India has finalised eight FTAs covering 37 developed countries: Commerce Minister Goyal.
India has finalised eight free trade agreements (FTAs) covering 37 developed countries over the last few years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, adding that negotiations are underway or set to begin with several more partners, including Chile, Peru and Canada. 'We’ve done eight free trade agreements covering 37 developed countries in the last few years under the Modi government,' Goyal told PTI.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India Budget: Customs overhaul to cut costs, boost manufacturing.
India is rolling out a comprehensive overhaul of its customs regime in the Union Budget 2026-27, with targeted duty relief to lower input costs for key manufacturing and exports sector, faster customs clearance with a single digital window for all approvals, and deep digitisation to make the country a more predictable and investor-friendly manufacturing hub.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Budget 2026: Duty relief for exports to brave trade winds.
To cushion the impact of the 50% US tariffs, the duty-free imports for certain inputs used in the export of processed marine products and leather or synthetic footwear -India's key exports -have been eased. The budget has also allowed duty-free exports of fish catch in Exclusive Economic Zone and high seas.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Economic Survey 2026: Livestock, fisheries drive new growth story in agriculture.
The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Thursday places agriculture at the heart of India’s next growth phase, arguing that the sector’s future lies not just in producing more foodgrains, but in steadily moving up the value chain through livestock, fisheries and horticulture. As India pushes towards its Viksit Bharat goal, the Survey says agriculture will remain central to inclusive growth and improving rural livelihoods.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India's Oct-Jan sugar output up 18.35 pc to 19.50 mn tonne : ISMA.
India's sugar production rose 18.35 per cent to 19.50 million tonne till January 31 of the ongoing 2025-26 season on higher output in key states, industry body ISMA said on Saturday. Sugar output stood at 16.47 million tonne in the same period of the previous season. Sugar season runs from October to September.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Government to launch multi-lingual AI tool Bharat-VISTAAR for agriculture sector.
The government will launch a multi-lingual artificial intelligence tool 'Bharat-VISTAAR' to integrate agristack portals and ICAR package on farm practices, a move that will help provide customised advisory support to farmers. In her budget speech on Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of 'Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources)'.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Farm jam: Budget bets on nuts, cocoa, fisheries to boost agri value.
The budget’s thrust on high-value farm produce and allied sectors will help India cut import dependence, raise farm incomes, strengthen exports, and modernise agricultural practices, experts said, pointing to a fresh look at areas that may have been relative stragglers in drawing sufficient funds over the past few years.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Despite tariff pressure, Indian shrimp exports grew in 2025.
Data from October and November 2025 shows Indian shrimp exports found a way to succeed despite U.S. tariffs, according to industry blog ShrimpInsights. 'Growth was front-loaded and mid-year driven, but the imposition of higher U.S. tariffs in October led to a visible shift in trade flows rather than an outright slowdown,' ShrimpInsights Founder and Analyst Willem van der Pijl said in a recent trade update.
Source: seafoodsource.com
Centre, States Align to Scale AgriStack Across Schemes and Services at the National Workshop on AgriStack.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare today organised a National Workshop on 'AgriStack & AI in Agriculture: Now, Next & Beyond' at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The workshop, held in follow-up to the 5th Conference of Chief Secretaries, focused on translating agreed national action points into time-bound implementation for building a smart, data-driven and farmer-centric agricultural ecosystem.
Source: pib.gov.in
Modi Government Lays Out Clear Roadmap to Double Farmers’ Income.
The Modi government on Thursday sought to answer the long-pending question of the farming community—how to double farmers’ income—with a multi-pronged strategy centred on productivity gains, policy push and institutional reforms, as outlined in the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Survey makes it clear that the objective of doubling farmers’ income is being pursued through a mission-mode approach, combining technology adoption, input support, market reforms, income support and risk mitigation.
Source: himbumail.com