Faridabad’s Arshi Gupta wins Mini Max title at FMSCI RMC India National Karting Championship 2026

India’s youngest National Karting Champion Arshi Gupta has become world’s youngest driver to win the Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Mini title. She won the Mini Max category of The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India- FMSCI RMC India National Karting Championship 2026 held in Bengaluru. The title follows Arshi’s 2025 triumph in the Micro Max category, making her one of the rare drivers to win two successive Rotax MAX Challenge categories in consecutive years. Arshi is the youngest driver globally to be selected for the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive programme, a recipient of the FIA President’s Medal, and a podium finisher in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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World Bank Group Launches First Digital Strategy, Focuses on AI, Connectivity and Job Creation

The World Bank Group has launched its first comprehensive digital strategy, placing artificial intelligence, affordable internet access and job creation at the centre of its development agenda as 1.2 billion young people prepare to enter the workforce in developing countries over the next 10 to 15 years. The strategy brings together the institution’s public and private sector capabilities to help developing economies expand digital connectivity, improve access to technology and create employment opportunities. The initiative would focus on practical applications of technology, particularly affordable artificial intelligence tools that can improve productivity and public services. The strategy identifies digital technology as a means of improving productivity and expanding employment in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, healthcare, tourism and manufacturing. The World Bank said more than two billion people remained offline globally in 2025.

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President: Ajay Banga
HQ: Washington, D.C., United States
Member : 189 countries

Asian Para Games: Deepthi Jeevanji Wins Gold in Women’s 400m T20, India’s Medal Tally Reaches 23

India’s Deepthi Jeevanji reasserted her continental supremacy by snaring a second successive Asian Para Games gold medal in the women’s 400m T20 event after clocking a Games record time of 56.36sec in Nagoya. The 23-year-old from Telangana, who also holds the Asian record, is a two-time Para World Championships medallist, having won the gold in 2024. She is also a Paralympic bronze winner in the same event. Japan’s Niina Kanno (58.92sec) won the silver and her compatriot Akane Kato (1:00.26sec) took bronze.

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Asian Para Games: Deepthi Jeevanji Wins Gold in Women’s 400m T20, India’s Medal Tally Reaches 23

At the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, India have won a total of 23 medals so far, including five gold, eight silver, and 10 bronze.

Her victory marked India’s fifth gold medal at the competition. In another fixture, India’s Shrishti Arora marked her debut at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 event, while Jehan Dorab Madan also won a bronze medal in Para Table Tennis Men’s Singles Class 1.

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India-New Zealand FTA comes into force on occasion of Vijay Dashami

India and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force on the occasion of Vijay Dashami . The agreement will provide duty-free access for 100 per cent of Indian exports to New Zealand. Addressing a ceremony on India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in New Delhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the agreement is aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Viksit Bharat 2047. The agreement opens significant new opportunities for India’s exporters, particularly MSMEs, artisans, farmers and pharma. The Minister highlighted that both the countries have agreed to work towards the goal of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services with New Zealand to approximately 35 thousand crore rupees by 2030.

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India-New Zealand FTA comes into force on occasion of Vijay Dashami

India’s farmers will gain wider market access for fruits, vegetables, spices and other agricultural produce. The agreement will help improve productivity, support higher incomes and strengthen livelihoods. The Minister highlighted that sensitive sectors, including dairy, remain protected, keeping farmers’ welfare at the heart of the government’s approach.

New Zealand’s commitment to facilitate 20 billion US dollars in investment into India holds immense potential to strengthen manufacturing, infrastructure, services and innovation. This win-win partnership will achieve many more milestones, guided by the shared vision of growth and mutual prosperity between the two nations.

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India-New Zealand FTA comes into force on occasion of Vijay Dashami

The FTA between India and New Zealand was signed in April this year at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Agreement will create new opportunities in services, investment and professional, student and youth mobility, including enhanced pathways for Indian professionals and students. India and New Zealand share longstanding and close relations, anchored in strong people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across trade and investment, agriculture, education, sports, technology and other areas. The Bilateral merchandise trade between India and New Zealand stood at around 1.1 billion US dollars in 2025-26. The FTA represents a significant step in further strengthening these ties and creating new opportunities for businesses and communities in both countries.

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India-New Zealand FTA comes into force on occasion of Vijay Dashami

On the occasion, the first-ever export of a JCB machine from India to New Zealand was flagged off by Mr Goyal. Flag-offs of a range of products across the agriculture, gems and jewellery, engineering, sporting goods, footwear and leather sectors are also planned for the day. These initiatives reflect the confidence of Indian manufacturers and the opportunities the Agreement opens up for exporters across the country.

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Nepal celebrates Bada Dashain festival; historic Taleju Bhawani Temple opens for devotees

Nepal celebrated Bada Dashain, its biggest and most important festival, with religious fervour and traditional enthusiasm. On the occasion of Maha Navami, the ninth day of the festival, the historic Taleju Bhawani Temple in Kathmandu has opened its doors to devotees. The temple opens to the public only once a year, drawing large numbers of worshippers who wait in long queues for a glimpse of the goddess.

For devotees in Nepal, the opening of the Taleju Bhawani Temple is one of the most awaited religious occasions of Bada Dashain.

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Nepal celebrates Bada Dashain festival; historic Taleju Bhawani Temple opens for devotees

Located within the historic Hanuman Dhoka Durbar complex in Kathmandu, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Taleju Bhawani, the revered tutelary deity of Nepal’s Malla kings.

The shrine remains closed to the general public throughout the year and opens only on Maha Navami.

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India-Australia joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 begins in Keralam

The fifth edition of the India-Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Keralam. The exercise will continue till the first of next month. The theme of the exercise is “Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter Seven of the UN Mandate.’’ Approximately 1 hundred 20 personnel each from the Indian Army and the Australian Army are participating in the exercise. The Indian contingent comprises troops from the Garhwal Rifles, along with personnel from other arms and services, while the Australian contingent includes troops from the 13th Brigade.

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India-Australia joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 begins in Keralam

During the exercise, troops from both armies will undertake joint planning, tactical drills and combat-oriented training under realistic operational conditions, including aerial and maritime dimensions. The exercise aims to further strengthen military cooperation, interoperability and mutual trust between India and Australia.

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Nexon Geochem to set up Rs.1,250 crore rare-earth magnet plant in Andhra

Advanced materials company Nexon Geochem will be set up a rare-earth permanent magnet facility in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs.1,250 crore.

The development comes at a time when India is seeking to build a domestic ecosystem for critical minerals and reduce its dependence on imported rare-earth permanent magnets.

The facility to be set up in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board will produce sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets, which are critical components for electric vehicles, wind turbines, industrial automation and defence applications.

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Nexon Geochem to set up Rs.1,250 crore rare-earth magnet plant in Andhra

As the driving force and primary investor behind this project, Nexon Geochem is committing a total investment of Rs 1,250 crore across two strategic phases--Rs 750 crore dedicated to the first phase and Rs 500 crore allocated for the second phase. The facility is engineered to achieve a massive annual production capacity of 600 tonnes of high-grade permanent magnets, heavily serving the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV), renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors. The Hyderabad-headquartered company specialises in high-tech material manufacturing and advanced industrial engineering. The company focuses on localisation and import substitution, developing critical, high-value components that safeguard supply chain integrity for India's defence, green energy, and automotive sectors.

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India’s first solar mission Aditya-L1 generates Doppler velocity images of the solar corona

Scientists have generated Doppler velocity images of activities taking place in the solar corona using data obtained with the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload onboard India’s maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1.

The Aditya-L1 satellite generates Doppler velocity images of the solar corona, and these images are expected to provide information on the propagation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) along the Sun-Earth direction, which has been unavailable to date.

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), who generated the Doppler velocity images, said it is well known that solar activity leads to the ejection of hot plasma.

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India’s first solar mission Aditya-L1 generates Doppler velocity images of the solar corona

the massive and energetic plasma cloud ejected during powerful eruptions like the CMEs can travel either in the direction of the Earth or in any other direction from the Sun. Because CMEs can disrupt near-Earth space, it is important to infer their direction of propagation from the Sun as they erupt. Using a similar Doppler effect concept in light waves, they have now generated Doppler velocity images.

The detailed software for processing the VELC data is developed by Dr V. Muthupriyal, Senior Project Scientist with the VELC payload operations team in IIA, and her team. The technical details related to the data processing have been published recently in the Astrophysical Journal after international peer review.

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PM-SETU Steering Committee Approves Rs.1,194.92 Crore for Five ITI Clusters Across Maharashtra, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir

The National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme approved five Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth Rs.1,194.92 crore to upgrade Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters across Maharashtra, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir.

With these approvals, the cumulative investment sanctioned under PM-SETU has reached Rs.3,687 crore, marking a further step towards transforming ITIs into modern, industry-aligned and future-ready skill institutions.

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PM-SETU Steering Committee Approves Rs.1,194.92 Crore for Five ITI Clusters Across Maharashtra, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir

The 6th NSC meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The Committee also reviewed the progress of the scheme.

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Police Commemoration Day | 21 October

Police Commemoration Day is observed annually across India on October 21 to honour police personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to police personnel on Police Commemoration Day, acknowledging their dedication, courage and service in maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety, often under challenging circumstances.The observance commemorates the sacrifice of 10 Indian police personnel who were killed in an ambush by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959. The incident became the basis for the annual nationwide commemoration of police martyrs.

In recognition of the sacrifices made by police personnel and their role in safeguarding the nation’s security and integrity, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the National Police Memorial (NPM) in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, to the nation on Police Commemoration Day in 2018.

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Japan to launch spacecraft on a mission to get samples from a Martian moon

Japan is set to launch a spacecraft on the world’s first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the two small, potato-shaped moons orbiting Mars.

Scientists hope the mission, which is expected to take five years, will provide clues to how Phobos and its smaller sibling Deimos formed, and hopefully even shed light on the origins of life in the solar system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s launch of the spacecraft on a new Japanese mainstay H-3 rocket comes as the United States, China and others consider sending astronauts to Mars. Japan leads the international mission that includes equipment and communications support from NASA and other national space agencies.

Samples from Phobos will provide useful data for scientists to consider using a Martian moon as a base for a future manned mission to the planet

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PM-AJAY Drives Inclusive Development Through Adarsh Grams, Socio-Economic Projects and Educational Infrastructure

Under the Adarsh Gram component of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, over 47,200 villages benefiting more than 47.79 lakh citizens across the country, have been covered. In addition, a total of 46,944 development works have been completed, while 27,032 Village Development Plans (VDPs) have been prepared, under the PM AJAY.

A Senior Official in the Ministry said as on September 8, 2026, 18,093 villages had been declared Adarsh Grams which reflects continued efforts of the Ministry to improve infrastructure, basic services and the quality of life in Scheduled Caste-majority villages.

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PM-AJAY Drives Inclusive Development Through Adarsh Grams, Socio-Economic Projects and Educational Infrastructure

The Scheduled Caste-dominated villages are being developed as model villages by addressing critical gaps in infrastructure and essential services and an ‘Adarsh Gram’ is envisioned as a village where people have access to basic services, the minimum needs of all sections of society are met and disparities are reduced to a minimum.

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) implemented by the Ministry, is advancing the socio-economic and educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities through infrastructure development, livelihood promotion, education and improved access to basic services.

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President Murmu accepts Minister L Murugan's resignation

President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Union minister L Murugan. Murugan, who resigned as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he wanted to return to Tamil Nadu to strengthen the BJP in the state.

The President of India, as advised by the prime minister, has accepted the resignation of Dr L Murugan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.

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President Murmu accepts Minister L Murugan's resignation

This was the third resignation of a Minister of State (MoS) from the Council of Ministers after George Kurian and Ravneet Singh Bittu, who quit in June and July respectively after they were not renominated for Rajya Sabha elections by the BJP.

Murugan has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since September 2021 and was re-elected to the Upper House in April 2024 from Madhya Pradesh. His tenure ends in April 2030.

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IndusInd General Insurance appoints Sharad Mathur as MD & CEO

IndusInd General Insurance Company Ltd (formerly Reliance General Insurance), part of IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) Group announced the appointment of Sharad Mathur as its Managing Director & CEO, following statutory approvals. Mathur brings three decades of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, with a strong track record in organisational transformation, distribution expansion, technology-led innovation, growth and governance. Prior to joining IndusInd General Insurance, he served as MD & CEO of Universal Sompo General Insurance for over six years, leading its transformation and strengthening its distribution, risk management, and tech-led customer servicing capabilities.

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After 79 years, Railways reaches this remote town for the first time since Independence; Rs 1,628 crore line opens

Indian Railways has connected Rowghat in Chhattisgarh to the national rail network for the first time since Independence, marking a major step in improving transport links to the state's remote areas. The Tadoki-Rowghat broad-gauge railway line was inaugurated, alongside the Abhanpur-Kurud line, with two new passenger train services also flagged off. The event also saw the foundation stone laid for an electric locomotive maintenance facility in Raipur.

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After 79 years, Railways reaches this remote town for the first time since Independence; Rs 1,628 crore line opens

The arrival of trains in Rowghat marks a significant development for southern Chhattisgarh, where residents have long faced limited transport options. The new railway link is expected to make journeys easier and improve access to education, healthcare, jobs and markets. The Tadoki-Rowghat section completes the 95-km Dalli-Rajhara-Rowghat railway line, built at a cost of Rs 1,628 crore. The project reached completion with the opening of the final 17.5-km stretch between Tadoki and Rowghat. Chhattisgarh had received an allocation of more than Rs 7,000 crore in the current Railway Budget. The Abhanpur-Kurud broad-gauge railway line was also inaugurated as part of the programme. The 22-km section forms part of the Abhanpur-Dhamtari project, which aims to extend broad-gauge connectivity in the region.

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SARAS Mela 2026

The SARAS Melas organized under the Centre's DAY-NRLM connect rural women entrepreneurs with wider markets, buyers, and business opportunities. The Vijayawada edition marks the first National SARAS Mela outside Delhi-NCR, bringing together women entrepreneurs from 34 states and UTs. The platform strengthens DAY-NRLM’s efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and supports the Lakhpati Didi vision of income growth. Dedicated pavilions offer opportunities for business learning, institutional support, and enterprise development. Digital platforms like eSARAS extend market access beyond physical events, helping rural women take their products to wider markets.

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SARAS Mela 2026

India’s rural economy is rich in traditional skills, crafts and entrepreneurial talent. Women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) help bring this talent into local economies. Their products range from handlooms and handicrafts to processed foods and other locally made goods. Yet making a product is only the first step. Rural entrepreneurs also need customers, market information, and opportunities to grow. SARAS Melas help bridge this gap by bringing women-led enterprises closer to consumers, buyers, and institutions. Organised by the government under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), SARAS Melas have evolved over nearly three decades. They are no longer only exhibitions. They offer a space to sell products, understand consumer preferences, build business connections, and explore wider markets.

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Active Volcanoes To Ancient Ruins, 3 Indian Sites Added To UNESCO Tentative List

Three Indian sites have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List: the Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang, the Andaman Subduction Volcanoes and the Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh.

1. Karst-mud-volcano Complex of Baratang, Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Baratang is known for two amazing geological features: limestone caves and mud volcanoes. The caves have formed over time as water dissolved the limestone, leaving behind chambers and mineral formations. Unlike conventional volcanoes that release laava when they erupt, these mud volcanoes release mud, water and gases from beneath the Earth's surface. Andaman Islands are usually associated with beaches, but Baratang is all about bringing a different side to focus with the caves and mud volcanoes. The site is also important for scientific research. The formations inside Mahadev Gupha cave, for instance, have been studied for clues about India's summer monsoon over several centuries.

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Active Volcanoes To Ancient Ruins, 3 Indian Sites Added To UNESCO Tentative List

2. Andaman Subduction Volcanoes, Andaman and Nicobar Islands : This proposed heritage site includes Barren Island and Narcondam, two volcanic islands with very different characteristics. Barren Island is home to India's only confirmed active volcano. Its volcanic activity has been recorded since 1787, with more recent activity reported in 2025 and early 2026. The island's landscape has been shaped by repeated eruptions, and its surrounding waters are also known for their marine life. Narcondam, on the other hand, is a forested volcanic island. It is home to the Narcondam hornbill, a bird found nowhere else in the world. The island also has strict access restrictions, so it is not a regular tourist destination. The islands are important for the study of volcanic activity and the ecosystems that develop in isolated environments.

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Active Volcanoes To Ancient Ruins, 3 Indian Sites Added To UNESCO Tentative List

3. Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape, Chhattisgarh : Sirpur, on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district, was an important settlement between the 5th and 12th centuries. Its remains include Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and Jain structures, making it an important site for understanding the region's religious and cultural history.

One of its best-known monuments is the Lakshmana Temple, a brick temple famous for its architectural design and intricately carved doorway. Archaeological remains across Sirpur also point to a settlement with homes, markets and craft activity, rather than a cluster of religious monuments alone.

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EPFO offers up to Rs 15,000 to first-time workers

First-time employees joining the formal workforce can receive a government incentive of up to Rs 15,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY). However, completing the required period of employment alone may not be enough to receive the full benefit. Employees must also complete a prescribed financial literacy course to qualify for the second instalment.

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EPFO offers up to Rs 15,000 to first-time workers

The scheme aims to encourage formal employment by rewarding eligible workers entering the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) system for the first time.

The incentive is paid directly to eligible employees, subject to the scheme's conditions.

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APEDA Facilitates Export of 1.755 MT of Organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder from Tamil Nadu to Bulgaria

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, facilitated the flag-off of the maiden export consignment of 1.755 MT of NPOP- and EU-certified organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder (Palmyra Blossom Nectar) from Gobichettipalayam in Erode district of Tamil Nadu to Varna, Bulgaria.

The consignment, manufactured and exported by M/s Wellbeing Foods, Erode, in collaboration with M/s Chetty Exports Private Limited, Chennai, will be shipped by sea through Chennai Port. The overseas importer and distributor is M/s Sow Life Ltd, Bulgaria, based in Bulgaria.

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APEDA Facilitates Export of 1.755 MT of Organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder from Tamil Nadu to Bulgaria

The initiative aims to strengthen market linkages for Tamil Nadu’s traditional Palmyra-based products and create new opportunities for producers engaged in organic cultivation. The initiative covers 137 acres under organic cultivation and is expected to benefit farmers through improved market access and export-oriented value chains. The reported price realisation is approximately 15-22% for farmers and 17% higher for the manufacturer, as compared to the domestic market, thereby offering an opportunity to improve returns for participating farmers and support sustainable livelihoods.

Palmyra Jaggery Powder, derived from Palmyra blossom nectar, is a traditional Indian sweetener with potential for value addition and wider international market acceptance. As an alternative to refined sugar, it offers potential nutritional benefits, including vitamins and minerals.

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APEDA Facilitates Export of 1.755 MT of Organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder from Tamil Nadu to Bulgaria

Palmyra-based products are associated with traditional production practices and the use of the Palmyra palm, which has long been part of the agricultural and cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu. Developing export-ready products from this resource offers scope to expand market opportunities while supporting producers and the wider value chain.

APEDA continues to facilitate the export of certified organic and value-added agricultural products by supporting market development, quality compliance and linkages between Indian producers and overseas buyers. The maiden export of organic Palmyra Jaggery Powder to Bulgaria is expected to open avenues for further market expansion and strengthen the presence of India’s traditional products in international markets.

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