Page 16 - India

217,000 fake notes of various denominations found in FY25, says govt

As many as 2.17 lakh pieces of fake notes of various denominations were detected during 2024-25 compared to 2.23 lakh such notes in the previous year, Parliament was informed on Monday. Of this, highest -- 1,17,722 pieces -- counterfeit notes of 500 [MG (New) Series] were detected in FY25, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. This was followed by 51,069 pieces of such notes of 100 denomination and 32,660 notes of Rs 200, he said. "Government of India, in consultation with Reserve Bank of India, reviews the effectiveness of security features of banknotes from time to time and undertakes measures to introduce new security features in accordance with Section 25 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Incorporating new security features/new designs in the banknotes to stay ahead of the counterfeiters is a continuous process," he said. In reply to another question, Chaudhary said, the RBI has noted that net fixed assets of private limi

India the world's most 'dashing and dynamic' economy, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described India's economy as the world's most "dashing and dynamic" and said some people who have the attitude of "we are everyone's boss" are not liking it. Singh's comments come amid high tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on goods imported from India. The speed with which India is moving ahead, no power in the world can stop it from becoming a big power globally, Singh said in his address after performing bhoomi pujan of a rail coach manufacturing unit of the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Madhya Pradesh's Raisen district. 'Today, if any country has a dashing and dynamic economy, it is India's economy,' he asserted. The defence minister, without naming anyone, said some people are not liking the rapid development of India and are unable to digest it. "They think that we are everyone's boss and how is India moving forward so fast? Many people are trying to do something, so that when things made by the hands of Indians i

Trade ties must not compromise policy sovereignty, says Jayant Chaudhary

Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary on Friday said national interest is paramount and trade diplomacy cannot be at the cost of policy sovereignty, days after the US ratcheted up tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. Addressing a skills summit organised by FICCI here, the minister said the government is sensitive and allied to the strong support and solidarity extended by the Indian industry. "Currently the global economy appears to be in a flux. Of course we need full support from the industry. This is the kind of conversation and you could almost call it a battle that the government of India is currently engaged in, but we have decided that trade diplomacy cannot be at the cost of policy sovereignty," the minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said. Last week, US President Donald Trump had announced 25 per cent tariff on India that came into effect from August 7. Later, Trump also signed an executive order slapping an additional 25 per cent levy on India for New Delhi's

Manohar Lal, Jitendra Singh review roadmap for 100GW nuclear power goal

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday discussed the timeline for achieving the 100 GW nuclear power target by 2047 with Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. At a meeting in Parliament House, the two ministers and senior officials from the Power Ministry and the Department of Atomic Energy reviewed the roadmap to increase India's nuclear energy capacity from the current 8.8 GW to 22 GW by 2032. The two leaders discussed plans to increase the nuclear power capacity to 49 GW by 2037, scale it up to 67 GW by 2042 and reach the 100 GW target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by 2047. Singh highlighted the government's landmark initiative to open the nuclear sector for private sector participation, emphasising its pivotal role in strengthening India's energy security. He said there was a strong and vibrant response from the industry to the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme, leading to an extension of the request for proposal (RFP) submission deadline to ...

Energy security among top priorities amid global tensions, says govt

The government considers energy security to be among its "top priorities" and has taken all necessary steps to ensure access to affordable energy for people, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a written response to a query also said the government pursues a "multi-pronged strategy" that includes diversifying supply sources, enhancing domestic production of oil and gas, expanding the adoption of alternate energy sources and advancing the energy transition. He was asked details of the steps taken by the government to safeguard the country's strategic and energy interests amid global tension, and also whether the government has raised concerns with countries like the US regarding the "impact of sanctions" on India's petroleum imports from Russia and Iran. Last week, US President Donald Trump had announced 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India that came into effect from August 7. The US president on Wednesday also signed an executive order ...

Legacy of U-turns: Timeline of Nitish Kumar's alliance shifts over a decade

From Lalu Prasad's RJD to BJP to RJD to BJP again and back, Nitish Kumar's shifting alliances have redrawn Bihar's political map more than once. Here's how and why he flipped

Watch | "You’re going to see a lot more": Trump warns of secondary tariff sanctions | Trump tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) hinted at more "secondary sanctions" on a couple of other countries, and "one of them could be China".

Trade talks with India to begin soon: Philippines President Marcos

India and the Philippines are taking concrete steps towards launching formal negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement, Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr said on Wednesday. Addressing the 'India-Philippines CEO Roundtable Meeting', organised by FICCI, here, President Marcos emphasised that the Philippines and India see the PTA as a strategic platform to harness their shared strengths and elevate our economic partnership. "We are working to find common ground to make the PTA come as quickly as possible. We have found ways to quicken the process with strong support from both government and business chambers, we are taking concrete steps towards launching formal negotiations," he said, according to a release issued by FICCI. Marcos also stated that the government has taken a slew of measures to attract more Indian investments by ensuring ease of doing business in the Philippines. "These reforms show our commitment to create a truly enabling environment for ...

Tharoor urges Centre, states to align efforts for clean air solutions

Batting for concerted action to tackle air pollution, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called on the Central government and states to work together, alongside experts, industry, civil society and citizens, to align efforts and implement scalable solutions -- from clean transport to cleaner fuels. Noting that air pollution transcends economic, social and political divides and is both a grave public health crisis and an environmental emergency, Tharoor said it demands not just our best ideas, but our collective courage and concerted action across sectors and states. The Thiruvananthapuram MP made the remarks at a high-level roundtable on 'Clean Air and Public Health: Advancing Collective Action' at the India Habitat Centre here on Tuesday. Hosted by Tharoor and convened by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and AirQualityAsia (AQA), the dialogue was the seventh such roundtable since 2017 that brings together India's leading air quality experts, policymakers, health ...

India's mobile tariffs unfair, rich pay less than poor, says Airtel MD

Bharti Airtel sees an opportunity in raising tariffs for data services as it feels that the rich are paying less and the poor are not required to pay anymore, a senior official of the company said. A customer needs to pay Rs 199 for a month-long connection which comes with unlimited local, STD, roaming calls and a 2GB data limit. By paying Rs 100 more, a subscriber on Airtel can get 1 GB data per day and it goes up to 3 GB data per day with plans starting from Rs 449 onwards. "The architecture of pricing in India is quite skewed. At the entry level itself or just above the entry level, you get so much data allowance, calling and messaging, that you really don't have any reason to upgrade. It's just an unfortunate situation where people who can afford to pay, the rich, are paying less and the poor, you know, we don't need to charge the poor anymore," Bharti Airtel Vice-Chairman and MD, Gopal Vittal said. He was replying to a question on tariffs during the company's earnings call for

Industrial electronics vital to India's $500 bn manufacturing goal: ICEA

India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) on Monday underlined the need for focusing on industrial and infrastructure electronics to achieve the USD 500 billion electronics manufacturing target by 2030-31. The future of India's electronics industry lies not only in the manufacturing of products, but equally in the manufacturing of goods that will automate factories, cities, and transportation networks, the industry body said in a release. Accordingly, ICEA said industrial electronics must be front and centre of India's electronics growth strategy. ICEA, in the release, called for "the urgent need to prioritise industrial and infrastructure electronics as a central pillar of India's USD 500 billion electronics manufacturing target by 2030-31". Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of ICEA, stressed that the industrial electronics segment must be recognised as a national strategic priority. "It is the brain and nervous system of every advanced manufacturing setup. Without leadership in

Interview | Raghuram Rajan on US trade deal, state of the Indian economy, declining FDIs, and more

In an exclusive chat with Business Standard, Raghuram breaks down the impact of the tariff wars, the impact of the US tariffs on India

Trump repeats claim he ended India-Pakistan conflict through trade

US President Donald Trump on Sunday yet again took credit for stopping conflicts around the world, including the recent one between India and Pakistan. Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after a long night of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim on several occasions. Trump's latest claim comes days after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending several conflicts around the world including the one between India and Pakistan. On Sunday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump slammed radio host and author Charlamagne Tha God, and said he (God) knows nothing about him or what he has done, like just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight. He didn't know that, or India and Pakistan or, wiping out Iran's nuclear .

Samsung calls India key strategic market, upbeat on growth prospects

Consumer electronics major Samsung sees India as a "key strategic market" with "immense potential" and stays optimistic about its growth trajectory, a top company official said. The comment comes against the backdrop of global trade and tariff turmoil, and the latest US salvo of 25 per cent tariff imposition on India. India is not just a strategic market for Samsung but a key pillar in its global future, said JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, adding the South Korean Chaebol will "continue to invest in innovation, manufacturing, and local value addition, aligning with India's vision of a self-reliant economy." Samsung's long-term commitment to India remains unwavering, as it sees the country as a cornerstone of its global strategy, he said. Samsung views India as a key strategic market with immense potential. The company remains optimistic about India's growth trajectory, driven by government initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and a robust digital ...

Trump slaps steep new tariffs on India, Canada, others; markets reel

South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau said he was seeking "real, practical interventions" to defend jobs and the economy against the 30per cent US tariff it faces

India's DAP imports from China fall to 97,000 tonnes in July amid new rules

India's import of Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) from China has declined sharply and stood at 97,000 tonnes in July this year, Parliament was informed on Friday. DAP is the second most consumed fertiliser after urea in India. Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said DAP import from China declined from approximately 22.28 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to about 8.47 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 as reported by fertiliser companies. "In July 2025, approximately 0.97 lakh tonnes of DAP have been imported from China," the minister said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers, including DAP, are under Open General License (OGL). The fertiliser companies are free to import/manufacture these fertilisers as per their business dynamics. Citing reasons for the decline in DAP import, the minister said in October 2021, China amended its catalogue of commodities requiring mandatory additional inspection prior to export of fertiliser-related ...

Starlink gets satellite internet permit, spectrum norms ready: Scindia

Elon Musk-led Starlink has received a licence to launch satellite service in India, and a framework for spectrum allocation is also in place for a smooth rollout, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. The announcement was made on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the first cellular call made in the country in 1995. "Starlink has been granted a Unified License to launch satellite internet services in India. Frameworks for spectrum allocation and gateway establishment are ready, ensuring smooth rollout," Scindia said. Along with Starlink, Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio SES are also awaiting spectrum allocation to roll out their satcom services. The minister said that over the last 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's digital transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. "From remote villages to bustling cities, digital access has empowered citizens, bridged divides, and made India a global leader in .

Philippines president to visit India from Aug 4-8, hold talks with PM Modi

President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R Marcos Jr., is slated to visit India from August 4 to 8 during which he will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said. This is his first visit to the country since assuming the office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, it said. The forthcoming state visit of President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to "set the path for future bilateral cooperation", and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, the MEA said. Prime Minister Modi and President Marcos are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions on August 5, it said. President Marcos will also be meeting President Murmu during his visit. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also scheduled to call on him during the visit, the MEA said in a ...

US tariffs may hit India's IT sector indirectly via tech spend cuts: EY

Though the Indian IT services sector is not directly hit by the newly-announced 25 per cent US tariffs on goods, the ripple effects could be "substantial" as rising input costs may prompt US companies to scale back discretionary tech spends, Nitin Bhatt, Technology Sector Leader at EY India said on Thursday. The tariff announcement comes at a time when the export-led Indian IT industry is grappling with macroeconomic uncertainties and the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). "While the Indian IT services sector isn't directly hit by the newly announced 25 per cent US tariffs, the ripple effects could be substantial. Rising input costs may prompt US companies to scale back discretionary tech spending. Simultaneously, growing unease around workforce mobility and evolving digital taxation frameworks could redefine how cross-border services are priced and delivered," Bhatt said. Companies that pivot to hybrid delivery models, diversify geographically, and embed AI at scale will be ..

India's electricity demand to grow just 4% in 2025 amid cooler summer: IEA

India's electricity demand is expected to grow by a moderate 4 per cent in 2025, after cooler summer temperatures in the first half of the year reduced consumption and shifted peak load to September, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said. In its mid-year update on electricity, IEA said while global power demand is rising much faster than the forecast for the 2025-2026 period than it did during the past decade, electricity demand in China and India is expected to rise at a more moderate pace in 2025 than the rapid growth seen in 2024. "After 6 per cent growth in 2024, electricity demand in India is forecast to rise by 4 per cent this year," it said. IEA projected Chinese consumption to rise 5 per cent in 2025, down from 7 per cent in the previous year. However, China alone will account for 50 per cent of global electricity demand growth, as it did in 2024. "In India, the impact of global economic uncertainties on industrial activity and cooler summer temperatures compared to 20