LawLoveLegal

India Maintains Strong Growth Amid Global Headwinds India’s economy has once again defied global slowdowns and inflationary pressures. According to the CareEdge Economic Pathways Report , India’s real GDP grew by 7.4% in Q4 FY25 , pushing the overall annual growth to 6.5% , beating analyst expectations. Though slightly moderated from the 8.4% average of the past two years, this growth solidifies India’s place among the fastest-growing major economies. Key growth drivers: Construction sector surged 10.8% in Q4. Manufacturing and private investments improved , though consumption slightly slowed. Rural demand stayed robust due to rising wages, despite mixed urban demand. Retail inflation cooled to 3.2% in April 2025, the lowest since August 2019, with food inflation easing due to strong Rabi harvests and water reserves. However, concerns remain over falling household savings , which declined for a third straight year to 18.1% of GDP , with financial liabilities risin...

Tragedy at Indrayani River: Iron Bridge Collapses in Pune In a major mishap on Sunday, an iron bridge over the Indrayani River near Kundamala village in Maharashtra’s Pune district collapsed, leading to mass casualties and a large-scale rescue operation. The incident occurred near Talegaon Dabhade , a site known for its popularity among local tourists. Initial reports suggest that over 40 people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals, while at least two fatalities have been officially confirmed. Rescue Efforts Led by CRPF and NDRF According to CRPF Deputy Inspector General Vaibhav Nimbalkar , one of the CRPF companies was immediately deployed from Talegaon to assist in the rescue, without waiting for formal orders. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also dispatched two specialized teams to the site. DIG Nimbalkar emphasized the CRPF’s primary role in supporting the civil administration, controlling crowds, and engaging in active rescue operations alongside NDR...

India’s Global Capability Centres Are Now Powering Tax Strategy Worldwide India is fast becoming the epicentre for complex global tax operations , with multinational corporations (MNCs) increasingly relying on their India-based Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to run high-value and knowledge-driven tax functions. This trend is highlighted in a newly released whitepaper by Deloitte India , titled Transforming Global Tax Functions: The GCC Advantage . According to the report, India-based GCCs have matured beyond their traditional back-office roles . They now play a strategic role in managing global tax functions , covering a wide range of areas including corporate tax, indirect tax, transfer pricing, tax litigation , and digital tax transformation. GCCs: Becoming Strategic Tax Hubs The whitepaper, authored by Manisha Gupta, Partner at Deloitte India , underlines how India's GCC ecosystem offers a unique combination of talent, technology, and cost advantage , enabling MNCs to ...

Weekly FPI Inflows Boosted by RBI Rate Cut Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused ₹3,346.94 crore into Indian equities during the trading week from June 9 to June 13 , as per data released by the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) . The early part of the week saw strong inflows, largely driven by positive investor sentiment following a surprise rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) . On June 6, 2025 , the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI announced a 50 basis point reduction in the repo rate , bringing it down to 5.5% . This move was seen as a major boost to investor confidence, stimulating demand for equities in the Indian market. Friday Outflow Reverses Weekly Gains Despite early optimism, foreign investors turned cautious toward the end of the week due to escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran . On Friday, June 13 , FPIs pulled out a significant ₹3,275.76 crore, which substantially offset the gains made earlier in the week. June...

Formal Investigation by AAIB Initiated In the aftermath of the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed the lives of 241 people onboard, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a full-scale investigation. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that this inquiry will follow international protocols as laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The AAIB, functioning under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is India's primary agency for probing civil aviation accidents. In addition to the investigation, a high-level committee of multidisciplinary experts is being constituted to examine the causes of the accident and recommend safety reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future. US-Based NTSB to Assist Probe In an extraordinary step of international cooperation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States is preparing to send a team of exper...

Crash Summary: What Happened? A tragic air disaster struck Gujarat’s capital city on Thursday as Air India Flight AI171 , en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick , crashed shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport . The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner , was carrying 242 individuals , including 230 passengers and 12 crew members . According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) , the aircraft departed from Runway 23 at 13:39 IST (08:09 UTC) . It issued a Mayday call , but soon after, lost communication with ATC. The aircraft reportedly crashed into a doctors' hostel in the Meghaninagar area , outside the airport perimeter. Eyewitnesses reported heavy black smoke rising from the site of impact. Passenger Details and Casualties The flight included a mix of international nationals: 169 Indian nationals 53 British nationals 7 Portuguese nationals 1 Canadian national Exact figures on fatalities and injuries have not yet been confi...

BJP's Navya Haridas Challenges Priyanka Gandhi’s Election Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Navya Haridas , who contested the 2024 Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election , has filed an election petition in the Kerala High Court against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , challenging her victory. The petition was admitted by the court after hearing preliminary arguments, and Justice K Babu has issued summons to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Grounds of Petition: Alleged Corrupt Practices and Asset Non-Disclosure In her plea, Navya Haridas alleges that Priyanka Gandhi engaged in “corrupt practices” and failed to disclose multiple movable and immovable assets , including investments and properties owned by her and her husband, Robert Vadra , in the affidavit submitted during her nomination process. The petition contends that this lack of transparency violates key provisions under election law and seeks the annulment of the poll results . Legal Representation and Proceedings Haridas is ...

 

Introduction: A Honeymoon Ends in Horror In a chilling turn of events, a honeymoon trip to Meghalaya has ended in the murder of 30-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi , along with four others, stands accused of orchestrating and executing his murder in what police have described as a “fully planned operation.” Medical Examination in Shillong In the early hours of Wednesday, Sonam Raghuvanshi was brought to Ganesh Das Hospital in Shillong for a medical examination. She is currently under a three-day transit remand with the Meghalaya Police , who are intensifying their investigation into the case. This move comes ahead of her appearance before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Shillong. Details of the Murder Plot Sonam and her husband Raja were on their honeymoon in Meghalaya when Raja mysteriously went missing. On June 2 , his body was discovered in a deep gorge in Sohra , near Cherrapunji. The initial shock...

Incident Overview: Local Train Mishap in Thane District In a tragic turn of events on Monday, four passengers lost their lives and several others were injured after falling from an excessively crowded local train at Mumbra railway station , located in Thane district, Maharashtra. The incident occurred on the Down/Fast Line , severely disrupting local train services. According to officials from Central Railway , 13 people were initially injured, out of which four succumbed to their injuries , and four others are still undergoing medical treatment. Cause of the Accident: Overcrowding and Footboard Travel The accident reportedly occurred when passengers travelling on the footboard of a train coming from Kasara collided with passengers on another train heading towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) . The excessive crowding led to the passengers losing their balance and falling off the train near Mumbra station. Central Railway has attributed the accident to overcr...

 Global Maritime Milestone Reached in Kerala In a significant leap for India’s maritime infrastructure, the world’s largest container ship by capacity — MSC IRINA — has officially docked at the newly inaugurated Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The arrival of this Ultra-Large Container Vessel (ULCV) marks a historic moment for India’s logistics sector and signals Vizhinjam’s emergence as a global transshipment hub.  About MSC IRINA: The Giant of the Seas MSC IRINA is operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and is currently the largest container ship in the world by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity. Launched in March 2023 and on its maiden voyage since April 2023 , the ship sails under the Liberian flag . Key Specifications: Capacity : 24,346 TEUs Length : 399.9 metres Width : 61.3 metres Stacking Capability : Up to 26 container tiers high Environmental Features : Built-in energy-saving technologies...

Lending Rates to Fall by 30 bps: SBI Report According to the latest report by the State Bank of India (SBI) , lending rates are expected to decline by 30 basis points (bps) following the RBI's recent policy rate cut . The reduction in the repo rate by 50 bps to 5.5% and the 100 bps CRR cut to 3% is anticipated to have a swift and visible impact on loans linked to the External Benchmark Lending Rate (EBLR) . Notably, EBLR-linked loans constitute about 60% of the total loan book of All Scheduled Commercial Banks (ASCBs) . The report states, "The steep cut on policy rates is expected to pass on to the EBLR-linked loan book immediately, with ASCBs' share of 60 per cent. Thus, the immediate impact on the average lending rate could be around 30 bps." Impact on Borrowing Costs and Bank Margins The SBI report explains that this rate cut will lower borrowing costs for retail and corporate customers , thereby stimulating credit demand . However, it also warns of a po...

 

A Former Alliance Turns Hostile Once seen as allies in promoting innovation and deregulation, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla/SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have now become bitter rivals. The feud, which began simmering following Musk’s exit from his quasi-governmental role in the Department of Government Efficiency , exploded into the public eye after Musk made shocking allegations implicating Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal .

 

  Kiren Rijiju Initiates Cross-Party Consultations on Impeachment Motion In a politically significant development, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has reportedly initiated discussions with various political parties to garner support for an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving at the Allahabad High Court. This follows allegations linked to the discovery of “burnt cash” in a storeroom at his official residence during his tenure as a judge of the Delhi High Court.  In-House Inquiry Committee Report Submitted The Supreme Court had previously formed a three-member in-house inquiry committee under the leadership of Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court), Justice GS Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge, Karnataka High Court). The committee submitted its findings on May 3, 2025, to the then Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna. The inquiry wa...

RBI’s Risk Buffer Strategy Signals Long-Term Financial Resilience In a recent report, ICICI Bank highlighted that the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to maintain higher risk buffers will significantly strengthen its balance sheet while providing a stable foundation for India's macroeconomic outlook . This comes at a time when global oil prices are anticipated to stay benign, offering additional support to India’s inflation and fiscal management efforts. According to the report, the RBI’s robust risk buffers not only enhance its financial resilience but also act as a macroeconomic tailwind . ICICI Bank noted: “We believe higher risk buffer by RBI strengthens its balance sheet and provides a tailwind for India’s macroeconomic fundamentals when oil prices too are expected to be benign.” RBI’s Balance Sheet Expands at a Slower Pace Than GDP Growth The RBI’s balance sheet grew to ₹76.3 trillion in FY25, marking an 8.2% increase from the previous fiscal year. How...

Pakistan's Military Dominance Criticized During a recent address in London, senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad made sharp remarks about Pakistan’s political and military structure, calling it an “unelectable and unaccountable military-led regime.” While addressing the Indian diaspora, Prasad highlighted that Pakistan is no longer a democratic country in practice, but rather one ruled by successive military interventions. He specifically referred to Pakistan’s current Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir , saying, “Munir, who was defeated in the field, became a Field Marshal.” This was a direct reference to what Prasad sees as a legacy of self-appointed and politically intrusive generals in Pakistan, likening Munir’s promotion to that of previous military rulers like Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf. History of Military Rule in Pakistan Ravi Shankar Prasad traced Pakistan’s pattern of military dominance in governance, citing: Field...

A Major Boost to India’s Urban Transformation In a significant move aimed at accelerating India’s urban development, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa has committed up to USD 10 billion over five years. The funding is intended to support India’s ambitious urban infrastructure plans including metro rail extensions, new Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors , and enhanced urban services. This commitment includes a combination of sovereign loans, private sector financing, and third-party capital mobilization , forming part of a broader strategy to fast-track India's journey towards its "Viksit Bharat @ 2047" vision. Cities as Engines of Growth: ADB’s Vision Speaking after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, President Kanda emphasized the importance of urban centers as economic drivers. He stated that ADB would help mobilize capital, accelerate project delivery , and scale up innovative solutions to empower In...

  Historic Launch to Drive Agricultural Transformation The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has inaugurated the UAE’s first-ever National Agricultural Guidance Forum , a key national initiative aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector. Launched alongside the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2025 (held from 28–31 May at ADNEC Centre Al Ain), the forum was convened under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This pioneering event is designed to empower farmers, foster innovation, and promote climate-smart agriculture. Key Themes: Farmer Empowerment & Knowledge Exchange The forum focused on critical aspects of agricultural development, including: The strategic role of women in agricultural guidance International best practices and collaborative models Extension advisory services for modern farming techniques Case studies of farmer success and agricultural resilience These discussions emphasize...