Tourism industry welcomes Centre's move of resuming visa services

In a major boost to India's agricultural exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry facilitated the first export consignment of 25 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam to the United Kingdom and Italy on March 12, 2026, in collaboration with the Assam Agriculture Department.

According to representatives of the hotel and tourism sector, the shortage has intensified amid the ongoing crisis in Iran and the wider Middle East, which has disrupted LPG availability across several parts of the country.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that several of these individuals, particularly students, have already left Iran and returned to India. Others, including students and pilgrims based in Tehran, have been shifted to safer locations and cities within the country.

The textile industry in Bhilwara, a city renowned for its extensive fabric production, is currently facing significant challenges as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East casts uncertainty over exports and operations. The situation has escalated as the crisis in the Middle East has begun to impact local businesses. "Textile industries are facing some trouble due to the war, and if the war continues in the near future, exports from here could be affected," Jain noted. He emphasised the current predicament, saying, "Currently, export orders are on hold. They are either stalled locally or at the port, or have been put on hold by other parties."

IIT Guwahati leads a collaboration between Northeast India and Japan to strengthen academic and industry ties. IIT Guwahati conducted the Japan-Northeast Academia Industry Cooperation Symposium 2026 (JNTCS) on March 9 and 10, in partnership with Gifu University, Japan.