Chemical fertilizers in India are heavily subsidized and import-dependent. Their use, over the years, has led to significant deterioration in soil health. To promote soil testing, provide farmers with crop-specific nutrient recommendations, improve soil fertility and optimize fertilizer use, the government launched the Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme in 2015. During its first cycle (2015–17),...Read More

Last Updated:May 17, 2026, 12:13 IST India hikes gold import duty to 15 percent to curb demand and protect forex, CBDT guidelines allow women more tax free gold than men, excess holdings need proof of source Gold import duty hike Gold has now again come into focus after the government hiked the import duty to...Read More

BENGALURU: India’s defence exports have surged to nearly Rs 38,000 crore this year and are expected to cross Rs 50,000 crore soon, signalling the country’s emergence as a major global defence technology powerhouse, according to G Satheesh Reddy, former chairman of DRDO, scientific advisor to raksha mantri and NSA Board advisor. Speaking at ‘PanIIT Bangalore...Read More

India just made it significantly harder to bring silver into the country. A May 16 notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade moved most silver imports from “free” to “restricted” status, meaning importers now need a government license to bring bullion across the border. The move came just days after customs duties on precious...Read More

New Delhi: India’s jaggery sector recorded strong export growth as global demand for natural sweeteners continued to rise. Government data showed that jaggery exports increased by 106.5 percent in value between 2015-16 and 2024-25. India currently accounts for more than 70 percent of global jaggery production. Nearly 20 to 30 percent of the country’s sugarcane...Read More

New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) India’s total exports of merchandise and services reached an estimated USD 80.80 billion in April 2026, marking a 13.59 per cent increase from USD 71.13 billion in April 2025, according to data released by the Commerce & Industry Ministry. Total imports stood at USD 88.61 billion, up 7.67 per cent...Read More

Budgam, Baramulla Aspirational Districts; Srinagar Champion District RK News Service Srinagar, May 15: The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, organised a two-day consultative workshop at SKICC on strategies for achieving USD 100 billion textile exports by 2030, bringing together policymakers, exporters, industry leaders, artisans and entrepreneurs to deliberate on enhancing...Read More

NEW DELHI: Higher petroleum prices propelled India’s exports to $43.6 billion, the highest monthly level in over four years, showing a 13.8% growth, which is fastest in five months. Imports rose at a more moderate pace of 9.9% to $71.9 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of 28.3 billion, a three-month high.Oil product exports jumped...Read More

Brazilian grape exports have continued to advance at the start of the first export window of 2026. According to Comex Stat data, 1,250 tonnes were shipped in April, up 115% from March — an expected jump given the intensification of shipments. However, the result was 9% lower than in the same period of 2025, marking...Read More

India’s fertiliser subsidy requirement for FY27 is set to overshoot budgeted allocations as the West Asia crisis sharply raises import costs of urea, DAP, natural gas and key raw materials, even as comfortable inventories cushion immediate Kharif supply risks, CareEdge Ratings said. In a sector report released on 13 May, CareEdge warned that the ongoing...Read More