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.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio met India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, stressing that "India is critically important to the U.S." Jaishankar noted their talks covered bilateral and global issues. The remarks come just after Trump's steep $100,000 H1B visa fee hike, which has caused panic among Indian tech professionals who make up the majority of applicants.
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and thanked him for facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian nationals. The Iranian Minister shared his country's perspective and thinking in the current complex situation. Also Read | 'I Thought He Was Dreaming': US Teen Hallucinates and Walks Off 120-Foot Cliff on Mount Whitney, Now in Coma; Father Recounts Harrowing Ordeal. https://x.com/drsjaishankar/status/1938544594905645398?s=46 In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Spoke to FM @ara ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday extended 'warm greetings' to Seychelles governement on their National Day. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1939204223058747878 'Warm greetings to FM Sylvestre Radegonde, the Government and the people of the Republic of Seychelles on their National Day. Committed to further deepen our longstanding partnership, driven by Vision MAHASAGAR,' Jaishankar wrote on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1938496431872200917 On Friday, Jaishankar extended greetings to Djibouti FM Abdoulkader Houssein Omar on the 48t ...Read More >
Benaulim (Goa) [India], May 4 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived in Goa on Thursday afternoon to attend the Foreign Ministers' meeting of the SCO member states. Zardari, the first Pakist foreign minister to visit India in almost 12 years, said he looks forward to constructive discussions with his counterparts from friendly countries. "I am happy to arrive in Goa for participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Orgsation. I am leading the Pakistan delegation at SCO and hope that the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) will be successful," Zardari said in a video shared ...Read More >
Beijing/ New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing today and called for "continued normalisation" of ties between India and China. In his opening remarks during the meeting, Jaishankar said, "India supports a successful Chinese presidency at the SCO. Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory." Jaishankar said ...Read More >
Beijing/Hyderabad, July 15 (Maxim News): In a significant diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss the current trajectory and future prospects of India-China bilateral relations. This meeting marks a crucial step in efforts to stabilize and strengthen ties between the two Asian giants. Here To Join Us On WhatsApp The interaction took place during the call on President Xi by foreign ministers participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting, currently under ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): The Indian government expressed regret on Tuesday over the reported demolition of the ancestral property of celebrated filmmaker and writer Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh and expressed its willingness to extend cooperation in its restoration. "We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished," the Ministry of External Affairs said. Also Read | India Urges Bangladesh ...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 >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Washington/New Delhi, July 1 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said that victims and perpetrators of terrorism must never be equated, and India will exercise the right to defend its people against terrorism, and that it expects the Quad partner nations to understand and appreciate this. In his media remarks ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Washington, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian FM Penny Wong and Japanese FM Takeshi Iwaya, the EAM said the Quad countries are all committed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. "To that end, our e ...Read More >
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia called on Tuesday for the perpetrators of an Islamist militant attack that killed 26 in India-administered Kashmir to be brought to justice without delay. The April 22 attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry as India blamed it on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. The U.S. State Dep ...Read More >
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has refuted US President Donald Trump's assertion of using trade as leverage to negotiate a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a military showdown in May. Trump has repeatedly said that the US mediated between the South Asian neighbors when they were involved in a 4-day confrontation and offered more trade with both countries if they ceased hostilities. "I think the trade people are doing what the trade people should be doing, which is negotiate wi ...Read More >
Hyderabad, July 13 (Maxim News): In a significant diplomatic development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will embark on a three-day visit to China beginning Sunday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin. This marks his first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which led to a severe deterioration in India-China relations. Although Jaishankar has engaged with his Chinese counterpart at multilateral forums in the past, this visit underscores a positive shift in bilateral engagement, building on recent high-level ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27: The US Embassy in India has issued a strict warning for all visa applicants regarding social media disclosures on their DS-160 visa application forms. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy stated, "Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas." All applicants are now required to list every social media username or handle they've used in the last five years -- regardless of whether the accounts are still active. This mandate is part of broader vetting procedures implemented by the US State Department to stren ...Read More >
India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi about the Iran-Israel conflict post 12-day hostilities. India praised Iran's help in evacuating Indians. Following a US-mediated ceasefire, India is closely monitoring radiation at Iranian nuclear sites and urges diplomatic dialogue for peace. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, addressing the recent hostility between Iran and Israel. Jaishankar expressed gratitude for Iran's assistance in the evacuation of Indian nationals amid ...Read More >
Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will hold a joint protest march of their parties in the city on July 5 against what they allege is imposition of Hindi in the state's schools from Class 1 through the new three-language policy. This will be the first time they will come together on a political platform after Raj Thackeray's decision to quit Shiv Sena to form MNS nearly two decades ago.There has been speculation of a reunion of the estranged cousins for the coming civic polls, and the protest march is being seen as the first step in that direction, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar.Uddhav and Raj had ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 30: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar left for an official visit to the United States from June 30 to July 2, 2025, to participate in the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM) scheduled for July 1. The visit comes at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting, which brings together the foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, will build upon the agenda discussed at the previous QFMM held in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2025. The ministers will review developments in the Indo-Pacific and global security ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) Indian students, tourists, business travellers and those working in technology firms planning to head to the United States may soon have to pay more than double the existing visa fee due to a new 'visa integrity fee' being imposed by the US, according to immigration service consultants. The 'visa integrity fee' finds a mention in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' (now an Act) signed by President Donald Trump on July 4. Immigration domain watchers and firms facilitating students for study abroad have been closely watching this bill before Trump signed his package of tax bre ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Washington/New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) The Quad nations, comprising India, US, Japan and Australia, condemned in the strongest terms the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and called for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urged all UN Member States to cooperate actively in this regard. A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington, the Foreign Ministers, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian FM Penny Wong and ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, marking a significant diplomatic engagement amid efforts to stabilise India-China ties. In a post on social media platform X, Dr. Jaishankar said he "called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers." He conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilat ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Pleased to meet Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See. A good conversation about the importance of faith, and the need for dialogue and diplomacy to address conflicts. The emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy in Jaishankar's meeting with the Vatican official comes in the backdrop of his recent ...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 >
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday stoked a new controversy after he called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hypocrite for questioning Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar over providing information about Operation Sindoor to Pakistan. The Congress clapped back at the BJP leader, stating that he "repeatedly displays his stupidity." Dubey's accusation stems from Rahul Gandhi's criticism of S. Jaishankar, which the BJP MP views as inconsistent with Gandhi's previous statements. Dubey referenced a 1991 Indo-Pak military transparency pact signed during a Congress-backed go ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
New Delhi: Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting to be held in Tianjin, India has made it clear in not so a subtle message to China that Beijing should not adopt double standards when it comes to combating terrorism. "Tomorrow, we will be meeting in the format of the SCO, whose primary mandate is to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday. "This is a shared concern and India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism w ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on Thursday, ahead of the fourth edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. He shared the details of the meetings through several posts on X. Upon meeting the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the EAM said, 'Pleased to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan this morning. Appreciated his reaffirmation of zero tolerance for terrorism. Discussed various facets of our Strategic Partnership focusing on political, trade, investment and energy cooperation. A ...Read More >
Shimla, Jul 17 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to remove encroachments on forest lands, including the fruit-bearing trees, all across the state and not limit it to some areas. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Justices Vivek Thakur and Bipin C Negi on Wednesday after the Advocate General placed on record fresh instructions issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, informing that 2,456 apple and other fruit trees have been felled from forest lands in Chaithla village, and 713 and 490 trees in Rohru and Kotgarh forest divisions, r ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on Thursday, ahead of the fourth edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. He shared the details of the meetings through several posts on X. Also Read | #FreeAlaa: Will Hunger Strikes Release Alaa Abdel-Fattah?. Upon meeting the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the EAM said, "Pleased to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan this morning. Appreciated his reaffirmation of zero tolerance for terrorism. Discussed various facets of our Strategic Partne ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) India on Thursday pitched for greater use of Iran's Chabahar port to cut distances and costs, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calling for devoting more resources by India and Central Asian nations to boost regional connectivity. In an address at a business conclave joined by foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Jaishankar also underlined the need for closer engagements between financial institutions of India and Central Asian states. Also Read | Gautam Gambhir Reacts On Bengaluru Stampede During RCB's IPL 20 ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 8 (UNI) India abstained from voting at the UN on a Resolution on Afghanistan saying a "business as usual" approach without new and targeted initiatives is unlikely to deliver the outcomes the international community envisions for Afghan people. The UNGA resolution on the 'Situation in Afghanistan' last night was moved by Germany." The vote was 116 in favour and two against. Twelve countries including India, Russia, China and Iran abstained. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P Harish, said in his speech that any coherent policy to address a post-conflict s ...Read More >