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The Indian government is set to release guidelines for the procurement of electric buses and trucks under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme, which runs from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026. To accommodate rising demand, the government plans to reduce subsidy rates from three categories—₹20 lakh, ₹25 lakh, and ₹35 lakh—to lower amounts, enabling more vehicles to be rolled out. Currently, five cities, including Bengaluru and Hyderabad, have secured a Payment Security Mechanism, with demand for approximately 15,000 e-buses already noted. Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) will initiate the tender process, allowing both original equipment manufacturers and operators to bid. The scheme has a total budget of ₹10,900 crore, with ₹4,391 crore allocated for e-buses, while guidelines for e-truck subsidies are also forthcoming, with a cap of around 2,000 units. 
Published: Mar 31 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's manufacturing sector ended the fiscal year 2024-25 on a high note, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reaching an eight-month peak of 58.1 in March, according to S&P Global. This surge was driven by a robust new orders index, which hit 61.5, despite a slight slowdown in international orders. The strong demand led to the fastest decline in finished goods stocks in over three years, as companies increased production to meet customer interest. While employment growth remained solid, recruitment efforts were tempered due to mild capacity pressures. Inflation rates rose to a three-month high, influenced by higher costs for materials like copper and rubber, although price increases for goods remained moderate. Looking ahead, optimism prevails among manufacturers, with around 30% expecting increased output in the coming year, bolstered by favorable demand conditions and improved customer relations.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 11 ameznews.inA dry winter has led to an early onset of heatwaves in India, with temperatures along the West Coast soaring in February, according to Sanjay Srivastava, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction at UN-ESCAP. This alarming trend is part of a broader pattern of intensified heatwaves that have caused the planet to surpass previous temperature records. The existing Heat Index, developed in 1979, fails to accurately reflect the extreme conditions of today, necessitating the creation of an Extended Heat Index (EHI) for better risk assessment. Climate change has exacerbated the situation, adding 41 extra days of "dangerous" heat in 2024 and linking extreme temperatures to significant health risks, including cardiorespiratory diseases. While local Heat Action Plans (HAPs) have shown promise in mitigating these risks, experts stress the need for more comprehensive, science-driven strategies that incorporate the latest research and target vulnerable populations effectively.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 11 ameznews.inThe Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) has significantly transformed access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India, with over 52 crore accounts opened since its inception a decade ago, according to a recent SBI report. The scheme, which offers collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh, has seen credit to MSMEs triple to approximately ₹30 lakh crore, with disbursal growth averaging 33% in its early years and 36% in FY23. Notably, the average loan size has increased from ₹38,000 in FY16 to ₹1.02 lakh in FY25, reflecting a maturation of the sector. The initiative has particularly empowered women, who constitute about 68% of account holders, and has notably benefited SC/ST and OBC communities. Bihar leads in the number of women entrepreneurs, while Maharashtra has the highest percentage of women account holders. The PMMY is hailed as a vital tool for fostering financial independence among previously underserved social groups.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 11 ameznews.inThe Tamil Nadu government is set to issue a tender for the development of the ₹20,000 crore greenfield Parandur airport, located approximately 70 km west of Chennai, following anticipated in-principle approval from the Centre. Designed to accommodate 10 crore passengers annually, the airport will feature two runways, terminal buildings, taxiways, an apron, and a cargo terminal. Land acquisition is progressing, with compensation reportedly five to six times the market value. However, local villagers from 13 surrounding communities, including Ekanapuram and Nelvoy, have been protesting for nearly 983 days, fearing the project will disrupt their livelihoods. The existing Chennai airport currently serves over 2.2 crore passengers annually, with modernization efforts expected to increase capacity to 3.5 crore in the coming years. The Ministry of Defence has already granted a No Objection for site clearance for the new airport.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 9 ameznews.inAdani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has reported a record cargo handling of 200.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) for the financial year 2025, marking it as the first Indian port to surpass this milestone. This achievement reflects a seven percent year-on-year growth, with March 2025 alone seeing a nine percent increase in cargo volume to 41.5 MMT. The surge was primarily driven by a 20 percent rise in container volumes, while liquid and gas handling grew by nine percent. Additionally, logistics rail volume reached 0.64 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an eight percent increase. The Vizhinjam port also celebrated a significant achievement, crossing the 100,000 TEUs milestone in March. These developments underscore the robust growth trajectory of India's logistics and port sectors, as highlighted in APSEZ's recent stock exchange filing.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIn a significant move for India's dairy sector, MilkLane, the dairy and cattle feed arm of Innoterra, has entered a three-year partnership with Milky Mist Dairy, valued at over ₹400 crore. This collaboration aims to supply 1 lakh litres of premium milk daily, benefiting over 10,000 farmers by ensuring fair pricing and access to high-nutrition cattle feed. Milky Mist, which processes approximately 1.5 million litres of milk daily at its Tamil Nadu facility, will enhance its product offerings with high-quality, traceable milk sourced from MilkLane's extensive farmer network. The partnership emphasizes rigorous quality control measures, including real-time supply chain tracking and comprehensive testing for contaminants. Both companies highlight the importance of maintaining product quality and safety in a sector that faces challenges such as inconsistent milk composition and contamination risks. This alliance is poised to elevate industry standards and improve the welfare of farmers while providing consumers with safe dairy products.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia has introduced a new procurement policy, the Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products Policy-2025, aimed at bolstering domestic steel production and curbing imports that threaten local market stability. Effective immediately, the policy mandates that all government agencies prioritize locally produced steel, including flat-rolled products and railway materials, which must meet specific domestic manufacturing criteria. A reciprocal clause will prevent suppliers from countries that restrict Indian firms from participating in their government tenders from bidding in India. The policy also emphasizes domestic value addition, requiring capital goods used in steel production to achieve at least 50% local content. While the initiative aims to enhance self-reliance and support Indian manufacturers, industry experts caution that its success will depend on effective enforcement and the capacity of domestic producers to meet quality and volume demands. The policy is set to run for five years, with potential for extension.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndian Railways reported a 1.68% increase in freight transportation for the fiscal year 2025, reaching 1,617.38 million tonnes (mt), up from 1,590.68 mt in the previous year. This rise in loading has translated into improved earnings, with revenues climbing to ₹1,75,302.37 crore, a 1.76% increase from ₹1,72,269.83 crore last year. Coal continues to dominate the freight sector, contributing 723.85 mt, including 98.933 mt of imported coal. Other significant commodities include iron ore at 178.121 mt, cement at 86.708 mt, and clinker at 62.635 mt. Additionally, food grains, fertilizers, and mineral oil accounted for 49.77 mt, 59.92 mt, and 50.798 mt, respectively. Container traffic also showed robust performance, with domestic containers at 24.70 mt and export-import (EXIM) containers at 64.03 mt, alongside miscellaneous goods totaling 120.425 mt.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has achieved a significant milestone by producing 3,007 coaches in the 2024-25 fiscal year, surpassing last year's output of 2,829. This production includes 1,169 Distributed Power Rolling Stock (DPRS) coaches, featuring Vande Bharat Sleeper and Chair Cars, as well as EMU and MEMU units. Additionally, 1,838 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches were manufactured. Noteworthy accomplishments include the rollout of ICF's first-ever 16-car Vande Bharat Sleeper rake, the introduction of eight treasury van coaches, and the production of the inaugural 12-car Namo Bharat Rapid Rail. The factory also delivered 21 rakes of Vande Bharat trains and four rakes of 22 coaches each for the Amrit Bharat 2.0 initiative, enhancing long-distance travel facilities. This achievement underscores ICF's commitment to advancing India's rail infrastructure.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inSouth Central Railway (SCR) has reported a record performance in freight operations for the financial year 2024-25, achieving a freight loading of 144.140 million tonnes (MT), a 2% increase from the previous year's 141.120 MT. The zone also saw a rise in freight revenue, reaching ₹13,825 crores, again up by 2% compared to the prior year. This growth is attributed to SCR's strategic focus on attracting new freight streams and enhancing infrastructure at freight terminals. Notably, coal remained the dominant commodity, contributing 70.147 MT, followed by cement and clinker at 37.604 MT. Other significant commodities included fertilizers, food grains, and iron ore. The overall buoyancy in freight loading across various commodity streams underscores SCR's commitment to strengthening its freight business.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pm
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