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West Bengal, the second-largest potato producer in India, is expected to see little to no increase in potato cultivation this year, with potential declines in key growing regions. The area under cultivation was approximately 4.9 lakh hectares in 2024-25, yielding around 115 lakh tonnes last year, a record output. Patit Paban De from the West Bengal Cold Storage Association noted that farmers may reduce sowing due to poor prices following last year's bumper harvest. Currently, 65-70% of sowing is complete, with expectations to finish in the next two weeks. However, districts like Hooghly may experience a slight decrease in sowing area due to flooding from heavy rains in September. Conversely, North Bengal is seeing growth in potato cultivation, particularly in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Malda, indicating a mixed outlook for the state's potato farming landscape. 
Published: Nov 24 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIn November, Russia remained India's leading crude oil supplier, with imports averaging 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, despite the recent US sanctions targeting Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil. Sources indicate that Indian refiners will continue to source oil from non-sanctioned entities, albeit in reduced volumes, as the Indian government has not imposed restrictions on Russian purchases, provided sanctions are not violated. While US President Donald Trump has suggested that India should reduce its Russian oil imports to "near-zero," the country is negotiating a bilateral trade agreement aimed at lowering US tariffs on Indian goods. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, India's imports of Russian oil surged, accounting for nearly 40% of its total oil imports, a situation that has drawn criticism from the US, which argues that such purchases support Russia's military actions.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Union government is set to unveil its national Quantum Computing Policy in Hyderabad on December 4, as announced by Sanjay Kumar, Special Chief Secretary for IT and Industries in Telangana. The launch will take place at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Hyderabad) and will be attended by senior officials from the Union government, NITI Aayog, and the state government. At the event, Telangana will also introduce its own Quantum Computing Framework. Additionally, Kumar revealed plans for a ₹1,000-crore Fund of Funds to support growth-stage startups, emphasizing their crucial role in achieving a targeted growth rate of 16-17% to reach a $1-trillion economy by 2030. The state government will also establish two data centre hubs and an AI hub, focusing on cybersecurity and biotech innovation, while promoting strong intellectual property practices to enhance global competitiveness in deeptech startups.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on November 21, 2025, resulting in the death of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, the pilot. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) characterized the incident as an “isolated occurrence” and assured stakeholders that it would not affect business operations or delivery schedules. The company is cooperating with ongoing investigations, while Indian Air Force officials have urged restraint in drawing conclusions until a formal inquiry is completed. Following the crash, HAL's shares fell nearly 9% before recovering slightly. The Tejas, a key component of India's indigenous defence programme, is designed for various combat roles and is central to the country's push for self-reliance in military manufacturing. Despite the setback, HAL remains confident in the aircraft's safety record, although the delivery of the Tejas LCA Mk-1A to the IAF has faced delays due to software integration issues.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 6 pmeznews.inUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari urged orange farmers in Vidarbha to unite and establish large-scale Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to enhance the processing, branding, and marketing of orange-based products, during the Agrovision agricultural event in Nagpur. He highlighted the need for a comprehensive data bank of orange farmers to facilitate collaboration and emphasized the importance of producing value-added products like juice and cosmetics to boost the region's economy. Gadkari noted that Nagpur oranges are renowned for their quality and called for a shift from raw production to value addition, advocating for improved yields and sustainable practices. He also encouraged the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, sharing his own experiences with AI on his farm. Additionally, the Agrovision Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Agriculture Development Trust to promote AI-driven agricultural practices.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 5 pmeznews.inThe Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) has raised alarms over a significant rise in paper and paperboard imports from ASEAN countries, which surged by 14% in the first half of FY26, reaching 2.07 lakh tonnes. This influx, driven by countries like Indonesia and China, now constitutes over 20% of India's total imports, undermining the domestic industry that has invested over ₹30,000 crore in modernization and sustainable practices. IPMA President Pawan Agarwal highlighted that while Indian mills rely on higher-cost agroforestry, foreign competitors benefit from subsidies and lower production costs. The situation is exacerbated by trade agreements that offer minimal import duties, allowing foreign products to flood the market. Agarwal urged the government to invoke a termination clause in the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement and consider withdrawing from the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement to protect local manufacturers, particularly MSMEs, from the adverse effects of these imports.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 5 pmeznews.inMahindra Group's logistics arm, Mahindra Logistics Ltd (MLL), has launched an all-women operated warehousing facility in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in partnership with L’Oreal India. This facility aims to enhance distribution across central India, facilitating the movement of goods to key markets such as Jabalpur, Bhopal, and Sagar. MLL emphasized that the women-operated unit will improve regional outreach through quicker replenishment cycles and reduced transit times, aligning with L’Oreal's commitment to inclusion and diversity. Hemant Sikka, MLL's Managing Director & CEO, highlighted that inclusive teams foster better performance and innovation. The facility will manage a diverse product line using MLL's advanced warehouse management system, ensuring seamless integration with L’Oreal’s distribution needs. Arun Saravanakumar, L’Oreal India's Supply Chain Director, noted that this initiative reflects their dedication to gender parity and creating equal opportunities for women in the workplace.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIndia's finished steel imports fell by 34.1% year-on-year during the first seven months of the financial year, totaling 3.8 million metric tons, according to provisional government data. South Korea emerged as the largest exporter, supplying 1.4 million metric tons, followed by China, Japan, and Russia. The report highlighted that domestic steel prices are under pressure due to weak demand and high supply, compounded by subdued trading activity amid the ongoing festival season. In contrast, India exported 3.5 million metric tons of finished steel during the same period, marking a 25.3% increase year-on-year, with Italy and Belgium being the primary markets. India's finished steel production reached 91.6 million metric tons, while crude steel production was at 95.7 million metric tons, with consumption of finished steel rising by 7.4% to 92.2 million metric tons.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 4 pmeznews.inFrench agri-trading giant Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has emerged as the second-largest exporter of pulses to India since launching its dedicated global pulses unit in September 2024, according to CEO Sumeet Mittal. With a history spanning 170 years and operations in over 100 countries, LDC is now among the top three global merchants of pulses, focusing on chickpeas, yellow peas, and lentils. The company is exploring the establishment of processing mills in India to enhance its value chain involvement. Mittal noted that the Indian government's recent 30% import duty on yellow peas has increased market visibility, while the demand for plant-based protein continues to rise. Additionally, LDC is expanding its initiatives in sustainable agriculture, including its "Jagruti" cotton project, which has grown to support 26,000 farmers, and is working on sustainable coffee production and water management projects in Gujarat.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 4 pmeznews.inIn a notable update from the Indian agricultural sector, the government has reported an increase in rabi crop sowing, with wheat planted across 66.23 lakh hectares as of November 17, 2025, compared to 56.55 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi attributed this growth to favorable rainfall, although some delays were noted due to late harvesting. Overall, the total area sown for all rabi crops has risen to 208.19 lakh hectares, up from 188.73 lakh hectares in the previous year. Additionally, the acreage for pulses and oilseeds has also seen increases, with pulses now at 52.82 lakh hectares and oilseeds at 15.53 lakh hectares. The government remains optimistic that total coverage for rabi crops will surpass last year's figure of 655.88 lakh hectares, reflecting a positive trend in agricultural productivity.
Published: Nov 24 2025, 4 pm
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