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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convened a meeting with senior officials on Saturday to assess the progress of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is set to open on September 30. Initially, the airport will operate for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm, to test its systems before transitioning to full operations with domestic flights in October. Currently, IndiGo and Akasa Air have confirmed plans to commence flights, while discussions with other carriers are ongoing. The airport is designed to handle approximately 20 million passengers annually, with an initial capacity of 8-10 air traffic movements per hour. Fadnavis noted that 94% of construction is complete and emphasized the need for a rapid baggage claim system. Operational readiness trials are underway, with inspections by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation pending for aerodrome licensing. 
Published: Jul 15 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is currently refraining from formulating a backup plan for its industry in light of impending US tariffs, awaiting clarity on their full impact. Rajesh Agarwal, Commerce Special Secretary and chief negotiator for the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA), emphasized the need to assess the situation post-August 1, the new deadline for tariff imposition. As negotiations continue in Washington, Agarwal noted that the US has proposed new tariffs affecting around 25 countries, including the EU, but the specifics remain uncertain. Indian businesses are actively gathering insights from competitors and importers to navigate the evolving landscape. The BTA, agreed upon by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims for initial outcomes by Fall 2025. With the previous tariff deadline extended from July 9 to August 1, the potential for an interim deal to avert reciprocal tariffs remains to be seen.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inDP World, the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), and Nevomo have entered into a groundbreaking agreement to establish a magnetic rail system for freight transport at Kandla port in Gujarat. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will assess the feasibility of implementing a pilot project utilizing Nevomo’s MagRail technology, which aims to automate short-haul cargo transfers and reduce diesel reliance. The initiative includes a 750-metre pilot project designed to demonstrate self-propelled freight movement within the port, enhancing capacity and efficiency for both containerized and bulk cargo while lowering costs and CO2 emissions. DPA Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration in bolstering port infrastructure to meet rising cargo demands. DP World’s CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem highlighted the commitment to innovative technologies that enhance logistics sustainability and efficiency, positioning the project as a key driver of economic growth and trade competitiveness in India.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inWorld trade in goods experienced a significant boost in the first quarter of 2025, with volumes rising 3.6% quarter-on-quarter and 5.3% year-on-year, surpassing the World Trade Organization's (WTO) earlier forecast of 2.7%. This surge was driven by anticipatory buying ahead of new US tariffs announced on April 2, prompting importers to accelerate purchases to avoid higher duties. North America led the way with a remarkable 13.4% increase in imports, while West Asia saw the highest export growth at 6.3%. However, WTO economists caution that this growth may not be sustainable, as fully stocked inventories and the impact of tariffs could dampen demand later in the year. Early indicators for the second quarter suggest a slowdown, with US imports rising only 1% in the initial months following a 25% increase in the first quarter.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAir India, under the Tata Group, will gradually restore its international flight schedule starting August 1, 2025, following a "Safety Pause" initiated after the June 12 crash of Flight AI171. The airline had previously reduced operations to conduct safety checks on its Boeing 787 fleet and adapt to extended flight times due to airspace closures over Pakistan and parts of the Middle East. From August, Air India will partially resume several international routes, with a complete return to pre-pause schedules expected by October 1, 2025. Notable changes include a new thrice-weekly service from Ahmedabad to London Heathrow, replacing the current link to London Gatwick, and the full restoration of the Delhi–London Heathrow route to 24 weekly flights from July 16. However, some routes will continue to operate at reduced frequencies, and a few remain suspended through September. The airline will operate over 525 international flights weekly across 63 routes, offering affected passengers alternative arrangements or refunds.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that it has found no technical issues with Boeing aircraft, despite ongoing investigations into a June accident involving an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad. While regulators in India, South Korea, and Singapore have mandated inspections of fuel switches in Boeing fleets following a safety bulletin from the US Federal Aviation Administration, the UK CAA has opted not to impose any additional checks on UK operators, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which operate Boeing 787s. The CAA stated that it does not have any technical concerns regarding Boeing products and clarified that its recent safety notice, originally issued in 2015 and updated in May, was merely to revise a contact email address. The agency's reassurances come amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing aircraft safety following the preliminary investigation report into the Air India incident.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's maize imports surged to a record 970,000 tonnes in the financial year 2024-25, a dramatic increase from 137,000 tonnes in 2023-24, marking the country as a net importer of the cereal. This shift is attributed to rising demand from livestock feed, starch, and ethanol sectors, despite domestic maize production reaching a record 42.28 million tonnes. Exports plummeted by 61% to 556,000 tonnes, down from 1.44 million tonnes the previous year, with export values dropping from $1.11 billion to just $201 million. The increase in imports exceeded trade estimates of 770,000 tonnes, driven by a government push for maize-based ethanol production amid drought concerns affecting sugarcane. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh noted the potential to double maize production to 86 million tonnes by 2047, as farmers expand maize acreage in response to growing demand.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Sai Subhiksha Kisan Health Card, aimed at providing free healthcare services to farmers, was launched at Sathya Sai Grama in Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur district. The initiative, unveiled during the event "Seeding the Future – Together with the Farmers," is a collaboration between the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and the Subhiksha Organic Farmers Multi-State Co-Operative Society Ltd. The institute will offer complimentary healthcare services to farmers at its facility. The event celebrated the vital role of farmers in nation-building, with over 1,500 participants, primarily engaged in cultivating ragi, attending to honor their dedication. Sathya Sai Grama, known for its One World One Family Mission, hosted the event to recognize the unwavering commitment of farmers to sustainable agriculture and community welfare.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inJammu and Kashmir is set to integrate small and nano businesses into the national digital marketplace via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a tech initiative launched by the Ministry of Commerce in April 2022. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo convened a meeting with ONDC officials to discuss expanding e-commerce in the region, emphasizing the need to onboard local service providers like electricians and plumbers. He urged the Labour & Employment Department to implement a hyper-local delivery system to bolster small enterprises, aiming to enhance digital inclusion and empower grassroots entrepreneurs. Local traders welcomed the initiative but stressed the importance of effective management and supply chain optimization. Muheet Mehraj, a young entrepreneur, highlighted that while ONDC could enhance product visibility, the industry must take responsibility for inventory management. Qazi Touseef from the Kashmir Economic Alliance noted that the region's products require global accreditation and called for serious commitment from both businesses and the government to ensure successful implementation.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's trade deficit narrowed to $18.78 billion in June 2025, a 6.2% decrease from $20.03 billion in June 2024, marking a four-month low. This decline was attributed to a 3.71% drop in imports, which fell to $53.92 billion, driven by reduced purchases of crude oil and gold. Meanwhile, goods exports remained flat at $35.14 billion year-on-year, impacted by weaker performance in the petroleum and gems & jewellery sectors. In the first quarter of 2025-26, total goods and services exports rose by 6% to $210 billion, with notable increases in electronic goods, engineering products, and pharmaceuticals. The US, UAE, Netherlands, China, and the UK were the top export destinations, while China continued to be the largest source of imports. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations urged the government to enhance its sector-focused export strategy, particularly in services, to leverage India's digital capabilities.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia has experienced 143.5 mm of rainfall from July 1-15, surpassing the long period average (LPA) by 11.3%, contributing to a total seasonal rainfall that is 10% above normal since June 1. However, 258 out of 729 districts are reporting deficient rainfall, particularly in the east and north-east regions, which are 30% below normal. The Central region has seen a significant surplus of 44.5%, while the north-west region recorded a 26.3% increase. Despite the overall positive rainfall figures, concerns arise as excessive rain could negatively impact crops like pulses and oilseeds. The government aims for a foodgrain production target of 168.88 million tonnes for Kharif 2025, with July being critical for sowing. The India Meteorological Department forecasts July rainfall to exceed the 50-year average of 280.4 mm, indicating a potentially fruitful but challenging agricultural season ahead.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 7 pm
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