Leveraging Technology to Enable Real-Time Crop Monitoring and Strengthen Farmer Incomes
Real‑time crop monitoring systems powered by AI, digital sensors and farm‑level data platforms are creating verifiable records of cultivation practices. HariBol is integrating these technologies to link farm data with product batches through QR codes and traceability platforms. The resulting transparency lets consumers confirm nutritional and origin claims while giving farmers a data‑backed basis for higher price realization. As the food ecosystem becomes data‑driven, both consumer trust and farmer incomes stand to improve.
West Asia Conflict May Trigger Global Inflation Shock if Disruptions Spread; India Relatively Insulated: SBI Research
SBI Research warns that an expanding West Asia conflict could reignite global inflation by disrupting energy markets, trade routes and supply chains. While the immediate price impact may be modest, prolonged hostilities risk broader macro‑economic fallout. India appears relatively insulated...
Exploring Oil Palm’s Untapped Carbon Sequestration Potential
On International Forest Day, India highlighted the carbon‑sequestration potential of sustainably grown oil palm. The National Mission on Edible Oils‑Oil Palm aims to cut reliance on imports—8.9 mt shipped in 2023—by expanding production on degraded land. Studies show oil palm can...
Lower Maize Prices May See Indian Farmers Switch Back to Oilseeds, Pulses This Kharif
Indian maize prices fell to ₹1,781 per quintal, about 30% below the minimum support price, prompting growers to reconsider crop choices for the upcoming kharif season. Despite record‑high projected maize output of 302.47 lakh tonnes, farmers are eyeing oilseeds and pulses...
Chicken Prices Soar in India on Bird Mortality, Reduced Weight
Chicken prices in India have surged to record levels, now ranging between ₹270 and ₹340 per kilogram, driven by soaring bird mortality and reduced broiler weight during the summer heat. The average live bird weight has fallen to 1.5‑1.75 kg, down...
PM Modi to Inaugurate Noida International Airport on March 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Noida International Airport in Jewar on March 28, 2026. The airport has secured final security clearance from BCAS and an aerodrome licence from the DGCA, clearing the last regulatory hurdles before commercial service....
El Niño to Emerge with Temperatures Rising and Uneven Rainfall Ahead: APEC Climate Centre
The APEC Climate Centre issued an El Niño watch, forecasting a warming phase through mid‑2026 with above‑normal temperatures across most regions. Rainfall will become uneven, bringing wetter conditions in parts of the Pacific and drier, below‑normal precipitation over the Maritime Continent,...
Centre Nudges Airlines on Free Seat Allocation, Transparency Norms
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, via the DGCA, has issued new directions mandating airlines to allocate at least 60% of seats free of charge and to seat passengers on the same PNR together where feasible. The guidelines also require clear...
Lulu Group Moves More than 8,000 Tonnes of Food Products From India to Gulf Nations, Ensures Steady Supply
Lulu Group has moved more than 8,000 tonnes of essential food items from India to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations over the past two weeks, using 17 chartered cargo flights and sea shipments. Over 5,000 tonnes of fresh perishables reached...
Hormuz Disruption: CBIC Allows BTT Clearance for Cargo Loaded at One Port, Offloaded at Another
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued new guidance allowing back‑to‑town (BTT) clearance for containers that are loaded at one Indian port but off‑loaded at another after a vessel returns due to disruptions in the Strait...
India’s Scrappage Network Runs at 25% Capacity: Gadkari in Rajya Sabha; Experts Flag Weak Economics
India’s authorised vehicle‑scrapping network, built for 1.3‑1.6 million units a year, is operating at roughly 25 % capacity, with only 279,792 vehicles processed in FY 26. A backlog of 4.5‑5 million old vehicles and a low scrappage rate of under 3 % stem from weak...
India’s Tea Imports Doubled in 2024-25
India’s tea imports surged to 50.14 million kg in fiscal 2024‑25, exactly twice the 25.21 million kg recorded in 2023‑24. The first ten months of 2025‑26 already show 33.55 million kg imported, underscoring a sustained upward trend. In response, the Tea Board issued strict labeling and...
Indian Carriers Cancelled 4,335 Flights Till Now, Says Rammohan Naidu Amid West Asia Conflict
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told Parliament that Indian airlines have cancelled 4,335 flights, while foreign carriers have dropped about 1,187 flights amid the West Asia crisis. He emphasized that safety and closed airspace leave airlines no choice...
NHAI to Raise FASTag Annual Pass Fee by 2.5% for FY27
India’s National Highways Authority (NHAI) announced a 2.5% increase in the FASTag Annual Pass fee, moving from ₹3,000 to ₹3,075 effective April 1, 2026 for FY27. The pass, launched in August 2025, lets private‑car, jeep and van owners make a single payment for...
Airbus Sees Demand Boost for Helicopters in India, Projects Demand for 1,000 Civil Choppers in Two Decades
Airbus Helicopters projects demand for more than 1,000 civil helicopters in India over the next two decades, driven by low current helicopter density and supportive government policies. Deliveries accelerated in 2025 with over 30 units, and the company inaugurated a...
Govt Asked to Explore Better Substitute for Pulses Farmers Amid Complains over Lower Prices
The Supreme Court has ordered the Indian government to review its yellow‑pea import policy and explore a better substitute for pulses, urging a stakeholder meeting to revise the framework. A 30 percent import duty on yellow peas, effective from October 2025, aims...
SAF Association Calls for Using Used Cooking Oil to Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Association (SAFA) is urging India’s government to tap used cooking oil (UCO) as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It recommends extending producer‑responsibility schemes and building robust collection networks across restaurants, hotels and food processors....
Kochi Metro Submits Nationwide Water Metro Feasibility Report
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has submitted a nationwide feasibility report for water‑metro systems in 18 locations across 11 states and two union territories. The study follows the success of Kochi Water Metro, which has attracted strong public acceptance and...
PM Unveils Connectivity Projects Worth ₹18,680 Crore in West Bengal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a ₹18,680 crore connectivity package for West Bengal ahead of the state elections. The flagship 231‑km four‑lane Kharagpur‑Moregram economic corridor will shave roughly 120 km off travel, cutting journey times by seven to eight hours. Additional projects...
Kerala Govt to Acquire 230 Acres of Land for Vizhinjam Port-Related Development
The Kerala government approved the acquisition of 230 acres of land for the Vizhinjam International Seaport at an estimated cost of ₹810 crore. Funding will come from ₹283.68 crore in the PSTSB account of Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd and the balance from...
Air India Evaluates East Asia Routes Amid West Asia Airspace Disruptions
Air India is assessing new long‑haul services to East Asian hubs such as Osaka, Jakarta and Phnom Penh, with a Boeing 787 earmarked for the Japanese capital. The move comes as the carrier activates contingency routes to bypass closed Gulf airspace caused...
As Urea Imports Are Poised to Hit Record High, Indian Parliamentary Panel Moots Adopting Green Ammonia for Fertilisers
A parliamentary standing committee urged India to draft a comprehensive roadmap for phased adoption of green ammonia in urea, DAP and NPK production. The call comes as urea imports are set to hit a record 17 lt by May 2026, surpassing...
Passenger Transport: Maharashtra Pauses New Rickshaw, Taxi Permits; E-Rickshaws and E-Bikes to Require Licences
Maharashtra has temporarily halted issuance of new auto‑rickshaw and taxi permits while requiring e‑rickshaws and e‑bikes to obtain licences. The move seeks a uniform regulatory framework for all passenger‑transport vehicles, including electric models. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced a forthcoming...
Maharashtra to Use AI to Boost Freshwater Fisheries Output; ₹1,024-Crore Scheme Launched
Maharashtra has launched a ₹1,024‑crore Chief Minister Matsyasampada Yojana to modernise freshwater fisheries using artificial intelligence. The AI platform, built with tech firm Marvel, will map thousands of ponds, collect precise production data and guide desilting efforts. By addressing structural...
As Global Cotton Firms up and Rupee Weakens, CAI Pares 2025-26 Cotton Import Projections
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) trimmed its 2025‑26 cotton import forecast to 47 lakh bales, down three lakh from the earlier 50‑lakh estimate, citing higher international prices, a weaker rupee and rising freight costs. Despite the cut, imports remain above...
Centre Proposes Life Term for Forced Transgender Conversion; Moves to Amend 2019 Act
The Union government introduced a Bill to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, imposing life imprisonment for forced conversion of children to a transgender identity and up to ten years for adults, with hefty fines. The amendment...
Lila Global’s VLCC Becomes 1st Indian-Flagged Vessel Structured via GIFT City
Lila Global has acquired the VLCC Lila Jamnagar, marking the first Indian‑flagged vessel structured through the International Financial Services Centre at GIFT City. The tanker is registered under RFK Shipping IFSC Private Limited, allowing the group to tap tax incentives...
Avio Smart Market Stack Inks Pact with Climate, Agri-Tech Firms
Avio Smart Market Stack Ltd (formerly Bartronics India) signed multiple MoUs with climate‑tech and agri‑tech firms to launch Project AVIO Agritech, leveraging its rural banking network that reaches roughly 40 million citizens. The initiative aims to bring sustainable farming practices, carbon‑credit...
Indian Potash Ltd. Set to Revive Cooperative Sugar Mill in Odisha; to Invest ₹360 Crore
Indian Potash Ltd (IPL) announced a ₹360 crore plan to revive the Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill in Odisha, dormant since 2010. The MoU with the state government outlines a 3,500 TCD capacity, a 16 MW co‑generation plant, a 10‑tonne‑per‑day bio‑CNG unit and cold‑storage...
India Fast-Tracks Chinese Investment Approvals in Key Sectors
India announced a fast‑track approval process for Chinese investments in selected sectors, reducing clearance time to 60 days. The new rules apply to electronics, capital goods, solar cells and battery components, but require Indian residents to hold majority stakes. The...
Bharat Taxi Service Will Expand to All Big Cities, Talukas in Next 2-3 Years: MoS Cooperation
The Indian government announced that the cooperative‑run ride‑hailing platform Bharat Taxi will be rolled out to all major cities and talukas within the next two to three years. Launched last month by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the service currently...
Finmin Seeks Parliamentary Approval for ₹1 Lakh Cr ‘Economic Stabilisation Fund’ to Face War-Induced Volatility
India’s Finance Ministry has asked Parliament to approve a ₹1 lakh crore Economic Stabilisation Fund aimed at cushioning the economy from market turbulence caused by the war in West Asia. The fund is part of the second batch of Supplementary Demands for...
India’s Defence Shift: Rising Capex, Falling Imports
India has become the world’s fourth‑largest defence spender, with the FY27 Union Budget earmarking $85 billion—a 15 % year‑on‑year rise and 15 % of total spending. The country’s defence capital expenditure has been climbing steadily, funding aircraft, ships, drones and advanced technologies. Exports...
Iran War Casts Shadow on Valley’s Famed Handicraft Industry
Handicraft exporters in Kashmir warn that the escalating Iran‑US‑Israel conflict is casting a shadow over their Gulf‑focused market. The war threatens to raise freight costs, delay shipments and dampen discretionary spending, echoing disruptions experienced during the Russia‑Ukraine war. The sector,...
Karnataka Plans to Build Common Airport for 3 Northern Districts
Karnataka’s Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil announced plans for a shared airport serving Ballari, Koppala and Vijayanagara, with the final site to be decided after consultations with the chief minister and local representatives. The state had previously acquired 900 acres...
West Asia Tensions Pose Twin Challenges for Indian Paper Industry
West Asian geopolitical tensions are creating a dual challenge for India’s paper sector by driving up energy costs and threatening key export markets. In FY24‑25, the industry shipped $980 million of paper and paperboard, with roughly $290 million (30%) destined for West...
An Export Grid that Bears Fruit
India’s west‑coast logistics bottleneck is easing after Jaigad Port inaugurated a plant‑quarantine office and a NABL‑accredited FSSAI laboratory. The new facilities enable local certification, cutting container transport costs by up to ₹60,000 and reducing logistics expenses by 10‑15 percent. With a...
Aircraft Leasing Gains Altitude at GIFT City
Aircraft leasing activity in India's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City surged from 63 units in December 2024 to 196 units by December 2025, a 211% increase. The leased fleet, now valued at $6.886 billion, attracted $615 million of financing...
Don’t Target Seafarers in War Zone: IMO
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned a deadly strike on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz that killed four seafarers and injured three, highlighting the heightened danger for roughly 20,000 crew members stranded in the Persian Gulf amid the...
Indo-US Trade Talks Reset; Deal Now Expected in 3-4 Months
Indo‑US trade talks have been reset after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, activating the joint statement’s review clause. Both governments now have a three‑to‑four‑month window to reassess the proposed preferential...
West Asia Crisis: Ministry Asks Ports to Consider Waiving Charges, Issues SoP
India’s Union Shipping, Ports and Waterways Ministry issued a standard operating procedure to mitigate disruptions from the West Asia crisis. The SOP authorises ports to consider waiving or reducing charges such as vessel fees and storage rent on a case‑by‑case...
Commerce Ministry Assures of Restoration of Full RoDTEP Benefits to Exporters From April 1: FIEO
India's Commerce Ministry announced that the full Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) benefits will be reinstated from April 1, 2026, after a temporary 50% reduction that lasted until March 31. The scheme, which refunds 0.3%‑3.9% of...
Gold Price Will Continue to Rise as Central Banks Continue to Diversify Into Non-Dollar Reserves: SBI Research
Gold prices have surged 47.6% since August 2025, reaching $5,092 per ounce, as central banks shift from Treasury securities to gold. The United States and Germany now report gold comprising over 80% of their reserve portfolios, with Italy and India also...
Global Economy Faces Inflation and Growth Test Amid Escalating Conflict in Iran - Goldman
Goldman Sachs warns that a temporary spike in crude to $100 a barrel could shave 0.4 percentage points off global GDP growth and lift headline inflation by up to 0.7 points. The firm’s baseline scenario still sees oil easing to...
West Asia Conflict Poses Near-Term Challenges to Indian Economy: RBI MPC Member
RBI monetary‑policy committee member Nagesh Kumar warned that the West Asia conflict creates near‑term headwinds for India, notably higher oil prices, export disruptions and reduced remittances. He stressed that inflation remains benign, with headline CPI at 1.3% in December 2025...
Strong Demand, New Launches Drive Double-Digit Growth in Auto Wholesales in Feb: Report
India's auto industry recorded double‑digit wholesale growth in February 2026, driven by robust demand across all segments. Strong consumer sentiment after GST cuts and a wave of new model launches lifted volumes, especially in commercial‑vehicle and two‑wheeler categories. Tata Motors...
MIHAN Project Generates 1.27 Lakh Jobs, 120 Firms Invest in Nagpur Hub
Maharashtra’s Multi‑Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN) in Nagpur has generated 127,225 jobs, according to IT Minister Ashish Shelar. The hub has attracted investment from 120 companies, with 90 already operating in the SEZ and non‑SEZ zones. The state government...
West Asia Tensions May Cloud India’s Coffee Export Momentum
Indian coffee exports are accelerating, with January‑February shipments up 40% to 80,931 tonnes and total 2025 sales surpassing $2 billion. The West Asia and North Africa region, accounting for roughly 20% of exports, is now a key growth market after Europe....
War Risk Insurance Premiums for Ships Likely to Rise Amid West Asia Crisis: Experts
War‑risk insurance for vessels is set to rise sharply as insurers cancel coverage amid the West Asia conflict. Premiums for hull and cargo have jumped to about 1 % of cargo value, up from 0.25‑0.5 % previously. Shipping lines are rerouting around...
India’s Current Account Deficit Widens to $13.2 Billion in Q3FY26
India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $13.2 billion in Q3FY26, equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, up from $11.3 billion and 1.1% a year earlier. The increase was driven primarily by a larger merchandise trade deficit of $93.6 billion and higher net outflows...