South Korea's Lee to seek big boost in economic ties in summit with PM Modi.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung heads into talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, aiming for a big boost in economic cooperation, particularly in areas such as shipbuilding. It is the first South Korean presidential state visit to India in eight years.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Govt strengthens DGFT Norms Committees to speed up export authorisations, cut delays.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced a set of reforms to improve the functioning of Norms Committees under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), aimed at faster disposal of Advance Authorisation applications and easing process for exporters. In an official statement, the ministry stated that the move comes as part of the government's broader push to enhance ease of doing business and reduce delays in approvals under export-linked schemes.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India doubles wheat export quota to 5 million tonnes.
Amid growing farmer dissatisfaction over low mandi prices, the government has decided to permit the export of an additional 2.5 million tonnes (mt) of wheat, doubling the total allowed volume to 5 mt. While a formal notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is pending, the move follows approval from a high-powered inter-ministerial committee.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Basmati exporters of Punjab urge Goyal to restructure & initiate reforms in development body BEDF.
Punjab Rice Millers Exporters Association has urged Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to order a restructuring of the Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF), currently governed by the government’s agri export promotion body APEDA, and initiate necessary reforms on priority. The BEDF has been under limelight ever since it hiked the mandatory contract registration fee by more than 100 per cent last year.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Progress of Area Coverage under Summer Crops as on 17.04.2026.
Progress of Area Coverage under Summer Crops as on 17.04.2026.
Source: pib.gov.in
India, Korea to Upgrade CEPA on Fast-Track; Focus on Market Access, Ease of Doing Business and High-Growth Sectors: Shri Piyush Goyal.
President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), H.E. Lee Jae Myung, today said that India, as the world’s fourth-largest economy and home to 1.4 billion people, stands as a key pillar of the global economy. Addressing the India–Korea Business Forum in New Delhi, he noted that there is significant scope to further expand business and trade, adding that bilateral trade has considerable room for growth and, with sustained efforts, is expected to double alongside ongoing negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Source: pib.gov.in
Food Business Startup Enabler Programme 2.0.
The Department of Food Business Management at the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Thanjavur organized a Two-Days Food Business Start-up Enabler Programme 2.0 on 16th and 17th April 2026 at the NIFTEM-T campus. The programme was designed to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities and provide structured guidance to aspiring food entrepreneurs, students, and early-stage start-up founders.
Source: pib.gov.in
Accelerating India’s High Value Crop Diversification.
Agriculture occupies a foundational place in the vision of a Viksit Bharat. Over the past decade, the sector has grown at 4.45 percent, the highest in comparison to previous decades. This growth tells a deeper story. A story of diversification and value enhancement. At the centre of this transformation lies horticulture, which has emerged as the nucleus of India’s high-value crop economy. From fruits and vegetables to flowers, spices, and plantation crops, horticulture is transforming rural landscapes. Unlike traditional staples, high-value horticultural crops generate superior returns per unit of land and contribute substantially to agricultural gross value addition. Horticulture strengthens nutrition, fuels agro-processing, supports exports, and creates local employment. In India’s journey toward sustainable and income-led agricultural growth, horticulture is not peripheral. It is pivotal.
Source: pib.gov.in
Indian horticulture output reaches 370.74 million tons.
Agriculture in India has recorded growth of 4.45 per cent over the past decade. Within this, horticulture has expanded as a high-value crop segment, covering fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops. These crops generate higher returns per unit of land and contribute to agricultural value addition, exports, and employment.
Source: freshplaza.com
APEDA extends RCAC validity for Non-Basmati rice exports amid geopolitical challenges.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has announced an extension in the validity of Registration-cum-Allocation Certificates (RCACs) for the export of non-Basmati rice. As per the circular dated April 16, 2026, this decision has been taken in response to prevailing geopolitical developments impacting global trade and logistics, particularly in the Middle East, with the objective of supporting exporters and ensuring continuity in trade flows.
Source: agrospectrumindia.com