India

India, Canada Set $50 Billion Trade Target by 2030; Leaders Push for Comprehensive Economic Pact

India, Canada Set $50 Billion Trade Target by 2030; Leaders Push for Comprehensive Economic Pact

Rajeev Sharma :- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark J. Carney on Monday announced an ambitious target to elevate bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030, signalling a renewed push to deepen economic engagement between the two nations. Speaking during a joint press statement in New Delhi following bilateral talks at Hyderabad House, Prime Minister Modi said both countries are committed to unlocking the full potential of their economic partnership. He confirmed that New Delhi and Ottawa have agreed to work toward finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in the near future. “Our objective is…
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10 Million Indians in West Asia in Limbo as Conflict Deepens, Government Weighs Options

10 Million Indians in West Asia in Limbo as Conflict Deepens, Government Weighs Options

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh): The deepening confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran has placed India before a formidable challenge: protecting an estimated 10 million citizens spread across West Asia. With air routes disrupted and tensions rising across the Gulf, New Delhi is navigating a complex diplomatic and logistical landscape, even as no large-scale evacuation plan has been formally announced. In the past 24 hours, senior officials from Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have conveyed assurances regarding the well-being of Indian nationals residing in their territories. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has…
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PM Modi Engages Netanyahu Over Phone, Urges De-escalation in Tense West Asia

PM Modi Engages Netanyahu Over Phone, Urges De-escalation in Tense West Asia

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma): As instability deepens across West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday connected with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exchange views on the unfolding security situation and its wider implications. Sources indicated that the leaders reviewed recent developments in the region, where military actions and counter-strikes have sharply intensified tensions. During the call, Modi voiced India’s apprehensions about the escalating conflict and highlighted the urgent necessity of protecting civilian populations caught in the crossfire. Sharing details of the interaction on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said India has consistently advocated restraint and…
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Global Oil Shock: India Braces for $100 Crude as Hormuz Closure Ignites Energy Security Crisis

Global Oil Shock: India Braces for $100 Crude as Hormuz Closure Ignites Energy Security Crisis

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Indian economy is facing a critical strategic challenge as global oil prices surged nearly 10 per cent on Sunday, March 1, 2026, following a dramatic military escalation in West Asia. Brent crude jumped toward $80 a barrel in over-the-counter trading after joint US and Israeli strikes on Iranian leadership prompted Tehran to move toward shutting the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow maritime corridor is the primary artery for nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, and any prolonged blockage threatens to drive prices toward the $100 mark, significantly straining import-dependent nations. The crisis acquired…
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Trade Risk Assessment: Commerce Ministry Summons Exporters and Shipping Chiefs as Hormuz Blockage Looms

Trade Risk Assessment: Commerce Ministry Summons Exporters and Shipping Chiefs as Hormuz Blockage Looms

NEW DELHI (Gurpreet Singh) — The Union Commerce Ministry has convened an emergency high-level meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026, to evaluate the growing threat to India’s trade interests following the dramatic escalation of the Middle East conflict. The hybrid-mode session will bring together senior government officials, representatives from the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), major shipping lines, and freight forwarders to assess the viability of critical maritime corridors and the potential for a massive spike in logistics costs. The immediate trigger for the meeting is the reported unofficial "blockage" of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard…
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CBSE Postpones Class 10 and 12 Board Exams in Middle East Amid Iran-Israel Conflict

CBSE Postpones Class 10 and 12 Board Exams in Middle East Amid Iran-Israel Conflict

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— In a major disruption for thousands of Indian expatriate students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, across the Middle East. The decision comes as the region grapples with severe instability following the recent escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict and the subsequent closure of regional airspaces. CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj confirmed on Sunday that the postponement affects exam centres in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "Due to the current situation in…
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Flight Crisis Intensifies: 350 More International Flights Cancelled as Middle East Conflict Cripples Air Travel

Flight Crisis Intensifies: 350 More International Flights Cancelled as Middle East Conflict Cripples Air Travel

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Global aviation chaos deepened on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as Indian airlines were forced to cancel 350 international flights due to escalating hostilities in the Middle East. This marks the second consecutive day of massive operational disruptions following the closure of critical airspaces over Iran and several Gulf nations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the "Ghost Skies" phenomenon has now grounded over 760 domestic carrier flights in just 48 hours, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai. According to a Ministry post on X at 16:34 hours, the 350…
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Factory Explosion in Maharashtra’s Nagpur District Leaves at Least 15 Dead, 18 Critically Injured

Factory Explosion in Maharashtra’s Nagpur District Leaves at Least 15 Dead, 18 Critically Injured

Gurpreet Singh :- At least 15 people were killed and 18 others sustained critical injuries following a massive explosion at a factory in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The blast, which occurred during operational hours, triggered panic in the surrounding industrial area and caused significant structural damage to the facility. According to preliminary reports, the explosion was so powerful that parts of the factory building collapsed, trapping several workers under debris. Emergency response teams, including fire brigade units and disaster management personnel, rushed to the site in Nagpur shortly after the incident. Rescue operations continued for…
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Strategic Reset: Canadian PM Mark Carney Meets Tata Chairman in Mumbai to Boost AI and Energy Ties

Strategic Reset: Canadian PM Mark Carney Meets Tata Chairman in Mumbai to Boost AI and Energy Ties

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma) — In a move signalling a major thaw and "normalization" of bilateral relations, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran in Mumbai on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The high-level meeting focused on deepening cooperation between India and Canada in critical future-facing sectors, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), renewable energy, and technology. Carney, who is on his first official visit to India since taking office, characterized both nations as "growing economies with big ambitions" that can partner to create mutual security and prosperity. "Canada and India are both growing economies with big ambitions…
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“Mother of All Deals”: India and EU Release Final Draft of FTA, Granting Mutual “Most Favoured Nation” Status

“Mother of All Deals”: India and EU Release Final Draft of FTA, Granting Mutual “Most Favoured Nation” Status

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh)— In a historic leap for global commerce, India and the European Union (EU) on Friday, February 27, 2026, released the final draft text of their long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The proposed pact, hailed by trade experts as the "Mother of All Deals," includes a landmark provision granting both parties "Most Favoured Nation" (MFN) status for a five-year period from the date the agreement officially comes into effect. This strategic alignment ensures that India and the 27-nation bloc will provide each other with the same preferential trade benefits—including reduced tariffs and advantageous regulatory treatment—that they…
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