eznews.inIn a volatile trading session, India's benchmark indices saw declines, with the SENSEX closing at 84,559.65, down 120.21 points, while the NIFTY fell by 41.55 points to settle at 25,818.55. In contrast, crude oil prices rose by 23.00 to reach 5,094.00, while gold and silver saw gains, with gold increasing by 138.00 to 134,547.00 and silver surging by 7,135.00 to 204,890.00. Amid these market fluctuations, trade expert Biswajit Dhar emphasized India's strategic balancing act between the US and Russia, highlighting the importance of Russia's support in armaments and energy. He advised that India should maintain its current stance, particularly as it navigates its trade policies in light of upcoming developments in 2025, while also advocating for diversification of export destinations, particularly towards developing nations. 
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia, which commands approximately 70% of the global turmeric market, is facing increasing competition from countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, and several African nations, which are rapidly expanding their production capabilities. N Bhavani Sri, Secretary of the National Turmeric Board, emphasized the urgent need to enhance the quality of Indian turmeric to meet international standards, particularly by increasing curcumin content and reducing moisture levels. During the inaugural Turmeric Value Chain Summit 2025, she noted that top exporters are seeking quality seed material cultivated under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Despite India's dominant position, high rejection rates in the US and European markets highlight the challenges ahead. Stakeholders, including Palle Ganga Reddy and K Surendra Mohan, called for scientific studies and better communication with farmers to improve quality, while V Praveen Rao advocated for a shift towards high-value turmeric production. The summit was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry in collaboration with the National Turmeric Board.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA select committee has recommended significant amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aimed at expediting insolvency processes and enhancing governance. Chaired by Baijayant Panda, the committee's report, presented in the Lok Sabha, advocates for rationalising creditor-initiated, group, and cross-border insolvency frameworks, alongside establishing statutory timelines for case resolutions by insolvency tribunals. Key proposals include defining conduct standards for the Committee of Creditors (CoC) to improve governance and predictability, and clarifying the definition of "corporate debtor" to encompass foreign entities. The committee also suggested revising liquidation procedures to prevent automatic appointments of resolution professionals as liquidators and recommended a three-month timeline for appeals to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. These amendments are expected to be discussed in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, reflecting a concerted effort to streamline insolvency processes in India.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inMore than a month after Gujarat's government unveiled a ₹10,000 crore relief package for farmers impacted by unseasonal rains, only ₹5,330 crore has been disbursed, benefiting 17.92 lakh farmers—just 58% of those who applied for assistance. Following the announcement on November 7, over 30.71 lakh farmers registered for aid, with applications from 26.6 lakh farmers approved to date. This relief initiative supplements a previous ₹947 crore package announced on October 20 for farmers affected by rains in August and September. Additionally, the government plans to purchase ₹15,000 crore worth of kharif produce, including groundnut and soybean, at minimum support prices (MSP). So far, 10.49 lakh tonnes have been procured, amounting to ₹7,537 crore disbursed to 2.18 lakh farmers. The government has established 317 procurement centres across 114 talukas and will begin purchasing 100% of Pigeon pea produce at MSP from December 22.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIn 2025, India faced significant diplomatic and economic challenges, primarily due to the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January. Trump's administration imposed a steep 50% import duty on most Indian goods, including a 25% penalty on discounted Russian oil, targeting India's close ties with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. Despite these pressures, India maintained its non-aligned stance, continuing oil purchases from Russia while engaging in complex trade negotiations with the US. Indian exporters demonstrated resilience, achieving a 2.6% year-on-year increase in goods exports during the April-November period. Additionally, India advanced its trade relationships, implementing a free trade agreement with the EFTA bloc and finalizing negotiations with the UK. As 2026 approaches, India must navigate ongoing tariff uncertainties from the US and regulatory challenges from the EU, all while managing its delicate geopolitical relationships.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 6 pmeznews.inDespite a 50% tariff imposed by the US in August, India's gem and jewellery exports showed resilience, rising 6% year-on-year to $2.9 billion in September. However, exports plummeted 31% to $2.17 billion in October before rebounding by 20% to $2.5 billion in November, as the industry geared up for the holiday season. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has provided crucial support by allowing banks to defer loan payments and extending export credit tenures to 450 days, helping exporters manage cash flow amid ongoing challenges. With the US market accounting for about 30% of India's gem exports, industry leaders warn that continued tariff pressures and rising financing costs could further compress profit margins. As the RBI's moratorium ends in December, stakeholders are calling for sustained government support to navigate the uncertain global demand landscape and maintain competitiveness, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 6 pmeznews.inAverage employee salaries in India are projected to rise by 9% in 2026, driven by a focus on short-term incentives and skills-based remuneration systems, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Survey. The report, which analyzed over 8,000 roles across 1,500 companies, highlights that salary increases will be influenced by individual performance, inflation, and market competitiveness. Companies are refining their rewards packages to enhance workforce engagement and adapt to evolving business needs, particularly in the face of digital transformation and the demand for in-demand skills. The High Tech and Automotive sectors are expected to see the highest salary increases at 9.3% and 9.5%, respectively. Additionally, new labour codes will strengthen social security and preventive healthcare. Mercer emphasizes the need for organizations to reassess employee increment eligibility and foster a high-performance culture to navigate these changes effectively.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 4 pmeznews.inAs sugar production is set to surge in the 2025-26 season, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSF) has urged the Indian government to take swift action to stabilize domestic sugar prices. The federation is advocating for an increase in the sugar export quota and the diversion of an additional 500,000 tonnes of sugar for ethanol production to mitigate price declines. NFCSF President Harshwardhan Patil emphasized that government intervention is crucial for providing relief to financially strained sugar mills, particularly cooperatives. Despite robust sugarcane availability and improved efficiency, millers are concerned that surplus production could lead to lower prices, further eroding profit margins. The NFCSF has also called for a revision of the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) to reflect rising production costs. Industry representatives warn that ongoing financial stress could jeopardize timely payments to farmers, exacerbating rural distress.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 4 pmeznews.inAs the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the BBNJ Agreement, is set to take effect on January 17, 2026, India is actively developing a domestic framework to facilitate its ratification and implementation. A national stakeholder consultation, organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with various research institutes and international partners, gathered experts from diverse fields to evaluate India's readiness. The BBNJ Agreement, adopted in March 2023, aims to conserve marine biodiversity in international waters and has been signed by 145 countries, with 76 ratifications to date. Experts emphasized the Treaty’s potential to enhance global ocean governance, address challenges like climate change and overfishing, and provide a structured approach to managing high seas biodiversity. Recommendations from the consultation will inform India's roadmap ahead of the next Conference of Parties in August 2026, highlighting the importance of integrating science, policy, and law in ocean management.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 3 pmeznews.inInconsistencies between headquarters' exclusivity commitments and regional execution are causing significant challenges in Asia's burgeoning consumer goods sector, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Industry sources report that these discrepancies have led to unauthorized market entries, compliance lapses, and regulatory confusion, as products from different production hubs enter protected markets despite existing agreements. Analysts highlight that such issues reflect deeper governance misalignments rather than isolated operational errors, exacerbated by a reliance on legacy family-business practices. As Indian FMCG companies expand in the MENA region, the need for robust governance frameworks has become critical, especially for those transitioning from founder-led cultures to institutional models. With investors increasingly demanding unified compliance standards and accountability, the pressure is on for companies to ensure that governance evolves in tandem with their rapid growth, as misalignment poses significant strategic risks.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 12 pm
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