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At the centenary celebrations of the Central Coffee Research Institute, Wayanad-based startup NeuBiom Labs launched its innovative "Coffee Crop Intelligence" platform, Canopy. This technology aims to provide coffee growers and industry stakeholders with detailed insights into crop health and productivity through satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and hyperlocal data. By creating a "Digital Twin" of each plantation, Canopy allows farmers to monitor crop conditions remotely, predict risks, and optimize resource use, thereby enhancing climate resilience. Priced at ₹2,999 per year, the platform is designed to be affordable for smallholder farmers, ensuring they can maintain yields amid climate challenges. Additionally, Canopy offers real-time visibility for cooperatives, addressing traceability concerns as global sustainability norms tighten. NeuBiom Labs, supported by various organizations including Google for Startups India, aims to empower smallholder farmers with accessible technology to produce high-quality, traceable coffee. 
Published: Dec 29 2025, 3 pmeznews.inGlobal steel demand is projected to grow modestly by 1.3% in 2026, following a stagnant 2025, driven by public infrastructure spending and economic resilience outside China. In India, domestic steel demand is expected to rise by 8-9% in FY26, bolstered by strong activity in infrastructure, construction, and automotive sectors. However, the industry faces challenges from low-priced imports, particularly from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, despite the government's recent imposition of a five-year anti-dumping duty on certain steel products from China. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies has recommended a tapering safeguard duty of 12% over three years, but its implementation is pending. While imports fell by 13% to 6.54 million tonnes between April and November, exports surged by 31% to 5.77 million tonnes. Analysts warn that weak global pricing and rapid capacity additions may pressure domestic margins and realisations in the near term.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved a significant procurement package worth ₹79,000 crore aimed at enhancing the military's operational capabilities. The approved items include long-range rockets, missiles, radar systems, and loitering munition systems for the Army, which will enable precision strikes on tactical targets. Additionally, low-level lightweight radars will enhance detection of small, low-flying drones, while long-range guided rockets will improve the Pinaka rocket system's effectiveness. The Indian Navy will acquire high-frequency software-defined radios and lease high-altitude long-range remotely piloted aircraft for intelligence and surveillance in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Air Force will benefit from new automatic take-off landing recording systems, Astra Mk-II missiles, and SPICE-1000 guidance kits, all designed to bolster aerial combat capabilities and improve pilot training. This comprehensive upgrade reflects India's commitment to strengthening its defence infrastructure.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIn November 2025, the manufacturing sector in India demonstrated robust growth, with 20 out of 23 industry groups at the NIC 2-digit level reporting positive performance compared to the previous year. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) revealed a significant factory output increase of 6.7% from October's 0.4%. Notably, the manufacturing sector grew by 8.0%, while mining and electricity recorded growth rates of 5.4% and a decline of 1.5%, respectively. Key contributors to manufacturing growth included the production of basic metals (10.2%), pharmaceuticals (10.5%), and motor vehicles (11.9%). Specific items such as mild steel slabs and anti-psychotic drugs were highlighted for their substantial contributions. Additionally, IIP growth rates varied across sectors, with infrastructure/construction goods leading at 12.1%, followed by intermediate goods and consumer non-durables, indicating a diverse and strengthening industrial landscape.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia possesses the world's third-largest reserves of rare earth elements, estimated at 6.9 million tonnes, trailing only China and Brazil. However, its production remains significantly low, with only 2,900 tonnes produced in 2024, ranking seventh globally. In stark contrast, China produced 270,000 tonnes, dominating the market with 90% of global refining capacity. Regulatory challenges and a lack of processing infrastructure have historically hindered India's rare earth mining efforts, which have been largely managed by Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) and treated as by-products. While a joint venture in Visakhapatnam signals a potential revival, India's contribution to the global rare earth trade remains minimal, accounting for less than 1% of production. The report emphasizes that India's challenges lie not in resource availability but in execution and processing capabilities, which must be addressed to leverage its substantial reserves effectively.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 3 pmeznews.inFrost conditions in the Nilgiris region are significantly impacting tea production, leading to a decline in offerings at Coonoor auctions, which remained the only auction site open during the holiday weekend. Traders reported a drop in tea arrivals due to winter weather, affecting the livelihoods of local labourers. Despite selective buying from upcountry markets, prices for various tea grades fell, with high-priced and better liquoring teas decreasing by ₹2 to ₹3, while medium sorts saw reductions of ₹1 to ₹2. In the CTC dust category, high-priced teas dropped by ₹6 to ₹8, and better medium sorts fell by ₹2 to ₹3. Overall, the auction saw an offered quantity of 14,92,492 kg of leaf tea, with an 82% sales rate, while 3,76,264 kg of dust tea also achieved an 82% sales rate, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by the industry.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIn a notable achievement, UPL, a leading agricultural input company, has been awarded the 'Best Patent Portfolio' in Life Science & Agriculture at the 11th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Industrial IP Awards 2025. The awards celebrate organizations that excel in intellectual property generation, protection, and commercialization, highlighting their contributions to business growth and economic development. UPL's recognition as one of the Top 30 IP-Driven Organizations underscores its commitment to fostering an innovation-led ecosystem in agriculture. Vishal Sodha, UPL's Global Head of IP, expressed pride in the accolade, emphasizing the company's dedication to sustainable innovations that address farmer challenges and benefit communities. UPL currently boasts over 3,000 granted patents worldwide, with an additional 4,400 applications pending, showcasing its robust research-driven innovation pipeline.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia's economic outlook for 2026 has been bolstered by ongoing reforms and improving US-India relations, according to a report by Invesco Strategy & Insights. Despite current geopolitical tensions and underperforming equity markets, the report expresses cautious optimism, predicting India will remain the fastest-growing large economy, aided by anticipated rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of India. However, while emerging market equities are seen as attractive, the report suggests that India may lag behind China in performance. Global financial markets are expected to gain momentum in 2026, driven by resilient private-sector balance sheets and increased fiscal spending in major economies. The report also notes that a softer US dollar, influenced by Federal Reserve rate cuts, could encourage investment in non-US assets. Overall, Invesco highlights a shift towards more favorable valuations in non-US markets and smaller-cap stocks, suggesting a rebalancing of investment opportunities.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe jute industry is grappling with a severe crisis marked by a significant raw material shortage and soaring prices, which have surged from ₹4,700 to over ₹11,000 per quintal in just 15 months. This turmoil has led to a decline in jute cultivation, with farmers shifting to more profitable crops like maize, exacerbated by inadequate government procurement and support. As of late September 2025, jute acreage fell to approximately 5.56 lakh hectares, down from the usual 6.60 lakh hectares. The government has responded by allowing the use of plastic bags for food grain packaging, undermining the jute sector's traditional role. The ₹10,000 crore industry, vital for over 2.4 lakh mill workers and nearly five lakh farmers in West Bengal, faces production cuts and financial strain, prompting calls for policy realignment to address the underlying issues of supply and pricing.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIndia and Australia celebrated the third anniversary of their Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which has significantly boosted trade between the two nations. During the 2024-25 financial year, Indian exports to Australia grew by 8%, enhancing India's trade balance. A pivotal change will occur on January 1, 2026, when all Australian tariff lines will be zero-duty for Indian exports, allowing goods to enter Australia tax-free and creating opportunities in labour-intensive sectors. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted the agreement's success in fostering sustained export growth and deeper market access, benefiting various industries, including manufacturing, textiles, and agriculture. Notably, gems and jewellery exports surged by 16% from April to November 2025. As negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) progress, Goyal emphasized the ECTA's role in strengthening India's economic ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 2 pm
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