News for 'Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade'

China, Iran cosy up: India is the loser

China, Iran cosy up: India is the loser

Rediff.com18 Jul 2020

Iran's decision to keep India out and welcome China to the scene is a huge strategic setback for India, observes Dr Rajaram Panda.

Kerry leaves for India to attend annual strategic dialogue

Kerry leaves for India to attend annual strategic dialogue

Rediff.com21 Jun 2013

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, heading a high-powered delegation of his cabinet colleagues and top military commanders, today left for India as part of his 10-day seven nation Asia trip.

Biden's secretary of state will be...

Biden's secretary of state will be...

Rediff.com16 Nov 2020

'Biden's promise of returning to 'normalcy' after Trump appears to mean that the same old politicians, who are responsible for the 'endless wars' in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, are being brought out of the woodwork after four years,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'Sharp drop in gold import can help contain CAD'

'Sharp drop in gold import can help contain CAD'

Rediff.com1 Oct 2013

Gold imports had totalled 335.1 tonne in the April-June quarter, but have declined to 58.37 in the second quarter (up to September 25).

Online info brings India Inc under more scrutiny

Online info brings India Inc under more scrutiny

Rediff.com7 Jan 2015

MCA portal clocks 5 mn views in 8 months; ministry to integrate company records portal with DGFT, I-T dept this year

Why is the army chief visiting Nepal?

Why is the army chief visiting Nepal?

Rediff.com4 Nov 2020

Though General Naravane's visit will not deal with 'impermanent' issues like the changing stands of politicians, it will certainly reinforce the deeper 'permanent' links between the people of Nepal and India. Time will hopefully tackle the present impermanence of the Sino-Nepalese romance, notes Claude Arpi.

Contact group established to expedite Indo-US nuke deal implementation

Contact group established to expedite Indo-US nuke deal implementation

Rediff.com1 Oct 2014

With their landmark 2005 civil nuclear deal still in limbo, India and the United States have established an inter-agency contact group to sort out outstanding liability and technical issues to fast-track its full implementation.

Tillerson arrives in India; asks Pak to step up fight against terror

Tillerson arrives in India; asks Pak to step up fight against terror

Rediff.com24 Oct 2017

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi assured the Secretary of State that his country is committed to the war against terrorism.

When Pakistan told US it won't raise Kashmir at UN

When Pakistan told US it won't raise Kashmir at UN

Rediff.com3 Sep 2015

According to the cable, Sattar reacted positively to the idea of involving Kashmiris.

Bear hugs, boat ride as Modi meets Putin for first informal summit

Bear hugs, boat ride as Modi meets Putin for first informal summit

Rediff.com22 May 2018

Modi said India and Russia have been friends for a long time and thanked Putin for inviting him for the first-ever informal meeting at Sochi.

Meet Urjit Patel, RBI's 24th Governor

Meet Urjit Patel, RBI's 24th Governor

Rediff.com20 Aug 2016

As deputy governor, Patel headed the RBI panel to draft the monetary policy report, which became the basis of the ongoing reforms at the apex bank

Profit booking, global cues subdue markets; Nifty holds 8,300

Profit booking, global cues subdue markets; Nifty holds 8,300

Rediff.com8 Jul 2016

Midcap stocks continued to remain on buyers' radar with BSE Midcap index up 0.1%.

Modi's efforts to get India NSG seat FAIL in Seoul

Modi's efforts to get India NSG seat FAIL in Seoul

Rediff.com24 Jun 2016

Chinese chief negotiator Ambassador Wang Qun told ANI on Friday, "NSG will not take up India's case as of now. There are differences on admitting non-Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty members. Signing the NPT first is one of five criteria (for membership). These have not been set by China, but by group as a whole."

Decision on FDI cap soon: FM

Decision on FDI cap soon: FM

Rediff.com2 Jul 2013

Seeking to spur foreign investments, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said the Union Cabinet will decide on raising FDI caps in different sectors in the third week of this month.

It's chill time for Indo-Chinese relations

It's chill time for Indo-Chinese relations

Rediff.com20 Apr 2016

The readouts by the Indian and Chinese sides on the meeting on Monday between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow bring out that divergences are crowding into the centrestage of their relationship, says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Why are global retailers in wait-and-watch mode for India?

Why are global retailers in wait-and-watch mode for India?

Rediff.com24 Mar 2014

The Indian government has simplified FDI policy inorder to attract global retail chains.

'India has to catch a train that left 25 years ago'

'India has to catch a train that left 25 years ago'

Rediff.com2 May 2017

'In contrast to the generally buoyant tone of the Economic Survey in January, he sounds uncharacteristically pessimistic, saying that forces in the world economy -- slowing global trade, protectionism, robots -- will limit India's manufacturing to levels well below what propelled East Asia's economies decades ago.'

How US-Russia frost affects India

How US-Russia frost affects India

Rediff.com22 Jun 2019

The stagnation in US-Russia relations does not augur well for New Delhi's strategic interests, says Harsh V Pant and Raj Kumar Sharma.

All the Prime Minister's officers

All the Prime Minister's officers

Rediff.com16 Aug 2016

The Modi PMO is like none other: It is staffed by people who are so low profile that the only dominant personality is the Prime Minister's.

Govt creates 'Japan Plus' to fast track Japanese investments

Govt creates 'Japan Plus' to fast track Japanese investments

Rediff.com10 Oct 2014

The commitment by Japan to invest $35 billion or 3.5 trillion YEN is for infrastructure sector over five years.

5 proposals govt will discuss with RBI on November 19

5 proposals govt will discuss with RBI on November 19

Rediff.com12 Nov 2018

There is as yet no clarity on how the process of consulting with the RBI Governor, initiated under Section 7 of the RBI Act, would unfold in the coming days. The government is keen that its suggestions made in the public interest should be heeded by the central bank, says A K Bhattacharya.

Former US envoy: 'Pakistan is a State sponsor of terror'

Former US envoy: 'Pakistan is a State sponsor of terror'

Rediff.com14 Jul 2016

'Pakistanis are very clever in manipulating us,' former Bush administration official tells US lawmakers.

'Obama won't promise Modi $100 billion'

'Obama won't promise Modi $100 billion'

Rediff.com29 Sep 2014

'India is going to maintain its ties to China, India is going to develop a strong relationship with the United States. It means that India is going to have the flexibility to pick and choose its friends.' 'That's traditional Indian foreign policy, and it's smart.' Former US ambassador to India Frank Wisner, one of America's sharpest minds on South Asia, tells Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com what Washington can expect from Narendra Modi's visit.

How long can India avoid engaging Pakistan?

How long can India avoid engaging Pakistan?

Rediff.com7 Mar 2019

'Any 'de-escalation' that brings down tensions will deprive the BJP of a plank with seamless possibilities to project PM Modi as the 'Iron prime minister' and hype up jingoism in the upcoming election campaign,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Govt to lower long-term capital gains tax to boost start-ups

Govt to lower long-term capital gains tax to boost start-ups

Rediff.com16 Jan 2016

Jaitley assured that both the banking system and the government will make the resources available to them.

WTO talks on ITA-II collapse, India heaves sigh of relief

WTO talks on ITA-II collapse, India heaves sigh of relief

Rediff.com14 Dec 2014

India has been opposing the pact as ITA will only benefit the country when its domestic manufacturing is robust.

Modi-Trump Summit: There is plenty of scope, but...

Modi-Trump Summit: There is plenty of scope, but...

Rediff.com24 Jun 2017

'... For the India-US relationship to continue its positive trajectory, it will require India to adapt to a different approach.' Nisha Desai Biswal -- who as the Obama administration's point person for South Asia was in the inner circle of all the Obama-Modi Summits -- tells Rediff.com's Monali Sarkar why she is hopeful that India and the US are on an irreversible forward course.

Modi played his cards well in Washington

Modi played his cards well in Washington

Rediff.com30 Jun 2017

'This is the first time that the Americans have agreed to refer to "cross-border terrorist attacks" in a joint statement.' 'No wonder Pakistan has called the joint statement "singularly unhelpful" and has blasted it, and its all-weather friend China has applauded Pakistan's frontline role in combating terrorism,' points out former foreign secretary Ambassador Kanwal Sibal.

What ails the Indian economy?

What ails the Indian economy?

Rediff.com6 Sep 2019

Dr Rakesh Mohan, former RBI deputy governor, and Dr Pronab Sen, former chairman of the Indian Statistical Commission discuss the issues facing the Indian rural and manufacturing sectors and what the government must possibly do to improve demand and perk up the Indian economy

Mr Sandhu Goes to Washington

Mr Sandhu Goes to Washington

Rediff.com17 Jan 2020

'Taranjit has the ideal temperament to deal with the Americans who understand firmness and appreciate flexibility.' 'He can hold his ground with a cheerful face and still make it clear that India and the US are partners, rivals,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

This will have repurcussions, warns Chinese media after India expels 2 journos

This will have repurcussions, warns Chinese media after India expels 2 journos

Rediff.com25 Jul 2016

Three Chinese journalists based in India representing the state-run Xinhua news agency were denied permission for extended stay in the country.

India's new US envoy presents credentials to Obama

India's new US envoy presents credentials to Obama

Rediff.com11 Mar 2014

Indian Ambassador to the United States Dr S Jaishankar told Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa that it was "a very nice meeting and President Barack Obama was extremely cordial."

17 states, over 100 locations: ED launches massive crackdown on shell firms

17 states, over 100 locations: ED launches massive crackdown on shell firms

Rediff.com1 Apr 2017

The agency said it searched a Mumbai-based operator who was running 700 shell companies with 20 dummy directors and had "converted Rs 46.7 crore for Chaggan Bhujbal", the jailed ex-Maharashtra deputy chief minister.

Rate-cut hopes drive markets higher; bluechips gain

Rate-cut hopes drive markets higher; bluechips gain

Rediff.com15 May 2015

Benchmark indices finished higher on hopes of economic reforms

Meet Trump's Cabinet and Inner Circle

Meet Trump's Cabinet and Inner Circle

Rediff.com20 Jan 2017

Incoming US President Donald Trump has assembled a core team that is -- not surprisingly -- overwhelmingly white and male.

'At the UN, there were times I wished India had a stronger government'

'At the UN, there were times I wished India had a stronger government'

Rediff.com3 Jan 2014

'Under Narendra Modi's leadership, we will be able to regain our rightful place in the community of nations,' veteran diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri, who joined the BJP on January 2, tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.

Pakistan knows India is on a different level with the US

Pakistan knows India is on a different level with the US

Rediff.com3 Feb 2016

'Both India and Pakistan are now, for the first time in history, very closely allied and connected with the US -- economically and politically.'

How will Modi factor Japan in his China policy?

How will Modi factor Japan in his China policy?

Rediff.com27 May 2014

Being a pragmatist Modi is not likely to give preference to China over Japan. Both security and economic aspects are likely to shape Modi's decision in terms of engaging the two biggest economies of Asia, says Sana Hashmi.

Why Justin Trudeau's India visit is important

Why Justin Trudeau's India visit is important

Rediff.com16 Feb 2018

'The India-Canada relationship has suffered benign neglect. Its full potential has not yet been realised,' says Rup Narayan Das.