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The United States is poised to impose additional tariffs on rice imports from India, a move experts believe will have minimal impact on India's rice trade. The US is responding to pressure to raise tariffs, not due to high import levels, but because India's competitive pricing is undermining US rice exports, which are already struggling to expand beyond South America. US rice farmers are facing significant losses, prompting the Trump administration to target Indian rice to support its domestic growers. Despite the potential tariffs, industry associations in India assert that the US market is relatively small for Indian rice, accounting for only 4.5% of basmati exports. The Indian rice sector remains resilient, with exports continuing to grow, driven by demand from ethnic communities in the US. Analysts suggest that the US's actions may also reflect broader strategic considerations in its trade relations with Asia. 
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inNITI Aayog member Prof. Ramesh Chand urged Indian farmers to diversify their crop choices beyond those covered by the government's Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme to foster self-reliance and align with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Speaking at an agriculture conclave hosted by Rural Voice, Chand highlighted that while MSP-linked crops have seen a modest growth of 1.8% over the past decade, non-MSP crops have surged by approximately 4%. He emphasized the need for farmers to take initiative in their farming practices to address the growing domestic demand, which is currently at just 2%. Chand pointed out the emergence of a wealthier consumer class and the importance of developing a comprehensive value chain to enhance farmers' incomes. He advocated for a food-system approach in global agricultural planning and called for empowering farmers through innovation, technology, and inclusive policy-making to achieve true self-reliance in agriculture.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has mandated IndiGo to reduce its flight schedule by 10% to stabilize operations and minimize cancellations, according to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Despite this reduction, IndiGo will maintain coverage to all destinations. Following recent operational disruptions, Naidu met with IndiGo Chief Executive Pieter Elbers, who confirmed that all refunds for affected flights up to December 6 have been processed. The Minister emphasized the need for expedited refunds and compliance with directives on fare capping and passenger convenience. Additionally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously instructed IndiGo to cut its schedule by 5% on high-demand routes. While IndiGo has been granted an increase in its Winter Schedule for 2025, it has struggled to operate efficiently, with only 339 aircraft in use in October. Naidu reported that IndiGo's operations are stabilizing, with flights recovering from a low of 706 to over 1,800.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Karnataka government has designated 1,777 acres across 13 villages in Devanahalli taluk as a Permanent Special Agricultural Zone, resolving a protracted dispute over land initially intended for an Aerospace Park. Officials emphasized that farmers retain the right to sell their land, countering recent rumors suggesting otherwise. Dr. S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Industries, reassured farmers that the decision aims to protect agricultural land while enhancing infrastructure and market access to stimulate farm-based economic activities. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting where it was decided to denotify the land, which is already classified as part of the Green Zone, ensuring agriculture can thrive alongside industrial growth. The government plans to establish a committee to evaluate the benefits of similar agricultural zones in other states and countries, reinforcing its commitment to supporting farmers and preventing exploitation by real estate developers.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAt a recent joint meeting hosted by the Madras Management Association and the Chennai chapter of the IIM Ahmedabad Alumni Association, economist Ravindra Dholakia, a Director on the Reserve Bank of India's Central Board, emphasized the need for dynamic inflation targeting to meet India's ambitious growth goals. He argued that achieving an 8-8.5% growth rate is unrealistic under current conditions and proposed revising targets to a more attainable range of 4-5%, with a tolerance band of 3-6-7%. Dholakia also criticized rating agencies for their assessments, suggesting that a better understanding of India's growth dynamics could have mitigated recent exchange rate depreciation. Additionally, author V Kumaraswamy advocated for a separate inflation index for pensioners, while Lokeshwarri SK, Associate Editor of _The Hindu Businessline_, highlighted the media's role in making economic policies accessible to the public, suggesting that the RBI could aid this effort by providing translations in regional languages.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn the wake of recent disruptions affecting IndiGo flights, bus aggregator redBus has reported a significant 17% increase in seat bookings from December 5 to 8, compared to the previous days. The surge is particularly notable on major routes connecting large metropolitan areas, including Pune-Hyderabad, Mumbai-Hyderabad, and Mumbai-Bangalore, with over 30% growth observed on around 70 routes. Demand for bus travel has risen sharply in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, leading to a 25% increase in average fares. Additionally, redBus has seen an 18% rise in inventory for these routes. The trend aligns with the wedding and pilgrimage seasons, but the recent spike in bookings indicates a broader shift towards bus and rail travel as alternatives to flights. Hotel chains have also benefited, experiencing a 25-30% increase in same-day and next-day reservations, boosting occupancy rates significantly.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn November 2025, Indian IT firms experienced a significant shift in deal momentum towards Europe, securing ten contracts in digital modernization, while North America recorded no wins, according to a BNP Paribas report. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led the charge with six major contracts, including partnerships with Morrisons and the NHS Supply Chain. Other firms like Wipro, Cognizant, and LTIMindtree also secured deals, primarily in the consumer packaged goods and retail sectors. The report highlights Europe's growing demand for cost efficiency and digital transformation, driven by new regulations and a desire to reduce reliance on US cloud providers. Gaurav Vasu, CEO of UnearthInsight, noted that this trend reflects a sustained demand cycle, as European investments in cloud and cybersecurity continue to outpace those in North America, which is currently facing market uncertainty. Despite this, global demand for IT services remains strong, with North America expected to rebound as AI investments increase.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia has seen a significant increase in urea imports, rising over 136% to 5.86 million tonnes between April and October, yet farmers continue to report shortages as stock levels have fallen to 4.99 million tonnes, down from 6.6 million tonnes a year ago. Despite these concerns, industry leaders assert that current supplies are sufficient for the Rabi season, with projections indicating a 41% rise in fertilizer imports to 22.3 million tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year due to heightened domestic demand following good monsoon rains. The Fertilizer Association of India (FAI) noted that while imports from China have decreased, India has diversified its sourcing from countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia to ensure supply security. Domestic production has also seen a slight increase, reaching 29.97 million tonnes. Overall, India, which serves over 140 million farming households, remains the second-largest fertilizer consumer globally, after China.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian civil aviation ministry has mandated a 10% reduction in IndiGo's flight schedule to stabilize operations amid significant disruptions caused by the transition to new pilot duty regulations. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed that IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers reported the completion of 100% refunds for flights affected until December 6. The ministry's decision follows an earlier directive from the aviation safety regulator, DGCA, which initially cut the schedule by 5%. Naidu emphasized that the curtailment is essential for reducing cancellations and improving passenger experience, as recent mismanagement led to thousands of flight cancellations and chaos at airports. He also instructed IndiGo to adhere to all ministry directives, including fare capping and passenger convenience measures. A follow-up meeting with IndiGo's management was held to discuss further stabilization efforts, as the airline continues to face scrutiny over its operational challenges.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Cotton Association of India (CAI) has called on the government to eliminate the 11% customs duty on raw cotton imports, which is currently duty-free until December 31, 2025. CAI President Vinay N Kotak highlighted the severe challenges facing the Indian textiles industry, exacerbated by US tariffs and economic downturns in Europe. He argued that the high minimum support price (MSP) and low domestic productivity have rendered Indian cotton uncompetitive globally. Kotak warned that maintaining the import duty could lead to unemployment and financial instability within the textile sector, urging the government to support the industry to achieve its $100 billion export target by 2030. He noted that unseasonal rains have damaged cotton quality, necessitating imports to meet buyer standards. The CAI projects Indian cotton imports could reach a record 50 lakh bales in the 2025-26 season, underscoring the urgency of their request.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 7 pm
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