Union Minister of State George Kurian has resigned from the Union Council of Ministers after completing his term in the Rajya Sabha, marking an important political development that could see him shift focus back to Kerala politics. The resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on the recommendation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to official sources.
Kurian’s exit comes after the end of his Rajya Sabha tenure, with reports suggesting that he was not renominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for another term in the Upper House. He had been serving as Minister of State for Minority Affairs and also held responsibilities in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
While the resignation is formally linked to the completion of his parliamentary term, political observers believe the move could signal a strategic transition towards Kerala politics. Within BJP circles, there is growing speculation that Kurian may now take on a more active organisational or electoral role in the state, where the party is working to expand its presence.
Kurian, a senior BJP leader from Kerala, has been considered an important face of the party’s outreach efforts in the state, particularly among minority communities. His experience at the national level is expected to be utilised by the party as it strengthens its state-level strategy ahead of upcoming elections.
Although there has been no official confirmation regarding his next assignment, political analysts suggest that his return to Kerala politics could play a role in reshaping the party’s leadership structure and campaign strategy in the state. His resignation marks the end of his tenure in the Union Cabinet and potentially the beginning of a renewed focus on Kerala’s political landscape.
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The Congress party on Tuesday stepped up its criticism of the central government’s ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid signing any agreement that it claims could be “one-sided” in favour of Washington. The opposition party also cautioned against what it described as an overly soft diplomatic approach towards US President Donald Trump, arguing that India should safeguard its economic interests rather than make concessions under external pressure.
According to statements from the Indian National Congress, the proposed trade framework under discussion between India and the United States requires greater scrutiny. Party leaders alleged that certain aspects of the deal could negatively impact domestic industries, particularly agriculture and small and medium enterprises. Congress leaders said India must negotiate from a position of strength and ensure that any agreement is balanced, mutually beneficial, and transparent. They added that strategic ties with the US should not translate into economic compromises that could hurt local producers.
The remarks come amid ongoing efforts by New Delhi and Washington to expand trade cooperation, including discussions on tariffs, market access, and supply chain integration. However, differences reportedly remain over sensitive sectors such as agriculture, digital trade rules, and industrial tariffs. Government officials have maintained that the talks are aimed at strengthening bilateral economic relations and attracting investment while protecting domestic priorities.
The issue has now become politically sensitive, with the opposition accusing the government of prioritising diplomatic optics over economic safeguards. Meanwhile, experts say India continues to balance a complex equation between deepening global partnerships and protecting internal market stability. As negotiations continue, the debate highlights growing political divisions over the direction of India’s trade policy and its long-term economic strategy.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Hindu.
India needs to maintain a steady growth rate of 7–8% to achieve the vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, and this will largely depend on a revival in private investment and strong export performance, according to Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
Speaking on the sidelines of the FICCI India Innovative Crop Nutrition Conclave 2026, he said that reforms undertaken in recent years have already laid the foundation for this growth path. He stressed that achieving the target will require sustained investment, with the private sector playing a key role alongside export expansion. He also pointed to the importance of the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Dev clarified that self-reliance does not mean reducing imports or moving away from global trade. Instead, it aims to strengthen domestic capabilities and improve product quality through increased competition, enabling higher export potential. He added that India’s demographic dividend and improvements in technology and skills will support long-term growth toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
The government has also identified 100 products where domestic production can replace imports, as part of efforts to reduce dependency and improve resilience. Alongside this, initiatives to improve ease of doing business and living standards are intended to strengthen the economy against external shocks. He noted that contingency planning has improved since the COVID-19 period, helping the country better withstand global disruptions.
On agriculture, he highlighted a policy shift towards reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and increasing adoption of organic and natural farming practices to ease subsidy pressures. He also pointed out that falling global urea prices—from about USD 900 to USD 450—will help reduce subsidy costs.
Regarding the macroeconomic outlook, he said India has sufficient pulse stocks to keep food inflation under control, though global risks such as geopolitical tensions in West Asia and El Niño conditions remain concerns. He said he broadly aligns with RBI projections of 6.6% growth and 5.1% inflation.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is likely to undertake her first official visit to India between July 1 and 3 next month, according to sources. However, due to logistical constraints, the trip is now expected to be centered in New Delhi. Officials indicated that while Guwahati was initially considered as a possible venue—and was even proposed to the Japanese side—the tight schedule and operational challenges of holding events outside the capital have made Delhi the more practical choice.
“Given PM Takaichi’s domestic commitments, the time window between her arrival and departure is quite limited. Considering this, along with additional logistical complexities associated with organising events outside Delhi, the visit is likely to be held in the capital,” sources said. The revised plan also allows both sides to include key engagement programmes aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had suggested that Guwahati could host the summit-level meeting between PM Takaichi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 1. He also mentioned the possibility publicly on social media, noting the proposed visit window from July 1 onward. Japanese media reports have also indicated that Takaichi may visit Assam in early July, accompanied by representatives from more than 50 Japanese companies and organisations, highlighting the economic dimension of the trip.
A report by NHK noted that during the upcoming discussions with PM Modi, both leaders are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in areas such as defence, trade, and investment, aligned with the Japan-India joint vision for the next decade announced during Modi’s earlier visit to Japan.
The two leaders had already discussed strengthening ties on the sidelines of the recent G7 summit in France, where PM Modi reaffirmed that India and Japan would continue expanding collaboration across multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on economic growth. Sanae Takaichi, a close political associate of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is the first woman to hold the office of Japan’s Prime Minister. Interestingly, Abe was once scheduled to visit Guwahati in 2019 for talks with PM Modi, but that trip was postponed.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from @takaichi_sanae.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with IAS 2024 batch trainees at Seva Teerth, urging them to adopt a citizen-first approach under “Nagrik Devo Bhava.” He emphasized integrity, empathy, and coordination in governance, linking their role to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and highlighting the importance of technology, data-driven policies, and outcome-based administration.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Keir Starmer has revealed that he will step down as prime minister less than two years after securing an election win, setting off a contest to choose the next Labour leader. As Labour MPs grow increasingly concerned about the rising influence of Nigel Farage’s Reform party, attention has turned to Andy Burnham, the politician nicknamed the “King of the North.” His strong performance in a local by-election last weekend has fuelled speculation that he could be a future occupant of No. 10. Reged Ahmad speaks with North of England editor Josh Halliday about Burnham’s growing political momentum, why he is being viewed as a potential next British prime minister, and why the coming week could shape the future direction of UK politics.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nick Ames, Lucy Ward, and Jacob Steinberg as England kick off their World Cup campaign in impressive fashion. The episode invites listeners to rate, review, and share on Apple Podcasts, and to join the discussion via email. Today’s focus is England’s 4–2 win over Croatia, with Thomas Tuchel’s side pressing aggressively and playing with real tempo and attacking intent, particularly in a strong second half. The panel debates how much significance should be attached to such a convincing opening performance. Elsewhere in the group, Ghana’s 1–0 win over Panama receives only brief attention before moving on to DR Congo, who earned a well-deserved draw against a disappointing Portugal side. This naturally leads to growing discussion about Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in the team going forward. The episode also previews the next set of fixtures, includes Nick Ames reporting from the GOP convention on his day off, revisits the ongoing “apples” segment, and wraps up with listener questions. Listeners are encouraged to support The Guardian and follow Football Weekly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Elon Musk has reportedly become the world’s first trillionaire, driven largely by SpaceX, whose massive IPO has pushed its valuation above $2 trillion. At the same time, huge investments in artificial intelligence are lifting other major tech companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are expected to go public with valuations nearing a trillion dollars. According to The Guardian’s US tech editor Blake Montgomery in conversation with Kai Wright, these IPOs mean that the global financial system is becoming increasingly tied to the success of AI—and potentially exposed to significant risk if it fails.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Seb Hutchinson, and Pablo Maurer as the USA kick off their World Cup campaign. They discuss the US team’s dominant opening win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, suggesting they might actually be a strong side, with praise for Christian Pulisic. Elsewhere, Canada rescue a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Jesse Marsch’s triple substitution helping turn the game around, though Bosnia’s defending nearly held firm. They also preview upcoming fixtures such as Haiti vs Scotland, answer listener questions, and share some light moments from the studio.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
