In this special report, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri detail the outcomes of the 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi. Goyal described the newly concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the 'mother of all deals', noting it covers 25 per cent of global trade and will provide duty-free access for Indian labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems, and jewellery.
The summit, co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa, also saw the signing of a first-of-its-kind Security and Defence Partnership.
Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted that the agreements include a roadmap toward a 2030 Strategic Agenda and an MOU on mobility to facilitate the movement of professionals and students. The leaders emphasised that this partnership between the world's second and fourth largest economies creates a market of two billion people, fostering shared prosperity and global supply chain resilience.
The Central Bureau of Investigation Director has received a one-year extension, continuing in the role until May next year. The decision was made by a high-power committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of Opposition.
The latest edition of Statecraft covers major geopolitical shifts as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, occurring amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, focusses on trade, tariffs, and the Iran war.
In this episode of Newstrack, watch the exclusive interview of Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Lahiri as he decodes PM Modi's austerity push amid the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The central government has implemented austerity measures, including reducing ministerial convoys to two vehicles, in response to a looming fuel crisis driven by West Asian geopolitical tensions. While the ruling party frames this as a necessary fiscal step, opposition leaders have labeled the move tokenism, demanding a special parliamentary session to address the economic situation and rising oil prices. Simultaneously, the national currency has depreciated to an all-time low against the dollar, prompting calls from experts for fiscal consolidation and reduced political populism. Amidst these economic challenges, a major controversy has emerged regarding the national medical entrance examination. Investigations into an alleged paper leak and an interstate exam mafia have resulted in multiple arrests across several states, revealing potential political links. Education experts are now advocating for a complete overhaul of the testing system, suggesting decentralized, computer-based examinations to ensure future transparency. Transparency activists further urge the government to disclose fuel stock data to prevent public panic and hoarding during this period of economic instability.
