Morning Digest | India objects to U.S. envoy’s PoK visit; EC seeks Uddhav’s response on Shiv Sena symbol dispute, and more
The Hindu
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Varna and caste system should be discarded, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said the concepts like varna and jaati [caste] should be completely discarded. Speaking at a book release function in Nagpur, he said the caste system has no relevance now.
India objects to recent visit of U.S. Ambassador to PoK
India has objected to the United States over the recent visit of the American Ambassador to Pakistan’s visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Ministry of External Affairs said on October 7.
India-U.K. free trade pact may miss October deadline
The India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may not be ready in time for its “Diwali” or October-end deadline indicated both New Delhi and London, as India reacted sharply to British Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s statement linking the FTA with migration issues and the U. K. government said “quality”, not “speed” would determine the FTA’s launch.
Election Commission seeks Uddhav Thackeray’s response on Shiv Sena symbol dispute
Bangladesh asks Adani Power to resume full supplies from Jharkhand plant amid payment disputes and low demand.
Rupee strengthens to 86.84 against the dollar amid trade war fears, market volatility, and RBI intervention.
WazirX announced the completion of its asset rebalancing process and urged investors to support its restructuring scheme.
Vespa introduces luxury scooter portfolio in India, unveiling special editions inspired by Indian artistry and opulence.
Dentzz Dental utilizes AI for precision care, leading to increased efficiency, accuracy, and patient satisfaction in dental treatments.
Former CEA Arvind Subramanian critiques RBI policies, fiscal framework, income tax cuts, and weak private investment in India.
President Trump imposes 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, affecting India and prompting concerns over trade relations.
CEA highlights Southern States' economic prowess, urging benchmarking against global standards and emphasizing need for skill improvement.
The Union Budget unveiled on February 1, 2025, has come at a time of unprecedented global uncertainty and a flagging domestic economy. The real GDP growth is estimated at 6.4% for 2024-25 and between 6.3-6.8% for 2025-26, a far cry from >8 percent growth required annually to make India a developed nation by 2047. While much attention has been devoted to the demand stimulus through income tax cuts, not enough is said about the proposed reforms in urban development, tariff rationalisation, and regulatory simplification aimed at making Indian cities and corporates more competitive. Since the majority of economic activity is located in cities (urban areas account for ~55% of GDP) and produced by large corporates (~40% of the national output and 55% of India’s exports), the above-mentioned reforms have a pivotal role in improving India’s trend growth rate. Below we unpack each reform.
IHCL unveils Taj Bandstand luxury hotel project in Mumbai after 17 years, set to be iconic landmark.
Government and LIC selling majority stake in IDBI Bank, with due diligence process underway for potential investors.
Prime Minister Modi's meetings with President Trump may lead to tariff reductions on U.S. goods like pecan nuts.
President Trump announces 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports, minimal impact on Indian steel industry.