Daily News - Monday, 27 January 2025
Southeast Asia Woos Indian Travellers with More Flights, Easier Visa Norms (The Economic Times)
Southeast Asian countries are intensifying efforts to attract Indian tourists, fueled by double-digit growth in arrivals, by increasing flights and simplifying visa processes; Thailand and Malaysia now offer visa-free entry, while Indonesia provides visa-on-arrival, and Vietnam allows online visa applications. Recent agreements include Indonesia’s new pact with India to expand weekly flight capacity to 9,000 seats, following similar expansions with Vietnam and Thailand, which increased their capacity by 50% and 43%, respectively, in 2024. Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express, are ramping up services to destinations like Bali, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Vietnam, reflecting surging demand for affordable, short international trips from India.
Goyal's visit to advance India-Oman trade talks (mint)
India and Oman are set to enhance economic ties as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal begins a two-day visit to Oman to advance negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is in its advanced stages. Bilateral trade between the two nations stood at $8.94 billion in 2023–24, down from $12.39 billion in the previous year, with the CEPA expected to reverse this decline and foster balanced, mutually beneficial economic growth. Goyal’s meetings with Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion will focus on trade, investment, and global economic trends, strengthening collaboration in these areas.
No India-China direct flights: Singapore, Vietnam, Dhaka gain as connecting hubs (The Indian Express)
Signs of improving India-China relations have raised hopes for the resumption of direct flights and relaxed visa regulations, which have been suspended since 2020, with discussions featuring prominently during recent bilateral meetings, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s ongoing visit to Beijing. Between January and October 2024, passenger traffic between the two nations dropped to 4.6 lakh from nearly 1 million in 2019, with connecting hubs like Singapore, Dhaka, and Hanoi witnessing increased traffic, while Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Colombo reported significant declines. Normalizing air connectivity is expected to benefit airlines from both nations, with Chinese carriers particularly poised to reclaim their dominant pre-pandemic market share.
Amrit Bharat 2.0, train to Kashmir, Kavach to be among highlights for Railways in Budget (The Indian Express)
The Union Budget is expected to prioritize Indian Railways, with a likely 15% increase in its budget allocation, focusing on infrastructure projects such as the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (US-BRL), the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and enhanced safety initiatives like Kavach 4.0. The Amrit Bharat Express trains, designed to offer upgraded amenities for budget travelers, are also set for expansion, with plans to manufacture 50 advanced Amrit Bharat 2.0 trains in the next two years, featuring improved passenger comforts, crashworthy designs, and modern sanitation systems. With a budgetary allocation of ₹2.52 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, the ministry is aiming to boost infrastructure, passenger safety, and modernized rail facilities to enhance travel experiences.
Govt may hike coal cess to boost pension corpus (Business Standard)
The Centre is considering raising the cess on coal production from ₹10 to ₹25 per tonne to address the growing deficit in the Coal Mines Pension Scheme (CMPS), which supports over 625,000 pensioners but faces challenges due to a shrinking workforce and financial mismanagement. The Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO) deliberated the proposal, which received broad support, though final approval from Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and the Union government is still pending. With most pensioners receiving just ₹5,000 per month, stakeholders have urged swift government action to replenish the ₹1.35 trillion pension corpus and provide financial relief to retired coal workers.
