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India hits back with $240 million tariff on 30 items imported from US

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India hits back with $240 million tariff on 30 items imported from US

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In response to a unilateral hike in import tariffs on certain steel and aluminium products by US, India has decided to retaliate by suspending concessions on 30 items it imports from US.

India on Wednesday, June 14, notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) a revised list of 30 items imported from the US, including almonds, apples, phosphoric acid and motorcycles with engine capacity more than 800 cc (including Harley-Davidson Inc.), on which it intends to impose retaliatory tariffs.

India emphasised that the tariffs will be substantially equivalent to the amount of trade affected due to the US’ measures. Duties hiked by the US on certain steel and aluminium products would have implications of about $241 million on India, the raise in tariffs proposed by New Delhi too would have an equal implication on America, said a Business Standard (BS) report.

According to news agency PTI, US’ decision to hike import duties will have an impact of about $241 million — $198.6 million on steel and $42.4 million on aluminium. India exports only about 4 per cent of its steel and 2 per cent of aluminium to the US. India is looking to hit back with tariffs amounting to the same.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]”The US would be collecting $241 million worth of duties by hiking tariffs on certain steel and aluminium items from India, we also proposed to withdraw concessions of a similar amount from these 30 products imported by India from the US,” said the BS report quoting sources.

Earlier in May, India proposed to raise duties by up to 100 per cent on 20 products such as almonds, apple and specific motorcycles imported from the US.

The additional duty proposed to be hiked on these items ranges from 10 per cent to 100 per cent. Another report, in LiveMint, said in the revised list, India has brought down the proposed maximum additional duties from 100% (on walnuts) to 50% (on Harley-Davidson).

“The revision is being provided to adjust the products and the tariff rates in accordance with India’s rights reserved vide its notification to the Council for Trade in Goods contained in the WTO document…of 18 May 2018.

“India hereby reiterates its decision to suspend concessions or other obligations notified to the Council for Trade in Goods on 18 May 2018…of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards, that are substantially equivalent to the amount of trade affected by the measures imposed by the United States,” according to a communication by India to WTO, reported BS.

It said that the proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations takes the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the US, based on the measures of America.

“The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations takes the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the United States, based on the measures of the United States,” the notification read. “India wishes to clarify that suspension of concessions shall be equivalent to the amount of trade affected by the United States’ measures.”

“India reserves its right to further suspend substantially equivalent concessions and other obligations based on the trade impact resulting from the application of the measures of the US,” it added.

The country has proposed this move under the WTO’s Agreement on Safeguards. India has also dragged the US to the World Trade Organisations dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium.

The move comes at a time when India has decided to negotiate a “trade package” with the US to ease tensions between the two sides.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent and 10 per cent tariff on imported steel on aluminium respectively from all countries, except Canada and Mexico. US is the world’s largest steel-consuming nation. Trump’s announcement, in line with his America First policy, sparked fears of a trade war after countries began mulling imposing their own tariffs.

India had asked the US government to exempt it from its 25% levy on steel and 10% on aluminium imposed by President Donald Trump on grounds of national security. However, the US rejected the Indian request. India has also dragged the US to the dispute settlement mechanism in the WTO over the matter.

Trade minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday after a two-day US visit that the talks he had were held in a positive atmosphere and that trade officials from both sides would soon meet to resolve all pending issues.

Assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott is likely to visit India in the last week of June to negotiate a “trade package”, the official quoted earlier said.

The package is likely to involve negotiations granting an extension to India on generalised system of preferences (GSP) that the US is currently reviewing. India exports about 3,500 items worth $5.6 billion to the US at zero or low duties. In exchange, India may facilitate more US imports in items such as dairy products and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Trump has often raised the issue of higher tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles imposed by India and has threatened to put reciprocal taxes on Indian bikes, which he has wrongly claimed to be selling “in thousands” in the US.

Addressing the press on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada’s Quebec City last week, Trump specifically named India, accusing it of charging 100% tariff on some US goods. “We’re like the piggy bank that everybody is robbing,” Trump said.

Unilateral tariff hikes undertaken by Trump administration have already got the US embroiled in a trade tariff war with EU and China which have hit back with retaliatory duties on US goods.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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West Bengal government to launch Annapurna scheme from June 1, offering monthly aid of Rs 3,000 to women

The West Bengal government has announced the Annapurna Yojana, providing Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 25–60 starting June 1, 2026. Existing beneficiaries of the older scheme will be automatically migrated subject to verification.

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6 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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The West Bengal government has officially notified the rollout of the ‘Annapurna Yojana,’ a welfare initiative aimed at providing assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women across the state. Introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, the scheme is structured to foster the socio-economic upliftment of women and will officially come into effect on June 1, 2026.

Under this new initiative, financial benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of qualified beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Strict eligibility criteria outlined

According to the official government notification, specific guidelines have been established to determine eligibility for the monthly cash assistance:

  • Target Age Group: Eligible women must be between 25 and 60 years of age.
  • Employment Status: Applicants must not hold permanent government employment or receive a regular salary or pension from the central government, state government, statutory bodies, panchayats, municipalities, local bodies, or government-aided educational institutions.
  • Tax Criteria: Women who are income tax payers are excluded from the scheme.

Automatic migration and scrutiny rules

The new order clarifies that all current beneficiaries of the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. However, the transition involves a rigorous filtering process. Individuals identified as deceased, shifted, deleted, or recorded as absentee electors during the SIR-2026 exercise or voter slip distribution will be systematically excluded from the beneficiary list.

On the other hand, individuals who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or submitted applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will continue to receive financial assistance until their applications are legally resolved by authorities.

Application process for new beneficiaries

For fresh applicants, a dedicated online portal for the Annapurna Yojana will be launched on June 1, 2026. To ensure transparency, all new applications will undergo a strict multi-tier verification process by designated local administrative officials:

  • Rural Areas: Block Development Officers (BDOs) will manage the verification and inquiries.
  • Urban Areas: Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will oversee the process.
  • Kolkata: Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will handle applications within their jurisdiction.

Following field inquiries, verified reports will be uploaded directly to the digital portal. The respective District Magistrates and the KMC Commissioner will serve as the final sanctioning authorities in their corresponding jurisdictions to approve the disbursement of funds.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for first official meeting with PM Narendra Modi

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay embarked on his first official visit to New Delhi to hold a high-level meeting with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on economic aid, fertilizer supply, and water rights disputes.

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6 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and PM Modi

Marking his maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to deliberate on a wide range of state-specific matters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, who led his fledgling party to a historic victory in the recent assembly elections, took the oath of office on May 10. While the Prime Minister had previously extended his congratulations via social media, this marks the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister departed from Chennai on a chartered flight at 10:00 AM. The high-profile meeting with the Prime Minister is slated for 4:30 PM, where Vijay is expected to submit a comprehensive memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu’s long-pending welfare and developmental demands.

Key state matters on the table

The core of the discussions is expected to center around financial assistance and clearances for major infrastructure projects in the state. Media reports indicate that the Chief Minister will heavily push for additional funds to bankroll ongoing developmental initiatives.

Furthermore, the interstate Mekedatu water dispute remains a high-priority issue. Chief Minister Vijay has already written to the Prime Minister, urging him to instruct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka for a reservoir at Mekedatu.

Other critical administrative concerns to be raised include ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif farming season and the removal of the 11 percent import duty on cotton to protect the raw material supply chain for the state’s textile industry.

A packed diplomatic itinerary

Accompanied by a team of senior officials and select cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister’s itinerary extends beyond the Prime Minister’s Office. Vijay is likely to sit down with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to directly advocate for financial backings for key state portfolios.

The new administration has also drawn national interest for its structural innovations, including retaining critical departments under the Chief Minister—such as Home, Police, and Women Welfare—and carving out a dedicated cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence department, making Tamil Nadu only the second state in the country to do so.

Navigating a complex political landscape, the TVK-led government, which holds 108 seats in the assembly and enjoys backing from coalition partners including the Congress, Left parties, VCK, and IUML, is also using this trip to engage with national opposition leaders. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during his stay in the capital.

Before wrapping up his tour, the Chief Minister is slated to participate in a cultural event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he will formally inaugurate a statue of the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar installed by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources indicate that Vijay will conclude his official engagements and return to Chennai on Thursday.

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India News

Assam clears Uniform Civil Code bill, becomes third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat

Assam has officially become the third state in India to pass the Uniform Civil Code bill. The legislation was cleared by the state assembly on Wednesday despite strong objections raised by opposition lawmakers who claimed it impacts minority rights.

Published

7 hours ago

on

May 27, 2026

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himanta

The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’, making it the third state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to adopt a uniform legal framework after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Opposition flags concerns over rights during house debate

The bill was taken up for final passage in the state assembly on Wednesday, sparking a heated discussion among lawmakers. During the legislative floor debate, opposition MLAs strongly voiced their concerns regarding the proposed law, stating that the legislation will hurt and compromise the fundamental rights of a certain section of society.

Despite objections from the opposition benches, the treasury benches cleared the passage of the bill, cementing Assam’s position as the latest state to move away from diverse personal laws in favor of a uniform code. Media reported that the legislative move follows extensive political discussions in the state surrounding civil regulations. With this enactment, Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which have previously passed their respective uniform civil codes.

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