India Makes Strides in Telecom, Tea Exports, and Naval Cooperation
India saw significant developments in its telecom sector, tea exports, and international collaborations during June 2025. These advancements highlight India’s growing influence and its commitment to technological innovation and global partnerships.
Advancements in Telecom and AI
India hosted the 3rd meeting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence Native for Telecommunication Networks (FG-AINN) in New Delhi. The event explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the efficiency of telecom networks. This three-day event, held from June 11-13, 2025, was organized by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Tea Exports on the Rise
Tea exports from India increased by 9.92% year-on-year, reaching 254.67 million kilograms in CY24 (January to December 2024). North India saw a 9.79% increase, while South India reported a 10.11% growth. This growth underscores the strength of India’s tea industry. India is the second-largest tea exporter by volume in CY24, exporting approximately 255 million kg, just behind Kenya.
Naval Cooperation with the UK
The Indian Navy participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) in the North Arabian Sea in June 2025. The exercise demonstrated advanced combat readiness and strengthened strategic naval cooperation. The two-day drill, held from June 9 to 10, 2025, aimed at improving operational coordination and interoperability between the two naval forces.
International Presence and Partnerships
India, as Vice President of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), actively participated in the 2nd session of the IALA council in Nice, France. The Indian delegation was led by T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). During the opening session, T.K. Ramachandran highlighted the initiatives of DGLL, including integration of vessel traffic services across major ports. The council discussed technical matters, including the harmonization of marine aids to navigation and emerging developments such as the Harmonized Internet of Things (IoT) protocol for visual Aids to Navigation (AtoN).
Banking and Finance Initiatives
Several financial institutions announced new initiatives. Jupiter Money, a digital-first money management platform, launched the ‘Edge+ CSB Bank RuPay Credit Card’ in collaboration with CSB Bank Limited. This card integrates Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and traditional card transactions. In addition, Scapia Technology Private Limited partnered with Federal Bank Limited to launch a RuPay Credit Card with UPI and travel features. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 109.97 million loan to Gujarat for skill development programs. The loan will support the Gujarat Skills Development Program (GSDP), led by Gujarat’s Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department.
Other Financial Developments
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) discontinued its daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auctions due to a liquidity surplus in the banking system. The RBI will continue using other tools for liquidity management, including 14-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auctions, Open Market Operations (OMO) and Standing Deposit Facility (SDF). The NPCI & IDRBT Partner to Boost Cyber Security in India’s Digital Payment Ecosystem. Vedanta Aluminium signed an MoU with CBI for MSME financing. CreditAccess Grameen Secures USD 100 million syndicated loan from South Asian and Far East Banks. NTPC Raises USD 750 Million Via ECB Loan to Fund Capacity Extension, Green Projects.
Awards, Appointments, and Acquisitions
Leena Nair, Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chanel, was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honour. Pralay Mondal was reappointed as Managing Director (MD) & CEO of CSB Bank. Prashant Kumar received a six-month extension as MD & CEO of YES Bank. RIL sold a 3.64% stake in Asian Paints, and TA Associates exited AU SFB, while BNP Paribas acquired a stake in Bajaj Finserv. The number of digital transactions in India rose to 88.4 billion in fiscal year 2024 (The Economic Times).
Science and Technology Advancements
Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) successfully completed the trial of its Hybrid Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ‘Rudrastra’ in Rajasthan. Pixxel signed an agreement with the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to develop advanced hyperspectral and Mid-wave Infrared (MWIR) payloads for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The ‘Rudrastra’ can cover a mission radius of over 50 kilometers.
Obituary and Literary Releases
Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani died in the Air India flight crash. Audrey Truschke released her book “India: 5000 Years of History on the Subcontinent.” Senior Advocate Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala released a book titled ‘Modi’s Niti Shastra: The World’s His Oyster’.
Important Days and State News
International Albinism Awareness Day was observed on June 13. Maharashtra launched geo-tagged unique infrastructure IDs for infrastructure projects. Punjab launched the ‘FastTrack Punjab Portal’ for 45-day business approvals. Madhya Pradesh became the first state to bring all ULBs under a single portal with E-Nagarpalika 2.0.
