Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing Putin's upcoming visit for the 23rd India-Russia Summit, their strategic partnership, and the Ukraine conflict. This call occurred days after the U.S. imposed a 50% levy on India for purchasing Russian crude oil, seen as a pressure tactic by the U.S. to influence the Ukraine conflict and secure a favorable trade agreement. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, with India reiterating its stance for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
PM Modi and President Putin discussed bilateral agenda, the Ukraine conflict, and Putin's upcoming visit to India for the 23rd India-Russia Summit.
The conversation took place amidst new U.S. tariffs on India, imposed due to India's continued purchase of Russian crude oil.
The U.S. tariffs are perceived as pressure tactics to influence India's stance on the Ukraine conflict and gain leverage in trade negotiations.
Exam Points
The call discussed the 23rd Annual India Russia Summit.
U.S. President Donald Trump slapped a doubled levy of 50% on India for purchasing Russian crude oil.
PM Modi shared details of the conversation on X (formerly Twitter).
The U.S. imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs on India's exports and an additional 25% penal levy for importing Russian oil, threatening India's export performance and economic growth. These measures are projected to widen India's trade deficit by 0.56% of GDP and reduce real GDP growth by 0.6% to 5.9% from 6.5%. The Current Account Deficit (CAD) is also estimated to increase from 0.6% to 1.15%. India needs to negotiate with the U.S., diversify export markets, and review its own import tariffs to mitigate these adverse effects, as such unilateral actions contradict principles of free and fair trade.
The U.S. imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs on India's exports and an additional 25% penal levy for importing Russian oil.
These tariffs are projected to significantly impact India's trade balance, potentially widening the trade deficit and increasing the Current Account Deficit (CAD).
Real GDP growth is estimated to drop by 0.6 percentage points, from 6.5% to 5.9%, due to these tariff impacts.
Exam Points
U.S. imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs on India's exports effective August 7.
An additional 25% penal levy on India's exports for importing Russian oil comes into effect on August 29.
India's merchandise trade surplus with the U.S. for 2024-25 stood at $41.18 billion.
India faces a severe crisis of industrial accidents, with over 6,500 worker fatalities in the last five years and numerous chemical accidents, predominantly in SMEs. These tragedies are attributed to elementary safety failures like lack of fire NOCs, inadequate firefighting systems, poor training, and lack of accountability, rather than acts of God. Safety is often treated as a compliance hurdle instead of a core value, leading to a cycle of tragedy, outrage, and silence. The article calls for regulatory reform, better audits, strengthening labour safety boards, and affirming industrial safety as a fundamental right, highlighting a troubling class bias where contract workers' lives are undervalued.
India experiences a high number of industrial accidents, with over 6,500 worker fatalities in the last five years, averaging nearly three deaths daily.
A 2022 study by CSE identified over 130 major chemical accidents post-2020, primarily in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Root causes include lack of basic safety infrastructure (NOCs, firefighting systems), inadequate training, and poor accountability, indicating systemic indifference.
Exam Points
Over 6,500 workers lost their lives in India's factories, construction sites, and mines in the last five years.
A 2022 study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found over 130 major chemical accidents post-2020.
Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) reports one serious industrial accident every two days in registered factories.
China has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled from August 31 to September 1. This marks PM Modi's first visit to China in over seven years for an annual SCO summit, with his last visit being in June 2018. China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the event as a "gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results," expressing confidence that the summit would advance high-quality development, coordination, and productiveness within the SCO.
China has officially welcomed Prime Minister Modi's planned visit to the SCO summit in Tianjin.
The summit is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 1.
This visit marks PM Modi's first attendance at an annual SCO summit in China in over seven years.
Exam Points
The SCO summit will be held in Tianjin, China.
The summit is scheduled from August 31 to September 1.
PM Modi last visited China in June 2018 for the SCO summit.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has postponed his scheduled visit to the U.S. due to a tariff dispute, where the U.S. imposed 50% import tariffs on Indian goods, citing India's crude oil imports from Russia. Despite the postponement, which officials state is not a cancellation, defence cooperation talks are ongoing. Discussions have included pending U.S. defence sales, co-production of Stryker combat vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missiles, and the procurement of 31 armed MQ-9B UAVs worth $4 billion. Both nations are committed to signing a 10-year U.S.-India Defence Framework and expanding cooperation through initiatives like INDUS-X.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the U.S. has been postponed, not cancelled, due to ongoing tariff disputes.
The U.S. imposed 50% import tariffs on Indian goods, citing India's continued purchase of Russian crude oil.
Despite the postponement, bilateral defence cooperation continues, with discussions on major U.S. defence sales and co-production projects.
Exam Points
U.S. President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%.
Discussions included co-production of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
India approved procurement of 31 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian UAVs for $4 billion.
Rescue and relief operations are ongoing in Dharali, Uttarakhand, following devastating flash floods on August 5, with 16 people still missing, including nine Army personnel and seven civilians. Despite four confirmed fatalities, residents claim the actual number of casualties is higher, particularly among migrant laborers working in construction and apple orchards. Authorities are deploying advanced techniques like thermal imaging cameras, sniffer dogs, and earthmovers to locate survivors. The floods have also washed away roads and bridges, disrupting connectivity, and buried the ancient Kalp Kedar temple, highlighting the extensive damage to the region.
Rescue operations are underway in Dharali, Uttarakhand, after flash floods on August 5, with 16 people officially missing.
Four fatalities have been confirmed, but local residents suggest the actual casualty count, especially among migrant laborers, is higher.
Advanced search techniques, including thermal imaging cameras, sniffer dogs, and earthmovers, are being utilized to find survivors.
Exam Points
The flash floods occurred in Dharali, Uttarakhand, on August 5.
16 people are officially missing, including 9 Army personnel and 7 civilians.
The Indian government has extended the ₹10,900-crore PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme by two years, making its provisions effective until March 2028 instead of March 2026. This extension aims to further promote the adoption of electric vehicles, specifically targeting categories such as electric buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks. While the overall scheme is extended, the terminal date for registered e-2 vehicles remains March 31, 2026, as per the gazette notification.
The government has extended the PM E-DRIVE Scheme by two years, now valid until March 2028.
The scheme, valued at ₹10,900 crore, aims to promote electric vehicles, including buses, ambulances, and trucks.
The full name of the scheme is "PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE)".
Exam Points
The PM E-DRIVE Scheme is extended till March 2028.
The scheme has an outlay of ₹10,900 crore.
The full name is PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement.
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