Dashboard to monitor seafarers, liaison officers for families, says Govt

With Another Indian seafarer being killed in the US-Iran conflict, the Centre on Tuesday ordered a series of measures, including an operational dashboard to track every Indian on every vessel-regardless of the country it belongs to - and a dedicated liaison officer for every seafarer who is killed or injured, to act as the "single point of contact" for the affected family.

Amid new US tariff plan, Govt prohibits import of goods made using forced labour

The Commerce and Industry Ministry on Tuesday prohibited the import of goods manufactured using forced labour, weeks after the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed 12.5 per cent tariffs on India linked to the issue.

Ladakh groups slam new hill councils: 'Maximum govt, minimum governance'

The Ladakh administration's decision to create Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) in each of the Union Territory's seven districts is likely to face stiff opposition from civil society groups, with both the Apex Body, Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) alleging it is aimed at diluting the powers of the proposed representative government for Ladakh under Article 371. 

Passport a document to regulate departure of Indian citizens from country: MEA

The Passport is a document issued by the government to "regulate the departure" of Indian citizens from the country and not a proof of citizenship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

"An Indian passport is a document that, as per the Passports Act, 1967, is issued by the Government of India to regulate the departure from India of citizens of India," MEA spokes-person Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday in response to a question on the legal status of the passport during his weekly briefing. He said less than 8 per cent of Indian citizens currently hold the document.

For Iran's third republic, America is the defining question

For realists, the question is about the nature and degree of change in Iran. Iran's relationship with America sits at the heart of the unfinished debate on the organising principles of the third republic.

Rising inflation complicates RBI's choice

Retail Inflation has continued to edge upwards, according to the latest data, driven, in part, by the food, transportation and restaurant segments. CPI inflation stood at 4.38 per cent in June, up from 3.93 per cent the month before. This brings inflation in the quarter to 3.9 per cent. While this is marginally lower than the central bank's most recent projection of 4.2 percent - this is also the last inflation reading before the August meeting of the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee - the MPC's decision isn't likely to be as straightforward as it may seem.

In Census, caste category must not be open-ended

The experience of the Socio-Economic and Caste Census, 2011 is a cautionary example. The use of an open column resulted in over 46 lakh different caste entries, largely due to spelling variations, subcastes and inconsistent reporting.

Tourism can unlock India's journey to a new milestone

India's Tourism and hospitality sector is emerging as one of the key contributors to the nation's economic growth story with a GDP share of about 7 per cent. It is a catalyst for employment generation with every direct job creating multiple indirect jobs, accounting for over 9 per cent of total jobs in India. In addition, it drives entrepreneurship, infrastructure development and foreign exchange earnings, and positions India's soft power on the global stage.

As India aspires to become one of the world's leading tourism economies, the opportunity lies beyond attracting visitors to unlocking the economic value of its natural, cultural and spiritual assets. India's tourism wealth is a strategic asset capable of generating broad-based economic growth.

Why Trump backtracked on 20% Hormuz fee plan

Going by Trump's own statement, the Gulf states, who are major energy exporters and depend heavily on the strait, might have played a role in the U-turn.

The move's potential impact on global energy and shipping sectors could also have been a factor.

In Ravidassias' Census demand, the role of history, poll arithmetic

Guru Ravidas, a mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti Movement from the 15th and 16th centuries, created the concept of Begampura- an egalitarian society and a spiritual vision of a city without sorrow, fear or discrimination. His followers, the Ravidassias, are a Dalit community of whom the bulk-nearly 12 lakh - live in the Doaba region of Punjab. Perhaps the most influential organisation within the community, the Dera Sachkhand Ballan was founded in the early 20th century by Baba Sant Pipal Das. Once closely connected with Sikhism, the dera severed these decades-old ties in 2010 and formally declared a Ravidassia religion. 

What is the demand and its place in Punjab politics?

The community argues that while Ravidassia has evolved into a distinct religious identity with its own places of worship, scripture, symbols and religious practices, there is no dedicated option for followers to record this identity during the Census. The demand letter cited fundamental rights guaranteeing freedom of religion to support their arguments.

Israel, Lebanon hold talks to implement framework peace deal

Lebanon and Israel resumed talks on Tuesday in the Italian capital, with Beirut hoping for progress towards securing an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon under a US-brokered deal, although expectations for swift progress were low.

Congo launches trial of experimental drug for rare Ebola strain

Researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Tuesday they have started enrolling participants in a trial testing Gilead Sciences' experimental antiviral obeldesivir as a postexposure treatment for the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda. 

Ukraine downs 5 Russian ballistic missiles, eyes stronger air defence

Ukraine's Air force said Tuesday it intercepted five ballistic missiles launched by Russia in a raft of overnight attacks, although other missiles and drones got through and hit warehouses and a school in the capital of Kyiv.

It was the first time in almost two weeks that Ukraine said it had downed Russian ballistic missiles, which are harder to stop than drones or cruise missiles and have pummeled the country in Moscow's 4-year-old full-scale invasion.

Hotels, eateries clock 35% growth, rlys subdued: New services data

Hotels and restaurants are comfortably the fastest-growing segment of the country's services sector, expanding by more than 35% year-on-year on average in 2025-26 as well as in the first month of 2026-27, ас-cording to new data released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). 

Food price surge pushes WPI inflation to nearly 10% in Jun

Wholesale Inflation in India almost hit double-digit territory in June, rising to 9.87%, as a sharp acceleration in food price increases more than cancelled out cooling fuel pressures, with economists warning that inflation is becoming "more generalised than before". 

CBAM'S 2027 DEADLINE NEARS India, UK discuss carbon tax issue: Comm secy

India and the United Kingdom (UK) are engaged in discussions on Britain's carbon tax regulation, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Tuesday. In December 2023, the UK government announced that it would implement its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) starting in 2027.

According to economic think tank GTRI, India's exports worth $775 million to the UK may be impacted due to Britain's decision to introduce a carbon tax on products, like iron and steel, aluminium, fertiliser and cement, from 2027.

"CBAM is a regulation which is under work. It has yet not come to fruition. Both sides are engaged in discussing CBAM regulation," Agarwal told reporters here.