eznews.inIn November 2025, Indian IT firms experienced a significant shift in deal momentum towards Europe, securing ten contracts in digital modernization, while North America recorded no wins, according to a BNP Paribas report. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led the charge with six major contracts, including partnerships with Morrisons and the NHS Supply Chain. Other firms like Wipro, Cognizant, and LTIMindtree also secured deals, primarily in the consumer packaged goods and retail sectors. The report highlights Europe's growing demand for cost efficiency and digital transformation, driven by new regulations and a desire to reduce reliance on US cloud providers. Gaurav Vasu, CEO of UnearthInsight, noted that this trend reflects a sustained demand cycle, as European investments in cloud and cybersecurity continue to outpace those in North America, which is currently facing market uncertainty. Despite this, global demand for IT services remains strong, with North America expected to rebound as AI investments increase. 
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe United States is poised to impose additional tariffs on rice imports from India, a move experts believe will have minimal impact on India's rice trade. The US is responding to pressure to raise tariffs, not due to high import levels, but because India's competitive pricing is undermining US rice exports, which are already struggling to expand beyond South America. US rice farmers are facing significant losses, prompting the Trump administration to target Indian rice to support its domestic growers. Despite the potential tariffs, industry associations in India assert that the US market is relatively small for Indian rice, accounting for only 4.5% of basmati exports. The Indian rice sector remains resilient, with exports continuing to grow, driven by demand from ethnic communities in the US. Analysts suggest that the US's actions may also reflect broader strategic considerations in its trade relations with Asia.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia has seen a significant increase in urea imports, rising over 136% to 5.86 million tonnes between April and October, yet farmers continue to report shortages as stock levels have fallen to 4.99 million tonnes, down from 6.6 million tonnes a year ago. Despite these concerns, industry leaders assert that current supplies are sufficient for the Rabi season, with projections indicating a 41% rise in fertilizer imports to 22.3 million tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year due to heightened domestic demand following good monsoon rains. The Fertilizer Association of India (FAI) noted that while imports from China have decreased, India has diversified its sourcing from countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia to ensure supply security. Domestic production has also seen a slight increase, reaching 29.97 million tonnes. Overall, India, which serves over 140 million farming households, remains the second-largest fertilizer consumer globally, after China.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian civil aviation ministry has mandated a 10% reduction in IndiGo's flight schedule to stabilize operations amid significant disruptions caused by the transition to new pilot duty regulations. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed that IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers reported the completion of 100% refunds for flights affected until December 6. The ministry's decision follows an earlier directive from the aviation safety regulator, DGCA, which initially cut the schedule by 5%. Naidu emphasized that the curtailment is essential for reducing cancellations and improving passenger experience, as recent mismanagement led to thousands of flight cancellations and chaos at airports. He also instructed IndiGo to adhere to all ministry directives, including fare capping and passenger convenience measures. A follow-up meeting with IndiGo's management was held to discuss further stabilization efforts, as the airline continues to face scrutiny over its operational challenges.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Cotton Association of India (CAI) has called on the government to eliminate the 11% customs duty on raw cotton imports, which is currently duty-free until December 31, 2025. CAI President Vinay N Kotak highlighted the severe challenges facing the Indian textiles industry, exacerbated by US tariffs and economic downturns in Europe. He argued that the high minimum support price (MSP) and low domestic productivity have rendered Indian cotton uncompetitive globally. Kotak warned that maintaining the import duty could lead to unemployment and financial instability within the textile sector, urging the government to support the industry to achieve its $100 billion export target by 2030. He noted that unseasonal rains have damaged cotton quality, necessitating imports to meet buyer standards. The CAI projects Indian cotton imports could reach a record 50 lakh bales in the 2025-26 season, underscoring the urgency of their request.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 7 pmeznews.inResearch from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and other institutions has raised concerns about the negative effects of nano urea on grain yield and quality. Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Bhagirath Choudhary, informed the Lok Sabha that a two-year study at PAU found that applying two foliar sprays of IFFCO nano urea, combined with 50% of the Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN), led to a 13% reduction in rice yield and 17.2% in wheat yield compared to conventional methods. Additional trials across various Indian agricultural universities reported similar declines in grain yield. In response, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated a five-year project to assess the long-term impacts of nano urea on soil and crop productivity. Meanwhile, efforts to develop climate-resilient mango varieties and assess the benefits of natural farming practices are also underway, highlighting the government's commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 7 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump indicated at a White House roundtable on Monday that he may impose additional tariffs on countries, including India, Thailand, and China, accused of dumping rice into the US market. This statement comes as US trade negotiators prepare for talks in New Delhi aimed at securing greater market access for American goods, particularly in agriculture and dairy. Senior Indian officials assert that the final decision on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) rests with the White House, emphasizing that India cannot compromise on sensitive agricultural items. Despite India’s recent market access offers, experts suggest that Trump's tariff threats may be more politically motivated than economically driven, as Indian rice exports to the US represent only a small fraction of its total exports. The US remains India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $131.84 billion in FY25.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Centre has rejected the metro project proposals for Coimbatore and Madurai, citing insufficient average trip lengths and population criteria, according to Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu. During a Rajya Sabha session, he responded to DMK MP Kanimozhi NVN Somu, explaining that the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Madurai indicated that the current ridership supports a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) as a more cost-effective solution. The Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for both cities were returned in November, as they do not meet the required population threshold of 2 million based on the 2011 census. Sahu highlighted that the projected ridership for Coimbatore's metro was unrealistic compared to Chennai's operational network. The Tamil Nadu government had submitted a combined DPR for both cities, proposing a 31.9-km metro in Madurai and a 34.5-km line in Coimbatore, with costs estimated at ₹11,300 crore and ₹10,700 crore, respectively.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Indian government is actively monitoring the import of arecanut to prevent misuse of the Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme, ensuring that arecanut from non-DFTP countries does not enter India through DFTP nations. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, highlighted that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs Field Formations are vigilant against illegal imports, with arecanut imports from Least Developed Exporting Countries (LDECs) dropping from 32,238 tonnes in 2022-23 to 21,160 tonnes in 2024-25, attributed to a rise in the minimum import price (MIP) to ₹351 per kg. Additionally, the Tea Board is implementing measures to support tea growers facing climate change, including promoting drought-resistant cultivars and sustainable farming practices. Tea production in the North Eastern region has increased from 647.20 million kg to 692.91 million kg from 2020-21 to 2024-25, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 1.72%.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a significant move to bolster the diamond industry, the Indian government announced on December 9, 2025, that imports under the Diamond Imprest Authorisation (DIA) scheme will be exempt from the integrated tax and compensation cess. This notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) follows the introduction of the DIA scheme in January, which permits duty-free imports of cut and polished diamonds up to a specified limit, aimed at enhancing exports and value addition in the sector. The exemption is expected to further stimulate growth in the diamond trade, providing a boost to the economy. Meanwhile, the stock market saw declines, with the SENSEX closing at 84,666.28, down 436.41 points, and the NIFTY at 25,839.65, down 120.90 points. Crude oil prices fell by 13.00 to 5,321.00, while gold decreased by 12.00 to 129,950.00, although silver rose by 1,543.00 to 183,285.00.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 6 pm
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