Page 81 - India

Focus shifts to rescue efforts as rains abate in parts of north India

As the weather improved in parts of north India, which was pummelled by heavy rains for days, authorities on Wednesday worked on a war footing to rescue stranded tourists, restore vehicular traffic on arterial roads and prevent floodwaters from entering new areas. In Punjab and Haryana, at least 15 people have died in rain-related incidents, according to government data. As many as 2,000 tourists stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Kasol were evacuated and more than 300 tourist vehicles stuck in Lahaul following landslides and flash floods left for their respective destinations, the state government said. In Delhi, the Yamuna swelled to 207.55 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time high of 207.49 metres recorded in 1978, according to government agencies. Delhi has recorded a rapid increase in the Yamuna water level over the last three days. It shot up from 203.14 metres at 11 am on Sunday to 205.4 metres at 5 pm on Monday, breaching the danger mark of 205.33 metres 18 hours earlier

On track to achieve over 25% of total sales from EVs this fiscal: MG Motor

MG Motor India is on track to achieve over 25 per cent of total sales from electric vehicles this fiscal year as it continues to enhance its product portfolio, according to company Deputy Managing Director Gaurav Gupta. The company has already crossed the 10,000 unit cumulative sales milestone of EVs in the country. On Wednesday, the automaker introduced a top end variant of its electric SUV ZS EV equipped with level two autonomous driving technology priced at Rs 27.89 lakh for a limited period. "We had mentioned earlier that in this financial year also we will see upwards of 25 per cent of our portfolio coming in from electric vehicle sales. At this point in time, we would like to hold that metric and work towards it," Gupta told PTI. He further said, "This will only increase as we go along in terms of new products and also the growth of our current portfolio. We are building up on that journey. Since the Comet is just a recent launch, I think we have started on that journey and i

India home to 2nd largest population of Muslims in world: President Murmu

India, as a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, celebrates unity in diversity and its over 200 million Muslims make the country the second largest population of the community in the world, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday. Welcoming Muslim World League Secretary General Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who had called on the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Murmu said India appreciates the role and objectives of the Muslim World League in promoting tolerant values, moderation of consciousness and inter-faith dialogue. She stated that India, as a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, celebrates unity in diversity, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. "Our more than 200 million Indian Muslim brothers and sisters make us the country with the second largest population of Muslims in the world," the president said. Murmu said India attaches great importance to its relationship with Saudi Arabia. She said both the ...

Will continue investments in India, invested $35 bn till date: Anil Agarwal

Foxconn withdrew from a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with the metals-to-oil conglomerate earlier this week

CapFort Ventures launches Rs 200 cr fund, will back 40 tech start-ups

VC firm says it expects institutional investors, family offices, ultra high net worth individuals to support fund

Foxconn-Vedanta deal off: What went wrong & what next for India's semiconductor dream

Recently, the highly anticipated partnership between Vedanta and Foxconn to establish a $19.5 billion semiconductor manufacturing plant in Gujarat, India, came to an unexpected halt. >

Quadria Capital to invest up to $155 mn in Maxivision Eye Hospital

Maxivision offers eye care services to over five million patients in 42 centres across six states in southern and western India

Cost to cut sickle cell disease's risk beyond reach of most Indians: Lancet

The costs required to reduce the risk of sickle cell disease is beyond the reach of most individuals in India and sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is most prevalent, says a new Commission published in The Lancet Haematology journal. The Commission publishes shortly after a recent study in the same journal found that the highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) disability was concentrated in western and central sub-Saharan Africa and India. The authors of the Commission also noted that there is a shortage of healthcare and scientific professionals with expertise in SCD, as well as a lack of trials aimed at developing novel treatments in these countries. SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. The condition affects more than 20 million people worldwide. The recent study suggested there were 376,000 (3.76 lakh) global SCD-related deaths in 2021, compared to 34,400 cause-specific ...

PM Modi to visit UAE on July 15 on his return journey from France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Abu Dhabi on July 15 after concluding a two-day visit to Paris. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Modi will hold talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Abu Dhabi. "The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been steadily strengthening and the prime minister's visit will be an opportunity to identify ways to take this forward in various domains such as energy, education, healthcare, food security, fintech, defence and culture," it said. The prime minister is visiting France on July 13 and 14 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Modi will be the guest of honour at the Bastille Day parade on July 14 in Paris where a tri-services Indian armed forces contingent would be participating. The MEA said President Macron will host a state banquet as well as a private dinner in honour of the prime minister. The two leaders will also hold wide-rang

Top headlines: Disney explores option for India biz, veggie prices soar

Business Standard brings you the latest headlines at this hour

Disney exploring strategic options for its India biz including JV, and sale

The company has talked to at least one bank about ways to help the India business grow, while sharing some of the costs, according to the report

India committed to spotlight, concerns of developing nations: MoS

Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Tuesday shared India's commitment to spotlight the priorities, perspectives and concerns of the developing nations, including the Arab world, during its G20 Presidency. The minister of State for External Affairs said despite the challenging global context, trade between India and the Arab world has escalated, currently standing at over USD 240 billion. He emphasised the Arab world's significant contributions to India's energy and food security, providing approximately 60 per cent of India's crude oil imports and over 50 per cent of its fertiliser needs. Addressing the India Arab Partnership Conference organised by Ficci, the minister said shared cultural heritage through linkages of language, customs, and traditions continue to lend energy to the historical bond between India and the Arab nations. "The Arab world is indeed a part of India's extended neighbourhood. Our shared views on major international developments, strong economic and commercial

Govt floats tender to set up 450,000 tonne green hydrogen facility

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has floated a tender for setting up a production facility of 4.5 lakh tonne of green hydrogen in India under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) scheme. SECI is a Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). It is a nodal agency for implementing various schemes for renewable energy in the country. According to the tender document, the total capacity available for bidding is 4.5 lakh tonne per annum including 4.1 lakh tonne under Technology Agnostic Pathways and 40,000 tonne under Biomass Based Pathways. The total capacity to be allocated under this tender is 450,000 tonne per annum of green hydrogen (GH2), it stated. It provided that a bidder, including its parent, affiliate or ultimate parent or any group company shall submit a single bid undertaking to set up a GH2 production facility. The projects shall be quoted in multiples of 500 tonne ...

India may firm up procurement of Rafales for Navy, 3 Scorpene from France

India is finalising the ground work for firming up procurement of 26 Naval variant of Rafale jets and three Scorpene submarines from France in the run up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris this week, people familiar with the development said on Monday. The two sides are also inching closer to seal a deal under which French defence major Safran and an Indian entity will jointly develop an aircraft engine in India, the people said. It is learnt that the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) of the Ministry of Defence cleared the proposals. The procurement proposals will be taken up soon by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The people said India and France may announce the big-ticket defence projects during Modi's visit to France. Modi will attend the Bastille Day Parade in Paris on July 14 as the guest of honour. Some of the defence procurement projects may be announced this week, the people said when asked where the mega ...

India's ethanol program will cap future sugar exports: BMI report

BMI says that there is currently a fast development of additional capacity to produce ethanol in India, where the biofuel is made mainly from sugarcane

India's power consumption grows by 4.4% to 139.23 billion units in June

Power consumption grew by 4.4 per cent to 139.23 billion units in June this year compared to last year. In the year-ago period, power consumption stood at 133.26 billion units (BU), higher than 114.48 BU in June 2021, according to government data. The peak power demand met, which is the highest supply in a day, rose to 223.23 GW in June 2023. The peak power supply stood at 211.72 GW in June 2022 and 191.24 GW in June 2021. The power ministry had estimated the country's electricity demand to touch 229 GW during the summer season. But the demand did not reach the projected level in April-May this year due to unseasonal rains. Power consumption was affected in March, April and May this year due to widespread rains in the country. Experts said that unseasonal rains in March, April and May affected the power consumption in the country. However, they stated that the power consumption growth was not that bad in June this year. Rains reduced the demand for electricity as people used fewe

India's consumption is rising as global prices have eased: Gas importer

Eased gas prices, triggered by the built-up of stocks by European nations, is boosting gas consumption in the price-sensitive Indian market

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

India has overtaken China as the most attractive emerging market for investing, according to 85 sovereign wealth funds and 57 central banks representing USD 21 trillion in assets. India is increasingly viewed positively for its improved business and political stability, favourable demographics, regulatory initiatives, and a friendly environment for sovereign investors, according to a report by global investment management firm Invesco. The report titled 'Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management Study' included views from 142 chief investment officers, heads of asset classes along with senior portfolio strategists from 85 sovereign wealth funds and 57 central banks. Amid persistent high inflation and real interest rates, investors are recalibrating portfolios. Sovereign wealth funds, it said, favour fixed income and private debt, while Emerging Markets (EMs) with solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation, particularly India, have emerged as prime investment

L&T, Spain's Navantia to jointly bid for $5-bn India submarine tender

L&T has so far built more than 65 defence vessels- both in partnership and on its own- including a handful for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, according to its website

Rajnath Singh discusses deepening of bilateral ties with Malaysian PM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim and held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Mohamad Hasan here on Monday and discussed ways to further deepen bilateral defence ties. Singh arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday on a three-day visit aimed at further boosting bilateral defence and strategic ties. "Called on the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr @anwaribrahim in Kuala Lumpur. Deeply appreciate his positive approach and interest towards further deepening India-Malaysia bilateral relations," he tweeted. "Had an excellent meeting with the Defence Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur today. We reviewed the diverse pillars of the extensive bilateral defence engagement and discussed the roadmap for the 4th Decade of India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation," he said. The defence ministry in New Delhi said on Saturday that Singh and Hasan will review defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further .