Kerala milk production surges; subsidy schemes and survey announced

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 19, 2026 | Business

Kerala’s milk production has increased by 10 lakh litres, reflecting steady growth in the State’s dairy sector, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister J. Chinchurani said at the Kerala Dairy Expo.
| Photo Credit:
RAMESHKURUP S/THE HINDU

Kerala’s milk production has increased by 10 lakh litres compared to previous figures, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister J. Chinchurani said while inaugurating the Kerala Dairy Expo organised as part of the State Ksheera Sangamam — Padavu 2026.

Local supply boost

Domestic milk production is steadily rising, with many farmers now supplying milk locally before delivering the surplus to Milma, the Minister said. To address the lack of precise production data and to assess the actual growth in output, the Government has launched a survey to determine the volume of milk produced by every dairy farmer in the State.

She said special dairy production schemes had been introduced for workers in the plantation and fisheries sectors to help them overcome temporary employment crises. Under the State’s extreme poverty eradication project, a subsidy of up to ₹1 lakh has been sanctioned for each dairy unit.

Collaborative programme

The programme is being held in collaboration with Milma, Kerala Feeds, the Kerala Livestock Development Board, the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, the Animal Husbandry department, dairy cooperative societies, and the Kerala Dairy Farmers’ Welfare Fund Board.

South India’s largest Dairy Expo

South India’s largest dairy expo, featuring over 150 stalls, will be a major highlight. Around 100 stalls have been set up at the expo, showcasing innovative technologies and products in the dairy sector. Participants include various government departments, cattle feed and supplement manufacturers, veterinary medicine producers, and the Kerala Livestock Development Board.

Wide range of exhibitors

Dealers of dairy mechanisation machinery and milk processing equipment, as well as representatives of financial institutions such as SBI and Kerala Bank, and insurance providers, are also participating. Companies offering waste management solutions and Nithara, an artificial intelligence firm focused on the dairy industry, are among the exhibitors.

Farm to fork showcase

A major attraction is the Dairy Development department’s ‘Farm to Fork’ themed stall, which demonstrates the stages of milk collection, quality testing, processing, packaging and distribution through visual displays and models.

Published on January 19, 2026

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Silver futures soar over ₹3 lakh a kg, as the white precious metal zooms to a new high

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 19, 2026 | Business

Silver prices soared to a new high of over $94 an ounce on Monday, resulting in prices in the futures market in India zooming past ₹3 lakh a kg. Along with the white precious metal, gold gained one per cent at over $4,660 an ounce, while platinum group of metals (PGMs) rose by one per cent.

The latest surge in the precious metals comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump threatening to impose new tariffs on eight European nations in a bid to gain control of Greenland. In turn, European leaders mulled retaliatory measures, including reviving the 2025 plan to levy tariffs on US goods.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on fellow leaders to activate the EU’s anti-coercion instrument. All these boosted the demand for haven assets such as precious metals.

$105.5/oz in Shanghai

At 1415 hours IST, silver was a tad below $93 an ounce, paring gains after having soared to $94. Silver March futures were quoted at $93.283 an ounce.

In China’s Shanghai Futures Market, the white precious metal soared to $105.5 an ounce (23,548 yuan a kg) before easing to $100.05 (23,320 yuan). In India, silver in the Mumbai spot market opened at ₹2,93,650 a kg. On MCX, silver March futures hit a high of ₹3,04,200 a kg before slipping to ₹3,01,713.

Gold ruled at $4,663 an ounce, while February futures ruled at $4666.86. In the Mumbai spot market, the yellow precious metal opened at ₹1,43,978 per 10 gm. On MCX, gold February futures ruled at ₹1,45,100 per 10 gm.

Primary PGMs metal platinum quoted at $2,352 an ounce, while palladium ruled at $1,845 an ounce.

Up 30% this year

Gold has increased by 8 per cent this year, silver by over 30 per cent, platinum by 14 per cent and palladium by 11 per cent.

Currently, the silver-gold ratio is 49.99, which means an ounce of gold can get 49.99 ounces of gold against over 100 in April 2025.

Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont, said gold is heading towards its next resistance of $4750-60 (78.6 per cent fibonnicci extension) and $4,990-5,000 (100 per cent fibonnicci extension).

Silver has touched the 61.8 per cent Fibonnicci resistance target of $93. Next level to watch for is 78.6 per cent Fibonnici extension of $99.2-100 and 100 per cent fibonnicci extension of $107. Strong support lies at $86.5, she said.

Amit Jain, Co-Founder of Ashika Global Family Office Services, said, “Gold and silver are no longer just commodities; they are geopolitics in metal form. When major powers fight over resources like Greenland, markets instinctively price in risk, and precious metals become the default refuge. This rally reflects not speculation, but a deeper loss of confidence in global stability.’’

Published on January 19, 2026

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Sensex, Nifty extend losses in noon trade as global trade worries persist

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 19, 2026 | Business

Sectoral indices also traded in the red, with the Nifty Bank falling 296.85 points or 0.49 per cent to 59,798.30.
| Photo Credit:
istock.com

Benchmark indices deepened their losses in afternoon trade on Monday, weighed down by continued selling pressure in key sectors amid lingering concerns over global trade tensions and sustained foreign fund outflows.

The Sensex was trading at 83,038.96, down 531.39 points or 0.64 per cent from its previous close of 83,570.35. The index had opened at 83,494.49. The Nifty stood at 25,524.60, lower by 169.75 points or 0.66 per cent from its previous close of 25,694.35, having opened at 25,653.10.

Market breadth remained weak, with declines outnumbering advances 2,920 to 1,164 on the BSE, where 4,297 stocks were traded. As many as 346 stocks touched their 52-week lows compared to 86 that hit 52-week highs. A total of 203 stocks were locked in lower circuit while 163 hit upper circuit.

Tech Mahindra emerged as the top gainer on the Nifty, rising 3.68 per cent to ₹1,732.00. InterGlobe Aviation gained 3.34 per cent to ₹4,898.50, while Kotak Mahindra Bank added 2.32 per cent to ₹427.90. Bajaj Finance advanced 2.06 per cent to ₹969.85 and Shriram Finance climbed 1.67 per cent to ₹1,012.10.

On the losing side, Wipro slumped 7.07 per cent to ₹248.55, making it the biggest laggard on the index. Reliance Industries fell 3.61 per cent to ₹1,405.30, while Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles declined 2.93 per cent to ₹343.25. ICICI Bank shed 2.86 per cent to ₹1,370.40 and Eicher Motors dropped 2.75 per cent to ₹279.80.

Sectoral indices also traded in the red, with the Nifty Bank falling 296.85 points or 0.49 per cent to 59,798.30. The Nifty Midcap 100 was down 352.10 points or 0.59 per cent at 59,538.20, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 141.30 points or 0.81 per cent to 17,225.50.

The Nifty Financial Services slipped 43.55 points or 0.16 per cent to 27,468.85, while the Nifty Next 50 fell 162.55 points or 0.24 per cent to 68,695.35.

Trading sentiment remained fragile following fresh tariff threats from US President Donald Trump against European nations, which heightened uncertainty over global economic growth prospects.

Published on January 19, 2026

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गिरने के बाद मजबूती से उठा रुपया, ‘करेंसी की रिंग’ में आज अमेरिकी डॉलर को बताई औकात

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 19, 2026 | Business

Dollar vs Rupee: वैश्विक अस्थिरता के बीच भी भारतीय रुपये में मजबूती देखने को मिली है. हफ्ते के पहले कारोबारी दिन सोमवार की सुबह रुपया अमेरिकी डॉलर के मुकाबले 12 पैसे की बढ़त के साथ 90.66 प्रति डॉलर पर पहुंच गया. विदेशी मुद्रा विश्लेषकों के अनुसार, प्रमुख अंतरराष्ट्रीय मुद्राओं के मुकाबले डॉलर के कमजोर रुख से रुपये को सहारा मिला. हालांकि, घरेलू शेयर बाजारों से विदेशी पूंजी की लगातार निकासी और भू-राजनीतिक हालात में बनी अनिश्चितता के कारण निवेशकों की सतर्कता बरकरार रही. इसके अलावा, अंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजार में कच्चे तेल की ऊंची कीमतों ने भी निवेशकों की चिंता बढ़ाई.

रुपये में मजबूती से राहत

अंतरबैंक विदेशी मुद्रा विनिमय बाजार में रुपया 90.68 प्रति डॉलर पर खुला और कारोबार के दौरान 90.66 तक मजबूत हुआ, जो पिछले बंद भाव की तुलना में 12 पैसे की बढ़त को दर्शाता है. इससे पहले शुक्रवार को रुपया 90.78 प्रति डॉलर पर बंद हुआ था. इसी दौरान, छह प्रमुख वैश्विक मुद्राओं के मुकाबले डॉलर की मजबूती को दर्शाने वाला डॉलर सूचकांक 0.21 प्रतिशत की गिरावट के साथ 98.99 पर आ गया, जिससे उभरती अर्थव्यवस्थाओं की मुद्राओं को कुछ राहत मिली.

बाजार के जानकारों का कहना है कि अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति डोनाल्ड ट्रंप के हालिया बयान से वैश्विक मुद्रा बाजार में हलचल देखने को मिली है. ट्रंप ने संकेत दिया है कि यदि यूरोपीय देश ग्रीनलैंड को खरीदने की योजना पर कायम रहते हैं तो उन पर टैरिफ लगाया जाएगा., इस बयान के बाद डॉलर पर दबाव बढ़ा और उसमें बिकवाली देखी गई, जिसका सीधा फायदा भारतीय रुपये को मिला. डॉलर के कमजोर होने से उभरती अर्थव्यवस्थाओं की मुद्राओं में मजबूती आई और इसी क्रम में रुपये को भी समर्थन मिला, जिससे उसमें सुधार दर्ज किया गया.

शेयर बाजार में गिरावट

घरेलू शेयर बाजार की बात करें तो शुरुआती कारोबार में कमजोरी देखने को मिली. बीएसई सेंसेक्स 482.80 अंक टूटकर 83,087.55 अंक पर पहुंच गया, जबकि एनएसई निफ्टी 129.30 अंक फिसलकर 25,565.05 अंक पर आ गया. अंतरराष्ट्रीय बाजार में ब्रेंट क्रूड ऑयल की कीमत 0.17 प्रतिशत की बढ़त के साथ 64.24 डॉलर प्रति बैरल रही. वहीं, शेयर बाजार के आंकड़ों के अनुसार विदेशी संस्थागत निवेशक (एफआईआई) शुक्रवार को बिकवाली के मूड में रहे और उन्होंने शुद्ध रूप से 4,346.13 करोड़ रुपये के शेयर बेच दिए, जिसका असर बाजार की धारणा पर साफ नजर आया.

ये भी पढ़ें: ट्रंप की धमकियों से और तेज चमक रहा सोना, जानें आज 19 जनवरी को आपके शहर का ताजा भाव

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Eight soldiers injured in gunbattle at J&K’s Kishtwar

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 19, 2026 | Business

Kishtwar district, located in the Chenab valley region of Jammu, has witnessed a series of anti-militancy operations in recent years as security forces seek to prevent the movement and regrouping of terrorists in the mountainous belt linking Jammu with the Kashmir valley.
| Photo Credit:
Indian Army via PTI Photo

At least eight soldiers were injured in a gunbattle between security forces and terrorists during an ongoing counter-terrorism operation in Jammu division’s Kishtwar district.

The encounter began on Sunday evening when joint teams of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a search operation in the forested area of Sonnar, located in the remote and hilly terrain of Kishtwar. The operation was initiated following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.

According to security officials, the terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group, opened fire on the search party and lobbed a grenade, triggering a fierce gun battle. The security forces retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that continued for several hours under challenging conditions.

Eight soldiers sustained injuries during the operation and were evacuated to hospital for treatment, officials said Reinforcements were rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon and prevent the terrorists from escaping.

The Army’s Chinar Corps, also known as the White Knight Corps, confirmed the contact in a post on social media platform X. “Contact was established with terrorists in the general area of Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations along with Jammu and Kashmir Police,” the post said. It added that troops showed “exceptional professionalism and resolve” while responding to hostile fire in difficult terrain and weather conditions.

“Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and other security agencies,” the Army said.

An official said the search operation was continuing to track down the terrorists, who are believed to be hiding in dense forests and using the rugged terrain to their advantage. Authorities have tightened security in the surrounding areas as a precautionary measure.

Published on January 19, 2026

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Crude oil gains as markets analyse Trump’s tariff threats against European nations

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 19, 2026 | Business

In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland, will be charged a 10% tariff starting from February 1, 2026, on any and all goods sent to the US.

Crude oil futures traded higher on Monday morning as markets analysed the likely impact of the tariff threats from US President Donald Trump on eight European countries.

At 10 am on Monday, March Brent oil futures were at $64.31, up by 0.28 per cent, and March crude oil futures on WTI (West Texas Intermediate) were at $59.50, up by 0.27 per cent. February crude oil futures were trading at ₹5,430 on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) during the initial hour of trading on Monday against the previous close of ₹5,449, down by 0.35 per cent, and March futures were trading at ₹5,446 against the previous close of ₹5,470, down by 0.44 per cent.

In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland, will be charged a 10 per cent tariff starting from February 1, 2026, on any and all goods sent to the US. “On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” he said.

In their Commodities Feed for Monday, Warren Patterson, Head of Commodities Strategy of ING Think, and Ewa Manthey, Commodities Strategist, who quoted reports, said the EU is set to halt the EU-US trade deal and potentially revive a €93 billion tariff package on US goods. There’s also a push from France for the EU to use its anti-coercion instrument against the US. This would restrict US access to the EU single market. There will likely be plenty of noise this week around these developments, particularly as both world and business leaders gather for the World Economic Forum in Davos, they said.

January natural gas futures were trading at ₹310.30 on MCX during the initial hour of trading on Monday against the previous close of ₹280.40, up by 10.66 per cent.

ING Think’s Commodities Feed said that EU gas storage is now just 50 per cent full, well below the five-year average of 65 per cent full. Meanwhile, forecasts for colder-than-usual weather towards the end of January are proving bullish for prices.

On the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), January guarseed contracts were trading at ₹5,847 in the initial hour of trading on Monday against the previous close of ₹5,628, up by 3.89 per cent.

January dhaniya futures were trading at ₹10,406 on NCDEX in the initial hour of trading on Monday against the previous close of ₹10,114, up by 2.89 per cent.

Published on January 19, 2026

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