The inaugural ceremony will be held on 25 February 2026 . The theme of this year’s Mela is “Viksit Krishi – Atmanirbhar Bharat”, emphasizing sustainable, climate-resilient, and income-oriented agricultural development to strengthen farmers’ livelihoods and national food security.

The Mela will be inaugurated by Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Government of India, as the Chief Guest.

Dr L. Jat, Secretary DARE & Director General ICAR will also grace the occasion as Guest of Honour.

Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela serves as a flagship national platform that bridges scientific research with farmers’ fields by showcasing advanced crop varieties, climate-smart technologies, precision farming tools, water-saving solutions, natural and organic farming models, and digital agriculture innovations. More than 1 lakh farmers from across the country will have the opportunity to interact directly with scientists and experts for location-specific solutions to their field problems.

In recognition of farmers’ contributions to grass-root innovations and sustainable agriculture, 7 progressive farmers from across the country will be conferred with the IARI Fellow Farmer Award and 36 farmers will be honoured with IARI Innovative Farmer Award during this Mela.

In a significant new initiative, ICAR–IARI has instituted a “Young Farmer Award” for the first time, marking a new paradigm to attract youth towards agriculture by recognizing young achievers who have adopted scientific, entrepreneurial, and technology-driven farming practices.

Aligned with the theme, the Mela will highlight solutions for climate change adaptation, water conservation, soil health management, input-use efficiency, crop diversification, and value addition. Special emphasis will be laid on:

Agricultural Schemes & Farmer Support Initiatives

Many farmers are unable to access benefits of Govt. schemes due to lack of awareness. This attraction bridges the information gap between policy and practice, enabling farmers to fully utilize government support mechanisms. The Mela will provide comprehensive information on major central and state government agricultural welfare schemes, subsidies, crop insurance, agricultural credit facilities, and digital farmer services at a single platform.

Crop Diversification & Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Climate variability poses a major risk to farm incomes. This attraction encourages farmers to move away from monocropping and adopt resilient, sustainable systems that ensure income stability.

Exhibits will focus on crop diversification, drought- and heat-tolerant varieties, alternative crops, climate-smart farming practices, risk management strategies, and adaptive agricultural models suited to changing climatic conditions.

Empowerment of Women and Youth in Agriculture

Women and youth are pivotal for the future of agriculture. This attraction positions agriculture as a modern, profitable, and dignified enterprise while promoting rural employment and entrepreneurship.
Dedicated sections will showcase women- and youth-led agri-enterprises, value addition models, nutrition-based agriculture, start-ups, and skill development initiatives.

 Agricultural Marketing, Farmer Organizations & Start-upsPost-harvest losses and weak market access reduce farmers’ profitability. This section helps farmers to understand market dynamics, collective bargaining through FPOs, and pathways to better price realization.

The Mela will highlight agricultural marketing systems, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), agri-startups, value chains, processing technologies, and direct market linkage models.

Digital Agriculture Solutions

Recently India has organized AI summit of a global level, and the digital agriculture is the future. Digital agriculture improves efficiency, reduces input costs, and minimizes risk. This attraction prepares farmers to adopt future-ready technologies for precise and profitable farming.

During the mela, digital platforms, mobile-based advisory services, sensors, data-driven decision tools, AI/IoT-enabled smart farming solutions, and precision agriculture technologies will be demonstrated.

 Innovations in Agricultural Science

Innovation is the backbone of sustainable agriculture. This attraction demonstrates how scientific research directly addresses field-level challenges faced by farmers.

Displays will include improved crop varieties, biofertilizers, soil testing tools, residue management technologies, post-harvest innovations, and cutting-edge scientific solutions developed by ICAR–IARI.

 Live Crop Demonstrations & Sale of Pusa Seeds

“Seeing is believing” for farmers. Live demonstrations build confidence, accelerate adoption of new technologies, and ensure access to reliable, high-quality seed material.

Live field demonstrations of crops and farming practices will be organized, along with information and availability of improved and quality Pusa seeds developed by ICAR–IARI.Overall Significance of the Major Attractions

• Strengthen the Lab-to-Land continuum
• Focus on reducing cost of cultivation, enhancing income, and managing risk
• Empower small and marginal farmers, women, and youth
• Translate the vision of “Viksit Krishi – Atmanirbhar Bharat” into field-level impact
• The Mela will feature a wide array of ICAR–IARI developed technologies, including live demonstrations on climate-resilient crop varieties of wheat, chickpea, lentils, mustard, vegetables, and flowers; biofortified cereals and pulses, quality seed technologies, Pusa Decomposer for eco-friendly residue management, Pusa STFR Meter for rapid soil testing, biofertilizers for improving soil health, Integrated Farming System, Hi-Tech Horticulture, Vertical Farming, Hydroponics, Precision irrigation solutions, Sensor-based crop monitoring, AI- and IoT-enabled farm machinery, and non-chemical post-harvest technologies to reduce losses and enhance value addition.
• Additionally, Farmer Hospitality & Comfort will be taken care of: Free of cost stay arrangements have been made to ensure a comfortable and welcoming experience for farmers visiting from across the country.

Free and hygienic food will be provided to registered farmers during the Mela days, reflecting ICAR–IARI’s commitment to farmer welfare and inclusivity.

• Transportation & Accessibility: To facilitate easy access, free transportation services will operate from Pusa Gate to the Mela venue at regular intervals. Special arrangements have been made for elderly farmers, women, and differently-abled visitors to ensure smooth mobility within the campus.
• Seed Sale with Farmer Convenience: The sale of Pusa seeds has been organized in a farmer-friendly and streamlined manner, minimizing waiting time and congestion. To ease the physical burden on farmers, electric vehicles (EVs) will be deployed to transport purchased seeds from the Mela grounds to the IARI exit gates, ensuring hassle-free movement.
• Cultural Evening & Social Engagement: Two cultural evenings on 25^th and 26^th February 2026 are being arranged by our media partner All India Radio to provide a relaxed and engaging environment for farmers after a day of technical interactions. The cultural programme aims to celebrate India’s rural heritage, foster social bonding, and make the Mela a memorable experience for participants.

The post Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2026 will be held on 25 February, The theme of this year’s Mela is “Viksit Krishi – Atmanirbhar Bharat appeared first on Janmat Samachar.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the SCOPE Eminence Awards are a celebration of the significant contribution of public sector enterprises to the development of India. Performing well on all parameters, social, economic, environmental, technological and ethical, is the hallmark of a good enterprise. She appreciated SCOPE for honouring good performance across multiple dimensions such as sustainable development, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and innovation. She said that it represents a holistic approach towards progress and development.

The President said that since independence, the Public Sector has been a powerful vehicle for economic development and social inclusion. Public Sector Enterprises have laid the foundation for industrialisation, infrastructure development, social upliftment and balanced regional development. With time, these enterprises have evolved and changed. The expectations of the government and society from Public Sector Enterprises have also changed. She was happy to note that, amid all these changes, Public Sector Enterprises, through their performance, are playing an important role in achieving economic and national goals.

The President said that apart from the economic and financial contributions, Public Sector Enterprises have given priority to balanced and inclusive growth, keeping the national goals paramount. Looking at their role and contribution, it is appropriate to say that Public Sector Enterprises are catalysts of growth and pillars of prosperity for the nation and its people. She stated that these enterprises have also presented many good models and examples of governance and transparency.

The President was happy to note that Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are playing an effective role in national campaigns like Aatmanirbhar Bhaarat and ‘Make in India’. She said that during Operation Sindoor, the indigenous Air Defence Control and Reporting System – Akashteer demonstrated its infallible capability. She noted that Public Sector Enterprises have played a role in the creation of this system. She said that this is a matter of special pride for the Public Sector Fraternity.

The President said that the contribution of public enterprises has been proven in self-reliant innovation in national security and India’s growing technological self-reliance. Public Sector Enterprises have played a very important role in the important areas of agriculture, mining and exploration, manufacturing, processing and generation and services. Public Sector Enterprises have always played a leading role in meeting the challenges faced by the country. She stated that CPSEs will play an important role in achieving the national goal of building a developed India by the year 2047. It is expected from CPSEs that their decisions will be dedicated to nation-building, actions will be based on ethics and thinking will be inspired by sensitivity and social service.

The SCOPE Eminence Awards, instituted by the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE), are an endeavour to commemorate the remarkable achievements and contributions of Public Sector Enterprises.

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Tata Motors has launched models like Punch (compact SUV), Curve (coupe inspired SUV), Tiago (hatchback) and Harrier (premium SUV) in the South African market. All these models are based on conventional fuel (petrol-diesel) and will be available for sale from September.

Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited, said, “Our return to South Africa is an important milestone in Tata Motors’ global journey. We are excited to bring our new generation vehicles with cutting-edge technology, unmatched safety and modern design to a market that values ​​safety, quality and innovation. By having Motus as our preferred partner, we are confident of providing customers with a great ownership experience that will also contribute meaningfully to the local economy of South Africa.”

According to an official statement, the company will operate through 40 dealerships, which is planned to be expanded to 60 by 2026. Tata’s passenger car division has appointed Motus Holdings as its exclusive distributor in South Africa.

Tata Motors is expected to compete with the currently dominating Chinese brands in the South African markets. The growing demand for budget-friendly cars is pushing global automakers to offer more choices to customers and also prompting overseas automakers to stop relying on low-cost imports from India and China.

In South Africa, Tata Motors faces competition from Chinese automakers such as Chery Group, BYD, Beijing Automotive and GWM, which have introduced competitively priced vehicles with various powertrains in recent years.

The Indian carmaker had quit the South African passenger vehicle market in 2019 after selling brands such as the Indica hatchback. The Indica hatchback was affordable but received a mixed response from consumers. However, the company retained its commercial vehicle operations in South Africa.

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Government sources said that the proposal sent by the Finance Ministry to the GST Council. In it, only two GST rates – 5 percent and 18 percent are proposed.

This means that the current 12 percent and 28 percent slabs will be abolished in the coming time.

Sources further said that the government has proposed to keep low tax rates on products related to farmers, health and insurance. At the same time, GST on products like tobacco and pan masala can be up to 40 percent.

The GST Council meeting is held in September. In this, a decision is taken regarding the tax rates.

Next generation GST reforms were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at sweeping changes in the GST system in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, saying, “This Diwali, I am going to celebrate a double Diwali for you. The countrymen are going to get a big gift, there will be a huge reduction in GST on common household items.”

Prime Minister Modi stressed the urgent need to review GST rates and called it the “demand of the hour”. He announced, “GST rates will be reduced drastically. Tax will be reduced for the common people.”

Prime Minister Modi has made this announcement at a time when the country has completed eight years of GST implementation, making it one of India’s most important tax reforms since independence. Since its introduction in 2017, GST has integrated the country’s indirect tax structure and significantly improved the ease of doing business, especially for small and medium enterprises.

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The proposal comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort in which he said that next-generation reforms in GST will be unveiled by Diwali, providing “substantial” tax relief to the common man and benefiting small businesses.

The government has sent its proposal for rationalising GST rates to a Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted by the GST Council.

The key areas identified for next-generation reforms include rationalising tax rates to benefit all sections of society, especially the common man, women, students, middle class and farmers.

The proposals include reducing taxes on essential commodities for the common man. This will increase affordability, boost consumption and provide greater access to essential and aspirational goods to the population.

According to the ministry, the abolition of compensation cess has created fiscal space, providing greater flexibility to rationalise and align tax rates within the GST framework for long-term sustainability.

The reform of the inverted duty structure aims to align input and output tax rates thereby reducing input tax credit accumulation. This will boost domestic value addition.

Another key proposal is to streamline rate structures by resolving classification issues, reducing disputes, simplifying compliance processes and ensuring greater parity and uniformity across sectors.

According to the ministry, “It also aims to provide long-term clarity on rates and policy direction to boost industry confidence and enable better business planning.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a detailed vision for reforms and achieving self-reliance in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, which includes some important reforms ranging from changes in tax rates to empowering small businesses.

Hinting at sweeping changes in the GST system, he said, “This Diwali, I am going to celebrate a double Diwali for you. The countrymen are going to get a big gift, there will be a huge reduction in GST on common household items.”

Prime Minister Modi stressed the urgent need to review GST rates and called it the “need of the hour”.

He announced, “GST rates will be reduced drastically. Tax will be reduced for the common people.”

The announcement comes at a time when the country has completed eight years of GST implementation, making it one of India’s most important tax reforms since Independence. Since its introduction in 2017, GST has integrated the country’s indirect tax structure and significantly improved the ease of doing business, especially for small and medium enterprises.

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Cars, jeeps and vans can use this facility at toll plazas operated by the National Highways Authority of India and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The pass is valid for one year from activation or 200 toll trips, whichever is earlier. On completion of the limit, the FASTag automatically switches to the standard pay per-trip mode.

For point-based toll plazas, every one-way crossing is considered as one trip and return as two trips. In closed and ticketed systems, the entire journey from entry to exit is considered as one trip.

Only non-commercial private vehicles are eligible for this pass and it will be given only to cars, jeeps and vans registered for private use.

It is valid on national highways and expressways managed by NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Toll plazas of state highways are not covered under it until they are integrated into the central FASTag system.

To purchase the pass, vehicle owners must have an active FASTag installed on the windscreen, linked to their registration number.

They must not be blacklisted from purchasing the pass. Some FASTags issued specifically for new vehicles may be registered only with the vehicle’s chassis number. Annual passes cannot be activated on such FASTags and they must be updated to include the full vehicle registration number.

The pass can be purchased through the Highway Yatra mobile app, the NHAI or Ministry of Road Transport and Highways website, or authorised FASTag issuer portals.

Payment for the pass (Rs 3,000) can be made through UPI, debit or credit card, or net banking. FASTag wallet balance cannot be used for this purpose. The activation is usually completed within two hours and is confirmed by SMS.

The average toll for a passenger vehicle is around Rs 50. Without a pass, 200 trips in a year would cost around Rs 10,000. With an annual pass, the fee is fixed at Rs 3,000, saving about Rs 7,000 for those travelling on the highway.

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New Delhi:Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurated the 11^th National Handloom Day and conferred prestigious Handloom Awards today at New Delhi. Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of state for consumer affairs, food and Public distribution Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Member of Parliament Smt. Kangana Ranaut, Secretary Textiles Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Additional Secretary, Textiles Shri Rohit Kansal, DC Handlooms Dr. M Beena, Members of Parliament  from different constituencies and senior officials from ministry graced the event. Foreign buyers, eminent personalities, exporters and around 650 weavers all across the country attended the function. The highlight of the celebration was the conferring of the prestigious Sant Kabir and National Handloom Awards to 24 outstanding master weavers, including six women and one Divyang artisan, in recognition of their contributions to the preservation, innovation, and excellence in India’s weaving traditions.

While addressing the event Union Minister, Shri Giriraj Singh, highlighted the growing importance of the textile sector in India’s economic landscape, stating that it has now emerged as the second-largest employment-generating sector in the country and Union minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to all National Handloom award winners. Reiterating the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Minister underscored the need to promote entrepreneurship in the handloom sector, leveraging schemes such as the Mudra Yojana to empower weavers and small-scale entrepreneurs. He stressed on product diversification, promotion of natural fibres like ramie and linen, and support for second-generation handloom entrepreneurs, especially through the 797 handloom clusters across the country

Union Minister  also  stated that the Government is working towards protecting indigenous designs through cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Block chain, ensuring the intellectual property rights of Indian weavers and designers are safeguarded.Shri Giriraj Singh urged the young generation to actively engage with the handloom industry, and called upon designers and weavers to collaborate in creating contemporary handloom products that appeal to youth across the country. Union Minister appealed to citizens to wear handloom at least once a week, supporting the rich tradition of Indian craftsmanship.

Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita stated that this National Handloom Day stands as tribute to Swadeshi movement and handwoven fabrics became a symbol of resistance, pride and identity. Honourable Prime Minister’s vision for vocal for local and local for global is becoming a living reality and  under the guidance of Union minister shri Giriraj Singh, the ministry of textiles ushering the new era of growth  and innovation in handloom sector he added. Shri Pabitra Margherita highlighted initiatives like the Handloom Mark and India Handloom Brand which are transforming Indian handloom fabrics into global symbols of sustainability.

After the event the dignitaries were taken on a curated walkthrough of award-winning handloom exhibits, showcasing the diverse artistry and regional richness of Indian weaving.

The celebration also featured:

• The unveiling of a Coffee Table Book on handloom excellence by NIFT Mumbai
• An exclusive exhibition of award-winning handloom products
• A facilitation desk on handloom schemes
• A fashion show titled “Vastra Veda – The Handloom Heritage of India”
• The launch of specially curated films on Handlooms

About National Handloom Day

National Handloom Day is celebrated annually on 7th August to commemorate the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, which encouraged the use of indigenous products and promoted the handloom industry. The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2015 in Chennai.

The handloom sector employs over 35 lakh people across India, with more than 70% being women. It remains a vital source of sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and eco-friendly production, while preserving India’s rich cultural heritage.

This year’s celebrations brought together weavers, artisans, designers, IIHT and NIFT students, Handloom Hackathon winners, exporters, foreign buyers, senior government officials, and other stakeholders from across the country, reaffirming the sector’s role as the fabric of India’s heritage and future.

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• Release of the World Food India 2025 Brochure
• Launch of the event website and mobile application
• Unveiling of the official promotional video, reflecting India’s agri-processing achievements and ambitions.

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During a press conference, Ashok Aggarwal (Patron of the True Unity Group Association), Vikas Ahuja (President), and Puneet Ahuja (Secretary) stated that this exhibition is not just a fashion show but a symbol of women’s talent, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. They emphasized that although Chandni Chowk is a major hub for the manufacturing of ladies’ suits, sarees, lehengas, and readymade garments, it still isn’t recognized as the largest wholesale market in the country. One of the main objectives of this expo is to promote the trade of readymade garments, suits, sarees, and lehengas in Delhi and to establish Chandni Chowk Market as India’s largest and most prominent market.

Vikas Kapoor (Vice President of the Association), Miten Chhabra, and Kashmiri Lal Chhabra (Prominent business leaders) mentioned that the purpose of this event is: To provide a platform for designers and small-scale traders
To offer quality and trendy fashion at one place
To provide a safe and vibrant shopping experience

They said that Chandni Chowk is known as Asia’s largest market for ladies’ suits, but it is unfortunate that it has not yet been recognized as the country’s biggest market. The nearly 100-year-old market attracts traders from all over the country who buy goods here and sell them in their regions. However, due to the lack of official recognition and inadequate facilities, both traders and visiting customers face many challenges.

Arvind Gupta, a leading saree trader from Chandni Chowk, informed that traders from both India and abroad will participate in the Delhi Tuff Ethnic Expo to be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan on July 22 and 23, which will help promote Indian garments and expand international trade.

He also shared that a similar expo was held six months ago, on January 24–25 at Yashobhoomi, which was highly successful. Encouraged by that success, the traders have decided to organize the Delhi Tuff Ethnic Expo once again.

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In an interview to a foreign news channel, Union Minister Puri said, “Russia is one of the largest crude oil producers with production of more than 9 million barrels per day. Imagine what would have happened if this oil, which is about 10 percent of the global oil supply of about 97 million barrels, disappeared from the market. This would have forced the world to reduce its consumption and as consumers would be looking for supplies, prices would have gone up to more than $ 120-130.”

The Union Minister said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been a net positive contributor to global energy price stability, as well as we have successfully faced the challenges of energy availability, affordability and sustainability.”

He pointed out that there were never global sanctions on Russian oil.

Union Minister Puri said, “Smart decision makers across the world were aware of the realities of the global oil supply chain and they knew that India was helping the global markets by buying subsidized oil under a certain price band from wherever possible.”

He further said, “Some commentators, who do not understand the dynamics of energy markets, pass unnecessary judgements on our policies.”

Union Minister Puri informed that India is providing clean cooking gas to 33 crore households in the country at the lowest prices in the world, while providing universal clean cooking gas to more than 10.3 crore beneficiary families under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana at the rate of only $ 0.4 / kg or only 7-8 cents / day.

Meanwhile, the Union minister in a statement on social media platform X also said that India is planning to explore and excavate oil and gas with all-new vigour in an area of 2.5 lakh sq km in the 10th round under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).

He emphasised that India aims to increase the country’s exploration area to 0.5 million sq km by 2025 and to 1.0 million sq km by 2030.

–IANS

SKT/

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