Page 20 - India

Yamuna water level crosses warning mark in Delhi, hits 204.60 metre

The warning mark for the city is 204.50 metres, while the danger mark is 205.33 metres, and evacuation of people starts at 206 metres

Experts split on impact of new US tariffs on India's jobs, exports

The steep tariff imposed on Indian exports to the US has evoked concerns among staffing experts with some of them warning of an immediate jobs crisis while others believe India's domestic demand and trade diversification will help cushion the impact. "The recent imposition of additional US tariffs is expected to have a direct and substantial impact on India's employment landscape. This will especially impact those industries relying heavily on the US market for business continuity and growth," workforce solutions and HR services provider Genius HRTech founder, chairman and managing director R P Yadav told PTI. Sectors like textiles, auto components, agriculture, and gems and jewellery are the most vulnerable, with MSMEs bearing the brunt, said Yadav. He estimates that 2,00,000 to 3,00,000 jobs are at immediate risk, with textiles alone, which is labour-intensive, potentially losing 1,00,000 jobs, if the tariff regime continues beyond the next six months. "Similarly, in the gem and

Vikram Misri holds talks with Nepal's top leadership on boosting ties

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday called on Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and President Ramchandra Paudel and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors. Misri arrived here earlier in the day for a two-day visit to the Himalayan nation on the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai. During his meeting with Oli, which took place at the Prime Minister's Office at Singhdurbar, matters of mutual interest were discussed to further deepen bilateral relations. Misri reaffirmed the deep civilizational ties and strong IndiaNepal partnership, and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation across various sectors, the Indian embassy here said in an X post. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava was also present at the meeting. The foreign secretary separately called on President Paudel and conveyed greetings of the Indian leadership, apart from briefing Hon'ble President on the progress in bilateral ties, the embassy sa

Zelenskyy hopes India will contribute to efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said he hoped New Delhi would contribute to efforts aimed at ending the war with Russia, as he wished India on its Independence Day. Zelenskyy's post on X came hours ahead of a summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, aimed at ending the war, now in its fourth year. Congratulating the people of India, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Zelenskyy said, This week we had a good, candid conversation with Prime Minister @narendramodi when I had an opportunity to personally convey my best wishes on this occasion. Our nations share the experience of standing up for freedom and dignity, as well as the pursuit of peace and development, the Ukrainian president wrote. We hope that India will contribute to efforts aimed at ending the war, so that our freedom and sovereignty are truly secure, Zelenskyy said. I am confident that the potential for mutually ..

Indian tablet PC market grows 20% in Q2; Apple leads with 30% share

India tablet PC market grew 20 per cent year-on-year in the June 2025 quarter, with Apple cornering almost one-third market share, CyberMedia Research said in a report. According to the CyberMedia Research (CMR) Tablet PC India Market latest report, Apple's iPad supplies in the Indian market grew 10 per cent year-on-year in the June 2025 quarter. "Apple maintained the leading position in India's tablet market in Q2 2025, with a market share of 30 per cent supported by a 78 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 10 per cent year-on-year growth. "This performance was driven by strong demand for the newly launched iPad 11 Series, which accounted for 70 per cent of Apple's total shipments during the quarter, alongside improved availability across both online and offline channels," the report said. Samsung followed Apple as its supplies grew by 15 per cent year-on-year, clocking 27 per cent market share during the reported quarter. "The company's broad portfolio enabled it to sustain perform

President Murmu extends greetings to citizens on eve of Krishna Janmashtami

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday greeted citizens on the eve of Krishna Janmashtami and asked all to take a pledge to make the nation stronger. The life and teachings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna inspire us towards self-development and self-realisation, she said in a message. Bhagwan Shri Krishna enlightened humanity about attainment of ultimate truth by following the path of 'dharma', the president said. This festival inspires us to adopt eternal values embodied by Lord Krishna, Murmu said. "On this occasion let us all take a pledge to follow the teachings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna and make our society and nation stronger," she said. Murmu extended best wishes to all the Indians living in India and abroad on the festival. "On the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, a festival filled with joy and enthusiasm, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all the Indians living in India and abroad," she added.

Use of children in crimes calls for re-fixing age of juvenility: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said use of children by criminals to commit wide-ranging crimes had prompted the reconsideration of the juvenility age. Justice Girish Kathpalia made the observations while dismissing an anticipatory bail plea of a man accused of using a child in illicit liquor trafficking. The judge said far more serious than the illicit liquor trafficking was the child abuse in carrying out such crimes. "Over a period of time, it is being observed that criminals use children to commit wide ranging crimes, involving not just liquor and drugs peddling but also arms/ammunition and even acts of extreme violence, which is leading the society to consider re-fixing the age of juvenility. In my view, far more serious than the illicit liquor trafficking is the child abuse in carrying out such crimes," the court noted. In the case at hand, one Narender was booked on the directions of Juvenile Justice Board, when the juvenile in conflict with law was produced before it. Th

India to be key driver of our long-term growth: Amazon's Samir Kumar

India is expected to become one of the largest contributors to Amazon's long-term growth, its country head Samir Kumar said on Wednesday, adding that the e-commerce giant is doubling down on its focus in the market, where it is investing billions of dollars. India is still not as deeply penetrated in terms of online consumption and therefore, presents a "very large opportunity" for Amazon, Kumar, who is now helming operations here as the Country Manager of Amazon India, told PTI in an interview. It is pertinent to mention that Amazon has committed to significant investment in its India infrastructure, about Rs 2,000 crore for 2025 alone. It has previously outlined a broader investment pledge of USD 26 billion by 2030, with close to USD 15 billion between 2023 and 2030. Kumar said India is among the fastest-growing markets for the company. "And we are a big believer that in the long run, India will be one of the biggest contributors to our growth," Kumar said, but did not give a ...

India negotiates trade deals firmly and on equal footing: Jitin Prasada

India negotiates free trade agreements with nations on an equal footing with adequate firmness, as the country has changed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said on Wednesday. He said that India's economic growth is progressing rapidly. "When we do FTAs with different countries...we talk on equal footing. This is the new India. We put forth our point of view forcefully," he said. The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the newly-expanded ISA building of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in Dwarka here. His remarks come at a time when India is negotiating trade pacts with a number of countries including the US, European Union, Peru, Chile and New Zealand. With the US, five rounds of talks have been held so far. India has clearly stated that it can not compromise on agri, and dairy sectors, a key demand of the US. Inaugurating the building, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said .

Trump tariffs to impact 55% of total merchandise exports to US: MoS Finance

"A combination of different factors, such as product differentiation, demand, quality, and contractual arrangements, would determine the impact on India's exports," he said

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