Delhi meet discusses need to boost non-defence commerce The scheduled September meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to highlight bilateral non-defence trade. The discussion in this regard took place in the antional capital during July 9 and 10 at the Second India-Russia Strategic …

United States Trade Representative team to meet officials In the first such formal engagement since the U.S. decided to withdraw India’s preferential trade status in March, a team from the office of the United States Trade Representative will arrive in Delhi on Thursday for meetings with officials of the Commerce …

The Inter-State River Water Disputes Bill also proposes to resolve such conflicts within 18 months The Union Cabinet has approved the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys. A version of this bill was first introduced …

U.S. House to vote on diluted Bill on defence cooperation with Delhi The U.S. House Committee on Rules voted on Tuesday night to send a watered-down version of an amendment to enhance defence cooperation with India to the full House floor for a vote. The new India NDAA amendment, a …

Of the major ports in India, Diamond Harbour, located at the mouth of the Hooghly, has recorded the maximum sea level increase, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha. While recent studies reveal that sea level rise has been estimated to be 1.3 mm/year along India’s coasts during the …

The government informed Parliament that “no foreign government or organisation has any locus standi” in repealing Article 370 in J&K as matters relating to the Constitution were internal and only for the Indian Parliament to deal with. While responding to a question on whether repeal of Articles 370 and 35A …

HoloLens, which blends digital imagery with real world, caters to firstline workers When Toby Bouska Jr. started assembling cabs for Kenworth semitrucks last year, he learned the ropes by observing longtime workers at the factory. But it wasn’t exactly engaging, and he didn’t get much practice doing the job himself. …

It seeks to merge 13 labour laws A Bill that seeks to merge 13 labour laws into one code on occupational safety, health and working conditions that would apply to all establishments with 10 or more workers was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, paving the way for its …

The Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, sprung a major surprise to-night [July 9] by sending a note to the Congress Working Committee – through a special messenger from Delhi – more or less associating herself with the Leftist demand for bank nationalisation. When the Working Committee was discussing the draft …

Markets react negatively to the Budget’s populism and inability to force reforms Many investors who were hoping for business-friendly reforms were not too impressed by the maiden Budget of the second Narendra Modi government. After a moderate negative reaction when the Budget was presented in Parliament on Friday, both the …

The budgetary measures can speed upIndia’s plans to switch to electric vehicles The Union Budget has announced a bold move to make a transition to electric vehicles, and offered a tax incentive for the early adopters. Its stated vision to leapfrog into an era of electric mobility and domestic vehicle …

Forest dwellers and farmers are the best hope to preserve biodiversity and ensure food security The Dongria Kondh tribe of Niyamgiri Hills are among the best conservationists in the world. Known for the spirited defence of their forested habitat against short-sighted industrialisation, they have through millennia evolved a lifestyle that …

Why a purportedly ‘limited’ attack by the U.S. is likely — and worrying Is Iran being set up for a ‘limited scale conflict’ just before the U.S. presidential election? This is a suspicion that might be far from the minds of North and West European leaders, hailing from countries that, …

Maratha reservation borders on class legislation rather than signifying reasonable classification Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), once considered to be just a party of upper caste Hindus, is beginning to expand its social base. And a party that has consistently criticised the Indian National Congress …

India needs to double yearly rate of fall in stunting cases to achieve its 2022 target A new report, ‘Food and Nutrition Security Analysis, India, 2019’, authored by the Government of India and the United Nations World Food Programme, paints a picture of hunger and malnutrition amongst children in large …

Pakistan’s economy is at a “critical juncture” where it needs an ambitious and bold set of reforms, the IMF has said, days after the global lender agreed to give a $6 billion bailout package to the cash-strapped country. “Pakistan is facing significant economic challenges on the back of large fiscal …

Both sides support reducing civilian casualties to zero The Taliban and Afghan representatives, including some government officials, agreed on Tuesday to a basic road map for negotiating the country’s political future, a major step that could help propel peace efforts to end the long war, now in its 18th year. …

A lie, say activists; threaten more mass rallies Hong Kong’s embattled pro-Beijing leader on Tuesday said a China extradition bill that sparked unprecedented political unrest “is dead” — but protesters immediately dismissed her comments, threatening more mass rallies. Chief Executive Carrie Lam admitted that her administration’s attempt to introduce the …

The French government is to impose a tax of up to €18 on plane tickets for all flights from airports in France to fund less-polluting transportation projects, a Minister said on Tuesday. The move, which will take effect from 2020, will see a tax of €1.5 imposed on economy-class tickets …

It has long had a field day putting tariffs on U.S. items: Trump U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on India for imposing tariffs on American products and said it was “no longer acceptable”, days after he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and agreed …