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Navi Mumbai International Airport marked a significant milestone on December 29, 2024, with its first commercial aircraft landing, heralding its official opening on Christmas Day. Akasa Air and IndiGo have commenced bookings for flights connecting the airport to multiple destinations, with Akasa offering routes to Delhi, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Goa, while IndiGo expands its network to include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, and Nagpur. The inaugural IndiGo flight from Bengaluru is scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. The airport is expected to handle 100-110 flights daily, operating from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Akasa Air plans to gradually increase its operations, aiming for 300 domestic and 50 international weekly departures by FY27, with a focus on expanding into Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets. Air India Express has yet to announce its flight schedule for the new airport. 
Published: Nov 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia stands to benefit marginally from the US decision to roll back reciprocal tariffs on certain agricultural products, with annual exports of the exempted items estimated at around $548 million, according to the Global Trade and Research Initiative (GTRI). However, uncertainty remains regarding whether Indian exports will be fully exempt from the 50% tariffs, which include a 25% penalty on Russian crude purchases, or if the exemption will only apply to the 25% reciprocal tariffs. The executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Friday excludes items such as coffee, tea, and tropical fruits, which the US cannot produce in sufficient quantities. While India’s exports are limited to a few high-value spices and niche products, competitors from Latin America, Africa, and ASEAN are expected to gain more significantly. To enhance its export share, India must expand production, improve cold-chain capacity, and diversify its agricultural offerings.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Telangana government is set to launch a pension scheme for all state employees, with backing from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, emphasized the urgency of standardizing pension schemes for government workers. Additionally, the upcoming Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Act, 2025, aims to provide social security for gig workers, with the bill expected to be presented in the next Assembly session. Speaking at a national conclave on the National Pension System, Ranjan noted the reluctance among many to engage in retirement planning. S. Raman, Chairperson of PFRDA, echoed this sentiment, highlighting a general lack of awareness regarding financial planning and the importance of pensions. With only 10 crore of India's 55 crore workforce in the organized sector, he identified a significant opportunity for pension products.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inUnion Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal announced on Saturday that the government is considering relief measures to enhance production in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) during his visit to the 30th CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. Goyal emphasized the need to promote excess capacities in SEZs for domestic market use, aiming to address the disparity where imported goods receive better benefits than those produced in SEZs. He indicated that the SEZ Commissioners would convene next week to discuss infrastructure improvements at Brandix Park and the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone. Goyal also mentioned that the ministry is exploring various proposals, including potential legislative amendments, to facilitate the sale of SEZ products in the domestic market on a duty foregone basis. Currently, SEZ units can only sell domestically after paying duties on finished goods, despite their significant contribution to India's exports, which reached ₹176.6 billion in 2024-25.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe global cashew crop is projected to exceed 15 million tonnes (mt) by 2045, up from the current 6 mt, according to Bola Rahul Kamath, President of the All India Cashew Association (AICA). Speaking at the Kaju Centennial Summit 2025 in Mangaluru, he noted that India's cashew consumption and processing are expected to double, necessitating an increase in processing capacity from 2 mt to at least 4 mt to meet domestic demand. Kamath emphasized the importance of sustainability and mechanisation in the industry, predicting new marketing and distribution methods for cashews. While countries like India and Vietnam benefit from sourcing cashews from multiple origins, reducing price risks, single-origin processing in regions like East and West Africa faces higher costs and risks. He also highlighted the potential for artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency in cashew processing rather than replace it.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIRB Infrastructure Trust has secured a significant toll operate and transfer (TOT) project from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Uttar Pradesh, with an upfront payment of ₹9,270 crore. This initiative is part of NHAI's broader asset monetisation programme. The awarded project encompasses a 366 km stretch of the Lucknow-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur corridor on NH-27, along with a segment of the Lucknow-Varanasi corridor on NH-731, and features a revenue-linked concession period of 20 years. Virendra D Mhaiskar, Chairman and Managing Director of IRB Infrastructure Developers, highlighted the project's significance for religious tourism and noted that IRB now holds a commanding 42% market share in the TOT sector. As India's largest integrated private toll roads and highways developer, IRB boasts an asset portfolio exceeding ₹80,000 crore across 12 states through its parent company and two InvITs.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 3 pmeznews.inAirbus has projected that the Asia Pacific region will require 19,560 new narrow-body and wide-body aircraft over the next 20 years, driven primarily by demand from India and China. This figure accounts for 46% of the global need for 42,520 new planes during the same period. The region is expected to experience an annual passenger growth rate of 4.4%, surpassing the global average of 3.6%. Notably, India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets, prompting airlines to place significant orders to expand their fleets. During the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines' Annual Assembly in Bangkok, Airbus revealed that approximately 3,500 wide-body planes will be needed, representing 43% of global demand for larger aircraft. The forecast indicates that 68% of deliveries will support fleet expansion, while 32% will replace older models, aiding decarbonisation efforts with new aircraft offering a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a new generation of Man-Portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs) designed for mine countermeasure missions, according to a Ministry of Defence release. Created by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam, these AUVs are equipped with Side Scan Sonar and underwater cameras for real-time detection and classification of mine-like objects. Utilizing deep learning algorithms, the vehicles autonomously classify targets, thereby reducing operator workload and mission duration. Enhanced underwater acoustic communication allows for effective data exchange between AUVs, improving situational awareness. Recent field trials have validated key system parameters and mission objectives, with production expected to commence in the coming months. Dr. Samir V Kamat, Chairman of DRDO, praised the NSTL team for achieving this significant milestone, which promises to enhance naval mine warfare capabilities with rapid response and reduced operational risks.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 2 pmeznews.inKochi has been awarded the prestigious "City with Best Green Transport Initiative" accolade by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) at the Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference 2025. This recognition highlights the city's commitment to sustainable mobility, achieved through collaborative efforts from Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), Cochin International Airport Limited, and Kochi Water Metro Limited under the "Mega Green Energy Projects." KMRL's Managing Director Loknath Behera, along with Directors Sanjay Kumar and M.P. Ramnavas, received the award from Minister Manohar Lal. Kochi stands out as the only Indian city with a fully integrated multimodal transport system, utilizing renewable energy sources, including an impressive 11.33 MWp solar capacity that meets 53% of its energy needs. The city's initiatives, including electric buses and India's first electric-hybrid water transport system, significantly reduce carbon emissions, reinforcing Kochi's status as a national model for green urban transport.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 1 pmeznews.inNgozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has highlighted the critical link between India's rapid economic growth and its trade expansion, commending Minister Piyush Goyal for his efforts in advancing India's trade agreements. Speaking at the 30th CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, she noted that India's exports during the first half of 2025 reached an estimated $413.30 billion, reflecting a 4.45% increase from the previous year. Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of both bilateral trade agreements and a robust multilateral trading system, urging India to take a leading role in WTO reforms to better support developing nations. She pointed to the WTO's AEM C14 initiative, which aims to enhance global trade resilience, particularly in supply chain diversification, digital trade, and green trade, areas where India can significantly benefit. The WTO chief underscored the need for reforms to address the evolving needs of its members, particularly concerning public stockholding.
Published: Nov 15 2025, 12 pm
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