AAPI: Newsletter, October 2025

DELHI, October 2025

Index of this Newsletter

INDIA

INDIA & THE WORLD

21. Trump's Trade Overtures to India: Impact on US Farmers
22. India, Brazil Strengthen Partnership in Agri-Innovation
23. Representatives of 10 Taiwanese varsities visit New Delhi, explore opportunities for dual-degree programs in India
24. India Growth Forecast: World Bank raises India's FY26 growth forecast to 6.5%, country to remain world's fastest
25. Not Hilton, not Marriott, it’s Patel: CA shares the story of one community that's just 1% of the US population but owns 60% of American hotels

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DELHI, October 2025

NEWSLETTER, October 2025

INDIA

– GENERAL POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURES, COUNTRY FINANCES, ETC.

1. Credit on UPI Can Transform Farm Lending, Says SBI Chairman C.S. Setty at GFF 2025

RuralVoice, Oct. 8, 2025, R. Suruamurthy

State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman C.S. Setty said SBI is actively exploring ways to integrate UPI with the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, allowing farmers to access instant, small-ticket loans directly through their mobile phones. “We are exploring whether farmers can avail of credit, especially through KCC, given UPI’s deep penetration in rural and semi-urban areas,” he said.

The next big leap in India’s financial inclusion story could come from extending credit to farmers through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman C.S. Setty said on Wednesday at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 in Mumbai.

Calling “Credit on UPI” a revolutionary innovation, Setty said it has the potential to bring millions of small farmers and rural entrepreneurs into the formal credit system. “Credit on UPI is a revolutionary step, transforming a payment tool into a credit platform,” he said in a fireside chat with Sohini Rajola, Executive Director – Growth, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Bringing Farmers into the Credit Network

Setty said SBI is actively exploring ways to integrate UPI with the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, allowing farmers to access instant, small-ticket loans directly through their mobile phones. “We are exploring whether farmers can avail of credit, especially through KCC, given UPI’s deep penetration in rural and semi-urban areas,” he said.

He added that true financial inclusion will remain incomplete until formal credit reaches the agricultural backbone of the economy. “Inclusion in India is not complete until we deliver credit to the last mile — to farmers and small vendors,” he noted.

UPI, which has become India’s most widely used digital payment platform, has seen rapid adoption even in semi-urban and rural markets. According to Setty, embedding credit access within this framework could make borrowing as seamless as making a digital payment — with applications, approvals, and disbursals happening in real time.

Digital Tools for Rural Empowerment

Setty said predictive AI models and data-driven underwriting can help banks extend pre-approved micro-loans to farmers based on transaction history and repayment patterns. “The challenge, however, is not disbursal — it’s collections. But UPI provides a strong structure for both if managed prudently,” he said.

He called for urgent reforms in the Know Your Customer (KYC) process to make rural onboarding simpler. “As millions of new customers join the formal system, simplifying KYC is key. We’re working with regulators to make it more seamless, efficient, and digital-first,” he said.

SBI’s Rural and Digital Push

Setty highlighted SBI’s ongoing partnership with fintechs to develop low-cost, high-impact credit and payment solutions for rural markets. “We are collaborating with nearly a dozen fintechs to build intuitive, scalable digital journeys. Fintechs bring agility, and wherever solutions are proven, we co-develop or adopt rather than reinvent,” he explained.

He also underscored the bank’s efforts to expand the reach of its flagship digital platform, YONO, to deepen engagement with rural customers. “YONO is not just a mobile app — it’s a reimagined customer journey. With over 90 million users, we’re ensuring it’s accessible in 15 languages so that no farmer or small entrepreneur is left behind,” Setty said.

Reaffirming SBI’s commitment to service reliability, he added, “Reliability and uptime are non-negotiable. For farmers and small traders, trust in digital systems comes from consistent and secure banking experiences.”

2. India’s Coal Advantage: Turning Black Gold into Food Security

RuralVoice, 7 Oct. 2025, Dr. Dharamvir Singh Rana, Dr. Padma Shanti Jagadabhi

India’s vast coal reserves, once seen mainly as a power source, are emerging as a strategic solution to fertilizer insecurity. By converting coal into syngas for ammonia and urea production, India can reduce imports, stabilize subsidies, and enhance food security. Advanced gasification technology, carbon capture, and U.S.-India collaboration can transform “black gold” into an agricultural backbone.

India holds vast reserves—about 378.2 billion tonnes—spread from Talcher to Jharia. These basins provide a buffer against global shocks and underpin a mining system that has scaled. Output reached 1,047.7 million tonnes in 2024-25, demonstrating that logistics, evacuation, and blending capabilities are now on par with demand growth. Rather than treating coal solely as a climate liability, policy is reframing it as a strategic industrial feedstock.

Fertilizer is the weak link in India’s food system. Urea remains roughly 20% imported; DAP depends 50–60% on foreign supply; MOP is fully imported. A production gap of nearly 15 million tonnes persists. Nutrient use efficiency is only 35–40%, with losses to air and water. The subsidy bill was `1.88 lakh crore in 2023–24—about 4% of the Union budget. This has turned fertilizer from an agronomic issue into a fiscal and sovereign risk.

Coal-to-fertilizer can rebalance that equation. Gasification converts coal into synthesis gas (syngas), which can be catalytically upgraded into ammonia and then urea, anchoring domestic supply and moderating subsidy volatility. Locating plants near pitheads reduces delivered cost and exposure to freight rates and currency swings. With long-term offtake linked to nutrient balance targets, pricing can protect both farmers and the exchequer.

India’s coal is ash-heavy, which historically made conventional gasification unreliable. Transport Integrated Gasification (TRIG), developed for low-grade, high-ash coals, addresses that constraint. TRIG removes ash as a dry solid, cutting clogs and unplanned shutdowns while enabling stable syngas quality. The same platform can route output to methanol, chemicals, or cleaner power, improving asset utilization and lowering risk.

Policy momentum is visible. New Delhi plans to invest Rs 4 trillion over the next decade to gasify 100 million tonnes a year—among the world’s largest industrial transitions. For India, the prize is Atmanirbhar Bharat: Make in India manufacturing, a steadier food-security backbone, and high-quality jobs in mining, process engineering, and operations. Environmental performance must tighten in parallel: carbon capture on ammonia loops, co-gasifying biomass for lower net emissions, sulfur capture, and productive ash utilization in cement and bricks, alongside water recycling and continuous monitoring to meet rising standards. Transparent carbon accounting, rigorous water balances, and independent audits can keep projects bankable, competitive, and publicly credible over time, nationwide.

The U.S.-India partnership can accelerate execution. U.S. firms can license TRIG, co-invest in demonstration units, and support training, controls, and reliability engineering. India can provide permitting clarity, viability-gap support, and secure offtake to bank projects. Joint standards on syngas quality, safety, and emissions will shorten timelines. A staged approach—pilot trains, cluster scale hubs, then integrated coal chemicals complexes—can prove feasibility while managing risk.

If India turns coal from a narrow power fuel into a flexible chemical feedstock, fertilizer insecurity eases, volatility falls, and farmer outcomes improve. With disciplined technology, credible carbon management, and a pragmatic U.S.-India compact, black gold can underwrite greener fields and a sturdier economy.

(Dr. Rana is Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Expert, Consultant with CIMMYT, IRRI, ICRISAT. Dr. Padma is a Bioenergy Expert. She is Ph.D., Bioenergy (Process Technology), University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. Views expressed here are of the writers')

3. $40 billion in global investments to influence Mumbai's urban future: MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee

ET Gov. 20 Sep. 2025

As the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commemorates its 50th anniversary, the organisation has taken a significant step forward on the international stage. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, MMRDA signed 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), unlocking an estimated $40 billion in foreign direct investment. In this exclusive interview, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, outlines how these partnerships are expected to support the region's ongoing infrastructure development, urban planning, and economic diversification efforts.

The signing of 11 MoUs at WEF Davos this year marks a milestone for MMRDA. Could you share insights into the key sectors and projects that will benefit from this massive investment?

The 11 MoUs inked in Davos marks a pivotal milestone for MMRDA. Together, they represent $40 billion in FDI, underscoring global confidence in Mumbai’s forward momentum. The capital will underwrite metro corridors, expressways, and urban backbone systems, but also innovative themes like transit-oriented development, land-value-capture systems, and green urbanism. We envision resilient growth across residential, commercial, and mixed-use precincts, fortified by key logistics parks, hyperscale data hubs, and Global Capability Centres. What animates us further is our uncompromising sustainability doctrine—blue-green infrastructure and circular-economy parks will be woven from the outset. All this feeds into our grander design: a $300 billion MMR economy by 2030, laying the runway for a $1.5 trillion MMR by 2047.

How do these agreements position the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as a global economic powerhouse, and what role will international collaborations play?

These MoUs are much more than financial agreements-they are strategic partnerships. Collaborations with Temasek Holdings (one of the most diversified institutional investors in the world), Sumitomo Realty & Development (one of Japan's largest and most respected property and development firms), and the UK Department for Transport are an excellent way to acquire access to their global best practices, Contractors, International Consultants, construction contractors, Banks, technological innovation and governance processes to levy a quantum leap in MUMBAI's infrastructure to global levels (it may be digital, sustainable or climate resilient).

Our partners have accelerated the fast-track objective we intended when we set out. They will also play a significant role in job creation, for both formal, informal and medium scale enterprises -3 millions new jobs by the year 2030, mixed use, smart and sustainable development activities taking place to make MMR a vibrant, livable future global economic area. We are looking to transform Mumbai, not to make it larger but livable and smarter as an economic cluster.

As MMRDA celebrates 50 years, what, according to you, are the most transformative projects that have redefined MMR?

Over the last five decades, MMRDA has evolved from a regional planning authority into the driving force behind Mumbai’s transformation. Landmark projects such as the Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link), Eastern Freeway, and BKC Connector have not only improved mobility but also enabled economic growth and reshaped urban life across the region.

Looking ahead, the "Mumbai in Minutes" initiative is our next leap forward — a bold plan to connect every corner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) within 59 minutes. We are building a robust network of roads, sea links, tunnels, and multimodal corridors across Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and the Vasai-Virar belt, integrating them into a unified, high-speed urban grid. The Uttan-Virar Coastal Road will boost north-western connectivity and provide direct access to the Vadhavan Port in Palghar, while the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel and Ring Road will bring distant growth nodes within reach.

At the same time, with the vision of Mumbai 3.0, MMRDA is shaping the future. As the New Town Development Authority (NTDA), we are developing KSC New Town — a 323.44 sq.km greenfield city spanning 124 villages in Uran, Panvel, and Pen talukas of Raigad. Strategically located near JNPT and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, and directly linked via Atal Setu, KSC will anchor logistics, IT/ITeS, FinTech, transport hubs, data centres, mixed-use smart zones, and affordable housing. Designed as a climate-resilient and integrated economic hub, it is a key engine of Mumbai’s next phase of growth.

Additionally, as the Special Planning Authority (SPA) for several corridors, MMRDA is enabling next-generation urbanism through transit-oriented development, digital infrastructure, and sustainable planning.

This golden jubilee is more than a milestone — it reaffirms our mission to create ecosystems where infrastructure powers opportunity, equity, and innovation. MMRDA’s journey is Mumbai’s journey: dynamic, resilient, and always forward-looking.

What were some of the major challenges in infrastructure development, and how did MMRDA overcome them?

Urban transformation at the scale we're aiming for is never without hurdles. From connectivity gaps to environmental constraints and housing shortages, the challenges have been complex. To tackle them, we've taken a layered approach. For transport, we're expanding metro networks, integrating suburban rail, and pushing high-speed rail and airport linkages. On the sustainability front, we are encouraging waste-to-energy, green hydrogen pilots and an initiative which helps sustainability.

Slum redevelopment— impacting 2.2 million households-and a million affordable housing units are also in the pipeline. Perhaps most importantly, we've put in place governance mechanisms like war rooms, steering committees, and clear policy reforms to ensure transparency and execution. That institutional rigor is the backbone of our progress.

What role will the $40 billion investment play in enhancing Mumbai's transportation ecosystem?

This investment is a catalyst for transport transformation. A significant portion is earmarked for metro projects-expanding coverage, improving ridership, and enabling seamless multimodal travel. It will also boost road and bridge infrastructure, easing congestion and shortening commute times. But we are also going beyond the physical. These funds will help us integrate transport systems-linking metros with buses, non-motorised transport, and even automated parking-to make everyday mobility seamless. There's a strong push towards first and last-mile connectivity, decarburisation strategies, and smarter traffic systems. Our aim is to not just move people faster, but cleaner and smarter.

With such a massive capital infusion, what ripple effects do you foresee for employment, industry, and real estate?

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), as India’s first city-region to complete an Economic Master Plan under NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub Programme, is now operating with a long-term, outcome-focused blueprint to drive sustainable urban prosperity. This plan identifies seven strategic growth drivers, backed by 30 high-impact projects, eight enabling sectoral policies, and nine institutional shifts. Together, they are designed to transform MMR into a $300 billion economy by 2030.

The ripple effects are far-reaching. We foresee the creation of 3 million additional jobs by 2030, not just in construction but across emerging sectors such as financial services, new-age technologies, logistics, tourism, healthcare, education, and data infrastructure. The plan also addresses human capital by linking urban development with skilling institutions, ensuring local talent is future-ready.

Industrially, the master plan unlocks $25 billion in investments across six integrated industrial and logistics cities—particularly in port-proximate zones like Vadhavan and Dighi. These are aligned with champion value chains such as electronics, green hydrogen, circular economy, and textiles, establishing MMR as a manufacturing and export powerhouse.

Real estate will be a natural beneficiary. Massive public and private investments are driving the development of 10 planned cities, 7 business districts, and 15 TOD zones that combine housing, transport, and economic activity. The vision also includes the redevelopment of 2.2 million slum households and construction of up to 1 million new affordable housing units, ensuring inclusive urban expansion.

With over $180–190 billion in additional investments projected — 70 per cent of which is expected from the private sector — MMR is on a growth trajectory that’s not just about scale, but also quality, equity, and resilience. This is a growth model that integrates infrastructure with opportunity, positioning MMR as a truly global economic hub.

4. GIFT City: The Future Hub for Global Capability Centres

ETGov. 23 Sep. 2025

GIFT City, a tri-city hub spanning 886 acres, offers a world-class integrated ecosystem for financial and business services.

Global enterprises today are recalibrating their operating models in response to shifting geopolitical realities, rising costs, and rapid digital transformation. In this dynamic landscape, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are no longer confined to cost arbitrage or back-office operations.

They have become strategic hubs for innovation, product engineering, analytics, and digital transformation. This evolution demands locations with integrated ecosystems that are scalable and resilient for long-term growth, powered by fiscal efficiency, regulatory ease, future-ready infrastructure, and a strategic location.

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is emerging as a strategic destination for the next generation of GCCs—not merely by virtue of its fiscal incentives, but by offering a holistic ecosystem that addresses the structural needs of high-value, knowledge-intensive global operations.

India, as the global GCC capital, hosts nearly 50% of the world’s GCCs, with concentrated hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, and Gurugram accounting for 94% of the GCCs in the country. This concentration has created challenges such as high attrition of skilled manpower, escalating costs of real estate and operations, infrastructure stress, and limited regulatory flexibility in certain sectors.

For enterprises building next-generation capabilities, these challenges highlight the need for alternatives beyond Tier I hubs. By contrast, Tier II and Tier III cities hosted only about 7% of India’s total GCCs in FY 2024.

GIFT City, a tri-city hub spanning 886 acres, offers a world-class integrated ecosystem for financial and business services. Strategically located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, it is India’s maiden International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) with special jurisdiction, providing global competitiveness and a purpose-built ecosystem for value-added global operations.

GIFT City is located just 20 minutes from Ahmedabad International Airport, which handles over 250 daily flights and offers 1.5-hour connectivity to major domestic destinations. It is also 20 minutes from the proposed bullet train terminal and has direct metro connectivity to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, ensuring seamless air and rail access.

As one of the most promising Tier II destinations for GCCs in India, GIFT City offers integrated urban infrastructure, a flexible regulatory environment, operational cost efficiency, and opportunities to scale. Entities operating within the IFSC are governed by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), a single unified regulator consolidating oversight across banking, capital markets, insurance, and digital services.

Combined with tax incentives—including income tax exemptions, lower financing costs, relief on indirect taxes, and exemptions from capital gains and securities transaction taxes—GCCs in GIFT City can achieve 20–30% lower operational costs compared with Tier I cities.

Today, GIFT City is home to 14 foreign banks, 17 domestic banks, and more than 820 IFSCA-registered entities, including prominent institutions such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, MUFG Bank, and Bank of America.

Originally envisioned as a financial services hub, GIFT City has steadily broadened its value proposition. It is now a key destination for fintech companies, start-ups, and centres of excellence, housing leading fintech firms and global in-house centres such as Bank of America, Infineon Technologies, and Technip.

Major techfin firms such as Wipro, Cognizant, Infosys, Intellect Design, and Hexaware are also present, along with innovation hubs like the NASSCOM Centre of Excellence for AI.

Its plug-and-play infrastructure—with purpose-built office spaces, residential complexes, data centres, high-speed connectivity, and sustainability-driven design—makes it ideal for GCCs moving into emerging domains such as cyber security, AI/ML, enterprise cloud, and R&D.

In addition to top-tier commercial and technological infrastructure, GIFT integrates residential complexes, affordable housing, international schools, healthcare facilities, sports clubs, and recreational zones into a seamless environment. This holistic design enhances quality of life for professionals, providing a clear differentiator against congested metros and strengthening talent retention.

Sustainability is at the core of GIFT City’s design, with green buildings, a district cooling system, integrated waste management, and renewable energy adoption minimising its environmental footprint. For global enterprises with strong ESG mandates, this framework not only aligns with corporate responsibility goals but also ensures long-term operational resilience.

Talent is a critical lever for GCC success, and GIFT City benefits from Gujarat’s robust management and technical education ecosystem, with premier institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIT Gandhinagar, the National Institute of Design (NID), and Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) in its vicinity. GIFT City’s knowledge corridor also houses four international universities, including Deakin University and the University of Wollongong, helping cultivate a dynamic and globally aligned workforce.

Gujarat itself is one of India’s largest talent hubs, with a workforce of nearly four million professionals. Around 80% of this talent is concentrated in four urban centres—Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot—with Ahmedabad alone accounting for 1.7 million professionals.

With attrition rates significantly lower than metro GCC hubs, Gujarat offers scale, diversity, and stability, making it a compelling destination for enterprises seeking to expand their GCC footprint beyond saturated Tier I cities.

The GIFT International Fintech Institute and Innovation Hub further reinforces this ecosystem by advancing fintech innovation and talent development through education, research, and skill-building aligned to the needs of GCCs and technology companies.

For enterprises evolving their GCCs into strategic value creators, GIFT City presents a compelling proposition—lower costs, reduced attrition, faster set-up, and a globally competitive regulatory environment within a modern, integrated urban ecosystem.

In an era when GCCs are expected to drive innovation, attract top talent, navigate complex regulations, and enhance enterprise value, GIFT City offers a strategic platform for global enterprises looking to reimagine their operating models and future-proof their Global Capability Centres.

(The author is MD and CEO, GIFT City; Views expressed are personal)

5. Rajasthan: From Desert Heritage to Industrial Powerhouse

ET Gov. 23 Sep. 2025

The future belongs to Rajasthan. A state that has carried the torch of heritage for centuries is now illuminating the path of India’s economic growth.

For centuries, Rajasthan has evoked the image of the Thar Desert — endless golden dunes shimmering under the sun, a land of valor, sacrifice, and timeless heritage.

Yet, the Rajasthan of today is writing a new narrative — a narrative of transformation where the desert winds now carry the promise of progress, prosperity, and global partnerships. What was once seen as an arid and inhospitable land has become a thriving gateway of opportunities for investors from across the world.

As the saying goes, “Where others see barrenness, visionaries see potential.” Rajasthan’s geography, once considered a hurdle, is today its greatest strength. The Thar is no longer just an expanse of sand; it has transformed into the world’s largest canvas for solar and renewable energy. At the same time, the state is unlocking the immense mineral wealth beneath its soil, ensuring sustainable development that respects both tradition and technology.

The remarkable success of the Rising Rajasthan Summit held in December 2024 — with investment commitments crossing ₹35 lakh crore — is a testimony to the state’s credibility and the faith that investors repose in Rajasthan’s future. It reflects not just numbers, but a vision turning into reality.

Rajasthan’s industrial journey can be understood across four dimensions: From Desert to Green Energy Hub: The sun-soaked land of western Rajasthan is powering the nation’s green energy revolution. Solar and wind power projects are positioning the state as India’s renewable energy capital.

From Barren Land to Industrial Growth: Barmer, once among the most backward districts, today leads in per capita income. Jaisalmer, similarly, is fast emerging as India’s cement production hub.

From Mineral Wealth to Economic Power: Potash, uranium, hydrocarbons, critical minerals, and other resources are reshaping Rajasthan’s economic destiny.

What makes Rajasthan the first choice for investors is not just its resources, but also its rule of law, social harmony, and robust connectivity. Peace and stability, combined with a talented workforce, create the right environment for sustainable growth. Jaipur, often described as India’s most peaceful and well-administered metro, enjoys proximity to Delhi and is seamlessly integrated into the NCR. Expanding expressways and highways connect every corner of the state, ensuring that opportunities travel as fast as ideas.

Today, Rajasthan is leading India’s renewable energy story. Beyond power generation, the state is actively encouraging industries in solar equipment manufacturing to set up locally, thereby creating a complete ecosystem. The upcoming Hindustan Petroleum Rajasthan Refinery at Pachpadra in Balotra, with its dedicated petrochemical zone, is set to redefine the economic landscape. Places once metaphorically referred to as remote outposts — Barmer and Jaisalmer — are now vibrant growth centers.

The sheer scale of opportunities is evident: nearly 80% of the ₹35 lakh crore investment proposals signed at the Rising Rajasthan Summit are in renewable energy. To facilitate this, Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) is providing land, while the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2024 offers lucrative incentives backed by an efficient single-window clearance system.

Governance has been proactive and visionary. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma personally reviews the progress of major investment proposals each month, while the Chief Secretary monitors projects up to ₹200 crore on a weekly basis. Departmental reviews ensure even the smallest projects are not overlooked. This structured monitoring demonstrates the strong political will driving Rajasthan’s transformation.

The results speak for themselves. Barmer, once considered an economic backwater, today ranks first in per capita income. Jaisalmer is poised to become India’s cement capital. These achievements are not accidents but the outcome of strategic planning and bold decision-making.

Beyond energy and minerals, Rajasthan is preparing for industrial diversification. Jaisalmer’s limestone reserves, along with crude oil and natural gas, are changing its profile. Bikaner’s vast potash reserves, along with uranium, garnet, and precious metals like gold and silver, highlight Rajasthan’s role in critical minerals. Already, the state leads the country in the production of lead and zinc.

At the same time, Rajasthan remains a global magnet for tourism. Its forts, palaces, temple corridors, sand dunes, and heritage hotels continue to enthrall visitors. Tourism is driving growth in hospitality and medical tourism, while Jaipur’s connectivity with Delhi keeps it on every traveler’s map. The state’s gems, jewelry, and antique trade are world-renowned, and its Japanese industrial zones reflect its progressive, investor-friendly ecosystem.

In the words of a Rajasthani proverb, “Marubhumi ke hriday mein bhi jeevan ka anant sagar hai” — even in the heart of the desert lies an ocean of life. Rajasthan embodies this spirit. With its resources, progressive policies, political will, and investor-friendly environment, it is not just a land of kings and deserts anymore. It is a land of limitless possibilities — a hub for energy, minerals, education, tourism, and industry.

The future belongs to Rajasthan. A state that has carried the torch of heritage for centuries is now illuminating the path of India’s economic growth.

(The author Chairman, Rajasthan Financial Corporation; Views expressed are personal)

- Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development

6. Strengthening Cooperatives in India: Key Reforms, Governance Changes, and the Road Ahead

Rural Voice, 23 Sep. 2025

India’s cooperative sector is undergoing historic reforms to strengthen governance, transparency, and accountability. The 97th Constitutional Amendment, creation of the Ministry of Cooperation, and recent amendments to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act mark major milestones. With the Cooperative Election Authority ensuring fair elections and PACS evolving into multi-purpose entities, cooperatives are poised to drive inclusive growth and rural prosperity.

The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011, granted constitutional status to Cooperative Societies, which came into force with effect from February 15, 2012. It made three key provisions:

(a) The right to form cooperative societies was inserted as a Fundamental Right under Article 19(1)(c) in Part III of the Constitution.

(b) Article 43B was inserted in Part IV of the Constitution as a Directive Principle of State Policy for the promotion of cooperative societies.

(c) Part IXB, ‘The Cooperative Societies’, was inserted with provisions for the incorporation, regulation, and winding up of cooperative societies.

This faced a legal challenge. The High Court of Gujarat, in its judgment dated April 22, 2013, declared that the insertion of Part IXB containing Articles 243ZH to 243ZT by the Constitution (Ninety-Seventh Amendment) Act, 2011, was ultra vires for not taking recourse to Article 368(2) of the Constitution, which required ratification by the majority of the State Legislatures. It was also made clear in the order that this ruling would not affect other parts of the Constitution (Ninety-Seventh) Amendment Act, 2011. However, in a Special Leave Petition, the Supreme Court of India, by a majority judgment dated July 20, 2021, held that Part IXB of the Constitution of India is operative only insofar as it concerns Multi-State Co-operative Societies. This judgment came simultaneously after the creation of a new Ministry of Cooperation on July 6, 2021, by the Modi government to realize the vision of Sahkar se Samridhi (Prosperity through Cooperation).

The creation of a new Ministry brought a focus on cooperative reforms. The government's reform initiatives have been inclusive, touching the entire ecosystem of cooperatives. This also included the framing of model bylaws for PACS to strengthen the base of the ecosystem, and it is a notable achievement that these model bylaws have been adopted by all the state governments. Strengthening the foundation is also the first strategic mission pillar as per the National Cooperation Policy 2025. These reforms offered a mechanism to convert PACS into multi-purpose business entities. The Ministry brought a diverse portfolio of products (like grain storage, medical stores, LPG distributorship, etc.) and services (CSC, opening of additional branches) to the doorstep of the PACS, nudging them to think beyond the geographical borders of their villages and creating linkages with a new world of possibilities by bringing them on the GeM platform and linking with many e-markets. National Federations like National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) and National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL) can even bring the products of primary societies to global markets.

This was followed by comprehensive reforms through an amendment to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, which was formally notified by the Central Government on August 3, 2023. The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023, brought in the provisions of the Ninety-Seventh Constitutional Amendment to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability, and reform the electoral process in the Multi-State Cooperative Societies. The Multi-State Co-operative Society Rules, 2002, were also amended, and the modified rules were notified on August 4, 2023. These changes reflected the government's deep commitment to reforms. Over time, governance in cooperatives had weakened considerably. Hence, the key focus of these reforms has been improving governance and bringing accountability so that cooperative members receive maximum benefit.

The Biggest Governance Reform: The Cooperative Election Authority

Article 243K of the Constitution of India envisioned the establishment of an authority for the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of cooperative elections by an authority or body as provided by law. The establishment of a Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) under Section 45 of the MSCS Act for multi-state cooperative societies has been the most important change in governance. The creation of the Authority has been a major disruptor. This authority, which is a multi-member body, has been entrusted with conducting elections for societies registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act. Its role includes maintaining accurate electoral rolls of members and ensuring timely elections. Earlier, societies conducted their own elections, which often lacked transparency. With the introduction of this authority, the process has become far more transparent. The amended act has also provided reservation for two women and one SC/ST member on the board, ensuring social inclusion and the participation of weaker sections in the decision-making process.

Transparency in Cooperative Elections

Under the new system, every election program is published on the authority’s website. The District Collector is designated as the Returning Officer, supported by one or more Assistant Returning Officers (AROs), who are officers from the State Cooperative Department. The Collector issues an election notice, which is also published in newspapers in the society’s area of operation to ensure that members get information. In addition, all election-related information is required to be hosted by the society on its website. Since many multi-state society members belong to two or three different states, they often did not know when elections were happening. This transparent process is increasing conversation about democracy in elections and participation. A monthly information note highlighting the major activities of the Authority is also available on the website of the Central Registrar (https://crcs.gov.in).

The tenure of the board, which earlier varied between three and five years, has now been uniformly fixed at five years under the Act. This consistency helps create stability and smoother functioning of the board. Another important amendment is that once the board’s term ends, it cannot continue in office until elections are held; fresh elections are now mandatory. Earlier, several societies continued functioning without elections for many years—in some cases, the last election had been conducted nine years ago. Now, elections have become inevitable, resulting in greater accountability. Members are beginning to ask questions of their management, which is strengthening governance.

Challenges in Implementing the Provisions of the Act

The implementation process has, however, faced three key challenges:

(a) Delay in amending bylaws of the society: When the Amendment Act came into force in 2023, all societies were required to amend their bylaws accordingly within six months. Yet, even after two years, many societies have failed to do so. Ensuring compliance is the first major challenge.

(b) Authorized Share Capital: In a cooperative, membership requires holding shares. Only shareholders can vote or contest elections. Nominal members, who may not have shares in the society, avail services of the society, but such nominal members do not enjoy the right to contest elections and do not have the right to vote. Secondly, members are required to contribute equitably and control the capital democratically as per the cooperative principles. Deviation from prescribed rules or established principles creates difficulties.

(i) The number of directors to be elected: Some bylaws allow a minimum of seven and a maximum of 21 directors. Such provisions, which provide a range for the number of directors, create complications during elections, as the election notification requires a fixed number. Alignment of such bylaws is needed to eliminate these ambiguities.

(ii) Eligibility for directorship: Clear criteria or qualifications to contest elections must be specified to avoid unnecessary rejection of nominations by the returning officers.

(iii) Formation of constituency and Voting procedures: If these are not clearly defined or if constituency formation is not equitable, disputes may arise during elections. These provisions need to be unambiguous, as Returning Officers often raise questions that societies may fail to answer satisfactorily.

(iv) Use of Minimum level of products or services: Members are required to avail a minimum level of services. This must be clearly specified since it attracts disqualification for the membership of the society. Many bylaws often lack this.

(d) Delay in submission of election request: It is the joint responsibility of the CEO of the society and the Chairman to submit an election request six months prior to the expiry of the board. Often there is a delay in submission, which may create a situation where there is no board as the election process is not complete. In many cases, the Central Registrar has to intervene to call the AGM of the general body. In case of a casual vacancy arising due to the death, resignation, disqualification, or removal of a member from the board or otherwise, the CEO is expected to inform the authority within a week of its occurrence. Such timelines have been framed to fix accountability.

Progress in Conduct of Elections

Since the notification of the Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) on March 11, 2024, around 160 elections have been successfully conducted, while elections in about 60 societies are still in progress. It is estimated that in the long term, the CEA may have to conduct elections for 250-300 societies in a year. Awareness among members about the authority is steadily increasing. Societies are being contacted through letters and emails to provide necessary details for conducting elections along with a factsheet. Together, these reforms are expected to significantly improve governance structures.

The Need for Professionals in Cooperatives

The cooperative sector requires professionals with both relevant skills and the right attitude. Unlike corporate setups, cooperatives demand a spirit of cooperation and collective growth. To nurture this mindset, Tribhuvan Cooperative University has been established by the government to prepare professionals dedicated to this sector. Faculty members of Cooperative Management Institutes also require training. Intensive training has been proposed for society secretaries, treasurers, directors, and office-bearers. For instance, every director should undergo a mandatory 15-day induction program to better understand their responsibilities. Training is now essential at all tiers of the cooperative structure to ensure a proper business understanding of opportunities, proper navigation to succeed, and to ensure that cooperative businesses are successfully managed. While the digitization of PACS and the migration of data to a single platform bring efficiency, it may require manpower to deal with aspects of cybersecurity and building appropriate safeguards.

With growing interest in exports, cooperatives are also moving in this direction. However, export requires knowledge of strict international standards and protocols for exports. For example, if bananas or mangoes are to be exported, the cooperative must understand the importing country’s phytosanitary requirements and adopt farming practices accordingly, including the preparation of disease-free soil. Specialized courses at Tribhuvan University can provide such training. Cooperative banking and credit societies also need expertise in risk management, cash flow management, and the investment of surplus funds. For this, all cooperative institutes across states must come under one umbrella, affiliate with the university, follow standard courses, and build consistent skill development systems nationwide.

A New Direction for Cooperatives

There was a period when the pace of cooperative growth had slowed significantly. However, with the creation of the new Ministry, much progress has been achieved in a short span under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Cooperation. The cooperative sector has now gained new direction and momentum. At the same time, expectations from members have also risen. A growing sense of positivity is evident within cooperatives, with members confident that they can achieve greater goals.

The central focus remains economic development. If the income of cooperative members can be raised even marginally, it will be a massive contribution to the nation’s progress. Reforms always bring a bigger cake to share in happiness and prosperity.

(Writer is Chairperson, Co-operative Election Authority. Views expressed in the article are personal)

7. IFFCO Launches 'DharAmrut' – A Next-Generation Bio Stimulant to Boost Crop Yield

RuralVoice, Oct 2, 2025

Key benefits of DharAmrut include enhanced photosynthesis efficiency, improved overall plant health and noticeable increase in crop yield Compatibility with all foliar nutrients, making it adaptable to various cropping systems.

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) today launched ‘DharAmrut’, a cutting-edge bio-stimulant designed to significantly enhance crop yield and improve plant health.DharAmrut is a scientifically formulated bio-stimulant made using amino acids, alginic acid, carbon, and essential trace minerals, developed through advanced colloidal processing technology. It functions by regulating plant metabolism, fortifying cell structures, and enhancing the plant’s ability to absorb and utilize nutrients efficiently says a prees release issued by IFFCO.

The launch event was held in Gandhinagar and was graced by Raghavji Bhai Patel, Agriculture Minister, Government of Gujarat, as the Chief Guest. The event also saw the presence of several dignitaries including Purushottam Rupala, MP, Rajkot, Dileep Sanghani, Chairman, IFFCO, K J Patel, Managing Director, IFFCO; Dr. A Laxmanan, MD, IFFCO-Nanoventions, Bhavesh Radadiya, Director, IFFCO, Sandeep Ghosh, Unit Head, IFFCO Kalol, Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Director, IFFCO; the State Marketing Manager, and many cooperators and farmers from across the state.

Experts believe that innovative products like DharAmrut will be instrumental in meeting the modern-day challenges faced by farmers—particularly those related to soil health degradation, climate change, and sustainable productivity. IFFCO continues to lead the way in delivering advanced, eco-friendly agricultural solutions aimed at empowering Indian farmers and ensuring long-term food security.

8. From Lab to Field: Four High-Yielding Wheat Varieties with Superior Heat and Disease Resistance

RuralVoice, Oct. 4, 2025, Dr Rajbir Yadav

New wheat varieties such as HD 3385, HD 3410, HD 3388, and HD 3390 offer high yields, strong heat and rust resistance, and excellent grain quality, making them ideal for different agro-climatic zones in India. Developed indigenously, they improve productivity, resilience, and profitability for farmers while adapting to climate change and ensuring better disease resistance and food security.

The wheat variety HD 3385 has been developed as a high-yielding, heat-tolerant, and rust-resistant, specifically designed to address the challenges faced in the North Western Plains Zone (NWPZ), North Eastern Plains Zone (NEPZ) and Central Zone due to climate change. This variety was developed by complete indigenous efforts with parentage HD2967/HD2887//HD2946/HD2733.

This variety has been registered under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act (PPVFRA). HD 3385 demonstrated its high yield potential in almost all parts of India during last year and realising more than 7 tonnes/ha at many locations. During testing it has out yielded HD 2967 (by 15%), HD 3086 (by 10%), DBW 222 (by 6.9%), and DBW 187 (by 6.7%).

With a plant height of 98 cm, it exhibits strong lodging tolerance, ensuring better stability under high-input conditions. One of the key attributes of HD 3385 is its "Beat the Heat" feature, making it highly resilient to terminal heat stress, which is crucial for sustaining wheat production under changing climatic conditions. Additionally, this variety is highly resistant to yellow, brown, and black rust, offering broad-spectrum disease resistance and reducing the dependency on fungicides.

The variety also boasts excellent tillering capacity, which contributes to its superior productivity. HD 3385's adaptability to early seeding and conservation agriculture practices makes it an ideal choice for farmers in irrigated regions, ensuring better resource utilization and improved profitability. Its introduction marks a significant step in developing climate-resilient wheat varieties capable of withstanding the twin challenges of heat and disease pressures. Early seeding is almost sure shot for higher yield realisation and this variety has shown exceptionally good performance as per the farmers feedback throughout India and more particularly from Central India including MP and Gujarat and even Maharashtra.

Variety HD 3410

HD 3410 (Pusa Jawahar Gehun 3410) is a high-yielding indigenous wheat variety developed for the Central Zone (CZ), and have been released for Madhya Pradesh early sown condition and also for plains of northern India surrounding Delhi. It has an average yield of 65.91 q/ha and has demonstrated significant yield advantages over major check varieties, outperforming HD 3086 by 24.04%, DBW 187 by 6.83%, WH 1270 by 23.06%, and DBW 303 by 24.19% in BMZ, High Yielding Performance Trials (HYPT), and Multi-location Trials (MLT) in Madhya Pradesh. This yield superiority makes it a top-performing variety for the Central Zone.

HD 3410 is nutritionally enhanced with a high protein content of 12.6%. It also has a high hardness index of 80.8, ensuring better milling quality and processing efficiency. Additionally, it is highly resistant to all three rusts—stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust—providing strong protection against major wheat diseases. Moreover, it exhibits high Karnal bunt resistance (3.3%), which is significantly lower than DBW 187 (7.8%), WH 1270 (8.2%), and DBW 303 (10.7%), making it a superior choice for disease resistance and grain quality.

With its high yield potential, excellent disease resistance, superior nutritional content, and outstanding milling properties, HD 3410 (Pusa Jawahar Gehun 3410) stands as a highly valuable wheat variety for farmers in the Central Zone. It offers higher productivity, improved grain quality, and better economic returns, making it a profitable and resilient choice for wheat cultivation in the region.

Variety HD 3388 (Pusa Yashodhara)

HD3388 (Pusa Yashodhara) is a high-yielding, with superior nutritional quality and developed for Timely Sown Irrigated Conditions of the North Eastern Plain Zone (TS-IR-NEPZ), covering Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal (excluding hills), Odisha, Assam, and the plains of North-East India. It has demonstrated an average yield of 52.0 q/ha with a genetic yield potential of 68.8 q/ha, making it one of the highest-yielding varieties in this region. Comparative trials have shown that HD3388 outperforms key check varieties, yielding 11.6% more than HD 3086, 10.3% more than HD 2967, 8.2% more than DBW 222, 5.3% more than PBW 826, 4.7% more than DBW 187, and 4.3% more than HD 3249, highlighting its superior productivity.

In terms of grain quality, HD3388 exhibits high protein content (11.47%). It has excellent chapati-making quality, rated at 8.0, ensuring consumer preference for soft and high-quality flatbreads. Additionally, it shows superior resistance to major wheat diseases, including stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust, while also exhibiting high Karnal bunt resistance (5.05%), significantly lower than other commercial varieties.

HD3388 also excels in gluten content, with wet gluten at 25.8% and dry gluten at 8.8%, which contributes to improved dough strength and baking quality. Furthermore, it has demonstrated heat stress tolerance with an HSI of 0.89, ensuring better adaptability in rising temperature conditions. With its exceptional yield potential, superior nutritional quality, strong disease resistance, and adaptability, HD3388 (Pusa Yashodhara) stands as an excellent choice for wheat farmers in the NEPZ region, promising both higher economic returns and better food security.

Variety HD 3390

HD 3390 is a high-yielding wheat variety developed for the Delhi and NCR for timely sown irrigated condition. It has an average grain yield of 62.36 q/ha. The variety has exhibited a significant yield advantage over major check varieties, yielding 1018% more than HD 3086, 15.98% more than HD 2967, 3.65% more than DBW 187, 0.62% more than DBW 222, and 6.85% more than HD 3226 in multi-location trials.

HD 3390 matures in 144 days and has a plant height of 102 cm. It is nutritionally enhanced, featuring a good level of protein content (12%), and has a very high hectoliter weight of 78.2 kg/hl along with an excellent grain appearance score of 6.4, making it highly suitable for chapati making.

The variety is highly resistant to major wheat diseases, possessing the stripe rust resistance gene Yr10, which provides resistance against all virulent pathotypes of stripe rust in India. It has demonstrated a very high level of resistance against all three rusts, with ACI (Average Coefficient of Infection) values of 0 (Natural) and 0.2 (Artificial) for stripe rust, 0 (Natural) and 4.2 (Artificial) for leaf rust, and 8 (Artificial) for stem rust. Furthermore, HD 3390 has a high level of resistance against powdery mildew (rating of 3), ensuring better crop protection and sustainability.

With its high yield potential, excellent nutritional and processing qualities, strong disease resistance, and adaptability, HD 3390 is an ideal wheat variety for farmers in the Delhi and NCR region, offering higher productivity, improved grain quality, and greater economic returns, making it a highly profitable choice for wheat cultivation.

(The writer is a Principal Scientist at IARI, New Delhi)

9. Agriculture Projects: PM Modi inaugurates ₹42,000 cr worth projects to transform agricultural sector

ETGov. 13 Oct. 2025

New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated projects worth ₹42,000 cr to transform the agricultural and allied sectors.

Two major schemes -- the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses were launched with an outlay of ₹35,440 crore.

Projects valued at over ₹5,450 crore were also rolled out in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for additional projects worth around ₹815 crore.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister noted that farmers have a major role in building a developed India.

"Farmers have a bigger role in making India 'Viksit Bharat'. India must become not only self-reliant in food, but also produce export-oriented crops for the global market," he said.

The Prime Minister added that the recent GST reduction has given maximum benefits to rural India and farmers.

While the previous government neglected the agriculture sector, PM Modi said the sector has seen remarkable growth in the last 11 years.

"India's agricultural exports have nearly doubled in the past 11 years. Grain production has increased by nearly 900 lakh metric tonnes. Fruit and vegetable production has increased by more than 640 lakh metric tonnes. Today, India is number one in milk production. We have undertaken reforms... from seeds to markets in the interest of farmers," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi urged the need to "continuously strive to improve in every field, keep making progress," to become a developed country.

"Today, emphasis is being placed on animal husbandry, fish farming, and beekeeping. This has empowered small farmers and landless families. In villages, Namo Drone Didi... are leading the way in modern methods of spraying fertilisers and pesticides. The recent reforms in GST... have benefited the people in villages, farmers, and animal rearers the most," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also urged farmers to diversify crops beyond wheat and rice, focusing on pulses to ensure protein security. The Pulses mission is necessary to reduce India's import dependency by enhancing domestic production, he said.

Other projects inaugurated include artificial insemination training centres in Bengaluru and Jammu and Kashmir, centres of excellence at Amreli and Banas, an IVF lab in Assam under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, milk powder plants at Mehsana, Indore, and Bhilwara, and a fish feed plant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana at Tezpur.

The event also marked important milestones achieved under government initiatives, including 50 lakh farmer memberships in 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), of which 1,100 FPOs recorded an annual turnover of over ₹1 crore in 2024-25.

10. NCEL, NCOL & KRIBHCO Join Bharat International Rice Conference 2025, Boosting India’s Agri-Export Vision

RuralVoice, Oct. 11 2025

In a major push to India’s agricultural export ambitions, three leading cooperative institutions—National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), and KRIBHCO Agri Business—have joined the upcoming Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC 2025).

The move comes as the global community celebrates the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting inclusive and sustainable growth in agriculture. The participation of these cooperatives reflects India’s growing synergy between its cooperative movement and export-oriented agricultural strategies.

Recognized as the world’s largest producer and exporter of rice, India aims to showcase its strength in sustainable, high-quality rice production at what is being billed as the largest-ever global rice ecosystem gathering.

“BIRC is a global platform to showcase the strength, innovation, and farmer-first vision of India’s cooperative sector. From cutting-edge technologies to value-added products, India’s rice industry is ready to redefine quality and sustainability on the world stage,” said Dr Prem Garg, National President of the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) and Chairman of Shri Lal Mahal Group.

The 2025 edition of BIRC is set to spotlight innovation and inclusivity across the rice value chain. A special pavilion for women-led startups will highlight entrepreneurs driving transformation through technology and sustainability-focused ventures. Meanwhile, the Agri-Tech Pavilion will feature solutions such as drone-assisted crop monitoring, precision farming tools, and automation in post-harvest processes.

A Food Processing Pavilion will exhibit breakthroughs in milling, fortification, packaging, and cold-chain logistics, alongside India’s expanding product portfolio—ranging from rice-based proteins and fortified pasta to healthy snacks and baked goods.

The Bharat International Rice Conference is expected to draw over 5,000 farmers and cooperative members, 1,000+ global buyers from more than 80 countries, and leading voices from policy, technology, logistics, and retail sectors. The event will serve as a platform to strengthen India’s position in the global rice trade while championing farmer empowerment, startup innovation, and women’s leadership.

- Industry and Manufacture

11. Trump's H-1B Visa Changes: An Opportunity for India's Tech Growth

ET Gov. 22 Sept. 2025

The Trump administration’s latest decision to impose a hefty $100,000 fee for companies hiring workers under the H-1B visa program has sent shockwaves through the global technology and talent landscape. While the move is seen as a direct hit to U.S.-bound skilled professionals, especially from India, which accounted for 71 per cent of approved H-1B beneficiaries last year, it also opens up a compelling counter-narrative: could this be the moment when India turns its long-lamented "brain drain" into "brain gain"?

A shock to the system but a turning point

For decades, India’s brightest minds, especially in STEM, have migrated to the U.S. in pursuit of quality education, global opportunities, and innovation-driven ecosystems like Silicon Valley. The H-1B visa has long been a golden ticket for these young professionals, allowing them to stay and work in the U.S. post-education, eventually climbing corporate ladders or founding their own startups. This pipeline has contributed not just to individual success stories, but also to India’s soft power and visibility in global tech leadership.

However, with the Trump administration now proposing prohibitive costs for employers to hire H-1B workers, this pipeline may narrow dramatically. Companies, particularly Indian IT firms with major U.S. exposure like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCLTech, will feel the pinch. But the bigger picture for India may not be entirely grim. In fact, it may be transformative.

The case for “brain gain”

This disruption could be the catalyst India needs to retain its best minds. For years, policymakers and economists have worried about the continual exodus of top talent. If this outflow slows down by the clampdown on H1B visas, India stands to benefit significantly.

Talent retention will boost India's innovation potential. With more top-tier engineers, scientists, and tech leaders staying back in India, the potential for innovation at home increases. This talent pool can be redirected to solving domestic challenges, creating indigenous technology and building globally competitive enterprises. India’s startup ecosystem is already the third-largest in the world. With a fresh infusion of world-class talent, previously earmarked for U.S. firms, Indian startups could mature faster, venture into deeper tech fields like AI, robotics and biotech, and compete globally.

When top talent builds successful careers domestically, it changes societal perceptions. The traditional belief that success lies only abroad may erode, inspiring younger generations to see India as a viable platform for global impact. What's more, many top Indian students who would have pursued postdoctoral research or teaching roles abroad could now contribute to Indian academia. This could revitalise Indian universities, which often suffer from faculty shortages and lack of cutting-edge research.

But can India leverage Its returning or retained talent?

This optimistic scenario, however, depends on a crucial variable -- India’s ability to create an enabling ecosystem that can absorb and fully utilise this talent. Without Silicon Valley-like support systems such as deep capital, cutting-edge infrastructure, regulatory agility and a risk-taking culture, top talent may remain underutilised or frustrated.

While a decade or two ago, such concerns were realistic, the picture is changing in India. India’s tech ecosystem has matured rapidly, especially in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. These hubs offer a vibrant mix of startups, R&D centers, and IT giants. India now has over 100 unicorns, and venture capital funding — while cyclical — has reached record highs in recent years. The infrastructure to launch world-class companies is increasingly present.

However, despite progress, challenges persist such as bureaucratic red tape, inconsistent policy frameworks, slow judicial systems and gaps in deep-tech infrastructure. There is also the issue of limited high-end research funding and relatively weak university-industry collaboration.

Silicon Valley’s culture of experimentation, tolerance for failure and rapid iteration is not easily replicated. Indian firms and institutions will need to encourage more risk-taking and provide greater autonomy to young leaders. Also, this will be a unique opportunity for Indian policymakers. With the right set of incentives including R&D tax breaks, simplified startup norms, enhanced funding for higher education and innovation hubs, the government can catalyze a true innovation economy.

India can learn from China

China, facing a similar scenario in the past, turned its "sea turtles" , a term for Chinese professionals returning from abroad, into a critical driver of its domestic tech and innovation ecosystem. Today, many of China’s most valuable companies are run by returnees who used their foreign education and experience to build world-leading firms at home.

India could take a page from this playbook and nurture an ecosystem that not only retains talent but actively attracts Indian professionals abroad to return and build the future here.

The Trump administration’s move may appear punitive at first glance, but for India, it could be a strategic inflection point. If leveraged wisely, it can mark the beginning of a new era where the country stops exporting talent and instead builds global platforms at home.

However, building an innovation economy is not about policies alone but about cultural and systemic shifts. Yet, with India’s demographic dividend, digital infrastructure and a globally ambitious youth population, this could indeed be the long-awaited reversal from brain drain to brain gain. What looks like a closed door to the US could very well be an open window for India, a window to reimagine its place in the global tech order.

12. Mahindra sells 64,946 Tractors in Sep 2025, Records 50% Growth in Domestic Sales

RuralVoice, Oct 2, 2025

Mahindra tractors’ total sales (Domestic + Exports) in September 2025 stood at 66,111 units, compared to 44,256 units in the same period last year. Exports for the month were 1,165 units.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Business (FEB) recorded a strong September performance with tractor sales soaring on the back of festive demand, policy support, and a favourable monsoon.

Domestic sales in September 2025 were at 64,946 units, as against 43,201 units in September 2024, reflecting a 50% year-on-year growth, on account of the benefit of GST reduction to customers and preponement of Navratri to September this year compared to last year’s festive period.

Total tractor sales (Domestic + Exports) during September 2025 were at 66,111 units, as against 44,256 units for the same period last year. Exports for the month stood at 1,165 units.

Company officials attributed the surge to multiple factors, including a recent GST cut on agricultural machinery, which has lifted farmer sentiment, as well as the festive season boost, with Navratri falling in September this year instead of October. Above normal monsoon, positive Kharif crop outlook and higher sowing area, further pushing up sales.

Commenting on the performance, Veejay Nakra, President – Farm Equipment Business, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “We have sold 64,946 tractors in the domestic market during September, a growth of 50% over last year. Honourable Prime Minister’s decision on the GST rate cut, has increased offtake in the first 9 days of Navratri which is in the month of September this year compared to October last year. This has been further supported by factors like a positive Kharif outlook, increase in the area sown this season and an above-normal monsoon.”

Mahindra Tractors YTD Sales from April to September 2025 reached 2,57,025 units, up from 2,14,849 units in the same period last year. This represents a 20% increase in total sales.

Meanwhile, exports also grew, with 9,689 tractors shipped versus 8,613 units last year. This marks a 12% rise in international sales during the first six months of FY26.

Industry watchers note that while September’s extraordinary rise has been aided by festive purchases and policy changes, sustaining this momentum through the next quarter will depend on the pace of Rabi sowing and the stability of rural demand.

13. Andhra Pradesh Clinches $10 Billion Google Investment

ET, 11 Oct. 2025

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that tech giant Google will invest Rs 88,000 crore over three years in data centres and Artificial Intelligence projects in Vizag.

Indicating that this would be the “single largest investment” since the introduction of financial reforms in independent India, the Chief Minister called it a "gamechanger".

“We have finalised Google data centres (and) Artificial Intelligence. After the emergence of financial reforms in India, a single investment of nearly USD 10 billion or Rs 88,000 crore in the coming three years is being made in Vizag,” said Naidu, addressing a meeting on the sidelines of inaugurating a few private projects.

Google subsidiary Raiden Infotech India Ltd will make this investment, developing three campuses across Tarluvada, Adavivaram, and Rambilli in Vizag.

Elaborating on major infrastructural projects in the region near Nellore district, the CM said two more ports – Ramayyapatnam and Dugarajapatnam – will complement the existing Krishnapatnam Port.

Similarly, he said forthcoming airports at Dagadarthi and Chennai will enhance connectivity alongside Tirupati airport and noted that bullet train projects linking Hyderabad – Chennai and Chennai – Amaravati will further improve regional transportation.

Likewise, the TDP supremo noted that Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) will set up a refinery at Ramayyapatnam.

According to Naidu, India will emerge as the top country and economy in the world by 2047 and Andhra Pradesh as the top state in the country.

Further, he said the Telugu community will emerge as the number one community.

Earlier, the CM inaugurated a private school at Edagai village of Venkatachalam mandal in Nellore district.

Following the inauguration, the Chief Minister took a tour of the school and interacted with the students.

Later, he also inaugurated a project aimed at saving bulls and a bioethanol plant.

14. Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme: India's Electronics Manufacturing Economy Growth

ET Gov. 13 Oct. 2025

“This is the best time to invest, to innovate, and to make in India": Prime Minister Narendra Modi

In the early years of India’s digital transformation, few could have imagined that the mobile handset—once an imported luxury item—would become both the symbol and the substance of a national industrial revolution. A decade later, what began as an effort to assemble foreign brands on Indian soil has matured into a structural reconfiguration of global value chains.

Factories that once merely pieced together components now host vast design teams; policies that once sought import substitution now court global leadership in innovation. India’s electronics sector has, in less than ten years, expanded its annual production from ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014–15 to an extraordinary ₹11.3 lakh crore in 2024–25—a six-fold rise that tells a deeper story of vision, resilience, and technological statecraft.

The numbers, while impressive, are not the whole story. Behind them lies a carefully architected strategy to transform India into both a manufacturing and design power.

Over the last decade, policy frameworks such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), and the new Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) have collectively built the scaffolding for a robust industrial ecosystem.

The result is visible in employment generation—over 25 lakh jobs created—as well as in exports, which have risen eightfold to ₹3.27 lakh crore.

A Decade of Ascent

India’s emergence as a global electronics hub owes much to deliberate policy continuity and to the maturing of domestic capabilities. Between 2014 and 2025, the country moved from a peripheral position in global supply chains to becoming the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer.

Mobile phone production alone grew from ₹18,000 crore in 2014–15 to ₹5.45 lakh crore in 2024–25, with exports leaping from ₹1,500 crore to ₹2 lakh crore. India now produces around 330 million mobile phones annually, nearly all manufactured domestically—a dramatic turnaround from the 78 percent import dependence of a decade ago.

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, recently described this shift as “the transition from a low-value assembly economy to a design-driven innovation ecosystem.”

The success of India’s electronics transformation will ultimately rest on the skills of its engineers and technicians.

He noted that India’s electronics sector has been growing at an average annual rate of 17 percent, and that “young engineers in our design centres are now working on some of the most complex systems integrated with artificial intelligence, which will define the future of smart manufacturing and digital products.”

The government’s broader aspiration—to build a $500 billion domestic electronics manufacturing ecosystem by 2030–31—is not a slogan but a policy trajectory. Foreign direct investment exceeding USD 4 billion has flowed into the sector since FY 2020–21, largely from firms participating in the PLI scheme. This is not only a story of economic growth but of industrial confidence and technological ambition.

Policy Architecture and Strategic Schemes

India’s electronics expansion rests on a lattice of strategic interventions designed to promote scale, self-reliance, and sophistication. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, with an outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore across 14 sectors, has encouraged firms to expand production, localize supply chains, and increase exports.

The Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) complements this by providing a 25 percent incentive on capital expenditure for critical components, thereby strengthening domestic value addition.

Perhaps most transformative is the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), approved in May 2025 with a fiscal outlay of ₹22,919 crore. The scheme received 249 applications, representing an expected investment commitment of ₹1.15 lakh crore—nearly double its target.

Over the next six years, it is projected to generate production worth over ₹10 lakh crore and create 1.42 lakh direct jobs. This overwhelming response reflects a shift in the industry’s perception of India—from a low-cost assembly base to a reliable, high-value manufacturing partner.

Complementing these is the National Policy on Electronics (NPE 2019), which aims to position India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM). The policy’s design-led orientation seeks to achieve long-term sustainability, ensuring that India’s future in electronics rests not merely on labour cost advantages but on intellectual and technological depth.

The Expanding Frontiers of Electronics

Electronics today form the silent architecture of modern civilization—powering industries, healthcare systems, transportation networks, and homes. In India, this has translated into remarkable diversification.

Consumer electronics—televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators—have become household staples, reflecting both rising incomes and technological diffusion. In the automotive sector, electronic systems now govern performance, safety, and connectivity; with the rise of electric mobility, this segment has become a focal point of innovation.

Medical electronics, too, are transforming healthcare delivery. Affordable diagnostic devices, wearable monitors, and telemedicine tools—once imported at high cost—are now increasingly designed and produced domestically.

As S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, observed earlier this year, “Electronics today are not a discrete sector; they are the bloodstream of a modern economy. India’s goal is not just to participate in the value chain but to redefine it.”

Emerging Challenges and Strategic Gaps

For all its momentum, the sector faces structural gaps that demand careful resolution. Chief among these is India’s continued dependence on imported components—particularly semiconductors, sensors, and precision magnets. In some categories, import reliance still exceeds 70 percent. This leaves the industry vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical frictions.

Another constraint lies in the limited domestic capacity for high-end semiconductor fabrication. While India has made substantial progress in design and assembly, the absence of advanced foundries remains a strategic handicap. The challenge is compounded by high capital intensity, technology access barriers, and long gestation cycles.

Furthermore, the sector’s future competitiveness will depend on logistical infrastructure, stable power supply, and ease of doing business. The next wave of growth will not come merely from subsidies, but from systemic improvements—simplified regulations, cluster-based industrial zones, and workforce training aligned with emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and embedded systems.

Ajai Chowdhry, co-founder of HCL and member of the India Semiconductor Mission’s advisory board, has long argued that “India’s true economic independence will come only when we become a hardware nation.” His view underscores the larger philosophical premise that self-reliance in electronics is not a matter of prestige but of national security and technological sovereignty.

The Way Forward: Toward a $500 Billion Vision

The coming decade will test India’s capacity to translate ambition into architecture. To reach the projected $500 billion ecosystem by 2030–31, the country must deepen its component base, nurture hardware startups, and strengthen research and development pipelines. This involves expanding risk capital for deep-tech ventures, scaling testing and certification infrastructure, and building semiconductor clusters with plug-and-play facilities.

Equally crucial is the human capital dimension. The success of India’s electronics transformation will ultimately rest on the skills of its engineers and technicians—the quiet builders of the nation’s digital future. Investment in education, vocational training, and university-industry collaboration will determine whether India becomes a design-led powerhouse or remains a low-cost assembler.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the India Mobile Congress 2025, captured the essence of this moment when he said: “This is the best time to invest, to innovate, and to make in India.” His words reflect both optimism and obligation—the recognition that India’s electronics ascent is a defining pillar of its journey toward technological sovereignty and economic modernity.

Policy Aligned with Aspiration

The story of India’s electronics revolution is not one of chance, but of conviction. It is a story of how policy can align with aspiration, how manufacturing can evolve into innovation, and how a developing economy can emerge as a global industrial power. The progress from ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014–15 to ₹11.3 lakh crore in 2024–25 is not merely a statistical triumph; it is an assertion of capability, creativity, and confidence.

If India can consolidate its strengths—expanding its component ecosystem, advancing into semiconductors, and nurturing design-led growth—it will not only meet its economic targets but redefine the global geography of technology itself. The nation’s electronic renaissance is, in that sense, not just industrial—it is civilizational.

(Anoop Verma is Editor-News, ETGovernment)

15. Meet India's newest billionaire siblings: How four brothers turned a small family business in Mumbai into largest solar energy giant

India.com News Desk, 14 Oct. 2025

Meet India's newest billionaire siblings: How four brothers turned a small family business in Mumbai into largest solar energy giant© Analiza Pathak

What began as a small factory in Mumbai making pressure and temperature gauges 30 years ago has now transformed the lives of four Indian brothers, putting them on the Forbes India Rich List 2025 for the first time. The Doshi brothers: Hitesh, Kirit, Pankaj, and Viren now have a combined net worth of USD 7.5 billion, landing them at the 37th spot on the list, thanks to the huge success of their solar energy company, Waaree Energies.

Waaree Energies goes public

When Waaree Energies went public in October 2024, it received far more interest than anyone expected. The share sale was heavily oversubscribed, and the stock made an impressive debut on the market, listing at 70 per cent above its issue price. Since then, the shares have continued to rise, increasing by over 50 per cent, boosting the Doshi brothers' total wealth to USD 7.5 billion.

For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, Waaree Energies reported 27 per cent growth in revenue, reaching Rs. 144.5 billion (USD 1.6 billion), while net profit jumped 51 per cent to Rs. 19.8 billion, driven by high production and strong demand for solar installations across India.

Meet the Billionaire Brothers

The Doshi brothers built their fortune through Waaree Energies, now a publicly listed company performing strongly on Indian stock markets.

Hitesh Doshi (58), Chairman and Managing Director. He is the mastermind behind Waaree's transformation from a small industrial components company into a leading renewable energy firm.

Viren Doshi, Oversees the company's board as well as engineering, procurement, and construction operations.

Kirit Doshi and Pankaj Doshi, Hold minority stakes in the company and have played key roles in guiding its growth over the years.

Facing Scrutiny in the US

In September 2025, the US Department of Commerce launched an investigation into solar cell imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos. Waaree was among the companies examined, following claims that some Chinese-made solar cells were allegedly being sold under Indian-origin labels to avoid tariffs.

Waaree responded in a stock exchange filing, stating it is "committed to complying with all applicable laws and trade regulations," according to Forbes. Despite this scrutiny, the company has continued to grow globally and maintain investor confidence.

- Services (Education, Healthcare, IT, R&D, Tourism, etc.)

16. Lupin Gets US FDA Nod for Generic Cancer Drug

ET, 19 Sep. 2025

Indian pharma major Lupin announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its abbreviated new drug application for Lenalidomide capsules in strengths of 2.5 mg to 25 mg for cancer patients. Lenalidomide has been approved for treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma—a deadly blood cancer—when used with dexamethasone as maintenance therapy after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the company said in an exchange filing. It is also indicated for transfusion-dependent anaemia in low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes linked to a deletion 5q abnormality.

17. Research Development And Innovation Fund: India's ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund to Revolutionize Private Sector Innovation by November

ETGov. 25 Sep. 2025

The government is finalising the modalities of the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) fund, which was announced in the Budget this year and cleared by the Cabinet in July and is expected to roll out by November this year. This is the first time public funds will be used by the government in the private Research and Development (R&D) sector, Abhay Karandikar, secretary of the Department of Science and Technology told ET in an interview.

According to Karandikar, the fund will follow a two-tier mechanism, with DST funding companies and projects through second-level fund managers as opposed to making direct investments. The fund will operate through venture capital funds, alternative investment funds, and institutions like IITs and the Technology Development Board.

“The support will be either long-term, low-interest loans to corporates or equity contributions in startups,” he said. Projects must involve cutting-edge R&D in sunrise sectors such as energy, biotechnology, medical devices, deep tech, or AI.

In terms of eligibility, Karandikar stated that there is no upper limit on the ticket size and large conglomerates can also participate in the scheme as long as they pay their fair share of the investment. “There is no upper cap and we can even invest in a large conglomerate, but they have to put in 50 per cent of the project cost themselves,” he said. The fund is being designed to speed up approvals. “The effort will be to approve applications within a period of few weeks of receiving them,” Karandikar said.

The initiative aims to close the R&D spending gap in the private sector in India.

He said that in advanced economies, the private sector contributes 70 per cent of gross R&D expenditures, whereas it only accounts for 30-35 per cent in India. By de-risking early-stage investments and providing patient capital, the RDI fund attempts to fix this imbalance. The global technology environment gives India a chance to push indigenous capabilities. “The geopolitical situation is seen as an opportunity to contribute to indigenous technology development,” he said. The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is making progress with four thematic hubs established across the country focusing on quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum materials and devices, and quantum communications. These hubs collaborate with a network of institutions and researchers across the nation, with the aim to develop technology for both academic and commercial applications. Eight startups were part of the first cohort that received funding, and applications for the second cohort are being accepted on a rolling basis, he said.

“While we may still be in catch-up mode for some areas, in quantum sensing and communication, we could be globally competitive in the next 2-3 years,” said Karandikar. It is projected that applications in material science and secure communications will be facilitated by hybrid systems that integrate quantum processors with CPUs and GPUs. “Startups like QpiAI are developing 64-qubit systems. Indigenous capabilities are expected in the next two years.”

18. Ministers push domestic alternatives to Google, Microsoft apps amid strained US tie

ET Gov. 4 Oct. 2025

Three cabinet colleagues of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are promoting use of apps by domestic rivals to Google Maps, WhatsApp and Microsoft, in the strongest backing yet for "Made in India" products amid trade tension with the United States.

After the United States imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports in August, Modi has pushed for use of "swadeshi" products, or those made in India.

While many industry executives have made public calls to support Indian products, Modi made a direct appeal last month for Indians to scrap daily use of foreign goods.

Information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw gave a media presentation on highway projects this week he said was put together employing Zoho, a domestic rival to Microsoft's PowerPoint, and without use of Google Maps.

"The map is from MapmyIndia, not Google Maps," the minister said with a smile, referring to an Indian provider. "It's looking nice, right? Swadeshi."

Last week, Vaishnaw made a video clip testing Zoho software and asked people to adopt indigenous products in a post on X that drew 6.2 million views.

Aspirational upgrade

American brands are everywhere in India, and they are seen as an aspirational upgrade by millions.

While government and private offices use Microsoft products, many travellers rely on Google Maps to find their way about, and WhatsApp counts India as its biggest market, with more than 500 million users.

The three U.S. companies did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Zoho offers cheaper alternatives to cloud-based software tools made by Microsoft. The Indian firm's billionaire co-founder, Sridhar Vembu, is famed for an unconventional approach of locating business operations in rural villages.

The firm's messaging app, Arattai, or "chat" in India's southern Tamil language, has gained sudden popularity, thanks to the efforts of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"So proud to be on @Arattai, a #MadeInIndia messaging platform that brings India closer," Goyal said in an X post this week.

There were more than 400,000 downloads of the app last month, compared to fewer than 10,000 in August, data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower shows. Its daily active users crossed 100,000 on September 26, an increase of 100% on the day.

Tough to replace global brands

Indian companies find it difficult to replace global brands, since they often cannot match their financial clout and reach.

In 2021, ministers promoted X-like social media platform Koo amid compliance-related disagreements with the American platform. But the Indian company shut last year for lack of funding.

"Only state patronage will not be enough," warned Dilip Cherian, a co-founder of Indian public relations firm Perfect Relations.

"What brands like Zoho need to succeed is a unique differentiating factor, deep pockets and strong protection against surveillance."

19. Eli Lilly Commits $1 Billion Investment In India To Scale Up Contract Manufacturing

NDTV, 6 Oct. 2025

Recruitment will begin immediately, with openings across various roles. (Photo Source: Envato)

Eli Lilly and Company on Monday said it plans to invest $1 billion in India over the next several years to scale up contract manufacturing in the country.

The strategic investment will further strengthen the company's manufacturing and supply capabilities to support its evolving portfolio, the US-headquartered company said in a statement.

"Working with trusted contract manufacturers expands our capabilities to deliver life-changing medicines at greater scale -- with quality always at the core. This investment reaffirms our confidence in India as a hub for capability building within our global network," said Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President and President Lilly International, Eli Lilly and Company.

The company has a long-standing presence in India, including a commercial site in Gurugram and specialised sites in Bengaluru and Hyderabad that serve as essential hubs supporting global innovation.

"Lilly's continued expansion in Hyderabad highlights the city's emergence as a powerhouse in global healthcare innovation," Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy said.

From the recent opening of its Innovation and Technology site to a new manufacturing collaboration and the establishment of a Manufacturing & Quality hub, Lilly is moving swiftly to expand its presence in Telangana — reinforcing the state's position as a preferred destination for cutting-edge healthcare investments, he added.

20. Meta’s $10 Billion Undersea Cable to Make India a Global Data Connectivity Hub: Mumbai and Visakhapatnam Chosen as Key Centers

Newspoint, 11 Oct. 2025

Meta’s $10 Billion Undersea Cable to Make India a Global Data Connectivity Hub: Mumbai and Visakhapatnam Chosen as Key Centers

Meta’s Massive Waterworth Project to Connect India with the US, Brazil, and South Africa, Positioning the Country as a Core Player in Global Digital Infrastructure

Tech giant Meta Platforms has taken a significant step toward strengthening India’s position in the global digital ecosystem. The company has announced that Mumbai and Visakhapatnam will serve as the landing sites for its ambitious Waterworth undersea cable project, a massive network that will connect the United States, India, Brazil, and South Africa. With a planned span of nearly 50,000 kilometers, this subsea cable system is expected to transform India into a major hub for AI-driven data connectivity and digital infrastructure.

Google has already partnered with Sify Technologies for its Blue Raman cable project.

Bharti Airtel launched the Sea-Me-We 6 system in December 2024.

Reliance Jio is actively developing the India Asia Express (IAX) and India Europe Express (IEX) cable networks.

With Meta entering the space on such a large scale, competition is set to intensify among major international tech firms and Indian telecom giants such as Jio, Airtel, and Tata Communications.

India’s Big Opportunity in the AI and Data Economy. Scheduled for completion by 2030, the Waterworth project could play a pivotal role in establishing India as a global hub for AI infrastructure. Meta’s strategic focus on data localization aligns with India’s evolving regulatory landscape, which emphasizes the need to store and manage data within national boundaries.

INDIA and the World

21. Trump's Trade Overtures to India: Impact on US Farmers

ET Gov. 19 Sep. 2025

The reason behind American trade overtures towards India amid punitive tariffs, manifested in President Trump’s friendly messages to PM Modi and sending a key trade negotiator to New Delhi, lies not just in the chambers of commerce in Washington DC, but in the vast farm lands of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and other states in Middle America.

Scores of reports and interviews with farmers reveal a growing sense of panic over unsold soy beans and corn, the top two US agricultural exports. The disquiet is channeling into anger at the Trump administration, whose decision, prompted by the president, to engage in a tariff war, particularly against China, has resulted in retaliatory measures by Beijing which has ended all agri purchases from US. China buys more than 60 per cent of the world’s soya output, half of which comes from US, to feed its voracious pork industry.

China is instead buying all its soya from Brazil, fuelling Trump’s anger against Brics while American farmers are fuming at Washington for the looming disaster ahead of the harvest season now underway. Soaring input costs, falling crop prices, the Chinese boycott, and growing uncertainty from trade policies, are causing what Caleb Ragland, a soybean farmer and president of the American Soybean Association, describes as a “five-alarm fire.”

The upshot of all this is US farmers are on their knees, begging for intervention from the administration, which is now sending out its negotiators to talk to the Chinese, pleading with them to resume agri purchases, and even seeking New Delhi’s help with corn purchases even though India is self-sufficient in corn. US lawmakers, many of them Republicans from red MAGA leaning states, are worried about their prospects in the 2026 mid-term elections if there is no resolution to the tariff spat.

These are some of the headlines one is seeing in the media reporting out of Middle America: Trump’s Tariffs DEVASTATE US Farmers — Billions Lost in US Agriculture, “US Soybean Growers Beg Trump for China Trade Deal,” and “After Losing China Market, US Soybean President Realizes America Needs China to Be Great Again!”

Since most of Middle America is conservative Trump territory and predominantly support the president, Democrats and liberals are also having a field day trolling farmers via video posts with headlines such as “MAGA Soybean Farmers Begging America for Socialism After Mocking Welfare for Years.” Many are mocking MAGA “mugs” from not learning from Trump’s first term, when he picked a similar tariff fight with China and had to eventually bail out farmers to the tune of $ 20 billion.

By one account, 216 farms filed for bankruptcy this year, a 55 per cent increase from the previous year. And these are not small farms. Unlike in India, where the average agricultural holding is less than two acres, the average American farm is closer to 500 acres with some going up to 10,000 acres and more, and they are a big source of funding and political support to the GOP.

Sarah Taber, a North Carolina farmer and crop scientist who ran for office as a Democrat in 2024, and who runs a popular farm blog, says the turn of events was entirely predictable. “I’m always surprised when people say we were lied to about what Trump would do to us. We weren’t! US farmers knew Trump planned another trade war, and that it would hurt our businesses. And a lot of farmers just voted for him anyway,” she said in her podcast Farm to Taber.

While American corn and soybean farmers are under stress, New Delhi is providing some relief to farmers growing tree nuts, having lifted tariffs on almonds and pistachios even as other major buyers keep them on. India is now the largest buyer of “badam-pista” accounting for 70 per cent and 90 per cent of US exports of these two products. But that’s not enough to make MAGA folks happy. Reason: 90 per cent of US treenuts are grown in California, a Democrat stronghold.

22. India, Brazil Strengthen Partnership in Agri-Innovation

RuralVoice, 22 Sep. 2025

Bringing together innovators, startups, and institutions from both countries, the programme will help build resilient food systems and empower farmers. Maitri 2.0 aims to strengthen incubator linkages, exchange best practices, promote co-incubation, and open new opportunities in sustainable agriculture, digital technologies, and value-chain development, bilateral cooperation

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the second edition of the Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech (Maitri 2.0) at New Delhi on Monday. The event was graced by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), and Kenneth Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, along with senior officials and representatives from leading Brazilian research and innovation institutions.

Dr. Jat highlighted the 77-year-old partnership between India and Brazil. He emphasized their shared role in global platforms like BRICS and G20, and the recent ICAR–EMBRAPA MoU as a milestone for collaboration across the agri-food value chain. Recalling historical agricultural linkages, Dr. Jat stressed the power of complementarities and the need for innovation-driven growth. He stated ICAR’s transformation from 74 patents in 1996 to over 1,800 annually, supported by incubation centers and over 5,000 licensing agreements. He also underscored that commercialization is about delivering public-funded innovations to end-users, not just revenue. The DG called Maitri 2.0 a two-way learning platform for co-creation between Indian and Brazilian innovators and reaffirmed the commitment to building a stronger, innovative, and inclusive agri-food ecosystem for global food security.

Kenneth Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil, in his remarks, expressed appreciation for ICAR’s initiative and underlined the strategic importance of creating synergies between the agritech ecosystems of India and Brazil. He emphasized that the Maitri 2.0 programme reflects the broader Brazil–India strategic partnership, aligning with the leaders’ shared vision for cooperation in agriculture, emerging technologies, and food and nutritional security. He called the initiative a strategic step, aligning with both nations’ vision for cooperation in agriculture, emerging technologies, and food and nutritional security.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR–IARI shared that ICAR–IARI has supported 400+ agri-startups, nurturing ideas into innovations and business models. “Agriculture must be seen as both a livelihood and a business,” he noted. Welcoming the delegation, Dr.Neeru Bhushan, ADG (IPTM) set the context, highlighting the shared challenges of climate change, food security, and the need for sustainable intensification.

23. Representatives of 10 Taiwanese varsities visit New Delhi, explore opportunities for dual-degree programs in India

Indian Express, 11 Oct. 2025

Representatives of 10 Taiwanese varsities visit New Delhi, explore opportunities for dual-degree programs in India

Representatives of 10 universities from Taiwan were in New Delhi this week to explore collaborations with Indian universities for dual-degree programs and internships.

They also promoted opportunities for Indian students, including exchange programs in sustainability, AI and semiconductors, and scholarships for degree courses.

Nine UK universities to set up campuses in India: PM Modi

Additionally, around 1,029 non-degree Indian students were in Taiwan in 2025, up from 359 a decade ago.

The most popular course in Taiwan among Indian students is engineering and related programs, which saw an enrolment of 665 Indian students in 2025. This was followed by Physical Sciences and Chemistry, with an enrolment of 201 Indian students, and Business Administration with an enrolment of 128 Indian students.

International students hit by Donald Trump’s 15% enrollment cap

The National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, and the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, are the top two universities in Taiwan in terms of Indian student enrolment. At both universities, Indian students are largely enrolled on PhD programs, followed by master’s courses.

24. India Growth Forecast: World Bank raises India's FY26 growth forecast to 6.5%, country to remain world's fastest

ETGov. 8 Oct. 2025

The report recommends harnessing the potential of AI to boost productivity and incomes.

India is expected to remain the world's fastest-growing major economy, underpinned by strong consumption growth, improved agricultural output and rural wage growth, according to a World Bank report released on Tuesday.

The World Bank raised India's growth forecast to 6.5 per cent for FY26 from its earlier projection of 6.3 per cent in June, citing resilient domestic demand, strong rural recovery and the positive impact of tax reforms.

The report pegs the growth of Bangladesh at 4.8 per cent in FY26 while for Bhutan, the forecast for FY26 has been downgraded to 7.3 per cent due to hydropower construction delays but is expected to reverse as construction speed picks up in FY27.

In Maldives, growth is projected to slow to 3.9 per cent in FY26, while in Nepal, recent unrest and heightened political and economic uncertainty is expected to cause growth to decline to 2.1 per cent in FY26, the report observes.

In Sri Lanka, the forecast has been upgraded to 3.5 per cent in FY26, due to strong growth in tourism and service exports.

Growth in South Asia is projected to be robust at 6.6 per cent this year - but is expected to slow to 5.8 percent in 2026, a downward revision of 0.6 percentage points from the April forecast. Downside risks include spillovers from the global economic slowdown and uncertainty around trade policy, sociopolitical unrest in the region, and labour market disruptions posed by emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI).

"South Asia has enormous economic potential and is still the fastest growing region in the world. But countries need to proactively address risks to growth," said Johannes Zutt, World Bank Vice President for South Asia. "Countries can boost productivity, spur private investment, and create jobs for the region's rapidly expanding workforce by maximizing the benefits of AI and lowering trade barriers, especially for intermediate goods."

The report recommends harnessing the potential of AI to boost productivity and incomes. The rapid development of AI is transforming the global economy and reshaping labor markets. South Asia's workforce has limited exposure to AI adoption due to the predominance of low-skill, agricultural and manual jobs. But moderately educated, young workers, especially in sectors such as business services and information technology, are vulnerable. Since the release of ChatGPT, job listings have fallen by around 20 percent in jobs most exposed to, and most replaceable by AI relative to other occupations.

But AI could also bring substantial productivity gains, especially in sectors that have strong potential for AI to complement humans. Job listings data in the region indicate rapidly growing demand for AI skills, with such jobs commanding a wage premium of nearly 30 percent relative to other professional roles.

The report's recommendations include steps to help accelerate job creation by streamlining size-dependent regulations that discourage firms' growth, better transport and digital connectivity, more transparent housing search options, upskilling and job matching, as well as providing safety nets for affected workers.

25. Not Hilton, not Marriott, it’s Patel: CA shares the story of one community that's just 1% of the US population but owns 60% of American hotels

ET, 8 Oct 2025, Trending Desk

Not Hilton, not Marriott, it’s Patel: CA shares the story of one community that's just 1% of the US population but owns 60% of American hotels

The biggest name in the American hotel business is not Hilton, Marriott, or Ritz-Carlton — it is Patel. A LinkedIn post by Sarthak Ahuja recently shared how the Gujarati Indian community, which forms less than 1% of the US population, now controls about 60% of the country’s hospitality business. It began with one man’s journey in the 1930s that laid the foundation for an entire community to rise in the hotel industry.

The beginning: From Trinidad to California farms

The story traces back to Kanji Manchhu Desai, who arrived in the United States from Trinidad in 1934. He overstayed his visa and worked on farms in California. During World War II, a Japanese American hotel owner was forced to leave due to wartime restrictions and trusted Desai and his friends to manage the property in his absence.

Desai brought together his friends — one to manage the front desk, another for cleaning, and a third for laundry. That experience introduced them to the operations of running a hotel in America.

Building the foundation of an empire

After the war, Desai leased his own property, the Hotel Goldfield in San Francisco. He then began writing letters to his friends and relatives in India, especially in Gujarat, encouraging them to explore the same business opportunity.

According to the post, Desai guided newcomers on how to lease and operate hotels, provided accommodation during their early days, helped finance their ventures, and even advised them on finding suitable locations.

Over time, around 400 Gujarati families followed his lead. What began as a community effort gradually expanded into a multi-generational business network that now spans across the United States.

From community cooperation to a national network

The Reddit post noted how Desai’s approach was rooted in cooperation rather than competition. “What a fabulous story of sharing one's finds and knowledge with others, working towards serving one's community, and building an industry rather than worrying about others becoming competition,” it read.

This spirit of collective growth helped the community gain deep expertise in hotel management. Today, their legacy continues, with many hotels across the country owned or managed by families carrying the Patel surname.

The Patel Motel Story

A short film titled “The Patel Motel Story” premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Festival in New York. The film explores this remarkable journey of Gujarati Americans who turned a small-scale venture into a dominant force in the US hospitality sector.

As the Reddit post concluded, “The biggest lesson we learn from Gujaratis is, you win by cooperation and not through competition.”

(Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on LinkedIn. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.)

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