key discussions focused on collaboration, innovation, and investment, with D. Dhanuraj of CPPR stressing the need for synergy between industry and academia to foster research and skill development. A panel moderated by R. P. Pradhan featured experts who explored strategies to enhance competitiveness through financial reforms and technology adoption. The summit also highlighted the significance of sustainable practices and called for ongoing cooperation among government, industry, and academia to transform India into a global maritime hub, aligning with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India, in partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has unveiled the ‘Future Farming in India’ playbook as part of its ‘AI for India 2030’ initiative. This playbook aims to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence (AI) potential and its practical application for farmers, offering a roadmap to enhance crop yields, mitigate risks, and improve market access. Central to the strategy is the IMPACT AI framework, which comprises three pillars: ‘enable’ focuses on government-led foundational support; ‘create’ emphasizes industry collaboration for scalable AI solutions; and ‘deliver’ ensures accessibility of these solutions to farmers. The initiative also includes an ‘AI Playbook for SMEs’ and a white paper on the ‘AI Sandbox’ ecosystem, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in agriculture and small enterprises, as noted by key stakeholders.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 6 pm
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