AGRICULTURE MARKET ACCESS
India and US trade deal still has a few stubborn cards to play: Fitch unit
Negotiations between India and the US have encountered significant sticking points affecting market access and agriculture. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted the identification of all key issues during talks. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned that negotiations have reached a plateau with limited opportunities for further concessions. India is advocating for more preferential access for its exports. Meanwhile, Washington seeks increased access to the Indian market, especially in agricultural sectors.
RBI MPC Key Takeaways 2026: Repo rate hiked to 5.50%, FY27 GDP growth forecast raised to 7.1%
RBI Monetary Policy 2026 Takeaways: The Reserve Bank of India raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%, the first increase since February 2023. The GDP growth forecast for FY27 was raised from 6.7% to 7.1%, highlighting resilient economic activity. Meanwhile, CPI inflation projection was revised up to 5.2% due to rising food and fuel prices. The Monetary Policy Committee shifted its stance to calibrated tightening, emphasizing inflation containment.
World Space Week 2026: The rocket revolution is happening above us — How cheaper launches could change everyday life on Earth
Sixty-nine years after Sputnik's launch marked the beginning of the Space Age, new advancements are reshaping space access. Reusable rockets, such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Starship, are cost-effective alternatives to traditional expendable launch vehicles. This transformation supports not only increased launch frequency but also diverse missions involving satellites and human exploration. World Space Week 2026 emphasizes these advancements while inspiring students through rocketry programs worldwide.
Physical AI startups moot industry body to set data-collection standards
The proposed body could also help AI labs connect with various farms, factories, hotels and other real-world environments from where they can access and collect data needed to train robots at a fixed rate, one of the founders said.
India, Switzerland sign migration pact, expand trade, investment and defence ties
India and Switzerland have signed a migration and mobility partnership pact and expanded market access for Indian exports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin discussed deepening cooperation in nuclear energy and defence. Both nations aim to boost bilateral trade and investment ties following the recent Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement. New opportunities will also emerge for Indian students and professionals in Switzerland through the agreements.
India-US trade talks hit a plateau, with little room left to give or take, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
India and the US are currently negotiating a trade agreement aimed at expanding market access and addressing trade balance concerns. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned that both sides appear to have reached a plateau in negotiations. She indicated that further concessions may be challenging following rigorous discussions. Despite this, she believes there could be opportunities for additional negotiations. The US is particularly focused on reducing its trade deficit with India.
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Opportunity alone doesn’t create trade. Connectivity does
BRICS 2026 has built momentum. The next chapter will depend on how effectively agreements are matched by the corridors, infrastructure, technology, and systems needed to move goods reliably, with alternatives when disruptions occur.
India goes FTA shopping at G20 as Piyush Goyal works the room with a cart full of trade deals
India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is actively engaged in negotiations for several trade agreements at the G20 meeting. Talks with the US include an interim pact and finalizing issues for a broader agreement. Discussions with Canada aim to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026. Existing trade agreements with the UK and Australia are also under review for their implementation and effectiveness.
‘One of the best decisions I’ve made’: Chennai founder on how moving to Bengaluru changed his business and life
Bengaluru news: Harish Varadharajan moved his agritech business from Chennai to Bengaluru and found significant advantages in the city's ecosystem. After one year, he noted improved access to investors, talent and customers, which helped his business grow. Bengaluru's favorable climate also reduced operational costs for his company. Other entrepreneurs shared mixed reviews about relocating, with some favoring Nashik for its agricultural resources.
Sebi examining position limits for non-agri contracts to boost liquidity
Sebi is actively investigating position limits for non-agricultural contracts to improve market liquidity and depth. Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey has highlighted the importance of phased physical settlement for agricultural commodities. The organization is focused on addressing structural issues and increasing technology integration in commodity markets. Furthermore, Sebi plans to expand its educational outreach through Project Jagrook to better inform market participants.
Sebi to soon issue framework on Closing Auction Session; receives over 3,500 comments
Securities and Exchange Board of India will release a framework regarding changes to the Closing Auction Session mechanism. The regulator reviewed comments on its consultation paper about market timings and settlement methodology. Sebi intends to address specific issues related to derivatives settlement prices after consultations. Regulatory measures for corporate bond derivatives are also being developed to promote market growth.
India exports 1 tonne of Bihar's makhana to Greece
India has successfully exported 1 tonne of makhana from Purnea to Greece and 24 tonnes of frozen food products from Sonipat to Canada. These shipments are part of India's efforts to expand its overseas market for agricultural commodities. The commerce ministry highlights that Bihar produces about 80-85% of the country's makhana. The frozen food shipment from Haryana includes items like green peas and samosas.
Reliance plans Rs 1 lakh crore investment in Andhra Pradesh, says Anant Ambani
Reliance Industries announced a substantial investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in Andhra Pradesh for biogas plants. This initiative aims to create over three lakh jobs and generate revenue of nearly Rs 60,000 crore. The company will also support the establishment of the Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub and Indian School of Agriculture. Advanced technologies will be integrated with traditional farming knowledge to enhance agricultural practices.
FPO-led food exports from Haryana to Canada open new market opportunities for farmers
A 24-metric-tonne consignment of frozen food products from Haryana has been exported to Canada by Aterna Foods Producer Company Limited, marking an effort to connect Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with international markets. The shipment, valued at CAD 35,140, includes frozen peas, mixed vegetables, sweet corn, peas and carrots and samosas. APEDA facilitated the export under its Financial Assistance Scheme.
Nitin Gadkari's ethanol challenge: 'Show me one damaged vehicle'; minister hits back at claims over blended petrol & reveals what farmers gained
Nitin Gadkari defended the Centre's ethanol-blending programme at the Bihar Investor Summit 2026, rejecting claims that ethanol-blended petrol damages vehicles. He said millions of vehicles have been running on blended fuel since 2022 and highlighted the policy's potential to reduce fuel imports while creating additional income opportunities for farmers through ethanol production.
Indian robotics, Agri and medtech startup showcase capacities at Moscow Startup Summit
The two-day event concluded Wednesday at SberCity, backed by Russia’s biggest bank Sberbank. The event was organised by the government of Moscow and Sberbank.
India's motor car exports witnessing healthy growth in EFTA market: Piyush Goyal
India's exports of motor cars and heavy waters have seen significant growth since the trade agreement implementation. The trade and economic partnership agreement with EFTA has created market access for the majority of India's exports. The EFTA countries have committed to invest USD 100 billion in India over 15 years.
Pest resistance is forcing India’s crop-protection firms to rethink product strategies: Insecticides India MD
Resistance to chemicals and formulations is an evolving challenge, particularly in crops where the same pest pressures persist over multiple seasons, said Rajesh Aggarwal, MD of Insecticides (India).
Growpital case: Sebi to refund money directly to investors for first time
Securities and Exchange Board of India has ordered a refund for investors affected by Growpital's scheme. The refund will involve ₹192.88 crore raised from over five thousand investors through unregistered entities. Sebi will verify investor details with Cashfree Payments before issuing refunds proportionately. Investors will receive interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the date of the interim order.
Cabinet clears Rs 2.79 lakh crore package: Rabi MSP hike for six crops, Rs 1.86 lakh crore for PM DHARA, Rs 1,790 crore for Delhi traffic system
Cabinet decisions today: Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a series of key decisions, including the Rabi Price Policy for the 2027-28 marketing season, with an estimated payout of Rs 90,962 crore to farmers. MSPs for six Rabi crops, including wheat, barley, gram, lentil, rapeseed-mustard and safflower, were revised. The Cabinet also approved Rs 1,86,405 crore for PM DHARA and Rs 1,790 crore for an Intelligent Traffic Management System in Delhi.
India's rice industry looks beyond grain for next billion-dollar opportunity
India’s rice industry is looking beyond raw grain exports to higher-value products such as noodles, bran oil, protein, specialised ingredients and rice-husk-based materials. An IREF-EY assessment at the Bharat International Rice Conference 2026 will identify which products offer the strongest combination of demand, margins, investment potential and export opportunity.
Building businesses for the next billion Indians: What entrepreneurs need to understand
India is undergoing a remarkable transformation as more individuals choose entrepreneurship over conventional careers. The influx of technology and digital tools presents new avenues for small enterprises to flourish.
Foodgrain target for 2026-27 cut to 374 MT amid El Nino concerns
The Centre has also assured states of adequate availability of fertilisers, certified seeds and financial resources for the 2026-27 rabi season.
UPITS: 6 partner nations, Rs 15,500 cr potential business, agro-food & mfg interest sectors
The Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show 2026 concluded with 4,400 Memoranda of Understanding worth approximately Rs 6,500 crore. There were around 41,500 B2B meetings and an estimated business potential of Rs 15,500 crore from inquiries. The event attracted foreign delegations from six countries interested in various sectors of the state.
US and China release reciprocal $30 billion product lists for tariff cuts after Trump-Xi meeting
The United States and China have released lists of products for tariff reductions to boost bilateral trade. The agreement includes around 1,619 U.S. goods and 77 categories of Chinese products. These changes may enhance market access for U.S. businesses and lower consumer prices in the U.S. Economic experts suggest the impact may be limited given the overall trade volumes. Analysts predict continued recovery in U.S.
China is building a new rulebook for dealing with the US — tariffs are only the beginning of a much broader reset
China and the United States have established a reciprocal framework for tariff reductions on approximately $30 billion of goods from each side. They created two new boards to facilitate trading and investment discussions as a means of ongoing economic cooperation. Additionally, a dedicated dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) issues has been initiated between the two nations. The Kuala Lumpur trade arrangement has also been extended for further negotiations.
Balwaan Krishi raises Rs 100 crore in Series B to accelerate affordable farm mechanisation in India
The fundraise marks an important milestone for Balwaan as it scales its position in India’s growing farm mechanisation market.
Dibrugarh set to resume international cargo movement on Brahmaputra after nearly 80 years
Dibrugarh is set to resume international cargo movement through the Brahmaputra river, transporting methanol to Bangladesh. Two vessels are prepared for this operation, carrying 1,080 tonnes of methanol from Bogibeel. The journey spans approximately 783 kilometres and is expected to take about seven days. This initiative aims to revitalize trade connections previously established during British rule. The expanded cargo transport will support local producers by opening international market access.
China says US trade truce extension creates space to advance talks
China has confirmed a two-month extension of the trade truce with the US following a recent summit. This extension aims to provide a stable policy environment for ongoing discussions and cooperation. Both countries can now assess the previous implementation of their economic arrangement established in October. The extension is expected to give room for advancing trade-related issues effectively. Active discussions are likely to continue, focusing on resolving economic matters.
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