Indian Embassy commemorates 79th Independence Day of India
The official programme was held from 0730 hrs at the Embassy premises. Floral tributes were paid to Shilaphalakam (plaque to honour the sacrifices of Indian martyrs) and the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by Ambassador Dr Adarsh Swaika, followed by hoisting of the National Tricolor flag and singing of the Indian National Anthem.
On the occasion, the Ambassador read out Hon'ble President of India H.E Smt Droupadi Murmu's address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day. Hon'ble President, in her address, listed the achievements of the country in the last 78 years, particularly the remarkable progress in various socio-economic sectors of India in recent years. She urged the citizens to work assiduously for the goal of a developed country by 2047.
Ambassador also highlighted the points made by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India H.E Shri Narendra Modi in his speech from the Red Fort on 15 August. Hon'ble Prime Minister enumerated the success of the government in various spheres and outlined the various new measures to take the country towards the goal of a developed country. He emphasized the success of Operation Sindoor launched to eliminate the threat of cross-border terrorism. He urged citizens to work towards a Self-reliant India through Vocal for Local.
In his own remarks, the Ambassador conveyed that India-Kuwait relations are at one of its best phases in contemporary times and attributed it to the successful outcomes of the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024 and the continued support of the leadership of Kuwait for strong India-Kuwait relations.
The ambassador thanked the community associations and the members of the community who have been instrumental in strengthening bilateral relations at a people-to-people level and promoting Indian culture in Kuwait. He reassured the community that the Embassy remains a 'home away from home' for them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
5 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
US-India August trade talks called off
New Delhi plans tax cuts to spur growth in face of US tariffs WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: A planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been called off, a source said, delaying talks on a proposed trade agreement and dashing hopes of relief from additional US tariffs on Indian goods from August 27. The current round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement is now likely to be deferred to another date that has yet to be decided, the source with direct knowledge of the matter said. The US embassy in New Delhi said it has no additional information on the trade and tariff talks, which are being handled by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). India's trade ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters email seeking comments. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations. The new import tax, which will come into effect from August 27, will raise duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50 percent - among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. India's Foreign Ministry has said the country is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil while the United States and European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia. The Indian government has decided to slash the consumption tax it charges consumers and businesses by October, a top official said, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced sweeping tax reforms to boost the economy in the face of a trade conflict with Washington. The federal government will propose a two-rate structure of 5 percent and 18 percent, doing away with the 12 percent and 28 percent tax that was imposed on some items, said the government official, who declined to be named as the plans are still private. The plan is to bring '99 percent' of all the items that are in 12 percent category to 5 percent, the official said. That tax slab includes butter, fruit juices, and dry fruits, and any cuts to the basket could benefit the likes of Nestle to Hindustan Unilever to Procter & Gamble. The tax cut plan comes amid growing tensions between New Delhi and Washington on steep US tariffs on Indian goods. Modi on Friday made a public appeal to promote domestic products, and his supporters have been calling for boycott of American products. Addressing the nation on its 79th independence day, Modi earlier said that the goods and services tax would be reformed and taxes lowered by Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, set to be celebrated in October this year. 'This Diwali, I am going to make it a double Diwali for you. Over the past eight years, we have undertaken a major reform in goods and services tax. We are bringing next-generation GST reforms that will reduce the tax burden across the country,' Modi said. The final decision will be taken by the GST (goods and services taxes) Council, which is chaired by the finance minister and has all the state's finance ministers as members, the official said. The council is set to meet by October. Citi estimates that about 20 percent of items - including packaged food and beverages, apparel and hotel accommodation - fall under the 12 percent GST slab, accounting for 5-10 percent of consumption and 5-6 percent of GST revenue. If most of these are moved to the 5 percent slab and some to the 18 percent slab, it could lead to a revenue loss of around 500 billion rupees, or 0.15 percent of GDP, potentially taking the total policy stimulus for households in the current 2025-26 financial year to 0.6 percent-0.7 percent of GDP, the brokerage said. — Reuters
Kuwait Times
15 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Indian Embassy in Kuwait marks 79th Independence Day
KUWAIT: Ambassador Dr Adarsh Swaika addresses the crowd during a ceremony marking the 79th Independence Day of India. KUWAIT: The Embassy of India in Kuwait marked the 79th Independence Day of India on August 15, 2025 with a ceremony attended by over 3,000 members of the Indian community. The official program began at 7:30 am at the Embassy premises, where Ambassador Dr Adarsh Swaika paid floral tributes at the Shilaphalakam—a plaque honoring Indian martyrs—and at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The ceremony included the hoisting of the Indian national flag and the singing of the national anthem. During the event, Ambassador Swaika read out the address of India's President Droupadi Murmu. The President highlighted the country's achievements over the past 78 years, emphasizing progress across multiple socio-economic sectors. She urged citizens to work toward making India a developed nation by 2047. Members of the Indian community participate in the celebration. Ambassador Swaika places flowers at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Ambassador Swaika also conveyed key points from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke from the Red Fort on the occasion. The Prime Minister outlined the government's recent successes, introduced new initiatives, and emphasized the importance of self-reliance. Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Swaika described India-Kuwait relations as being at one of their strongest phases in recent times, crediting the successful outcomes of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2024 and the ongoing support of Kuwaiti leadership. The Ambassador acknowledged the role of community associations and individual members in promoting Indian culture and strengthening bilateral ties at the grassroots level. He reassured attendees that the Embassy continues to serve as a 'home away from home' for Indians living in Kuwait.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Modi vows to protect farmers, pushes self-reliance amid Trump tariff tensions
India PM asks shops, traders to push local products NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country on Friday to move towards more self-reliance, manufacture everything from fertilizers to jet engines and EV batteries, and vowed to protect farmers in the face of a trade conflict with Washington. With the punishing tariffs imposed on Indian exports by US President Donald Trump expected to hurt growth in the world's fastest growing major economy, Modi announced lower goods and services taxes (GST) from October - a move that could help boost consumption. He also announced India would set up a new defense system called 'Sudarshan Chakra' in the aftermath of India's four-day military conflict with Pakistan in May. He did not elaborate but a government statement said the system is aimed at neutralizing enemy infiltrations and enhancing India's offensive capabilities. GUWAHATI: Assam police commandos march during India's Independence Day celebrations in Guwahati on August 15, 2025.-- AFP ndian defense and policy circles have informally referred to the Russian S-400 air defense system - which played a key role during the fighting with Pakistan - as Sudarshan Chakra, after a Hindu mythological weapon. Modi was addressing the nation on the occasion of its Independence Day at a time New Delhi has been grappling with Trump's tariffs and the collapse of trade talks, largely due to differences over imports of American farm and dairy products. 'Farmers, fishermen, cattle rearers are our top priorities,' Modi said in his customary annual address from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi. 'Modi will stand like a wall against any policy that threatens their interests. India will never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of our farmers,' he said. Modi did not mention the tariffs or the US in his speech that lasted nearly two hours. Last week, Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations. The new import tax will raise duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50 percent - among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Modi has never spoken about the tariffs directly, only alluding to them in a speech last week, where he swore to protect the interests of farmers, even if it came at a personal price. Farmers are a key political constituency in India and they violently protested against Modi's last big push to reform the sector, forcing him to repeal three farm laws in 2021 in what was a rare defeat for him. Although local manufacturing and self-reliance have been Modi's key focus areas for years now, the push is seen to have gained urgency amid ongoing global trade tensions and supply chain disruptions. 'The need of the hour is to take a resolve for building a strong India ... I want our traders, shopkeepers to display boards for 'Swadeshi' products,' Modi said, using the Hindi word for made in India goods. He said made in India semiconductor chips would hit the market by the end of this year and that India was pushing for self-reliance in producing critical minerals with exploration underway at more than 1,200 locations. Trump's tariffs threaten to disrupt India's access to its largest export market, where shipments totaled nearly $87 billion in 2024, hitting sectors like textiles, footwear, shrimp, gems and jewelry. In retaliation, some supporters of Modi have sought to stoke anti-American sentiment and called for a boycott of US companies such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. Modi's promise to cut GST by October's Diwali festival, which encompasses one of India's biggest shopping seasons, follows previous commitments to overhaul it by reducing the number of rate brackets under the 2017 tax regime. A group of ministers have been preparing a report that will consider merging tax slabs and lowering rates on some products. In February, India cut personal income tax for some individuals to boost spending. Earlier this month, the central bank kept interest rates steady, following a 100 basis point cut this year so far. The government has proposed to the ministers' panel that it recommend reducing taxes on mass use items as well as on goods used by women, students and farmers to boost consumption and enhance affordability, the finance ministry said in an X post. The government will move towards making GST a simple tax with two rate slabs, one standard and another merit, it said. Special rates will be applicable only for a few select items. — Reuters
