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Investment by India's private corporate sector is being hampered by uncertainty surrounding global trade deals, according to a report by UBS Securities India. The lack of clarity on pending agreements is causing hesitation in long-term capital expenditure (Capex), which refers to investments in assets like property and technology. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed concern over the sluggish pace of private investment despite government efforts to stimulate the economy through spending and attractive policies. She noted that while corporate balance sheets have improved since 2019, many firms are sitting on passive funds rather than expanding operations. In contrast, Rajiv Memani, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry, argued that private Capex is ongoing across various sectors, attributing recent slowdowns to external factors rather than structural issues. Notably, private Capex has seen a compound annual growth rate of 19.8% from FY21 to FY25E, driven by sectors like oil, power, and automobiles. 
Published: Jul 27 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia's hiring index rose to 2,854 in June 2025, marking a 10.5% year-on-year increase in employment activity across various sectors, according to the Monthly Economic Review by the Department of Economic Affairs. Notably, roles in artificial intelligence and machine learning surged by 42%, while hiring in Global Capability Centres increased by 9%. The report also highlighted an 11% rise in fresher hiring, indicating improved job prospects for new entrants. The Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recorded a historic high of 20.06 lakh net member additions in May, the largest since tracking began in 2018. The insurance sector led the hiring surge with a 32% increase, followed by hospitality and travel at 21%. The manufacturing and services sectors continued to contribute to job creation, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) employment sub-index remaining in expansion for the 16th consecutive month, reflecting ongoing government efforts to boost employment opportunities.
Published: Jul 29 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia's trade performance has shown resilience in the first quarter of the financial year 2026, as reported by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). Total exports, encompassing goods and services, rose by 5.9% year-on-year during the April-June period, with core merchandise exports, excluding petroleum and gems, increasing by 7.2%. This growth underscores the strength of India's external sector amid global economic uncertainties, with foreign exchange reserves providing over 11 months of import cover, indicating economic stability. Despite fluctuations in global oil prices and regional conflicts, the Indian rupee remained stable. The broader global trade environment has also seen resilience, with a USD 300 billion increase in trade during the first half of 2025, although developing countries lagged behind developed ones. A notable decline in trade-related uncertainty has prompted countries to pursue bilateral negotiations and enhance supply chain resilience to navigate the complexities of a fragmented global economy.
Published: Jul 29 2025, 8 ameznews.inAt a celebration in Chennai marking the 204th anniversary of Peru's independence and 62 years of diplomatic relations with India, Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, the Peruvian Ambassador to India, highlighted the upcoming eighth round of negotiations in Laos focused on exporting rare earth minerals to India. This initiative is particularly significant as China has curtailed its exports to India, making Peru's resources vital for India's clean energy and technology ambitions. The negotiations aim to finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by late 2025, which would enhance trade in sectors such as agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, and technology. R Dinesh, Honorary Consul of Peru in Chennai, emphasized Tamil Nadu's potential for collaboration in mining, automobiles, and IT, while the FTA is expected to facilitate greater market access and investment opportunities in healthcare, renewable energy, and digital technology.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has confirmed that the mandate for using solar photovoltaic (PV) cells from the Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) will come into effect on June 1, 2026. This initiative aims to enhance the reliability of solar producers, safeguard consumer interests, and bolster national energy security. Currently, India boasts a solar manufacturing capacity of 91 gigawatts (GW) for PV modules and 27 GW for PV cells. An amendment issued on July 28, 2025, clarifies the procedures for government-tendered projects, stating that the ALMM will be mandatory one month after the publication of the updated list. This change is designed to provide clarity for bidders, ensuring they can comply with the ALMM requirements in their submissions. The move is expected to stimulate domestic solar manufacturing and address challenges faced by renewable power developers, aligning cell production with the growing module manufacturing capacity.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe area under paddy cultivation during the kharif season has increased significantly, reaching 245.1 lakh hectares (lh) compared to 216.2 lh last year, marking a 13.4% rise. As of July 25, kharif sowing covered 829.4 lh, a 4% increase from 797.7 lh in 2024, with 75% of the normal area of 1,097 lh now sown. The India Meteorological Department reported a 7% increase in monsoon rainfall, totaling 447.8 mm, although some regions, particularly in the east and north-east, experienced deficits. While pulses acreage rose by 3.5% to 93.1 lh, specific crops like urad and arhar saw declines. Conversely, maize and moong experienced notable increases. Oilseeds and cotton areas fell slightly, while sugarcane planting reached 55.16 lh. Water storage in major reservoirs stands at 60.75% of capacity, significantly higher than last year.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIIM-Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has entered into a strategic partnership with the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) to facilitate the entry of promising Indian startups into the UAE market, aiming to enhance their global expansion. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to formalize this collaboration, which is part of the CEPA Start-up Series initiative designed to promote trade and innovation under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO of IIMCIP, emphasized the initiative's potential to connect Indian startups with the UAE ecosystem, offering free support for establishing operations and market access. He noted that this opportunity could also open doors to European and African markets. Since its inception in 2014, IIMCIP has mentored around 1,500 startups and funded over 130, reinforcing its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in India.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has set a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹7,800 per quintal for urad for the 2025-26 season, an increase from ₹7,400 the previous year. However, concerns are mounting over the crop's prospects due to a 6.75% decline in kharif urad acreage, which has fallen to 16.59 lakh hectares compared to 17.79 lakh hectares last year. Excess rainfall in key producing regions, particularly Bundelkhand, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, has raised fears of crop damage. Experts estimate that Bundelkhand, which contributes about a third of India's kharif urad output, may produce only 5-6 lakh tonnes this season. Farmers, facing declining crop quality and returns, are increasingly shifting to alternative crops like corn. Despite the acreage drop, analysts suggest that prices may remain stable due to duty-free imports from countries like Myanmar and Brazil, which have surged to 8.2 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 8 pmeznews.inBengaluru-based agritech startup Satyukt Analytics has launched the SFGC Sugarcane mobile application at DCM Shriram Ltd’s Loni Unit, marking a significant advancement in digital agriculture. This innovative solution, developed under the STPI-SFGC initiative with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), features a satellite-powered dashboard for mill operations and a mobile app for farmers, tailored for the sugarcane sector. The application utilizes remote sensing technology to provide insights on crop health, soil moisture, and harvesting strategies, enhancing decision-making for stakeholders. The implementation cycle includes product development, field testing, and farmer onboarding, ensuring practical adoption through real-world feedback. This initiative highlights the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in India's agritech landscape, promoting scalable, data-driven innovations with substantial field-level impact.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's recent free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK, signed on July 24, 2025, safeguards the interests of its domestic generic drugs industry by not mandating patent term extensions or data exclusivity—two mechanisms often used to extend patent protections, known as "evergreening." The Indian commerce ministry emphasized that its patent laws, particularly Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act, which restricts patents on known drugs unless they demonstrate enhanced efficacy, remain intact. The UK had sought to include data exclusivity provisions, which would protect the technical data generated by pharmaceutical companies during clinical trials, but India has previously rejected similar demands from the European Free Trade Association. This agreement is expected to facilitate quicker market entry for generics after patent expirations, ensuring that India's $25 billion generic drug industry continues to thrive without unnecessary delays.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 7 pmeznews.inDuring a Lok Sabha debate on Monday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that only four private insurance companies—Ageas Federal Life Insurance, Aviva Life Insurance, Credit Access Life Insurance, and Future Generali Life Insurance—have reached the current foreign direct investment (FDI) limit of 74%. No general or standalone health insurance firms have fully utilized this cap. Sitharaman explained that the proposed bill to increase the FDI limit aims to unlock the potential of India's insurance sector, projected to grow at 7.1% annually over the next five years. By raising the FDI limit, the government seeks to simplify the entry process for foreign investors, eliminate the need for local partners for the remaining 26%, and enhance competition, technology transfer, and insurance penetration in the country. This move is expected to attract stable foreign investment and increase the number of insurers operating in India.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 7 pm
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