Latest news with #absence
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India's average tariff on British products will drop from 15% to 3%, says UK govt
Ahead of the India-UK trade deal signing ceremony on Thursday, the UK government said India's average tariff on British products will drop from 15 per cent to 3 per cent. This is expected to result in a nearly 60 per cent increase in UK exports to India in the long run, amounting to an additional $20 billion in exports. New Delhi, often criticised for being a high-tariff country — especially by US President Donald Trump — has started reducing tariffs for Western trading partners to improve economic integration and boost exports, particularly in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and leather goods. 'A reduction in tariffs, combined with a reduction in regulatory barriers to trade between the UK and India, is estimated to increase UK exports to India by nearly 60 per cent in the long run — this is equivalent to an additional £15.7 billion of UK exports to India when applied to projections of future trade in 2040. It will also increase bilateral trade by nearly 39 per cent in the long run, equivalent to £25.5 billion a year, when compared to 2040 projected levels of trade in the absence of an agreement,' the UK government said in a statement. As many as 26 British companies have secured new business in India, the statement added. 'Airbus and Rolls-Royce will soon begin delivering Airbus aircraft — with over half powered by Rolls-Royce engines — to major Indian airlines as part of around £5 billion worth of contracts recently agreed,' it said. The UK already imports £11 billion worth of goods from India, but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper to buy Indian products. For businesses, this could mean potential savings when importing components and materials used in sectors such as advanced manufacturing or luxury and consumer goods. Meanwhile, India will benefit from tariff elimination on approximately 99 per cent of tariff lines, covering nearly 100 per cent of trade value — offering opportunities to boost bilateral trade between India and the UK, according to the Commerce and Industry Ministry. The pact includes chapters on goods, services, innovation, government procurement, and intellectual property rights. The two countries have also concluded negotiations on the Double Contribution Convention Agreement, or social security pact, which would help avoid double contributions to social security funds by Indian professionals working for a limited period in Britain. However, talks on the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) are still ongoing. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
The Diplomat
a day ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Is the Russia-India-China Troika Making a Comeback?
In May, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow was interested in reviving the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika. Speaking at a security conference on May 29, Russia's top diplomat said 'I would like to confirm our genuine interest in the earliest resumption of the work within the format of troika – Russia, India, China,' noting that the format, since its launch had 'organized meetings more than 20 times at the ministerial level… not only at the level of foreign policy chiefs, but also the heads of other economic, trade, and financial agencies of three countries.' The idea of triliteral cooperation was first floated in the 1990s and was institutionalized in 2002, which Lavrov credited to Yevgeny Primakov, the late chair of the Russian International Affairs Council. Since then, as the Russian foreign minister pointed out, the RIC had convened nearly two dozen times – but not in the recent past. The last meeting of the RIC leaders took place in 2019 on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. Before that, the leaders of three countries held an informal summit on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The RIC troika has been inactive since November 2021, following a virtual meeting of the RIC foreign ministers. Initially, the format was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was further stalled by the military standoff between China and India in Eastern Ladakh in 2020. However, with China-India relations undergoing a relative thaw, Russia now appears to be keen on reviving the trilateral grouping. In this context, last week, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko stated that he was in negotiations with both Beijing and New Delhi on the revival of the RIC troika. 'This topic appears in our negotiations with both of them,' Rudenko said. 'We are interested in making this format work because these three countries are important partners. The absence of this format, in my opinion, looks inappropriate.' This manifests the clear Russian push to revive the troika, which could provide Moscow with a platform to advance and secure its national interests. Besides Russia, China has also shown interest in the RIC's return. Responding to a question regarding Russia's intentions to revive the bloc, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said that 'China is willing to maintain communication with Russia and India to advance trilateral cooperation.' He added, 'The cooperation among China, Russia, and India not only aligns with the respective interests of the three countries, but also contributes to regional and global peace, security, stability, and progress.' In light of Beijing's regional rivalry with New Delhi, Moscow believes that India is being drawn into the West's anti-Chinese strategies. Reviving the troika format would enable Beijing to have more direct contact with New Delhi and potentially allay concerns about India joining the 'China containment' bloc. India, on the other hand, as of now, seems non-committal on the revival of the RIC format. When asked about the group's revival, Randhir Jaiswal, the Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, gave a bland answer: 'This consultative format is a mechanism where the three countries come and discuss global issues and regional issues of interest to them.' He continued: 'As to when this particular RIC format meeting is going to be held, it is something that will be worked out among the three countries in a mutually convenient manner, and we will let you know as and when that happens at an appropriate time when the meeting is to take place.' Indian media sources report that no RIC troika meeting has been agreed upon, and there are currently no discussions about scheduling a meeting in this format. Still, given the slow but steady progress on normalizing relations between China and India in recent months, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's recent visit to Beijing, the revival of the RIC troika is quite plausible. Russia, struggling with sanctions over its war in Ukraine, would go to any length to revive this bloc. China's support would certainly provide a boost to Russian ambitions and interests. Russia's strategic relations with both China and India can play an important role vis-à-vis the format's revival and Moscow will hope to successfully bring both countries to the table. However, the role of the U.S., particularly under President Donald Trump, may be the most significant factor for the revival of the RIC troika. Since his return to the White House, Trump has resumed his strategy of imposing tariffs, which has sparked a trade war, particularly with China. His protectionist ideals do not align with those of India, as ongoing tariff uncertainties could harm New Delhi's economic and political interests. The last meeting among the RIC leaders in Osaka in 2019 took place under a similar context. Back then, India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, stated, 'All three leaders have agreed that in an era of economic and global change, it is important to uphold the trend of globalization. Maintaining the liberalization of trade, a free trading system, an open trading system, and a rules-based trading system is essential to counter the tendency toward protectionism.' While the situation and circumstances may not be exactly the same as they were in 2019, Trump's trade strategy remains unchanged, which could lead to the revival of the RIC troika. Together, China, India, and Russia could form a Eurasian power that balances Western dominance. These three countries are already part of organizations like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which are also seen as efforts to counter Western influence. The RIC troika could certainly contribute to the promotion of a multipolar world with multiple centers of power, potentially undermining Western dominance. But for this to occur, all three countries must discuss their global and regional priorities. Until that happens, the RIC troika will remain in a state of uncertainty.
News18
2 days ago
- Science
- News18
Shubhanshu Shukla Learns To Walk Again After Spending 18 Days In Space
Last Updated: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of four astronauts on the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 25. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned from space on July 15 after nearly three weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is now undergoing recovery and physical readjustment on Earth. Shukla, one of four astronauts on the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 25. After spending nearly 20 days in microgravity, he and the team splashed down safely off the coast of California. In a video shared on Instagram, Shukla is seen relearning how to walk, supported by two individuals as he takes slow, deliberate steps. 'I have received many messages wishing me a speedy recovery. I want to thank everyone and give a quick update," he wrote in the post. He explained that during space travel, the body undergoes several physiological changes due to the absence of gravity, such as fluid shifts, changes in heart rate and balance, and muscle loss. Now, back on Earth, he said, the body has to adapt again. 'Though the rate of recovery varies for each astronaut, I was amazed at how quickly the human body begins to readjust," he noted. 'In the pursuit of the unknown (space), you get to know more about yourself." According to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shukla and the other three astronauts will remain in quarantine until July 23. The period will include medical monitoring and support to aid their re-adaptation. Minister Singh, in an interview with PTI, said Shukla's mission has provided India with valuable practical insights as it prepares for its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. 'It has added to India's capabilities and positioned us more strongly for future international space collaborations," he said. During their stay aboard the ISS, Shukla and his crewmates conducted over 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities. Shukla is only the second Indian to travel to space, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 08:46 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Outspoken Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned Judiciary on overreach, lack of accountability
Jagdeep Dhankhar, known for his outspoken stance as vice president, surprisingly resigned citing health reasons. He frequently criticized the Judiciary on issues like corruption and overreach, particularly after cash was discovered at Justice Varma's residence. Dhankhar questioned the striking down of the NJAC Act and the Judiciary's role, viewing himself as a defender of the system. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As vice president, Jagdeep Dhankhar often waded into contentious matters of the day, hogging headlines and setting the agenda. But one area that was at the receiving end of his punches more than others was the Judiciary over a gamut of issues ranging from alleged corruption to its a surprise move, Dhankhar stepped down as the vice president on Monday evening citing health cash discovery row at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma here in March had given Dhankhar a fresh handle to target the higher judiciary on the issue of corruption and alleged lack of he questioned the courts and its various decisions, Dhankhar described himself as the "foot soldier" of the Judiciary as he was part of the system as a also hit out at "forces with pernicious agenda" out to target institutions, including the Judiciary in his public several of his speeches, as vice president, he questioned the Supreme Court for striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act which sought to overturn the present collegium system. He had wondered how the top court could strike down a law passed with near unanimity by both Houses of had also hit out at MPs for not speaking against the Supreme Court had lamented that there was "no whisper" in Parliament after the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC Act and described it as "too serious an issue".He had also questioned the Judiciary setting a timeline for the president to take decisions and act as a "super Parliament", saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a "nuclear missile" at democratic strong words to the Judiciary came days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor."So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," Dhankhar had the discovery of half-burnt wads of cash at Justice Varma's residence, he questioned the absence of an FIR in the case and dubbed the three-member in-house committee formed by the then chief justice of India to investigate the case said the panel's findings were without proper investigative tools which a probe agency has.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Jagdeep Dhankhar, the most controversial constitutional VP in post-1947 India
The Constitution of India's description of the Vice President as an "ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha" who 'acts as President when the latter is unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause', is a rather innocuous description of the persona of Jagdeep Dhankhar. Rarely, if ever, has a constitutional position been as controversial as this once-centrist politician from Rajasthan, whose surprise resignation on `health' grounds made him the first Vice President to quit for reasons other than contesting presidential polls or taking over as President after winning elections. While disagreements between the Opposition and the Vice-President in his capacity as the Rajya Sabha Chairman is commonplace in India's parliamentary politics, what Dhankhar did was to elevate this rivalry to the level of outright hostility. Elected Vice-President in August 2022, his term as the Rajya Sabha Chairman began on a controversial note during the Winter Session that year as he called the Supreme Court's 2015 judgment striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act a 'glaring instance' of 'severe compromise' of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the 'mandate of the people'. Since then, there have been several instances when he and Opposition MPs clashed on a regular basis. In August 2023, Dhankhar told the Opposition that he 'could not and would not' direct Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the House as it was the PM's prerogative, like any other MP, to come to Parliament. He made this statement as the Opposition benches continued to demand the PM's presence in the Rajya Sabha to address them on the issue of violence in Manipur. Ties between the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Opposition hit a low during the Winter Session of 2023 when 146 MPs were suspended from both Houses of Parliament, mostly over their demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on a Parliament security breach, followed by a discussion on the matter. It was the highest-ever number of suspensions in a Parliament session. For the BJP, Dhankhar did not serve the purpose he was elected for. Says political analyst Amitabh Tewari: "For the BJP, Dhankhar did not serve the purpose he was elected for. Despite his farmer background, he was unable to influence agitators. He became too abrasive and partisan in the House.' In December 2024, Dhankhar became the first person holding one of the top two constitutional posts in the country to face the prospect of impeachment as the Opposition submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against him, which was rejected. Things reached a stage when the Rajya Sabha became a virtual.
