No compromise on farmers, will buy Venezuelan oil: Govt sources on US trade pact
India Today
After a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, President Donald Trump announced that India and the US agreed to a trade deal under which Washington will cut reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 25 per cent.
Government sources have said that farmers’ interests remain protected under the landmark India–US trade agreement, even as strategic energy purchases, including crude oil from Venezuela, could feature under the new pact.
The sources reiterated that sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy will continue to be safeguarded, and there has been no compromise on key protections as part of the negotiations.
They said India will maintain protections for these segments even as it pursues expanded market access under the pact.
Under the agreement with the US, reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods will be reduced, with the US cutting tariffs from 25 per cent to 18 per cent boosting prospects for Indian exports.
On energy supplies, the sources clarified that India’s crude purchases will be conducted globally from countries not under international sanctions, based on prevailing market rates.
"We did not buy from Venezuela when sanctions were in place. Now that sanctions are lifted, we will buy," they said.
Rohit Pawar, nephew of late Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, has filed a zero FIR in Bengaluru over the January 28 plane crash in Baramati that killed his uncle and four others. Rohit Pawar has alleged a "larger criminal conspiracy" behind the crash.
With the passage of the bill, BJP-ruled Gujarat became the second state in the country to pass the UCC Bill. Uttarakhand became the first state to pass a UCC Bill in February 2024.
Accused Devkripal Meena, 28, alias David, was arrested in Kota on Monday, produced in court on Tuesday, and remanded to seven days of police custody for interrogation.
The Congress matriarch was hospitalised after she started feeling unwell, sources said. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are present in the hospital, they added.
CCTV footage of the incident shows the accused seated among several other women and browsing through clothes. Meanwhile, her 5-year-old son discreetly picks up a purse from inside a bag kept behind one of the unsuspecting customers.
The crime came to light two days later when the younger girls informed their mother. A case has been registered under BNS provisions, and further investigation is underway.
In three rulings covering the Army, Navy and Air Force, the court said evaluation systems and limited access to training disadvantaged women despite policy reforms.
The girl's condition worsened suddenly days before her death, prompting hospitalisation, where she died during treatment. Health officials have urged immediate vaccination after animal bites and greater awareness among parents to prevent such fatalities.
According to the Dabbawalas, this crisis has hit hardest those customers who relied on community kitchens (messes) or small-scale food providers for their meals.
The Lok Sabha has cleared a key amendment to India's transgender rights law, marking a significant shift in how the community is defined.