Development Watch – Week #3 Dec’25

Development News

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India’s rice exports to the US

US President Donald Trump’s sharp remarks accusing India of “dumping” rice in the U.S. market appeared disproportionate to the scale of the trade involved. India’s rice exports to the U.S. amount to a negligible share of its global sales and do not significantly distort U.S. agricultural markets. The larger political and economic context indicates he is under pressure to reassure American farmers who have borne the brunt of his aggressive tariff policies and the trade battles these policies triggered. India’s rice shipments to the U.S. were valued at approximately $392 million in FY25, representing only about 3% of India’s total rice exports and an even smaller fraction of American grain consumption.

Rs. “0” electricity bill under PM Muft Bijli Yojana

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has delivered zero electricity bills to over 7.7 lakh households in the country out of the total 24.35 lakh households benefited under the scheme, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The Centre launched PM Surya Ghar in February 2024 with an aim to achieve rooftop solar (RTS) installations in one crore households in the residential sector by FY 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore. As on December 9, 2025, a total of 19,45,758 RTS (rooftop solar) systems have been installed across the country, benefitting 24,35,196 households. Under the scheme, central financial assistance of Rs 13,926.25 crore has been released while 8,30,617 loan applications sanctioned till December 9, 2025.

Under Component A of the scheme, farmers are enabled to adopt solar energy, becoming Urjadata along with Annadata and enhance their income. Farmers can lease their land for installation of solar power plants and can earn up to Rs 80,000/hectare /year. For the plants commissioned under Component A, the median average income is Rs 4.5 lakh/MW per month. Under Component B, the existing diesel pumps are replaced with solar pumps. Assuming consumption of 4.6 litres per day (for 5 HP pumps) and with current diesel cost of around Rs 87/litre, farmers can achieve the breakeven in less than a year. This results in savings of at least Rs 60,000/year for farmers. Under Component C, farmers can earn Rs 25,000/acre/year by leasing the land for installation of solar projects.

Bharat Cell-powered electric vehicles

Ola Electric announced the commencement of mass deliveries of its 4,680 Bharat Cell power vehicles. The S1 Pro+ (5.2kWh) is the first product to be powered by the company’s indigenously manufactured 4,680 Bharat Cell battery pack that delivers more range, better performance and enhanced safety, said Ola in a statement. With its own battery packs in the vehicles, Ola Electric is now India’s first company to fully own the battery pack and cell manufacturing process in-house. Ola Electric currently offers an expansive portfolio of S1 scooters and Roadster X motorcycles. The company’s mass market offerings include Gen 3 S1 X+ (4kWh), and Gen 3 S1 X (2kWh, 3kWh, and 4kWh) priced at ₹1,19,999, ₹84,999, ₹98,999, and ₹1,14,999, respectively.

Impact of labour reforms on real estate sector

India’s new labour reforms can change how construction is planned and delivered. he new rules will raise labour costs in the short term but also bring much-needed order, accountability and safety to an industry that has long depended on an informal workforce. The impact will be felt across worksites, project timelines, documentation processes and buyer expectations as the sector reorganises itself around clearer norms. For years, India’s construction sites depended on thousands of workers, many of them migrants, who worked without uniform working hours, clear paperwork or standard safety practices. This led to frequent disputes, hidden project delays and uneven workmanship across projects. The new labour codes try to correct that gap. With fixed working hours, defined wage structures, digital records and stricter safety norms, the reforms bring a system where earlier there was inconsistency.

Asia’s largest GCC being planned in Powai

Global alternative investment major Brookfield Asset Management is planning to invest $1 billion to develop Asia’s largest global capability centre (GCC) on a 6-acre land parcel in Mumbai’s Powai suburb with a total leasable area of 2 million sq ft. The project, to be completed by 2029, is expected to create over 30,000 jobs. It is being undertaken through an agreement between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and a venture led by Brookfield. The facility will be developed for a multinational bank with a total lease tenure of 20 years. The development includes a commitment to source 100% green power.