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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer highlights President Trump’s AI Action Plan, pro-worker accomplishments on ‘America at Work’ listening tour

    Source: US Department of Labor

    MYRTLE BEACH, SC – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer continued her nationwide America at Work listening tour this week starting on the West Coast in Washington state to discuss artificial intelligence, before heading to the East Coast and stopping in South Carolina, where she spoke with business leaders and manufacturers in Florence, Georgetown, Hartsville, Mullins, and Myrtle Beach.

    In Kirkland, Washington, the Secretary met with software developers at ServiceNow to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in the workplace. In South Carolina, she visited with manufacturers across multiple industries to hear directly from business leaders and workers about how President Trump’s pro-growth policies are strengthening the American workforce.

    “Every sector of our economy is coming back to life under President Trump’s bold, visionary leadership – from artificial intelligence in Washington state to advanced manufacturing in South Carolina,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “In just over six months, this President has expanded economic opportunity for hardworking Americans by making historic investments in our workforce through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. I’d like to thank my friend, Congressman Fry, for hosting me in the great state of South Carolina to see the positive impacts of these America First policies firsthand. I’m committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure workers have the tools they need to succeed in America’s new Golden Age.”

    “South Carolina is home to some of the hardest working people in the country, and the One Big Beautiful Bill puts them first – cutting taxes, growing jobs, and investing in the future of our workforce,” said Rep. Russell Fry. “From touring thriving manufacturing facilities, seeing our tourism and hospitality industries in action, and meeting the workers who keep it all running, we saw firsthand how this legislation delivers for South Carolina families and the American people. Thank you to my good friend Secretary Chavez-DeRemer for visiting the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions of our state to see just how much this bill will mean for South Carolina’s future.”

    Washington

    In Kirkland, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer toured ServiceNow’s offices and met with employees to discuss how they are helping power a new AI boom in the U.S. The Secretary emphasized that the Department of Labor will play a central role in implementing President Trump’s AI Action Plan, which aims to boost AI literacy, invest in skills training, and ensure American workers are equipped to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

    South Carolina

    In Myrtle Beach, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer joined Rep. Fry for a roundtable discussion with business leaders at the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. They talked about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is reinvigorating American industry by eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and expanding access to Pell Grants for technical schools so students can be ready to fill in-demand jobs. The Secretary also provided an update on her America at Work tour, reiterating that listening directly to workers is critical to developing policies that put American workers first.

    Following the roundtable, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer visited several local employers that are driving economic growth and job creation:

    • Envirosep, where she met with engineers and technicians developing next-generation heating system technologies designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
    • SOPACKO, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat meals for the U.S. military, where she observed how recent investments have strengthened domestic production and bolstered manufacturing capacity to support America’s servicemembers.
    • Buc-ee’s, where she toured the company’s only South Carolina location and saw firsthand how the pride and value of hard work is reflected in top-tier customer service.
    • Stingray Boats, where she visited with workers to learn more about how one of the nation’s leading independent boat builders has been manufacturing high-performance recreational boats for over four decades. 

    At each stop, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer highlighted how President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is creating new pathways to economic prosperity by expanding opportunity and helping more hardworking men and women achieve the American Dream. Learn more about her recent visits to Georgia, Michigan, and Indiana.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Levin, Lawler Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Require On-Site Inspectors at Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    July 31, 2025

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA-49) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) reintroduced the bipartisan Increasing Nuclear Safety Protocols for Extended Canister Transfers (INSPECT) Act, ahead of the seventh anniversary of the August 3, 2018 near-canister drop at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The bill would increase safety and oversight at decommissioning nuclear power plants by requiring the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to keep a resident inspector at decommissioning plants until all spent fuel is transferred from its spent fuel pools to canisters. The INSPECT Act builds on the recommendations made by the SONGS Task Force Rep. Levin convened in January 2019.

    “Since I arrived in Congress, ensuring the safe management and ultimate removal of spent nuclear fuel from sites like SONGS has been one of my top priorities,” said Rep. Levin “By requiring an NRC inspector to remain on-site during the fuel transfer process, we can reduce the risk of another canister incident while continuing to work towards long-term storage solutions. I thank Rep. Lawler for his bipartisanship partnership on this bill and look forward to moving it through the legislative process.”

    “As Indian Point and other nuclear sites around the country are decommissioned, the public must have confidence in how spent nuclear fuel is being handled. The INSPECT Act is a practical, bipartisan step that assigns a resident inspector to oversee fuel transfers, helping ensure the process is transparent, accountable, and safe. This is about keeping communities informed, building trust, and doing things the right way,” said Rep. Lawler.

    In 2019, Rep. Levin called on then-NRC Chairwoman Kristine Svinicki to implement a resident inspector at SONGS following the announcement of two violations resulting from the 2018 incident. Rep. Levin continued to press Svinicki to implement a resident inspector throughout the transfer process at SONGS, and secured an amendment to an appropriations bill that would prevent the NRC from removing inspectors from nuclear power plants while spent nuclear fuel is being transferred. The INSPECT Act is a culmination of Rep. Levin’s efforts to protect public safety at decommissioning plants like SONGS across the country.

    Rep. Levin has been committed to oversight and accountability at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station since entering Congress in 2019, and he remains a leader on the issue as founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus that aims to address the challenges associated with stranded commercial spent fuel across the country. He has also introduced the bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act to establish an independent agency to modernize nuclear waste management and finally solve our country’s spent fuel challenges by basing the effort in collaboration with communities.

    To learn more about Rep. Levin’s work to remove spent nuclear fuel from SONGS click here.

    Bill text for the INSPECT Act is available here.

    ##

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:

    Section 1.  Background.  In Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff To Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), I found that conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and economy of the United States that has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States.  I declared a national emergency with respect to that threat, and to deal with that threat, I imposed additional ad valorem duties that I deemed necessary and appropriate.  

    I have received additional information and recommendations from various senior officials on, among other things, the continued lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships and the impact of foreign trading partners’ disparate tariff rates and non-tariff barriers on U.S. exports, the domestic manufacturing base, critical supply chains, and the defense industrial base.  I also have received additional information and recommendations on foreign relations, economic, and national security matters, including the status of trade negotiations, efforts to retaliate against the United States for its actions to address the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257, and efforts to align with the United States on economic and national security matters.

    For example, some trading partners have agreed to, or are on the verge of agreeing to, meaningful trade and security commitments with the United States, thus signaling their sincere intentions to permanently remedy the trade barriers that have contributed to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257, and to align with the United States on economic and national security matters.  Other trading partners, despite having engaged in negotiations, have offered terms that, in my judgment, do not sufficiently address imbalances in our trading relationship or have failed to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national-security matters.  There are also some trading partners that have failed to engage in negotiations with the United States or to take adequate steps to align sufficiently with the United States on economic and national security matters.

    After considering the information and recommendations that I have recently received, among other things, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 by imposing additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners at the rates set forth in Annex I to this order, subject to all applicable exceptions set forth in Executive Order 14257, as amended, in lieu of the additional ad valorem duties previously imposed on goods of such trading partners in Executive Order 14257, as amended.

    Sec. 2.  Tariff Modifications.  (a)  The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) shall be modified as provided in Annex II to this order.  These modifications shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 7 days after the date of this order, except that goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transit before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 7 days after the date of this order, and entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 5, 2025, shall not be subject to such additional duty and shall instead remain subject to the additional ad valorem duties previously imposed in Executive Order 14257, as amended.

    (b)  Certain foreign trading partners identified in Annex I to this order have agreed to, or are on the verge of concluding, meaningful trade and security agreements with the United States.  Goods of those trading partners will remain subject to the additional ad valorem duties provided in Annex I to this order until such time as those agreements are concluded, and I issue subsequent orders memorializing the terms of those agreements.

    (c)  As provided in Annex I to this order, the additional ad valorem rate of duty applicable to any good of the European Union is determined by the good’s current ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1 (General) of the HTSUS (“Column 1 Duty Rate”).  For a good of the European Union with a Column 1 Duty Rate that is less than 15 percent, the sum of its Column 1 Duty Rate and the additional ad valorem rate of duty pursuant to this order shall be 15 percent.  For a good of the European Union with a Column 1 Duty Rate that is at least 15 percent, the additional ad valorem rate of duty pursuant to this order shall be zero.

    (d)  Goods of any foreign trading partner that is not listed in Annex I to this order will be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10 percent pursuant to the terms of Executive Order 14257, as amended, unless otherwise expressly provided.  This rate shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 7 days after the date of this order.

    (e)  The HTSUS shall also be modified by continuing to suspend headings 9903.01.43 through 9903.01.62 and 9903.01.64 through 9903.01.76, and subdivisions (v)(xiii)(1)–(9) and (11)‑(57) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, until the effective date of the modifications provided in Annex II to this order.  Upon the effective date of the modifications provided in Annex II to this order, to facilitate implementation of the rates of duty provided in Annex I to this order, headings 9903.01.43 through 9903.01.62 and 9903.01.64 through 9903.01.76, which are organized by rate of duty, and subdivisions (v)(xiii) (1)-(9) and (11)-(57) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be terminated as to future entries and replaced by the new trading partner-specific headings provided in Annex II to this order.

    (f)  Excluding the changes set forth in subsections (a) through (d) of this section, the terms of Executive Order 14257, as amended, shall continue to apply.

    (g)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect Executive Order 14298 of May 12, 2025 (Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates To Reflect Discussions With the People’s Republic of China).

    (h)  The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Chair of the United States International Trade Commission, shall determine whether any additional modifications to the HTSUS are necessary to effectuate this order and may make such modifications through notice in the Federal Register.

    Sec. 3.  Transshipment.  (a)  An article determined by CBP to have been transshipped to evade applicable duties under section 2 of this order shall be subject to (i) an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 40 percent, in lieu of the additional ad valorem rate of duty applicable under section 2 of this order to goods of the country of origin, (ii) any other applicable or appropriate fine or penalty, including those assessed under 19 U.S.C. 1592, and (iii) any other United States duties, fees, taxes, exactions, or charges applicable to goods of the country of origin.  CBP shall not allow, consistent with applicable law, for mitigation or remission of the penalties assessed on imports found to be transshipped to evade applicable duties.

    (b)  The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of CBP, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall publish every 6 months a list of countries and specific facilities used in circumvention schemes, to inform public procurement, national security reviews, and commercial due diligence.

    Sec. 4.  Implementation.  The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, as applicable, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the Chair of the International Trade Commission, are directed and authorized to take all necessary actions to implement and effectuate this order, consistent with applicable law, including through temporary suspension or amendment of regulations or notices in the Federal Register and by adopting rules, regulations, or guidance, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement this order.  Each executive department and agency shall take all appropriate measures within its authority to implement this order.

    Sec. 5.  Monitoring and Recommendations.  (a)  The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative shall monitor the circumstances involving the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 and shall regularly consult on such circumstances with any senior official they deem appropriate.  The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative shall inform me of any circumstance that, in their opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President.  The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative shall also inform me of any circumstance that, in their opinion, might indicate that a foreign trading partner has taken adequate steps to address the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257.

    (b)  The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with any senior official they deem appropriate, shall recommend to me any necessary additional action if this action is not effective in resolving the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257.

    (c)  The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in coordination with the appropriate senior officials, shall recommend additional action, if necessary, should a foreign trading partner fail to take adequate steps to address the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 or should a foreign trading partner retaliate against the United States in response to the actions taken to address the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 or any subsequent order issued to address that emergency.

    Sec. 6.  Severability.  If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision of this order to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected.

    Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 31, 2025.

    ANNEX I

    Countries and Territories Reciprocal Tariff, Adjusted
    Afghanistan 15%
    Algeria 30%
    Angola 15%
    Bangladesh 20%
    Bolivia 15%
    Bosnia and Herzegovina 30%
    Botswana 15%
    Brazil 10%
    Brunei 25%
    Cambodia 19%
    Cameroon 15%
    Chad 15%
    Costa Rica 15%
    Côte d`Ivoire 15%
    Democratic Republic of the Congo 15%
    Ecuador 15%
    Equatorial Guinea 15%
    European Union: Goods with Column 1 Duty Rate[1] > 15% 0%
    European Union: Goods with Column 1 Duty Rate < 15% 15% minus Column 1 Duty Rate
    Falkland Islands 10%
    Fiji 15%
    Ghana 15%
    Guyana 15%
    Iceland 15%
    India 25%
    Indonesia 19%
    Iraq 35%
    Israel 15%
    Japan 15%
    Jordan 15%
    Kazakhstan 25%
    Laos 40%
    Lesotho 15%
    Libya 30%
    Liechtenstein 15%
    Madagascar 15%
    Malawi 15%
    Malaysia 19%
    Mauritius 15%
    Moldova 25%
    Mozambique 15%
    Myanmar (Burma) 40%
    Namibia 15%
    Nauru 15%
    New Zealand 15%
    Nicaragua 18%
    Nigeria 15%
    North Macedonia 15%
    Norway 15%
    Pakistan 19%
    Papua New Guinea 15%
    Philippines 19%
    Serbia 35%
    South Africa 30%
    South Korea 15%
    Sri Lanka 20%
    Switzerland 39%
    Syria 41%
    Taiwan 20%
    Thailand 19%
    Trinidad and Tobago 15%
    Tunisia 25%
    Turkey 15%
    Uganda 15%
    United Kingdom 10%
    Vanuatu 15%
    Venezuela 15%
    Vietnam 20%
    Zambia 15%
    Zimbabwe 15%

    [1] For purposes of this Executive Order and its Annexes, “Column 1 Duty Rate” means the ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1-General of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).

    ANNEX II

    1. Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 7 days after the date of the executive order, excluding the day the executive order is signed, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is modified as follows:
      • Heading 9903.01.25 of the HTSUS shall be amended by deleting the article description and by inserting “Articles the product of any country, except for products described in headings 9903.01.26–9903.01.33, 9903.02.02–9903.02.71, and 9903.96.01, and except as provided for in headings 9903.01.34 and 9903.02.01, as provided for in subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2 to this subchapter . . . . . . .” in lieu thereof; and
      • Headings 9903.01.43–9903.01.62 and 9903.01.64–9903.01.76 and corresponding subdivisions (v)(xiii)(1)–(9) and (11)–(57) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS are hereby terminated as to any future entries.
      • Subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS shall be amended by:
        • Deleting “and 9903.01.43–9903.01.76” each place that it appears and inserting “9903.01.63, and 9903.02.01–9903.02.71” in lieu thereof;
        • Inserting the following new subdivision in numerical sequence at the end of subdivision (v) of U.S. note 2:

    “As provided in headings 9903.02.19 and 9903.02.20, for any good of the European Union subject to a specific or compound rate of duty under column 1-General, the ad valorem equivalent rate of duty of such good shall be determined by dividing the amount of duty payable under column 1-General by the customs value of the good.  For example, if a good were subject to a specific duty of 50 cents per kilogram, and one kilogram of the good were entered with a customs value of $10, then the ad valorem equivalent rate of duty would be obtained by dividing 50 cents by $10, yielding 5 percent.”

    • The following new headings shall be inserted in numerical sequence, with the material in the new heading inserted in the columns of the HTSUS labeled “Heading/Subheading”, “Article Description”, “Rates of Duty 1-General”, “Rates of Duty 1-Special”, and “Rates of Duty 2”, respectively:

    Click here to view Annex II

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Bodies – Ending plastic pollution: Why trade matters

    Source: United Nations – UNCTAD

    31 July 2025 – From supporting responsible production and consumption to promoting circularity and sustainable alternatives, trade must be part of the solution to plastic pollution, not part of the problem.

    In Uttar Pradesh, India, a recycling plant processes plastic waste to be used for making polyester fibre.

    The latest Global Trade Update shows that plastic production reached 436 million metric tons worldwide in 2023, with the traded value surpassing $1.1 trillion and accounting for 5% of total merchandise trade.

    Despite driving global growth across industries, plastics exact a heavy toll on environmental and planetary health.

    Alarmingly, 75% of plastics ever produced have become waste and mostly ended up in the world’s oceans and ecosystems.

    Such pollution also threatens food systems and human well-being, especially in small island and coastal developing countries with limited capacity to cope. More: https://unctad.org/news/ending-plastic-pollution-why-trade-matters

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economics – US tariffs prompt GlobalData to revise India economic growth forecast down to 6.5% in July 2025

    Source: GlobalData

    Following the news that the US will impose 25% tariffs on all Indian imports starting from 1 August 2025.

    Ramnivas Mundada, Director of Economic Research and Companies at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

    “These significant tariffs, coupled with penalties linked to India’s dealings with Russian energy and military supplies, pose serious challenges for key export sectors, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and textiles. Compounding these issues, six Indian companies have recently been sanctioned by the US Department of State for engaging in petroleum trade with Iran. Against this backdrop, GlobalData has revised its 2025 economic growth forecast for India from 6.6% in March 2025 to 6.5% in July 2025.

    “The Indian stock market initially reacted sharply to the trade tariff announcement, with the Nifty50 falling below 24,700—down 189 points—and the BSE Sensex dropping 600 points in early trading on July 31, 2025. The MSCI India Index also recorded its weakest monthly performance since February, reflecting heightened investor concerns around trade tensions and export sector exposure. However, market sentiment has since steadied, suggesting that investors have largely absorbed the initial shock and are now recalibrating expectations considering the evolving trade landscape.

    “The rupee also weakened significantly in response to the tariff announcement, experiencing its largest one-day decline since May 2025 and falling past the 87 level against the US dollar on 30 July 2025.

    “According to ITC Trade Map data, exports of electrical machinery and equipment, gems and jewelry, pharmaceuticals, machinery and mechanical appliances, and mineral fuels collectively represented over 51% of India’s exports to the US in 2024. Additionally, the possibility of manufacturing operations relocating to other Asian countries with lower tariffs poses a significant threat to India’s standing as a manufacturing hub.

    “In conclusion, the ongoing stalemate in trade negotiations between the US and India underscores the complexities of their relationship. With the US justifying tariffs due to India’s high trade barriers and procurement of Russian goods, both nations face significant challenges ahead. As a US delegation prepares to visit India on 25 August 2025, for the sixth round of talks, achieving a mutually beneficial agreement is crucial for fostering stronger ties and ensuring the resilience of the Indian economy in an evolving global landscape.”

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Partners With Liberty To Bring Iconic British Designs to Samsung Art Store

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced its collaboration with iconic British design house Liberty, bringing a curated collection of the brand’s most celebrated designs to Samsung Art Store.1 With this partnership, Samsung Art TV users around the world can now display 20 new designs from Liberty’s rich archive of timeless art and patterns from the comfort of their own homes.
     
    The collaboration merges the elegance of Samsung Art TVs with Liberty’s world-renowned archive, making the stunning designs available as digital artworks for the first time. Samsung curators worked closely with the in-house Liberty team to select patterns that would translate beautifully into a large-scale digital display that is alive with detail, light and color.
     
    “This partnership was driven by a shared desire to celebrate British design in new ways,” said Rachael Roberts, Partnerships Manager at Samsung UK. “With no other British design houses currently represented on Samsung Art Store, it felt like the perfect opportunity to bring Liberty’s unique voice to our global audience.”
     
    ▲ One of the most celebrated designs from Liberty named Artemis (2023), shown on 2025 The Frame by Samsung.
     
    Founded in 1875, Liberty has long been a symbol of British creativity and craftsmanship. Known for its distinctive prints and established history of design innovation, the brand’s influence spans art, fashion and interiors. For this partnership, the collection is introduced with Artemis as the featured design — a bold, botanical take on a classic Liberty design. Spanning over a century of heritage and creativity, the collection includes everything from the whimsical Enchanted Wood to the vibrant Jungle Trip design.
     
    “At Liberty, we’ve always believed in design that tells a story, and stories that evolve with time,” said Pere Bruach, Design Manager at Liberty. “Partnering with Samsung allowed us to reimagine our most iconic prints as living art, infusing them with a new dimension. These works, once found on silk and paper, are now reinterpreted for the home — bringing the spirit of Liberty and the timeless beauty of pattern and print into people’s everyday spaces.”
     
    ▲ 2025 The Frame Pro showcases ‘Marina’s Tea Garden,’ from Liberty’s Autumn/Winter 2025 collection. This bold floral patternhas been meticulously recreated to capture the rich colors and subtle tones of gouache brushstrokes. Available as a digital artworktailored to Samsung Art Store, it brings character, history and a touch of British charm to living spaces everywhere.
     
    Among the 20 Liberty designs featured, standout works include “Artemis,” “Marina’s Tea Garden,” “Fantasy Land,” and “My Grown Up Star,” from Liberty’s Autumn/Winter 2025 collection. Each design is presented as a digital artwork tailored to Samsung Art Store, bringing character, history and a touch of British charm into living spaces everywhere.
     
    “When selecting the right pieces for Samsung Art Store, we were drawn to those that best encapsulate Liberty’s visual language,” Bruach added. “From nostalgic 1930s florals and hand-painted botanicals to eclectic geometric designs and enchanting landscapes, the collection reflects the full spectrum of our creative heritage. Artemis, for example, felt like a natural fit for The Frame — it speaks to the blend of tradition and modernity that defines both our brands.”
     
    “Liberty’s legacy of storytelling makes them a dream partner,” said Roberts. “Our vision for the Art Store has always been to make art and design that brings meaning to people’s lives accessible, and Liberty’s prints bring exactly that — a daily joy and a sense of place.”
     
    This new collaboration underscores Samsung Art Store’s mission to democratize access to global art, with a growing archive of over 3,500 artworks from the world’s most renowned museums and art institutions. Now, with the addition of Liberty’s British classics, a new chapter in which printmaking heritage meets innovation begins.
     
     
    About Liberty 
    Liberty is a movement dedicated to discovery, animated by arts, culture, design and the pursuit of beauty. Liberty is famed for its original curation, directional design and celebration of craftsmanship. In the spirit of our founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, we remain unapologetically eccentric and committed to bringing good design to all.
     
     
    1 Liberty artworks are available through the Samsung Art Store in all service countries except India.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Thriving under pressure: Chinese companies build resilience, boost innovation amid headwinds

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Thriving under pressure: Chinese companies build resilience, boost innovation amid headwinds

    Merchant Sun Lijuan (R) introduces products to an Indian merchant inside her shop at the Yiwu International Trade Mart in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Chuanhao)

    “It’s hot and wet today,” chirped a doll in a clear, childlike voice, dressed in a pink floral blouse and a rainbow tulle skirt. The doll was on display at a toy stall in Yiwu City, a bustling trade hub in east China often dubbed the “world’s supermarket.”

    The question — “What’s the weather like today?” — came from stall owner Sun Lijuan, who has worked in the doll business in Yiwu for over a decade.

    Her latest model, now powered by AI, marks a major shift from the talking toys of the past. “It’s no longer just a doll that sings, tells stories, or answers basic questions,” Sun said. “Now it can respond to almost anything. For kids, it’s more like a companion — a friend.”

    Sun is currently developing Spanish-language versions and has asked long-time clients to take the new AI dolls’ smart modules to South America to test server connectivity.

    Amid global tariff headwinds, innovation is unfolding daily in Yiwu across a wide range of industries and products. Local businesses are steadily strengthening both resilience and innovation capacity, driving a 24.5 percent year-on-year increase in the city’s exports in the first half of the year.

    Visits by foreign buyers in Yiwu jumped 18.6 percent from a year earlier in the first five months, underscoring growing interest in the city’s expanding and evolving product lines.

    The resilience of the “world’s supermarket” echoed a robust 5.3 percent year-on-year growth in China’s GDP in the first half of the year. Behind this hard-won result against the global backdrop of economic and trade headwinds, businesses like Sun’s tell inspiring stories of agility and enterprise.

    Merchants participate in a language learning session at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, May 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

    WEATHERING GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES

    The rapid rollout of new products, Sun said, owes much to China’s strengths in innovation and talent. “Since the rapid ascent of DeepSeek earlier this year, we’ve been approached by many integrated circuit chip developers eager to collaborate on next-generation dolls,” she said. “I’ve never had so much contact with PhDs from top universities and tech firms.”

    This year has also been one of personal growth for Sun. After DeepSeek gained attention, the Yiwu International Trade Market began offering free AI training and she managed to pick up several software skills.

    In March, a long-time client from Mexico visited her shop and requested adjustments to the doll’s facial features and clothing. Sun made the edits on her computer within minutes, impressing the client and securing an order on the spot.

    “Many people have asked me whether external uncertainties have hit my factory hard, and I always say the impact has been limited,” Sun said, noting her factory has, over the years, developed talking dolls in multiple languages, including Spanish, English, Arabic and Russian, for more than 50 markets such as Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

    “Entrepreneurs in Yiwu who’ve made it this far have been tested by the market repeatedly. Without foresight, they would’ve been pushed out of the market long ago,” she added.

    The new AI-powered dolls cost three to four times as much to produce as older talking models, but they also bring higher profit margins, according to Sun.

    Sun Lijuan said the production cost of the new AI-powered dolls is three to four times that of traditional talking models — but the added technology also brings higher profit margins.

    Sun’s toy business offers a glimpse into a broader trend. Across China, companies are drawing on the country’s institutional strengths, vast market potential, resilient supply chains, a deep talent pool, and growing innovation and openness to sharpen their resilience and adaptability in an increasingly complex global landscape.

    SHARPENING INNOVATION

    On the vast Gobi Desert in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, towering high-voltage power lines form a striking “forest of steel.” Between the power lines, drones flit in and out of view like birds patrolling their territory, detecting minor faults or unusual objects on the towers and cables.

    This photo taken on Aug. 13, 2024 shows a 750-kilovolt (kV) power transmission line under construction in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Ma Yuan/Xinhua)

    This is a fully autonomous drone inspection system developed by technology company I-KINGTEC in north China’s Tianjin Municipality. A young tech firm founded just eight years ago is helping to solve one of the toughest challenges of power line inspections in uninhabited regions.

    Its “Orca” drone can autonomously take off, fly missions and collect data. Serving as its all-weather base, the “Tiger Den” station can automatically replace the drone’s battery pod — a task that once depended almost entirely on manual labor.

    “How to make drones truly unmanned throughout the entire workflow has been the question we sought to answer from the very beginning,” said Zhu Shengli, co-founder of the company. He noted that the firm’s technological breakthroughs have been made possible by China’s supportive policies for the low-altitude economy and a strong talent pool.

    At Zhu’s company, the average age of employees is just 27, and R&D staff make up 70 percent of the workforce. The company has filed more than 600 IP applications to date.

    It posted over 200 million yuan (28 million U.S. dollars) in revenue last year, and its first-quarter earnings this year have already exceeded the full-year total for 2024.

    China’s tech firms like Zhu’s have seen strong momentum this year. In the first half of 2025, the country’s high-tech sectors posted rapid gains, with value-added industrial output in high-tech manufacturing rising 9.5 percent, 3.1 percentage points higher than the overall industrial growth during the same period.

    Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the National Bureau of Statistics, described the “accumulation of new growth momentum” as a key feature of China’s economic performance. He noted an accelerating integration of technological and industrial innovation, which is high on policymakers’ agendas.

    To boost innovation, China has introduced a series of policy measures this year, including setting up a national venture capital guidance fund expected to mobilize 1 trillion yuan, expanding re-lending for tech innovation and upgrades from 500 billion to 800 billion yuan, and launching a dedicated “sci-tech board” in the bond market. The measures aim to channel more financial resources into early-stage, small-scale, long-term, and hard-tech ventures.

    TAPPING VAST DOMESTIC MARKET

    At a time when global demand is uneven, China’s vast domestic market of over 1.4 billion people continues to serve as a powerful anchor. Consumer demand is evolving rapidly, driving the emergence of new business models and product innovations.

    Despite pressures on the broader food service sector, Xibei, a leading Chinese catering chain brand with nearly 400 outlets and around 17,000 employees, is charting a different course by upgrading its children’s meals and offering higher-quality options to attract family diners, a strategy that has helped lift overall sales.

    The chain now offers four kids’ meal set options. One standout is a 69-yuan set featuring a whole yellow croaker, organic vegetables, corn soup, shrimp and egg custard, mousse, and hand-rolled oat noodles. To ensure it’s safe for children to eat, each fish goes through three rounds of machine inspection followed by manual deboning.

    “Kids’ meals are emerging as a powerful driver of family dining. Parents are willing to invest in quality for their children,” said Song Xuan, vice president of Xibei.

    Sales of Xibei’s children’s meals rose 7.4 percent year on year last year. Families dining with children now make up about 50 percent of total tables across its outlets on average.

    Despite skepticism over China’s consumer momentum and concerns about weak market demand, Xibei offers a snapshot of the country’s evolving spending power.

    China’s consumer market continued to gain momentum in the first half of the year, with retail sales of consumer goods rising 5 percent year on year, 0.4 percentage points faster than in the first quarter. Consumption contributed 52 percent to GDP growth during the period, making it the main driver of the economy.

    The vast Chinese market is also a shared market for the world, with consumer goods imports totaling 7.4 trillion yuan between 2021 and 2024, according to the Ministry of Commerce. In terms of actual purchasing power, China’s retail sales of consumer goods surpassed those of the United States last year, reaching 1.6 times the U.S. level, based on World Bank data and calculations.

    Xiong Yi, China Chief Economist at Deutsche Bank, noted strong potential for further growth in services consumption. “China has likely reached a development stage where its population will have increasing demand for higher-quality services,” he said.

    To better meet differentiated demand and tap deeper into China’s growing dining market, Xibei plans to roll out lightly salted meal sets for toddlers as young as one or two years old.

    “We are confident in the long-term prospects of China’s catering industry, given its vast growth potential. To stay competitive in such a rapidly evolving market, we must continue to transform and upgrade,” said Jia Guolong, chairman and founder of Xibei.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on July 31, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,02,930.30 5.44 4.00-5.85
         I. Call Money 18,011.87 5.49 4.75-5.55
         II. Triparty Repo 3,98,426.75 5.43 5.00-5.55
         III. Market Repo 1,83,826.13 5.45 4.00-5.75
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 2,665.55 5.58 5.55-5.85
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 171.24 5.26 4.95-5.40
         II. Term Money@@ 1,211.00 – 5.30-5.75
         III. Triparty Repo 8,544.05 5.53 5.40-5.55
         IV. Market Repo 879.12 5.47 4.50-5.62
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Thu, 31/07/2025 1 Fri, 01/08/2025 13,075.00 5.49
    3. MSF# Thu, 31/07/2025 1 Fri, 01/08/2025 1,649.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Thu, 31/07/2025 1 Fri, 01/08/2025 1,14,195.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,25,621.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Tue, 29/07/2025 3 Fri, 01/08/2025 46,058.00 5.49
      Fri, 25/07/2025 7 Fri, 01/08/2025 1,25,008.00 5.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       10,299.21  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,60,766.79  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -2,86,387.79  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks          
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on July 31, 2025 9,96,170.04  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending August 08, 2025 9,56,146.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ July 31, 2025 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on July 11, 2025 5,38,578.00  

    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).

    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.

    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.

    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.

    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.

    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/820

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Lok Sabha to take up Goa ST representation bill and Merchant shipping bill

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Parliament has a list of important businesses for Friday, which includes The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, and ‘The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024’.

    According to the list of business in the Lok Sabha, the bills will be moved for passage. The House also has private members’ business.

    Minister Prataprao Jadhav will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the 137th and 150th reports of the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on Vaccine Development, Distribution Management and Mitigation of Pandemic Covid-19 pertaining to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

    The Lok Sabha will take up the ‘The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024’ for further consideration.

    The bill was introduced by the Union Law Minister, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on December 17, 2024.

    The bill aims to enable reservation of seats in accordance with Article 332 of the Constitution for effective democratic participation of members of Scheduled Tribes and to provide for the readjustment of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa, in so far as such readjustment is necessitated by inclusion of certain communities in the list of the Scheduled Tribes in the State of Goa, according to the list of business in Lok Sabha.

    Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will move ‘The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024’ to update and unify existing law to align with international maritime treaties.

    The legislation will consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure the optimum utilisation of India’s coastline; establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports; establish the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector; provide for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India’s obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes. The Bill will be tabled for consideration and passage.

    In the Rajya Sabha, seven ministers will lay papers on the table concerning their ministries.

    The House will also see statements made by two Ministers.

    Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekha will make the following statements regarding: (a) Status of implementation of the Recommendations contained in the 2nd Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (18th Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2024-25) pertaining to the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources).

    (b) Status of implementation of the Recommendations contained in the 6th Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (18th Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources).

    Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu will make a statement regarding the Status of implementation of Recommendations/Observations contained in the 3rd Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways(18th Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2025-26) about the Ministry of Railways.

    (IANS)

  • ‘Kashmir to Kevadia’: PM Modi welcomes Omar Abdullah’s Gujarat visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for visiting Gujarat’s Sabarmati Riverfront and the Statue of Unity, calling it a gesture that sends a powerful message of national unity.

    “Kashmir to Kevadia! Good to see Shri Omar Abdullah Ji enjoying his run at the Sabarmati Riverfront and visiting the Statue of Unity. His visit to SoU gives an important message of unity and will inspire our fellow Indians to travel to different parts of India,” PM Modi posted on X.

    The Prime Minister was responding to Abdullah’s post about his morning run at the riverfront during a two-day visit to Ahmedabad for a tourism promotion event.

    “While in #Ahmedabad for a tourism event, I took advantage of being here to get my morning run at the famed Sabarmati River Front promenade. It’s one of the nicest places I’ve been able to run, and it was a pleasure to get to share it with so many other walkers/runners. I even managed to run past the amazing Atal Foot Bridge,” Abdullah wrote.

    His visit comes amid efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to revive tourism in the Union Territory, following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that affected tourist inflow.

    During his Gujarat visit, Abdullah is meeting with tour operators and industry stakeholders to rebuild confidence in Kashmir as a safe and attractive travel destination.

    “Gujarat, along with Maharashtra and West Bengal, has always played a major role in Kashmir’s tourism economy,” he said, expressing optimism about the return of Gujarati tourists in large numbers.

  • Cabinet approves ₹2,000 crore grant to NCDC; Amit Shah thanks PM Modi for strengthening cooperative sector

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Thursday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Cabinet approved a grant assistance of ₹2,000 crore to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for the next four years.

    The grant will be disbursed at ₹500 crore per year, with the objective of boosting the cooperative sector, particularly in rural areas. Shah highlighted the move as a step forward in realising the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).

    “In line with PM Modi ji’s mantra of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’, the NCDC is playing a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy. This financial support will help cooperatives launch new projects, expand existing infrastructure, and offer loans, thereby benefiting crores of members,” Shah said in a post on X. He added that the initiative would empower women to become self-reliant and generate employment opportunities for the youth.

    In another post, the Home Minister also welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to approve an expenditure of ₹6,520 crore under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana’ (PMKSY), including an additional allocation of ₹1,920 crore. As part of the scheme, 50 multi-product food irradiation units and 100 food testing laboratories will be set up across the country. Shah stated that these facilities will aid in food preservation, ensure better safety and quality standards, and help farmers fetch higher prices for their produce.

    Further, Shah lauded the Cabinet’s approval of four railway multi-tracking projects covering 13 districts in six states from the eastern, central, and western regions. These projects, with a total outlay of ₹11,169 crore, will add 574 km to the country’s railway network. According to the minister, this will not only improve connectivity but also boost trade and industry, while opening up fresh avenues for employment.

  • PM Modi invites citizens to share ideas for Independence Day speech

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited citizens across the country to share their ideas and suggestions for this year’s Independence Day address.

    In a post on X, PM Modi urged the public to contribute their thoughts via the open forums on MyGov.in and the NaMo app.

    “As we approach this year’s Independence Day, I look forward to hearing from my fellow Indians! What themes or ideas would you like to see reflected in this year’s Independence Day speech? Share your thoughts on the Open Forums on MyGov and the NaMo App,” the Prime Minister wrote.

    As per tradition, the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and addresses the nation every year on August 15.

    Last year, on India’s 78th Independence Day, PM Modi’s speech focused on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, which outlines the Government’s vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.

    The Prime Minister also spoke on various key issues, including Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), improving ease of living, the role of women in the Air Force, tackling nepotism in politics, the safety of Bangladeshi Hindus, the idea of a uniform civil code, and India’s aspirations to host the 2036 Olympics.

    Continuing the ceremonial traditions, the Prime Minister also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and received a ‘Rashtriya Salute’ after hoisting the national flag. Last year, the salute was presented by the Punjab Regiment’s military band, which included one JCO and 25 other ranks, led by Subedar Major Rajinder Singh.

    This year marks PM Modi’s 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, making him only the third Indian Prime Minister-after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi-to achieve this milestone.

  • Mission Karmayogi crosses 1.26 crore users, expands digital training across govt

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Mission Karmayogi, the central government’s ambitious civil services capacity-building programme, is witnessing robust nationwide adoption. As of July 21, over 1.26 crore govt officials across central and state levels have registered on the iGOT-Karmayogi digital learning platform.

    In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed that all ministries and departments of the central government have been fully integrated with the platform. The digital shift represents a transformative step in government training, moving away from conventional models to a more adaptive, role-based approach.

    The iGOT-Karmayogi portal provides customised training that aligns with the competency frameworks of individual departments. Of the total users, around 41 lakh are central government employees, while 85 lakh belong to various state services. The platform currently offers more than 3,000 live courses covering a range of functional, behavioural, and domain-specific competencies. Together, these courses have seen over 3.8 crore completions, reflecting the growing demand for continuous learning within public administration.

    Designed as a comprehensive digital learning ecosystem, iGOT-Karmayogi has been integrated with key training components such as induction sessions, mid-career programmes, and in-service development. It aims to equip civil servants with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to meet the evolving challenges of governance in the 21st century.

    To measure the initiative’s impact, the Department of Personnel and Training has introduced a Monitoring and Evaluation framework with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track stakeholder performance and drive service delivery improvements.

  • Nifty, Sensex open lower as new Trump tariffs take effect

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian equity markets opened lower on Friday, tracking weak global cues following the announcement of new tariffs by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The pharmaceutical sector bore the brunt, with the Nifty Pharma index falling 2.75 per cent.

    At 9:25 AM, the Nifty 50 was down 51 points or 0.21 per cent at 24,716, while the BSE Sensex had declined 179 points or 0.22 per cent, trading at 81,005.

    In the broader market, both the BSE MidCap and BSE SmallCap indices posted marginal gains of 0.05 per cent.

    Among sectoral indices, Nifty FMCG stood out as the sole gainer, rising 1.46 per cent. Meanwhile, Nifty IT slipped 0.80 per cent and Nifty Metal declined 0.99 per cent, in addition to sharp selling in pharma stocks.

    Within the Nifty 50 pack, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) was the top gainer, rising 4.45 per cent, followed by Tata Consumer Products, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, and Trent. On the losing side, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories led with a 1.41 per cent decline, followed by Cipla, ONGC, Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Steel.

    “Despite Nifty’s bounce yesterday, the index remains vulnerable unless it sustains a move above the 24,800 mark. A close above this level could potentially open the path toward 25,000. On the downside, immediate support lies at 24,600, followed by 24,500,” said Hardik Matalia, Derivatives Analyst at Choice Equity Broking.

    “As elevated volatility and conflicting technical signals prevail, traders are advised to follow a cautious ‘sell-on-rise’ approach, especially when using leverage. Book partial profits during rallies and maintain tight trailing stop-losses. Fresh long positions should only be considered if the Nifty sustains above 25,000,” he added.

    On July 31, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing revised “reciprocal” tariffs on several countries including Syria, Laos, South Africa, and Myanmar. The new tariff rates, ranging from 10 per cent to 41 per cent, are set to take effect from August 7.

    Strong earnings from U.S. tech giants Microsoft and Meta Platforms failed to lift Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.37 per cent, marking its third straight day of losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.74 per cent, while the Nasdaq Composite remained flat with a marginal dip of 0.03 per cent.

    “In the near term, markets will be influenced by tariff-related developments. Since the implementation date is August 7, affected countries still have time to negotiate for revisions. Yesterday’s market behavior indicates that investors view the 25 per cent tariff as a short-term issue,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    Asian markets also opened weak. South Korea’s Kospi led the regional decline with a 2.94 per cent fall, followed by Japan’s Nikkei 225, which dropped 0.38 per cent. Shanghai Composite shed 0.10 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged up 0.13 per cent.

    On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) extended their selling streak for a ninth consecutive session, offloading equities worth ₹5,588 crore on July 31. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained net buyers for the 19th straight session, investing ₹6,372 crore.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of Underwriting Auction conducted on August 01, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    In the underwriting auction conducted on August 01, 2025, for Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) of the undernoted Government securities, the Reserve Bank of India has set the cut-off rates for underwriting commission payable to Primary Dealers as given below:

    Nomenclature of the Security Notified Amount
    (₹ crore)    		 Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) Amount
    (₹ crore)    		 Additional Competitive Underwriting Amount Accepted
    (₹ crore)    		 Total Amount underwritten
    (₹ crore)    		 ACU Commission Cut-off rate
    (Paise per ₹100)
    6.68% GS 2040 16,000 8,001 7,999 16,000 0.23
    6.90% GS 2065 16,000 8,001 7,999 16,000 0.28
    Auction for the sale of securities will be held on August 01, 2025.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/821

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on August 01, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 7-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 2,00,000
    Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore) 1,71,795
    Amount accepted (in ₹ crore) 1,71,795
    Cut off Rate (%) 5.49
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 5.49
    Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/822

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Manufacturing to research, India playing key role in new foldable series: Samsung

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    From local manufacturing to research and development, India has a significant role in the development of the new foldable series, JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, said on Friday.

    According to him, the company engineers from the Bengaluru R&D facility have contributed significantly in the development of new Z Fold7 and the Z Flip7 devices.

    “I am happy to share that these new phones are being manufactured at our Noida factory,” Park said.

    “Our latest foldables represent the next leap in smartphone innovation. They are the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z series designs yet. They deliver cutting-edge performance and come with seamless Galaxy AI integration,” added Park.

    The company received a record 210,000 pre-orders for its seventh generation foldables – Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy ZFlip7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 FE – in just 48 hours in India – signalling rapid mainstreaming of the foldable form factor in the country.

    The ‘Made in India’ Galaxy Z Fold7 is surprisingly gaining significant traction from not only tier 3 markets, but also tier 4 and beyond, amid a resilient economy and rising aspirations across the country, the company informed.

    Park said the new devices will “help us mainstream the foldables in India”.

    “Galaxy Z Fold7 delivers the Ultra experience in the thinnest, lightest and most advanced Fold yet. Galaxy Z Flip7 packs flagship power, intelligence and personality into a compact and iconic form,” he mentioned.

    On AI, he said that today, on-device AI is independent of being in the cloud or a third-party source.

    “But tomorrow, I think it’s more of how people are using the AI. Like in India, you have so many dialects that you need someone to interpret. Tomorrow, it will all be done simultaneously on the devices. So you don’t have to memorise things. You don’t have to have an opinion of a lawyer or doctor. You just can have a massive intelligence that’s connected on your device to a cloud that can guide you to a better solution. I think that’s how the technology will evolve,” said Park.

    (IANS)

  • Trying to convince people to visit J&K, says Omar Abdullah to PM Modi’s praise of his Gujarat visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday responded warmly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise for his recent visit to Gujarat, reaffirming the critical role tourism plays in J&K’s economy and national integration.

    In a post on X, Abdullah wrote: “I’m a firm believer that travel broadens the horizons & the mind, @narendramodi ji. It’s especially important for us in J&K, as tourism is a crucial part of our economy and has the potential to gainfully employ lakhs of people. That’s why my colleagues and I are trying to convince more of our fellow Indians to visit J&K, especially after the tragic events earlier this year.”

    His remarks came in response to a message from PM Modi, who had lauded Abdullah’s visit to the Sabarmati Riverfront and the Statue of Unity during a recent tourism event in Ahmedabad.

    “Kashmir to Kevadia! Good to see Shri Omar Abdullah Ji enjoying his run at the Sabarmati Riverfront and visiting the Statue of Unity. His visit to SoU gives an important message of unity and will inspire our fellow Indians to travel to different parts of India,” the Prime Minister posted on X.

    Abdullah had earlier shared his experience from Gujarat, where he went for a morning run along the Sabarmati Riverfront.
    “While in #Ahmedabad for a tourism event, I took advantage of being here to get my morning run at the famed Sabarmati River Front promenade. It’s one of the nicest places I’ve been able to run, and it was a pleasure to share it with so many other walkers and runners. I even managed to run past the amazing Atal Foot Bridge,” he wrote.

    The J&K Chief Minister was on a two-day visit to Gujarat aimed at promoting the Union Territory as a travel destination, particularly in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which led to a temporary decline in tourist activity.

    During his visit, Abdullah met with tour operators and travel industry stakeholders to rebuild trust and attract more domestic tourists to the region. He also held a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

    -IANS

  • Pakistan jails more than 100 members of ex-PM Imran Khan’s party for 2023 riots

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Thursday sentenced more than 100 members of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party to prison terms on charges related to riots that targeted military sites in 2023, a court order said.

    Fifty-eight of the defendants, who included parliamentarians and senior officials, were sentenced to 10 years in prison and the rest were given sentences ranging from one to three years, the court said.

    The accused include Omar Ayub Khan and Shibli Faraz, the leaders of Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) in the lower and upper houses of parliament respectively, the court order seen by Reuters read.

    “The prosecution has proved its case against the accused without a shadow of doubt,” it said in announcing the sentences.

    Khan, who has been in prison since 2023 facing charges of corruption, land fraud and disclosure of official secrets, is being tried separately on similar charges related to the riot.

    The government accuses him and other leaders of inciting the May 9, 2023, protests, during which demonstrators attacked military and government buildings, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

    He denies wrongdoing and says all the cases are politically motivated as part of a military-backed crackdown to dismantle his party. The military denies it.

    Khan’s arrest had prompted the countrywide violent protests.

    Thursday’s ruling does not directly affect the incitement case against him in which prosecution is still presenting witnesses.

    The PTI party said it will challenge the verdict.

    The ruling is the third such mass conviction this month; Khan’s party says they have included at least 14 of its parliamentarians.

    They will lose their seats in parliament under Pakistani laws, which will shred Khan’s opposition party’s strength.

    Another 77 were acquitted for lack of evidence in the latest verdict, which is linked to an attack on the office of an intelligence agency in eastern city of Faisalabad, the court said.

    The party plans new protests starting on August 5, the second anniversary of Khan’s jailing, to demand his release.

    (Reuters)

  • Bihar government doubles honorarium for MDMS cooks, night watchmen, health instructors in schools

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major announcement ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday declared a significant hike in the honorarium for several categories of support staff in government schools, including cooks, night watchmen, and physical education and health instructors.

    The announcement was made via a post from the Chief Minister’s official X account, highlighting the government’s continued focus on strengthening the education sector through better compensation and support for ground-level workers.

    As per the revised honorarium, cooks employed under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) saw their monthly payment increase from Rs 1,650 to Rs 3,300, while night watchmen deployed in secondary and higher secondary schools have seen a monthly honorarium increase from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

    Similarly, physical education and health instructors’ monthly honorarium increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000 apart from annual increment raised from Rs 200 to Rs 400 for eligible personnel.

    CM Nitish Kumar said, “These workers have played an important role in strengthening the education system. Doubling their honorarium will boost their morale and lead to greater dedication in their duties.”

    Highlighting the evolution of the education sector since his government took over in November 2005, the CM noted, “The education budget has risen from Rs 4,366 crore in 2005 to Rs 77,690 crore in 2025. Progress includes massive teacher recruitment, new school buildings, and infrastructure development.”

    Earlier, the journalist pension scheme increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000, social security pension for the elderly, disabled, and widows was hiked from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, ASHA workers’ incentive was raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, and MAMTA workers now get Rs 600 per delivery, up from Rs 300 earlier.

    These measures signal the government’s intent to consolidate support across various working-class and grassroots segments.

    (IANS)

  • Reinvigorate ‘Made in India’ as hallmark of unquestionable quality amid US tariffs: SBI report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The imposition of 25 per cent tariff on India with penalty is a “bad business decision” but the mysterious forces of global supply chain will auto adjust and cushion the impact, and Indian businesses and firms would do well to reinvigorate the ‘Made in India’ as a hallmark of unquestionable quality, an SBI Research report said on Friday.

    Not surprisingly, the US GDP, inflation and currency face a greater risk of downgrades compared to India, the report noted.

    Though the US is India’s top exporter (20 per cent in FY25), India has diversified its export destinations, and the top 10 countries only accounted for 53 per cent of total exports.

    The top 15 items exported to the US accounted for 63 per cent of total exports. Electronics, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals and nuclear reactors and machinery account for 49 per cent of India’s exports to the US.

    The earlier tariff imposed by the US on such articles varied from 0 per cent (on diamonds, smartphones, pharma products, among others) to a maximum of 10.8 per cent (other bed linen of cotton). Now all of them will face a 25 per cent tariff.

    “Exports of smartphones and photovoltaic cells to the US have seen a spurt by the PLI scheme of the government, and rationalisation of the GST on cut and polished diamonds has pushed gems and jewellery exports to the US. For the other products, it’s the robust demand from the US that led to higher exports, according to the SBI report.

    India has been a cornerstone of the global supply chain for affordable, high-quality and availability of essential medicines, particularly life-saving oncology drugs and antibiotics.

    In the generic drug market, India supplies nearly 47 per cent of the pharmaceutical needs of the US. If the US shifts manufacturing and API production to other countries or domestic facilities, it will take a minimum of 3-5 years for meaningful capacity. So, the tariff rise may lead to drug shortages and price increases for American citizens.

    As the US accounts for 40 per cent of India’s pharma exports, if a 25 per cent tariff continues, it may hit earnings of pharma companies by 2-8 per cent in FY26, as many big pharma companies’ revenue from the US stood in the range of 40-50 per cent.

    Further, the tariff will reduce competitiveness in the world’s largest pharma market and the profit margins pressure due to the inability to pass on costs, the report noted.

    “When we map the sectors with most favoured nation (MFN) tariffs imposed by India on the corresponding imports from the US, the average MFN tariff comes to around 20 per cent. Certain sectors like Automobile, FMCG, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, electrical equipment, textile and consumer durables stand out as the tariff applied is 15 per cent or more. The Indian government can think of reducing the tariffs in such sectors,” the SBI report suggested.

    (IANS)

  • Rain, thunderstorms likely in Delhi for next three days: IMD

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The national capital is expected to witness a fresh spell of rain over the next three days, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate showers accompanied by thunderstorms between Friday and Sunday (August 3).

    According to the IMD’s Thursday bulletin, heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over parts of the Northeast and adjoining eastern India over the next seven days. In Delhi, however, the intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease slightly starting Friday.

    On Friday, Delhi will witness very light to light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms or lightning. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to remain below normal, ranging between 33 to 35 degrees Celsius and 23 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    Winds will initially blow from the northeast in the morning, shift to the southwest by afternoon, and then turn southeasterly in the evening and night, at speeds of 10–15 kmph.

    Rainfall is expected to continue through August 2 and 3, with mostly cloudy skies and light showers accompanied by thunderstorms.

    Daytime temperatures are likely to hover around 34 to 36 degrees Celsius, while night temperatures will range between 24 to 26 degrees Celsius, remaining a few degrees below the seasonal average. Winds will vary in direction but remain steady at 10–20 kmph, mostly from the northwest and northeast.

    Earlier on Thursday, parts of Delhi received moderate rainfall, while isolated areas saw heavy showers that led to localised waterlogging and traffic congestion.

    The maximum temperature recorded was 29.9 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal, while the minimum stood at 24.7 degrees Celsius, two degrees below the usual.

    The met department also noted that Delhi has been experiencing irregular rainfall over the past few days, which has caused significant inconvenience to daily commuters in several areas of the city.

    With weather conditions remaining unstable and intermittent showers expected to continue, residents are advised to remain cautious, especially during peak travel hours.

    (IANS)

  • Centre accelerates efforts to fill vacant posts in ministries and departments

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Centre is taking steps to fill vacant posts across central government ministries and departments, Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh informed Parliament on Thursday. As of March 1, 2021, there were 40,35,203 sanctioned posts under the central government.

    In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on July 24, Dr. Singh stated that the filling of vacancies is an ongoing process and depends on the specific requirements and conditions within different departments. The respective ministries and departments are responsible for maintaining detailed records of vacancies and appointments.

    The government has issued detailed instructions to all departments, including taking advance action to report direct recruitment vacancies to the relevant recruiting agencies. For promotions, a Model Calendar has been prescribed to streamline Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings and ensure the readiness of promotion panels when vacancies arise.

    For deputation-based appointments, the authority to fill posts up to Level 13A and below in the pay matrix has been delegated to individual ministries and departments.

    The government has also launched Mission Recruitment, a dedicated mission-mode initiative introduced in June 2022. As part of this effort, Rozgar Melas are being organized regularly across 45–50 cities, serving as a catalyst to expedite the appointment process across Central Government organizations.

    Annual reports containing consolidated data on sanctioned posts and persons-in-position are published by the Pay Research Unit of the Department of Expenditure. These reports are publicly accessible on the Department’s official website: https://doe.gov.in/hi/annual-report-pay-and-allowances.

  • Delhi’s Yamuna river cleaning sees progress, but pollution levels remain concerning: Jal Shakti Ministry

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Jal Shakti on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that significant progress has been made in the ongoing efforts to clean the Yamuna River in Delhi. However, pollution levels at several points in the river remain well above permissible limits, indicating the need for continued and intensified action.

    In a written reply, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said that water quality at key locations along the Yamuna—Palla, Nizamuddin Bridge, and Okhla Barrage—is being monitored monthly by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). Parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and Faecal Coliform (FC) are being tracked since January 2025.

    As per data provided by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the national capital generates around 3,596 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While Delhi has 37 operational sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 3,474 MLD, only 2,955 MLD of sewage is actually being treated. Out of this, 2,014 MLD from 23 STPs complies with the discharge norms set by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), while 14 STPs remain non-compliant. An estimated 641 MLD of sewage continues to be discharged untreated into the Yamuna or the city’s drainage system.

    The CPCB also conducts annual inspections of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in the Yamuna basin. In the last round of inspections carried out in 2024, a total of 189 GPIs were assessed in Delhi. Of these, 158 were operational and 31 had self-closed. Among the operational units, 49 were found to be violating discharge norms or lacked valid consent to operate. The concerned state pollution control boards issued 40 show-cause notices and 9 closure orders to the defaulting industries.

    To strengthen sewage treatment infrastructure under the Namami Gange Programme, nine projects worth ₹1,951 crore have been sanctioned for Delhi. These projects have added a treatment capacity of 1,268 MLD and include major initiatives such as the rehabilitation of trunk sewers, rising mains, and the upgradation of STPs at Kondli and Coronation Pillar. The Ministry confirmed that all nine projects have been completed.

    Since January 2025, a total of ₹140 crore has been allocated for Yamuna cleaning efforts, out of which ₹108.31 crore has already been utilized. The ministry stressed that river cleaning is a continuous process, and it is working closely with the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Government of NCT of Delhi to tackle Yamuna pollution through financial and technical assistance.

    Despite infrastructure upgrades, water quality data from 2025 paints a grim picture. Downstream stretches of the river, particularly at Nizamuddin, Okhla, and Asgarpur, continue to record BOD levels far exceeding the safe limit of 3 mg/L. Faecal Coliform counts in these areas were reported in the range of hundreds of thousands to millions per 100 ml, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement, expanded treatment coverage, and robust pollution control mechanisms.

  • India’s manufacturing PMI rises to 16-month high in July despite global uncertainties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s manufacturing sector gained momentum in the month of July as Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to a 16-month high of 59.1, up from 58.4 in June, despite global uncertainties and US tariffs, according to data released by S&P Global on Friday.

    The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to a 16-month high of 59.1, driven by strong gains in new orders and output, though business sentiment and hiring momentum showed signs of moderation.

    “India recorded a 59.1 manufacturing PMI in July, up from 58.4 during the prior month. This marked a 16-month high for the sector, which benefited from strong growth in new orders and output,” said Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC.

    “At the same time, however, business confidence fell to its lowest level in three years due to concerns over competition and inflation,” Bhandari added.

    India’s manufacturing sector remains on a strong footing entering the second half of FY25.

    The sustained manufacturing resilience comes on the back of robust domestic demand and continued output expansion.

    India’s private sector showed robust growth in July, fuelled by strong manufacturing and global demand. The headline HSBC Flash India Composite PMI Output Index, compiled by S&P Global, rose to 60.7 in July from 58.4 in June.

    International orders received by private sector firms in India rose sharply at the start of the second fiscal quarter (Q2 FY26). The Indian companies remained optimistic about output growth over the next 12 months.

    There is a firm pick-up in employment, especially in the service sector, suggesting healthy job creation accompanies the expansion of both India’s manufacturing and service sectors.

    Meanwhile, India is projected to see 6.4 per cent GDP growth in FY26 and FY27, with both numbers revised slightly upward, reflecting a more benign external environment than assumed in the April reference forecast, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO).

    The IMF revised upwards its outlook for India’s GDP growth for the current fiscal by 20 basis points (bps) to 6.4 per cent. The global agency also revised upwards its growth forecast for FY27 by 10 bps to 6.4 per cent.

    (IANS)

  • India inaugurates 1 MW green hydrogen plant at Kandla, advancing 2030 clean energy goals

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Thursday inaugurated a 1 megawatt (MW) Green Hydrogen Plant at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat terming it a “major step” in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2030 vision under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

    Calling the development a significant milestone in India’s transition towards clean energy, Sonowal said, “This commissioning demonstrates our commitment to Net Zero and sets a new benchmark in India’s green hydrogen ecosystem.”

    The newly inaugurated unit is part of a 10 MW Green Hydrogen project, whose foundation was laid by the Prime Minister during his visit to Bhuj on May 26 this year. The completion of the 1 MW module within just four months has been lauded as a symbol of India’s enhanced capabilities in implementing complex green energy projects with speed and scale.

    “The DPA has turned that vision into reality — a shining example of speed, scale, and skill under the Maritime India Vision 2030,” the Union Minister said.

    The green hydrogen plant is expected to produce approximately 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually and will support maritime decarbonisation and sustainable port operations.

    Sonowal also praised DPA’s broader green initiatives, including the earlier deployment of the country’s first Make-in-India all-electric Green Tug. He noted that the hydrogen facility was fully developed by Indian engineers, making it a symbol of Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat and a model for ports across India to emulate.

    “This green hydrogen plant is a testament to the bold and transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It reflects his commitment to a cleaner, greener, and self-reliant India,” Sonowal added.

    Congratulating the DPA leadership and engineering partner L&T, the Minister said the project was executed with “remarkable speed and precision.”

    Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, who also attended the inauguration, called the project a proud moment for Gujarat and the nation. “This initiative reaffirms India’s growing leadership in clean energy and innovation. It’s a bold step towards a sustainable maritime future,” he said.

  • CM Rekha Gupta launches door-to-door cleanliness drive; says Delhi needs new Secretariat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday launched a month-long door-to-door cleanliness campaign from Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) Kashmiri Gate, aiming to improve sanitation and workplace conditions across the national Capital.

    The campaign will be conducted across all districts of Delhi and involve active participation from government officials, civic agencies, and local communities.

    Leading by example, the Chief Minister personally took part in the cleanliness drive by sweeping the premises at the ISBT, where she also inspected the condition of the offices and public facilities.

    Expressing concern over the deteriorating infrastructure and unhygienic conditions at government offices, CM Gupta said, “If our officers are working in such conditions, how will they benefit anyone? Water is dripping from here, and this is where an officer’s chair is placed. This is the kind of furniture provided, where people are expected to sit and work.”

    While inspecting the ISBT office area, the Chief Minister was visibly dissatisfied with the poor maintenance and lack of basic facilities, calling for immediate structural reforms and better upkeep of public infrastructure.

    In a significant announcement during the campaign launch, CM Gupta said the capital urgently requires a new secretariat building.

    “Delhi needs a new Secretariat. From today itself, we will begin identifying suitable locations so that all departments can operate from a single place,” she stated.

    The month-long campaign will focus not only on residential and commercial areas but also on government buildings, transport hubs, and public service offices, aiming to set a new standard for urban cleanliness in the national Capital.

    The Chief Minister urged citizens and officials alike to treat cleanliness as a shared responsibility. The initiative is being coordinated with municipal bodies and is expected to involve schoolchildren, non-government organisations, resident welfare associations, and volunteers in the coming weeks.

    (IANS)

  • Govt launches ‘Apna Ghar’ resting facilities for truck drivers across highways

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move to enhance the safety and well-being of truck drivers during long-haul journeys, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched an ambitious initiative called ‘Apna Ghar’. The programme aims to provide comfortable and hygienic resting spaces for truckers across major highways in the country.

    As of July 1, 2025, a total of 368 ‘Apna Ghar’ units with 4,611 beds have been set up by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at retail fuel outlets along national and state highways. These facilities offer a range of services including dormitory accommodations, restaurants or dhabas, clean toilets, dedicated bathing areas, self-cooking spaces, and access to purified drinking water — all designed to improve the quality of life for truck drivers on the road.

    The initiative has seen a positive response from the trucking community, with a growing number of bookings, app downloads, and user registrations on the dedicated ‘Apna Ghar’ mobile application. Feedback collected from users reflects widespread appreciation for the comfort and convenience these resting spaces provide.

    The information was shared by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. He said that the initiative is part of the government’s broader commitment to support the country’s trucking workforce and to ensure better infrastructure and working conditions for those who keep India’s supply chains running.

  • Vice President election to be held on Sept 9, result on same day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Election Commission of India has announced that the election to choose the next Vice President of India will be held on September 9, with counting of votes to take place the same day.

    According to the schedule released on Friday, August 21 is the last date for filing nominations, while the deadline for withdrawal of candidature is August 25.

    The post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, citing health concerns.

    “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,” read Dhankhar’s resignation letter.

    On Thursday, the Election Commission confirmed that it has completed the preparation and finalised the Electoral College list for the 2025 Vice-Presidential election. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Commission stated that the list has been organised in alphabetical order based on the States and Union Territories of the respective Members of Parliament.

    The Vice President of India is elected by an Electoral College comprising members of both Houses of Parliament, through a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote, and the voting is conducted by secret ballot.

    As per constitutional provisions, elections to fill a vacancy due to the end of a term must be held before the term expires. In cases where the position becomes vacant due to resignation, death, or removal, the election is to be held at the earliest possible date. The elected individual serves a full term of five years from the date of assuming office.

    -ANI

  • Mission Mausam aims to make India a “Weather-Ready, Climate-Smart” nation: Govt

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The government has launched the ambitious ‘Mission Mausam’ initiative aimed at transforming India into a “weather-ready and climate-smart” nation, Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

    The scheme, with a total outlay of ₹2,000 crore for the period 2024–2026, seeks to develop advanced weather surveillance technologies, strengthen forecasting capabilities, and improve last-mile dissemination systems. The budget allocation includes ₹258 crore for the financial year 2024–25 and ₹1,742 crore for 2025–26.

    Dr. Singh said the scheme focuses on enhancing atmospheric observation networks using next-generation radars, wind profilers, and satellite systems equipped with advanced payloads. The use of high-performance computing systems, Earth system models, and AI/ML-based data tools will also be central to the mission.

    A key element of Mission Mausam is the development of a state-of-the-art Decision Support System (DSS) to improve disaster preparedness and weather communication at the local level.

    The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which has long provided customised weather forecasts for tourist and pilgrimage destinations, will leverage this mission to offer improved services. These include real-time updates for major events such as the Char Dham and Amarnath Yatras, as well as the Maha Kumbh Mela, held earlier this year.

    “Mission Mausam will significantly enhance our ability to monitor and forecast extreme weather and climate events. It will help tourists and tourism-related businesses plan better and reduce losses caused by adverse weather,” the minister said.