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India exports to US fall 13% in Feb; China trade deficit crosses $100 bn

India's exports to the US dipped 12.88 per cent year-on-year to USD 6.88 billion in February due to high tariffs in America, while the trade deficit with China crossed USD 100 billion during the 11-month period of this fiscal, according to the commerce ministry data released on Monday. Exports contracted in September, October, December last year and January this year also. However, it rose 22.61 per cent in November. Indian goods were attracting a sweeping 50 per cent levies in the US. But after US Supreme Court struck down the Trump tariffs, US President Donald Trump imposed 10 per cent duty on all countries from February 24 for 150 days. So now the impact of the lower tariffs is likely to be reflected in the data for the month of March, which will be released in mid-May. Imports, on the other hand, from the US grew 36.53 per cent to USD 4.48 billion in February, data showed. During the April-February period of this fiscal year, the country's exports to the US increased 3.84 per

Need to get out of mindset that only Delhi requires greenery: Supreme Court

There is a need to get out of the mindset that only the national capital needs to have greenery and other states are lesser mortals, the Supreme Court said on Monday while hearing a matter related to the Delhi Ridge. The Ridge is an extension of the Aravalli Hill range in Delhi and is a rocky, hilly and forested area. For administrative reasons, it has been divided into four zones -- south, south-central, central and north -- which make up an area of around 7,784 hectares. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi observed there was a need to have a holistic approach on the issue of green cover. "We need to get out of this mindset that only Delhi, being the national capital, needs to have greenery and the others are lesser mortals," the bench observed. Senior advocate K Parameshwar, assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, pointed to the November 11 verdict of the apex court which directed the Centre to give ...

Delhi govt in talks with Haryana for increasing water supply: Minister

Aiming to increase water supply to the capital, the Delhi government is in talks with its Haryana counterpart for a water exchange project, Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Monday. Currently, the city's average water production ranges between 900-1,000 million gallons per day (MGD), while the average requirement is around 1,260 MGD, with demand peaking during the summer season. "While we fix the gaps in our supply lines and reduce water losses, the Delhi government is working on a project for exchange of 30 cusecs of raw water from Haryana in exchange of treated water, which can be used for irrigation purposes in their state," Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said. According to the minister, there is a major factor of 20 per cent water loss in transmission from Haryana, which is increasing the gap in demand and production. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) currently operates nine water treatment plants (WTP) supplying around 864 MGD water and the remaining 126 MGD is extracted

Suspension of 8 opposition MPs from Lok Sabha likely to be revoked on Tue

The suspension of eight opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha is likely to be revoked on Tuesday, sources said, citing a decision taken at a meeting convened by Speaker Om Birla. Seven Congress and a CPI(M) MP were suspended for unruly behaviour, following a resolution passed by the Lok Sabha in the first part of the Budget Session. While the eight MPs were suspended for the entire session that is scheduled to conclude on April 2, opposition parties have been urging the speaker to revoke the suspensions during one of the sittings of the Lok Sabha. When Congress members had urged Birla to revoke the suspensions, he had said such action is taken when someone climbs on tables. The revocation of suspension of the eight MPs has been a key demand of the opposition since the second leg of the Budget Session commenced on March 9. The sources said there was a general consensus at the meeting that opposition members will restrict themselves in the Well of the House and not cross over to the ...

Tata Motors to raise commercial vehicle prices by up to 1.5% from April 1

Tata Motors on Monday said it will increase the prices of its commercial vehicle range by up to 1.5 per cent from April 1. The price increase is being undertaken to partially offset the impact of rising commodity prices and other input costs, the company said in a regulatory filing. The increase will vary, depending on the model and variant, it added. Part of the USD 180 billion Tata Group, Tata Motors is India's largest manufacturer of utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks, and buses. Tata Motors shares on Monday ended 2.82 per cent up at Rs 437.75 apiece on BSE.

Karnataka Assembly passes Bill to regulate hoardings, levy ad fee

The Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed an amendment Bill aimed at regulating outdoor advertisements and enabling municipal bodies to levy and collect fees on hoardings and billboards across the state. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly adopted the Karnataka Municipalities and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after it was moved by Urban Development and Town Planning Minister B S Suresha. The legislation empowers municipal councils and corporations to levy an advertisement fee on any person who erects, exhibits, fixes or displays an advertisement on land, buildings, walls, hoardings or other structures within municipal limits. The fee will be determined by local bodies through a resolution, subject to minimum and maximum rates prescribed by the state government. However, the Bill provides exemptions for advertisements related to public meetings of municipalities or corporations, elections to legislative bodies and candidature in such elections. It also mandates the display

India inks terms of reference with Philippines, Maldives for trade talks

India has inked terms of reference with the Philippines and the Maldives to start negotiations for free trade agreements (FTAs), the Commerce Ministry said on Monday. The terms of reference (ToR) outline the scope and modalities of a proposed trade pact. With the Philippines, a Southeast Asian nation, negotiations will begin for a preferential trade agreement (PTA), while with the Maldives, it will be for a free trade agreement (FTA), the ministry said. In a PTA, two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on a specific number of goods traded between them. On the other hand in an FTA, two trading nations either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, besides easing norms to promote trade in services and investments. India's exports to the Philippines rose 3.11 per cent to USD 2.16 billion in 2024-25, while imports dipped 17.8 per cent to USD 1.17 billion. The Philippines is a part of the ASEAN

Trump may delay China trip over Iran war, not to pressure Hormuz: Bessent

President Donald Trump may delay his China trip due to the Iran war, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday it's not to pressure Beijing on the Strait of Hormuz. Bessent said any delay to Trump's trip to Beijing would not be because of disagreements over the Iran war or efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "If the meeting for some reason was rescheduled, it would be rescheduled because of logistics," he said. "The president wants to remain in D.C. to coordinate the war and travelling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal." Trump has suggested he may delay the much-anticipated visit to China at the end of the month as he seeks to ramp up the pressure on Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and calm oil prices that have soared during the Iran war. In an interview Sunday with the Financial Times, Trump said China's reliance on oil from the Middle East means it ought to help with a new coalition he is trying to put together to get oil tanker traffic moving .

India warns citizens in Iran not to cross borders without embassy clearance

India on Monday asked its citizens currently in Iran not to approach or attempt to cross any land border for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Indian Embassy in Tehran. In an advisory, the Indian Embassy further said that Indian nationals who attempt to leave Iran via land borders without its knowledge and guidance are highly likely to encounter serious logistical and immigration difficulties. "...All Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India," the advisory said. It said the embassy will not be in a position to provide assistance once individuals move outside Iranian territory without prior coordination. "The Embassy is in regular contact with members of the Indian community, and coordinated arrangements are being undertaken wherever necessary. Uncoordinated movement toward land borders is strongly

JSW Steel unit eyes debut $1 billion short-term debt issue, says report

The company has invited bids for both the issues on Wednesday and has hired a few foreign banks to act as arrangers, they added

176 aircraft of non-scheduled, GA operators lack cockpit recorders: Govt

As many as 176 planes operated by non-scheduled and general aviation operators do not have flight data or cockpit voice recorders, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Under the norms, aircraft that have a take-off weight of less than 5,700 kilograms are required to mandatorily have CVRs only if they had received an airworthiness certificate on or after January 1, 2016. In a written reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that a total 2,263 aircraft were registered and issued certificates of airworthiness (C of A) before January 1, 2016. "Aircraft operated by Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit (NSOP's) /General Aviation (GA) operators which are not equipped with Flight Data Recorder (FDR)/ Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) are 176," Mohol said. His reply was to a query on whether the government has data on the number of aircrafts without cockpit voice and flight data recorders. The nearly 40-year-old Beechcraft C90A aircraft that crashed in Jharkhand las

Ozempic patent expiry to trigger boom in weight-loss drugs in India

India is the first major country after Canada where Novo is losing patent on semaglutide and will see an onslaught of generic versions

SC appoints ex-CJI UU Lalit mediator in ₹500 crore UAE money decree row

The Supreme Court on Monday appointed former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit as the sole mediator to amicably resolve the dispute over the execution of a money decree of Rs 500 crore passed by the UAE court in favour of Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) and against Hyderabad-based industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad. RAKIA is seeking to enforce a UAE civil judgment for AED 267,941,374 (approximately Rs 543 crore principal and Rs 643 crore with interest). The case stems from the 'Vanpic Project', a failed 2008 joint venture to develop ports and an airport in Andhra Pradesh. RAKIA alleges that Prasad, in collusion with former RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad, misappropriated USD 120 million intended for the project. On Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Prasad, that the industrialist has deposited Rs 125 crore as cash security as directed earlier. The senior lawyer also said

Govt to soon come out with revamped Stand-Up India scheme: Sitharaman

The government will soon come out with a modified Stand-Up India scheme to provide better benefits to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs looking to set up new projects, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Launched in 2016, the Stand-Up India scheme aimed to empower Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women entrepreneurs by facilitating bank loans for setting up new enterprises. The scheme expired on March 31, 2025. Replying to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said the modified scheme will incorporate lessons learnt in implementation of the original Stand-Up India scheme. "With studies done by Niti Aayog and others, this scheme is being redrafted and sooner the Cabinet will be given a proposal with which we will launch a new scheme to continue with this Stand-Up which benefitted SC/ST and women all over the country," Sitharaman said. The scheme provided loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore at the lowest applicable rate of the bank f

IndiGo ties up with Adani Airport for airline's loyalty programme

Domestic carrier IndiGo on Monday said it has partnered with Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) for the airline's loyalty programme, BlueChip for duty-free shopping at AAHL-managed airports in the country. Under the partnership, members can earn five IndiGo BluChips for every Rs 100 spent on duty-free products pre-booked through the Adani platform. Travellers can browse, reserve and pay for products online before departure and collect their purchases conveniently at the airport, it said. AAHL operates eight airports at Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Duty-free stores under the programme are available at airports in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Mangaluru and Lucknow, with expansion planned at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Guwahati and the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), it said.

Casual workers shifting to formal jobs as economy grows: Mandaviya

Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said increasing number of casual workers are getting into formal employment and with economic growth job opportunities are increasing day by day. "Day by day employment in increasing in the country, and unemployment is getting reduced. When any economy grows, employment is generated," he said during the Question Hour. To meet the rising demand of a growing economy, supply has increase for which manufacturing is required and that is where jobs are getting created, he said. The Minister further said that self-employment too has increased from 52 per cent in 2017-18 to 58 per cent. He said according to Periodic Labour Force Survey, average income of casual workers have increased from Rs 255 in FY'18 to currently Rs 418. Further, casual labourers are also shifting to formal employment. "People with regular salary have risen in the country. Casual workers are joining the formal workforce and the number of casual labourers h

India evacuates over 550 nationals from Iran via Armenia: Jaishankar

India has evacuated over 550 of its nationals from Iran through Armenia, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanking Yerevan on Monday for facilitating the land-border transit. New Delhi has been urging Indian nationals stuck in Iran to cross over to Armenia for subsequent travel to India in view of the escalating conflict in West Asia. "Thank the Government and the people of Armenia for facilitating the safe evacuation of over 550 Indian nationals from Iran so far," Jaishankar, currently on a visit to Brussels, said. "Appreciate their support in these challenging times," he said on social media. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week that around 9,000 Indians were staying in Iran, and the government of India is assisting those who want to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia for their subsequent return to India. "These 9,000 Indian nationals comprise students; they also comprise seafarers, some business people, some professionals, and some ...

Days of Love and Rage recounts Manbij's turmoil in Syria's civil war

Anand Gopal's Days of Love and Rage chronicles the people of Manbij through Syria's civil war-revealing how ordinary citizens fought dictatorship, ISIS, and repression

American flag raised at US Embassy in Venezuela for 1st time since 2019

The US flag was raised Saturday over its embassy in Venezuela for the first time since 2019, a move that highlighted the recent shift in relations between the two countries since former President Nicolas Maduro was captured by American troops in January. The reopening of the American embassy comes after several statements from US President Donald Trump in support of Maduro's successor, acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who has tried to keep negotiations open with the American government. The flag was raised "exactly seven years after it was taken down," the US Embassy team said in a statement published on its social media channels. The reopening drew immediate attention from local residents. "It's a good thing, really, what a joy," said Caracas resident Luz Veronica Lopez. "Other countries must come back too because that's what we need; progress, to move forward with good relations with the rest of the world, as it should be." Alessandro Di Benedetto, another Caracas resident, not

India well placed to handle fuel supply risks amid West Asia crisis: Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India is well-placed to deal with any situation on crude oil and fuel, as the West Asia crisis disrupts gas shipments and shipping routes, and highlighted that the government has ramped up kerosene production to provide an alternate option for the common man. Speaking at the CNBC-TV India Business Leaders Awards 2026 ceremony, Goyal said the government plans to come up with some "concrete agenda" next week to support exporters. "On crude oil, on fuel, we are pretty well placed. We have good stocks in hand. There's been absolutely no disturbance of any sort on the crude or the fuel front, petrol, diesel, aviation fuel," Goyal said. He said that India has ramped up kerosene production so that, in the event of any delays in LPG supplies, there will be an alternate cooking medium for the common man. "Incidentally, we are also covering through imports from diversified sources the requirements of LPG and LNG," he said. "The shipping times were