News on Indian Economy
Rice accounted for 114.69 lakh hectares of the total kharif area covered by July 10. This was 10.84 lakh hectares below the 125.53 lakh hectares planted during the corresponding period of 2025.
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that maize now contributes around 35% of India’s ethanol output, highlighting the growing importance of grain-based biofuels in the national energy strategy. The development reflects the government’s effort to build a more diversified and dependable ethanol supply chain.
The report estimates that the market has nearly doubled over the past five years, growing from US$56 billion (₹4.16 lakh crore) in FY21 to around US$90 billion in FY26. The sector’s growth is being supported by higher disposable incomes, urbanisation, changing lifestyles and a growing preference for organised dining and digital food ordering.
The collaboration will begin with a pilot facility at an Adani Group site to produce formic acid using captured carbon dioxide and renewable electricity. If the pilot proves successful, the companies plan to scale the technology for commercial production, with the aim of manufacturing chemicals using significantly lower carbon emissions than conventional processes.
The service sits within BSNL’s Global Satellite Phone Service, or GSPS, which has been available to the public and enterprises since 2018. According to the Ministry of Communications, BSNL provides voice call and SMS services through GSPS, and the communication is transferred in encrypted form under Department of Telecommunications guidelines.
The move reflects NTPC’s broader push to diversify beyond thermal power and emerge as a key player in India’s expanding nuclear energy sector. The company has set a target of developing 30 GW of nuclear power capacity, accounting for nearly one-third of India’s national goal of achieving 100 GW of installed nuclear capacity by 2047.
Retail and FMCG companies are expanding their India-based capability centres to support global business priorities. These centres are no longer limited to back-office functions. Many of them now handle advanced work in artificial intelligence, data science, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, e-commerce technology, digital payments, loyalty programmes, consumer analytics and supply chain optimisation.
The Saras Mk-II is being developed by CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru, as a multi-role light transport aircraft suited for short regional routes, smaller airports and difficult operating environments. It is expected to support passenger movement, air taxi services, air ambulance operations, executive transport, light cargo, border patrol and other community services.
The pilot train has been developed for the Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway in Haryana, where dedicated hydrogen production, storage and refuelling infrastructure has also been established. Unlike a conventional diesel train, the new trainset will generate electricity onboard using hydrogen fuel cells, producing only water vapour and heat as by-products, thereby eliminating tailpipe carbon emissions.
Speaking at the India Energy Storage Week on Wednesday, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the proposed link aligns with the government’s “One Sun, One World, One Grid” initiative, which envisions an interconnected global electricity network powered by renewable energy.
