Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:54pm on 31 Aug 2023,Thursday Politics
The Indian government has announced a surprise 5-day special session of Parliament from September 18, fueling speculation of an early general election. The session may see the introduction of bills for 'One Nation, One Election', Uniform Civil Code and women's reservation. With the current Modi government's term ending in May 2023, the unusual session has sparked buzz of polls being preponed, possibly clubbed with state elections. Theories cite rising inflation, unfavorable initial polls, and preventing opposition unity as reasons for early polls. The session announcement coincided with the opposition INDIA alliance's two-day meeting to discuss 2024 poll planning.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:25am on 27 Aug 2023,Sunday Politics
With the "most intense and politically fraught" stage of negotiations underway, India has made a tactical tariff cut offer on British whiskey and cars to break the impasse on the India-UK trade deal. PM Modi's government is using the reduced duties proposal to gain leverage on service commitments and greater mobility for workers and students. However, facing resistance on visas and post-study stays, India is upping pressure on the UK as the summit nears. Unwilling to concede ground, India maneuvers strategically amid the high-stakes talks, aiming to achieve key mobility and service wins.
