India now exports US$ 3.3 billion worth of agrochemicals, ranking 3rd in the world.

The Agro-Chemicals Federation of India (ACFI) and Deloitte research states that India's agrochemical exports have virtually tripled over the last ten years, from US$ 1.3 billion in FY15 to US$ 3.3 billion in FY25, placing the country as the third-largest exporter behind the US and China. The necessity of policy support to maintain this growth pace was emphasized in the report. The ACFI has called on the government to implement tax holidays and a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program for the industry, pointing out that these steps might support the establishment of large-scale manufacturing hubs and lessen reliance on imports of essential compounds. In order to increase India's competitiveness in the global market, it also emphasized the significance of increased public-private collaboration in research and development as well as more robust assistance for MSMEs.

The value of the domestic agrochemical market in FY24 was around Rs. 69,000 crore (US$ 7.82 billion), of which 49% came from domestic formulations and 51% from exports.  Multi-source generics hold an 80% market share and are predicted to increase as more items worldwide lose their patents.  In FY24, insecticides made up 41% of the market, followed by herbicides (22%), fungicides (21%), and plant growth regulators, biostimulants, and seed treatment products. The fastest-growing segment was herbicides, which expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% between FY21 and FY24.  Nearly 65% of domestic demand is driven by eight crops: rice, cotton, wheat, soybean, chillies, grapes, sugarcane, and gram. Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh are the states with the highest consumption rates.

Cabinet approves doubling of Bhagalpur–Dumka–Rampurhat rail line at Rs 3,169 crore

The Bhagalpur–Dumka–Rampurhat railway line, which connects Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, was cleared by the government to be doubled at an estimated cost of Rs 3,169 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the 177-kilometer project, which will increase line capacity, reduce traffic, and improve mobility on a major railway segment, according to an official statement.

Five districts in three states will be covered by the project, which would improve train access to major tourist and religious destinations like Tarapith and Deoghar (Baba Baidyanath Dham).  Additionally, 441 villages, including three aspirational districts (Banka, Godda, and Dumka), will benefit around 28.7 lakh people.

It is anticipated that the multi-tracking project will increase freight traffic by 15 million tons annually, mostly for coal, cement, fertilizers, bricks, and stones.  In order to meet climate targets, the initiative will reduce logistics costs, limit oil imports, and minimize CO2 emissions by 24 crore kg, which is equivalent to growing one crore trees. 

The PM Gati Shakti National Master Project Plan, which was used to plan the project, placed a strong focus on enhanced multi-modal connectivity and integrated infrastructure development.

The ₹1,500 crore scheme to increase vital mineral recycling capacity has been approved by the cabinet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired over the Union Cabinet, which approved a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme to build recycling capacity for the production and recovery of key minerals from secondary sources.

The National essential Mineral Mission (NCMM), which aims to provide supply chain resilience in essential minerals and increase domestic capabilities, includes the project.

As per the Ministry of Mines, the scheme will run for six years, from FY 2025–2026 to FY 2030–31. Electronic garbage, scrap lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and other end-of-life items like catalytic converters will all be included.

The scheme will help tiny newcomers, including start-ups, as well as big, well-established recyclers.  For smaller players, one-third of the whole expenditure has been set aside.

For units starting production within the allotted time, incentives include a 20% capital subsidy on plant and machinery as well as an operational subsidy on additional sales above the base year (FY 2025–26).  40% of the operating subsidy will be given in the second year, and 60% in the fifth.

The overall incentive has been set at ₹50 crore for large entities and ₹25 crore for small entities, with operating subsidies limited at ₹10 crore and ₹5 crore, respectively, to encourage greater participation.

According to the Ministry, the project is anticipated to generate at least 270 kilo tonnes of recycling capacity annually, which will lead to the annual production of roughly 40 kilo tonnes of important minerals.  Additionally, it is anticipated to create nearly 70,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract investments totaling almost ₹8,000 crore.

India's unicorn club already has 73 startup companies, with 11 more joining in 2025: Report

This year, eleven more Indian firms have reached the unicorn club, bringing the total to 73.  In terms of unicorns, the nation has the third-largest startup environment globally.

Among the new companies that have been added to the list this year thus far are Navi Technologies, Ai.tech, Darwinbox, Netradyne, Rapido, and Jumbotail.

Hurun India stated in a report that the largest brokerage, Groww, is valued at $7 billion, while the bargain brokerage, Zerodha, is valued at $8.2 billion, followed by Razorpay and Lenskart, each at $7.5 billion.

The B2B corporate services marketplace Ofbusiness, the mobile advertising company Inmobi Adtech, the SaaS player Icertis, the hotel aggregator Oyo, the delivery platform Meesho, and the rapid commerce platform Zepto, each with $5.9 billion, round out the top 10 list.

Over 2,06,000 people are employed by these rapidly expanding firms combined, with Lenskart, Of Business, and Physicswallah standing out as the biggest employers.

The report also emphasizes the ecosystem's growing diversity by highlighting female founders including Garima Sawhney (Pristyn Care), Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics), and Ruchi Kalra (OfBusiness).  Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha, both 22 years old, are two of Zepto's youngest unicorn founders.

With 26 unicorns valued at a combined $70 billion, Bengaluru remains the leader geographically, followed by Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.  When it comes to the number of unicorns and their valuations, the fintech sector continues to be the strongest.

Multiple investors' investing activity in the startup ecosystem increased slightly, and Peak XV Partners emerged as the biggest backer with 42 bets across firms so far this year.

Test-firing the "Agni 5" Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile successfully

The Ministry of Defense said in an official statement that the Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Agni-5 was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha on 20/08/25.

Under the direction of the Strategic Forces Command, the launch verified all technical and operational criteria.

Prithvi-II and Agni-I, two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM), were successfully tested by India on July 18 from the same test range in Chandipur, Odisha. The Strategic Forces Command oversaw these launches, which also verified all operational and technical specifications.

Akash Prime, the improved version of the Akash Weapon System created for the Indian Army, helped India accomplish another significant feat on July 16 when it successfully destroyed two aerial high-speed unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh.

The weapon system has been modified to function at elevations higher than 4,500 meters and includes the most recent advancements, such as a radio frequency seeker that was developed in the country.  The robustness of the domestic defense ecosystem is demonstrated by the numerous improvements made to increase operational effectiveness in response to user feedback.

The statement says that Army Air Defence and DRDO have successfully verified the domestically designed and developed Akash Prime Weapon System in cooperation with Defence PSUs like Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited as well as other industry partners.

India's air defense capabilities in high-altitude regions will be strengthened and timely induction made possible by the trials, which are part of the first production model fire. 

Mobile phones are the main driver of India's 47% increase in electronics exports in Q1 FY26.

The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) reports that India's electronics exports increased 41% year over year to Rs. 1,08,450 crore (US$ 12.4 billion) in Q1 FY26 from Rs. 73,729 crore (US$ 8.43 billion) in Q1 FY25. The main driver of this dramatic increase was the export of mobile phones, which increased 55% to Rs. 66,470 crore (US$ 7.6 billion) from Rs. 42,855 crore (US$ 4.9 billion) in the previous year. Strong shipments of solar modules, networking equipment, charging adapters, and electronic components drove a 37% increase in non-mobile electronics exports to Rs. 41,981 crore (US$ 4.8 billion). The chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association, Mr. Pankaj Mohindroo, referred to it as a strategic national accomplishment and emphasized the increasing popularity in other markets, such as consumer electronics, wearable technology, and IT technology.

The ICEA projects that India's electronics exports will reach Rs. 4,02,316-4,37,300 crore (US$ 46-50 billion) in FY26, up from Rs. 2,54,509 crore (US$ 29.1 billion) in FY24 to Rs. 3,37,596 crore (US$ 38.6 billion) in FY25. From Rs. 2,71,126 crore (US$ 31 billion) in FY15 to Rs. 11,63,218 crore (US$ 133 billion) in FY25, the country's electronics manufacturing has more than fourfold in the last ten years. He emphasized how urgent it is to create a local supply chain that is globally competitive and called for the growth of Indian brands and champions along the whole value chain, from components to finished goods, in order to guarantee the electronics industry's long-term independence.

UPI transactions increase in 2025; in August, the daily average value surpassed Rs. 90,000 crore (US$10.3 billion).

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is the backbone of India's digital payments ecosystem, and it is expected to continue to grow strongly in 2025. From January 2025 to August 2025, the average daily transaction values increased steadily from Rs. 75,743 crore (US$ 8.67 billion) to Rs. 90,446 crore (US$ 10.35 billion), according to a recent study by the State Bank of India (SBI). In addition, transaction volumes increased by an average of 127 million per day over the same time period, reaching 675 million in August. UPI's increasing market share in both urban and rural areas is reflected in this notable growth, which has been made possible by its smooth integration with several apps and services. Now commonly utilized for retail purchases, bill payments, and commercial transactions, UPI is no longer just for peer-to-peer transfers, demonstrating its adaptability as a financial instrument for both individuals and businesses.

The changing dynamics within the banking industry are also highlighted in the research. With 5.2 billion transactions—more than three times the second-largest—SBI became the top remitter member, highlighting the significant contribution of public sector banks to payment flows. On the beneficiary side, however, private sector banks were in the lead, with Yes Bank at the top of the list after managing about eight billion transactions. Maharashtra accounted for 9.8% of all transactions in July, followed by Karnataka at 5.5% and Uttar Pradesh at 5.3%, the only northern state in the top five, according to state-level adoption data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). These numbers demonstrate how UPI is reaching tier-II and tier-III cities in addition to urban areas. With upcoming developments like UPI Lite, cross-border connections, and UPI credit, the platform is well-positioned to further solidify its position as a catalyst for financial inclusion and India's shift to a paperless economy.

The 6-lane capital region ring road project in Odisha, worth Rs 8,307 crore, has been approved by the cabinet.

The construction of a 6-Lane Access-Controlled Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) in Odisha, with a total capital cost of Rs 8,307.74 crore, was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 19/08/25 under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) will be used to develop the 110.875 km project.

The Rameshwar–Tangi section of the current National Highway is currently extremely congested because of the volume of traffic passing through major cities like Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack. By rerouting heavy commercial trucks away from these cities, the proposed Greenfield Ring Road hopes to increase freight efficiency, lower logistics costs, and foster socioeconomic growth in Odisha and the neighboring eastern states.

Three National Highways (NH-55, NH-57, and NH-655) and one State Highway (SH-65) will be integrated with the alignment, providing easy access to social and economic centers throughout the area. Along with important facilities like Bhubaneswar Airport, Khordha Railway Station, a projected Multi-Modal Logistics Park, and two significant ports (Puri and Astrang), it will also connect to ten Economic Nodes, four Social Nodes, and five Logistic Nodes.

When the project is finished, it should greatly improve regional connectivity by tying together important religious and economic hubs, increasing trade, and facilitating the development of industry. Additionally, it is anticipated to create new opportunities for local communities by generating 74.43 lakh direct jobs and 93.04 lakh indirect employment person-days.

With an estimated 28,282 passenger car units (PCU) per day (FY25) of traffic, the Bhubaneswar bypass will be an essential part of the Kolkata–Chennai economic route, creating new opportunities for Odisha's development, progress, and prosperity.

PM Modi's announcement of next-generation GST reforms is welcomed by business owners.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of next-generation GST reforms has been warmly received by business owners and traders nationwide, who see it as a crucial step to streamline the system of taxes and promote trade.

According to Paramjit Singh Pamma, vice-president of the Federation of Sadar Bazar dealers Association, the revisions will significantly ease the tax rates that dealers now bear, which range from 5% to 28%.

“This has been a long-standing demand of the trading community, and we welcome this announcement by Prime Minister Modi. It will help traders immensely,” Pamma said.

Prime Minister Modi hinted to significant modifications to the Goods and Services Tax system during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort.

“This Diwali, I am going to celebrate a double Diwali with you. The countrymen are going to get a big gift — there will be a huge reduction in GST on common household items,” he announced.

The Prime Minister referred to the action as "the demand of the hour" and emphasized the pressing necessity to examine and rationalize GST rates in order to lessen the tax burden on regular people.

Regarding the Prime Minister's call for buying more domestic products, Pamma stated that the reduction in the GST rate will boost domestic commerce and increase the competitiveness of domestic goods relative to imports.

He added that although more reforms in local marketplaces are still required, India's sizable market offers plenty of prospects for domestic sales.

The news coincides with the nation's eighth anniversary of the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017, a historic reform that consolidated India's indirect tax structure and made conducting business easier, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

 

India reaches the historic milestone of producing 100 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic modules.

India has surpassed merely 2.3 GW in 2014 to reach a historic milestone of 100 GW of solar PV module manufacturing capacity listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).

The efforts were praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called it a significant step toward independence. The Prime Minister said in a social media post that it showcases India's achievements in manufacturing and promoting sustainable energy. 

Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, emphasized this accomplishment and said his Ministry is creating a strong, independent solar manufacturing environment.

This accomplishment, according to Mr. Joshi, bolsters India's trajectory towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and its target of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil power by 2030.

The accomplishment was credited by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to Prime Minister Modi's inspiring leadership and innovative initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar Modules.

He emphasized that this expansion solidifies India's commitment to international decarbonization initiatives and advances the country's goal of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

8.2 GW of capacity was listed in the first list of the ALMM Order, which was presented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 2019. With 100 manufacturers running 123 manufacturing facilities, this capacity has more than tripled to 100 GW in just over four years, up from 21 in 2021.

A competitive environment that can satisfy both local and international expectations has been created by the adoption of high-efficiency technology and vertically integrated operations by both new and old businesses.

India's exports of electronics increased by more than 47% in the first quarter of 2025–2026: Piyush Goyal

India’s electronics exports increased by more than 47% in the first quarter of 2025-26 compared to the same period in 2024-25, according to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Mr. Goyal said in a social media post that the rise in electronics output from 31 billion to 133 billion dollars in just ten years, starting in 2014–15, is a wonderful success story for Make In India.

The government, he said, has established a number of facilitators to make India a manufacturing powerhouse. India now has over 300 mobile manufacturing units, up from just two in 2014, according to Mr. Goyal. Being the second-largest mobile phone producer in the world after starting as a mobile importer has been one of the most amazing adventures, he said.

Furthermore to the minister, the electronics industry has also created a significant number of job possibilities, with electronic components, networking equipment, charger adapters, and solar modules all contributing significantly to the growth of exports.