ModiWatch: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya discussed strengthening trade, energy, and technology collaboration.

Parliamentary affairs

Rajya Sabha clears Boilers Bill to streamline safety and operations: The Upper House passed the Boilers Bill, 2024, repealing the 1923 Act to decriminalise offences, improve safety standards, and simplify regulations for boiler users.

Jaishankar reiterates commitment to resolving border issue with China through talks: External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha, stressing that India remains committed to resolving the border dispute with China through bilateral discussions. The Opposition walked out after being disallowed to ask questions on the matter.

Opposition stages walkout over MSP, cyclone, and bribery issues in Rajya Sabha: Opposition walked out of Rajya Sabha after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected adjournment notices on Minimum Support Prices (MSP), cyclone Fengal, Sambhal violence, and bribery charges against the Adani Group.

Opposition demands JPC probe into Adani Group charges: Opposition parties protested on the Parliament premises demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into Adani Group's indictment in the US.

Lok Sabha considers Railways Bill: The Lok Sabha (Lower House) discussed the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aiming to grant statutory powers to the Railway Board and simplify the legal framework by repealing the Indian Railway Board Act 1905. Concerns over privatisation and ticket prices were raised during the debate, but the discussion remained inconclusive.

Spectrum policy clarified, Starlink entry speculation addressed: Minister of State Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply to Lok Sabha, stated that satellite spectrum allocation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, is not intended to facilitate Starlink's entry, with pricing terms under review by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Jawaharlal Nehru Port leads in efficiency with 26-hour turnaround: Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra reported the fastest turnaround time of 26 hours in 2023-24, according to government data tabled in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Kuwait and India strengthen ties

Kuwait, India form joint commission for cooperation: Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar established a joint commission for cooperation (JCC) to review and monitor bilateral relations across trade, investment, energy, food security, and people-to-people ties.

UK-India Dialogue prioritises FTA, defence ties: The second UK-India 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue in New Delhi focused on finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), advancing defence and security cooperation, and collaboration on clean energy, innovation, and infrastructure.

Trade soars to $576 billion

India’s trade rises 5.45% in Q1 2024 to $576 billion: India’s trade in the first quarter of 2024 reached $576 billion, a 5.45% year-on-year increase, with imports driven by high-value commodities like aircraft and mineral fuels, while services exports showed a positive surplus.

NITI Aayog report highlights India's struggle in “China Plus One” shift: A report by NITI Aayog, the apex public policy think tank of the government, reveals Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia have outperformed India in capturing manufacturing shifts from China due to cheaper labour and favourable trade policies.

NITI Aayog Chief sees opportunity in Trump tariffs: NITI Aayog Chief BVR Subrahmanyam stated that US President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff plans could create significant export opportunities for India, urging domestic industries to prepare for trade shifts.

Defence revenues climb 5.8%

Indian defence firms see $6.74 billion arms sales surge: Revenues of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) rose 5.8% in 2023, driven by growing military demand, says Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

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Google to establish first Safety Engineering Centre in Hyderabad: Google has selected Hyderabad to host its first Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on developing cybersecurity solutions and collaborating with experts to address digital safety challenges.

Andhra Pradesh eyes top maritime spot with mega shipyard talks: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is discussing with PM Modi plans to establish a mega shipyard as part of a new maritime policy aimed at surpassing Gujarat in the sector.

External debt reaches $647 billion

External debt rises as interest payments surge: India's external debt increased by $31 billion to $646.79 billion in 2023, with interest payments rising to $22.54 billion, according to the World Bank International Debt Report.

Fadnavis to take oath

Devendra Fadnavis to become Maharashtra Chief Minister: Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan has granted the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance the mandate to form the government, with Devendra Fadnavis set to take the oath as Chief Minister today.

Maharashtra targets $1 trillion economy by 2030: Maharashtra aims to double its GDP to $1 trillion by 2030, driven by manufacturing growth, infrastructure expansion, and reforms to attract global investments.

Delhi Today: Hazy.

Delhi's air clears to near 'moderate' level: Delhi's Air Quality Index reached 211, nearing the 'moderate' category on Wednesday.

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