News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know India-Germany Agree On Gratis Visas For Student Exchanges, Eye New Indopacific Mechanism I ndia and Germany have agreed on gratis visas for short-term school and college visits to promote student exchanges and education ties, as well as establishing a new bilateral consultation mechanism on the Indo-Pacific region, the Ministry of External Affairs stated onWednesday. In a press release following the visit of the German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, JohannWadephul, to India, the MEA stated that during the delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, the two sides reviewed the multifaceted Strategic Partnership, expressing satisfaction with progress in trade and invest- ment, defence and security, technology, science and in- novation, green and sustainable development, education, and people-to-people ties. The EAM also conveyed India’s appreciation for Berlin’s solidarity and strong support in the fight against terrorism. Discussions also covered recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle East, and other regional and global issues of mutual interest. “EAM and Foreign MinisterWadephul reviewed the entire gamut of our multifaceted Strategic Partnership and expressed satisfaction at the progress in diverse sec- tors, including trade & investment, defence & security, technology, science and innovation,green and sustain- able development partnership, education and people-to- people ties. The two sides agreed on gratis visas for short-term school and college visits between our countries to further promote student exchanges and education ties,” the MEA stated in the release. “The two sides also discussed recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle- East, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as other regional and global issues of mutual interest. Both sides are also working towards the establishment of a new bilateral consultation mechanism on the IndoPacific re- gion. EAM conveyed the Government of India’s apprecia- tion for the German government’s solidarity and strong support to India in the fight against terrorism,” it read. Wadephul also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi. During his meeting with the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Wadephul, ac- companied by a high-level business delegation, reflected on the rapidly expanding economic partnership between India and Germany, the MEA stated. -ANI PHOTO:x@DrSJaishankar Germany foreign minister Johann Wadephul with PM Narendra Modi. India Cuts Consumption Tax To Spur Domestic Demand I ndian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman decided onWednesday to cut taxes on hundreds of consumer items ranging from soaps to small cars to spur do- mestic demand in the face of economic headwinds from punishing U.S. tariffs. The goods and services tax (GST) panel approved lowering taxes on the so-called common man items and simplifying their structure, Sitharaman, who heads the panel that includes ministers from all states, told a late night press conference. GST was criticised for its complicated structure and numerous tax categories. To simplify this, the panel ap- proved the two-rate structure of 5% and 18%, instead of four currently that also include tax bands of 12% and 28%. Sitharaman said the panel approved cuts in consumer items such as toothpaste and shampoo to 5% from 18%, and on small cars, air conditioners, and televisions to 18% from 28%. She said GST will be exempted on all individual life insurance policies and health insurance. The panel also approved a higher tax of 40% on “super luxury” and “sin” goods such as cigarettes, cars with en- gine capacity exceeding 1500 cc, carbonated beverages, the minister said. The move to reduce the consumption tax was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Inde- pendence Day speech to the nation on August 15. After the cuts were approved onWednesday, Modi said “the wide ranging reforms will improve lives of our citi- zens and ensure ease of doing business for all, especially small traders and businesses”. The new rates will come into effect on September 22, the first day of the Hindu festival of Navratri. -Reuters By Nikunj Ohri PHOTO:REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/ File Photo Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks to the Economic Club of New York in New York City, U.S., October 21, 2024. White House Pushing PM Modi Closer To Russia And China: Former Trump Advisor John Bolton F ormer US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Thursday (local time) lambasted US President Donald Trump for pushing Prime Minister Narendra Modi closer to Russia and China in the backdrop of 50% tariffs imposed on India, ruining decades of hard work by the previous US administration. In a post on X, Bolton stated, “TheWhite House has set US-India relations back decades, pushing Modi closer to Russia and China. Beijing has cast itself as an alternative to the US and Donald Trump.” He slammed Trump’s tariff policy, asserting that it has “shredded” decades ofWestern efforts to align India away from its ColdWar ties with the then Soviet Union (Russia) and address the growing threat from China. In a series of posts on X on Monday (local time), Bolton accused Trump of jeopardising strategic gains with his economic approach, while also suggesting that the policy has handed Chinese President Xi Jinping an opportunity to reshape the geopolitical landscape in the East. “TheWest has spent decades trying to wean India away from its ColdWar attachment to the Soviet Union/ Russia, and cautioning India on the threat posed by China. DonaldTrump has shredded decades of efforts with his disastrous tariff policy,” Bolton stated in one of his posts. “Donald Trump’s unwillingness to consider diplomatic moves in a larger strategic context has given Xi Jinping an opportunity to reset the East,” another post read. John Bolton is a former American government official who served as national security adviser (2018-19) to Donald Trump in his first stint as US President. He later resigned from his position over differences with Trump on the administration’s foreign policy at that time. His remarks come at a time when New Delhi is facing global uncertainties due to heightened economic ten- sions following the US imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, which was supplemented by an addi- tional 25 per cent due to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil. The comments also followed the conclusion of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council summit in Tianjin, China, during which Prime Minister Modi held bilateral engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. -ANI News India Times (September 6, 2025 - September 12, 2025) September 12, 2025 10 India