Parliamentary affairs

Winter Session of Parliament to run from November 25 to December 20: The Winter Session of Parliament will commence on November 25 and conclude on December 20. Agenda items including the Waqf Amendment Bill and the introduction of the ‘One Nation One Election’ bill, aimed at achieving simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Australia, India to advance strategic partnership

Australia, India to deepen trade, tech, and security ties: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Australian counterpart Penny Wong advanced the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Canberra, with plans for cooperation in defence, cyber and critical technology, clean energy, and an inaugural First Nations Business Mission to India.

Noel Tata joins board of Tata Sons following appointment as chairman of Tata Trusts: Noel Tata has been appointed to the board of Tata Sons, which manages a $165 billion conglomerate, after becoming chairman of Tata Trusts, the entity holding 66% of Tata Sons.

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Andhra Pradesh forms State Investment Promotion Board for industrial growth: The Government of Andhra Pradesh has established the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, alongside the State Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC), to facilitate industrial and infrastructure investments, with decisions by the SIPC exempt from inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Andhra Pradesh unveils $362 billion investment drive: The Andhra Pradesh government has targeted $362 billion in investments with a focus on decarbonisation, ‘Speed of Doing Business’ reforms, and incentives for early investors, supported by infrastructure like three industrial corridors and new seaports.

Indo-Kazakh venture to produce titanium slag in Odisha: India Rare Earths Limited (IREL) and Kazakhstan’s Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant (UKTMP) signed an agreement to establish IREUK Titanium Limited, a joint venture to produce titanium slag in Odisha, supporting UKTMP's titanium sponge production and adding value to India’s mineral sector.

Solar, EV, and maritime initiatives

Joshi urges efficiency and smart tech focus in solar push: Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi called for increased efficiency, cost reduction, and energy storage in solar projects.

Scheme to accelerate electric vehicle adoption: The recently approved ‘PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE)’ Scheme, with a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore (approximately $1.3 billion), aims to drive electric vehicle (EV) adoption and infrastructure development until March 31, 2026.

$100 billion investment set to transform maritime sector: Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted $100 billion in recent investments and upcoming projects like Sagar Mala and the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor, aiming to make India a leader in global maritime trade and carbon-neutral port operations.

Oil prices steady

Oil prices stable amid geopolitical tensions as new suppliers enter market: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, assured that access to diverse crude oil suppliers, including Brazil and Guyana, keeps supply ahead of demand, ensuring market stability. He also noted the country's strategic focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance energy management.

India advances AI, space, and drone sectors

AI set to transform healthcare: NITI Aayog (policy think tank of the Government of India) member Dr. Vinod K. Paul highlighted Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) role in advancing clinical precision, with government support aiming to position the country as a leading AI technology producer.

L&T acquires 21% stake in E2E Networks to advance AI Cloud solutions: Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has formed a partnership with E2E Networks, an Indian Cloud and AI Cloud provider, acquiring a 21% stake to integrate its platforms and accelerate digital transformation across various industries. The collaboration aims to support the development of domestically built HyperScaler Cloud Platforms in India.

Sriharikota to launch European solar mission as India targets 10% of global space market: Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that India will launch the European Space Agency’s PROBA-3 mission from Sriharikota next month to study the Sun's corona, as part of India's vision to capture 10% of the global space economy by 2040.

Somanath calls for investments to elevate space sector’s global share: Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S. Somanath, stated that to increase India's contribution to the global space economy from 2% to 10%, the country must establish leading space companies, requiring significant investment from both government and the private sector.

Space tech startups seek accessible testing facilities, await regulatory clarity: Startups in the space tech sector face high costs and limited testing options, says Indian Space Association (ISpA) Director General AK Bhatt, as they await a complete regulatory framework and anticipate $120 million in venture funding under the IN-SPACe programme.

Axiom Space considers Indian launch vehicles for international space station mission: Axiom Space is in discussions with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and private launch companies to potentially use Indian rockets for transporting materials to support its upcoming private space station.

Marut Dronetech secures $6.2 million for agricultural drone expansion: Hyderabad-based Marut Dronetech raised $6.2 million in Series A funding from Lok Capital to scale production to 3,000 drones annually, expand rural reach, and develop advanced agricultural drones, aiming for a $120 million revenue target within five years.

Army adds 550 Asmi pistols

Indian Army adds 550 Asmi machine pistols to Northern Command: In a significant step towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Indian Army has introduced 550 made-in-India Asmi machine pistols into the Northern Command, developed in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Lokesh Machine in Hyderabad.

Army eyes cutting-edge drones amid defence push: Eastern Army Commander Lt General R. C. Tiwari urged defence partners to supply high-altitude drones and counter-drone systems to support Indian forces.

CPI, IIP data to align with market hours

New timing for CPI and IIP data release aligns with market hours: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) at 4:00 PM on the twelfth of each month to avoid disrupting financial markets.

Centre issues notice to Wikipedia over content accuracy and editorial control: The Centre has formally notified Wikipedia regarding multiple complaints of bias and inaccuracies, questioning its classification as a publisher amid ongoing legal disputes in India.

Views from the Op-Eds: India and the 2024 U.S. election

Vivek Mishra argues that India-U.S. relations are now "politics-proof." He believes there’s bipartisan support for the strategic partnership that will hold strong no matter who wins the election. The defence partnership, through frameworks like the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) and defence agreements, has become so well-established that it will withstand political changes in Washington. Mishra also suggests that while Donald Trump’s approach could offer India economic advantages—like encouraging supply chain shifts away from China—Kamala Harris might prioritise clean energy collaborations. Either way, he sees a promising future for India-U.S. cooperation.

Nishant Kumar, however, raises concerns about potential economic challenges if Trump returns to office, as his economic policies could lead to “higher tariffs on imports” that might disrupt India’s IT and pharmaceutical sectors. Kumar notes that Trump's focus on reshoring could impact India's exports of generic drugs and IT services to the U.S. Additionally, tariffs on pharmaceuticals and tech, coupled with stricter immigration policies, could be particularly tough on India’s export-dependent sectors. By contrast, Harris, he says, would likely stick with the current policies, though her approach may offer only limited short-term gains for India.

Tanvi Madan agrees that India’s ties with the U.S. are stable but believes Trump and Harris would bring distinct approaches that India will need to navigate. While Trump may advocate for deeper economic ties, his “volatile and transactional” style could make diplomatic dealings more challenging. Harris, on the other hand, might focus more on values in foreign policy, potentially creating friction over issues like human rights. According to Madan, whatever the result, India will need to adapt its foreign policy to accommodate the unique priorities of the next U.S. administration.

Finally, Tanya Krishna looks into the economic implications, noting that Trump’s fiscal policies might benefit equity markets but could also lead to higher inflation and a stronger dollar, increasing India’s import costs. Harris, if she follows the Biden administration’s economic approach, would likely bring stability, though her plans for higher wealth and corporate taxes might indirectly influence global capital flows. Krishna concludes that both candidates’ policies pose distinct challenges for India, particularly in managing U.S. interest rate trends and potential “FX wars” sparked by currency fluctuations.

Delhi Today: Sunny and light winds.

Delhi-NCR air quality reaches critical levels amid smog warnings: Delhi-NCR’s air quality remains in the “very poor” range, with areas reaching “severe” levels. Smog and shallow fog is forecasted over the next few days.