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As December's cold intensified, electricity consumption surged nearly 7% to 138.39 billion units, driven by increased use of heating appliances such as geysers and blowers, particularly in North India. Government data revealed that peak power demand also rose, reaching 241.20 GW compared to 224.23 GW in December 2024. This follows an all-time high of approximately 250 GW recorded in May 2024. Experts anticipate that power demand will stabilize in January as temperatures continue to drop, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting cold wave conditions in Delhi, where temperatures may fall below 5 degrees Celsius. On January 3, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 14.2 degrees Celsius, significantly below normal, while the minimum was 6.4 degrees Celsius, slightly below seasonal averages. Looking ahead, peak power demand is projected to reach 277 GW in the summer of 2025. 
Published: Jan 01 2026, 3 pmeznews.inKochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) celebrated a significant achievement on New Year’s Day, recording a total of 161,683 passenger journeys across its integrated transport network, the highest single-day ridership since its inception. This milestone was facilitated by the efficient services of Kochi Metro, which extended operations until 2:00 am, accommodating 139,766 passengers. The Electric Feeder Bus service, operational until 4:00 am, also set a record with 6,817 passengers, while the Kochi Water Metro saw approximately 15,000 users during the festivities. KMRL Managing Director Loknath Behera attributed this success to collaborative efforts, emphasizing punctuality, cleanliness, and effective communication. The introduction of 15 electric feeder buses enhanced connectivity, encouraging more commuters. Since its launch in 2017, Kochi Metro has transported over 175.2 million passengers, with December alone witnessing 3.26 million journeys, reflecting a growing reliance on public transport.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's tea production in November 2025 fell by approximately 16.29% to 124.19 million kilograms, down from 148.36 million kilograms in the same month last year, primarily due to adverse climatic conditions affecting North India. Assam, the largest tea-producing state, reported a 10.59% decrease in output to 60.76 million kilograms, while West Bengal experienced a significant decline of 26.75% to 41.27 million kilograms. Notably, the Dooars and Terai regions in West Bengal saw declines of 24% and 30.06%, respectively. In contrast, Tamil Nadu, the third-largest producer, bucked the trend with a nearly 6% increase in production to 14.28 million kilograms. Overall, small growers faced a 20% drop in output, while larger producers saw a 10% decline. For the year-to-date, India's tea output reached 1,290.58 million kilograms, slightly up from 1,272.95 million kilograms in 2024.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIndia is nearing the completion of wheat sowing for the 2025-26 rabi season, with Agriculture Commissioner PK Singh reporting that 32.26 million hectares have been sown as of December 29, slightly below last year's total of 32.8 million hectares. Singh noted that sowing is largely finished nationwide, except for some areas in Bihar, and the total acreage could match last year's figures. Over 73% of the sown area features climate-resilient and bio-fortified seed varieties, enhancing resilience against adverse weather. The wheat crop is currently in excellent condition, with no reported issues from growing regions. Additionally, sowing of pulses and oilseeds is complete, while rice planting will continue until the end of January in southern India. An anticipated strong wheat harvest is expected to support government welfare programs and stabilize prices, while good yields of pulses and oilseeds may reduce import pressures.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIn the latest market update, India's benchmark indices showed positive movement, with the SENSEX rising by 61.70 points to close at 85,282.30, while the NIFTY gained 32.90 points, reaching 26,162.50. Commodity prices also experienced upward trends, with crude oil increasing by 3.00 to settle at 5,216.00. Gold prices saw a notable rise, climbing by 244.00 to reach 135,691.00, and silver followed suit, gaining 99.00 to close at 235,800.00. This overall positive performance reflects a resilient market sentiment amid ongoing economic developments.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 pmeznews.inIn the latest market update, the SENSEX rose by 16.13 points to close at 85,236.73, while the NIFTY increased by 24.85 points, reaching 26,154.45. Crude oil prices saw a slight uptick of ₹3, settling at ₹5,216, whereas gold and silver experienced declines, with gold down by ₹61 at ₹135,386 and silver dropping by ₹860 to ₹234,841. In the Cochin CTC Dust auction (Sale No. 53), a robust market was observed, with 99% of the 643,763 kg offered sold, reflecting a ₹7 per kg increase in average price realization to ₹174. Factors such as frost-related crop losses in Nilgiris and strong seasonal demand contributed to this rise. Good liquoring teas gained ₹4-6 per kg, while medium grades appreciated by ₹8-10 per kg, despite limited export demand for plainer teas.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 1 pmeznews.inIn a recent update from New Delhi, the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has been reduced by 7.3% to ₹92,323.02 per kilolitre, following three consecutive monthly hikes. This cut, amounting to ₹7,353.75 per kilolitre, is expected to alleviate some financial pressure on airlines, which typically allocate nearly 40% of their operating costs to fuel. In contrast, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has increased by ₹111 to ₹1,691.50 in Delhi, marking the highest rate since June 2025. Domestic LPG prices remain unchanged at ₹853 per 14.2-kg cylinder. The adjustments reflect the monthly price revisions by state-owned oil companies, which align with global fuel benchmarks. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel prices in Delhi remain stable, with petrol priced at ₹94.72 per litre and diesel at ₹87.62, following a reduction last March.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 1 pmeznews.inIndia has solidified its position as a leading producer and exporter of natural honey, primarily shipping to markets in the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The government has extended the minimum export price (MEP) for natural honey to $1,400 per tonne until March 31, 2026, following a reduction from $2,000 in August to enhance export competitiveness. In the current financial year, honey exports reached 60,002 tonnes valued at $117.97 million, with over 100,000 tonnes exported in the previous year. Major honey-producing states include Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Punjab. The government is also advancing the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) under the 'Sweet Revolution' initiative, aimed at boosting honey production and farmer incomes through organized beekeeping, with a budget of ₹370 crore remaining from an original allocation of ₹500 crore.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 12 pmeznews.inThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to Air India regarding the operation of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, VT-ANI, which has reportedly experienced repeated technical issues. The notice, issued this week, highlights concerns over non-compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) during a flight on June 28, as well as safety issues related to aircraft dispatch and crew decision-making on flights AI 258 and AI 357, which operate on the Delhi-Tokyo route. Sources indicate that the regulator is particularly troubled by the airline's decision to operate the aircraft despite prior knowledge of its ongoing technical snags and system degradations. Air India has not yet commented on the matter, and it remains unclear whether the aircraft is currently out of operation.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 10 ameznews.inUnion Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced plans for a stringent law aimed at combating the sale of spurious seeds and pesticides, which would hold companies legally accountable for crop failures linked to substandard products. Speaking at a 'Shetkari Samvad' event in Maharashtra, he revealed that the proposed legislation would include provisions for penal and criminal actions against offenders. Chouhan also allocated Rs 367 crore to Maharashtra under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to bolster the agricultural sector. He emphasized the need for modernizing agricultural education to keep pace with technological advancements and proposed an independent certification system for organic farming to enhance market prices for farmers. Additionally, he warned against black-marketing of fertilizers and highlighted the importance of accurate crop damage assessments to maximize compensation for affected farmers. The minister also noted the allocation of 29 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the state.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 am
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