THE HEADLINES:-
- India and European Union seal landmark Free Trade Agreement; Both sides describe pact as ‘Mother of All Trade Deals’, opening European markets for Indian labour-intensive goods comprising textiles and footwear; Makes EU imports cheaper, including luxury cars, wine and medicines.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, pact to create jobs, strengthen global supply chains and provide stability to world order amid global turmoil.
- EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen asserts, India-Europe ties will reduce strategic dependency at a time when global trade is being weaponised.
- Budget Session of Parliament begins tomorrow; Government at all-party meeting appeals for cooperation.
- Centre assures, new UGC guidelines to address caste-based discrimination will not be misused.
- In Under-19 Cricket World Cup, India set a target of 353 runs before hosts Zimbabwe in Super Six fixture at Bulawayo.
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India and European Union today exchanged the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The deal was concluded following India-EU summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, Antonio Costa and President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi. The trade pact, which has been described by both the sides as “the Mother of All Trade Deals”, will open up the European markets for Indian labour-intensive goods comprising textiles and footwear. At the same time, it will make imported European items cheaper in India by reducing duties including luxury cars, wine and medicines.
Besides, the India and European Union also exchanged several agreements in the fields of security, defence partnership, mobility, disaster risk management and green hydrogen.
Addressing a joint press conference with two European leaders after the talks, the Prime Minister said, inking of the biggest free trade deal between India and 27 nation-European Union will deepen economic ties, create jobs, bolster global supply chains and and strengthen the partnership between two sides for a prosperous future.
The Prime Minister opined that India-EU ties will provide stability to the world order amid ongoing turmoil in global environment.
In his statement, President of European Council Antonio Costa said that Summit today sends a clear message to the world that India and EU stand together as strategic and reliable partners at a time when global world is being reshaped.
Speaking on the occasion, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen said India-European Union FTA will create jobs for millions of workers in India and Europe. She asserted that India-Europe ties will reduce strategic dependency at a time when global trade is being weaponised.
Later, in a series of social media posts, Prime Minister Modi said conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement marks a significant milestone in relations between two sides. Mr Modi thanked all the leaders of Europe for their constructive spirit over the years and commitment in making this possible.
Prime Minister Modi chaired the India-EU Business Forum along with EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen in Delhi this afternoon. The Forum brought together business leaders from both sides. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, Indian investment in the EU has reached almost 40 billion euros. He said, the free trade agreement finalised between India and European Union will provide easy access to the European Union market for India’s labour-intensive products.
Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted that this breakthrough in the EU-India trade relations came after 20 years.
Talking to media, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India-EU security and defence partnership will bolster counter terrorism.
Several Union Ministers including Dr S Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh, Ashwini Vaishnaw and JP Nadda have hailed the landmark India-EU FTA.
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Indian industry bodies have welcomed India-European Union free trade agreement. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said, the agreement represents a strategic breakthrough in the country’s global trade engagement. In a statement, Director General of CII Chandrajit Banerjee said, unprecedented preferential access secured for over 99 percent of Indian exports through the agreement is a game-changer for Indian industry.
The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, FICCI has congratulated the government for advancing this agreement of strategic scale and long-term significance.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated virtually the fourth edition of India Energy Week in Goa. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said, India Energy Week has rapidly emerged as a global platform for dialogue and action in the energy sector.
The event has transformed into a powerhouse of international diplomacy, with Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announcing a string of multi-billion dollar deals to fortify the nation’s energy security. Our correspondent has the details:
“Addressing the media at the newly inaugurated Betul facility, Minister Puri detailed high-impact agreements that span the globe. Key among them is a renewal contract between BPCL and Brazil’s Petrobras for 12 million barrels of crude oil, valued at approximately 780 million dollars. The Minister also underscored a burgeoning partnership with the UAE, confirming that India’s annual natural gas imports from the Emirates have reached 4.5 million metric tons. Further diversifying the energy portfolio, the Minister revealed a new ministerial dialogue with Canada focusing on critical minerals and small modular reactors. Mahesh Chopade, Akashvani News, PANAJI.”
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Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said that India is on course to be among the top four semiconductor manufacturing nations in the world by 2035. The Minister made these remarks while addressing the startup and semiconductor industry representatives in New Delhi.
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The Budget Session of Parliament will commence tomorrow and will continue till 2nd of April. Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on 1st of February in Lok Sabha. The first phase will conclude on 13th of February while the second phase will take place from 9th March to 2nd April.
The Government today convened the All Party Meeting and appealed for cooperation for smooth functioning of both the Houses of Parliament. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting at the Parliament House Annexe. Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and Dr L Murugan took part in the meeting. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, DMK Leader Tiruchi Shiva, TMC leader Sagarika Ghose and Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav attended the meeting among others.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, the first part of the Budget Session will have motion of thanks on President’s address, later discussion on Budget will be held in both the houses.
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On the eve of the Budget session News Services Division of AKASHVANI will bring you Special discussions – “Issues Before Parliament” and “Sansad Ke Samaksh Mudde” tonight.
“Issues Before Parliament” programme can be heard on the AKASHVANI FM Rainbow and Additional Frequencies and “Sansad Ke Samaksh Mudde” can be heard on the AKASHVANI FM Gold and Additional Frequencies from 9.30 PM to 10 PM.
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The Government has assured that the new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines issued to address caste-based discrimination on college campuses, will not be misused. The Minister was talking to media today.
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The Supreme Court today asked all states and Union territories to provide a slew of information, including the year-wise details of the number of acid attack cases and their status in courts. The court also directed to inform rehabilitation measures to support the victims. The bench gave four weeks to to provide the information. Batting for extraordinary punitive measures for convicts in acid attack cases, the apex court asked, the Centre to consider amending the law to sternly deal with such cases.
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The India Meteorological Department, IMD has forecast cold wave conditions over Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab tomorrow. The Met Department has also forecast dense fog over Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for the day.
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In the Men’s Under-19 ODI Cricket World Cup, India defeated hosts Zimbabwe by 204 runs in the Super Six stage match at Bulawayo. Put in to bat, the Men in Blue posted 352 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in stipulated 50 overs. In reply, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 148 runs in 37.4 overs.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- India and European Union seal landmark Free Trade Agreement; Both sides describe pact as ‘Mother of All Trade Deals’, opening European markets for Indian labour-intensive goods comprising textiles and footwear; Makes EU imports cheaper, including luxury cars, wine and medicines.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, pact to create jobs, strengthen global supply chains and provide stability to world order amid global turmoil.
- EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen asserts, India-Europe ties will reduce strategic dependency at a time when global trade is being weaponised.
- Budget Session of Parliament begins tomorrow; Government at all-party meeting appeals for cooperation.
- Centre assures, new UGC guidelines to address caste-based discrimination will not be misused.
- In Under-19 Cricket World Cup, India beat hosts Zimbabwe by 204 runs in Super Six fixture at Bulawayo.
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