logo
Parliament monsoon session: PM Modi holds high-level meet; Amit Shah, Nadda and several others present

Parliament monsoon session: PM Modi holds high-level meet; Amit Shah, Nadda and several others present

Time of India2 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. (Pic credit: ANI)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
on Monday held a high-level meeting in Parliament, likely regarding the ongoing Monsoon session.
Several senior BJP leaders, including
Amit Shah
, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
Nirmala Sitharaman
, Kiren Rijiju, and Arjun Meghwal, marked their presence in the meeting.
"The meeting likely discussed and made decisions regarding the Parliament session," according to news agency ANI.
— ANI (@ANI)
The Monsoon session commenced on Monday and will continue till August 21, with a break from August 12 to August 18. A total of 21 sittings across 32 days will be there.
In his customary remarks before the session's start, PM Modi said, "This Monsoon session is a very proud session for the country. It is like a 'Vijay Utsav' (celebration of victory) for the nation. The world witnessed the capability of armed forces. They achieved their targets 100 per cent."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FTA signing, talks on Khalistan and more... Why PM Modi's UK visit is important
FTA signing, talks on Khalistan and more... Why PM Modi's UK visit is important

First Post

time22 minutes ago

  • First Post

FTA signing, talks on Khalistan and more... Why PM Modi's UK visit is important

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is off for his fourth trip to the United Kingdom. The visit, which begins today (July 23), is expected to witness the signing of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Modi's discussions with British PM Keir Starmer will also touch upon a range of bilateral issues including security and technology read more PM Narendra Modi will hold talks with British PM Keir Starmer on a range of issues. File Photo/Reuters Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday (July 23). The trip is expected to witness the signing of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK. The two sides had concluded negotiations for the trade agreement on May 6. During his trip, Modi will discuss various issues with British PM Keir Starmer concerning bilateral relations. From the UK, PM Modi will depart for Maldives for a state visit from July 25-26. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the Indian leader begins his two-nation tour, here's what's on the agenda during the UK visit. Recent uptick in India-UK ties The relations between India and the UK have been on the rise in recent years. The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated to Enhanced Partnership for the Future in 2010. The historical ties have got a boost since Brexit. In 2021, India and the UK upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also adopted Roadmap 2030 to boost the relations in trade and investment, defence and security, and people-to-people contact and so on. In 2023, India and the UK established the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue. Last year, they launched the Technology Security Initiative. In May, New Delhi and London concluded talks to reach a bilateral Free Trade Agreement deal, discussions for which first began in January 2022. Business ties have also enhanced between India and the UK, with goods trade surpassing $23 billion in 2024-25, Indian Express reported, citing data by Indian government sources. PM Modi in the UK PM Narendra Modi, who is on his fourth visit to the UK, will hold discussions with his British counterpart Keir Starmer on a range of bilateral issues. 'They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the official announcement. The Indian leader is also slated to meet King Charles III. PM Narendra Modi interacts with Britain's Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2024. File Photo/Reuters During the visit, PM Modi will review the state of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), 'with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people to people ties,' the MEA said. PM Modi is also likely to interact with business leaders in the UK. FTA, Khalistan & more A key part of PM Modi's UK visit is the finalisation of the trade agreement between the two countries. India and the UK are expected to sign the FTA on July 24. 'We are working on legal scrubbing and other last-minute work that needs to be done,' Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of PM Modi's visit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The India-UK FTA would eliminate duties on 99 per cent of Indian exports to Britain, including key sectors such as textiles, leather, gems and jewellery and auto parts and engines. In return, India will reduce or remove tariffs on 90 per cent of British products, including medical devices and alcoholic beverages. According to British estimates, the India-UK FTA will enhance bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually by 2040. PM Modi had announced the trade deal with the UK on May 6, calling it 'ambitious and mutually beneficial'. The UK government has described the agreement as 'the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal'. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will accompany PM Modi to London for the signing of the India-UK FTA. The talks will reportedly feature matters related to security and technology. India is likely to raise the issue of a surge in Khalistani threat in the UK. 'The presence of Khalistani extremists…we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. This should be a matter of concern for our partners as well,' Misri told the media. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Modi had flagged the issue to Starmer on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada in June. The two leaders had also interacted during the G20 Summit in Brazil last year. The extradition of fugitives could also be among the top agendas during PM Modi's UK visit. India is seeking the extradition of Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, who are wanted for financial fraud, from the UK. 'There are a few questions related to fugitives from Indian law and justice in the UK. These have been a matter of discussion between both sides, and we continue to make the case for these fugitives to be rendered to India. Obviously, there is a legal process that such requests and such issues go through in the other country, and we continue to follow up very closely with our partners in the UK on these matters,' the Indian foreign secretary said. With inputs from agencies STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

GST demand over UPI credits: CM Siddaramaiah to meet stakeholders on Wednesday
GST demand over UPI credits: CM Siddaramaiah to meet stakeholders on Wednesday

Time of India

time22 minutes ago

  • Time of India

GST demand over UPI credits: CM Siddaramaiah to meet stakeholders on Wednesday

Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Chief minister Siddaramaiah will, on Wednesday, hold a meeting with the stakeholders affected by the GST notices to small businessmen demanding tax arrears of the past four years based on their UPI transaction Karnataka CM will meet the representatives of the affected businessmen and vendors at his official residence Cauvery at 3 pm in the presence of Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Finance Department and Vipul Bansal, Commissioner of Commercial who climbed the political ladder championing the poor pro issues, is expected to come up with a solution on the back of increasing chorus against the sudden tax demand which in many cases has run into several lakhs of rupees. AICC leader Rahul Gandhi has all along opposed the GST, calling it a brutal tool of economic injustice, designed to punish the poor. He called the GST portal a source of daily CM had, on Sunday, promised to take a call on the flood of notices the commercial taxes department has issued to small businessmen and vendors asking to pay up the GST dues, while blaming the BJP and the Centre for the latest crisis. The GST officials have gone by the UPI payment data for the financial years from 2021-22 to 2024-25 and claimed the tax public outcry arising from the GST notices has resulted in scores of businessmen in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru and other cities in Karnataka dumping their QR codes and putting up signboards that will accept only cash payment from CM's meeting comes amid calls for a three-day state-wide protest from July 23, demanding the withdrawal of GST notices for treating all UPI receipts as business income and taxing it all. The agitated merchants said they will not sell milk and milk-based products on July 23-24 and do their business wearing a black badge and hold a state-wide bandh on July GST authorities have targeted small shops and vendors selling items such as milk, bakeries, condiments, flowers, and meat. The Cab Drivers Association has also pledged its support to the protest. Deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar has said the commercial taxes department has issued notices to about 14,000 traders, including those selling tender coconuts, flowers, and leader Rahul Gandhi opposed the GST in the past, the Dy CM said on Monday, while adding that the notices would hurt small and medium Opposition BJP has opened a helpline offering legal assistance to affected traders, while slamming the state government for 'squeezing' small businesses to meet its elevated revenue targets and fund the guarantee schemes.

Key facts about India-UK free trade deal as PM Modi, Starmer set to sign FTA soon
Key facts about India-UK free trade deal as PM Modi, Starmer set to sign FTA soon

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Key facts about India-UK free trade deal as PM Modi, Starmer set to sign FTA soon

Britain and India are set to formally sign a free trade agreement on Thursday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UK visit, following three years of negotiations. The deal then needs approvals from the British parliament and India's federal cabinet, likely within a year. Here are the key points of the agreement: Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Cybersecurity Finance Management Product Management healthcare MBA Degree Operations Management others MCA PGDM Leadership Project Management Data Analytics Healthcare Public Policy Others Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking Data Science Data Science CXO Technology Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months MIT xPRO CERT-MIT xPRO PGC in Cybersecurity Starts on undefined Get Details TARIFF CUTS India to reduce tariffs on nearly 90% of UK goods Whisky and gin levy to fall from 150% to 75%, then to 40% in a decade Live Events Automobile tariff to fall from 100%-plus to 10% under quota Tariffs to be cut on other goods including cosmetics, medical devices, salmon, chocolates, biscuits UK to offer duty-free access to 99% of Indian items, according to Indian commerce ministry, covering nearly 100% of trade value BENEFITS FOR INDIAN SECTORS Indian exports such as textiles, footwear, gems & jewellery, furniture, auto components, chemicals, machinery, sports goods and other items likely to have zero duties, down from current levels of 4%-16% in the UK. SERVICES According to Indian commerce ministry, the UK will provide assured access for temporary stay to business visitors and contractual service providers as well as to yoga instructors, chefs and musicians. Indian workers working temporarily in the UK and their employers will be exempted from paying social security contributions in the UK for three years, with savings estimated at about 40 billion rupees ($463 million) annually. UK FIRMS TO GET ACCESS TO INDIAN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT India will provide access to British suppliers for non-sensitive government procurement tenders in the federal government, with a threshold of 2 billion rupees. The deal will give UK businesses access to India's public procurement market, comprising about 40,000 tenders with a value of about 38 billion pounds a year, according to UK government estimates. BOOST TO UK ECONOMY The trade pact is expected to increase UK GDP by 4.8 billion pounds ($6.5 billion) annually in the long term, according to British government estimates, with consumers getting access to cheaper garments, footwear and food items from India. INDIAN FIRMS TO BENEFIT Indian textile and apparel manufacturers such as Welspun India , Arvind Ltd , Raymond , Vardhman likely to benefit from duty-free access for exports to the UK. Footwear manufacturers such as Bata India , Relaxo , auto manufacturers like Tata Motors , Mahindra Electric and also Bharat Forge could benefit, according to industry analysts. UK COMPANIES UK firms including whisky distiller Diageo, auto manufacturer Aston Martin and Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover could benefit from access to fast-growing Indian market.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store