Govt waives cotton import duty till October 30 to boost supplies, ease input costs

Govt waives cotton import duty till October 30 to boost supplies, ease input costs

The government has exempted all customs duties on cotton imports for five months till October 30, 2026, in a move aimed at improving cotton availability for the domestic textile industry and reducing input costs for manufacturers, PTI reported.According to a finance ministry notification, the duty exemption will come into effect from June 1, 2026.The government…

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ESG shift: Carbon rules, sustainability mandates make compliance a business priority, say experts

ESG shift: Carbon rules, sustainability mandates make compliance a business priority, say experts

Emerging regulatory frameworks such as the European Union’s carbon tax regime and India’s proposed Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) are transforming environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices from a voluntary reporting exercise into a key compliance and business priority for companies, industry experts said.They cautioned that companies lacking credible carbon data systems and traceable reporting…

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Centre withdraws draft Sugarcane Control Order after pushback from khandsari units, farmers

Centre withdraws draft Sugarcane Control Order after pushback from khandsari units, farmers

The Centre has withdrawn the draft Sugarcane (Control) Order, 2026, saying it will revisit the proposed framework after receiving objections from state governments and other stakeholders, PTI reported.The Food Ministry had circulated the draft order for public comments with a May 20 deadline. The proposal sought to replace the 60-year-old Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966, with…

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Weak monsoon may hit consumption story

Weak monsoon may hit consumption story

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: India’s consumption looks headed for a near-term slowdown with predictions of an El Nino-weakened monsoon likely to bring the lowest rainfall in 11 years.Deficient rains may weigh on rural demand, impacting volume growth and crimping sales of a host of products ranging from soaps, shampoos, packaged food to two-wheelers and durables. For companies…

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India 5th most digitalised economy: Report

India 5th most digitalised economy: Report

NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the world’s fifth most digitalised economy, overtaking several advanced nations as rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and online services reshape the global technology landscape, according to a report released on Friday.The State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2026 report by the ICRIER-Prosus Centre for Internet and…

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