Centre approves Adani Power’s plan to link Godda plant to Indian grid: Report
New Delhi: The Centre has approved Adani Power Limited’s (APL) proposal to connect its Godda Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plant in Jharkhand to the Indian power grid, The Indian Express reported on Friday.
The plant, which currently supplies electricity exclusively to Bangladesh, will be linked to the domestic grid through a Line-In Line-Out (LILO) connection to the Kahalgaon A–Maithon B 400 KV transmission line.
To lay the proposed transmission line—passing through 56 villages across the Godda and Poreyahat tehsils in Jharkhand’s Godda district—the Centre has granted Adani Power Limited (APL) the same powers as those held by the telegraph authority under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. This allows APL to place and maintain transmission lines and posts under, over, along, or across any immovable property as permitted by the Act.
The Power Ministry’s order comes in the wake of several amendments to regulations to enable this transmission connectivity to the APL’s Godda plant, including the ministry’s move to amend the guidelines for import and export of electricity, the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) move to amend procedure for facilitating cross border flows, among others, the report added.
Declared a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in March 2019, APL’s Godda power plant supplies electricity exclusively to Bangladesh. However, following a regime change in Dhaka in August 2024, the Indian government had allowed as an interim arrangement to connect the Godda plant with Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS), a high-voltage network in India that transmits electricity across state borders, enabling power flow from surplus regions to areas with deficits and ensuring grid stability.
APL, earlier called Adani Power Jharkhand Ltd, wrote to the Ministry of Power on August 6, 2024, a day after the ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. In the letter, it informed the government that “given the sustained increase in power demand across India, it would be beneficial if their generating station could cater to such demand in India, when the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is not scheduling power from the plant on account of low demand, any default under PPA or any geo-political issue.”
The latest approval by the Power Ministry is granted for 25 years. APL must secure clearances from relevant authorities including local bodies, Railways, and the Civil Aviation and Defence ministries. The transmission line can only be operated after approval from the Centre’s electrical inspector and in compliance with the Electricity Act, 2003.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
