SEPTEMBER, 20269AgriStack integration now powers a powerful new analytical tool that the Fertilizer Ministry has deployed to track every bag of fertilizer in real time.Officials can spot sudden shortages, irregular buying patterns, and inventory gaps before farmers form long queues at retail outlets.The system links the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) with national AgriStack databases and Haryana's Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal.It covers more than 140 million Aadhaar-linked buyers and over 0.25 million retail points that handle nearly 70 million tons of fertilizer every year. This digital backbone supports transparent disbursement of around Rs 3 trillion in annual subsidies and aims to match actual crop demand with supply. India is taking a new step to tackle battery supply gaps as it prepares a new incentive program worth Rs 13,000 crore.The plan aims to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce the country's dependence on Chinese suppliers.The proposal comes as Indian battery manufacturers face supply-chain challenges while expanding domestic cell production.The government now wants to build a stronger upstream ecosystem for critical battery components.The proposed program will focus on five key components used in advanced battery cells. The move also supports India's wider push to improve energy security and narrow the cost gap with Chinese battery producers. India's growing power demand is pushing NTPC toward one of its biggest expansion plans. The power major plans to invest Rs 16.86 lakh crore by FY37. The company expects the growing power demand to support major capacity additions over the next decade. NTPC aims to increase its operating capacity from about 91 GW today.It targets 149 GW of generation capacity by 2032, including 60 GW from renewable energy. By 2037, NTPC aims to reach 244 GW, excluding storage.NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh announced the plans at the company's 50th Annual General Meeting. Gurdeep Singh said the next decade will be one of the most important growth periods in NTPC's history. He expects India's electricity needs to rise as the economy grows. Floods and heat are pushing North India's tea industry into a difficult phase as falling auction prices collide with production challenges and rising operating costs.The Tea Association of India (TAI) has raised concerns over the sector's sustainability, particularly in Assam and West Bengal.Auction prices fell by as much as 17 per cent from July to mid-August. At the same time, floods, excessive heat and severe pest and disease infestations have disrupted tea production.The pressure also extends to exports, which have lagged last year's levels during the first half of 2026. Rising input costs and higher wage expenses are adding further pressure on tea producers across Assam and West Bengal. INDIA TACKLES BATTERY SUPPLY GAPS WITH NEW INCENTIVE PLANNTPC'S RS 16.86 LAKH CRORE BET ON INDIA'S GROWING POWER DEMANDAGRISTACK INTEGRATION SET TO TRANSFORM FERTILIZER SUPPLY CHAINFLOODS AND HEAT PUSH NORTH INDIA'S TEA INDUSTRY INTO CRISIS
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