Economy

Horticulture has become one of the most important pillars of Indian agriculture because it gives farmers better income opportunities from relatively smaller areas of land. Fruits, vegetables and spices often provide higher returns than traditional field crops when supported by irrigation, storage, processing and market access. This makes horticulture especially important for small and marginal farmers who need better earnings from limited landholdings.

This growth marks an important moment in India’s export journey. Electronics, once seen mainly as an import-heavy sector, is now emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments in the country’s export basket. The shift reflects stronger domestic production, better manufacturing capacity, global demand for Indian-made electronic goods and the impact of policy support through the Production Linked Incentive scheme.

Hindustan Zinc, India’s largest integrated zinc producer, is already a major player in the country’s non-ferrous metals sector. By exploring biotechnology-driven recovery methods, the company is aiming to improve resource utilisation while reducing the environmental footprint of mining operations. This means that metal recovery can become more efficient, waste generation can be reduced, and existing mining assets can be used more intelligently.

DigiDukaan is designed to bring kirana procurement onto an open digital system. Through digital ordering and direct procurement, shopkeepers can gain better visibility of available schemes, improve fill rates, manage working capital more efficiently and access supplies with greater transparency. For small retailers, this can mean better margins, smoother stock management and stronger competitiveness against digital-first retail models.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the preparedness of States and Union Territories for the rollout. He stressed that the transition must remain smooth and worker-centric. This is important because rural employment programmes directly affect the income security of millions of families. Any change in framework must protect wage continuity, work availability and the rights of workers.

The scale of expansion is equally significant. Internet connections in India have risen from about 25 crore in 2014 to 103 crore up to December 2025. Broadband connections have grown from nearly 6 crore to about 100 crore during the same period, showing a 17-fold jump in high-speed connectivity access.

Jamnagar gives the project a strong industrial base. Reliance already has major energy and infrastructure assets in the region, and Meta has highlighted access to power, renewable energy support and network connectivity as key advantages. The facility will be supported by renewable energy and cooled with desalinated seawater. Meta has also said it will cover the full cost of energy and water supporting the data centre.

The importance of NSVs lies in their ability to turn road inspection from a slow manual process into a fast, evidence-based digital system. Earlier, highway surveys could cover only 20 to 80 km in a day. With the new technology, NSVs can survey up to 300 km per day, allowing defects to be detected quickly and repair action to begin faster. This speed matters because potholes, surface cracks and uneven road patches directly affect passenger comfort, vehicle safety and accident risk.

PM Vishwakarma is built around the three pillars of Samman, Samarthya and Samriddhi. Through OSOP, the government is focusing on the Samriddhi pillar by helping artisans sell their products in busy railway locations. These outlets increase visibility, create better sales opportunities and support sustainable livelihoods for artisans who often struggle to reach larger markets.