Page 21 - India

India has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan, China far ahead: SIPRI report

A new SIPRI yearbook reveals that India now has more nuclear warheads than Pakistan. But China continues to outpace both South Asian neighbours.

Ola launches zero-commission model pan-India, drivers to keep full earnings

Ride-hailing platform Ola on Tuesday said it has implemented a zero per cent commission model nationwide, enabling over a million driver partners to fully retain their fare earnings with no ride or income limits. As part of the initiative, drivers can choose their plan and keep the entire fare, with no deductions or limits, the company said in a statement. This rollout, now active pan-India, covers autos, bikes, and cabs, and offers unlimited earning potential for driver partners, it added. "The launch of zero per cent commission model pan India marks a fundamental shift in the ride-hailing businesses. Removing commissions empowers driver partners with much more ownership and opportunity," an Ola Consumer spokesperson said. Asserting that the driver partners are the backbone of the mobility ecosystem, the spokesperson said, "giving them complete control of their earnings will help in creating a more resilient and sustainable ride-hailing network across the country". Ola said its s

Cyprus council member touches PM Modi's feet

Cyprus council member touches PM Modi's feet

India in touch with students in Iran to ensure their safety, says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs' statement read, "The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety"

Iran-Israel war: Govt to meet stakeholders to assess trade impact

The government is closely monitoring the situation arising from the Iran-Israel conflict, and a meeting with shipping lines, container firms, and other stakeholders will be held this week to assess the impact on the country's overseas trade and address any issue, a top official said on Monday. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that the impact of the war on India's trade will depend on how the situation unfolds over a period of time. "We are watching the situation. We are also calling a meeting (this week) of all the shipping lines, the container organisations and the concerned departments, and stakeholders to understand from them that what are the kind of issues they are facing and how we can sort it out," he told reporters here. Exporters have stated that the war, if escalated further, would impact world trade and push both air and sea freight rates. They have expressed apprehensions that the conflict is expected to impact movement of merchant ships from the Strait of Hormuz

India eyes resolution on China's rare earth curbs impacting auto sector

China's restrictions on the export of rare earth elements and related magnets are affecting the domestic auto and white goods sectors

Watch: PM Modi conferred with Cyprus' highest civilian honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus’ highest civilian honour, by President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday.

India begins relocation of citizens, students as Israel-Iran conflict escalates

With tensions in West Asia surging after a wave of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, India has started relocating its nationals—primarily students—from high-risk zones inside Iran.

70% vaccines sourced by WHO are from India; US imports 14% generics

Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said on Monday 70 per cent of total vaccines sourced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 14 per cent of generics imported by the US are from India. She delivered the keynote address at the inaugural session of the Second Policymakers' Forum organised by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) here. An international delegation of policymakers and drug regulators from 24 countries is participating in the forum. Aimed at promoting the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia and collaboration in India's initiative for flagship affordable medicines -- the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) -- the Forum is being organised by the IPC under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in association with the Ministry of External Affairs. In her keynote address, Patel emphasised India's commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality-assured medicines and stressed the importance of regulatory ...

India starts moving its citizens to safety from Tehran amid conflict

Indian students are being relocated from major Tehran universities to safer locations within Iran as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its fourth day

China's nuclear arsenal growing fastest globally, may hit 1,500 by 2035

Even with 1,500 warheads by 2035, China's nuclear arsenal would still be only about one-third the size of Russia's or the US's current stockpiles

India, France to intensify defence, space & civilian nuclear cooperation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held wide-ranging discussions with French counterpart Jean-Nol Barrot on a range of issues and the two sides agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation in areas like defence, security, space and civilian-nuclear collaboration. Jaishankar also expressed India's "deep appreciation" to France for the strong condemnation of the cross-border terrorist attack that took place on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and thanked Paris for its "steadfast support for India's right to defend itself against terrorism". Addressing a joint press conference in Marseille after the meeting, he underlined that there has been a "very high degree of trust" between India and France over the years as one looks at their relationship and cooperation. He said the two sides also discussed global and regional issues like the situation in the Indian subcontinent, the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. "It has always been our position that

India, China to fast-track process for resuming direct air services

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong during which the two sides reviewed the developments in India-China bilateral relations and agreed to continue to "stabilise and rebuild ties" with priority on people-centric engagements, the MEA said on Friday. The meeting took place on Thursday and the two sides also agreed to expedite steps involved in resuming direct air services between the two countries. Misri had held talks with Sun earlier on January 27 in Beijing. Sun is on a visit to India from June 12-13, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. During the meeting on Thursday, "the two sides reviewed the developments in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Beijing on January 27, 2025 and agreed to continue to stabilise and rebuild ties with priority on people-centric engagements", the MEA said. The foreign secretary appreciated the Chinese side's cooperation for the resumption of the Kailash ...

A Tightrope Between Markets and Welfare: David Engerman on India’s Economic Choices

In this exclusive conversation, historian David C. Engerman, author of Apostles of Development, joins Ankur Bhardwaj to discuss the economists who shaped South Asia’s postcolonial development.

Nepalese Foreign Minister calls for 'green energy cooperation' with India

Green energy cooperation will foster mutual interdependence between New Delhi and Kathmandu, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzoo Rana Deuba said on Thursday, adding that it can be done by promoting clean and sustainable energy sources. India's commitment to import 10,000 MW electricity over the next decade reflects the growing momentum in Nepal-India energy cooperation, Deuba said while speaking at the NepalIndia Strategic Dialogue organised by think tanks Ananta Aspen Centre and Centre for Innovative Foreign Policy in Kathmandu. Nepal and India had signed a long-term agreement in January 2024 to facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity to India in the next 10 years. The foremost priority in Nepal- India relations is the need to advance our economic partnership by intensifying cooperation in trade, transit and investment, Deuba asserted. Nepal's enormous hydro-potential offers a clean climate resilient and renewable energy source that can be harnessed for generations to come, s

INSCO submits Rs 2,752 crore revised plan for HNGIL takeover after SC order

Independent Sugar Corporation (INSCO) has submitted a comprehensive revised resolution plan worth Rs 2,752 crore for the takeover of debt-ridden glass bottle manufacturer Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Limited (HNGIL), in line with the Supreme Court verdict. The Committee of Creditors (CoC) is likely to consider the revised proposal, and voting is likely to commence on Thursday, sources said. INSCO, a company promoted by the Madhvani Group, having operations in many countries, has submitted a revised resolution plan on June 8, making Rs 2,752 crore offer comprising Rs 2,200 crore in upfront cash and equity valued at around Rs 550 crore. The revised offer comes following the Supreme Court's directive to match the offer previously made by AGI Greenpac. As per the apex court's order, only INSCO's plan will be considered for approval, with the entire resolution process, including voting, to be completed by July 2025. INSCO's plan outlines payment of the entire Rs 2,200 crore .

India's renewable energy capacity rises 17% to 227 CW in May: Joshi

India's total renewable energy capacity grew 17.13 per cent year-on-year to 226.74 gigawatts (GW) in May, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. "India's #RenewableEnergy sector has witnessed unprecedented growth under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. From solar to wind energy, our nation is paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future!," the Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a post on X. The renewable energy capacity has surged 17.13 per cent year-on-year to 226.74 GW in May from 193.58 GW in the same month last year, as per the data shared by the minister in his post. Of the total, solar power capacity expanded 31.49 per cent to 110.83 GW from 84.28 GW in May 2024. Wind capacity witnessed a rise of 10.49 per cent to 51.29 GW against 46.42 GW last year. In a separate post, Joshi said clean energy is shaping India's journey of progress and pride. "Guided by @narendramodi ji's leadership, it has become a powerfu

CAT issues notice to AIR over plea by casual RJs on announcer hiring

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has issued notice to All India Radio and others on a plea filed by the association of casual radio jockeys (RJs) against the public sector radio broadcaster's notification on appointment of casual announcers. Judicial Member Manish Garg noted the submissions of senior advocate Salman Khurshid that the All India Radio Broadcasting Professionals Association, comprising around 20 casual announcers or RJs, were working for "a long time", and that the matter on the regularisation of "similarly situated persons" was pending in the Supreme Court. The tribunal noted that the association had also filed an application for impleading themselves in the matter before the apex court. In an order dated June 10, CAT said the April 4 notification would be "subject to the outcome of the present original application". "Issue notice to the respondents. Let the reply be filed within four weeks," the tribunal said. The respondents are All India Radio or Akashva