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Mangaluru airport is currently awaiting land acquisition to establish a second ‘runway safety basic strip’ aimed at enhancing operational safety. This strip, which runs alongside the runway, is crucial for improving safety during take-offs and landings, and the airport currently has a 140-metre strip on one side but requires an additional 32.97 acres on the opposite side. The airport, operated by Mangaluru International Airport Ltd (MIAL) under a public-private partnership with the Adani Group since October 2020, has faced challenges in securing this land. The Karnataka government has been approached to facilitate the acquisition, but has yet to agree to a free transfer. Recent discussions in the Lok Sabha highlighted these obstacles, with local MP Capt Brijesh Chowta expressing optimism that the Union Civil Aviation Minister will expedite the process. The acquisition is expected to bolster passenger safety and confidence, particularly during adverse weather conditions. 
Published: Apr 20 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe weather outlook for the remainder of April indicates an increase in nor’wester activity across East and North-East India, driven by strong westerly wind streams. A western disturbance has formed a cyclonic circulation over northern Pakistan, creating a trough of low pressure extending from north-west Rajasthan to east Bangladesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of violent weather, including widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds, particularly in North-East India, where heavy rainfall is expected in Assam and Meghalaya over the next five days. Additionally, a trough from north Chhattisgarh to the Gulf of Mannar will bring similar conditions to southern states, including Karnataka and Kerala. As the month progresses, a high-pressure area may develop, potentially confining the nor’westers to narrow streams along the eastern Himalayas and affecting the eastern seaboard from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) has called on the Indian government to prioritize the revival of organic, non-GMO soybean and soybean meal exports to the United States amid ongoing Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations. Previously, India exported between 150,000 and 200,000 tonnes of these products to the US, but trade was halted due to safeguard duties imposed after domestic US producers raised concerns. SEA President Sanjeev Asthana emphasized the importance of including this issue in BTA discussions. Additionally, the association highlighted problems with non-standardized packaging of edible oils, which has led to consumer confusion due to varying pack sizes introduced after regulatory changes in 2022. SEA has urged the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to restore standardized packaging requirements to enhance transparency and consumer trust in the market.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia is poised to implement a temporary safeguard duty of 12% on certain steel imports, aimed at curbing the influx of cheap steel from countries like China, South Korea, and Japan. This decision follows a recommendation from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) after an investigation revealed that rising imports have adversely affected the domestic steel industry. The tariff is expected to be enacted swiftly, with the Ministry of Finance set to make the final decision. India, the world's second-largest crude steel producer, has seen its finished steel imports reach a nine-year high of 9.5 million metric tons in the 2024/25 fiscal year, prompting concerns from local steelmakers, including JSW Steel and Tata Steel, about potential job cuts and operational reductions. The move aligns India with other nations taking measures to protect their domestic industries from foreign competition.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has projected a fertilizer subsidy of approximately ₹1.68 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2025-26, with ₹1.19 lakh crore earmarked for urea and ₹49,000 crore for phosphatic and potash fertilizers. This marks a 6% decrease from the previous fiscal's expenditure of ₹1,77,129.5 crore, attributed to reduced imports of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) alongside lower international prices. Despite this decline, the actual subsidy exceeded the revised budget estimate of ₹1,71,310 crore. Urea subsidies rose slightly to over ₹1.24 lakh crore, while phosphatic and potash subsidies fell by 19% to ₹52,810 crore. A former agriculture secretary noted that reducing fertilizer subsidies is a strategic move to manage fiscal expenditure, as food subsidies remain untouchable. The Fertilizer Ministry is also exploring a pilot program for direct cash transfers of subsidies, building on existing data-sharing initiatives with the Agriculture Ministry.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 4 pmeznews.inCentral and state GST officers have uncovered 25,009 fake firms involved in fraudulent input tax credit (ITC) claims amounting to ₹61,545 crore during the 2024-25 fiscal year, leading to the recovery of ₹1,924 crore and the arrest of 168 individuals. Over the past two years, a total of 42,140 fake firms have been identified, generating ITC fraud exceeding ₹1.01 lakh crore, with ₹3,107 crore recovered and 316 arrests made. To combat this issue, the GST registration process has been tightened, requiring physical verification and Aadhaar authentication for high-risk applicants. The GST Act imposes penalties for fraudulent ITC claims, including the suspension of registrations and blocking of ITC in electronic ledgers. Officials have emphasized the importance of intelligence sharing and data analytics in detecting fraudulent activities, with two national conferences held to enhance enforcement efforts while maintaining business facilitation.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) reported a net addition of 1.61 million members in February 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.99% in payroll additions compared to February 2024. The surge in new subscribers, totaling approximately 739,000, is attributed to increased employment opportunities and heightened awareness of employee benefits, particularly among the youth. Notably, individuals aged 18-25 accounted for 57.71% of new subscribers, with a net payroll addition of 678,000 in this age group. Additionally, around 1.32 million former members rejoined EPFO, marking an 11.85% increase from the previous year. Female participation also rose, with 208,000 new female subscribers and a 9.23% increase in net female payroll additions. Maharashtra led the states in net payroll growth, contributing 20.90% of the total, while expert services accounted for 41.72% of the overall net payroll addition.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe Third World Network (TWN) has criticized the recently drafted Pandemic Agreement, stating it fails to adequately address the health inequities highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Following three years of negotiations, the agreement is set for consideration at the World Health Assembly in May, but TWN argues it lacks essential details, particularly regarding the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) instrument, which is intended to be an annex to the agreement. The organization emphasizes the need for binding commitments to ensure equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics during public health emergencies, warning that without specific obligations, the disparities seen during past outbreaks may persist. TWN also calls for legally binding provisions on technology transfer and the establishment of a fair global supply chain for health resources. The agreement's development follows 13 rounds of negotiations by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which was formed to enhance pandemic preparedness and response.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's leather and non-leather footwear exports surged by approximately 25% year-on-year, reaching $5.7 billion in 2024-25, with projections suggesting they could exceed $6.5 billion in the current fiscal year, according to the Council for Leather Exports (CLE). Executive Director R Selvam noted that the sector has surpassed its export target by $1 billion, driven by robust demand from both developed and developing nations, particularly the US and UK. Despite a 10% tariff increase prompting exporters to offer discounts, there have been no order cancellations. CLE Chairman Rajendra Kumar Jalan highlighted a positive outlook, with strong order books and significant interest from Chinese investors in collaborating with Indian manufacturers. The leather industry, which employs around 4.2 million people and has a total turnover of $19 billion, aims to achieve a turnover of $39 billion by 2030, including $13.7 billion from exports.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 2 pmeznews.inPineapple prices in Kerala have plummeted by 50% compared to last year, with wholesale rates currently at ₹32 for green and ₹41 for ripe varieties, according to Baby John, president of the Pineapple Growers Association Keralam. This decline is attributed to heavy summer rains that have boosted production by 30%, resulting in a market glut, with daily output reaching 1,600 tonnes and projected to hit six lakh tonnes by the financial year's end. Traditionally, prices peak in March and April, but the early rains have disrupted this trend. However, traders are optimistic about increased demand from upcountry markets and the upcoming wedding season in New Delhi, where pineapples are a popular choice. They anticipate a price rebound by June as mango demand decreases, aided by growing consumer awareness of the fruit's quality and safety.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 1 pmeznews.inGujarat has emerged as a leader in renewable energy investments, attracting over ₹1.17 lakh crore, which constitutes nearly one-third of India's total investments in the sector from 2020 to 2024. The state boasts an installed renewable energy sources (RES) capacity of 32,924 megawatts (MW) as of February 2025. Alongside Rajasthan, which has a capacity of 33,468 MW and attracted ₹96,191 crore, both states collectively account for over 53.5% of the ₹3.99 lakh crore invested in RES nationwide during this period. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka follow, with investments of ₹39,431 crore, ₹26,526 crore, and ₹23,104 crore, respectively. Solar power has been the standout performer, with investments reaching ₹2.64 lakh crore, representing 66% of total RES investments. India's solar capacity surged to 100.33 GW by January 2025, reflecting a remarkable growth trajectory in the sector.
Published: Apr 21 2025, 1 pm
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