chennai l wednesday l January 28, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l vellore EDITION Adani Group, Embraer to set up aircraft-making facility in India Adani Group and Brazilian major Embraer on Tuesday announced a strategic tie-up to set up a regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India on the road to manufacturing hub India will need 500 aircraft in 20 years Embraer makes commercial jets with up to 150 seats. Details about the investments and the location of the proposed facility were not disclosed. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the collaboration is not just about assembling a regional aircraft but also about technology transfer, skilling, supply chain and making India a manufacturing hub | P10 ■ ■ The Indian market is expected to require at least 500 aircraft in the 80 to 146 seat range over the next 20 years, Embraer said Tuesday The venture with the Adani Group will be a major fillip for the Brazilian major in India’s civil aviation space. Adani Defence & Aerospace President & CEO Ashish Rajvanshi called it a “watershed” 50 aircraft from emraer’s stable in service currently in india CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI INDIA, e.u. ANNOUNCE fta; 99% OF INDIA’S EXPORTS TO GET DUTY-FREE ACCESS to EUROPEAN NATIONS This is the tale of two giants who choose partnership in a true win-win fashion, a strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges Prime Minister Narendra Modi European Comn chief Ursula von der Leyen P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi INDIA and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday announced the landmark free trade agreement (FTA), paving the way for duty-free access for 99% of Indian exports to the lucrative 27-nation European market. In return, India has offered significant market access to EU goods. The FTA is expected to provide relief to India’s labour-intensive sectors that have been under pressure due to US tariffs. With negotiations concluded, the agreement is likely to be signed later this year, the commerce ministry said. Calling it India’s largest FTA to date, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the pact would deliver substantial benefits for the country’s 1.4 billion people. “The historic agreement will make access to European markets easier for our farmers and small industries, create new opportunities in manufacturing, and further strengthen cooperation between our services sectors,” Modi said. India will gain preferential access to the European market across 97% Indian exports that will have zero duty Leather & footwear WE DID IT! of tariff lines, covering 99.5% of trade value. Key labour-intensive sectors—textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, chemicals, plastics & rubber, sports goods, toys, and gems & jewellery—accounting for $33 billion in exports will see import duties ranging between 4% and 26% eliminated from the date the agreement comes into force. The government has clarified that safeguards have been built in to protect sensitive sectors such as dairy, cereals, poultry, soymeal, and certain fruits and vegetables. According to the European Commission, the pact will phase out high tariffs on select EU agri-food exports such as olive oil, processed foods, beverages and fruits. EU food safety standards will remain intact, with no exemptions for Indian exports. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal described the pact as balanced and equitable. “By leaving sensitive issues aside, we have arrived at a fair and win-win free trade agreement. It opens up a plethora of opportunities for investment and access to complementary markets,” he said. Goyal added that India’s textile exports to EU could surge from $7 billion to $35 billion. The two sides also announced a security and defence partnership and a broader strategic agenda, as Europe looks to reduce its reliance on the US and China. “Today, the world’s two largest democracies launched a Security and Defence Partnership—a platform for stronger cooperation on strategic issues that matter most, from defence industry to maritime security,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Nor Rihaa, but Arijit retires from playback music H a r sh B H @ Mumbai National award-winning singer Arijit Singh on Tuesday shocked fans the world over by announcing his retirement from playback singing in a series of posts on social media. Thanking his fans for giving him love for 15 years, Arijit wrote, “I express read DMK issues gag order on TNCC prez’s request Chennai: DMK asked its cadre not to discuss alliance issues in public forum after TNCC chief urged CM Stalin to take action against DMK MLA G Thalapathi for his remarks on Congress party and its two MPs | p4 TN bomb attack case: Man shot dead by cops Tiruchy: Azhaguraja (30), a suspect involved in the crude bomb attack at the police team transporting history-sheeter Kalimuthu alias Vellakali three days ago, was shot dead in a police encounter on Tuesday | p2 Dhoni starts IPL preparation in Ranchi CHENNAI: Former India and CSK captain MS Dhoni has started preparations for IPL 2026 at the JSCA Sports Complex in Ranchi. He also received a few SS bats for his net sessions | P11 SC for punitive steps in acid attack cases NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while calling for “extraordinary” punitive measures for convicts in acid attack cases, asked the Centre to consider amending the law to strictly deal with such cases on similar lines of dowry death matters. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi, while hearing a PIL filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik, from Haryana, batted for attachment of assets of acid attack perpetrators to use them to compensate the victim. Up to 17% Chemicals am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey There are sev. eral reasons behind this. I have been trying to do this for a long time, but finally got the right courage. I got bored. I need to do some other music to live.” He, however, did clarify that he will continue to be active as a musician. “Just to be clear, I won’t stop making music. God has been really kind to me. I am a fan of good music and in future will be learning more and doing more on my own as a small little artist. Thanks again for all your support,” he stated. Up to 12.8% Textiles & apparel 12% Marine products 26% 6.50% Plastics / Rubber 10% Base metal Gems & jewellery 4% Çurrent Tariff Source: Ministry of Commerce Lower duty for imports from EU Source: European Commission This historic agreement will facilitate easier access for our farmers and small enterprises to European markets, create new opportunities Cars Duty to drop from 110% to 10% Premium wines From 150% to 20% Spirits From 150% to 40% Beer Duty to reduce from 110% to 50% Olive oil From 45% to 0% Pharmaceuticals From 11% to 0% Aircraft and spacecraft From 11% to 0% Big boost for textile sector India’s textile sector could be the biggest winner as the India-EU free trade agreement will correct the tariff disadvantage faced by the country’s textile exporters against competitors from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Turkey in the 27-nation bloc ‘No G RAM G Act rollback’: Oppn demand rejected course. The Opposition demanded structured discussion The government on Tuesday on a range of issues, including rejected the Opposition’s de- the restoration of the UPA-era mand for discussions on the MGNREGA, the ongoing SIR, VB-G RAM G Act in the Budget India’s foreign policy, and the session of Parliament begin- controversy over new UGC ning Wednesday, with Parlia- guidelines. mentary Affairs Minister Kiren The government, however, Rijiju saying that there will be maintained that the primary “no reversing the focus of the Budget gear once the law is Budget focus session would be the before the country”. Budget itself, and said Speaking to the The minister also members could raise media, Rijiju said ruled out discussion other issues during that as per on the Special Intenthe debate on the Moparliamentary sive Revision (SIR) of tion of Thanks to the voter rolls, asserting rules, discussions President’s Address. that both the issues during the Budget On the Opposition’s session should had already been decontentions on the primarily revolve bated by both VB-G RAM G bill, around the Budget which was passed by Houses. Rijiju made these Parliament during the remarks after an all-party meet- Winter Session, the minister ing convened by the govern- said, “Once a law is before the ment. During the meeting, Op- nation, we have to follow it.” position members, including While the government sugthe Congress’ Jairam Ramesh gested that members can disand John Brittas of the CPI(M), cuss the issues during the Moalso objected to the non-circu- tion of Thanks, Brittas objected, lation of government business insisting on structured discusfor the session, which the min- sions that would allow replies ister said would be done in due from concerned ministers. P r eetha N ai r @ New Delhi