Industry players and experts have stated that the duties will pose challenges for Indian goods but India’s position is comparatively more favourable than that of its competitor nations.

The US has announced 27 per cent reciprocal tariffs or import duties on Indian goods which will enter American markets.

Industry players and experts have stated that the duties will pose challenges for Indian goods but India’s position is comparatively more favourable than that of its competitor nations.

The US has announced 27 per cent reciprocal tariffs or import duties on Indian goods which will enter American markets.

Industry players and experts have stated that the duties will pose challenges for Indian goods but India’s position is comparatively more favourable than that of its competitor nations.

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Here is a list of Q & As (questions and answers) to explain these issues and implications of the US move:

Q. What are tariffs?

A. These are customs or import duties imposed on the import of goods. The importer has to pay this duty to the government. Normally, companies pass on these taxes to end users.

Q. What are reciprocal tariffs?

A. They are imposed by countries to counter increases in duties or high tariffs by trading partners — a kind of tit-for-tat tax.

Q. How much tariffs are imposed by the US on India?

A. Goods from India are already facing a 25 per cent tariff on steel, aluminium, and auto. For remaining products, India is subject to a base line tariff of 10 per cent between April 5-8. Then the tariff will rise to country-specific 27 per cent starting April 9. Over 60 countries are affected by the measures.

Q. Why has the US announced these tariffs?

A. According to America, these taxes will help boost domestic manufacturing in the US and cut the trade deficit. The US is facing huge trade imbalances with countries, especially with China. With India, the US has a trade deficit of USD 35.31 billion in goods in 2023-24.

Q. Which all sectors are exempted from these tariffs?

A. These include essential and strategic items such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, and energy products like oil, gas, coal, and LNG, according to analysis of think tank GTRI.

Q. What will be the impact of these tariffs on India?

A. According to a government official, the commerce ministry is analysing the impact of the 27 per cent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US on India. However, it is a mixed bag and not a setback for India.

Apex exporters body FIEO said that the duties pose challenges for domestic players but India’s position remains comparatively more favourable than that of its competitor nations.

The exporters said that the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement will help domestic industry to overcome the possible impact of these duties.

GTRI said that overall the USA’s protectionist tariff regime could act as a catalyst for India to gain from global supply chain realignments. However, to fully leverage these opportunities, India has to enhance its ease of doing business, invest in logistics and infrastructure, and maintain policy stability, it added.

Q. What is the Trade agreement between India and US?

A. During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington in February, both the countries announced negotiations of this agreement with an aim to increase the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. They are aiming at finalising the first phase of this pact by fall (September-October) of this year.

Q. What is a trade agreement?

A. In such pacts, two trading partners either significantly reduce customs duties or eliminate them on maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in services and investments.

Q. What are the tariffs announced by the US on India’s competitor countries?

A. 54 per cent on China, 46 per cent on Vietnam, 37 per cent on Bangladesh, and 36 per cent on Thailand.

Q. Are these reciprocal tariffs WTO compliant?

A. According to international trade expert Abhijit Das, these duties clearly violate the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. He said it breaches both MFN (most favoured nation) obligations and the bound rate commitments and a WTO member country has all the right to go against these duties in the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.

Q. What is the bilateral trade between India and the US?

A. From 2021-22 to 2023-24, the US was India’s largest trading partner. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India’s total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade.

With America, India had a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of USD 35.32 billion in goods in 2023-24. This was USD 27.7 billion in 2022-23, USD 32.85 billion in 2021-22, USD 22.73 billion in 2020-21, and USD 17.26 billion in 2019-20.

In 2024, India’s main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals (USD 8.1 billion), telecom instruments (USD 6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones (USD 5.3 billion), petroleum products (USD 4.1 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery (USD 3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton, including accessories (USD 2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel (USD 2.7 billion).

Imports included crude oil (USD 4.5 billion), petroleum products (USD 3.6 billion), coal, coke (USD 3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds (USD 2.6 billion), electric machinery (USD 1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft and parts (USD 1.3 billion), and gold (USD 1.3 billion).

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The six-day trek commenced at Kenzamani and it will culminate at Pungteng in Tawang on April 5.

A 300-member group of monks, village chiefs, personnel of border-guarding forces, tourists and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members embarked on a 100-km trek along the Freedom Trail in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday afternoon, retracing the route taken by the 14th Dalai Lama during his great escape from Tibet.

The six-day trek commenced at Kenzamani and it will culminate at Pungteng in Tawang on April 5, commemorating the day when the Tibetan spiritual leader arrived in this India-China border town in 1959.

Organised by the district administration, the inaugural ceremony of the event began with prayers for long life of the Dalai Lama, followed by cultural performances by monks and villagers. 

Addressing the participants, Lungla MLA Tsering Lhamu emphasised the spiritual and historical significance of the journey, stating, “As we embark on this journey along the Freedom Trail, we draw strength from the wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and hope for a peaceful future.” 

He said Arunachal’s relationship with Tibet is centuries-old, rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual understanding.  “The bond between our people goes beyond borders. We remain inspired by the teachings of His Holiness and his unwavering commitment to compassion, non-violence and promotion of human values,” Lhamu added.

Tsering Lhamu along with the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs chairman Jambey Wangdi, flagged off the trek. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans received the portrait of the Dalai Lama and a branch of the holy tree at Chudangmo, offering a guard of honour.

The participants reached Chhu-Dang-Mo later in the day, covering a small yet significant distance of 3 km. Accommodation for them was arranged by the ITBP and the Indian Army.

On day 2, they will undertake a 10 km trek to Gorzam Chorten, a five-hour walk deep into the heart of history. The next day of the event will entail a gruelling ten-hour walk to Shakti, located 22 km away. The participants will be joined by village chiefs and PRI members from Pangchen Dhingro.

On day 4, they will walk a distance of 23 km to reach Old Lumla, culminating in a visit to Thar Dhoe Norbu Ling Gonpa. It will be followed by a 14 km stretch to Thongleng on day 5 before the final push.

On the last day, the participants will take part in a 28 km march to Tawang Monastery, an 11-hour journey ending in the embrace of history.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Hydrocarbon Business, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH), has secured its largest-ever contract with QatarEnergy LNG. The Ultra Mega Offshore Contract, awarded for the North Field Production Sustainability Offshore Compression Project (NFPS COMP 4), marks a significant milestone for L&T in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.

L&T added in a release that the scope of work encompasses the engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of two offshore compression complexes, each comprising of large offshore platforms with compression and power generation facilities, living quarters, flare platforms, interconnected bridges, and other associated structures to be located at approximately 80 kms off the northeast coast of Qatar.

S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director- L&T commented, “Securing QatarEnergy LNG’s Ultra Mega Offshore Contract–the largest single order in our history, is a landmark achievement. This prestigious project strengthens our global energy portfolio while supporting Qatar’s energy security objectives. I thank QatarEnergy LNG for placing their trust in L&T to deliver this complex and strategically important project. We look forward to setting new benchmarks in project execution that will reinforce Qatar’s position as a global LNG leader.

Subramanian Sarma, Deputy Managing Director & President-L&T commented, “The award of a project of such nature is a reflection of the confidence & trust placed by QatarEnergy LNG in L&T’s expertise and its ability to deliver such large-scale projects for which L&T is very thankful. This collaboration not only strengthens our partnership but also reaffirms L&T’s commitment to supporting Qatar’s strategic energy objectives through innovative and reliable solutions.”

The Axis Capital, in its report earlier added that the contract is a part of QatarEnergy’s broader plan to expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity from 70 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 126 MTPA. The report added that L&T has already disclosed approximately Rs 350 billion in core orders on exchanges for Q4FY25.

The company reported a strong performance in Q3FY25, with a notable core order inflow beat and a 20 per cent growth in core revenue, the report added in its analysis.

The report added that L&T’s FY26 prospect pipeline will be a key indicator of its growth potential, with an expected 8 per cent-10 per cent increase. (ANI)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

source/content: theprint.in (headline edited)

Dr Merlin Rengith Ambrose has been nominated by the Pontifical Urban University in Rome to serve on the International Scientific Committee and Editorial Board of Ius Missionale, a prestigious Italian canonical journal published by the university. In this newly acquired role, he will represent Asia while also continuing his important work as a faculty member of Canon Law at St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bengaluru and as the executive secretary of the Commission for Canon Law within the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

This appointment complements his existing docens stabilis (Missio Canonica), granted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican in 2023. His academic contributions are well-documented through a wide array of publications, including authored books and peer-reviewed articles in both Indian and international academic journals. Additionally, he is an executive committee member of the Canon Law Society of India (CLSI).

Dr Merlin Ambrose’s profound loyalty to the Church, his committed approach to research, and his passion for teaching, coupled with a pastoral heart, are truly commendable. It is anticipated that his contributions rooted in his experience within the Indian ecclesiastical context will significantly enhance the academic standing of Ius Missionale and further advance the field of canonical studies within both the Indian Church and the universal Church.

Apart from the secular studies, Fr Merlin Ambrose has pursued his doctorate in Canon Law and post-graduate diplomain superior course on Praxis and Ecclesiastical Jurisprudence, Pontifical Urban University, Rome; He also has diploma in Canonization Processof Saints (postulator course), Dicastery for the causes of Saintswith the canonical faculty to act as postulator for the Roman phase in the same congregation; diploma in Latin, Pontificium Institutum Altioris Latinitatis, Rome; diploma in Praxis and Canonical Administrative Procedure, Dicastery for the Clergy, Vatican; Certificate Annual Course on the Ongoing Formation of Priests, at Dicastery for the Clergy, Vatican; PG diploma in Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Persons at Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, diploma in Integral Ecology with an Alliance of Pontifical Universities and Athenaeum in Rome.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

India is the top producer of milk in the world and has set a target of producing 300 million metric tons (MMT) of milk in the next five years from the present 239 MMT, Union Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (March 25, 2025).

Mr. Singh also said that ever since the Modi government has launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) in 2014, the milk production in the country has increased by 63.5 per cent and the government is hopeful of further increasing it by 15 per cent in next three years.

“India is now the top milk producing country in the world. We have now set a target of producing 300 MMT of milk in next five years from the present 239 MMT,” he said.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

The Minister said about 10 crore people in the country are engaged in milk production of which 75 per cent are women. He said the per person consumption of milk in India is 471 gram.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission. It mains objective is development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers.

The scheme, launched in 2014, is continued under revised realigned schemes of the Department from 2021-2022 to 2025-2026.

Its objectives are to enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advance technologies and to propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.

It also aims to enhance artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of artificial insemination services at farmers’ doorstep.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The breakthrough, based on a technique called photoacoustic sensing, can change the way glucose level is monitored.

For millions of people with diabetes, checking blood glucose levels is a painful yet daily necessity as it requires pricking the skin several times a day, which is inconvenient and poses risk of infection. However, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a painless alternative, using light and sound instead of needles.

This breakthrough, based on a technique called photoacoustic sensing, can change the way glucose level is monitored.

‘Photoacoustic sensing’ is a method wherein a laser is beamed on to biological tissues. When the tissue absorbs the light, it heats up slightly – by less than 1 degree Celsius – causing it to expand and contract.

This tiny movement generates ultrasonic sound waves, which can be detected by specialised instruments. Since different molecules absorb light in unique ways, they create distinct “fingerprints” in the emitted sound waves, allowing scientists to identify and measure specific substances in the body – without ever needing to break the skin.

To make this technique work for glucose detection, the IISc team used polarised light – light waves vibrating in only one direction. This is similar to how sunglasses reduce glare by filtering out certain light waves. Glucose, like many biological molecules, is chiral – meaning it rotates polarised light when it interacts with it.

The researchers found that this rotation affected the intensity of the sound waves produced, revealing a way to measure glucose levels accurately.

“We do not know why the acoustic signal changes when we change the polarisation state. But we can establish a relationship between glucose concentration and the intensity of the acoustic signal at a particular wavelength,” Jaya Prakash, Assistant Professor at IISc’s Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, and the study’s corresponding author, explained.

As glucose concentration increases, it rotates the polarised light more, and this change is reflected in the strength of the sound waves. By analysing these signals, the researchers precisely estimated glucose levels – without needing a blood sample.

To prove the method, the team tested in different environments, starting from measuring the glucose levels in water and serum solutions, then on to slices of animal tissues, achieving near-clinical accuracy. The team could measure glucose at different depths within the tissue – a key requirement for practical medical use.

“If we know the speed of sound in the tissue, we can use the time series data to map our acoustic signals to the depth at which they are coming from,” Swathi Padmanabhan, a PhD student and first author of the study, said, adding that unlike light, which scatters inside the body, sound wave travels in a more predictable manner, allowing for clearer and more precise measurements from deeper layers of tissue.

Human trials

The researchers, following successful trials in different environments, conducted a pilot study on a healthy human participant, monitoring blood glucose level before and after meals over three days. The results showed that the technique could track glucose changes in real time.

However, researchers mentioned that scaling up the technology for widespread use comes with challenges. The current set-up requires a laser that produces extremely short nano-second pulses, which makes it bulky and expensive.

“Finding the right set-up to do this was very challenging. We need to make it more compact to put it to clinical use, and have already started work on this,” Swathi said.

The researchers believe their technique is not limited to glucose monitoring as many commonly used drugs are also chiral molecules, meaning the same method can be used to measure medication levels in the body. To test this idea, they measured the concentration of naproxen, a popular painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug, in ethanol solution, and succeeded.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)