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Kharif foodgrain production in India is expected to exceed the government's target of 171.39 million tonnes for the 2025-26 crop year, thanks to increased acreage and favorable monsoon conditions, according to Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh. Despite reports of localized damage from floods and heavy rains, the affected areas are minimal compared to the overall sown area, with crop conditions remaining strong. Coverage for kharif crops has risen to over 110 million hectares, driven by higher plantings of paddy and maize. Singh noted that while oilseed and pulse crops have seen lower coverage, productivity is anticipated to be high due to favorable conditions. Additionally, rabi sowing has commenced in Rajasthan, with preparations underway in other regions. To further support farmers, the government will launch the "Vikhist Krishi Abhiyan" campaign from October 3-18, deploying 2,100 teams to assist in villages. 
Published: Sep 22 2025, 6 pmeznews.inSurekha Yadav, Asia's first woman loco pilot, is set to retire on September 30 after an impressive 36-year career that has inspired many in India's railway sector. Hailing from Maharashtra's Satara district, Yadav has paved the way for the 2,037 women currently operating trains across the country. A diploma holder in electrical engineering, she joined Central Railway in 1989 after passing the assistant loco pilot exam, initially piloting goods trains before moving on to passenger services, including Mumbai's local trains and the prestigious Deccan Queen. Despite the challenges of a male-dominated profession, including long hours and difficult working conditions, Yadav credits her success to the unwavering support of her family and her passion for the job. As she prepares to retire, she offers both encouragement and caution to aspiring female loco pilots, emphasizing the demanding nature of the role and the importance of resilience.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIndia is actively negotiating with the European Union (EU) to mitigate the potential impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on its industries, particularly as it relates to the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions. The CBAM, set to be implemented on January 1, 2026, will impose carbon taxes on six key exports from India, including steel and cement, raising concerns about compliance costs for Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). While the EU has pledged to simplify regulatory norms for MSME importers and has made some exemptions, India remains cautious, awaiting the final details of the CBAM methodology. Officials express concern that the benefits of the FTA could be undermined by these carbon taxes, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue to address these issues as negotiations progress.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is reviewing a revamped version of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) regional air connectivity scheme, originally launched in October 2016 with a 10-year tenure. The new proposal, submitted to the Public Investment Board (PIB), aims to enhance regional air connectivity from 2026 to 2036, connecting 120 additional destinations and facilitating travel for four crore passengers over the next decade. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the initiative in the Union Budget 2025-26, emphasizing support for helipads and smaller airports in remote and hilly areas. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu described the extension as a significant move to bolster the civil aviation sector, highlighting the scheme's success in operationalizing over 600 routes and increasing the number of operational airports from 74 in 2014 to over 160 by 2024. The scheme operates on a market-driven model, incentivizing new airport development and offering viability gap funding to airlines.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Chennai Port Authority has announced that starting October 1, 2025, its two private container terminals—Chennai Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, operated by DP World, and Chennai International Terminal Pvt Ltd, managed by PSA Singapore—will impose a parking charge of ₹30 per TEU, plus GST, on all containers handled at the terminals. This charge will not apply to transhipment, restow, or rail-bound containers. The authority has urged port users and the trade community to disseminate this information widely and cooperate to ensure the smooth movement of trailers within the port area. The notice, issued by the traffic manager of the Chennai Port Authority, emphasizes the importance of this new regulation for maintaining operational efficiency at the port.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAs the paddy harvest season begins, stubble burning has resumed in Punjab and other states, with 64 incidents reported in the first week of the season, a slight decrease from 75 last year. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute's CREAMS reported 56 cases in Punjab, up from 52, while Haryana saw a drop to 3 cases from 16. Overall, the 2024 season recorded a 34% decline in crop residue burning incidents, totaling 37,602, with Punjab accounting for the highest number. Experts emphasize that farmers have sufficient time to prepare for wheat sowing, which typically starts in early November, and the government is providing support to reduce stubble burning. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced awareness campaigns and machinery assistance for farmers, amid concerns from the Supreme Court regarding enforcement against stubble burning. The practice remains a significant contributor to air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inRefex Industries Limited (RIL) has announced a significant restructuring of its green mobility business, which will see its wholly owned subsidiary, Refex Green Mobility Limited (RGML), merged into RIL before the demerger of its Green Mobility unit into a new entity, Refex Mobility Limited (RML). This newly formed company is set to be independently listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), allowing RIL to focus on its core operations in Ash and Coal handling while RML will concentrate on sustainable mobility solutions with clean fuel vehicles. Anil Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of RIL, emphasized that this move aims to enhance shareholder value and reinforce the company's commitment to technology-driven urban transport. Shareholders of RIL will receive equity shares in RML proportional to their existing holdings upon completion of the scheme. RIL's shares closed at ₹339.00, down 2.49% on the previous trading day.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Kharif sowing season has shown mixed results, with maize emerging as a standout crop, reporting a significant increase of 10.65 lakh hectares (12.6%) compared to last year. Despite an early start to sowing operations following the monsoon in Kerala, overall Kharif sowing reached 1,115.86 lakh hectares as of September 19, slightly up from 1,100.42 lakh hectares a year ago. Paddy coverage, however, has stagnated, with only 25,000 hectares sown recently, compared to 11.4 lakh hectares last year. While pulses saw a modest increase, oilseeds and cotton acreage declined by 2.7% and 2.5%, respectively. Notably, the area for coarse cereals rose to 194.01 lakh hectares, reflecting farmers' growing reliance on maize due to its favorable pricing and climate resilience. Sugarcane and jute planting have been completed, with sugarcane acreage showing a slight increase.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe market for biostimulants in India is projected to be valued between ₹2,500 and ₹3,000 crore, according to the Biological Agri Solutions Association of India (BASAI). At a recent press conference, BASAI President Sandeepa Kanitkar emphasized the importance of biostimulants in enhancing plant growth, particularly in the face of climate change. Since 2021, biostimulants have been regulated under the Fertiliser (Control) Order, with 146 products officially approved as of August. However, BASAI CEO Vipin Saini raised concerns over the inconsistent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates applied to biostimulants, which vary between 5% and 18%. He called for clarification on the classification of these products under the HSN code. Additionally, Kanitkar addressed the recent invalidation of provisional registrations for over 8,000 biostimulant products, advocating for a science-based approach to ensure quality products reach farmers.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 6 pmeznews.inChief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has expressed optimism that recent tax reforms, including a reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) and income tax relief, will significantly enhance India's GDP. Speaking at Network18’s _Reforms Reloaded 2025_ summit, he described the GST 2.0 initiative as a landmark reform poised to stimulate domestic demand, with an estimated economic impact exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore. Despite concerns over a potential fiscal deficit of ₹48,000 crore from the GST cuts, Nageswaran remains confident in achieving the fiscal deficit target of 4.4% for the current year, citing strong non-tax revenue growth and a positive outlook for the festive season. He also addressed the impact of Trump tariffs, predicting a 0.4-0.5% reduction in GDP growth this year, but noted that GST reforms could mitigate this effect and enhance foreign direct investment (FDI) prospects in the long term.
Published: Sep 22 2025, 6 pm
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