JSW Steel, Vedanta, Tata Steel and other metal stocks drop up to 2% as Trump doubles tariffs to 50%
While it's not just metal counters facing selling pressure on Dalal Street today, the red wave swept across the board as global trade tensions resurfaced, triggering risk-off sentiment among investors. US President Donald Trump last week intensified trade tensions, announcing he would double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and accusing China of violating a prior agreement to ease tariffs.
Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump said the US would raise steel tariffs from 25% to 50% starting next week while highlighting the partnership between Japan's Nippon Steel and US Steel.
Later, taking to his Truth Social account, Trump wrote, 'It is my great honor to raise the tariffs on steel and aluminium from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4th. Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before. This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'
The announcement comes amid an ongoing legal battle over the legality of some of Trump's tariff policies. An appeals court has allowed the case to proceed after the Court of International Trade ordered a halt to the taxes.
Trump accused China of violating a tariff truce reached in early May—a claim Beijing rejected, countering with accusations of US wrongdoing. China, the world's largest steel producer and exporter, has seen its steel exports to the US decline significantly since the 25% tariff was imposed in 2018.
While India's exports of steel and aluminium to the US are limited, the drop in metal stocks occurred amid growing concerns that a potential rise in tariffs could impact global metal demand.
A call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected later this week in a possible effort to ease trade tensions. On the economic front, Chinese factory activity data contracted at a slower pace in May than the month prior, also aiding the selling pressure in metal stocks today.
As tariff headlines once again dominate global markets, Asian indices opened in the red on Monday, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex falling nearly 1% in early trade. Rising geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia also pushed investors toward safe-haven assets, leading to a sharp decline in equities.
According to Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, the market structure currently supports a continuation of the ongoing consolidation phase. He noted that global headwinds—particularly renewed tariff concerns—are likely to restrain any breakout rally. However, strong domestic tailwinds may offer support at lower levels.
He added that the recent announcement of 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium by President Trump signals ongoing uncertainty in the global trade environment, which may act as a significant headwind for markets. On the domestic front, however, factors such as better-than-expected Q4 GDP growth at 7.4%, improving trends in consumption and capital expenditure, low inflation, and the prospect of continued rate cuts present a solid foundation for sustained economic growth in FY26.
The only near-term challenge, he pointed out, is weak earnings growth. If leading indicators begin to reflect a recovery, the market has a strong chance of breaking out of its current range and moving higher.
Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Justice Yashwant Varma? • How a Sitting Judge Can Be Removed From Office • What is the Procedure for Removal of a Judge in India? • What is Impeachment? • What are the constitutional provisions and procedures governing the impeachment of High court judges? • The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India-True or false? • What Article 218 of the Constitution of India says? • What are the Grounds of Impeachment? • What role do parliamentary Houses and presiding officers play in the impeachment of High court judges? Key Takeaways: • Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh met Wednesday with Secretaries General of both the Houses and the officials discussed the modalities to finalise the procedure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also joined the meeting later. • The discussions took place on a day the Supreme Court said it will set up a bench to hear Justice Varma's plea challenging the legal validity of the in-house inquiry committee which confirmed charges of recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence in Delhi. • This comes in the shadow of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation Monday evening and, as The Indian Express reported Tuesday, hours after his decision to accept the Opposition's notice on Justice Varma had rubbed the government the wrong way. • This had created 'confusion,' government sources said, because Birla had received a similar notice from Lok Sabha MPs with 145 signatures around 12.30 pm Monday, hours before Dhankhar made the reference to the Opposition notice in the Rajya Sabha. Do You Know: • Former Lok Sabha Secretary PDT Achary said that when the Speaker received the notice from Lok Sabha MPs, the process of removal was set in motion. 'The Speaker has to admit it. Then the Speaker will appoint a statutory committee, the Speaker does not have to bring it before the House. Because the House has no role at that stage,' Achary said. • Sources said the statutory committee – with one judge of the Supreme Court, one from the High Courts, and a distinguished jurist – will be announced soon. The committee will probe the charges against Justice Varma and submit a report to the Lok Sabha Speaker. If the committee finds him guilty, a motion will be taken up in the Lok Sabha and it will be discussed in detail. The motion will be put to vote and it requires a two-third majority to be passed. Once the process is over the same, will be repeated in the Rajya Sabha. • Justice Varma challenged the conclusions of the report by the three-member in-house judicial panel. The three-judge panel, headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, conducted the inquiry for 10 days, examined 55 witnesses and visited the scene of the fire that started at around 11.35 pm on March 14 at the official residence of Justice Varma, then a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court and now in the Allahabad High Court. • Acting on the report, then CJI Khanna wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommending the judge's impeachment. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Impeachment of judges After 5-yr gap, India resumes tourist visas for Chinese; border meeting held too Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. 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Key Takeaways: • In a related development, as part of the ongoing efforts to repair bilateral ties, India said it would resume issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals from Thursday, after a gap of five years. This comes almost a month after resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on June 30. • The two sides reviewed the situation at the 34th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs in New Delhi, four months after the last such meeting was held in Beijing. • 'The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas. They expressed satisfaction with the general prevalence of peace and tranquility in the border areas, leading to gradual normalisation of bilateral relations,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, adding that India and China agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts on boundary affairs at the diplomatic and military levels through established mechanisms. • The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), and the Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it said. • The two sides prepared for the next round of Special Representatives' talks to be held in India later this year, between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Do You Know: • The latest move is part of a series of confidence-building measures that the two countries have been taking in recent months. 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Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Jaishankar's visit to China reflects a thaw in ties — there will be challenges THE IDEAS PAGE The critical minerals contest Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. What's the ongoing story: Amitabh Kant and Adil Rana Chhina Writes: India cannot afford to anchor its tech aspirations on supply chains that remain opaque, concentrated and subject to political risk. 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China dominates the midstream processing stage for most key minerals, accounting for over 90 per cent of rare earth refining, 70 per cent of cobalt processing and close to 60 per cent of lithium conversion capacity. • In 2022, the Ministry of Mines identified 30 critical minerals based on their strategic importance to clean energy and future technologies, high import dependence, domestic resource constraints and relevance for agricultural and industrial needs. • In January, the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was announced to secure critical mineral supply chains by ensuring mineral availability. Its success will rest on how effectively it translates intent into action. Do You Know: • Critical minerals are minerals that are essential for economic development and national security, and the lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations could potentially lead to 'supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies'. This is true for minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the advancement of many sectors, including hightech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence. • One of the definitions cited in the report characterises a mineral as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is (relatively) higher than other raw materials. This definition of a critical mineral was first adopted in the US and the subsequent legislation that resulted from the analysis, the report said. The European Union also carried out a similar exercise and categorised critical minerals on the basis of two prerequisites: supply risk and economic importance. • Currently, India is 100 per cent import dependent for lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements and silicon. At the same time, India's domestic resource base for critical minerals is underdeveloped. • The Geological Survey of India has ramped up exploration, with 195 projects underway over the past year and another 227 approved for the upcoming year. In response to the inclusion of critical minerals in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, the government launched four tranches of auctions for critical mineral blocks last year, and a fifth was concluded in January 2025. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Centre identifies 30 critical minerals: Why, how, and importance of the exercise The silent epidemic Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: Shalini Singh and Prashant Kumar Singh Writes: Nearly 20 per cent of Indian households now have all adult members classified as overweight, while 10 per cent have all adults classified as obese. 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In states like Tamil Nadu and Punjab, two out of every five households have all adults classified as obese. • Urban areas show clustering rates which are double those of rural areas, conveying a clear picture of how prosperity and urbanisation are transforming India's health landscape. • What makes this particularly concerning is its transgenerational nature. When obesity clusters within households, children grow up in environments that normalise unhealthy dietary patterns and sedentary lifestyles, creating cycles of risk that transcend generations. • The evidence linking obesity to cancer is overwhelming. The WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified excess body weight as a significant risk for cancer. • An IARC study, published in 2023, the largest of its kind, showed that having a high body mass index increases cancer risk by 17 per cent for people who also have cardiovascular diseases. The American Cancer Society estimates that excess body weight accounts for about 11 per cent of cancers in women and 5 per cent in men in the US. Do You Know: • The standard method of determining obesity across the world has thus far employed BMI cut-offs as the sole determinant. A person with a BMI of less than 18.5 is considered to be underweight, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered to be normal, those with BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered to be overweight, while those with BMI over 30 are considered to be obese. • India's situation is particularly precarious because we face this obesity epidemic alongside existing healthcare challenges. The economic implications for patients are staggering, too. Cancer treatment can devastate families financially, and when obesity-related cancers strike multiple household members — as clustering patterns suggest they might — the economic burden can be catastrophic. Prevention, therefore, isn't just a health imperative; it's an economic necessity. • The household clustering of obesity presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Rather than treating obesity as an individual's problem, we must recognise it as a health problem that requires targeting the family as a unit for intervention. • The government's recent commitment to establishing Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals over the next three years, with 200 centres planned for 2025-26, provides a crucial foundation. • Obesity prevention programmes should target entire households, teaching families to shop for healthier ingredients; prepare meals at home consisting of fresh vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains and fruits; and engage in physical activities as a unit. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍New definition for obesity? What a new Lancet commission has proposed to replace BMI THE WORLD The Hague: Countries obliged to take climate action, liable for compensation if they don't Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. What's the ongoing story: The ICJ ruling is not binding on the countries, but sets an important precedent for the thousands of climate lawsuits that have been filed in recent years across the world. Key Points to Ponder: • What exactly the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has ruled? • What are the legal significance of the ICJ's advisory opinion on climate obligations? • What is the concept of 'internationally wrongful act' in the context of climate change? • How declaring a healthy environment a human right could influence domestic climate litigation and policy-making? • How can the ICJ opinion reshape geopolitics of climate finance, liability, and responsibility in forums like COP30? • What is International Court of Justice? • Does the International Court of Justice have the power to prosecute Israel? • International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice-Compare and Contrast Key Takeaways: • In a landmark decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial arm of the United Nations, has ruled that countries were obligated under international law to take actions to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, and the failure to do so would constitute an 'internationally wrongful act'. • The court, based in The Hague, said countries which do not fulfil their climate obligations could be held liable to pay compensations to other countries, particularly the small island nations, which bear the brunt of climate disasters. 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These include the UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas, the Montreal Protocol for protecting Ozone, the Convention on Biodiversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification. • The ICJ ruling is not binding on the countries, but sets an important precedent for the thousands of climate lawsuits that have been filed in recent years across the world, seeking accountability from governments and corporates. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ICJ begins hearing on landmark climate change case: Why is this significant? ECONOMY Indian economy remains largely resilient despite global uncertainties: RBI article Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: Amid geopolitical tensions and tariff policy uncertainties, the Indian economy has remained resilient, aided by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, according to an article in the Reserve Bank of India's July monthly bulletin. Key Points to Ponder: • What exactly 'State of the Economy' article in RBI's July bulletin said? • What the RBI article said about tariff risks? • What the RBI article said inflation? • What is the role of forex reserves in mitigating global trade uncertainties and external debt obligations? • The RBI's caution on 'underpricing of macroeconomic risks'-what does this imply for future policymaking? Key Takeaways: • 'Domestic economic activity held up in June, with high-frequency indicators pointing to improving prospects of the kharif agricultural season and continuation of strong momentum in the services sector,' according to the 'State of the Economy' article in RBI's July bulletin. • The article has been prepared by central bank officials. The RBI said views published in the article are of the authors and not of the institution. • It said that the growth in rural demand remained resilient and was accompanied by a recovery in urban economic activity. The all-India unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month at 5.6 per cent with rural areas faring better as compared to their urban counterparts. • During April-May 2025, total expenditure grew by 19.7 per cent on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, accounting for 14.7 per cent of the Budget Estimates for FY26. Capital expenditure recorded robust growth during the first two months of the current fiscal and was at 19.7 per cent of the budgeted capital expenditure vis-à-vis 12.9 per cent during the same period a year ago, indicative of front-loading of capital spending by the Central government. • India's merchandise trade deficit narrowed in June 2025, due to contraction in both oil and non-oil trade deficit. • De-escalating geo-political tensions in the Middle East, optimism on trade deals and the easing of norms for infrastructure financing by the Reserve Bank buoyed up domestic financial market sentiments in the second half of June, the article said. Do You Know: • Headline inflation, as measured by y-o-y changes in the all-India consumer price index (CPI), declined to 2.1 per cent in June 2025 — the lowest since January 2019 — from 2.8 per cent in May. The retail inflation remained below the 4 per cent target for the fifth consecutive month in June. • The article said that easing inflation, front-loading of government expenditure, targeted fiscal measures and congenial financial conditions for faster transmission of rate reductions should support aggregate demand in the economy, going forward. • On the trade front, the article stated that as intense negotiations are underway for closing trade deals before the new import tariff rates kick in from August 1, 2025, the focus is back on US trade policies and their spillover effects globally. • Financial markets, however, seem to have taken trade policy uncertainties in their stride, possibly reflecting optimism on reaching trade deals that are less disruptive to the global economy. Even so, underpricing of macroeconomic risk by financial markets remains a concern. • According to the article, the average trade tariff rates are set to touch levels unseen since the 1930s. Moreover, the risk of imposition of new high tariffs looms large for additional sectors. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍RBI repo rate cut transmission: Public sector banks ahead of private lenders in lowering rates EXPLAINED Vaccine hope in malaria fight Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. What's the ongoing story: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a promising candidate vaccine for malaria, which it will now further develop, test and manufacture for commercial purposes in partnership with private companies. Key Points to Ponder: • Why is this development significant? • How does AdFalciVax work? • What are the advantages of AdFalciVax? • What conditions has ICMR set for private players? • How the dual-target mechanism (CSP + Pro6C) of AdFalciVax could enhance both individual protection and community-level transmission control. • Compare and contrast AdFalciVax with RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M in terms of antigen design, adjuvants, durability, and administration challenges. • What is the significance of targeting mosquito-stage transmission with Pro6C, vis-à-vis global malaria elimination strategies? Key Takeaways: • Known as AdFalciVax, the vaccine mainly targets two parts of Plasmodium falciparum, a pathogen that is the most common source of malaria in humans. In India, however, the disease is caused by Plasmodium vivax against which AdFalciVax is ineffective. • Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 only use the CSP protein, and can prevent infection only in vaccinated persons. • Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 vaccines also do not use full-length CSP proteins. This is why the ICMR's candidate vaccine is 'likely to produce a stronger immune response and better protect against infection,' according to Singh. • Researchers have found that AdFalciVax provided more than 90% protection against infection in mice. The candidate vaccine has yet to undergo rigorous human trials, and the preliminary results have been obtained only through testing on animals. • AdFalciVax also contains an adjuvant — a substance used in vaccines to boost the body's immune response against the targeted disease — called alum. Singh says the use of alum is beneficial as it does not pose a risk of causing chronic inflammation, unlike adjuvants such as AS01 and Matrix M, which are used in RTS,S and R21. Alum is also known to be reliable, and has been used in numerous vaccines used in childhood immunisation programs over the years. Do You Know: • Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, typically causing symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications such as seizures, fluid in the lungs, organ damage, and death. • Malaria is most endemic in Africa — Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Niger, and Burkina Faso together account for more than half the yearly deaths. The disease is also present in India, although malaria deaths have sharply reduced in the country in recent years. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), reported malaria deaths stood at 1,151in 1995, and came down to only 93 in 2020 and 83 in 2022. • The organisation's 'World Malaria Report' says there were 5,511 deaths due to the disease in India in 2022. This discrepancy is due to WHO providing estimates and NVBDCP providing only the number of confirmed deaths, which may not have been officially reported. • To combat malaria, scientists have been working to develop a vaccine for decades but with limited success. Recently, two vaccines—RTS,S and R21—were approved for use, but their efficacy, at 75%, is quite low. • AdFalciVax is a chimeric recombinant vaccine — a type of vaccine that uses different parts of the genes of a pathogen (in this case, Plasmodium) to create target proteins that trigger an immune response after being injected. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ICMR invites partners to launch and sell its new malaria vaccine Paikas and the uprising against British Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance and History of India and Indian National Movement Mains Examination: General Studies I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. What's the ongoing story: Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday (July 22) expressed concern over the 'omission' of the Paika Rebellion from the latest Class VIII history textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), calling it a 'huge dishonour' to the brave Paikas. Key Points to Ponder: • Who were the Paikas? • Why did they rebel against the British? • How is the alleged omission of the rebellion from history textbooks a politically sensitive issue in Odisha? • Know the historical significance of the Paika Rebellion in Odisha's and India's broader struggle against colonialism. • What were the socioeconomic causes that led to mobilization of the Paikas in 1817? • Do you think that the inclusion of movements like Paika, Khurda, and Kuka in curriculum could foster critical historical thinking or regional fragmentation? Key Takeaways: • The NCERT has clarified that the 1817 rebellion will be included in the second volume of the textbook, set to be released in September-October. • Throughout the 19th century, rural India was alive with discontent that periodically manifested itself in the form of armed resistance against old inequities and new hardships alike. The latter was primarily the result of military expansion of the British East India Company, which disrupted existing social relations in peasant and tribal communities. • The Paika Rebellion, also known as the Paika Bidroha, was one such uprising. • The Paikas (pronounced 'paiko', literally 'foot soldiers') were a class of military retainers who had been recruited from various social groups by the Gajapati rulers of Odisha since the 16th century. They would render martial services to the king in return for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) which they would cultivate during peacetime. Do You Know: • In 1803, Colonel Harcourt marched virtually unchallenged from Madras to Puri, and faced only feeble Maratha opposition onward to Cuttack. Harcourt had made an agreement with Mukunda Deva II, for free passage through Khurda in return for compensation of Rs 1 lakh and four parganas — Lembai, Rahanga, Surai and Chabiskud — which had been under Maratha control since 1760. • When the Company did not fulfil these conditions, Jayee Rajguru, the custodian of the king marched to Cuttack with around 2,000 armed Paikas in order to pressurise the British. Although Harcourt paid a sum of Rs 40,000, he refused to give Khurda the four parganas. Rajguru subsequently conspired to overthrow the British, but was caught before the revolt could materialise. • The Company subsequently took away the king's lands, dethroned him, razed the fort at Barunei, and arrested Rajguru, who was convicted for waging war against the British government and executed on December 6, 1806. The king was banished to Puri. • The end of native rule in Odisha marked the beginning of the decline of the Paikas' power and prestige. Apart from losing political patronage, the Paikas, who previously enjoyed rent-free land, suffered due to new land revenue settlements introduced by the Company which drove Odia proprietors to ruin. Many were forced to transfer land to Bengali absentee landlords, often for a pittance. • In March 1817, some 400 Kondhs equipped with traditional arms marched from Ghumusar towards Khurda. They were joined by an army of Paikas led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mahapatra Bhramarabar Ray, the former commander-in-chief of the king of Khurda and the erstwhile holder of the lucrative Rodanga estate. • The Paikas and their rebellion have long been used to invoke Odia sub-nationalism. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Who were the Paikas of Odisha, and what will the Paika Memorial celebrate? For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
No current plan to remove ‘socialist', ‘secular' from Preamble: Law Minister
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal acknowledged in the Rajya Sabha Thursday that 'certain groups' were advocating for the removal of the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble to the Constitution, but said that the government did not have any current plan or intention to do so. In a written reply to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman, the minister said: 'The Indian government has not formally initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble of the Constitution. While there may be discussions or debates in certain public or political circles, no formal decision or proposal has been announced by the government regarding amendments to these terms.' The minister's statement comes a month after RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said at an event that a discussion was merited on the words 'socialist' and 'secular', which were added to the Preamble during the Emergency. SP MP Suman had sought Meghwal's response on whether 'office-bearers of some social organisations' were creating an 'atmosphere' for the removal of the two words from the Preamble. Making a distinction between the call by the RSS leader and the government's position, Meghwal said: 'Regarding the atmosphere created by office-bearers of some social organisations, it is possible that certain groups are expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these words. Such activities can create a public discourse or atmosphere around the issue, but this does not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government.' The minister also cited a Supreme Court decision in November 2024 in Dr Balram Singh and others Vs Union of India, in which the court dismissed petitions challenging the 42nd Constitutional amendment. 'The court clarified that 'socialism' in the Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while 'secularism' is integral to the Constitution's basic structure,' Meghwal said. Asked about the government's stand on the issue, the minister said: 'The government's official stand is that there is no current plan or intention to reconsider or remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Any discussions regarding amendments to the Preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions.' Though it was a starred question and Meghwal was present in the Upper House, it was not taken up as the proceedings were adjourned due to disruptions when Question Hour began. On June 26, Hosabale, while speaking at the launch of a book on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975, called on the Congress to apologise for the Emergency and asserted that there should be a discussion on removing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' added to the Preamble through the 42nd amendment in 1976. 'No attempt was made to remove them (socialist and secular) later. So, there should be a discussion on whether they should remain. I say this in a building (Ambedkar International Centre) named after Babasaheb Ambedkar, whose Constitution did not have these words in the Preamble,' he said at the event. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
