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Thai Airways is considering expanding its operations to tier II cities in India, driven by the anticipated arrival of its new Airbus A321neo aircraft in 2026, according to Chief Commercial Officer Korakot Chatasingha. This initiative aligns with the airline's strategy to establish Bangkok as a regional aviation hub, capitalizing on the growing travel demand between Thailand and India. Currently, Thai Airways operates over 75 weekly flights to India, with Delhi being its largest destination. Chatasingha noted that secondary cities remain largely untapped, presenting new opportunities for growth. The airline aims to enhance its partnerships, including a recent joint business agreement with Turkish Airlines, and is exploring increased capacity to meet rising travel demands, particularly from southern Indian cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. With over two million Indian tourists visiting Thailand in 2024, the airline is poised to capitalize on this burgeoning market. 
Published: Jun 10 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is set to enhance its non-railway tourism revenues, which currently account for nearly 30% of its total income, by merging its online travel agency platforms into a single portal. This initiative aims to streamline hotel and air bookings, as well as MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) activities, according to Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Kumar Jain. The air packages segment has already seen a 28% year-on-year growth, with revenues rising to ₹87 crore in FY25 from ₹68 crore in FY24. While IRCTC recently launched the railway super-app SwaRail, it will focus solely on reserved ticketing and will not expand into other sectors. Additionally, IRCTC is pursuing a payment aggregator license from the Reserve Bank of India, which would allow it to facilitate various payment methods for e-commerce sites, with an approval expected in the coming months.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIn response to heightened cyber attack risks on critical infrastructure following Operation Sindoor, the Indian government is enhancing security measures for the power sector by implementing a 'Trusted Telecom Portal.' This initiative mandates that all IT and telecom equipment used in the power sector must be sourced from "trusted" suppliers, a designation determined through a rigorous vetting process involving over ten ministries. Notably, companies like Huawei and ZTE have been excluded from this list, while Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung have been approved. The Ministry of Power has assured that ongoing Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) and updates for existing equipment will remain unaffected. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal emphasized the urgency of securing the power infrastructure, urging states to adopt necessary cybersecurity protocols. Experts view this move as a significant step towards safeguarding the sector from cyber threats, with a target date for compliance set for January 1, 2026.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inRetail inflation in India is expected to remain below 3 per cent for May 2025, marking the first occurrence of such a low rate since April 2019. Official data, set to be released on Thursday, follows a 3.16 per cent inflation rate in April, the lowest in 69 months. HDFC Bank anticipates an average inflation of 3.7 per cent for the year, influenced by monsoon conditions and food prices, which have seen significant reductions, particularly in vegetables. The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts a revival of monsoon rains, crucial for maintaining low inflation in key kharif crops. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering its monetary policy stance, with Governor Sanjay Malhotra indicating a potential pause in interest rate cuts, currently at 5.5 per cent, after a previous reduction during the last period of low inflation from November 2018 to April 2019.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greenlit two significant railway projects worth over ₹6,400 crore, with a completion deadline of three years. The Koderma-Barkakana Doubling project, spanning 133 km, will enhance rail connectivity through Jharkhand's coal-producing regions, providing a more efficient link between Patna and Ranchi. Meanwhile, the Ballari-Chikjajur Doubling project, covering 185 km across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, aims to improve access to Mangaluru Port. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that these initiatives will increase railway capacity, facilitating the transport of essential commodities and benefiting over 1,400 villages, impacting nearly 29 lakh people. The projects are expected to generate an additional freight traffic of approximately 49 million tonnes per annum, significantly reducing logistics costs and CO2 emissions, while also decreasing oil imports by 52 crore litres.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA team led by the Assistant US Trade Representative engaged in negotiations with Indian trade officials in New Delhi from June 4-10, focusing on expediting trade talks ahead of a July 9 deadline to avoid reciprocal tariffs. Sources indicated that discussions were productive but did not yield an interim deal, with both sides agreeing to continue negotiations for an initial tranche of a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) due by Fall 2025. The US had previously announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, which included a 26% tariff on India, while India seeks to roll back this tariff and others imposed on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. However, India faces challenges in meeting US demands for tariff cuts and market access, particularly in sensitive sectors like agriculture. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized the need for India to lower tariffs to address the significant trade deficit, which exceeds $40 billion annually.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe VOC Port Authority's ₹7,056 crore outer harbour project in Thoothukudi has been cancelled for the second time due to a lack of bidders, prompting the removal of the tender from the available list. Initially re-tendered in December 2024 after the first attempt attracted only two disqualified applicants, the project aims to enhance the port's capacity to handle 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually through a two-stage development plan. The first stage, costing ₹4,494 crore, focuses on constructing container terminal 1 and necessary infrastructure, while the second stage, at ₹2,561 crore, will develop container terminal 2. The need for an outer harbour has become critical as container ships have grown significantly in size, with current port facilities unable to accommodate vessels exceeding 400 meters in length. A detailed project report emphasizes that mere upgrades to the inner harbour will not suffice to meet future demands.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is set to launch a coastal container shipping service between Kandla port and VOC Port in Thoothukudi, re-routing its existing Middle East India Liner Express (SMILE) service. The new port rotation will include Pipavav, Kandla, Tuticorin, Cochin, and back to Pipavav, with the inaugural ship scheduled to arrive in Thoothukudi on June 16, according to VOC Port Authority sources. This initiative aims to bolster coastal connectivity between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, facilitating the transport of goods such as raw cotton and chemicals from Gujarat, alongside solar panels, tyres, and machinery spares from Tamil Nadu. Recent discussions led by SCI Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit with Rear Admiral Jaswinder Singh (Retd) focused on the service's launch. Meanwhile, SCI's share price on the NSE closed at ₹210.69, reflecting a decline of 2.06 percent.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIn a landmark decision, the Sikkim High Court has granted SICPA India Private Ltd a refund of over ₹4.37 crore in unutilised input tax credit (ITC) following the closure of its manufacturing unit in Sikkim. The ruling, delivered by Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, highlights a significant gap in the current goods and services tax (GST) legislation, which does not explicitly allow refunds for business closures under Section 54(3) of the CGST Act. The court noted that while the Act permits refunds in specific scenarios, it does not bar refunds for accumulated ITC due to business closure. This decision, which draws on precedents from the previous indirect tax regime, is expected to set a crucial precedent for companies winding up operations with unutilised ITC. The Revenue Department is anticipated to appeal the ruling in a higher court.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts has predicted an active monsoon, particularly along India's west coast, with heavy rainfall expected over the next four days, benefiting West Madhya Pradesh. Recent reports indicate heavy to very heavy rain has already impacted parts of Telangana, Kerala, and Mahe, as monsoon activity strengthens due to conditions over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns of extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry starting Saturday, with isolated heavy rain also forecasted for coastal Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, a western disturbance is anticipated to affect North-West India from Friday, although a depression in the West Pacific may divert monsoon flows. The US Climate Prediction Centre suggests above-normal rainfall for Central and North-West India next week, while the Madden-Julian Oscillation is not expected to influence the monsoon in the coming weeks.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe European Union (EU) has proposed measures to ease India's Quality Control Orders (QCO) as part of ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), including the introduction of online applications and the accreditation of EU Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). While the EU aims to streamline certification processes, experts warn that such accreditation could lead to increased foreign interference, particularly from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), complicating compliance for Indian industries already subject to U.S. FDA regulations. The 12th round of negotiations is set to take place in Brussels in July, with preliminary discussions focusing on market access, government procurement, and intellectual property rights. The EU has previously raised concerns at the WTO regarding India's QCOs, which it views as protectionist, while India defends its standards as necessary for improving domestic product quality and preventing sub-standard imports. Both parties hope to finalize the FTA by year-end, despite lingering contentious issues.
Published: Jun 11 2025, 5 pm
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