BIG! PM Modi Set To Ink Mega Defence Pact With Brazil: Akash Missiles, Submarines On Agenda
India and Brazil are gearing up to sign a big-ticket defence pact during PM Narendra Modi's upcoming visit. Brazil has expressed keen interest in India's Akash Air Defence System, coastal surveillance tech, and even joint submarine maintenance. Secretary (East) P Kumaran revealed that both nations are exploring defence collaboration in battlefield communication, offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and co-development of new platforms like Garuda artillery guns. Brazil also seeks tech cooperation on its Scorpene-class submarines, and potential tie-ups in the aviation sector using the Embraer platform. Talks are underway on nuclear cooperation, green energy and biofuels, with possible discussions on small modular reactor (SMR) tech. With defence ties deepening, this visit could mark a new era in India-Brazil strategic relations. India's indigenous Akash missile system was instrumental in repelling Pakistan's attempted air strikes during Operation Sindoor. Developed by DRDO and inducted into the Indian Air Force and Army in the 2010s, the Akash system has come of age as India's frontline surface-to-air defence weapon.#RajasthanNews #PakHinduCouple #TharDesertTragedy #IndiaPakistanBorder #Jaisalmer #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
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Hans India
39 minutes ago
- Hans India
Backbone of rising India
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted the growing strength of India's steel industry that is playing a key role in propelling the country's infrastructure, defence, electric mobility and clean energy sectors. Referring to Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy's post on X about how India's policy push and innovation are shaping the country's journey to becoming a global steel leader, the Prime Minister, in a post on X, wrote: "From infrastructure and defence to electric mobility and clean energy, steel is the backbone of a rising India. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy outlines how policy push and innovation are shaping India's journey to becoming a global steel leader". Kumaraswamy said: "A revitalised steel sector is shaping the rise of a New India. From highways to high-speed rail, metro networks to renewable parks, EVs to defence, Indian steel is at the heart of our infrastructure revolution". The minister further stated that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India has emerged as the world's 2nd largest steel producer. Steel production has nearly doubled since 2014, and we are fast moving towards our 2030 target of 300 MTPA, he said. "Through visionary reforms like the domestically manufactured iron & steel products policy and Production Linked Incentives scheme, we have boosted capacity, self-reliance, and green steel innovation," he observed. "Today, India exports quality steel, builds with its own strength, and empowers MSMEs and core industries. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action. Steel is not just metal. It is the backbone of a rising, resilient India," Kumaraswamy added. He also wrote in a media article that a new Bharat is rising, and at the very foundation of this rise stands steel, a sector that was earlier stagnant but is now forging ahead.

The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh flags 'withdrawal' of NITI Aayog's working paper on Indo-U.S. trade
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed on Monday (June 30, 2025) that government think-tank NITI Aayog has withdrawn a working paper on Indo-U.S. agriculture trade relations. He claimed that the NITI Aayog paper called for allowing duty-free import of genetically-modified (GM) maize and soyabean from the United States, and alleged that the Narendra Modi government prioritises Midwestern American farmers over their counterparts in states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. The NITI Aayog had, in a working paper titled "Promoting India-US Agricultural Trade Under the New US Trade Regime", suggested that in the aftermath of "reciprocal tariffs" imposed by the U.S., India should adopt a dual-track approach and selectively reduce the high tariffs on non-sensitive agricultural commodities' imports from Washington, while also strategically offering concessions where domestic supply gaps exist. "This was the NITI Aayog Working Paper on Promoting India-US Agricultural Trade Under the New US Trade Regime that was officially issued on May 30, 2025, but taken off the website a few days later and is now officially withdrawn," Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X. In another post, he claimed that the NITI Aayog paper called for allowing duty-free import of GM maize and soyabean from the U.S. "For the Modi sarkar, the interests of Midwestern American farmers and large Multinational Corporation traders are bigger than that of the maize farmers of Bihar and soyabean farmers of MP, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan," he alleged. Who authorised the release of the paper and is this a preview of the forthcoming Indo-U.S. trade agreement, the former Union Minister asked. When contacted, a NITI Aayog spokesperson did not offer any comment. The working paper had noted that the sudden announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" and enhanced market access for US exports, following Donald Trump's re-election as the U.S. President in January, has sent shockwaves across the world, especially among the trading partners of America. "India can also strategically offer concessions where domestic supply gaps exist, such as in edible oils and nuts," the paper had suggested. Noting that India is the largest importer of edible oil in the world and the U.S. has a huge export surplus of soyabean, which is GM, the paper had said India can offer some concession to the U.S. in the import of soyabean oil to meet demands in that country and reduce the trade imbalance, without harming domestic production. The paper had also suggested that India should negotiate more access to the U.S. market for high-performing exports like shrimp, fish, spices, rice, tea, coffee and rubber. India earns approximately $5.75 billion annually from agri-exports to the U.S. Expanding this through duty waivers or TRQs should be part of trade talks. Meanwhile, India has hardened its position on issues related to agriculture as negotiations with a US team in Washington have entered a crucial stage, an official said on Monday. The official also said that the stay of the Indian team, headed by Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, is likely to be extended further. The team is in Washington for negotiations on an interim trade agreement with the U.S. Both sides are rushing to close a deal ahead of the July 9 deadline for the full implementation of the 26% reciprocal tariff, which has been suspended since April. "If the proposed trade talks fail, the 26% tariffs will come into force again," the official added. The stay of the Indian officials was already extended by three days till June 30. Initially, the delegation was scheduled to spend two days in the U.S., with the talks having commenced on June 26. Another official said the Commerce Ministry has informed domestic exporters and industry that talks are on for the first phase of the proposed bilateral trade agreement. There would be more phases. These talks are significant as both countries are engaged in negotiations for an interim trade deal and are trying to finalise the pact before July 9, the deadline for the expiry of the suspension of the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on April 2. On April 2, the U..S imposed an additional 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods but suspended it for 90 days. However, the 10% baseline tariff imposed by the US remains in place. India is seeking full exemption from the additional 26% tariff. The U.S. is demanding duty concessions in the agriculture and dairy sectors. But these segments are difficult and challenging areas for India to give duty concessions to the US as Indian farmers are into sustenance farming and have small land holdings. Therefore, these sectors are politically sensitive as well. India has not opened up the dairy sector for any of its trading partners in any free-trade pacts it has signed so far. The US wants duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, especially electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, dairy and agricultural items like apples, tree nuts and GM crops. India is seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes and bananas in the proposed trade pact. The two countries are also looking to conclude talks for the first tranche of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October). The pact is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion. Before the first tranche, they are trying for an interim trade pact. The U.S. team was here from June 5 to June 11 for the talks. The negotiations will continue both virtually and physically in the days to come. India's merchandise exports to the U.S. rose by 21.78% to $17.25 billion in April-May this fiscal, while imports rose by 25.8 per cent to $8.87 billion.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Defence Ministry to clear Rs 1 lakh crore worth of military deals post Op Sindoor
The Ministry of Defence is set to approve military proposals worth over Rs 1 lakh crore in a key meeting scheduled this week. This will be the first acquisition meeting since Operation Sindoor, aiming to enhance the capabilities of India's armed to defence officials who spoke to India Today, the proposals include a range of critical defence systems such as spy planes, sea mines, air defence missiles, and underwater autonomous major highlight of the meeting will be the likely clearance of three new regiments of the indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) systems for the Indian Army. This project is expected to strengthen India's air defence along the Pakistan border. The QRSAM systems, developed by the DRDO, will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited. The Indian Air Force is also expected to push forward a proposal to procure three spy planes under the Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (I-STAR) programme. 'The Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance aircraft would be critical for Air Force's plans to take out ground targets in future,' sources aircraft will be sourced from an original equipment manufacturer and then modified by the DRDO's Centre for Airborne Systems in collaboration with private addition, the Indian Navy is set to propose the induction of DRDO-developed Pressure-Based Moored Mines, designed to target enemy submarines and surface meeting is also expected to review the upgrade programme for 84 Su-30MKI fighter jets, which has already received initial approval from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The DAC will also examine the proposal for acquiring underwater autonomous vessels, marking its first major acquisition decision after Operation Sindoor.- EndsMust Watch