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On thursday, the Indian rupee closed at 90.91 against the dollar, compared to its opening rate of 90.87.At close, the Sensex was down 27.46 points or 0.03 percent at 82,248.61, and the Nifty was up 14.05 points or 0.06 percent at 25,496.55. About 2058 shares advanced, 1973 shares declined, and 142 shares unchanged.read more :- Demand for establishment of textile plant in Balangir

Demands for setting up textile plant in BalangirKantabanji Rajya Sabha MP Niranjan Bishi has urged Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh to make a special plan to set up a fully integrated textile plant in Patna Garh sub-division of Balangir district.In the letter dated July 25, 2025, the MP has mentioned that there is extensive production of high quality cotton in Balangir district. In such a situation, by setting up a plant covering the entire value chain from fiber to yarn, yarn to textile and clothing to apparel, Odisha can become a major center of cotton-based industry. He said that this project will generate employment on a large scale, prevent inter-state migration and improve the socio-economic condition of Western Odisha.Value addition at each stage of production will increase the value of raw materials and provide employment opportunities to local people. The MP also said that the integrated plant will strengthen quality control and make it possible to produce high quality textiles that can compete in domestic and foreign markets, thereby strengthening Odisha's identity as a reliable textile producing state. Emphasizing on the export potential, he said that availability of the entire value chain in the state will attract foreign investors and buyers, which will increase foreign exchange earnings and strengthen India's position as a global textile exporter.read more :- The rupee fell 08 paise to open at 90.87.

The rupee fell 08 paise to open at 90.87/USD.The Indian rupee opened at 90.87 per dollar on Thursday, down from its previous close of 90.95.READ MORE :- US global tariffs: 10% or 15%?

10% or 15%?: Confusion reigns over US global tariffsThere remains uncertainty regarding global tariffs in America. The 10% temporary tariff went into effect Tuesday, Feb. 24, under President Donald Trump's Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, though the administration has raised the possibility of raising it to 15%. The move came after the Supreme Court's decision that struck down sweeping tariffs imposed earlier under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).The surcharge issued under Section 122 is temporary and will remain in effect for 150 days, unless Congress decides to extend it or make it permanent. 10% initially applies, while President Trump announced plans to increase it to 15%. This tariff applies on top of existing tariffs and other trade measures, except for certain exempt products.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration aims to reduce the goods trade deficit and encourage domestic manufacturing. Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs already imposed on China and other countries also remain in place, covering about 30% of US imports.The Supreme Court decision invalidated Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, but that would have already collected about $133 billion by 2025. The court did not give any direction on refunds, leaving the affected companies exploring legal options.International reaction was mixed. The United Kingdom appealed to avoid a trade war, while the European Union suspended recent agreements until there is clarity on US tariff policy. China urged the unilateral removal of tariffs and continued monitoring the developments.India has adopted a cautious approach. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that new trade talks will be started only after there is clarity on US tariffs. Earlier, talks on interim trade agreement between India and America were postponed.It is not yet clear whether the 10% tariff will remain permanent, increase to 15%, or be eliminated entirely. The Administration is considering additional tariff options and uncertainty will remain until Congress allows an extension.read more :- India-Israel trade talks begin

India-Israel FTA talks begin to deepen bilateral trade tiesThe first round of negotiations for the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has begun in New Delhi and is scheduled to last till February 26, 2026. The Terms of Reference (ToR) were signed in November 2025, creating a structured framework for discussions on identified areas to enhance trade and economic cooperation.Total merchandise trade between the two countries stood at $3.62 billion in FY24-25. They share complementarities in many areas, and the FTA will be a catalyst to further enhance bilateral trade by providing certainty and predictability to businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a press release.During this round, technical experts from both sides will participate in sessions covering various aspects of the FTA such as trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures and trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, etc.During the inaugural session, Indian Commerce Secretary, Rajesh Aggarwal underlined that the start of FTA negotiations was timely for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel on February 25-26, 2026.Aggarwal underlined the significant opportunities available to both sides in areas such as innovation, science and technology, artificial intelligence, cyber security, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture and services. He emphasized that the FTA will enable both the countries to harness these opportunities and take full advantage of them.India's chief negotiator, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ajay Bhadu reiterated the importance of this engagement for both countries and encouraged both sides to work on a balanced agreement to create a visionary framework for an evolving partnership.Israel's Chief Negotiator for the FTA, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director for Trade Policy and Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner, Foreign Trade Administration, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Israel, expressed that the two countries share close ties, and the FTA has the potential to strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation, and open new markets for both countries.This engagement highlights the strategic importance of India-Israel bilateral relations and reinforces India's commitment to deepening the economic partnership in line with national priorities and global aspirations. The release said both sides are working towards concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.read more :- Chhotaudepur: CCI will stop cotton purchase from February 27

Chhotaudepur: CCI will stop cotton purchase from 27th FebruaryWorrying news has come to light for the farmers cultivating cotton in Chhotaudepur district. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has decided to stop buying cotton at concessional prices from February 27. After this decision, panic and anger is being seen among thousands of farmers in the district.The goods remained in the fields and purchasing stopped.Cotton production in the district has improved this year, but due to natural processes, many farmers are still living in their fields. It takes about 15 days for this cotton to be ready and reach the market. CCI officials say that the produce which is ready now will be purchased, but the farmers argue that what about the crop which will be ready after 15 days?Fear of exploitation by tradersFarmers allege that whenever the government agency stops purchasing, private traders gain dominance in the market. Taking advantage of the helplessness of farmers, traders buy cotton at a price much lower than the support price. Farmers need money as the wedding season approaches and if CCI stops procurement, farmers will have to sell cotton to wholesalers at cheaper prices.Urgent demand for tenure extensionThe farmers of the district demand that the procurement period should be extended by at least one month. So that farmers who harvest late can also get the benefit of government price and avoid financial loss. Now the thing to be seen is whether the government and the system accept this fair demand of the farmers or the farmers will have to surrender before the traders.read more :- The rupee fell by 03 paise to close at 90.95 per dollar

The Indian rupee closed down 03 paise at 90.95 per dollar on Wednesday, while it had opened at 90.92 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 50.15 points or 0.06 percent at 82,276.07, and the Nifty was up 57.85 points or 0.23 percent at 25,482.50. About 1966 shares advanced, 2064 shares declined, and 161 shares unchanged.read more :- CITI demands immediate restoration of RoDTEP rates for textile exports

CITI calls for immediate restoration of RoDTEP rates to support textile exportersThe Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI) has expressed deep concern over the reduction in rates by up to 50% under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. The organization has appealed to the government to immediately reconsider this decision and restore the previous rates and price ceiling (cap) with immediate effect, so that textile exporters do not have to face inconvenience.CITI Chairman Ashwin Chandran said the decision is an unexpected blow to the export community, especially at a time when global uncertainties are already weighing on trade. He said exporters had booked their orders keeping in mind the existing structure of the RoDTEP scheme, so the sudden cut in rates would affect their financial calculations.RoDTEP rates currently range from 0.5% to 3.6%. The rate reduction will have a direct impact on the margins of textile exporters, while the industry is already grappling with several challenges:* *Decline in exports:* During April 2025 to January 2026, exports have declined by 2.35% as compared to the same period last year.* *Slow global demand:* Demand has been impacted due to geopolitical tensions and weak consumption in key markets.* *High Tariff:* Higher import duties than competing countries in major markets like the US and EU.* *Low Profitability:* The average ROCE is around 12%, which is significantly lower than sectors like IT.Export orders in the textile sector are generally booked 2–3 months in advance and pricing is done keeping in mind the policy framework and export incentives in force at that time. In such a situation, a sudden cut in RoDTEP benefits may make the ongoing contracts financially unviable, which will put additional burden on exporters and affect India's credibility in the global markets.Referring to the ‘5F’ vision proposed by the Prime Minister—Farm → Fiber → Factory → Fashion → Foreign— Chandran said a stable and predictable policy environment is essential to achieve this goal, especially in such an employment-intensive sector.He warned that sudden policy changes without adequate consultation or transition period could disrupt the export ecosystem, impact cost structure and weaken the global competitiveness of Indian exports.India has set a target of doubling textile and apparel exports to $100 billion by 2030. The textile and apparel sector is the second largest source of employment generation in the country, hence the industry believes that policy stability is extremely important to achieve this ambitious target.read more :- The rupee fell 03 paise to open at 90.92.

The rupee fell 03 paise to open at 90.92/USD.The Indian rupee opened at 90.92 per dollar on Wednesday, down from its previous close of 90.93.READ MORE :-Rupee fell 02 paise to close at 90.95 per dollar

On Tuesday, the Indian rupee fell 02 paise to close at 90.95 per dollar, compared to its opening price of 90.93 in the morning. At close, the Sensex was down 1,068.74 points or 1.28 percent at 82,225.92, and the Nifty was down 288.35 points or 1.12 percent at 25,424.65. About 1410 shares advanced, 2644 shares declined, and 127 shares unchanged.read more :- CCI to continue government procurement of cotton till April 

CCI Cotton Procurement: CCI will buy cotton till AprilNagpur: This year, due to prolonged duration of monsoon, the cotton season has been completely spoiled, which is directly impacting the MSP procurement process. In view of this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh demanding extension of the MSP procurement deadline till April 30, 2026.The Chief Minister has informed in the letter that Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has fixed February 27 as the last date for cotton procurement for the 2025-26 season. However, this year due to delay in monsoon season till September-October, cotton harvesting started late. In many areas, cotton bolls were affected due to rain, while at some places harvesting had to be stopped due to moisture.Because of this, the regular arrival of cotton in the market has started increasing only after January. Cotton is still standing in many fields in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh, and some farmers have found time to store their stock due to delays in power supply and the ginning process.Every year, CCI continues its procurement till the end of March, but this year, the deadline has been set at February 27, making it difficult for farmers to sell in a short period of time. Although the current guaranteed price of cotton is around Rs 8,000 per quintal, the actual market price has declined by Rs 400 to Rs 500. There is a fear that if CCI stops purchasing, private traders will reduce prices even further.The Chief Minister has made it clear that CCI's continuous intervention is necessary to keep market prices stable, as small and medium farmers, especially, will be forced to sell their crops at lower prices as they need immediate cash.Meanwhile, Hinganghat Agricultural Produce Market Committee, known as the main cotton market in Vidarbha, has also taken a stand on the issue. Market Committee Chairman Sudhir Kothari and the Board of Directors have sent a letter to CCI and the government demanding extension of the cotton purchase deadline till at least March 31. He said that there is restlessness among the farmers due to the fall in the market price, whereas at present the guaranteed price is Rs 8,000.Milind Damle, head of the Traders and Technology Alliance of the Farmers Association, also demanded extension of the procurement time, saying the harvest was getting delayed due to the longer season. If the procurement is stopped early then the purpose of the MSP scheme will remain incomplete and the confidence of the farmers will be shaken. In such a situation, CCI should keep interfering in the market and the procurement time should be extended till the end of April, this is the unanimous demand of the farmers and market committees.read more :- GDP growth at 7.2% in Q3 FY26: ICRA