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In the latest market update, the SENSEX closed at 82,330.59, down by 200.15 points, while the NIFTY fell 42.30 points to settle at 25,019.80. In commodities, crude oil prices rose by 82.00 to reach 5,353.00, whereas gold and silver saw declines, with gold dropping 738.00 to 92,431.00 and silver decreasing by 600.00 to 95,315.00. Meanwhile, a report from Crisil Ratings highlights a significant rise in storage-backed renewable energy (RE) projects, which surged to 11 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, accounting for one-third of total capacities auctioned. The installed capacity is projected to reach 25-30 GW by March 2028, driven by government initiatives to enhance grid stability and sustainability. However, challenges remain, including project implementation risks, although off-take risks are considered low for half of the upcoming capacity due to secured long-term power purchase agreements. 
Published: May 17 2025, 8 ameznews.inIn a significant move to bolster climate technology initiatives, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has partnered with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to support early-stage climate-tech start-ups. The collaboration, announced on May 17, 2025, includes the launch of the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE), which will offer rewards of up to $500,000 for impactful climate solutions. Investment support will be provided through partners such as Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital. Sanjiv, a Joint Secretary in the DPIIT, emphasized that this partnership will create substantial opportunities for clean energy start-ups, aiding in the advancement of technologies aligned with India's long-term net-zero goals. The memorandum of understanding was signed by DPIIT Director Sumeet Jarangal and GEAPP Vice President Saurabh Kumar. 
Published: May 17 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchants Association (BWCMA) has announced an immediate suspension of all textile trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan, citing these countries' recent support for Pakistan following 'Operation Sindoor.' This unanimous decision, articulated by BWCMA President Prakash Pirgal, reflects the association's commitment to ethical business practices and national sentiment. The resolution mandates that members halt all imports and exports of textile goods to and from these nations, including any indirect trade through intermediaries. Pirgal emphasized the importance of taking principled stands, noting that the association, which comprises around 3,000 wholesale shops in Bengaluru, engages in significant trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan. He highlighted India's past humanitarian support to Turkey, contrasting it with the latter's current stance. The BWCMA has urged all relevant stakeholders to comply with this trade suspension until further notice. 
Published: May 17 2025, 2 pmeznews.inKempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has achieved a significant milestone by reporting a record profit for the first time since its inception, marking a robust financial turnaround. The announcement was made during a board meeting led by Shalini Rajneesh, Chairperson of the Bangalore International Airport Authority (BIAL). The airport's success is attributed to its strategic growth, sustainability initiatives, and operational excellence. In 2025, BLR Airport also garnered multiple prestigious global recognitions, including becoming the first airport in Asia to achieve Level 5 Accreditation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, reflecting a remarkable 95.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it received the Silver Award in the ACI Green Airports Recognition 2025 for its sustainable energy efforts, underscoring its commitment to environmental leadership for the fourth consecutive year. 
Published: May 17 2025, 12 pmeznews.inFarmers have long relied on instinct and observation, but artificial intelligence (AI) is now revolutionizing agriculture by addressing traditional challenges with data-driven solutions. Key applications include precision irrigation, which optimizes water use and can reduce consumption by 20-30%, and advanced pest detection, where AI-powered equipment can cut chemical usage by up to 90%. AI tools also enhance crop planning by analyzing market trends, leading to increased profits for farmers. While initial costs for AI systems can be significant, many recover their investments within two to three seasons. However, challenges such as unreliable internet access in rural areas, aging machinery, and data ownership issues persist. Looking ahead, the future of AI in farming appears bright, with innovations in task automation and affordable entry-level systems on the horizon. Ultimately, AI aims to empower farmers, enhancing both profitability and resilience in an evolving agricultural landscape. 
Published: May 17 2025, 9 ameznews.inSmallholder farmers, constituting over 40% of India's agricultural workforce, face significant hurdles in accessing timely credit, primarily due to fragmented land records, low digital penetration in rural areas, and climate variability. Traditional lending practices, reliant on manual assessments, have proven inefficient and error-prone. However, the advent of remote sensing technology, particularly satellite imagery and geospatial analytics, is revolutionizing agricultural finance by enabling banks to make data-driven lending decisions. This shift allows for dynamic credit scoring, faster loan disbursal, and improved risk management, particularly in identifying covariate risks like droughts and floods. Moreover, remote sensing democratizes credit access for previously excluded farmers by validating land use without formal documentation. Despite challenges such as data accuracy and institutional inertia, the decreasing costs and improving quality of satellite data signal a promising future for inclusive and resilient agricultural finance in India, potentially driving a new green revolution. 
Published: May 17 2025, 9 ameznews.inA report by HDFC Securities has revealed robust growth in private capital expenditure (capex) in India, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.8% from FY21 to FY25E. This surge, particularly among the top 250 listed private companies, saw expenditures rise from ₹4,83,300 crore in FY21 to an anticipated ₹9,95,100 crore in FY25E, driven by sectors such as oil and gas, power, and automobiles. Notably, this growth was largely financed through strong operational cash flows, limiting the need for bank credit. In contrast, central government capex experienced a significant increase, growing from ₹4,26,300 crore in FY21 to ₹10,18,400 crore in FY25E, a CAGR of 24.3%. However, state government capex lagged, rising at a slower CAGR of 11.9% during the same period, with a notable decline of 20% year-on-year in FY25E. 
Published: May 17 2025, 9 ameznews.inBharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has secured a contract with the Indian Army Air Defence to produce the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS), further bolstered by additional orders totaling ₹572 crore since April 7, 2025. These major contracts encompass a range of technologies, including Software Defined Radio (SDR), Data Communication Units (DCU) for attack guns, AI solutions for naval applications, and various communication equipment. Notably, BEL's integrated drone detection system played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor, successfully neutralizing several low-RCS drones from Pakistan. For the financial year 2024-25, BEL reported a turnover of approximately ₹23,000 crore, reflecting a 16% increase from the previous year's ₹19,820 crore, with 90% of its revenue stemming from defence projects. The company's export activities remain limited, contributing only 10% to its overall revenue. 
Published: May 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAccording to the latest supply-demand estimates from the Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA), soyabean crushing in April remained steady at 9.5 lakh tonnes, mirroring figures from the previous year. As of May 1, 2025, the country's soyabean stocks were reported at 48.35 lakh tonnes, down from 55.41 lakh tonnes a year earlier. Of this, 29.66 lakh tonnes are held by traders and farmers, while government agencies NAFED and NCCF hold 18.69 lakh tonnes. The government procured 19.96 lakh tonnes of soyabean under the price support scheme for the kharif 2024 season, but prices have remained below the minimum support price (MSP) due to weak demand. Market arrivals increased slightly to 5.5 lakh tonnes. Meanwhile, soyameal exports rose to 2.14 lakh tonnes, with Germany and France being the largest importers, despite Indian soyameal being pricier than alternatives from the US and Argentina. 
Published: May 16 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIndia's coffee exports saw a significant increase in value in April, rising 48% to $202.95 million, despite a decline in volume. According to the Coffee Board, export volumes fell to 35,259 tonnes, an 11% decrease from 39,827 tonnes in April 2024. From January 1 to May 15, total shipments dropped 13% to 154,000 tonnes compared to 177,000 tonnes last year. While Arabica shipments increased, robusta exports declined, with robusta parchment shipments down to 10,796 tonnes from 12,059 tonnes. Instant coffee exports also fell slightly to 19,122 tonnes. Ramesh Rajah, President of the Coffee Exporters Association, attributed the rise in value to higher prices, noting that buyers are hesitant to purchase Indian robustas due to cost. In the financial year ending March 2025, India exported a record 389,000 tonnes of coffee, valued at $1.82 billion. 
Published: May 16 2025, 10 pm
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