Author: News Desk

The government is set to transform India’s shipbuilding sector by offering land at near-zero cost to shipyards, aiming to attract global investment, reduce operational expenses, and strengthen India’s position in the maritime industry. The initiative is expected to drive sustainable growth in coastal states. Under the new greenfield shipbuilding cluster development scheme, shipyards investing in new construction and repair facilities within designated industrial corridors may receive land almost free of cost. The ports and shipping ministry has proposed leases of up to 60 years, extendable further, with only nominal rent charged. The land cost itself will not be included in…

India has officially moved ahead of Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, with its gross domestic product reaching $4.18 trillion, the central government said in a press release issued on Monday, December 29, 2025. On the back of strong and sustained growth, India is now expected to surpass Germany and claim the third spot globally by 2030. The government projects India’s GDP to expand to around $7.3 trillion over the next five years. “With GDP valued at $4.18 trillion, India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and is poised to displace Germany from the third rank…

Western Railway has marked a year of transformative progress in 2025, achieving major milestones across electrification, infrastructure development, safety systems and digital transformation. The initiatives aim to modernise the zone’s operations, enhance network capacity, improve passenger services and boost overall efficiency on one of India’s busiest rail corridors. A key achievement has been the expansion of electrified routes, enabling smoother and more energy‑efficient train operations while reducing dependence on diesel traction. The completion of additional electrification work has allowed Western Railway to run more electric locomotives and support faster, greener services. Infrastructure upgrades have included station redevelopments, signalling enhancements and track improvements, designed to…

Despite positive GDP growth, India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ended 2025 under continued strain. They faced heavy US tariffs, delayed payments, rising regulatory costs, and limited credit access, while government support struggled to reach the ground. The stress intensified in August when the US, following previous 25% duties, imposed tariffs up to 50% on many Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil. These higher tariffs disrupted orders in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, and engineering goods, hitting small exporters—who operate on thin margins and limited pricing power—especially hard. For many MSMEs, the tariff…

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Delhi has secured a place among the top 10 busiest airports in the world for December 2025, ranking seventh in terms of overall flight and passenger traffic, according to recent global airport data. This achievement reflects the remarkable growth in air travel demand across India, reinforcing the nation’s expanding aviation footprint on the world stage. Delhi IGI’s position in the global rankings underscores strong performance in both domestic and international sectors, driven by rising connectivity, expanded airline operations and increased passenger confidence following the resumption of peak travel seasons. The airport’s robust traffic volumes highlight India’s role as a major aviation…

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced the acquisition of Manus, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup originally founded with Chinese roots, as part of a strategic push to strengthen its AI capabilities and accelerate innovation across its suite of products, including Meta AI, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. Manus specialises in developing general-purpose AI agents, autonomous systems capable of performing complex, multi-step tasks such as market research, coding, resume screening and data analysis with minimal human input. The technology has attracted millions of users and generated significant subscription-based revenue, making it an attractive asset for Meta’s expanding AI strategy. Under the deal, Meta will integrate Manus’s AI…

British aerospace giant Rolls-Royce is actively targeting significant investment and collaboration in India’s defence and aerospace sectors, backing co-development of a next-generation jet engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The company has proposed a bespoke 110 kN thrust engine design, developed from the ground up to meet the AMCA’s performance needs. Unlike derivative engines, this approach emphasizes a fresh design tailored for India’s strategic and operational context. A standout element of Rolls-Royce’s pitch is the complete transfer of technology and intellectual property rights (IPR) to India, enabling Indian engineers and organisations such as the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) to own, modify, scale and potentially export…

Russia is increasingly turning to Indian blue-collar workers to address a growing labour shortage that has intensified due to demographic decline and prolonged economic pressures. According to recruitment firms, demand from Russian employers for Indian welders, tailors, carpenters, steel fixers and other skilled and semi-skilled workers has risen sharply over recent years, with hiring up about 60 % compared with four years ago. Recruitment agencies handling overseas placements say the trend mirrors past Middle East hiring booms, with Indian workers being sought in sectors from construction and manufacturing to fish processing. The surge is partly driven by a bilateral focus on labour mobility following agreements between India and Russia…

InterGlobe Aviation’s IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has announced a boost in allowances for its pilots, coming weeks after the carrier faced widespread flight cancellations at Delhi Airport due to dense fog conditions. The move is aimed at improving pilot retention and morale amid operational pressures and industry competition. Under the revised structure, pilots are set to receive higher duty and flying allowances, along with increased incentives tied to operational performance and schedule reliability. While the airline has not disclosed exact figures, industry sources indicate that the adjustments are competitive within the Indian aviation sector and designed to strengthen IndiGo’s workforce stability. The decision follows…

Australia will remove tariffs on 100% of Indian exports starting January 1, marking a significant step forward in bilateral trade ties, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. The decision comes under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), aimed at deepening economic engagement between the two countries. With the tariff elimination, a wide range of Indian goods, including textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods and food products, will gain duty-free access to the Australian market. The move is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian exporters and open new opportunities for MSMEs. Officials say the agreement will help…