Author: Deepika chandrasekar

During the India-France CEO forum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon French industry leaders to explore investment opportunities in various sectors of the Indian economy and be part of India’s growth journey. Modi emphasized the ongoing economic reforms and his government’s initiatives in areas such as renewables, startups, pharma, IT, digital payments, and infrastructure to facilitate business development. The forum brought together CEOs from diverse sectors, including aviation, manufacturing, defense, technology, and energy, with 16 CEOs representing the French side and 24 from the Indian side. Prominent French business leaders such as Airbus’ Guillaume Faury, Alstom’s Henri Poupart Lafarge, Schneider…

India’s position as a leader in digital payments received a significant boost as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Paris that India and France have reached an agreement to implement the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in France. This agreement, signed between India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and France’s Lyra, enables Indian tourists to make payments in Indian rupees using UPI, starting from the iconic Eiffel Tower. PM Modi emphasized India’s digital payment dominance, highlighting that 46% of the world’s real-time digital transactions take place in India. The country’s digital payment ecosystem has brought about a transformative social impact.…

According to sources, SK Hynix, a South Korean chipmaker, is examining India’s semiconductor manufacturing incentive program and is in contact with the government to explore the possibility of establishing a packaging facility in the country. The company is reportedly in the final stages of preparing its proposal. While SK Hynix primarily focuses on manufacturing memory chips, they are considering India as a potential location for assembly and testing, following the example of Micron. A government official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that SK Hynix has expressed interest in the scheme and is currently evaluating it for their business perspective. The official also…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to undertake an important visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week, as part of his broader diplomatic tour that also includes a trip to France. On July 13, the Prime Minister will be in France, where he will serve as the chief guest at the Bastille Day parade. This will be PM Modi’s fifth visit to the Gulf country since assuming office in 2014, highlighting the growing significance of the bilateral relationship between India and the UAE. His previous visits to the UAE took place in June 2022, August 2019, February 2018,…

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, held a meeting with his counterpart, Ms. Kemi Badenoch, in London to discuss the progress of the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA). Mr. Goyal mentioned on Twitter that they discussed ways to enhance the momentum of the India-UK FTA negotiations, aiming for a mutually beneficial agreement. During his two-day visit to the United Kingdom starting on July 10, Mr. Goyal aimed to expedite discussions and facilitate the establishment of a comprehensive and mutually advantageous agreement. Currently, 14 out of the 26 policy topics have reached advanced stages of negotiation, while other…

Pranab Jyoti Goswami, the Superintendent of Police for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam, has been appointed as the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Assam Police, as per the official notification. Meanwhile, Yuvraj, an IPS officer and the SP for Assam’s Charaideo district, has been requested for deputation by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and will be assigned as the senior superintendent of police at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).  The transfer led to adjustments in the Assamese government’s home department staff, with APS officer Hiranya Kumar Barman being appointed as the district’s superintendent of…

Shakti, an international Fusion band composed of Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, and John McLaughlin, has revealed its plans for a U.S. tour in August. Spanning from August 17 to September 16, 2023, the band will showcase their talent through multiple shows across various states. The tour is set to commemorate two significant milestones in the band’s history. Firstly, it coincides with the release of their first studio album in 46 years, titled “The Moment.” Secondly, the tour will celebrate Shakti’s upcoming 50th anniversary, as they first formed in 1973. John McLaughlin, one of the band members, expressed his excitement about…

The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, has launched a mobile application called “Report Fish Disease.” This innovative app allows farmers to report cases of disease in finfish, shrimps, and molluscs on their farms to field-level officers and fish health experts. Farmers can receive scientific advice to promptly address the disease issues on their farms. The app serves as a centralized platform connecting fish farmers, field-level officers, and fish health experts. In order to tap into the sector’s significant development potential and promote the Blue Revolution, the Government of India has introduced a flagship scheme called the…

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to France, both India and France are expected to explore closer ties in various fields including space, military, emerging technologies, and energy. Prime Minister Modi will attend the Bastille Day Parade in Paris on July 13 and 14, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership, further highlighting the significance of the visit. Discussions during bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron will cover both traditional areas of cooperation such as defence, as well as emerging areas like space. While defense, space, and civil nuclear sectors have been key pillars…

During a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting held in Geneva on July 7, several countries, including India, Russia, and Brazil, expressed concerns regarding the carbon tax and deforestation regulation implemented by the European Union (EU). According to an official, these nations highlighted that these measures would have adverse effects on their industries. In the two-day meeting of the WTO’s Council for Trade in Goods, which concluded on July 7, these countries raised their objections. Specifically, India voiced its disappointment with the EU’s deforestation regulation, emphasizing that the agricultural sector in developing countries plays a vital role in employment and…