Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India’s automobile industry achieved its highest-ever annual sales across all major vehicle categories in the financial year 2025–26, marking a strong recovery and expansion phase for the sector. The surge in demand was supported by recent policy measures such as GST 2.0 reforms, multiple reductions in repo rates, and revised income tax slabs, all of which improved affordability and boosted consumer confidence. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, passenger vehicle sales increased by 8% to reach 4.64 million units during the year. Commercial vehicles recorded a growth of 12.6%, totaling 1.08 million units, while three-wheelers expanded…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders discussed key global security concerns, with a special focus on developments in West Asia. A central point of their dialogue was the need to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure, and stable, given its critical role in global energy and trade movement. The leaders also reviewed ongoing progress in bilateral relations between India and the United States. They expressed satisfaction over the steady expansion of cooperation across multiple sectors, including strategic, economic, and technological areas. Both sides reaffirmed their…

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Manfred Weber in New Delhi, highlighting the positive momentum in India–European Union relations and reaffirming commitment to deeper cooperation. Both leaders welcomed the growing convergence between India and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of sustaining this upward trajectory in bilateral ties. The discussions reflected a shared vision of strengthening strategic and economic engagement. A key focus of the meeting was the early ratification of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to significantly boost trade and investment flows between the two sides. The agreement is being viewed as a major…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to visit India next month following a constructive and productive meeting with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington. The discussions reflected the ongoing strengthening of bilateral ties between India and the United States, with both sides focusing on expanding cooperation in key strategic sectors such as defense, trade, and critical technologies. According to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, the talks emphasized shared priorities including critical minerals, defense collaboration, and multilateral engagement through the Quad framework, highlighting the growing depth of the partnership. The meeting between Rubio and Misri took place…

PM Modi Highlights Record Solar Capacity Growth in IndiaPrime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s achievement of recording its highest-ever annual solar capacity addition, marking a significant milestone in the country’s renewable energy journey. The development underscores India’s growing leadership in the global clean energy transition. According to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, India added around 45 GW of solar capacity in 2025-26, nearly doubling the pace seen in the previous year. The expansion reflects the country’s strong commitment to energy security, sustainable development, and its long-term vision of a greener economy. The rapid growth has been driven by large-scale solar deployments…

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during high-level discussions held in Manila. The meeting focused on reviewing progress in bilateral cooperation and identifying new avenues for collaboration across sectors. The discussions were co-chaired by Periasamy Kumaran, Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Leo M Herrera-Lim, Undersecretary for Policy at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs. Officials from both sides assessed the implementation of key decisions taken during the ASEAN-India Summit held in 2025. A major focus of the meeting was enhancing cooperation under the…

India and Bangladesh have taken a significant step toward reinforcing their diplomatic relationship, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his delegation in New Delhi. The discussions centered on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors while also addressing key regional and global developments affecting both nations. During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining close communication and building stronger engagement frameworks. The dialogue reflected a shared commitment to expanding bilateral ties, which are rooted in historical connections and strong people-to-people interactions. Officials highlighted that continued collaboration could unlock opportunities worth millions of dollars…

India’s e-commerce sector is poised for rapid expansion, with projections indicating growth of over 150 per cent by 2030, driven by a surge in digital shoppers and rising consumer spending. The transformation reflects a broader shift in how Indians discover, engage with, and purchase products online. A joint report by Google and Deloitte estimates that the market could reach $250 billion by the end of the decade, up from approximately $90 billion at present. This significant growth is expected to be fuelled by the addition of nearly 150 million new digital consumers and a steady increase in per capita expenditure.…

In a significant step to strengthen bilateral relations, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met with St Kitts and Nevis Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denzil L Douglas, in New Delhi on April 7. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in development projects, healthcare partnerships, digital capacities, and disaster response preparedness. The dialogue also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership. Douglas, who also serves as St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister for International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Economic Development, and Investment, arrived in New Delhi on Sunday after concluding official…

The United States and India signaled renewed momentum in their strategic partnership amid a series of high-level meetings in Washington and a White House dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor. These interactions underscore growing alignment between the two nations on security, political, and regional priorities. The White House confirmed that President Trump would participate in the dinner with Ambassador Gor, who is currently in the US capital engaging with senior officials to advance bilateral cooperation. Following a meeting with Vice President JD Vance, Gor emphasized the political significance of the US-India relationship. He…