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The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is set to launch a ₹1,000-crore second fund for start-ups, primarily through its investment arm, Nabventures, which aims to contribute around 40% of the total investment. This new fund, expected to be introduced this financial year, will focus on rural development, particularly in agriculture and climate technology, building on the success of its first fund that fully invested in 19 companies. Nabard is also prioritizing digital transformation to enhance support for farmers and self-help groups (SHGs), with plans to establish a data warehouse to facilitate access to vital agricultural advisories. The initiative aims to empower approximately 95 lakh SHGs, particularly women-led groups, to foster microenterprises and job creation. Nabard's Chairman, Shaji KV, emphasized the importance of leveraging data to innovate solutions for rural challenges and improve the share of cooperatives in agricultural credit. 
Published: Dec 18 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIndiGo has maintained its flight operations from Delhi and Mumbai while implementing a 10% reduction in its overall schedule, as mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on December 9. The airline is now utilizing higher-capacity Airbus A320 aircraft on routes previously serviced by ATR planes to comply with the directive, which aims to alleviate congestion on high-demand flights. Currently, IndiGo operates 2,200 flights under the revised schedule, having submitted a new 15-day plan to airports. While reductions have been noted in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, cancellations in Delhi and Mumbai remain minimal. CEO Pieter Elbers expressed confidence that the worst disruptions are behind them, emphasizing a focus on resilience and operational stability. He acknowledged the airline's long-standing commitment to safety and customer service, stating that IndiGo will continue to connect India effectively. A government review of the airline's operations is expected in the coming weeks.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is contemplating the establishment of a sugarcane development board following a recommendation from the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) amid rising cane payment defaults, which have reached ₹2,000 crore in the early months of the current season. This situation echoes the 2018-19 season when cane arrears hit ₹20,000 crore, prompting a government intervention to raise the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar. Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra indicated that the government is considering various measures, including a revision of the MSP, increased export allowances, and higher ethanol allocations, to support the struggling sugar mills. The outgoing ISMA president, Gautam Goel, emphasized the need for an MSP adjustment to reflect production costs, while Chopra assured that timely payments to farmers are a priority. With sugar production projected at 34.3 million tonnes for the 2025-26 season, the government aims to prevent surplus stock accumulation and ensure farmers receive their dues promptly.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe arabica coffee harvest is currently underway in Karnataka, India's largest coffee-producing state, but growers are hesitant to sell due to volatile prices influenced by global trends. Following a peak, farmgate prices for arabica have declined, attributed to improved production forecasts in Brazil. Bose Mandanna, a prominent grower, noted that recent rains caused issues like fruit splitting, but clearer weather has aided the harvest. Approximately 30-40% of the arabica crop has been collected, with expectations of a higher yield this year, as it is an "on-year" for arabica. The Coffee Board estimates arabica output for the 2025-26 season at 1,18,125 tonnes, surpassing last year's figures. However, prices have dropped, with arabica parchment now selling for ₹26,000-27,000 per 50-kg bag, down from ₹29,000-30,000. Meanwhile, robusta harvesting has begun but is expected to gain momentum in January.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia is experiencing a significant decline in reservoir storage, with levels dropping for the sixth consecutive week to below 85% of capacity, as the country faces a lack of rainfall. Between October 1 and December 18, only 20% of the 730 districts reported deficient post-monsoon rainfall, primarily affecting Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and the northeast. Currently, major reservoirs hold 151.452 billion cubic metres (BCM), or 82.51% of their total capacity, which is 7% higher than last year but 22% above the normal levels of the past decade. While the western region's reservoirs are at 90.41% capacity, the southern and northern regions are below 80%. With ongoing fog and cold conditions, further declines in storage are anticipated in the coming weeks, raising concerns about water availability across the country.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has made significant strides in crop development, releasing 23 new varieties cultivated through radiation techniques over the past five years. Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Bhagirath Choudhary, announced that ICAR is also advancing genome editing in 24 field crops and 17 horticultural crops, with two genome-edited rice varieties already developed. Additionally, the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council has created a low glucosinolate mustard line, currently under evaluation. ICAR's Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology in Ranchi, with a budget of ₹23.89 crore, is focusing on genome editing in various crops. The new varieties, designed for diverse agroclimatic conditions, boast traits such as increased yield and disease resistance. Furthermore, the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture project is assessing climate change impacts and promoting adaptive technologies across 651 agricultural districts, enhancing farmers' resilience to climate variability.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIn December 2025, IndiGo, India's largest airline, faced a significant crisis, stranding lakhs of passengers due to mass flight cancellations attributed to a shortage of pilots. This incident followed a tumultuous year for Indian civil aviation, marked by a tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, which resulted in the death of 241 passengers and crew, raising safety concerns. The aviation sector also grappled with slow domestic traffic growth and financial strains from the closure of Pakistan airspace, impacting Air India's operations. Despite these challenges, the year began positively with increased travel demand during the Kumbh Mela, and upcoming airport openings in Navi Mumbai and Noida promise to enhance the industry’s prospects. Experts emphasize the resilience of travel demand, with a focus on improving customer experience and strategic growth in the face of ongoing challenges.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 6 pmeznews.inDuring a recent visit to Muscat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman signed a trade pact aimed at bolstering economic ties while safeguarding India's domestic interests. The agreement, finalized on Thursday, notably excludes duty concessions on sensitive products, including agricultural items like dairy, tea, and coffee, as well as gold, silver, jewellery, and various labour-intensive goods. The Indian Commerce Ministry emphasized that these exclusions are designed to protect local farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). For products of export interest to Oman, India has implemented a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system, allowing limited duty concessions on items such as dates and petrochemicals, with an annual quota of 2,000 tonnes for duty-free dates. Additionally, Oman has permitted Indian firms to import marble blocks, which are otherwise banned in the Gulf nation.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIndia's sugar production for the 2025/26 marketing year is projected to increase by 18% to 30.9 million metric tons, despite diverting 3.4 million tons for ethanol production, according to Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra. This rise in output comes as the government seeks to protect sugarcane farmers from income losses due to surplus supplies, which could pressure global sugar prices already near five-year lows. To manage the surplus, New Delhi has approved exports of 1.5 million tons for the current season, following a previous ban due to drought conditions. Chopra noted that domestic demand is around 29 million tons annually, and with production set to exceed this, the industry anticipates a gradual decline in prices by mid-January. The government is also considering raising the floor price for sugar sales to support farmers and ensure timely payments. Sugar prices have already dropped nearly 4% since the marketing year began on October 1.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIn a recent interview, Sumesh Patel, President of SITA's Asia Pacific region, expressed optimism about India's aviation sector despite a challenging 2025. He noted that while air traffic growth has slowed, the underlying demand remains strong, primarily due to a shortage of aircraft to meet passenger needs. Patel highlighted that over 90% of global airlines and airports are investing in technology, with India leading in areas like biometric adoption through initiatives such as Digi Yatra. However, he acknowledged space constraints at Indian airports limit the deployment of self-service technologies like baggage drops. Despite these challenges, Patel affirmed that passenger engagement with existing technologies is on par with other Asia Pacific nations. SITA is committed to India, with its largest global office in Gurgaon, focusing on manufacturing kiosks and self-bag drop equipment to support both local and international markets.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 5 pm
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