New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) India’s apex exporters’ body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has advised exporters to engage with their US buyers to negotiate a share of tariff refunds as the United States has started accepting claims for reimbursement of now-invalidated duties from April 20.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) India and Bhutan have decided to further strengthen customs cooperation, promote seamless cross-border trade, and ensure secure and efficient border management under the framework of the Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) India’s seafood exports reached an all-time high of Rs 72,325.82 crore (USD 8.28 billion) in FY 2025–26, with export volumes touching 19.32 lakh metric tonnes, according to provisional data released by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) Luminous Power Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to enhance access to affordable solar financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
 
The collaboration aims to simplify financing for solar energy adoption by MSMEs through structured loan offerings, with funding of up to Rs 50 crore and repayment tenures extending up to 10 years.
 
Subsidised loans and faster approvals
 
Under the arrangement, eligible MSMEs can avail loans of up to Rs 2 crore with an interest subsidy of up to 2 percent, reducing effective interest rates to as low as 6.7 percent, reported The Economic Times.
 
The process will be largely digital, with minimal documentation and quicker turnaround times, enabling loan approvals within seven days, according to the companies.
 
The financing model allows up to 100 percent project funding, backed by cash collateral in the form of SIDBI Fixed Deposit Receipts. Interest rates will remain concessional and linked to the borrower’s credit profile.
 
Boost to solar adoption among MSMEs
 
The initiative is designed to address capital constraints faced by MSMEs and improve last-mile access to financing, thereby accelerating the adoption of solar energy solutions.
 
While Luminous will provide end-to-end support, including installation, project management and after-sales services through its network of over 350 service centres, SIDBI will offer tailored institutional financing support.
 
The partnership is expected to contribute to India’s clean energy transition by enabling MSMEs to shift towards renewable energy sources, improving operational efficiency and sustainability.
 
(KNN Bureau)

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) The Ministry of Steel will hold an Open House on April 27, 2026, to discuss issues related to steel imports, inviting companies and industry associations to present their concerns.
According to the Ministry of Steel, the session will take place at Steel

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) India’s textile exports recorded a growth of 2.1 per cent  in FY 2025–26, rising to Rs 3,16,334.9 crore from Rs 3,09,859.3 crore in the previous financial year, reflecting steady demand in global markets.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) India will need a coordinated and parallel push across uranium mining, fuel reprocessing, heavy engineering capacity and long-term financing to accelerate its nuclear energy programme, according to a report by HDFC Mutual Fund.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) The Ghaziabad district administration has roped in staff from around 50 private schools to support the Census 2027 exercise, citing insufficient manpower for the large-scale house listing operation.
 
Currently, about 9,445 personnel have been deployed across 7,848 enumeration blocks, with each enumerator assigned to cover 150–180 households. Despite earlier directions to 51 departments to provide staff, gaps in deployment led authorities to seek assistance from private schools.
 
According to Additional District Magistrate (Finance/Revenue) Saurabh Bhatt, meetings were held with school principals and the district inspector of schools to secure cooperation, reported The Times Of India.
 
Each participating school has deputed 10-15 teachers for the exercise, in line with a state government order permitting such engagement. A similar approach was followed during Census 2011.
 
Timeline and Responsibilities
 
The house listing and housing enumeration phase is scheduled from May 22 to June 20, with enumerators receiving an honorarium of Rs 25,000 upon completion. Attendance at training sessions and related activities has been made mandatory.
 
Officials have already issued warning notices to around 100 enumerators who skipped a recent training session, cautioning that repeated absence could lead to salary withholding and action under the Census Act.
 
Administrative Framework and Oversight
 
The exercise is being conducted under a structured administrative setup, including 16 charge officers, 4 master trainers, 134 field trainers and over 1,600 supervisors.
 
District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar has directed all departments to relieve assigned personnel from routine duties to prioritise census work. He also warned that accountability will extend to department heads if their staff fail to comply.
 
Residents will have the option to self-enumerate online from May 7 to May 21. Additionally, the administration plans an awareness campaign involving Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), industries, and trader groups to boost participation.
 
(KNN Bureau)

New Delhi, Apr 22 (KNN) India and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, marking a key step in expanding economic ties between the two countries.
 
The agreement was finalised on April 20, 2026, during the official visit of a delegation led by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
 
Framework for structured collaboration
The MoU, signed between India’s Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and South Korea’s Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups, establishes a structured framework for sustained engagement on MSME-related issues.
 
It aims to facilitate continuous dialogue, promote mutual understanding of MSME ecosystems, and enable exploration of collaborative opportunities between stakeholders in both countries.
 
Focus on trade, investment and knowledge exchange
According to the ministry, the agreement seeks to boost trade and investment through multiple channels, including exchange of information and experts, sharing of best practices, business matchmaking, and technical and economic cooperation.
 
The MoU also supports joint initiatives to strengthen linkages between MSMEs in India and South Korea, enhancing cross-border partnerships and market access.
 
Strengthening economic partnership
The government described the partnership as a significant step towards deepening India–Korea economic cooperation, highlighting the shared commitment to positioning MSMEs as key drivers of inclusive growth, innovation, and employment generation.
 
The collaboration aligns with broader efforts by both countries to expand cooperation across sectors and build resilient supply chains through stronger industry linkages.

New Delhi, Apr 21 (KNN) The Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth about Rs 975 crore with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Limited for the procurement of TRAWL Assembly systems for T-72 and T-90 tanks.