Business
India-US trade deal talks back on track! Piyush Goyal expected to visit America; ‘may be in the next few days’ – The Times of India
India-US trade deal talks are back on track with commerce minister Piyush Goyal expected to visit America soon. The visit would follow the recent one-day discussions between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal in India, focusing on the proposed bilateral trade agreement.According to a PTI report quoting sources, Piyush Goyal is likely to travel to Washington shortly, as India-US trade negotiations continue to progress positively.
“The commerce minister’s visit is likely soon… may be in the next few days… for the trade talks,” sources were quoted as saying.The commerce ministry reported on September 16 that discussions with the visiting US delegation regarding a bilateral trade agreement were constructive, with both parties committed to reaching a swift and advantageous conclusion.“It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” the ministry announced in a statement following a seven-hour meeting with US representatives.Also Read | Big blow! Trump revokes sanctions waiver – why is Iran’s Chabahar port important for India & what does US move mean?The discussions held significance due to the US implementing a substantial 50 per cent duty on goods from India. The senior US trade delegates’ visit marked their first in-person meeting following the implementation of a combined 50 per cent duty (25 per cent base tariff plus 25 per cent additional levy) on Indian products entering US markets, linked to India’s Russian oil purchases.After imposing 50% tariffs, US President Donald Trump recently struck a conciliatory note, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘friend’. PM Modi responded positively, paving way for trade deal negotaiotions to resume.Earlier in May, Goyal conducted trade discussions in Washington, engaging with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
India-US Trade Deal soon?
Piyush Goyal indicated on Thursday that negotiations for the US trade agreement are progressing well, with recent dialogues yielding positive outcomes.“The talks that happened two days back were productive and are working on the right track… Talks are moving positively… it’s moving in the right direction… India and the US are natural partners,” he said.“Negotiations are going on, and we look at it as a situation. It’s not a friction. America is our trusted partner,” he elaborated on the current state of bilateral discussions.The US maintained its position as India’s principal trading partner for the fourth successive year in 2024-25, achieving bilateral trade of $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports).Also Read | ‘Solution to penal tariffs in 8-10 weeks’: CEA Nageswaran’s ‘personal feeling’ on Trump tariffs; says 15% rate eyedThe US represents approximately 18 per cent of India’s overall goods exports, 6.22 per cent of imports, and 10.73 per cent of the country’s total merchandise trade.In February, leadership from both nations instructed officials to work on a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).The initial phase of the agreement was scheduled for completion in autumn (October-November) 2025. The negotiations have progressed through five rounds thus far. The agreement aims to increase bilateral trade from the present $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) forwarded a summary to the federal government suggesting an increase of Rs4.39 per liter in petrol price for the next fortnight.
After approval from the federal government, one liter of petrol will be sold at Rs257.56 instead of Rs253.17 per liter.
The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) will be increased by Rs5.40 per liter.
After approval, the price of one liter of high-speed diesel will increase by Rs268.38 to Rs273.78.
The proposal to increase the price of kerosene by Rs4 per liter is also on the cards.
The OGRA also recommended increasing the price of one liter of light diesel by Rs6.55.
The new prices of petroleum products will be effective from February 16, 2026.
Due to tension between the USA and Iran, petroleum prices are likely to increase further.
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RBI releases draft to revise Kisan Credit Card Scheme, standardizing crop cycles, extending loan tenure to six years, and aligning credit limits with cultivation costs.
From Crop Cycles To Loan Tenure: 4 Key Changes In RBI’s KCC Proposal
Kisan Credit Card Scheme: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft directions to revise the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, aiming to expand coverage, streamline operations, and align credit norms with evolving agricultural needs.
Standardized Crop Cycles And Extended Loan Tenure
As outlined in the draft, crop seasons have been standardized to introduce uniformity in loan sanctioning and repayment schedules. Short-duration crops will now be treated under a 12-month cycle, while long-duration crops will follow an 18-month cycle.
Example:
A farmer growing paddy or wheat (harvested in a few months) will follow a 12-month loan cycle.
A farmer growing sugarcane (which takes 12–18 months) will get an 18-month cycle.
To better align loan tenure with these crop cycles, especially for longer-duration crops, the overall tenure of the KCC facility has been extended to six years. The move is expected to provide farmers with greater flexibility in repayment and reduce rollover pressures.
Example:
If a farmer growing sugarcane faces a bad monsoon in Year 2, he doesn’t have to rush repayment immediately. The 6-year window gives more breathing space and reduces pressure to take fresh loans to repay old ones.
The draft directions apply to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, and Rural Co-operative Banks, indicating a system-wide implementation once finalized.
Drawing Limits Linked To Cost Of Cultivation
The RBI has proposed aligning drawing limits under the KCC scheme with the scale of finance for each crop season . This adjustment aims to ensure that farmers receive credit in line with the actual cost of cultivation, addressing concerns around under-financing.
Example:
If growing cotton in a district costs Rs 60,000 per acre (as per agriculture department data), banks will align KCC limits accordingly — instead of giving a lower, outdated amount like Rs 40,000.
In addition, the draft expands eligible components under the KCC framework. Expenses related to technological interventions—such as soil testing, real-time weather forecasts, and certification for organic or good agricultural practices—have been included within the existing 20% additional component earmarked for repairs and maintenance of farm assets .
Example:
If a farmer wants to:
- Test soil before sowing
- Subscribe to real-time weather alerts
- Get organic farming certification
These costs can now be covered under KCC instead of paying from pocket.
What Is Kisan Credit Card Scheme?
The Kisan Credit Card scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedures to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs.
The KCC scheme was introduced in 1998 for the issue of Kisan Credit Cards to farmers on the basis of their holdings for uniform adoption by the banks so that farmers may use them to readily purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs.
KCC covers post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirements of farmer households, working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
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February 14, 2026, 12:49 IST
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Four ports under construction in Andhra Pradesh, Centre tells Lok Sabha – The Times of India
The Centre is pushing port-led infrastructure expansion in Andhra Pradesh, with four ports currently under construction, even as it steps up nationwide port modernisation and efficiency measures.As per information shared on Friday in Parliament, the ports under construction in Andhra Pradesh are Mulapeta Port (formerly Bhavanapadu Port) in Srikakulam district, Machilipatnam Port in Krishna district, Ramayapatnam Port in SPSR Nellore district, and Kakinada SEZ Port in Kakinada district.The government said it is undertaking measures such as mechanisation of berths and terminals, digitalisation and logistics integration, new berth construction, capital dredging for larger vessels, and connectivity upgrades across road, rail and waterways.It has also rolled out initiatives including elimination of manual forms, direct port delivery and entry, container scanners, e-delivery of documents and payments, RFID-based gate automation and Maritime Single Window platform SagarSetu 2.0 to cut vessel turnaround time.Two new ports — Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra and Galathea Bay Port in Andaman and Nicobar Islands — have been notified as major ports. At present, 12 major ports operate under the central government, while 68 other-than-major ports are under state governments.Under the Sagarmala scheme, financial assistance is provided across five pillars including port modernisation, connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development and inland water transport.The government has also launched HaritSagar green port guidelines, the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), and the Cruise Bharat Mission to promote sustainability and cruise tourism.The information was given by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.At present, 12 major ports operate under the administrative control of the central government, while 68 operational other-than-major ports are under state governments.The government said it has launched multiple national programmes for port development, expansion and upgradation. Under the Sagarmala scheme, financial assistance is provided under five pillars — port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development, and coastal shipping and inland water transport.Green and sustainability-linked initiatives have also been introduced. The government has launched HaritSagar green port guidelines to promote environment-friendly port ecosystems and initiated the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) to shift harbour tugs towards greener fuel alternatives.Further, the Cruise Bharat Mission has been launched to prioritise cruise tourism development across the country.
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