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A few days back, the Indian Army’s new frontline groups – Rudra, Bhairav and Shaktibaan – were announced by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.&nbsp; They are named after Hindu mythological figures. But experts say this looks more like a continuation of earlier dropped plans rather than a new war strategy.Beyond their Indian names, these new groups are basically a repackaged version of the old Integrated Battle Group (IBG) plan, first introduced in 2019 by former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who later became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.The Rudra (‘destruction’) brigades – two already created – combine infantry (foot soldiers), armour (tanks), artillery (big guns), engineers (technical support for bridges/mines), and signals units (communication teams).The main aim is to launch quick &nbsp;attacks into enemy areas.They were announced by Gen. Dwivedi on Kargil Vijay Diwas (day marking victory in 1999 Kargil War) in Drass (battle site in Ladakh) on July 26.According to official sources, each Rudra brigade will have about 3,000 soldiers and work as a self-sufficient unit, able to carry out intense, short wars on India’s northern and western disputed borders.These Rudra formations were given names to show aggression and spiritual symbolism, mixing Hindu mythology with modern military purpose.<h2>What has changed?</h2>About 10 weeks after fighting with Pakistan stopped under Operation Sindoor, Gen. Dwivedi introduced the Bhairav (‘ferocious’) light commando battalions as shock-and-awe units (troops trained to strike suddenly and create fear in the enemy), likely meant for city battles and close-range fighting.Also announced were Shaktibaan (‘divine power’) artillery groups (teams using big guns heavy weapons that fire over long distances and missiles), supported by Divyastra (‘precision’) surveillance UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), drone units, and loitering munitions (drones that circle and strike targets) to add high-tech firepower.The Bhairav units are like bigger versions of Ghatak platoons. A Ghatak platoon is a small team of 20–30 soldiers in an infantry battalion (large group of foot soldiers) that carries out special attacks, scouting missions (checking and gathering information about enemy areas), and secret operations inside enemy areas.Beyond their fierce names, very little information is shared about the Bhairav formations, so their structure, purpose, and strategy remain unclear.The proposed Shaktibaan brigades, with precision artillery (accurate heavy weapons) and ISR drones (for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), were meant for quick cross-border attacks.They will also have cyber and electronic warfare units, which is new because earlier artillery (big guns and heavy weapons) and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) were seen only as support elements.In Shaktibaan, these tools turn into the main weapons for fighting in a digital-first battlefield.At the heart of Shaktibaan is the Divyastra unit, which mixes precision strikes and drone warfare using loitering munitions (drones that circle and hit targets), swarm drones, and real-time targeting.Divyastra is built for quick, disruptive attacks on enemy targets like air defences and supply hubs, while keeping soldiers safe, similar to what happened in Operation Sindoor.<h2>IBGs</h2>As per The Wire, official sources said there will be no new recruitments for these units. Instead, some of the Army’s 250 single-arm brigades (each brigade is a large unit with about 3,000–3,500 soldiers of only one type, like infantry, artillery, or armour) will be reshaped into multi-arm groups, without adding more soldiers.The Chief of Army Staff Gen. Dwivedi’s launch of these ‘Sanskrit-named’ units is basically a revival of the old Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), first planned under the Army’s ‘Cold Start’ doctrine (strategy for quick strikes into enemy territory).The ‘Cold Start’ doctrine was made for quick, limited attacks on Pakistan without starting a full war. It became important after the 2001–2002 Operation Parakram standoff, which happened after the terrorist attack on India’s Parliament that India blamed on Pakistan’s ISI (spy agency).IBGs, led by major generals, were planned as fast-moving forces of 5,000–6,000 soldiers, combining foot soldiers, tanks, air defence, supply units, and attack helicopters. Their goal was to cut down delay between a political order and military action, allowing quick strikes even under a nuclear threat, before the enemy could react or escalate.The Army’s 2018 Land Warfare Doctrine improved the IBG plan, with Gen. Rawat pushing for their use on both the Pakistan and China borders. But the project got stuck due to internal disagreements and bureaucratic delays.One of the most controversial ideas was to remove the brigadier rank, which met with strong opposition inside the Army. At the same time, Gen. Rawat avoided the bigger challenge – the serious lack of funds needed to turn these plans into reality.In simple terms, the Army’s vision for new, faster-moving units (IBGs) faced two big hurdles:Rank issue – Removing the brigadier rank (a key officer position) created unrest, as many officers felt it would disturb promotions and the command system.Money issue – Even if the concept looked strong on paper, the Army did not have the budget for the necessary equipment, training, and restructuring.This showed that while bold strategies are easy to design, they are much harder to finance and put into practice.Despite problems, IBGs were approved in 2019 after many field exercises. But progress stopped because of slow decisions in the defence ministry, unclear logistics, and disagreements within the Army. The bigger change planned under Cold Start never happened – until it was revived at the end of July as Rudra with mythological names.<h2>What happened to Rawat’s proposal?</h2>These new brigades will be led by brigadier-rank officers, keeping their position safe and reversing Rawat’s earlier proposal to remove the rank.Rudra’s name, like the other Sanskrit-based formations, reflects an effort to highlight Indian traditions. But the military structure behind it is still the same as the IBG design.What makes Rudra different from the earlier IBG plan is still unclear.The Army leadership calls Rudra an ‘upgrade’, without mentioning the old IBG plan. They say over time Rudra brigades will use advanced tech like real-time drone intelligence, networked artillery, battlefield surveillance, and fast communications to make attacks quicker and give units more independence in battle.These upgrades are also meant to fit into the Integrated Theatre Commands planned under CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan. But many old problems still remain: disagreements between commands, weak logistics, poor communication links, and unresolved air support issues. On top of this, delays in getting new equipment – both Indian-made and imported – make the situation even harder.The question is whether the Indian Army can truly create fast, independent, and integrated units for its unsettled borders, or if these mythologically named formations will simply be presented again in the future with new titles and ceremonies.

Beyond their Indian names, these new groups are basically a repackaged version of the old Integrated Battle Group (IBG) plan, first introduced in 2019 by former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who later became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.

A few days back, the Indian Army’s new frontline groups – Rudra, Bhairav and Shaktibaan – were announced by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi. They are named after Hindu mythological figures. But experts say this looks more like a continuation of earlier dropped plans rather than a new war strategy. Beyond their Indian names, these new groups are basically a repackaged version of the old Integrated Battle Group (IBG) plan, first introduced in 2019 by former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who later became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff. The Rudra (‘destruction’) brigades – two already created – combine infantry (foot soldiers), armour (tanks), artillery (big guns), engineers (technical support for bridges/mines), and signals units (communication teams).The main aim is to launch quick attacks into enemy areas. They were announced by Gen. Dwivedi on Kargil Vijay Diwas (day marking victory in 1999 Kargil War) in Drass (battle site in Ladakh) on July 26. According to official sources, each Rudra brigade will have about 3,000 soldiers and work as a self-sufficient unit, able to carry out intense, short wars on India’s northern and western disputed borders. These Rudra formations were given names to show aggression and spiritual symbolism, mixing Hindu mythology with modern military purpose. What has changed? About 10 weeks after fighting with Pakistan stopped under Operation Sindoor, Gen. Dwivedi introduced the Bhairav (‘ferocious’) light commando battalions as shock-and-awe units (troops trained to strike suddenly and create fear in the enemy), likely meant for city battles and close-range fighting. Also announced were Shaktibaan (‘divine power’) artillery groups (teams using big guns heavy weapons that fire over long distances and missiles), supported by Divyastra (‘precision’) surveillance UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), drone units, and loitering munitions (drones that circle and strike targets) to add high-tech firepower. The Bhairav units are like bigger versions of Ghatak platoons. A Ghatak platoon is a small team of 20–30 soldiers in an infantry battalion (large group of foot soldiers) that carries out special attacks, scouting missions (checking and gathering information about enemy areas), and secret operations inside enemy areas. Beyond their fierce names, very little information is shared about the Bhairav formations, so their structure, purpose, and strategy remain unclear. The proposed Shaktibaan brigades, with precision artillery (accurate heavy weapons) and ISR drones (for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), were meant for quick cross-border attacks.They will also have cyber and electronic warfare units, which is new because earlier artillery (big guns and heavy weapons) and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) were seen only as support elements.In Shaktibaan, these tools turn into the main weapons for fighting in a digital-first battlefield. At the heart of Shaktibaan is the Divyastra unit, which mixes precision strikes and drone warfare using loitering munitions (drones that circle and hit targets), swarm drones, and real-time targeting.Divyastra is built for quick, disruptive attacks on enemy targets like air defences and supply hubs, while keeping soldiers safe, similar to what happened in Operation Sindoor. IBGs As per The Wire, official sources said there will be no new recruitments for these units. Instead, some of the Army’s 250 single-arm brigades (each brigade is a large unit with about 3,000–3,500 soldiers of only one type, like infantry, artillery, or armour) will be reshaped into multi-arm groups, without adding more soldiers. The Chief of Army Staff Gen. Dwivedi’s launch of these ‘Sanskrit-named’ units is basically a revival of the old Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), first planned under the Army’s ‘Cold Start’ doctrine (strategy for quick strikes into enemy territory). The ‘Cold Start’ doctrine was made for quick, limited attacks on Pakistan without starting a full war. It became important after the 2001–2002 Operation Parakram standoff, which happened after the terrorist attack on India’s Parliament that India blamed on Pakistan’s ISI (spy agency). IBGs, led by major generals, were planned as fast-moving forces of 5,000–6,000 soldiers, combining foot soldiers, tanks, air defence, supply units, and attack helicopters. Their goal was to cut down delay between a political order and military action, allowing quick strikes even under a nuclear threat, before the enemy could react or escalate. The Army’s 2018 Land Warfare Doctrine improved the IBG plan, with Gen. Rawat pushing for their use on both the Pakistan and China borders. But the project got stuck due to internal disagreements and bureaucratic delays. One of the most controversial ideas was to remove the brigadier rank, which met with strong opposition inside the Army. At the same time, Gen. Rawat avoided the bigger challenge – the serious lack of funds needed to turn these plans into reality. In simple terms, the Army’s vision for new, faster-moving units (IBGs) faced two big hurdles: Rank issue – Removing the brigadier rank (a key officer position) created unrest, as many officers felt it would disturb promotions and the command system. Money issue – Even if the concept looked strong on paper, the Army did not have the budget for the necessary equipment, training, and restructuring. This showed that while bold strategies are easy to design, they are much harder to finance and put into practice. Despite problems, IBGs were approved in 2019 after many field exercises. But progress stopped because of slow decisions in the defence ministry, unclear logistics, and disagreements within the Army. The bigger change planned under Cold Start never happened – until it was revived at the end of July as Rudra with mythological names. What happened to Rawat’s proposal? These new brigades will be led by brigadier-rank officers, keeping their position safe and reversing Rawat’s earlier proposal to remove the rank. Rudra’s name, like the other Sanskrit-based formations, reflects an effort to highlight Indian traditions. But the military structure behind it is still the same as the IBG design. What makes Rudra different from the earlier IBG plan is still unclear. The Army leadership calls Rudra an ‘upgrade’, without mentioning the old IBG plan. They say over time Rudra brigades will use advanced tech like real-time drone intelligence, networked artillery, battlefield surveillance, and fast communications to make attacks quicker and give units more independence in battle. These upgrades are also meant to fit into the Integrated Theatre Commands planned under CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan. But many old problems still remain: disagreements between commands, weak logistics, poor communication links, and unresolved air support issues. On top of this, delays in getting new equipment – both Indian-made and imported – make the situation even harder. The question is whether the Indian Army can truly create fast, independent, and integrated units for its unsettled borders, or if these mythologically named formations will simply be presented again in the future with new titles and ceremonies.

Beyond their Indian names, these new groups are basically a repackaged version of the old Integrated Battle Group (IBG) plan, first introduced in 2019 by former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who later became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.

Rudra's network, Shaktibaan's drone, Bhairav's shock: India's high-tech war plan

A 50-year-old man from Bihar has been arrested in Noida for allegedly sending bomb threats to the Mumbai Traffic Police's official WhatsApp number, police said on Saturday (Sep 6). The accused, identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra, is being taken to Mumbai for questioning. His phone and SIM card which were used to make the chilling threats, have been seized, revealed the Mumbai police. His arrest came a day after the Traffic Control Room received a chilling message claiming that 34 "human bombs" had been planted across the city and that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered India. The sender also threatened a major explosion involving 400 kg of RDX.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-34-human-bombs-400kg-of-rdx-for-blast-india-s-mumbai-on-high-alert-over-threat-1757055509053">'34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': Mumbai on high alert over threat</a><h2>Chilling bomb threat puts Mumbai on high alert</h2>The bomb threat, sent in the name of 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', warned of attacks planned around Anant Chaturdashi. Following the threat, Mumbai Police launched a full investigation and stepped up security across the state. "The organisation, claiming to be 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', says that 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India. The threat message further states that 400 kg of RDX will be used in the blast," said the police. The authorities added that "All angles of the threat are being investigated," while urging citizens not to fall for rumours and to report any suspicious activity.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-backtracks-after-claiming-us-lost-india-to-china-says-ties-with-modi-very-special-1757124434506">Trump backtracks after claiming US 'lost India to China,' says ties with PM Modi 'very special'</a>The threat comes at a time when Mumbai is celebrating its biggest festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day celebration. Keeping in view the &nbsp;festival, the police have hiked security measures across the city to avoid any untoward incident. The Mumbai police have marked key locations for security to be heightened, and combing operations are being conducted across the city. &nbsp;

A 50-year-old man from Bihar, identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra, has been arrested in Noida for allegedly sending a bomb threat to the Mumbai Traffic Police. 

A 50-year-old man from Bihar has been arrested in Noida for allegedly sending bomb threats to the Mumbai Traffic Police's official WhatsApp number, police said on Saturday (Sep 6). The accused, identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra, is being taken to Mumbai for questioning. His phone and SIM card which were used to make the chilling threats, have been seized, revealed the Mumbai police. His arrest came a day after the Traffic Control Room received a chilling message claiming that 34 "human bombs" had been planted across the city and that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered India. The sender also threatened a major explosion involving 400 kg of RDX. Also read | '34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': Mumbai on high alert over threat Chilling bomb threat puts Mumbai on high alert The bomb threat, sent in the name of 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', warned of attacks planned around Anant Chaturdashi. Following the threat, Mumbai Police launched a full investigation and stepped up security across the state. "The organisation, claiming to be 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', says that 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India. The threat message further states that 400 kg of RDX will be used in the blast," said the police. The authorities added that "All angles of the threat are being investigated," while urging citizens not to fall for rumours and to report any suspicious activity. Also read | Trump backtracks after claiming US 'lost India to China,' says ties with PM Modi 'very special' The threat comes at a time when Mumbai is celebrating its biggest festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day celebration. Keeping in view the festival, the police have hiked security measures across the city to avoid any untoward incident. The Mumbai police have marked key locations for security to be heightened, and combing operations are being conducted across the city.

A 50-year-old man from Bihar, identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra, has been arrested in Noida for allegedly sending a bomb threat to the Mumbai Traffic Police.

400 kg RDX, 34 suicide bombers? Bihar man arrested from Noida over chilling Mumbai bomb threat

US President Donald Trump has walked back from his claim that Washington had "lost India and Russia to China," a remark he made on Friday (Sep 5) on Truth Social. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump insisted that relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained strong, even as he voiced frustration over India's oil imports from Russia. Trump said he has been very "disappointed" with India for buying "so much" oil from Russia, but insisted that he gets along "very well with Modi".<h2>What did Trump say about India?</h2>On Friday, Trump had posted a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the caption “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.” May they have a long and prosperous future together!"Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-re-going-to-lose-if-finland-president-stubb-issues-dire-warning-to-trump-over-india-standoff-watch-1756887533690">'We're going to lose if...': Finland President Stubb issues dire warning to Trump over India standoff. Watch!</a>However, hours later, when asked about his post and who he blames for losing India to China, Trump told reporters, "I don't think we have (lost India)." He added, "I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India- 50 per cent, very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi, as you know. He was here a couple of months ago...".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/planning-a-us-trip-trump-just-made-it-pricier-starting-this-date-indians-will-have-to-pay-22-000-integrity-fee-for-a-visa-1756795635272">Planning a US trip? Trump just made it pricier — Starting THIS date Indians will have to pay ₹22,000 'integrity fee' for a Visa</a>When pressed on whether relations needed a reset, Trump struck a softer tone and said he would "always" be friends with Modi and that he just didn't "like what he is doing at this particular moment". He also said that the United States had a "special relationship" with India. "I always will, I will always be friends with Modi, he is a great Prime Minister, he is great... I just don't like what he is doing at this particular moment, but India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about".https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-s-tariff-war-former-us-nsa-bolton-says-tariffs-pushed-india-closer-to-russia-china-1757074274509/embed&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has walked back a social media post where he claimed the US had "lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China." Speaking to reporters, Trump has now claimed, "I don't think we have (lost India" while also heaping praise on PM Narendra Modi. Here's what he said.

US President Donald Trump has walked back from his claim that Washington had "lost India and Russia to China," a remark he made on Friday (Sep 5) on Truth Social. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump insisted that relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained strong, even as he voiced frustration over India's oil imports from Russia. Trump said he has been very "disappointed" with India for buying "so much" oil from Russia, but insisted that he gets along "very well with Modi". What did Trump say about India? On Friday, Trump had posted a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the caption “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.” May they have a long and prosperous future together!" Also read | 'We're going to lose if...': Finland President Stubb issues dire warning to Trump over India standoff. Watch! However, hours later, when asked about his post and who he blames for losing India to China, Trump told reporters, "I don't think we have (lost India)." He added, "I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India- 50 per cent, very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi, as you know. He was here a couple of months ago...". Also read | Planning a US trip? Trump just made it pricier — Starting THIS date Indians will have to pay ₹22,000 'integrity fee' for a Visa When pressed on whether relations needed a reset, Trump struck a softer tone and said he would "always" be friends with Modi and that he just didn't "like what he is doing at this particular moment". He also said that the United States had a "special relationship" with India. "I always will, I will always be friends with Modi, he is a great Prime Minister, he is great... I just don't like what he is doing at this particular moment, but India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about". https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-s-tariff-war-former-us-nsa-bolton-says-tariffs-pushed-india-closer-to-russia-china-1757074274509/embed

US President Donald Trump has walked back a social media post where he claimed the US had "lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China." Speaking to reporters, Trump has now claimed, "I don't think we have (lost India" while also heaping praise on PM Narendra Modi. Here's what he said.

Trump backtracks after claiming US 'lost India to China,' says ties with PM Modi 'very special'

A massive fire erupted on Saturday (Sep 6) at a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi, in Maharashtra's Thane district. Fire tenders, as per reports, were immediately rushed to the spot, and teams are working to bring the blaze under control. No details of casualties or damage have been released so far. This comes just two days after another fire incident in Mumbai's Malad area. On Thursday (Sep 4), a firecracker shop in Somwaari Bazar caught fire, which police said was caused by a short circuit.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Maharashtra | Huge fire broke out at a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi. Fire tenders present on the spot and efforts to douse the fire are underway. Further details are awaited. <a href="https://t.co/28LDiA7ZCQ">pic.twitter.com/28LDiA7ZCQ</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1964119606433562630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This factory is located in the Kamatghar area. The fire incident occurred on Anant Chaturdashi, a day when numerous devotees are anticipated to gather in the streets to say farewell to Lord Ganesh, with the Ganpati idol being submerged in bodies of water like the sea, lakes, or man-made ponds.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-man-arrested-in-noida-for-whatsapp-bomb-threat-claiming-34-human-bombs-in-mumbai-1757127606511">Bihar man arrested from Noida over chilling Mumbai '400 kg RDX' bomb threat</a><h2>Malad fire</h2>Previously, on Thursday, a firecracker shop in Somwaari Bazar caught fire. The fire, as per the police, was caused by a short circuit. In a statement, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hemant Sawant confirmed that the Malad fire was quickly contained with the help of fire brigades and that there were no casualties or injuries. "This is the Somwaari Bazar area of Malad West, and there are many small shops here. The fire broke out in a firecracker shop. The owner is a licence holder, and it appears that the fire broke out due to a short circuit,” Sawant told ANI. “The situation is fully under control now.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-re-going-to-lose-if-finland-president-stubb-issues-dire-warning-to-trump-over-india-standoff-watch-1756887533690">'We're going to lose if...': Finland President Stubb issues dire warning to Trump over India standoff. Watch!</a>&nbsp;

A massive fire has broken out at a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi, a town in Maharashtra's Thane district. More details awaited.

A massive fire erupted on Saturday (Sep 6) at a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi, in Maharashtra's Thane district. Fire tenders, as per reports, were immediately rushed to the spot, and teams are working to bring the blaze under control. No details of casualties or damage have been released so far. This comes just two days after another fire incident in Mumbai's Malad area. On Thursday (Sep 4), a firecracker shop in Somwaari Bazar caught fire, which police said was caused by a short circuit.

A massive fire has broken out at a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi, a town in Maharashtra's Thane district. More details awaited.

Video: Massive fire breaks out at Bhiwandi, Maharashtra dyeing factory

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday (September 5) suggested that India will soon begin trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, even as Washington warns New Delhi against moving too close to Russia and China within the BRICS bloc. Speaking to Bloomberg, Lutnick said discussions could take place “within a month or two,” predicting that India would eventually seek to reach a compromise with the White House. “It will then be up to President Trump to decide how he wishes to engage with Prime Minister Modi,” he remarked.&nbsp;Lutnick’s remarks followed a sharply worded post by Trump on Truth Social, where the Republican leader claimed, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China,” alongside an old photograph of Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lutnick pressed India to choose between Washington and the BRICS alignment, describing the country as the “vowel” connecting Russia and China in the grouping. He warned that aligning against the US could trigger punitive tariffs of up to 50%.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-people-can-get-younger-even-immortal-hot-mic-catches-putin-and-xi-discussing-organ-transplant-to-stay-young-1757091453467">‘People can get younger, even immortal’: Hot mic catches Putin and Xi discussing organ transplant to stay young</a>&nbsp;“Either you stand with the dollar and with America—your biggest customer—or you face the consequences. Let’s see how long businesses can sustain that,” Lutnick said. He stressed that the US remains the primary market for global exports, noting its $30 trillion economy. “At the end of the day, everyone comes back to the consumer. And the customer is always right,” he said.&nbsp;On India’s energy purchases, Lutnick echoed Trump’s criticism of New Delhi’s increased reliance on Russian crude. “Before the conflict, India sourced less than two percent of its oil from Russia; now it’s closer to 40%,” he pointed out.Despite US pressure, India has maintained that its decisions are guided by energy security and affordability, particularly as Russian supplies became available at steep discounts after Western sanctions on Moscow in 2022.&nbsp;Lutnick, however, expressed confidence that business lobbies in India would eventually push for a settlement. “It may feel good politically to spar with your largest client, but in the end, economics will bring India back to the table,” he said, citing similar views shared by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

'India is going to be at the table soon, and they're going to say...', says US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday (September 5) suggested that India will soon begin trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, even as Washington warns New Delhi against moving too close to Russia and China within the BRICS bloc. Speaking to Bloomberg, Lutnick said discussions could take place “within a month or two,” predicting that India would eventually seek to reach a compromise with the White House. “It will then be up to President Trump to decide how he wishes to engage with Prime Minister Modi,” he remarked. Lutnick’s remarks followed a sharply worded post by Trump on Truth Social, where the Republican leader claimed, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China,” alongside an old photograph of Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lutnick pressed India to choose between Washington and the BRICS alignment, describing the country as the “vowel” connecting Russia and China in the grouping. He warned that aligning against the US could trigger punitive tariffs of up to 50%. Also Read: ‘People can get younger, even immortal’: Hot mic catches Putin and Xi discussing organ transplant to stay young “Either you stand with the dollar and with America—your biggest customer—or you face the consequences. Let’s see how long businesses can sustain that,” Lutnick said. He stressed that the US remains the primary market for global exports, noting its $30 trillion economy. “At the end of the day, everyone comes back to the consumer. And the customer is always right,” he said. On India’s energy purchases, Lutnick echoed Trump’s criticism of New Delhi’s increased reliance on Russian crude. “Before the conflict, India sourced less than two percent of its oil from Russia; now it’s closer to 40%,” he pointed out. Despite US pressure, India has maintained that its decisions are guided by energy security and affordability, particularly as Russian supplies became available at steep discounts after Western sanctions on Moscow in 2022. Lutnick, however, expressed confidence that business lobbies in India would eventually push for a settlement. “It may feel good politically to spar with your largest client, but in the end, economics will bring India back to the table,” he said, citing similar views shared by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

US commerce secretary Lutnick warns India over BRICS tilt, predicts talks with Trump soon, cites tariffs threat and Russian oil reliance

On Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, chaos erupted at Srinagar’s revered Hazratbal Shrine, a prominent Muslim spiritual site. The unrest stemmed from a newly installed marble plaque, part of the shrine’s recent renovation, which bore an engraving of the Ashoka Pillar, India’s national emblem. Some locals, perceiving the emblem as resembling a statue, deemed its placement inside the mosque a violation of Islamic principles, sparking outrage. Initially, a group of men vandalised the plaque, followed by a large group of women protestors who further damaged it, intensifying the chaos.&nbsp;In an interview with WION, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, strongly condemned the vandalism of a marble plaque bearing the Ashoka Pillar at Hazratbal Shrine. She called for stringent action under the Public Safety Act (PSA) against those who damaged the plaque, asserting that their actions constituted a direct disrespect to India’s National Emblem and an assault on the Constitution.&nbsp;“This is a simple case of politics. Since the day we inaugurated the Shrine, everyone has been talking about it. We kept the inauguration very apolitical, but these terrorists couldn't sleep for three days after the inauguration. They thought of how to create ruckus here. They were planning it already and they chose today as we celebrate Eid Milad. I call it a terror act. They have committed a national crime. We want action against all of them. We trust our police force to slap PSA against all these terrorists. They should not be spared,” said Andrabi.&nbsp;The National Conference issued a statement addressing the protests at Hazratbal Shrine, emphasising that Islamic teachings strictly prohibit idol worship, considering it a grave sin. The party highlighted that the placement of the Ashoka Pillar emblem on the shrine’s marble plaque was perceived by some as conflicting with these religious principles, fueling the unrest. ''Any sculpture on a religious place is against Islam. The foundation of our faith is Tawheed. If she did not think about that, other members should have thought about it. There is no scope for violence. VC should call these people and make them understand and accept the mistake," said Tanvir Sadiq, MLA Zadibal.&nbsp;According to the sources in security forces, the police have identified all the people responsible for the damage caused to the plaque.

Chaos at Hazratbal Shrine as group of people damage plaque with emblem; all involved identified

On Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, chaos erupted at Srinagar’s revered Hazratbal Shrine, a prominent Muslim spiritual site. The unrest stemmed from a newly installed marble plaque, part of the shrine’s recent renovation, which bore an engraving of the Ashoka Pillar, India’s national emblem. Some locals, perceiving the emblem as resembling a statue, deemed its placement inside the mosque a violation of Islamic principles, sparking outrage. Initially, a group of men vandalised the plaque, followed by a large group of women protestors who further damaged it, intensifying the chaos. In an interview with WION, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, strongly condemned the vandalism of a marble plaque bearing the Ashoka Pillar at Hazratbal Shrine. She called for stringent action under the Public Safety Act (PSA) against those who damaged the plaque, asserting that their actions constituted a direct disrespect to India’s National Emblem and an assault on the Constitution. “This is a simple case of politics. Since the day we inaugurated the Shrine, everyone has been talking about it. We kept the inauguration very apolitical, but these terrorists couldn't sleep for three days after the inauguration. They thought of how to create ruckus here. They were planning it already and they chose today as we celebrate Eid Milad. I call it a terror act. They have committed a national crime. We want action against all of them. We trust our police force to slap PSA against all these terrorists. They should not be spared,” said Andrabi. The National Conference issued a statement addressing the protests at Hazratbal Shrine, emphasising that Islamic teachings strictly prohibit idol worship, considering it a grave sin. The party highlighted that the placement of the Ashoka Pillar emblem on the shrine’s marble plaque was perceived by some as conflicting with these religious principles, fueling the unrest. ''Any sculpture on a religious place is against Islam. The foundation of our faith is Tawheed. If she did not think about that, other members should have thought about it. There is no scope for violence. VC should call these people and make them understand and accept the mistake," said Tanvir Sadiq, MLA Zadibal. According to the sources in security forces, the police have identified all the people responsible for the damage caused to the plaque.

The National Conference issued a statement addressing the protests at Hazratbal Shrine, emphasising that Islamic teachings strictly prohibit idol worship, considering it a grave sin

As part of fighting international money laundering crimes, U.S. and Indian authorities coordinated in real time to seize cryptocurrency assets worth USD 150 million linked to drug trafficking, according to just released details. The details emerged from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Egmont Group-an international organization of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) handbook that was released in Paris earlier today. The handbook calls for stronger global collaboration among analysts, investigators, and prosecutors to deal with the issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;The handbook pointed out that in 2022, the US Department of Justice sought assistance from the Indian govt under treaty of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to investigate a major drug trafficking organization led by 2 people. The organisation was involved in the illicit distribution of drugs including Fentanyl, heroin, and others and operated through encrypted communications and cryptocurrency wallets. The investigation revealed that the brothers controlled over 8500 bitcoins, valued at $150 million and were used for money laundering and to finance drug trafficking activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;In response to the US request, India's ED launched an investigation and obtained key records uncovering transfers through a digital payment services provider exceeding Rs 5.54 crore. The handbook, as seen by WION said, "the case is a strong example of real time, cross border coordination between India, US" and pointed out that US officials travelled to India "to assist directly in the investigation, including during interviews of the accused". &nbsp;Due to the cooperation the people involved were arrested in April 2024 and a prosecution complaint was filed which marked "a major step in dismantling the transnational drug trafficking" network.&nbsp;&nbsp;The handbook also listed Indian examples on how to deal with international cooperation when it comes to dealing with money laundering. It said India's home ministry has established a set of standardised guidelines for international cooperation issued under criminal procedure code and prevention of money laundering act or PMLA. These guidelines provide a clear and structured framework for managing incoming and outgoing MLA -Mutual Legal Assistance requests, "marking a significant step towards standardising India's international cooperation efforts".&nbsp;&nbsp;An online portal has been launched as well by India, that provides a template for making requests to various countries. Examples from the UK, with the UK Central Authority and Argentina, via its electronic form have also been listed.&nbsp;

India, US coordinate real time to seize cryptocurrency assets worth $150 Million

As part of fighting international money laundering crimes, U.S. and Indian authorities coordinated in real time to seize cryptocurrency assets worth USD 150 million linked to drug trafficking, according to just released details. The details emerged from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Egmont Group-an international organization of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) handbook that was released in Paris earlier today. The handbook calls for stronger global collaboration among analysts, investigators, and prosecutors to deal with the issue. The handbook pointed out that in 2022, the US Department of Justice sought assistance from the Indian govt under treaty of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to investigate a major drug trafficking organization led by 2 people. The organisation was involved in the illicit distribution of drugs including Fentanyl, heroin, and others and operated through encrypted communications and cryptocurrency wallets. The investigation revealed that the brothers controlled over 8500 bitcoins, valued at $150 million and were used for money laundering and to finance drug trafficking activities. In response to the US request, India's ED launched an investigation and obtained key records uncovering transfers through a digital payment services provider exceeding Rs 5.54 crore. The handbook, as seen by WION said, "the case is a strong example of real time, cross border coordination between India, US" and pointed out that US officials travelled to India "to assist directly in the investigation, including during interviews of the accused". Due to the cooperation the people involved were arrested in April 2024 and a prosecution complaint was filed which marked "a major step in dismantling the transnational drug trafficking" network. The handbook also listed Indian examples on how to deal with international cooperation when it comes to dealing with money laundering. It said India's home ministry has established a set of standardised guidelines for international cooperation issued under criminal procedure code and prevention of money laundering act or PMLA. These guidelines provide a clear and structured framework for managing incoming and outgoing MLA -Mutual Legal Assistance requests, "marking a significant step towards standardising India's international cooperation efforts". An online portal has been launched as well by India, that provides a template for making requests to various countries. Examples from the UK, with the UK Central Authority and Argentina, via its electronic form have also been listed.

In response to the US request, India's ED launched an investigation and obtained key records uncovering transfers through a digital payment services provider exceeding Rs 5.54 crore

Aduthurai town panchayat chairman MK Stalin of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) survived an attack at the civic body office on Friday (September 5). Two others were injured in the incident and were taken to the hospital. According to reports, Stalin was speaking to some people in the office when a group of 3-4 people arrived in a car and threw explosive bombs towards the office. The attackers also tried to attack Stalin with sharp weapons. Somehow, he managed to escape by locking himself in a nearby toilet.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this incident, two men, namely, Ilaiyaraja and Arun, were injured and were immediately admitted to the nearby hospital. Soon after the incident, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) workers and Vanniyar Sangam members gathered outside the office and held a protest at the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Sooriyanarkovil junction. The protesters burnt old tyres and demanded the arrest of the attackers. The protest also leads to heavy traffic jams in the town.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-2026-polls-storm-brews-in-tamil-nadu-s-opposition-party-aiadmk-1757072969647">Ahead of 2026 polls, storm brews in Tamil Nadu's opposition party AIADMK</a>&nbsp;Later, the protest ended after police and other officials promised to take the quick action against the attackers. The traffic was also restored after this. Now, keeping the tense situation in mind, the authorities have deployed police forces in Aduthurai to maintain peace and order. A senior officer said that the reason for the attack is still under investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, BJP’s Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers involved in the incident. He also criticised the state government and said that the law and order has become worse. He also pointed out that if petrol bombs could be thrown in daylight at a panchayat office, how can law and order will be maintained.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-egg-attack-former-pak-pm-imran-khan-s-sister-aleema-two-women-arrested-1757074266152">'Egg attack' on former Pak PM Imran Khan's sister Aleema, two women arrested</a>

Soon after the incident, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) workers and Vanniyar Sangam members gathered outside the office and held a protest at the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Sooriyanarkovil junction. 

Aduthurai town panchayat chairman MK Stalin of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) survived an attack at the civic body office on Friday (September 5). Two others were injured in the incident and were taken to the hospital. According to reports, Stalin was speaking to some people in the office when a group of 3-4 people arrived in a car and threw explosive bombs towards the office. The attackers also tried to attack Stalin with sharp weapons. Somehow, he managed to escape by locking himself in a nearby toilet. In this incident, two men, namely, Ilaiyaraja and Arun, were injured and were immediately admitted to the nearby hospital. Soon after the incident, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) workers and Vanniyar Sangam members gathered outside the office and held a protest at the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Sooriyanarkovil junction. The protesters burnt old tyres and demanded the arrest of the attackers. The protest also leads to heavy traffic jams in the town. Also Read - Ahead of 2026 polls, storm brews in Tamil Nadu's opposition party AIADMK Later, the protest ended after police and other officials promised to take the quick action against the attackers. The traffic was also restored after this. Now, keeping the tense situation in mind, the authorities have deployed police forces in Aduthurai to maintain peace and order. A senior officer said that the reason for the attack is still under investigation. Meanwhile, BJP’s Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers involved in the incident. He also criticised the state government and said that the law and order has become worse. He also pointed out that if petrol bombs could be thrown in daylight at a panchayat office, how can law and order will be maintained. Also Read - 'Egg attack' on former Pak PM Imran Khan's sister Aleema, two women arrested

Soon after the incident, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) workers and Vanniyar Sangam members gathered outside the office and staged protest at the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Sooriyanarkovil junction&nbsp;

Bomb attack at panchayat office in TN: PMK leader survives after taking hiding in washroom

Top Mauritius Minister Dr. Jyoti Jeetun has said that her country is working with India to deal with the concerns over black money and to deal with the issue of illicit money flow. The Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning Jeetun speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal said, " we have to be very careful that our jurisdictions are not used for illicit terrorism or any sort of illegal financing instrument..", adding, "12 agencies that are working together in Mauritius to make sure that we are constantly on the watch and fighting this battle".&nbsp;During PM Modi's visit to Mauritius this year, the top agencies of both countries, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Financial Crime Commission of Mauritius, signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in intelligence and technical assistance to combat money laundering and related crimes.&nbsp;In 2016, India and Mauritius amended the DTAA to allow India to tax capital gains on investments from Mauritius starting April 1, 2017, which was a significant step to curb round-tripping, with a phased implementation. The country was briefly on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2020 for money laundering concerns, but was removed in 2023 after implementing stricter regulations. The minister also lauded the strong India-Mauritius ties, pointing to the deep linkages. Full interview:&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India-Mauritius ties?&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Our ties between people of Mauritius, and the people of India and both our countries, goes back several centuries. As you know, the vast majority of the people from Mauritius originally come from various parts of India. So we have very deep-rooted ancestral ties with India, cultural ties with India, ties of language as well; we speak Bhojpuri, English, and a number of other regional languages are present in Mauritius. Since this new government came into place, the focus has really to deepen the economic ties and shared philosophy of mutual benefit for the prosperity of the people of both our countries. My visit comes within the spirit of how to expand our horizon on the economic front as well.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's outreach to Africa, especially when the African Union gained membership of the G20 under India's G20 summit?&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: That was a momentous moment, really. You know, a groundbreaking historical moment for the African Union. It's good to remember that Mauritius is part of a number of African and regional corporations. Mauritius is a member of the African Union, etc. So we have these ties, these historical ties with India, and we could be a bridge to Africa, to where we are. You know, all our brothers and sisters in Africa, we are part of Africa, and we are working actively to build this partnership with all African countries. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the India-Mauritius FTA working?&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) gives access to products in Mauritius and in India, to both countries. The trade in goods is operational, whereas trading in services is being fine-tuned. So some work is still going on to finalize the trade in services, but we are very confident that we are going to finalize that as well very soon, because that is also going to be a cornerstone for my ministry, which is financial services.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: What new money laundering measures are being implemented to prevent its financial systems from being used to channel black money into India?&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Increasingly, we have to be very careful that our jurisdictions are not used for illicit terrorism or any sort of illegal financing instrument. Mauritius was on the FATF's grey list and has come out of it. We are today compliant with all 40 recommendations, compliant, or largely compliant with all 40 FATF recommendations.&nbsp;&nbsp;And we are every day working through all our systems, all our procedures, all our institutions to make the integrity of our system robust. People are there; they are always trying to outsmart the system. So you have to be constantly looking at the system to make sure that, you know, they are not coming up with something else to beat you. So we are constantly working on it. It's an important pillar of the financial services sector.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: How is Mauritius ensuring its full compliance with the amended India-Mauritius DTAA to curb tax evasion and round-tripping of funds?&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: We have worked a lot to make sure that structures that are based in Mauritius can demonstrate substance. As you know, the DTAA with India was amended back in 2016. This has had some impact on the trade that was in services that was happening between our countries. And my mission is really to make sure that we work to grow this as India is growing, that we can also grow with India, while also ensuring that whatever is going through Mauritius as a structure is not just for tax purposes, but that they can actually demonstrate substance. And in that context, there are also discussions going on at the moment between our countries that I hope will be finalized again soon. Sidhant Sibal: What steps are being taken to enhance transparency, since you have already mentioned quite a lot in terms of Mauritius' financial transactions, to address India's concerns about illicit funds flow? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: As I said earlier, we are really working very hard to make sure that all our institutions, all our regulatory and supervisory systems, are working. We have a core group, a National Committee , we have the Financial Crime Commission, and we have the Financial Intelligence Unit. 12 agencies that are working together in Mauritius to make sure that we are constantly on the watch and fighting this battle. Sidhant Sibal: And how is Mauritius cooperating with Indian agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate to share information on black money investigations?&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Prime Minister Modi visited for our independence day in March this year, and a MoU between India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Financial Crime Commission of Mauritius. And that really is a basis of collaboration and cooperation between our agencies to make sure that, you know, there's intelligent sharing, there's capacity building, there's training happening. So a number of collaborative efforts between the two enforcement departments. Sidhant Sibal: My last question, since you're here to attend the Africa summit by CII financial Summit, please tell us about your trip overall here in India&nbsp;Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Always a pleasure to be in India. You know, as I said earlier, we have emotional and cultural links to India. So it's not just about business, it's also about the food, the atmosphere, the people, the culture. So you feel very much at home. I have had very constructive meetings with people you know, the Government of India, and also some very constructive meetings with the private sector from India and from African countries.

Mauritius was briefly on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2020 for money laundering concerns, but was removed in 2023 after implementing stricter regulations. 

Top Mauritius Minister Dr. Jyoti Jeetun has said that her country is working with India to deal with the concerns over black money and to deal with the issue of illicit money flow. The Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning Jeetun speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal said, " we have to be very careful that our jurisdictions are not used for illicit terrorism or any sort of illegal financing instrument..", adding, "12 agencies that are working together in Mauritius to make sure that we are constantly on the watch and fighting this battle". During PM Modi's visit to Mauritius this year, the top agencies of both countries, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Financial Crime Commission of Mauritius, signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in intelligence and technical assistance to combat money laundering and related crimes. In 2016, India and Mauritius amended the DTAA to allow India to tax capital gains on investments from Mauritius starting April 1, 2017, which was a significant step to curb round-tripping, with a phased implementation. The country was briefly on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2020 for money laundering concerns, but was removed in 2023 after implementing stricter regulations. The minister also lauded the strong India-Mauritius ties, pointing to the deep linkages. Full interview: Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India-Mauritius ties? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Our ties between people of Mauritius, and the people of India and both our countries, goes back several centuries. As you know, the vast majority of the people from Mauritius originally come from various parts of India. So we have very deep-rooted ancestral ties with India, cultural ties with India, ties of language as well; we speak Bhojpuri, English, and a number of other regional languages are present in Mauritius. Since this new government came into place, the focus has really to deepen the economic ties and shared philosophy of mutual benefit for the prosperity of the people of both our countries. My visit comes within the spirit of how to expand our horizon on the economic front as well. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's outreach to Africa, especially when the African Union gained membership of the G20 under India's G20 summit? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: That was a momentous moment, really. You know, a groundbreaking historical moment for the African Union. It's good to remember that Mauritius is part of a number of African and regional corporations. Mauritius is a member of the African Union, etc. So we have these ties, these historical ties with India, and we could be a bridge to Africa, to where we are. You know, all our brothers and sisters in Africa, we are part of Africa, and we are working actively to build this partnership with all African countries. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the India-Mauritius FTA working? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) gives access to products in Mauritius and in India, to both countries. The trade in goods is operational, whereas trading in services is being fine-tuned. So some work is still going on to finalize the trade in services, but we are very confident that we are going to finalize that as well very soon, because that is also going to be a cornerstone for my ministry, which is financial services. Sidhant Sibal: What new money laundering measures are being implemented to prevent its financial systems from being used to channel black money into India? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Increasingly, we have to be very careful that our jurisdictions are not used for illicit terrorism or any sort of illegal financing instrument. Mauritius was on the FATF's grey list and has come out of it. We are today compliant with all 40 recommendations, compliant, or largely compliant with all 40 FATF recommendations. And we are every day working through all our systems, all our procedures, all our institutions to make the integrity of our system robust. People are there; they are always trying to outsmart the system. So you have to be constantly looking at the system to make sure that, you know, they are not coming up with something else to beat you. So we are constantly working on it. It's an important pillar of the financial services sector. Sidhant Sibal: How is Mauritius ensuring its full compliance with the amended India-Mauritius DTAA to curb tax evasion and round-tripping of funds? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: We have worked a lot to make sure that structures that are based in Mauritius can demonstrate substance. As you know, the DTAA with India was amended back in 2016. This has had some impact on the trade that was in services that was happening between our countries. And my mission is really to make sure that we work to grow this as India is growing, that we can also grow with India, while also ensuring that whatever is going through Mauritius as a structure is not just for tax purposes, but that they can actually demonstrate substance. And in that context, there are also discussions going on at the moment between our countries that I hope will be finalized again soon. Sidhant Sibal: What steps are being taken to enhance transparency, since you have already mentioned quite a lot in terms of Mauritius' financial transactions, to address India's concerns about illicit funds flow? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: As I said earlier, we are really working very hard to make sure that all our institutions, all our regulatory and supervisory systems, are working. We have a core group, a National Committee , we have the Financial Crime Commission, and we have the Financial Intelligence Unit. 12 agencies that are working together in Mauritius to make sure that we are constantly on the watch and fighting this battle. Sidhant Sibal: And how is Mauritius cooperating with Indian agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate to share information on black money investigations? Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Prime Minister Modi visited for our independence day in March this year, and a MoU between India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Financial Crime Commission of Mauritius. And that really is a basis of collaboration and cooperation between our agencies to make sure that, you know, there's intelligent sharing, there's capacity building, there's training happening. So a number of collaborative efforts between the two enforcement departments. Sidhant Sibal: My last question, since you're here to attend the Africa summit by CII financial Summit, please tell us about your trip overall here in India Dr. Jyoti Jeetun: Always a pleasure to be in India. You know, as I said earlier, we have emotional and cultural links to India. So it's not just about business, it's also about the food, the atmosphere, the people, the culture. So you feel very much at home. I have had very constructive meetings with people you know, the Government of India, and also some very constructive meetings with the private sector from India and from African countries.

Mauritius was briefly on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2020 for money laundering concerns, but was removed in 2023 after implementing stricter regulations.&nbsp;

Working with India to deal with the issue of black money, says Mauritius minister Jyoti Jeetun

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday (September 5) said the government is working on a set of support measures for Indian exporters struggling under the weight of steep US tariffs. The announcement follows Washington’s decision last month, under President Donald Trump, to impose additional duties on Indian products. The move, tied partly to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian crude oil, raised levies on several categories—including garments, jewellery, footwear, and chemicals—to as much as 50%.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fewer-jobs-more-job-seekers-us-labor-market-under-pressure-in-latest-data-1757079675332">Fewer jobs, more job seekers: US labor market under pressure in latest data</a>&nbsp;Sitharaman said the government would not let exporters “be left stranded” and hinted at targeted assistance for industries most affected. “We will be bringing forward a mechanism to support those who are facing 50% tariffs,” she was quoted as saying to CNBC TV18, noting that Cabinet approval would be required before the measures are rolled out. While exporters are seeking immediate relief, the finance minister made clear that India’s energy strategy would not change under pressure. Speaking to CNN-News18, Sitharaman reaffirmed that the country will continue buying crude oil from Russia, calling it the most viable option for India’s energy security.&nbsp;“India’s foreign exchange outflow is dominated by crude and refined fuel purchases. We will continue buying from sources that suit our economy best—and that includes Russia,” Sitharaman was quoted as saying to the news outlet. India has become the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude since Europe and the US restricted supplies following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. New Delhi maintains that its purchases have played a stabilising role in global energy markets.&nbsp;Trump, however, has argued that India’s reliance on Russian oil indirectly funds the Ukraine war effort. His administration responded with punitive tariffs on Indian imports, adding pressure on bilateral trade ties even as Washington seeks India’s cooperation in efforts to end the conflict.

India's FM Nirmala Sitharaman plans relief for exporters as US tariffs bite, reaffirms Russian oil purchases

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday (September 5) said the government is working on a set of support measures for Indian exporters struggling under the weight of steep US tariffs. The announcement follows Washington’s decision last month, under President Donald Trump, to impose additional duties on Indian products. The move, tied partly to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian crude oil, raised levies on several categories—including garments, jewellery, footwear, and chemicals—to as much as 50%. Also Read: Fewer jobs, more job seekers: US labor market under pressure in latest data Sitharaman said the government would not let exporters “be left stranded” and hinted at targeted assistance for industries most affected. “We will be bringing forward a mechanism to support those who are facing 50% tariffs,” she was quoted as saying to CNBC TV18, noting that Cabinet approval would be required before the measures are rolled out. While exporters are seeking immediate relief, the finance minister made clear that India’s energy strategy would not change under pressure. Speaking to CNN-News18, Sitharaman reaffirmed that the country will continue buying crude oil from Russia, calling it the most viable option for India’s energy security. “India’s foreign exchange outflow is dominated by crude and refined fuel purchases. We will continue buying from sources that suit our economy best—and that includes Russia,” Sitharaman was quoted as saying to the news outlet. India has become the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude since Europe and the US restricted supplies following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. New Delhi maintains that its purchases have played a stabilising role in global energy markets. Trump, however, has argued that India’s reliance on Russian oil indirectly funds the Ukraine war effort. His administration responded with punitive tariffs on Indian imports, adding pressure on bilateral trade ties even as Washington seeks India’s cooperation in efforts to end the conflict.

India plans relief package for exporters hit by Trump’s 50% tariffs, while reaffirming Russian oil imports as vital for energy security

Tesla has achieved a big milestone in India with the first delivery of its Model Y SUV from its new ‘Tesla Experience Centre’ in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik became the first Indian customer to receive the car directly from the official Tesla outlet. The Shiv Sena leader had booked the Model Y soon after Tesla opened its first showroom in India in July this year. At the handover, the company showcased the SUV and explained its key technology and eco-friendly features.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking at the event, Sarnaik said that his purchase was not just for personal use but also to support Maharashtra’s push for a clean and green environment. He further added that he also plans to gift a Tesla to his grandson to encourage awareness of electric vehicles among the younger generation.&nbsp;&nbsp;The minister also highlighted that his state aims to expand electric vehicle adoption over the next few years. He also mentioned ongoing EV benefits, such as toll exemptions on the Atal Setu and Samruddhi Expressway. He further noted that the state transport body, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), has already added nearly 5,000 e-buses to its fleet.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tesla-store-delhi-location-after-mumbai-tesla-opens-second-experience-centre-in-delhi-this-city-is-next-1754916198921">After Mumbai, Tesla opens second experience centre in Delhi; THIS city is next</a>&nbsp;<h2>Key features of Tesla Model Y</h2>The Tesla Model Y is available in two versions. In the first variant, the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) uses a 60kWh battery and offers a range of up to 500km, while in the second variant, the Long Range RWD variant extends up to 622km. Both models use a single motor, and the RWD variant goes from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, while the LR RWD does it in 5.6 seconds.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/can-elon-musk-become-world-s-first-trillionaire-yes-if-1757073766536">Can Elon Musk become world’s first trillionaire? Yes, if…</a>&nbsp;The price for the RWD model starts at Rs 59.89 lakh ($67,954.50) (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the LR RWD costs Rs 67.89 lakh ($77,031.73). The standard colour of these models is Stealth Grey. While other shades are also available, customers have to pay extra for them. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Pearl White and Diamond Black colours are available at an additional cost of Rs 95,000, while Glacier Blue and Quicksilver or Ultra Red are available at the cost of Rs 1.25 lakh ($1,418.39) and Rs 1.85 lakh ($2,099.22), respectively. &nbsp;

The Tesla Model Y is available in two versions. In the first version, the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) uses a 60kWh battery and offers a range of up to 500km, while in the second variant, the long range RWD variant extends up to to 622km. 

Tesla has achieved a big milestone in India with the first delivery of its Model Y SUV from its new ‘Tesla Experience Centre’ in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik became the first Indian customer to receive the car directly from the official Tesla outlet. The Shiv Sena leader had booked the Model Y soon after Tesla opened its first showroom in India in July this year. At the handover, the company showcased the SUV and explained its key technology and eco-friendly features. Speaking at the event, Sarnaik said that his purchase was not just for personal use but also to support Maharashtra’s push for a clean and green environment. He further added that he also plans to gift a Tesla to his grandson to encourage awareness of electric vehicles among the younger generation. The minister also highlighted that his state aims to expand electric vehicle adoption over the next few years. He also mentioned ongoing EV benefits, such as toll exemptions on the Atal Setu and Samruddhi Expressway. He further noted that the state transport body, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), has already added nearly 5,000 e-buses to its fleet. Also Read - After Mumbai, Tesla opens second experience centre in Delhi; THIS city is next Key features of Tesla Model Y The Tesla Model Y is available in two versions. In the first variant, the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) uses a 60kWh battery and offers a range of up to 500km, while in the second variant, the Long Range RWD variant extends up to 622km. Both models use a single motor, and the RWD variant goes from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, while the LR RWD does it in 5.6 seconds. Also Read - Can Elon Musk become world’s first trillionaire? Yes, if… The price for the RWD model starts at Rs 59.89 lakh ($67,954.50) (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the LR RWD costs Rs 67.89 lakh ($77,031.73). The standard colour of these models is Stealth Grey. While other shades are also available, customers have to pay extra for them. The Pearl White and Diamond Black colours are available at an additional cost of Rs 95,000, while Glacier Blue and Quicksilver or Ultra Red are available at the cost of Rs 1.25 lakh ($1,418.39) and Rs 1.85 lakh ($2,099.22), respectively.

The Tesla Model Y is available in two versions. In the first variant, the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) uses a 60kWh battery and offers a range of up to 500km, while in the second variant, the Long Range RWD variant extends up to to 622km.&nbsp;

Elon Musk's Tesla hits Indian road for first time - Who owns it?

In a symbolic message of growing India-Papua New Guinea ties, an Indian Navy warship visited the country's capital, Port Moresby, coinciding with the 50th Independence Day celebrations. Indian Navy's indigenous ASW Corvette INS Kadmatt arrived in August, which the Indian side in a statement said, " reaffirmed the growing friendship and maritime partnership between India and Papua New Guinea". According to the statement, &nbsp;the "goodwill visit" symbolises India's commitment to "strengthening its engagement with Pacific Island nations under the Act East Policy and promoting peace, stability, and inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific region".During the port call, INS Kadmatt participated in Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Independence Day Parade and cultural events. The ship's crew engaged with Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGFD) to explore avenues for cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The ship also hosted the PNG Chief of Defence Forces on board to showcase the Indian Navy's journey of ‘Aatma Nirbharta’ in defence.In 2023, PM Modi visited the country, the first-ever visit of an Indian PM to the Pacific country. During the visit, PM attended the 3rd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with PNG PM James Marape and was conferred the country's highest civilian award, the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu.India and Papua New Guinea have been upping the defence engagements. In April 2024, PNG appointed Colonel Edison Napyo as its first Defence Adviser to India, a significant step to enhance military cooperation. In August 2023, two Indian Navy ships, INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata, made a port call at Port Moresby. PNG PM James Marape visited the ships, calling for increased naval visits and deeper defence ties.The visit included discussions on bilateral defence cooperation between Indian naval officers and PNG’s Deputy Chief of Defence Force, Commodore Philip Polewara. India has offered training opportunities for PNGDF personnel and has encouraged the country to utilise more slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program for defence training.On the ongoing visit of INS Kadmatt, the Indian Navy statement said, it "remains steadfast in fulfilling its diplomatic role of building ‘Bridges of Friendship’, connecting nations through goodwill port calls, capacity-building initiatives and collaborative maritime efforts." Indian Navy ships have been traversing the wider Indo-Pacific region, which shows that it is a blue water Navy.

India and Papua New Guinea have been upping the defence engagements. In April 2024, PNG appointed Colonel Edison Napyo as its first Defence Adviser to India, a significant step to enhance military cooperation.

In a symbolic message of growing India-Papua New Guinea ties, an Indian Navy warship visited the country's capital, Port Moresby, coinciding with the 50th Independence Day celebrations. Indian Navy's indigenous ASW Corvette INS Kadmatt arrived in August, which the Indian side in a statement said, " reaffirmed the growing friendship and maritime partnership between India and Papua New Guinea". According to the statement, the "goodwill visit" symbolises India's commitment to "strengthening its engagement with Pacific Island nations under the Act East Policy and promoting peace, stability, and inclusive growth in the Indo-Pacific region". During the port call, INS Kadmatt participated in Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Independence Day Parade and cultural events. The ship's crew engaged with Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGFD) to explore avenues for cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The ship also hosted the PNG Chief of Defence Forces on board to showcase the Indian Navy's journey of ‘Aatma Nirbharta’ in defence. In 2023, PM Modi visited the country, the first-ever visit of an Indian PM to the Pacific country. During the visit, PM attended the 3rd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit with PNG PM James Marape and was conferred the country's highest civilian award, the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu. India and Papua New Guinea have been upping the defence engagements. In April 2024, PNG appointed Colonel Edison Napyo as its first Defence Adviser to India, a significant step to enhance military cooperation. In August 2023, two Indian Navy ships, INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata, made a port call at Port Moresby. PNG PM James Marape visited the ships, calling for increased naval visits and deeper defence ties. The visit included discussions on bilateral defence cooperation between Indian naval officers and PNG’s Deputy Chief of Defence Force, Commodore Philip Polewara. India has offered training opportunities for PNGDF personnel and has encouraged the country to utilise more slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program for defence training. On the ongoing visit of INS Kadmatt, the Indian Navy statement said, it "remains steadfast in fulfilling its diplomatic role of building ‘Bridges of Friendship’, connecting nations through goodwill port calls, capacity-building initiatives and collaborative maritime efforts." Indian Navy ships have been traversing the wider Indo-Pacific region, which shows that it is a blue water Navy.

India and Papua New Guinea have been upping the defence engagements. In April 2024, PNG appointed Colonel Edison Napyo as its first Defence Adviser to India, a significant step to enhance military cooperation.

Indian warship visits Papua New Guinea on its Independence Day

India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday (September 5) underscored that India's foremost security challenge continues to be its unsettled boundary dispute with China. Speaking at an event in Gorakhpur, Chauhan said Pakistan’s long-standing policy of waging a proxy conflict against India is the second biggest concern, noting that Islamabad has consistently sought to “bleed India by a thousand cuts.”&nbsp;He also highlighted two other key threats: the destabilizing impact of regional turbulence and the increasing role of high-end technologies in shaping future battlefields. “Security challenges for nations do not simply disappear; they evolve in different forms. For India, the unresolved frontier with China will remain the toughest issue. Next is Pakistan’s indirect war, a strategy rooted in attrition,” Chauhan said. The CDS warned that modern warfare is no longer limited to land, air, and sea. “The spectrum now spans space and cyber domains. Since both of our adversaries possess nuclear capabilities, operational decisions against them will always be complex,” he explained.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-rejects-navarro-s-brahmins-profuteering-remarks-calls-it-inaccurate-1757074319490">India rejects Navarro’s ‘Brahmins profiteering’ remark, calls it ‘inaccurate’</a><h2>Operation Sindoor</h2>Chauhan also reflected on Operation Sindoor, carried out in May in response to the April 22 terrorist strike in Pahalgam. He said Indian forces struck terror networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with complete operational autonomy. “The purpose of Operation Sindoor was not retaliation alone but to mark a boundary to India’s tolerance,” he stated. He described the mission as a multi-domain operation that involved coordination across military branches and cyber elements.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-pilot-makes-pan-pan-call-as-delhi-indore-flight-encounters-technical-fault-lands-safely-1757068931590">Air India Express pilot makes PAN-PAN call as Delhi–Indore flight encounters technical fault; lands safely</a>&nbsp;General Chauhan arrived in Gorakhpur on Thursday, where he joined Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to lay the foundation stone for the renovation of the Gorakha War Memorial and the Gorkha Museum. He also offered prayers at the Gorakhnath temple.

'Boundary dispute with China is India’s biggest challenge and will continue...', says CDS Anil Chauhan

India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday (September 5) underscored that India's foremost security challenge continues to be its unsettled boundary dispute with China. Speaking at an event in Gorakhpur, Chauhan said Pakistan’s long-standing policy of waging a proxy conflict against India is the second biggest concern, noting that Islamabad has consistently sought to “bleed India by a thousand cuts.” He also highlighted two other key threats: the destabilizing impact of regional turbulence and the increasing role of high-end technologies in shaping future battlefields. “Security challenges for nations do not simply disappear; they evolve in different forms. For India, the unresolved frontier with China will remain the toughest issue. Next is Pakistan’s indirect war, a strategy rooted in attrition,” Chauhan said. The CDS warned that modern warfare is no longer limited to land, air, and sea. “The spectrum now spans space and cyber domains. Since both of our adversaries possess nuclear capabilities, operational decisions against them will always be complex,” he explained. Also Read: India rejects Navarro’s ‘Brahmins profiteering’ remark, calls it ‘inaccurate’ Operation Sindoor Chauhan also reflected on Operation Sindoor, carried out in May in response to the April 22 terrorist strike in Pahalgam. He said Indian forces struck terror networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with complete operational autonomy. “The purpose of Operation Sindoor was not retaliation alone but to mark a boundary to India’s tolerance,” he stated. He described the mission as a multi-domain operation that involved coordination across military branches and cyber elements. Also Read: Air India Express pilot makes PAN-PAN call as Delhi–Indore flight encounters technical fault; lands safely General Chauhan arrived in Gorakhpur on Thursday, where he joined Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to lay the foundation stone for the renovation of the Gorakha War Memorial and the Gorkha Museum. He also offered prayers at the Gorakhnath temple.

CDS General Anil Chauhan in Gorakhpur said that India’s biggest security challenge is the China border dispute, followed by Pakistan’s proxy war and evolving cyber-space threats

The government of India, on September 5, ordered Twitter (formerly X) to block the account of Austrian economist Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn. This was a reaction to his provocative post where he called to ‘dismantle India’. The post contained a provocative map partitioning India with territories divided among Pakistan, Khalistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.“I call to dismantle India into ExIndia. @narendramodi is Russia's man. We need friends of freedom for @KhalistanNet," wrote Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn. The post went viral after the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology flagged it on X and directed it to withhold the account in India.The post comes just after PM Modi returns from the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, where he met with the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese President. Fehlinger-Jahn serves as the President of the Austrian Committee for NATO membership of Ukraine, Kosovo, Bosnia and Austria. He also sits on the Board of the Action Group for Regional Economic Integration of Southern Balkans. He is known for a hardline stance against Russia and other enemies of the West, including China and India.&nbsp;There was a widespread reaction and backlash online. Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. condemned the action and demanded that the MEA take the matter up with the Austrian embassy in India. &nbsp;A senior official of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs called him a 'loony' who holds no official position. &nbsp;&nbsp;With the SCO summit, Russia and China have attempted to consolidate the global south into a power block and renewed calls for the multipolar world order. Putin, in a press conference, called the unipolar world order unfair and called for the abolition of "hegemons…The idea is that the world must be multipolar, which means that all the actors of international communication and international relations must be equal, and there must be no one more equal than the others. And a unipolar world must cease to exist."&nbsp;&nbsp;

India banned pro-Western Austrian economist Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn over a controversial post which attacked the territorial integrity of the nation. The attack comes just after the SCO summit in Tianjin, China.

The government of India, on September 5, ordered Twitter (formerly X) to block the account of Austrian economist Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn. This was a reaction to his provocative post where he called to ‘dismantle India’. The post contained a provocative map partitioning India with territories divided among Pakistan, Khalistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. “I call to dismantle India into ExIndia. @narendramodi is Russia's man. We need friends of freedom for @KhalistanNet," wrote Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn. The post went viral after the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology flagged it on X and directed it to withhold the account in India. The post comes just after PM Modi returns from the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, where he met with the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese President. Fehlinger-Jahn serves as the President of the Austrian Committee for NATO membership of Ukraine, Kosovo, Bosnia and Austria. He also sits on the Board of the Action Group for Regional Economic Integration of Southern Balkans. He is known for a hardline stance against Russia and other enemies of the West, including China and India. There was a widespread reaction and backlash online. Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. condemned the action and demanded that the MEA take the matter up with the Austrian embassy in India. A senior official of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs called him a 'loony' who holds no official position. With the SCO summit, Russia and China have attempted to consolidate the global south into a power block and renewed calls for the multipolar world order. Putin, in a press conference, called the unipolar world order unfair and called for the abolition of "hegemons…The idea is that the world must be multipolar, which means that all the actors of international communication and international relations must be equal, and there must be no one more equal than the others. And a unipolar world must cease to exist."

India banned pro-Western Austrian economist Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn over a controversial post which attacked the territorial integrity of the nation. The attack comes just after the SCO summit in Tianjin, China.

India blocks Austrian economist Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn’s X account after controversial ‘Dismantle India’ post

India's so-called demographic dividend, in which most of the population is young unlike many advancing economies, could be slowly a thing of the past, if we go by the latest data. For the first time in five decades, its birth and death rates have dropped to about half their 1971 levels.&nbsp;According to Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin 2023 released by the Office of the Registrar General of India on Wednesday (Spet 3), India’s Crude Birth Rate (CBR) - the number of children born per 1,000 people annually - has decreased from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023, a decline of 0.7-point.&nbsp;The country’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has also fallen for the first time in two years. In 2023 the TFR was 1.9, while in 2021 and 2022 it remained at 2.0.&nbsp;The Crude Birth Rate or CBR remained high at 20.3 as compared to urban areas that showed a sharp decline and stood at 14.9.&nbsp;Highest, lowest CBR and TFR&nbsp;According to the report, Bihar’s CBR was the highest at 25.8, while the rate was lowest in the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands at 10.1. Tamil Nadu at 12 was second lowest in the list.&nbsp;Notably, the highest TFR of 2.8 was also in Bihar, while the lowest was observed in the national capital Delhi at 1.2.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR) for 2023 stood at 0.9, according to the SRS report. Gross Reproduction Rate means that on average, each woman in India is having one daughter who survives to reproductive age and bears a child of her own.&nbsp;This time, the Rural GRR at 1.0 was higher compared to the urban GRR at 0.7. This suggests that women in rural areas have more daughters than women in urban areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Crude Birth Rate or CBR remained high at 20.3 as compared to urban areas that showed a sharp decline and stood at 14.9, according to Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin 2023.

India's so-called demographic dividend, in which most of the population is young unlike many advancing economies, could be slowly a thing of the past, if we go by the latest data. For the first time in five decades, its birth and death rates have dropped to about half their 1971 levels. According to Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin 2023 released by the Office of the Registrar General of India on Wednesday (Spet 3), India’s Crude Birth Rate (CBR) - the number of children born per 1,000 people annually - has decreased from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023, a decline of 0.7-point. The country’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has also fallen for the first time in two years. In 2023 the TFR was 1.9, while in 2021 and 2022 it remained at 2.0. The Crude Birth Rate or CBR remained high at 20.3 as compared to urban areas that showed a sharp decline and stood at 14.9. Highest, lowest CBR and TFR According to the report, Bihar’s CBR was the highest at 25.8, while the rate was lowest in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands at 10.1. Tamil Nadu at 12 was second lowest in the list. Notably, the highest TFR of 2.8 was also in Bihar, while the lowest was observed in the national capital Delhi at 1.2. Meanwhile, the Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR) for 2023 stood at 0.9, according to the SRS report. Gross Reproduction Rate means that on average, each woman in India is having one daughter who survives to reproductive age and bears a child of her own. This time, the Rural GRR at 1.0 was higher compared to the urban GRR at 0.7. This suggests that women in rural areas have more daughters than women in urban areas.

The Crude Birth Rate or CBR remained high at 20.3 as compared to urban areas that showed a sharp decline and stood at 14.9, according to Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin 2023.

India's population advantage is waning? Birth rate declines for first time in 50 years, total fertility rate slips

India firmly rejected the remarks made by the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Brahmin by calling it "inaccurate". &nbsp;In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen some inaccurate statements made by him. We reject them.” Navarro has defended the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the American President Donald Trump on India, saying, “Brahmins” are profiteering at the expense of Indian people.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;We have seen the inaccurate and misleading statements made by Mr. Navarro and obviously we reject them,&quot; says India&#39;s external affairs ministry spokesperson on Donald Trump&#39;s trade advisor Peter Navarro&#39;s &#39;Brahmins profiteering&#39; remark Video: ANI <a href="https://t.co/ivD4Lo5Pyf">pic.twitter.com/ivD4Lo5Pyf</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1963938373178958008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What did Navarro say?</h2>On September 1, Navarro declared on Fox News that “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people,” mixing up centuries of history, culture, and economics in one confused statement.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-warship-visits-papua-new-guinea-on-its-independence-day-1757077431920">Indian warship visits Papua New Guinea on its Independence Day</a>&nbsp;Navarro’s comments came during his usual complaints about India’s trade policies. He called India “the maharaja of tariffs” and questioned why Prime Minister Modi aligns with Putin and Xi Jinping. But then he made his most revealing mistake, suggesting that Brahmins are somehow the business elite profiteering from trade with America.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-boundary-dispute-with-china-is-india-s-biggest-challenge-and-will-continue-says-cds-anil-chauhan-1757076055729">Boundary dispute with China is India’s biggest challenge: CDS Anil Chauhan</a><h2>American Hindus slam Peter Navarro</h2>A Hindu advocacy group in the United States, HinduPACT’s American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), has condemned the recent remarks of White House trade adviser Peter Navarro as “inappropriate and Hinduphobic” and demanded his dismissal from President Donald Trump’s team. The Hindu group objected to Navarro’s reference to caste and his “portrayal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a sacred act of Hindu prayer”.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-pilot-makes-pan-pan-call-as-delhi-indore-flight-encounters-technical-fault-lands-safely-1757068931590">AI pilot makes PAN-PAN call as Delhi–Indore flight encounters technical fault</a>&nbsp;“It’s not a critique; it’s a colonial-era trope recycled to divide Hindu society and depict India as inherently unjust,” the group said while criticising Navarro’s comments about “Brahmins profiting at the expense of the Indian people”.

India firmly rejected the remarks made by the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Brahmin by calling it inaccurate on September 5. 

India firmly rejected the remarks made by the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Brahmin by calling it "inaccurate". In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen some inaccurate statements made by him. We reject them.” Navarro has defended the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the American President Donald Trump on India, saying, “Brahmins” are profiteering at the expense of Indian people.

India firmly rejected the remarks made by the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Brahmin by calling it inaccurate on September 5.&nbsp;

India rejects Navarro’s ‘Brahmins profiteering’ remark, calls it ‘inaccurate’

With barely six months to go for the Assembly elections in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a storm is brewing within the principal opposition party AIADMK. On Friday (September 5), senior AIADMK leader and former minister&nbsp;Sengottaiyan publicly expressed the urgent need for the party to re-induct its leaders who were expelled in recent years, in order to improve the party's prospects in the 2026 summer polls. He has also set a 10-day deadline for the re-induction of ousted leaders. The AIADMK, once a formidable political force in the state, has been facing a leadership crisis since the demise of then chief minister and party supremo J Jayalalithaa, in 2016.&nbsp;&nbsp;Recalling the party's legacy and its winning spree under founder MGR and later under MGR's political successor J Jayalalithaa, Sengottaiyan emphasised that such a political movement must not get disintegrated. He also candidly admitted that the party is presently in a weak condition and that there is an urgent need to re-admit ousted leaders. Though he has not specified who the ousted leaders are, it is widely regarded that he is referring to VK Sasikala, a close aide of J Jayalalithaa, and O Panneerselvam, a former chief minister and senior AIADMK leader.&nbsp;&nbsp;Elaborating on the internal discussions that took place within their party, Sengottaiyan said that he and a handful of senior leaders had approached party general secretary and Opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami, with their request to re-unite the party by welcoming ousted leaders. Further, he stated that Palaniswami was not willing to accept it.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Palaniswami can decide whom to reunite... those who have been ousted from AIADMK were in important posts... I feel that they should be reunited...Only then can we accomplish a victory.. Party will be strong only when everyone comes together.. This should be done urgently...," Sengottaiyan said. He also made it clear that if this did not happen within a 10-day deadline, there are like-minded people who are willing to do so for the party. Citing precedent, he touched upon the need to "forgive and forget" in the interest of the party. &nbsp;Both ousted AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala came out in support of veteran leader Sengottaiyan and his bid to reunite the party.&nbsp;<h2>AIADMK-BJP alliance for 2026 Tamil Nadu polls</h2>In April this year, the AIADMK and BJP announced their pre-poll alliance for the 2026 Assembly polls. After having fought and losing the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly polls under the NDA alliance, both AIADMK and BJP went their separate ways and fought the 2024 Parliamentary polls alone. In 2021, the DMK under MK Stalin came to power, defeating incumbent AIADMK. Bettering the 2021 state poll performance, DMK and its allies swept all seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2024 Parliamentary polls. The then estranged allies AIADMK and BJP have now joined hands to take on the incumbent DMK-led combine.&nbsp;&nbsp;With six months to got for the polls, differences emerging from within the AIADMK top brass is not an encouraging sign for the state opposition party and the overall NDA alliance. Further, smaller parties such as TTV Dinakaran's AMMK have announced their decision to quit the NDA. Earlier, O Panneerselvam too announced his decision to move out of the NDA. PMK, a former ally of the NDA now faces an internal leadership struggle between the father-son duo that are the prominent faces of the party. DMDK, a former NDA ally and the party of Late actor-politician Vijayakant is now signalling its intentions to join the DMK-led front.&nbsp;

Ahead of 2026 polls, storm brews in Tamil Nadu's opposition party AIADMK

With barely six months to go for the Assembly elections in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a storm is brewing within the principal opposition party AIADMK. On Friday (September 5), senior AIADMK leader and former minister Sengottaiyan publicly expressed the urgent need for the party to re-induct its leaders who were expelled in recent years, in order to improve the party's prospects in the 2026 summer polls. He has also set a 10-day deadline for the re-induction of ousted leaders. The AIADMK, once a formidable political force in the state, has been facing a leadership crisis since the demise of then chief minister and party supremo J Jayalalithaa, in 2016. Recalling the party's legacy and its winning spree under founder MGR and later under MGR's political successor J Jayalalithaa, Sengottaiyan emphasised that such a political movement must not get disintegrated. He also candidly admitted that the party is presently in a weak condition and that there is an urgent need to re-admit ousted leaders. Though he has not specified who the ousted leaders are, it is widely regarded that he is referring to VK Sasikala, a close aide of J Jayalalithaa, and O Panneerselvam, a former chief minister and senior AIADMK leader. Elaborating on the internal discussions that took place within their party, Sengottaiyan said that he and a handful of senior leaders had approached party general secretary and Opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami, with their request to re-unite the party by welcoming ousted leaders. Further, he stated that Palaniswami was not willing to accept it. "Palaniswami can decide whom to reunite... those who have been ousted from AIADMK were in important posts... I feel that they should be reunited...Only then can we accomplish a victory.. Party will be strong only when everyone comes together.. This should be done urgently...," Sengottaiyan said. He also made it clear that if this did not happen within a 10-day deadline, there are like-minded people who are willing to do so for the party. Citing precedent, he touched upon the need to "forgive and forget" in the interest of the party. Both ousted AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala came out in support of veteran leader Sengottaiyan and his bid to reunite the party. AIADMK-BJP alliance for 2026 Tamil Nadu polls In April this year, the AIADMK and BJP announced their pre-poll alliance for the 2026 Assembly polls. After having fought and losing the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly polls under the NDA alliance, both AIADMK and BJP went their separate ways and fought the 2024 Parliamentary polls alone. In 2021, the DMK under MK Stalin came to power, defeating incumbent AIADMK. Bettering the 2021 state poll performance, DMK and its allies swept all seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2024 Parliamentary polls. The then estranged allies AIADMK and BJP have now joined hands to take on the incumbent DMK-led combine. With six months to got for the polls, differences emerging from within the AIADMK top brass is not an encouraging sign for the state opposition party and the overall NDA alliance. Further, smaller parties such as TTV Dinakaran's AMMK have announced their decision to quit the NDA. Earlier, O Panneerselvam too announced his decision to move out of the NDA. PMK, a former ally of the NDA now faces an internal leadership struggle between the father-son duo that are the prominent faces of the party. DMDK, a former NDA ally and the party of Late actor-politician Vijayakant is now signalling its intentions to join the DMK-led front.

With six months to got for the polls, differences emerging from within the AIADMK top brass is not an encouraging sign for the state opposition party and the overall NDA alliance

An Indore-bound Air India Express flight from Delhi, carrying 161 passengers, faced a mid-air scare on Friday (September 5) when one of its engines developed a technical snag. The pilot issued a ‘PAN-PAN’ call—an international alert used for urgent but non-life-threatening situations—to Air Traffic Control. The flight, IX 1028, landed down safely at Indore’s Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport at 9:55 am, about 20 minutes behind schedule. No injuries were reported.&nbsp;Indore airport director Vipinkant Seth confirmed that the aircraft experienced an engine-related issue during the approach phase. “As soon as we received word about the problem, emergency teams were kept ready on the ground. The plane landed without incident, and all standard safety measures were in place,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-let-me-state-clearly-ajit-pawar-clarifies-after-viral-video-shows-him-rebuking-female-ips-officer-1757068453680">'Let me state clearly...': Ajit Pawar clarifies after viral video shows him 'rebuking' female IPS officer</a>&nbsp;According to the airline, the suspected fault was linked to the oil filter system. An Air India Express spokesperson explained that the pilots followed protocol and requested priority landing, stressing that it was not an emergency landing. “Our crew are trained to handle such events calmly and professionally,” the spokesperson added.<h2>What is a PAN-PAN call?</h2>A ‘PAN-PAN’ call is distinct from the more severe ‘MAYDAY’ signal. While the latter denotes a life-threatening emergency, PAN-PAN indicates that assistance is required but there is no immediate danger to passengers or crew. This isn’t the first time a Delhi–Indore service has faced such an issue. In an earlier case, an Air India flight had to return to Delhi shortly after departure following a fire warning in one engine. Initially, the pilot issued a MAYDAY distress call but later downgraded it to PAN-PAN after confirming the situation was under control. That aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, landed safely back in the capital after about half an hour in the air.

Air India Express pilot makes PAN-PAN call as Delhi–Indore flight encounters technical fault; lands safely

An Indore-bound Air India Express flight from Delhi, carrying 161 passengers, faced a mid-air scare on Friday (September 5) when one of its engines developed a technical snag. The pilot issued a ‘PAN-PAN’ call—an international alert used for urgent but non-life-threatening situations—to Air Traffic Control. The flight, IX 1028, landed down safely at Indore’s Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport at 9:55 am, about 20 minutes behind schedule. No injuries were reported. Indore airport director Vipinkant Seth confirmed that the aircraft experienced an engine-related issue during the approach phase. “As soon as we received word about the problem, emergency teams were kept ready on the ground. The plane landed without incident, and all standard safety measures were in place,” he said. Also Read: 'Let me state clearly...': Ajit Pawar clarifies after viral video shows him 'rebuking' female IPS officer According to the airline, the suspected fault was linked to the oil filter system. An Air India Express spokesperson explained that the pilots followed protocol and requested priority landing, stressing that it was not an emergency landing. “Our crew are trained to handle such events calmly and professionally,” the spokesperson added. What is a PAN-PAN call? A ‘PAN-PAN’ call is distinct from the more severe ‘MAYDAY’ signal. While the latter denotes a life-threatening emergency, PAN-PAN indicates that assistance is required but there is no immediate danger to passengers or crew. This isn’t the first time a Delhi–Indore service has faced such an issue. In an earlier case, an Air India flight had to return to Delhi shortly after departure following a fire warning in one engine. Initially, the pilot issued a MAYDAY distress call but later downgraded it to PAN-PAN after confirming the situation was under control. That aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, landed safely back in the capital after about half an hour in the air.

An Air India Express Delhi–Indore flight carrying 161 passengers landed safely after the pilot issued a PAN-PAN call over an engine fault issue

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force. &nbsp; "My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur. Let me state clearly that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further," Pawar wrote on X.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-34-human-bombs-400kg-of-rdx-for-blast-india-s-mumbai-on-high-alert-over-threat-1757055509053">'34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': Mumbai on high alert over threat</a>&nbsp;"I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law," he added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">सोलापूर जिल्ह्यातील पोलीस अधिकाऱ्यांसोबतच्या संवादाच्या संदर्भात काही व्हिडिओ समाजमाध्यमांवर प्रसारित होत आहेत. मी स्पष्टपणे सांगू इच्छितो की, माझा उद्देश कायद्याच्या अंमलबजावणीमध्ये हस्तक्षेप करण्याचा नव्हता, तर त्या ठिकाणी परिस्थिती शांत रहावी आणि ती अधिक बिघडू नये याची काळजी…&mdash; Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) <a href="https://twitter.com/AjitPawarSpeaks/status/1963904591252336746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In the purported video, Pawar was heard speaking to IPS officer Anjana Krishna, where he reportedly asked the IPS officer to stop action against illegal soil excavation in Kurdu village, Solapur.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-we-have-good-relations-with-us-will-resolve-issues-union-minister-piyush-goyal-1757008368621">‘We have good relations with US, will resolve issues,’ Union Minister Goyal</a>&nbsp;"I can understand what you are saying, but I am unable to figure out if I am talking to the Deputy Chief Minister. Can you please call me on my number directly?" the IPS officer said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;I will take action against you&quot;: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar&#39;s heated argument with woman IPS officer over illegal excavation goes viral <a href="https://t.co/gsWbZ0ZdKq">pic.twitter.com/gsWbZ0ZdKq</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1963881772669972984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After hearing the officer's response, Pawar seemed angry and said, "I will take action against you. I am myself talking to you and you are asking me to call you directly. You want to see me. Take my number and make a WhatsApp call. How dare you?" Pawar said.&nbsp;

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force. 

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force. "My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur. Let me state clearly that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further," Pawar wrote on X. Also read: '34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': Mumbai on high alert over threat "I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law," he added.

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force.&nbsp;

'Let me state clearly...': Ajit Pawar clarifies after viral video shows him 'rebuking' female IPS officer

A social media post by the Kerala unit of the Congress party has caused a major political controversy on Friday (September 5) after it compared the state of Bihar with bidis. The post on X, which was later deleted, was linked to the Centre’s new Goods and Services Tax (GST) changes. The post said, “Bidis and Bihar start with B” and “cannot be considered a sin anymore,” referring to the reduced GST rate on bidis in the new reform.&nbsp;This remark by the Congress angered leaders of Bihar’s ruling alliance. On X, the Deputy Bihar’s Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary called it an “insult to the people of Bihar.” He also mentioned that the Congress has also insulted the Prime Minister’s late mother.&nbsp;"First, the insult to the revered mother of our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and now the insult to the entire Bihar- this is the true character of the Congress, which is repeatedly being exposed before the country," he posted on his X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">पहले हमारे माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> जी की पूजनीय माता जी का अपमान और अब पूरे बिहार का अपमान — यही है कांग्रेस का असली चरित्र, जो बार-बार देश के सामने उजागर हो रहा है। <a href="https://t.co/VvliP16tTJ">pic.twitter.com/VvliP16tTJ</a>&mdash; Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/samrat4bjp/status/1963817003010916379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

JDU leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha also attacked Congress, calling their post shameful. He said B does not just stand for bidi, but also for “buddhi” (intelligence) and “budget,” which Congress lacks.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Let me tell you that B does not just signify beedi, it also signifies intelligence, which you do not have! There is also a budget from B, in which you feel irritated when Bihar gets special assistance,” &nbsp;Sanjay Kumar Jha wrote on &nbsp;X.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">कांग्रेस की एक और अत्यंत शर्मनाक हरकत! आपको बता दें कि B से सिर्फ बीड़ी नहीं, बुद्धि भी होती है, जो आपके पास नहीं है! B से बजट भी होता है, जिसमें बिहार को विशेष सहायता मिलने पर आपको मिर्ची लगती है।<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#बिहार</a> का मजाक बनाने की नीचता कर कांग्रेस ने न केवल बिहारवासियों का फिर से अपमान… <a href="https://t.co/y6Z4Qj3Yua">pic.twitter.com/y6Z4Qj3Yua</a>&mdash; Sanjay Kumar Jha (@SanjayJhaBihar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SanjayJhaBihar/status/1963805675802206525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This issue comes after the GST Council announced a cut of rates on bidis from 28% to 18%, while the tax on bidi wrapper leaves (tendu) was reduced from 18% to 5%. The council also decided to move from four GST slabs (5, 12, 18, and 28%) to just two rates - 5% and 18%. A special 40% tax for products like tobacco and cigarettes has also initiated.

This issue comes after the GST Council announced a cut of rates on bidis from 28% to 18%, while the tax on bidi wrapper leaves (tendu) was reduced from 18% to 5%. 

A social media post by the Kerala unit of the Congress party has caused a major political controversy on Friday (September 5) after it compared the state of Bihar with bidis. The post on X, which was later deleted, was linked to the Centre’s new Goods and Services Tax (GST) changes. The post said, “Bidis and Bihar start with B” and “cannot be considered a sin anymore,” referring to the reduced GST rate on bidis in the new reform. This remark by the Congress angered leaders of Bihar’s ruling alliance. On X, the Deputy Bihar’s Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary called it an “insult to the people of Bihar.” He also mentioned that the Congress has also insulted the Prime Minister’s late mother. "First, the insult to the revered mother of our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and now the insult to the entire Bihar- this is the true character of the Congress, which is repeatedly being exposed before the country," he posted on his X.

This issue comes after the GST Council announced a cut of rates on bidis from 28% to 18%, while the tax on bidi wrapper leaves (tendu) was reduced from 18% to 5%.&nbsp;

'B' stands for Buddhi (intelligence) too: Congress slammed for equating Bihar with beedi amid GST row

The Indian rupee slid to a record low of ₹88.36 per US dollar this week amid fears of new US tariffs and global economic uncertainties. The Reserve Bank of India, the nation's central bank, reportedly intervened to cap further losses. On August 29, the rupee breached the ₹88 mark, touching ₹88.29. These are among the weakest points for the rupee in recent memory, but one group will benefit: Indian expats sending money home.<h2>India is the largest recipient of global remittances</h2>In the fiscal year 2024–25, India received a record high of $135.46 billion in inward remittances. That marks a steady growth. In 2024, remittance inflows climbed to around $129 billion, according to the World Bank, up from an estimated $125 billion in 2023. The figure was about $111 billion in 2022.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-tourists-can-pay-in-indian-rupees-with-local-currency-settlement-agreement-says-maldives-finance-minister-moosa-zameer-1753778762423">Indian tourists can pay in Indian Rupees with local currency settlement agreement, says Maldives Finance Minister Moosa Zameer</a><h2>Why a weaker rupee is a boon for NRIs sending money home</h2>A weaker rupee benefits Indian expatriates by enabling them to convert every dollar, or other foreign currency, into more rupees, increasing the value of their remittances. For example, at ₹88 to a dollar, $1,000 becomes ₹88,000 instead of, say, ₹82,000 — a gain of ₹6,000.This gives greater purchasing power to the recipients of these remittances. Whether for household needs, education, investment, or savings, they gain more value.So, the drop in the rupee rate, driven by US tariff concerns and foreign exchange volatility, is in a way helping this segment of Indian society.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/experts-indian-rupee-likely-to-stabilise-near-88-1756965337036/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/experts-indian-rupee-likely-to-stabilise-near-88-1756965337036/embed</a><h2>Who is sending money to India? Origins and destinations</h2>The United States is the key source country in terms of value of remittances, accounting for around 27.7 per cent of total flows. The UAE (19.2 per cent) and the UK (10.8 per cent) are also among the top countries. Remittances of about ₹500,000 account for 28.6 per cent of the total inflows. Smaller transactions — ₹16,500 or less — make up 40.6 per cent.States with high remittance inflows include Maharashtra (20.5 per cent), Kerala (19.7 per cent), and Tamil Nadu (10.4 per cent).Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indo-pak-war-indian-rupee-slides-to-record-lows-falls-to-8588-against-dollar-sharpest-drop-in-over-25-years-9051844">Indo-Pak war: Indian Rupee slides to record lows; falls to 85.88 against dollar, sharpest drop in over 2.5 years</a><h2>Indian rupee fall trends and effect on remittances</h2>The rupee has been falling in recent months, dropping to ₹87.29 per US dollar in February. Historically, a weaker rupee always encouraged NRIs to remit money more frequently and in larger amounts. The 2018 rupee depreciation to 69.62 per US dollar caused a 25 per cent volume spike in remittances from the UAE.The current depreciation — around 3.6 per cent over 10 months — is showing a similar effect, particularly among skilled migrants in high-income countries.<h2>Easier now to send remittances, but challenges remain</h2>Digital infrastructure for sending money, including platforms like UPI, has improved the remittance process by reducing costs, increasing transaction speed and boosting volumes.But challenges remain. Any global slowdown, or headwinds like falling oil prices and economic uncertainties, could impact remittance inflows. There is also the risk of countries changing their visa and immigration policies, which could affect future remittance volumes.

The rupee’s fall to record lows against the dollar is boosting remittances from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). This is good for the economy as the recipients get more purchasing power to buy goods and services, boosting demand and economic activity

The Indian rupee slid to a record low of ₹88.36 per US dollar this week amid fears of new US tariffs and global economic uncertainties. The Reserve Bank of India, the nation's central bank, reportedly intervened to cap further losses. On August 29, the rupee breached the ₹88 mark, touching ₹88.29. These are among the weakest points for the rupee in recent memory, but one group will benefit: Indian expats sending money home. India is the largest recipient of global remittances In the fiscal year 2024–25, India received a record high of $135.46 billion in inward remittances. That marks a steady growth. In 2024, remittance inflows climbed to around $129 billion, according to the World Bank, up from an estimated $125 billion in 2023. The figure was about $111 billion in 2022. Also read: Indian tourists can pay in Indian Rupees with local currency settlement agreement, says Maldives Finance Minister Moosa Zameer Why a weaker rupee is a boon for NRIs sending money home A weaker rupee benefits Indian expatriates by enabling them to convert every dollar, or other foreign currency, into more rupees, increasing the value of their remittances. For example, at ₹88 to a dollar, $1,000 becomes ₹88,000 instead of, say, ₹82,000 — a gain of ₹6,000. This gives greater purchasing power to the recipients of these remittances. Whether for household needs, education, investment, or savings, they gain more value. So, the drop in the rupee rate, driven by US tariff concerns and foreign exchange volatility, is in a way helping this segment of Indian society. https://www.wionews.com/videos/experts-indian-rupee-likely-to-stabilise-near-88-1756965337036/embed Who is sending money to India? Origins and destinations The United States is the key source country in terms of value of remittances, accounting for around 27.7 per cent of total flows. The UAE (19.2 per cent) and the UK (10.8 per cent) are also among the top countries. Remittances of about ₹500,000 account for 28.6 per cent of the total inflows. Smaller transactions — ₹16,500 or less — make up 40.6 per cent. States with high remittance inflows include Maharashtra (20.5 per cent), Kerala (19.7 per cent), and Tamil Nadu (10.4 per cent). Also read: Indo-Pak war: Indian Rupee slides to record lows; falls to 85.88 against dollar, sharpest drop in over 2.5 years Indian rupee fall trends and effect on remittances The rupee has been falling in recent months, dropping to ₹87.29 per US dollar in February. Historically, a weaker rupee always encouraged NRIs to remit money more frequently and in larger amounts. The 2018 rupee depreciation to 69.62 per US dollar caused a 25 per cent volume spike in remittances from the UAE. The current depreciation — around 3.6 per cent over 10 months — is showing a similar effect, particularly among skilled migrants in high-income countries. Easier now to send remittances, but challenges remain Digital infrastructure for sending money, including platforms like UPI, has improved the remittance process by reducing costs, increasing transaction speed and boosting volumes. But challenges remain. Any global slowdown, or headwinds like falling oil prices and economic uncertainties, could impact remittance inflows. There is also the risk of countries changing their visa and immigration policies, which could affect future remittance volumes.

The rupee’s fall to record lows against the dollar is boosting remittances from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). This is good for the economy as the recipients get more purchasing power to buy goods and services, boosting demand and economic activity

Rupee fall is a boon for Indian expats who send money home. Here is why it matters for largest remittance-receiving nation

Insistent rain across the country has caused a flooding situation, and the northern Indian state of Punjab is reeling under the impact of the devastating floods. The swelling of rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi has caused heavy damage.

In Pics | Submerged farmlands, livestock drowning: Reality of Punjab - the breadbasket of India amid floods

India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms are expected to offset the Trump tariffs at least partially, but it depends on a number of factors. The GST reforms consolidated tax slabs and cut rates on hundreds of items, from cars and electronics to soaps and insurance premiums. The aim is to boost domestic consumption, improve tax collection, and create an investment-friendly business environment. The reforms came days after the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump over the trade gap and India's oil purchases from Russia. The tariffs could impact India's textiles, auto parts, and industrial machinery sectors, among others. This could hurt India's export competitiveness in the US, which is its largest trading partner.<h2>What did India's GST reforms do to the taxpayer?</h2>India's ‘GST 2.0’ reforms simplified it to two main slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, while a 40 per cent slab was introduced for luxury/sin goods such as premium cars and tobacco products.Tax rate for consumer durables was cut from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, and for processed foods from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, besides signficant reductions for textiles-linked products.The GDP boost is estimated from 0.6 per cent to 1.2 per cent, as per analysts.It would simplify tax filing for medium and small enterprises (MSMEs), enable faster refunds and improve ease of doing business.GST cuts also could ease inflation, which is already at an eight-year low.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gst-reforms-2025-rate-cuts-5-per-cent-slab-middle-class-relief-1756971115143">Also read: GST rate cuts on common goods: Relief for middle class, push for festive demand</a><h2>How India's exports sectors are affected by Trump tariffs</h2>India is estimated to have saved $17 billion by importing discounted Russian oil. The exports to US in 2024 were around $87 billion or around 2.5 per cent of India’s GDP. Up to 66 per cent of these exports are at risk of Trump tariff impact, with estimated loss ranging from 4 billion to 37 billion dollars depending on the value of the lost exports. Textiles could take a hit of $10.3 billion, Gems &amp; Jewellery could be hurt by $10 billion, while auto components, shrimp, chemicals and leather are some other areas that can be affected. Job losses are estimated at over 1 million, particularly in textiles, gems, machinery and fisheries sectors. GDP loss could range from 0.1 per cent to 1 per cent, according to analysts from HSBC, Nomura, Nirmal Bank, Cleartax and others.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-gst-reform-what-gets-cheaper-and-what-becomes-costlier-under-new-slabs-1757046365613/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-gst-reform-what-gets-cheaper-and-what-becomes-costlier-under-new-slabs-1757046365613/embed</a><h2>How India is seeing GST reform amid Trump tariffs</h2>Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the GST reforms as “game-changing” and hinted that they could partially shield India from global trade disruptions—an indirect reference to the Trump tariffs. National Stock Exchange CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan and Kotak Mahindra’s Nilesh Shah expressed hope that the simplified tax regime would attract investment and spur growth.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/will-flight-tickets-be-cheaper-in-new-gst-slab-quick-overview-before-your-next-vacation-1756994610769">Also read: Will flight tickets be cheaper in new GST slab? Quick overview before your next vacation</a>State Bank of India noted that GST cuts and other recent income tax reliefs might inject some ₹5.31 trillion into the economy, roughly 1.6 per cent of India’s GDP. This is significant, as the impact from Trump tariffs on GDP was estimated at around 1 per cent.Analysts such as Fitch Solutions projected GDP growth of 5.8 per cent in the financial year 2025–26 and 5.4 per cent in 2026–27 if domestic reforms continue and global trade conditions don’t worsen. Elara Capital and Geojit Financial Services estimated that increased consumption resulting from the GST reforms could lift GDP growth by up to 1.2 percentage points over the next 4 to 6 quarters.A Moneycontrol portal survey found that 67 per cent of economists believe GST reforms and tax cuts will at least partially offset the damage from Trump tariffs.<h2>GST reforms vs Trump tariffs: It is more complicated&nbsp;</h2>Some experts, however, cautioned against overestimating the tax reform's capacity to offset the Trump tariffs. Even if consumption rises, export sectors directly hit by tariffs—such as apparel, auto parts, and engineering goods—rely heavily on international markets and could take years to recover from lost US revenue.Economist Gaura Sen Gupta from IDFC First Bank estimated that GST-related growth gains will add 0.6 percentage points to GDP, but persistent tariffs at 50 per cent could neutralise these benefits.It all depends on if Trump tightens his tariff stance. Trump has already hinted at a second and third phase of sanctions or tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, which could also affect India. Therefore, the future effectiveness of India's tax reforms in offsetting the Trump tariffs depends on whether Trump hardens or softens his stance. If tariffs ease to 25 per cent or below by the end of the year, India may still meet its growth targets, according to experts.<h2>The government is taking a hit with GST, income tax reforms</h2>After GST reforms, along with some $12 billion in income tax relief announced earlier this year, the exchequer will take a hit of $20 billion per year due to the reforms, according to analysts.&nbsp;Reduction of GST rates could impact public finances, particularly the tax collection of state governments that rely on GST for their budgets. There is a risk of underfunding crucial infrastructure and social programmes due to reduced revenue.<h2>GST reforms vs Trump tariffs: A buffer, not a cure</h2>Many economists and industry observers feel the GST reforms, while long overdue, are a strategic response to external pressures. They will have only a limited impact in the long run, as they are not a full substitute for losses from US-bound exports. The future will depend on how long the Trump tariffs remain, how the global trade environment evolves, and whether India can diversify its export markets quickly enough.The general consensus is that GST reforms are a strong buffer, but not a cure for the current pressures on the Indian economy due to tariffs. More diplomatic engagement and export diversification are required to fully safeguard the Indian economy.As mentioned earlier, the &nbsp;GDP impact of US tariffs is between 0.2% to –1%, while the GST reform would benefit it by an estimated 0.6%.But it will take time. It should be noted that GST reforms take time to impact the economy, while tariffs are immediate. Then there is sectoral mismatch: The reforms support domestic demand, but not all the export-heavy sectors. If US tariffs are imposed in the 'second or third phases' on IT services, or non-tariff barriers like visa restrictions, it could hit India again. It could add to urban unemployment, which is already at 7.1 per cent in some cities.In short, tariffs have an immediate, export-driven negative impact, &nbsp;causing a potential GDP loss of up to 1 per cent and taking a hit of over $30 billion in trade. GST reforms can be a partial yet significant mitigation by boosting internal demand, and adding up to 0.6 per cent to GDP. &nbsp;

India’s GST reforms could partially offset Trump’s tariffs by boosting consumption and easing taxes but they won’t fully counteract tariff impacts on exports, according to expert views

India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms are expected to offset the Trump tariffs at least partially, but it depends on a number of factors. The GST reforms consolidated tax slabs and cut rates on hundreds of items, from cars and electronics to soaps and insurance premiums. The aim is to boost domestic consumption, improve tax collection, and create an investment-friendly business environment. The reforms came days after the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump over the trade gap and India's oil purchases from Russia. The tariffs could impact India's textiles, auto parts, and industrial machinery sectors, among others. This could hurt India's export competitiveness in the US, which is its largest trading partner. What did India's GST reforms do to the taxpayer? India's ‘GST 2.0’ reforms simplified it to two main slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, while a 40 per cent slab was introduced for luxury/sin goods such as premium cars and tobacco products. Tax rate for consumer durables was cut from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, and for processed foods from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, besides signficant reductions for textiles-linked products. The GDP boost is estimated from 0.6 per cent to 1.2 per cent, as per analysts. It would simplify tax filing for medium and small enterprises (MSMEs), enable faster refunds and improve ease of doing business. GST cuts also could ease inflation, which is already at an eight-year low. Also read: GST rate cuts on common goods: Relief for middle class, push for festive demand How India's exports sectors are affected by Trump tariffs India is estimated to have saved $17 billion by importing discounted Russian oil. The exports to US in 2024 were around $87 billion or around 2.5 per cent of India’s GDP. Up to 66 per cent of these exports are at risk of Trump tariff impact, with estimated loss ranging from 4 billion to 37 billion dollars depending on the value of the lost exports. Textiles could take a hit of $10.3 billion, Gems & Jewellery could be hurt by $10 billion, while auto components, shrimp, chemicals and leather are some other areas that can be affected. Job losses are estimated at over 1 million, particularly in textiles, gems, machinery and fisheries sectors. GDP loss could range from 0.1 per cent to 1 per cent, according to analysts from HSBC, Nomura, Nirmal Bank, Cleartax and others. https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-gst-reform-what-gets-cheaper-and-what-becomes-costlier-under-new-slabs-1757046365613/embed How India is seeing GST reform amid Trump tariffs Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the GST reforms as “game-changing” and hinted that they could partially shield India from global trade disruptions—an indirect reference to the Trump tariffs. National Stock Exchange CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan and Kotak Mahindra’s Nilesh Shah expressed hope that the simplified tax regime would attract investment and spur growth. Also read: Will flight tickets be cheaper in new GST slab? Quick overview before your next vacation State Bank of India noted that GST cuts and other recent income tax reliefs might inject some ₹5.31 trillion into the economy, roughly 1.6 per cent of India’s GDP. This is significant, as the impact from Trump tariffs on GDP was estimated at around 1 per cent. Analysts such as Fitch Solutions projected GDP growth of 5.8 per cent in the financial year 2025–26 and 5.4 per cent in 2026–27 if domestic reforms continue and global trade conditions don’t worsen. Elara Capital and Geojit Financial Services estimated that increased consumption resulting from the GST reforms could lift GDP growth by up to 1.2 percentage points over the next 4 to 6 quarters. A Moneycontrol portal survey found that 67 per cent of economists believe GST reforms and tax cuts will at least partially offset the damage from Trump tariffs. GST reforms vs Trump tariffs: It is more complicated Some experts, however, cautioned against overestimating the tax reform's capacity to offset the Trump tariffs. Even if consumption rises, export sectors directly hit by tariffs—such as apparel, auto parts, and engineering goods—rely heavily on international markets and could take years to recover from lost US revenue. Economist Gaura Sen Gupta from IDFC First Bank estimated that GST-related growth gains will add 0.6 percentage points to GDP, but persistent tariffs at 50 per cent could neutralise these benefits. It all depends on if Trump tightens his tariff stance. Trump has already hinted at a second and third phase of sanctions or tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, which could also affect India. Therefore, the future effectiveness of India's tax reforms in offsetting the Trump tariffs depends on whether Trump hardens or softens his stance. If tariffs ease to 25 per cent or below by the end of the year, India may still meet its growth targets, according to experts. The government is taking a hit with GST, income tax reforms After GST reforms, along with some $12 billion in income tax relief announced earlier this year, the exchequer will take a hit of $20 billion per year due to the reforms, according to analysts. Reduction of GST rates could impact public finances, particularly the tax collection of state governments that rely on GST for their budgets. There is a risk of underfunding crucial infrastructure and social programmes due to reduced revenue. GST reforms vs Trump tariffs: A buffer, not a cure Many economists and industry observers feel the GST reforms, while long overdue, are a strategic response to external pressures. They will have only a limited impact in the long run, as they are not a full substitute for losses from US-bound exports. The future will depend on how long the Trump tariffs remain, how the global trade environment evolves, and whether India can diversify its export markets quickly enough. The general consensus is that GST reforms are a strong buffer, but not a cure for the current pressures on the Indian economy due to tariffs. More diplomatic engagement and export diversification are required to fully safeguard the Indian economy. As mentioned earlier, the GDP impact of US tariffs is between 0.2% to –1%, while the GST reform would benefit it by an estimated 0.6%. But it will take time. It should be noted that GST reforms take time to impact the economy, while tariffs are immediate. Then there is sectoral mismatch: The reforms support domestic demand, but not all the export-heavy sectors. If US tariffs are imposed in the 'second or third phases' on IT services, or non-tariff barriers like visa restrictions, it could hit India again. It could add to urban unemployment, which is already at 7.1 per cent in some cities. In short, tariffs have an immediate, export-driven negative impact, causing a potential GDP loss of up to 1 per cent and taking a hit of over $30 billion in trade. GST reforms can be a partial yet significant mitigation by boosting internal demand, and adding up to 0.6 per cent to GDP.

India’s GST reforms could partially offset Trump’s tariffs by boosting consumption and easing taxes but they won’t fully counteract tariff impacts on exports, according to expert views

India GST reforms can offset Trump tariffs, but only under these conditions

Flood has reached unprecedented levels in Punjab, with 1900 villages affected across all the 23 districts. Nearly 438,000 acres of cropland have been submerged. The death toll has reached 43, and the number of displaced people has reached over 3.54 lakh people. Extreme monsoon rainfall, specifically August rainfall, reached 74% above normal, the highest in 25 years. Dam water releases from Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar flowed into already swollen rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi.

Punjab is seeing a major demand for boats and life jackets due to the record floods.&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Why is no media channel covering &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabFloods?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#PunjabFloods&lt;/a&gt; ?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Punjab is witnessing one of the worst floods in the history and our PM has not even put out a single tweet ? Why ?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The situation looks so devastating. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Please pray for Punjab 🙏 &lt;a href="https://t.co/3kgYglMjy3"&gt;pic.twitter.com/3kgYglMjy3&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Jitesh (@Chaotic_mind99) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Chaotic_mind99/status/1963627229868650743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;September 4, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Punjab sees record demand for boats 

The Ludhiana district administration has issued a high alert after an embankment in the eastern part of the district came under intense pressure due to the heavy flow of water from the Sutlej river, threatening several villages.

Ludhiana on high alert 

The flood situation deteriorates in Punjab, as the death toll on Wednesday reached 43. Following the incessant rains, Ludhiana is on high alert and under immense pressure on the embankment. The Indo-Pak border has also sustained severe damage, impacting the BSF posts. 

Flood has reached unprecedented levels in Punjab, with 1900 villages affected across all the 23 districts. Nearly 438,000 acres of cropland have been submerged. The death toll has reached 43, and the number of displaced people has reached over 3.54 lakh people. Extreme monsoon rainfall, specifically August rainfall, reached 74% above normal, the highest in 25 years. Dam water releases from Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar flowed into already swollen rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi.

The flood situation deteriorates in Punjab, as the death toll on Wednesday reached 43. Following the incessant rains, Ludhiana is on high alert and under immense pressure on the embankment. The Indo-Pak border has also sustained severe damage, impacting the BSF posts.&nbsp;

Punjab flood crisis: Death toll at 43 and 1,900 villages affected

A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after threat call claimed that 34 “human bombs” carrying “400 kg of RDX” have been planted in 34 vehicles across the city to carry out blasts, said the police on Friday. The threat call was made on the traffic police helpline number.&nbsp;“Traffic Police in Mumbai received threats over their official WhatsApp number. In the threat, a claim has been made that 34 'human bombs' have been planted in 34 vehicles across the city and the blast will shake entire Mumbai," said the Mumbai police.&nbsp;In wake of the threat, security has been beefed up across the city and an investigation is on.&nbsp;"Mumbai Police is alert and security across the state has been enhanced. All angles of the threat are being investigated," the police said.&nbsp;The threat, according to the Mumbai police is made by ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’ that claims 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India and will target the city.&nbsp;“The organisation, claiming to be 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', says that 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India. The threat message further states that 400 kgs of RDX will be used in the blast,” police said.&nbsp;However, it was highlighted by the Mumbai police that such threats often come out as hoax as they keep receiving such threatening messages from unknown numbers on their helpline. But as per protocol they do investigate it seriously and register the matter.&nbsp;Security for Ganesh Chaturthi hiked amid threat&nbsp;The threat comes at a time Mumbai is celebrating its biggest festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day celebration. Keeping in view the festival, police has hiked security measures across the city to avoid any untoward incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Mumbai police has marked key locations for security to be heightened and combing operations are being conducted across the city.

A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after threat call Claimed that 34 “human bombs” carrying “400 kg of RDX” have been planted in vehicles.

A high alert has been sounded in Mumbai after threat call claimed that 34 “human bombs” carrying “400 kg of RDX” have been planted in 34 vehicles across the city to carry out blasts, said the police on Friday. The threat call was made on the traffic police helpline number. “Traffic Police in Mumbai received threats over their official WhatsApp number. In the threat, a claim has been made that 34 'human bombs' have been planted in 34 vehicles across the city and the blast will shake entire Mumbai," said the Mumbai police. In wake of the threat, security has been beefed up across the city and an investigation is on. "Mumbai Police is alert and security across the state has been enhanced. All angles of the threat are being investigated," the police said. The threat, according to the Mumbai police is made by ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’ that claims 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India and will target the city. “The organisation, claiming to be 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi', says that 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India. The threat message further states that 400 kgs of RDX will be used in the blast,” police said. However, it was highlighted by the Mumbai police that such threats often come out as hoax as they keep receiving such threatening messages from unknown numbers on their helpline. But as per protocol they do investigate it seriously and register the matter. Security for Ganesh Chaturthi hiked amid threat The threat comes at a time Mumbai is celebrating its biggest festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, a ten-day celebration. Keeping in view the festival, police has hiked security measures across the city to avoid any untoward incident. The Mumbai police has marked key locations for security to be heightened and combing operations are being conducted across the city.

In wake of the bomb threat in Mumbai, security has been beefed up across the city and an investigation is on to nab the culprit. Keeping in mind the Ganesh Chaturthi festival police is taking extra measure to avoid any untoward incident.

'34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': India's Mumbai on high alert over threat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will be holding key bilateral meeting next week in the Holy city of Banaras in a symbolic message of close ties between the 2 countries.&nbsp;Navinchandra Ramgoolam traces his roots to India and approximately 70% of Mauritius’ population is of Indian ancestry, a legacy of Indian laborers brought to the island during British colonial rule. Mauritian government announced a one-off special leave of two hours on January 22, 2024, for public officers of the Hindu faith to participate in local events marking the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration ceremony) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India.The&nbsp;Ramgoolam will be on India visit from 11-12th September. The visit comes months after the visit of PM Modi to the country, that saw elevation of ties of "enhanced strategic partnership" and unveiling of India's "MAHASAGAR" (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision that build on the previous 2015 SAGAR policy. During that visit, both sides signed an agreement on use of local currencies for cross border transactions, maritime security through sharing white shipping information, and cooperation in combating financial crimes and supporting MSMEs.Mauritius has been a close partner of India in the Indian ocean and gateway to Africa. It was among the countries invited by India for the G20 Delhi summit in 2023. India, in turn has been a key development partner, and has been helping build key infra projects in the country, which includes Metro Express Light Rail System, New Supreme Court Building, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation.The upcoming visit of Ramgoolam will be his first visit to India after taking charge last year. The 3rd time prime minister of his country and son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius’ first Prime Minister, PM Navinchandra has prioritized deepening of bilateral relations with India. During the visit several MoUs are expected to be signed, with focus on increased engagement, specially at people to people level between the 2 countries.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Ramgoolam will be on India visit from 11-12th September. The visit comes months after the visit of PM Modi to the country, that saw elevation of ties of "enhanced strategic partnership" and unveiling of India's "MAHASAGAR" (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision that build on the previous 2015 SAGAR policy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will be holding key bilateral meeting next week in the Holy city of Banaras in a symbolic message of close ties between the 2 countries. Navinchandra Ramgoolam traces his roots to India and approximately 70% of Mauritius’ population is of Indian ancestry, a legacy of Indian laborers brought to the island during British colonial rule. Mauritian government announced a one-off special leave of two hours on January 22, 2024, for public officers of the Hindu faith to participate in local events marking the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration ceremony) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India. The Ramgoolam will be on India visit from 11-12th September. The visit comes months after the visit of PM Modi to the country, that saw elevation of ties of "enhanced strategic partnership" and unveiling of India's "MAHASAGAR" (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision that build on the previous 2015 SAGAR policy. During that visit, both sides signed an agreement on use of local currencies for cross border transactions, maritime security through sharing white shipping information, and cooperation in combating financial crimes and supporting MSMEs. Mauritius has been a close partner of India in the Indian ocean and gateway to Africa. It was among the countries invited by India for the G20 Delhi summit in 2023. India, in turn has been a key development partner, and has been helping build key infra projects in the country, which includes Metro Express Light Rail System, New Supreme Court Building, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation. The upcoming visit of Ramgoolam will be his first visit to India after taking charge last year. The 3rd time prime minister of his country and son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius’ first Prime Minister, PM Navinchandra has prioritized deepening of bilateral relations with India. During the visit several MoUs are expected to be signed, with focus on increased engagement, specially at people to people level between the 2 countries.

The&nbsp;Ramgoolam will be on India visit from 11-12th September. The visit comes months after the visit of PM Modi to the country, that saw elevation of ties of "enhanced strategic partnership" and unveiling of India's "MAHASAGAR" (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision that build on the previous 2015 SAGAR policy.

PM Modi, Mauritius PM Ramgoolam to hold bilateral in Banaras next week

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PM Modi, Mauritius PM Ramgoolam to hold bilateral in Banaras next week