Missing parts in electronics manufacturing: Blue-collar workers, engineers
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Shop floor staff
The booming electronics manufacturing sector, among the biggest Make-in-India success stories, is facing twin manpower challenges across the hierarchy spectrum: Shortage of both blue-collar shopfloor workers and top-draw engineering talent. The gap is the most acute in the AI- and robotics-embracing smartphone industry, where dedicated benefits are set to end soon, staffing executives said.TeamLease said the broader electronics sector, which includes semiconductors, components, consumer durables and mobile phones, will need some 12 million people by FY27-28 — compared with 6 million in FY25 — of which around 10 million people are expected to face a skill gap.Curiously, the talent gap is the most evident at a time when several companies are harnessing robotics and AI to boost global competitiveness, as towering tariffs or their absence determine the quantum of future India-focused investments for brands such as Apple and Samsung.As margin-protection pressures build on smartphone makers set to lose the five-year production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme benefits next year, the adoption of newer technologies is causing the gap between talent demand and supply to widen. Only around 30% of technical graduates are industry-ready in advanced manufacturing, said executives.'There is a large gap in available skilled labour, and the current exercises being done to tie up with colleges and leverage government initiatives is an important foundational step,' said Atul B Lall, managing director, Dixon Technologies , India's top homegrown contact manufacturer. 'It has to be scaled up, but I think it's going to be in phases, which we can take forward through global collaborations.'Dixon manufactures mobile phones, TVs, washing machines, air conditioners, and lighting equipment, and will soon start making electronic components.Adoption of new technologies has created a notable gap, involving both complex roles such as development, automation, and advanced supply chain management , and relatively simpler engagements, such as technician roles, said experts. Quess Staffing Solutions said in the mobile phone manufacturing sector, up to 350,000 people are currently employed. But capacities are doubling every year, and the skill gap is set to widen further with the rapid expansion and adoption of new technologies.According to TeamLease, approximately 20% of new roles — double of what was needed a year before — now require advanced technical skills.'The (wider electronics manufacturing) sector's reliance on advanced technology requires workers with updated skills, but there is often a shortage of qualified candidates,' said Kartik Narayan, CEO, Staffing, Teamlease Services. 'The industry competes with other sectors, such as technology and healthcare, which may offer higher salaries and better working conditions.'He added that only a small fraction of technical institutes has practical training facilities like SMT (surface-mount technology) lines or automated inspection systems, forcing companies to invest heavily in on-boarding and skill development internally.To be sure, for blue-collar workers , the skill requirement in general hasn't changed significantly. The challenge is getting the right person available at the right time in the specific regions, because there is more demand than locally available supply, Quess said.Electronics manufacturing is concentrated in three main hubs — Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka, and Noida/Greater Noida.The local talent pool for shop floor jobs in these hubs is limited, necessitating migration from labour-surplus states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, said Nitin Dave, CEO, Quess.In the next 3-4 years, a large number of people from the current pool of trained freshers are expected to upgrade and potentially move to higher-skill roles, Quess added.The skill gap is set to become more significant as manufacturers start getting into component manufacturing for margin expansion, which requires higher automation and robotics deployment.'Over the past few years, AI-driven quality checks and IoT-enabled SMT lines have transformed manufacturing processes, with nearly 65% of manufacturers adopting these advancements, leading to a 15% decline in low-skilled roles,' said Teamlease's Narayan.TeamLease added that around 60% of existing staff are being upskilled annually in automation and design.
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Indian Express
6 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: India-Singapore ties, Agnipath scheme, and Income Tax Bill 2025
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 14, 2025. If you missed the August 13, 2025, UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here. Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: INDIA AND Singapore on Wednesday finalised around ten as the top ministers from both sides met in Delhi, ahead of a possible visit by Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong next month. Key Points to Ponder: — What is the history of India-Singapore relations? — What are the areas of cooperation between both the countries? — What is the Act East policy? — How is Singapore an important facilitator of India's Act East policy? — In the light of India's semiconductor push, what is the significance of Singapore for India? Key Takeaways: — Pacts were signed on areas including connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development and advanced technology, an official statement said. — External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable with six Singaporean ministers. — At the third ISMR, the two sides are also understood to have deliberated on an ambitious proposal to lay an undersea cable to carry solar energy from India to Singapore that will also provide data connectivity. — An Indian statement said the two sides reviewed the progress of various bilateral cooperation initiatives under the six pillars of the ISMR — advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development and sustainability. — It said India views Singapore as an important partner in its 'Act East' policy. The inaugural ISMR was held in New Delhi in September 2022 and the second meeting was held in Singapore in August 2024. Do You Know: — Underlining the strategic partnership between India and Singapore, Modi said in his visit to Singapore last year: 'Over the past 10 years, our trade has more than doubled. Mutual investment has increased almost threefold to cross US$150 billion. Singapore was the first country with which we launched the UPI person-to-person payment facility.' Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Singapore & Semiconductors Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (1) What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north? (UPSC CSE 2014) 1. Bangkok 2. Hanoi 3. Jakarta 4. Singapore Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3 (b) 3 – 2 – 4 – 1 (c) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2 (d) 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: A new draft on the plastics treaty shared Wednesday on the penultimate day of the global negotiations has left out provisions on plastic production cuts, chemicals of concerns, and no clear definition of plastics, threatening to derail consensus on an agreement. Around 190 countries have assembled in Geneva to negotiate the first-ever treaty to end plastic pollution. Key Points to Ponder: — Read about plastics and their different categories. — Why is a global plastic treaty required? — What are the challenges faced by global leaders in drafting a legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution. — What is the significance of the Global Plastic Treaty in the context of international environmental agreements? — What is India's position on the plastics treaty? — Read about the Plastic Waste Management Rule 2021. Key Takeaways: — The talks in Geneva reached a critical point as the chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), leading the task to thrash out a treaty, shared the draft at a stocktake plenary, drawing sharp reactions from several countries. Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the Ecuadorian diplomat chairing the INC of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said during the plenary that he had shared a draft in his capacity as the chair, capturing areas of convergence and disagreements. — The draft text and the procedural pathway expressed by Valdivieso drew sharp reactions from countries. The draft was unequivocally slammed by both, a bloc of countries pushing for production cuts and called 'imbalanced' and the bloc of countries led by Kuwait and other oil producing countries, who want to focus on plastic waste management. — Countries have been pushing to address the full life-cycle, which includes addressing upstream issues such as limiting manufacturing of polluting plastic products, prohibiting use of toxic chemicals, and including a list of products for phase-out. — India aligned with Kuwait and said there are some 'serious concerns' and 'fundamental elements' were missing, said Naresh Pal Gangwar, Additional Secretary, Environment Ministry. — In the crucial article on 'plastic products', the draft said that countries should take measures 'as appropriate' and 'in accordance' with national circumstances and capabilities to manage, reduce, or not allow import or export of plastic products. This was seen as a major dilution by several countries, who slammed the draft for being 'weak' and lacking any legally binding goals. Do You Know: — The Plastic Waste Management Rule 2021 banned the use of single-use plastics covering 19 categories in 2022. Single-use plastic refers to plastic items that are used once and discarded. Single-use plastic has among the highest shares of plastic manufactured and used — from packaging of items, to bottles (shampoo, detergents, cosmetics), polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, trash bags, food packaging etc. — According to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, there are 7 categories of plastics on the basis of their recyclability. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why the world needs a global plastic treaty Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (2) Consider the following: (UPSC CSE 2025) 1. Cigarette butts 2. Eyeglass lenses 3. Car tyres How many of them contain plastic? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None (3) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2024) Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution. Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base. Which pone of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies-III: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. What's the ongoing story: The Armed Forces are discussing a reassessment of the Agnipath scheme, keeping in mind the requirement for an ideal ratio between technically proficient and trained manpower and a reduced age profile of soldiers in the military, The Indian Express has learnt. Key Points to Ponder: — What is the Agnipath scheme? — What are the issues related to this scheme? — How is Agnipath different from regular military service? — Do Agniveers draw pensions post-retirement? — What is the rationale for introducing the Agnipath scheme? Key Takeaways: — The services have been periodically reviewing the scheme — for recruitment of soldiers, airmen and sailors for a limited period of four years — ever since it was introduced in 2022. — While there have been discussions between the services and the Department of Military Affairs on possible tweaks, no major changes have been cleared so far. — However, according to sources, following Operation Sindoor in May, there have been discussions on increasing the retention of Agniveers, based on factors such as training, experience and expertise acquired by them in their four years. — The first batch of Agniveers will complete their four years by 2026-end, and a decision on making changes to the scheme is likely to take place around that time. — According to current rules, at the end of the four-year tenure, up to 25% of the Agniveers can join the services, subject to merit and organisational requirements. — According to sources, discussions are underway in the Army to increase this retention percentage — with the number varying in different departments. — While there are increasing efforts to procure and induct a range of new generation military platforms, equipment and modern technologies in the Armed Forces after Operation Sindoor, much of the discussions stem from the requirement of a bigger manpower trained to use them. — In the Army, for instance, most of such specialised training is done after Agniveers join their respective units after the initial six months of training at their regimental centres. — Earlier this year, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi had said that efforts to align Agniveers' leave policies with those of regular soldiers and to harmonise benefits in case of casualties were also being considered. — He also mentioned the requirement for technically skilled recruits and spoke about the possibility of increasing the upper age limit from 21 to 23 years. Do You Know: — Agnipath was aimed at recruiting personnel below officer ranks — soldiers, airmen, and sailors who are not commissioned officers — to the Indian Armed Forces for a period of four years. — At the end of this tenure, upto 25% of these recruits, the so called 'Agniveers', can join the services on a permanent commission (another 15 years), subject to merit and organisational requirements. — Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years are eligible to apply (the upper age limit was increased from 21), and the recruitment standards remain the same as with regular service, prior to Agnipath. — The scheme was announced in June 2022, after military recruitment was paused for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. — Agniveers draw a basic salary of Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 per month, and are entitled to other risk and hardship allowances. — They contribute 30% of their monthly emoluments to the Seva Nidhi fund, which the government matches. At the end of their service, they receive approximately Rs 11.71 lakhs (with interest) as a lump sum severance package from this fund, which is exempt from income tax. — If they die on duty, their family receives a lump sum of Rs 1 crore (including the Seva Nidhi package), and full pay for the period which the soldier could not serve. In case of disability, an Agniveer can receive upto Rs 44 lakh as compensation, depending on the percentage of disability suffered which is attributed to, or aggravated by military service. — Unlike soldiers in regular service, Agniveers do not draw pensions post-retirement. Only the 25% of Agniveers who get absorbed into the forces after four years will receive pensionary benefits, although the initial four years of service will not be considered for these. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: What is the Agnipath scheme and the opposition to it? Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: The diverse nature of India as a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighborhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment. (UPSC CSE 2014) Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: During a discussion in the state Assembly last week, legislators across party lines demanded the legalisation of bull fighting in Goa. The MLAs said that bull fighting, locally referred to as dhirio or dhiri, is an integral part of Goa's cultural fabric. Key Points to Ponder: — What is the bull festival of Spain called? — How is dhiri different from Spain's bull fight? — Are there any constitutional provisions related to cruelty against animals? — What are the other traditional sports in India that involve animals? — What is the Supreme Court ruling on the Jallikattu festival? — What is the objective of enacting the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960? Key Takeaways: — In the book Goa, Cradle of My Dreams (1988) Nora Secco de Souza described Goan bull fighting as a 'less complicated' and 'less colourful affair' than its Spanish counterpart 'for there are no flamboyant matadors [in dhiri]'. — These bull fights have traditionally been held in paddy fields and football grounds of Goa, with village shepherds bringing in their animals. — Dhiri was a 'part and parcel of every Church fest' and villagers from miles around would gather to witness the popular sport in which 'two thorough-bred bulls fight each other'. — The bull that gets pushed out of the arena first or turns and runs away loses the fight, unlike in Spain where the animal has to die for the fight to end. A fight can be over in a few minutes or stretch for more than an hour. — 'It is a straight fight till one bull falls or flees. Often a bull is seriously injured,' said one bull owner who was previously involved in the practice. Bulls can even be gored to death at times. Agitated bulls may also charge at spectators, causing grievous injuries. — The bulls often had names such as (Mike) Tyson and Rambo (the famous Sylvester Stallone character), and had a devoted fan following, Gracias said. — In September 1996, Xavier Fernandes from Cana-Benaulim was killed by a 'violent' bull at a fight organised at Ambaji-Fatorda. After the incident, the NGO People for Animals filed a petition in the High Court of Bombay at Goa contending that bull fights were occurring illegally in contravention to the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. — The High Court subsequentlly found bullfights to be illegal and said they 'cannot be permitted to be organised'. The Court directed the state to take immediate steps to ban 'all types of animal fights including bull fights and 'dhirios' in the state of Goa.' — In 2021, a contempt petition was filed in the High Court, alleging that bull fights were taking place despite orders of the court. In April this year, a bull died during a bullfight in a paddy field in Betalbatim. In January, a spectator was gored to death at a bull fight near Benaulim. — Supporters and bull fight aficionados argue that bull fights are a traditional 'sport of Goa'. — 'There is no cruelty. It is a sport where the strength of bulls is put to test. It is like boxing. It can be regulated. The horns of bulls can be capped, but a ban goes against the tradition,' Francis, a resident of Taleigao, told The Indian Express. — In 2023, AAP MLA from Benaulim, Venzy Viegas sought an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to exclude dhirio, along the lines of a similar legislation passed by Tamil Nadu, which excludes the traditional sport of jallikattu from the ambit of the law. Do You Know: — A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on May 18, 2023 upheld the amendments made by the legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, allowing bull-taming sports like jallikattu, kambala, and bullock-cart races. — The five-judge Bench overruled the view taken by a two-judge Bench of the court in its 2014 ruling in 'Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja', banning such sports including jallikattu. — Jallikattu, also known as eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival. The festival is a celebration of nature, and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, of which cattle-worship is part. — In 2017, Tamil Nadu amended the PCA Act to allow jallikattu in the state. The amending Act sought to preserve the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu, and to ensure the survival and well-being of the native breeds of bulls. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Supreme Court upholds Tamil Nadu law allowing jallikattu: What is this decade-old case? Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Consider the following pairs: 1. Jallikattu : Tamil nadu 2. Kambala : Karnataka 3. Dhirio : Goa How many of the above pairs are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation . General-Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: Parliament on Tuesday passed a new income tax Bill to replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961. The new Bill removes redundant provisions and archaic language, and is likely to come into effect from April 1, 2026. Key Points to Ponder: — What is income tax? Who levies the income tax? — Is Income tax a progressive taxation system? — What is the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) remittances? — How has the new income tax bill defined virtual digital space? — What are the national pension system (NPS) and unified pension scheme (UPS)? Key Takeaways: — The new Income-tax Bill, 2025 was first introduced in February, and then sent to a Parliament Select Committee. On August 12, the government introduced a new version, the Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025, incorporating most recommendations of the Committee. — The first draft of the Bill, introduced in February, had included a provision — Clause 263(1)(a)(ix) — that implied that taxpayers could only claim a refund if they had filed tax returns on or before the due date. The new version has removed this provision. — The new Bill also clarified that there will be nil TCS on Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) remittances for education purposes financed by any financial institution, a provision that had gone missing in the earlier version. — The Bill has corrected other drafting errors such as those related to inter-corporate dividend deductions for companies availing concessional tax rates. — The Bill has also allowed taxpayers who do not have any I-T liability to obtain a nil-TDS certificate. — The government has corrected the anomaly regarding donations linked to non-profit organisations in line with the recommendation of the Select Committee. Exemption has been allowed to NPOs for 5 per cent of the 'total' donation instead of just 5 per cent of 'anonymous' donations, as is the case in the existing Act. — The new Bill introduces the concept of 'tax year', which has been defined as the 12-month period beginning April 1. The concept was introduced in the first draft in February. — The new Bill removes redundant provisions and archaic language and reduces the number of Sections from 819 in the Income Tax Act of 1961 to 536 and the number of chapters from 47 to 23. — The government has, however, retained the contentious definition of 'virtual digital space' — the powers to call for information by income tax authorities during surveys, searches and seizures, including email servers, social media accounts, online investment, trading and banking accounts, remote or cloud servers and digital application platforms. — Separately, the government also brought in the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which amends the Finance Act, 2025. — The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill also extended income tax benefits under the market-linked national pension system (NPS) to the guaranteed unified pension scheme (UPS), by allowing tax-free withdrawal of lump sum payments or the accumulated UPS corpus, up to 60 per cent, at the time of retirement. Do You Know: — Overseas remittances by Indian residents under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fell by 29 per cent to $1,964.21 million in February 2025 from $2,768.89 million in January. — Under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, resident individuals, including minors, can freely remit up to $2,50,000 per financial year for permissible current or capital account transactions. These transactions include education, medical treatment abroad, purchase of property, and investments in foreign stocks. — The new I-T bill has defined 'virtual digital space' in the powers to call for information by income tax authorities during surveys, searches and seizures. — It defines a virtual digital space as 'any digital realm that allows users to interact, communicate and perform activities' through computer technology. It also allows tax authorities to override the access code to any said computer system, or virtual digital space, where the access code thereof is not available. — The National Pension Scheme (NPS) replaced the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) on January 1, 2004. — Like the OPS, the UPS provides a guaranteed pension. It aims to give stability, dignity, and financial security to government employees after retirement, assuring their well-being and a secure future. More importantly, the UPS promises retirees a fixed pension, unlike the NPS. This was one of the major criticisms of the NPS. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Overseas remittances by Indians under LRS were down 29% in February to $1,964.21 mn: Here's why 📍New Income Tax Bill defines virtual digital space for searches, seizures Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (5) With reference to India's decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non-resident entities, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act. 2. Non-resident entities that offer advertisement services in India can claim a tax credit in their home country under the 'Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements'. Select the correct answer using the code given below : (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Economic Development Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development. What's the ongoing story: The much-awaited bill to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who said that the proposed changes are aimed at reducing delays, maximising value for all stakeholders, and improving governance of all processes under the Code. Key Points to Ponder: — What is the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)? — Read about the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India. — What were the first generation of economic reforms? — Why was the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code introduced? — What are the issues associated with IBC? — What steps should be taken to address the issues and challenges associated with the functioning of the IBC? — What are the key changes proposed in the amendment bill? Key Takeaways: — The proposed modifications include provisions to ensure faster admission of insolvency cases, an out-of-court mechanism to address 'genuine business failures', and introduction of group and cross-border insolvency frameworks, and a slew of others. — Introduced in 2016, the IBC promised an overhaul of insolvency resolution with the aim to rescue and reorganise distressed companies through a time-bound process, prioritising their survival as going concerns. — While the IBC has fostered a culture of accountability and credit discipline among debtors, its efficiency has been undermined by procedural delays, shortage of personnel, deviations from key principles, and slow implementation of critical provisions. — Although the IBC has had a few successes, it has been marred by issues like high case backlog, lengthy delays in admission and resolution, and steep haircuts for creditors. Over the past couple of years, various stakeholders flagged concerns and the need to rethink the IBC's design. — The amendment bill—referred to a select committee for consultations—is expected to help make the insolvency resolution process swifter and efficient, in addition to being in line with international best practices. The proposed amendments are to facilitate faster admission, resolution, and liquidation, maximise asset value, and improve governance. — One of the key changes proposed in the amendment bill is that an insolvency application filed by a financial creditor 'must' be admitted if the default is proven, procedural compliance is met, and there are no disciplinary proceedings against the resolution professional. This means that there will be no real scope for rejecting such applications on additional grounds, and the default would be the only real ground for consideration of an insolvency application. — The bill also clarifies that records from financial institutions are to be considered as sufficient and conclusive proof of default by the debtor. — The amendment bill also stipulates that the adjudicating authority — the NCLT — should strictly enforce the 14-day timeline to decide on admission of insolvency applications, and if there is a delay, it would need to 'record the reasons for such delay in writing'. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍With long delays and steep haircuts, chorus for revamping IBC grows louder ALSO IN NEWS This AI-tool will automatically generate minutes of meetings of gram sabhas, the primary body of the Panchayati Raj system, consisting of all registered voters of a gram panchayat. The visits are taking place in the run-up to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin in China, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel on August 31-September 1. Delhi is following its multi-alignment foreign policy, and will be careful not to become part of an anti-Western grouping. Delhi likes to portray itself as a non-Western, and not an anti-Western country, keeping intact its strategic autonomy. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
India.com
8 minutes ago
- India.com
Former US ambassador makes massive statement, explains why Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariff on India, lack of response led to...
Donald Trump- File image New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has imposed a steep 50 percent tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil. The new rate will come into effect in 21 days, so on 27 August, according to the executive order. A response from India's foreign ministry said Delhi had already made clear its stance on imports from Russia, and reiterated that the tariff is 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable'. To recall, in May, the Modi government outrightly rejected Trump's so-called role in the ceasefire with Pakistan. Former Indian ambassador and renowned author Vikas Swarup revealed that Trump's displeasure is also linked to India joining the BRICS organisation and refusing to bow to US pressure during trade negotiations. While talking to news agency ANI, the former Indian ambassador said that India–US relations are strategic, whereas US–Pakistan relations are merely a money game. The ambassador also praised India's firm stance. He also warned that Trump's tariffs would lead to a rise in inflation within the United States itself. What Vikas Swarup say: In an interview with ANI, Vikas Swarup, who is a former High Commissioner to Canada, said steps being taken by the US President Donald Trump will eventually lead to ratcheting up inflation in America. 'US called India a 'Tariff King'. But now the 'Tariff King' in the world is the United States because our average tariff is about 15.98%. The US tariff today is 18.4%. So, it is now the 'Tariff King' of the world. But the fact is, tariffs are bringing in money. They will bring in about a 100 billion dollars a year for the US. But the issue is that eventually who will pay for these tariffs? By American consumers. So, what's going to happen is this is going to ratchet up inflation in America, it's going to ratchet up prices in America. I think that's when the chickens will come home to roost,' he said. 'If you cave in to a bully then the bully will increase his demands. Then there will be even more demands. So, I think we have done the right thing. India is too large, too proud a country to become a camp follower of any other country. Our strategic autonomy has been the bedrock of our foreign policy right from the 1950s. I don't think that any Govt in Delhi can compromise on that,' says former diplomat Vikas Swarup on the tariff rift between India and the US,' he added. President Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods plus an unspecified penalty in July, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, over India's imports of Russian oil. On Opposition questioning India's Foreign Policy and diplomacy, Vikas Swarup said India should not cave in to any pressure as India's strategic autonomy is non-negotiable'. Here, I would not blame our diplomats at all. I think what has happened is Pakistan, through some intermediaries, has gotten the ear of the US President and that is why, two visits by Asim Munir to Washington, the so-called 'deal' with America on so-called 'oil reserves' of Pakistan. More importantly, I think Pakistan is now trying to position itself as the 'Crypto King' of South Asia and there, through World Liberty Financial in which Trump's family has stakes, Steve Witkoff's family has a stake, through that I think Pakistan has managed to project an image of itself as a reliable partner…All these things have led to Trump having a softer approach towards Pakistan,' he said.
New Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
India hopes US ties will progress despite tariff tensions: MEA
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday hoped that its relationship with the US will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests. New Delhi's comments came amid escalating tensions between the two countries after President Donald Trump slapped 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. "India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges, he said. "We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests," he said. Jaiswal was asked about the future of India-US ties in the wake of tariff tensions. The MEA spokesperson suggested that the defence ties between the two countries remained robust. "The India-US defence partnership, underpinned by foundational defence agreements, is an important pillar of the bilateral partnership," he said. This robust cooperation has strengthened across all domains, he noted.. "We are expecting a US Defence Policy Team to be in Delhi in mid-August. The 21st edition of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas is also expected to take place later this month in Alaska," Jaiswal said. "Both sides remain engaged to convene the 2+2 Intersessional meeting at the working-level towards the end of the month," he added.
