India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: As the global scramble for rare earth minerals intensifies, India is strategically deepening ties with countries across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean to secure long-term access to these critical resources. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia from July 2 to 9, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday underscored India's growing focus on rare earth cooperation - signalling a calculated pivot in foreign policy to power India's ambitions in green technology, defence manufacturing, and digital innovation. India's current outreach to Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America is not coincidental - it is part of a larger foreign policy architecture aimed at building South-South solidarity rooted in resource and technology cooperation. Countries like Namibia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay boast abundant reserves of rare earths and critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. India's recent diplomatic activity in these regions reflects this shift. Earlier this year, the leaders of Chile and Paraguay visited New Delhi, where rare earth and lithium cooperation featured prominently. India offered technology collaboration and infrastructure investment in exchange for stable mineral access. Namibia has large deposits of rare earths and uranium. India is reportedly working to secure mining rights and establish joint ventures. Ghana's lithium and bauxite reserves are also of interest to Indian industries. The visit to Ghana on July 2-3 will be Modi's first ever bilateral visit to the West African nation. This prime ministerial visit from India to Ghana is taking place after three decades. During the visit, Modi will hold talks with the President of Ghana, John Mahama, to review the strong bilateral partnership and discuss further avenues to enhance it through economic, energy, and defence collaboration, and development cooperation partnership. This visit will also reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union. "Economic agenda will dominate the talks," Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said while addressing the media here on Monday. Ravi said that memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on critical minerals and digital public infrastructure (DPI) are likely to be concluded during the course of the Ghana leg of the visit. "In terms of critical minerals, the new technologies of the 21st century all depend on these elements," he said. "We have to be aware of the fact that for these technologies, critical minerals are very, very important. We have to find ways to get bilateral understanding mechanisms in order to capture them. Not just in terms of bilaterals, but also in terms of partner countries." He said that Africa is full of critical mineral resources and India needs to tap these. It is in this context that Dammu said, Modi's visits to Ghana and Namibia assume importance. He further stated that Namibia is a very resource-rich country.
Filmmaker Jayan K Cherian; stills from his latest film 'Rhythm of Dammam', on the Siddi Community of Yellapur in Uttara Kannada (north Karnataka). The stunningly shot and evocative Rhythm of Dammam, in Siddi Bhasha, is the first fictional feature ever to be made on the Indian Siddi community that traces its ancestry to Africa. In the film, the pre-teen Jayaram, who lives in Karnataka's Yellapura, is afflicted by his dead grandfather's visions, as his impoverished family fights over supposed buried treasure. But Jayaram is a chosen one, the visitations will lead him to discover his community's ...Read More >
New Delhi: Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to visit China before India after assuming office in 2024 had reignited speculations about the trajectory of India-Nepal bilateral ties. While some analysts see this as a shift in Kathmandu's diplomatic priorities, New Delhi has downplayed concerns, maintaining that relations between the two South Asian neighbours remain strong. "I can tell you that the relations between the two countries remain good and strong and we want to further strengthen these," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during his regular medi ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
Noting that the evolution of Quad has been a "notable development," External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said the Indo-Pacific is experiencing "significant changes" including new convergences and partnerships. "In an era of collaborative endeavours, the Indo-Pacific will require practical solutions, nimble diplomacy, greater adjustment and more open conversations. The G7 can be one such partner," Mr. Jaishankar said as he attended the G7 FMM Outreach Session with Indo-Pacific partners in the Italian city of Fiuggi on Tuesday. G7 ministers throw support behind Israel-Hezbollah ceasefir ...Read More >
Shares of NMDC, steel stocks faced selling pressure on December 18 as the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government tabled a bill to tax mines and mining land. NMDC, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, SAIL stocks were trading in red, with NMDC stock bearing the brunt of the fall by falling 5% as CNBC-TV18 reported that the Karnataka government might hike duty on iron ore. At 12:30 pm on December 18, NMDC shares were trading 6% lower at Rs 213.49 apiece, the biggest fall in 18 weeks. Karnataka is an important s ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Union minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy, accompanied by students from various government schools in Telangana, who achieved top ranks in the 10th class public examinations, planted saplings at his official residence in Delhi as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and asked them to don the role as new age environment warriors and work hard to save earth from plastic pollution. He also gave them tips on environmental protection. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in the presence of leaders of Central Asian countries, touched upon various business opportunities and complementarities between these respective economies on Thursday. Jaishankar suggested a few areas where India and Central Asian countries should collaborate to improve their economies. Jaishankar noted that India's trade and economic ties with Central Asia have actually shown a very strong positive trend over the last decade. However, he has also said that the trade figures do not reflect the full potential. Given th ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has urged the India-Central Asia Business Council to recommend a roadmap for further deepening of India-Central Asia ties in trade, economic and investment. Addressing the Business Council meeting in the national capital, EAM Jaishankar highlighted three broad objectives for strengthening the economic partnership -- deepen existing cooperation, diversify the trade basket and introduce sustainability and predictability in economic interactions. "One, is to deepen the existing cooperation both in terms of volume a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) The incentive scheme for recycling of critical minerals, such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, is in the final stages, a mines ministry official said on Friday. The Union budget has allocated Rs 1,500 crore for recycling of critical minerals under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), Joint Secretary in Mines Ministry Dinesh Mahur said during an event here. He said, "the incentive scheme for recycling is in its final stages." Earlier, the government had approved a Rs 16,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission, envisaging a total o ...Read More >
ess than 24 hours after he asserted in Nigeria's Abuja that stepping out of the comfort zone, innovating and creating new paths has now become the very essence of today's India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told the gathering of world's most influential leaders converged in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Summit that the main reason for India's success lies in his government's 'back to basics' and 'march to the future' approach. Addressing the G20 session on 'Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty' at the bayside museum of modern art during the two-day 19th G20 Summit, ...Read More >
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia and Canada on Monday signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that aims to strengthen economic ties between the two G20 members, three years after negotiations began. The agreement will take effect in 2026 and was signed in Jakarta by trade ministers of both countries. Indonesia's trade minister, Budi Santoso, said Indonesia appreciated Canada's support for its plan to prioritise its critical minerals sector, which was vital for its sustainable growth. "Together, we advance sustainable critical mineral management, supporting Indonesia's net ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has intensified its calls for the immediate discharge and repatriation of all remaining Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army, following the tragic death of one Indian national in Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has once again stressed the urgency of bringing back Indian nationals involved in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Indian National from Kerala Dies, Another Injured in Russia In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that an Indian national from Kerala, who had been recruited to serve in the Russian Army, tragically died, while ...Read More >
AMRITSAR, India (AP) -- A U.S. military plane carrying 104 deported Indian migrants arrived in a northern Indian city on Wednesday, the first such flight to the country as part of a crackdown ordered by the Trump administration, airport officials said. The Indians who returned home had illegally entered the United States over the years and came from various Indian states. The move came ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, which is expected next week. U.S. President Donald Trump and Modi discussed immigration in a phone call last week and Trump stressed the impo ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): Criticising the BJP-led NDA government, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that India's foreign policy has collapsed. In a post on X, Gandhi raised three questions to the central government. "Will JJ explain, Why India has been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to "mediate" between India & Pakistan?" the LoP said. Reposting a video of S Jaishankar's interview with a media outlet, he said, "India's foreign policy has collapsed," he added. Earlier, Gandhi q ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 5: On the occasion of World Environment Day, actress and newly-elected BJP MP Kangana Ranaut participated in a special tree plantation initiative under the campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.' Taking to social media, Kangana revealed that she planted a sapling at her Delhi residence to mark the day, dedicating the gesture to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In her post, the actress expressed heartfelt gratitude to environmental warriors who tirelessly work to protect and restore the Earth's natural resources. She acknowledged those who have devoted their lives to saving rivers, cleaning t ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday welcomed the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in New Delhi for the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue, as India continues to put a strong foot forward in enhancing anti-terror and de-radicalisation partnerships across the region. "4th India-Central Asia Dialogue begins in Delhi. EAM S Jaishankar warmly welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan, Deputy Chairman of C ...Read More >
As a part of the new agreement between Mazagon Dock and BEML, Mazagon Docks will make facilities available to BEML's research team in exchange for their technical support to design and manufacture strategic equipment, reported PTI. The government-owned BEML Ltd. (formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers Ltd) announced on Wednesday, November 27, that it has signed an agreement with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to develop technologies for the marine industry, news agency PTI reported. According to the company statement cited by the agency, the company aims to leverage the opportunity to expand its e ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 28 (ANI): India has expressed its concern over the escalating incidents of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and desecration, and damage to their places of worship, and has also called on the interim government there to ensure the safety of minorities. In a response to question asked by RJD MP AD Singh, Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs, Kirit Vardhan Singh in a written reply to Rajya Sabha, stated that the "primary responsibility" for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, "rests with ...Read More >
India's NTPC (previously the National Thermal Power Corporation) has launched its first 160 megawatt hours (MWh) CO₂ battery energy storage project, to be developed by Triveni Turbine and its energy partner Energy Dome. The project will be executed on a turnkey basis at NTPC's Kudgi plant in Karnataka, India. The initiative aligns with NTPC's strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and increase renewable power generation. The adoption of CO₂ battery technology also supports India's "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar" (self-sufficiency) policies, offering opportunities for the domestic indu ...Read More >
Sample of Earth Minerals. (Representative) Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. India is negotiating with companies to create long-term rare earth magnet stockpiles. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on China, which controls 90% of magnet processing globally. The government is considering fiscal incentives to boost domestic production of rare earth magnets. New Delhi: India is holding talks with companies to establish long-term stockpiles of rare earth magnets by offering fiscal incentives for domestic production, people familiar with the matter said. Building ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 5 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel graced the distribution ceremony of 50 JCB machines organised by the Bharwad Yuva Sangathan - Gujarat Pradesh, held at Town Hall in Gandhinagar on Thursday. During the event, 50 economically disadvantaged youths from the Bharwad community were provided with JCB machines without any down payment, as part of an initiative to empower them towards self-reliance, according to the press release. Commending the efforts of the organization, the Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always emphas ...Read More >
Patna, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) On a day-long visit to Bihar on Friday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the government "surrendered" during Operation Sindoor under pressure from former US President Donald Trump. Speaking at the Samvidhan Sammelan (Constitutional Dialogue) in Rajgir, Gandhi cited Trump's repeated public claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and questioned the Prime Minister's silence on the matter. "US President Donald Trump has publicly claimed 11 times that he forced PM Modi to a ...Read More >
Part of the deal involves assistance to boost mining supply chains. Peru is one of the world's top copper producers, while Japan is a major consumer of the key industrial metal. In the aftermath of the APEC summit, Peru also inked a defense cooperation deal with South Korea, including a submarine agreement with Hyundai Heavy Industries and another deal with Korea Aerospace Industries to manufacture parts for fighter aircraft, according to Boluarte's foreign minister. Last week, Peru formally inaugurated the Chinese-built Pacific coast megaport of Chancay, promising faster and more efficient ...Read More >
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, campaigning to invite global investors to the Global Investors Summit to be held in Bhopal in February 2025, addressed an interactive session with industrialists during a roadshow in London, UK, on Tuesday. Yadav praised the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the rapid industrial development seen across India. Inviting the industrialists to invest in Madhya Pradesh, he highlighted that the state possesses one of the largest land banks in the country. Madhya Pradesh has transparent and investor-friendly policies and is a leader in the mining and ...Read More >
STL Digital, an IT Services and Consulting Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterlite Technologies), announced the successful deployment of RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud for eight Vedanta companies (Hindustan Zinc, Sterlite Copper, Cairn Oil & Gas, Sesa Goa Iron Ore, Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Zinc International, ESL Steel, Vedanta Corporate), globally. Vedanta, a globally diversified natural resources, energy, and technology conglomerate, prioritizes operational excellence, timely execution o ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong on Wednesday said that China is ready to work with India and put into action the understandings between Indian and Chinese leaders. The comments come ahead of the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. In a post on X, Ambassador Xu Feihong, "China is ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of China and India, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, str ...Read More >
Oslo [Norway], June 5 (ANI): The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, attended the MoU signing ceremonies in Oslo, as Indian maritime companies inked them with leading global players, exploring opportunities for collaboration and future business. A Memorandum of Intent (MOI) was signed by Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Rehder GmbH & Co. KG, Germany and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) for the construction of an additional 4 numbers of 7,500 DWT multi-purpose vessels. These vessels will have hybrid propulsion and will adhere to the latest ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, calling out the LoP in Lok Sabha for the "audacity" of using surrender barb on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP leader's sharp response came in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's jibe amid ongoing political debates over national security and foreign policy, particularly following the recent success of Operation Sindoor. Taking to social media platform X, Sarma accused the Congress party of a long-standing legacy of compromising India's territorial ...Read More >