Author: News Desk

Wayanad-based deep-tech start-up NeuBiom Labs has unveiled Canopy, a “Coffee Crop Intelligence” platform designed to give coffee growers and industry stakeholders detailed, plot-level insights into crop health and productivity. The launch took place during the centenary celebrations of the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) in Bengaluru, with the platform jointly released by M J Dinesh, Chairman of the Coffee Board, and Kurma Rao M, CEO & Secretary of the Coffee Board. Canopy leverages satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and hyperlocal data to digitize the coffee value chain and enhance climate resilience. By creating a “digital twin” of each plantation, the platform allows…

Despite relatively small volumes, the Nasdaq-listed Vietnamese automaker VinFast has made a notable impact in India’s electric vehicle (EV) market. In December 2025, VinFast overtook South Korean brands Hyundai and Kia to become the country’s fourth-largest EV maker. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles remains India’s top-selling EV brand, with 5,231 registrations in December, according to VAHAN data as of December 29, 2025. Tata offers six electric models in its lineup. JSW MG Motor India, backed by SAIC, came second with 3,054 registrations, while Mahindra & Mahindra sold around 2,600 EVs in the same month. VinFast, which entered India in 2025 with…

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…