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India's coffee exports for 2025 have surpassed the $2 billion mark for the first time, reaching $2.058 billion, a 22% increase from the previous year, driven by high prices and strong demand from the Russian Federation. Despite a 4.5% decline in overall volumes to 3.48 lakh tonnes, shipments of Arabica and instant coffees rose significantly. The value of shipments increased by 27% to ₹17,911 crore, with per unit realisations climbing 33% to ₹4.65 lakh per tonne. Notably, Arabica parchment exports rose by 5.5% to 38,326 tonnes, while instant coffee exports grew by 2.68% to 1.53 lakh tonnes. Italy remained the largest buyer, although its imports fell, while Russia emerged as the second-largest buyer, with a 20% increase in imports. Germany, the third-largest buyer, saw a significant decline in imports. India ranks as the seventh-largest coffee producer and fifth-largest exporter globally. 
Published: Jan 01 2026, 6 pmeznews.inIndia's rice procurement has seen a 7% increase in the first three months of the kharif marketing season, reaching 333.72 lakh tonnes, with 72% of the government's target of 463.49 lakh tonnes already met. Notably, while purchases in key states like Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha have declined, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have reported significant increases, with Tamil Nadu's procurement soaring by 179% due to bumper production and upcoming assembly elections. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also experienced substantial rises of 109.3% and 27.3%, respectively. Conversely, Punjab's contributions fell by 9.7%, and Chhattisgarh and Odisha reported declines of 16.2% and 12.2%. Farmers in Odisha have protested against procurement issues, citing a new cap on purchases that limits the amount they can sell. The Agriculture Ministry anticipates a record rice production of 124.50 million tonnes for the 2025-26 season.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, developed at the Integral Coach Factory and constructed by BEML Ltd in Bengaluru, is set to launch between Guwahati, Assam, and Howrah, West Bengal, as a New Year gift from Indian Railways, announced Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The initial ten rakes, each comprising 16 coaches, are scheduled for completion by March 2026, with the first two already ready. Following this, the Integral Coach Factory will produce an additional 50 sleeper trains. The Minister confirmed that all trials, testing, and certification processes have been successfully completed, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to inaugurate the service. The train will serve several districts across Assam and West Bengal, featuring 11 three-tier AC coaches, four two-tier AC coaches, and one first-class AC coach, accommodating approximately 823 passengers. Designed for semi-high-speed travel, the train boasts modern amenities and safety features, marking a significant advancement for Indian Railways.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 8 pmeznews.inThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated a global consensus that El Niño is likely to develop between July and September 2026, although it remains too early for definitive predictions. During a media briefing, IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra noted a 68% chance that La Niña will persist for one to two months before transitioning to ENSO-neutral conditions by March 2026. He emphasized that the emergence of El Niño, which typically leads to deficient monsoon rainfall in India, could occur during the monsoon season. Additionally, the IMD reported that 2025 was the eighth warmest year in India since 1901, with a mean temperature of 25.37°C. Below-normal rainfall is expected in key wheat-growing regions, including Punjab and Haryana, potentially increasing irrigation costs for farmers. January is also forecasted to experience more cold-wave days than usual, benefiting certain crops.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 8 pmeznews.inIn a move aimed at enhancing convenience for highway users, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced on Thursday that it will discontinue the post-activation know your vehicle (KYV) process for issuing FASTags, effective February 1, 2026. This decision addresses the delays and inconveniences faced by users after FASTag activation, as existing valid vehicle documents will no longer necessitate routine KYV checks. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways clarified that KYV will only be required in specific cases of complaints regarding incorrect issuance or misuse. To bolster compliance, NHAI has introduced stricter pre-activation validation norms for issuer banks, mandating that vehicle details be verified against the VAHAN database before activation. In instances where details are unavailable, banks must validate using the Registration Certificate, ensuring thorough checks are conducted upfront to eliminate the need for follow-ups post-activation.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's aviation sector is poised for significant growth in 2026, with Boeing ramping up production of its 737 Max aircraft. In 2025, Indian airlines added a net total of 35 planes, following the induction of 79 aircraft but the return of 44 upon lease expiration, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. IndiGo led the additions with 22 new aircraft, while Air India Express and Akasa Air followed with 8 and 5, respectively. This marks a slowdown compared to 2024, when IndiGo alone added 59 planes. Akasa Air anticipates receiving 1-2 new aircraft monthly, aiming for a fleet of 45 Boeing 737 Max by year-end. Air India is set to enhance its fleet with six new wide-body planes, including Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. IndiGo is also preparing for growth, focusing on innovation and expanding its domestic and international networks.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 6 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has announced a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) mechanism for pan masala, cigarettes, and tobacco products, set to take effect on February 1, 2026. Under this framework, the GST rate for these products will rise from 28% to 40%, while the compensation cess will be eliminated. This change is expected to increase the revenue share for states, as the combination of excise duty and the new GST rate will enhance the resources flowing to them. Article 270 of the Constitution allows Parliament to impose specific purpose cess, which cannot be shared with states, leading to the introduction of the compensation cess to address revenue shortfalls post-GST implementation. Despite the changes, the overall tax incidence on pan masala remains at 88%. The new mechanism aims to bolster public health and national security financing while reducing chronic tax evasion in high-risk sectors.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) achieved a record-breaking 21.63 billion transactions in December 2025, as reported by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This marks a significant year-on-year increase of 29% in transaction volume and a 20% rise in transaction value, totaling ₹27.97 lakh crore for the month. On average, 698 million transactions were processed daily, up from 20.47 billion transactions worth ₹26.32 lakh crore in November. Over the entire calendar year of 2025, UPI recorded approximately 228 billion transactions valued at nearly ₹300 lakh crore, surpassing the 172 billion transactions worth ₹246.82 lakh crore in 2024. Experts suggest that the next phase of UPI's growth will focus on innovative payment methods and enhanced user experiences, with NPCI's initiative to improve UPI Autopay seen as a crucial step towards increasing transparency and trust among users and merchants.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 pmeznews.inIn December, India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections saw a decline of over 5% in net domestic revenue, attributed to a surge in refunds, which rose by more than 62%. Despite this downturn, experts remain optimistic, noting that the overall gross collection increased by 6.1% to ₹1.74 lakh crore, driven by strong contributions from states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. The decline in net collections is linked to the recent GST rate reductions and the emergence of an inverted duty structure affecting various sectors. Analysts, including Vivek Jalan from Tax Connect, anticipate a rebound in GST collections over the next year as government spending boosts consumption. Saurabh Agarwal from EY India emphasized that the current moderation aligns with expectations following the government's rationalization efforts, which aim for long-term tax stability. As the Budget 2026-27 approaches, there is a call for continued focus on GST reforms to enhance compliance and revenue certainty.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 7 pmeznews.inAs 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 pm
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