Kolkata, Aug 5: The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Tuesday, directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to suspend four election officials posted with the two Assembly constituencies in two districts of West Bengal for their involvement in wrongful addition of names in the electoral rolls of these two seats.

These four officers are Debottam Dutta, the electoral returning officer (ERO) and Tathagata Mondal, assistant electoral returning officer (AERO) of the Baruipur (Purba) Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, and Biplab Sarkar, ERO and Sudipta Das, AERO of the Moyna Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district.

In addition to that, the commission has also directed the Chief Secretary to register an FIR against one data entry operator, Surojit Halder. Debottam Dutta and Biplab Sarkar are West Bengal Civil Service (executive) officers.

“The Commission further directs that strict compliance with the above instructions shall be ensured and an action-taken report sent to the Commission at the earliest,” the communique from the ECI to the Chief Secretary said. The office of the west Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal, first conducted a thorough probe against these two EROs, two AEROs, and one data entry operator, following complaints received against them on their involvement in the wrongful addition of names in the electoral rolls of these two constituencies.

Thereafter, the office of the CEO also forwarded a report on their findings to the commission, where it was reported that the said officers had not only failed in performing duties as EROs and AEROs while disposing of the applications but also violated the policy of data security while sharing their login credentials of the election registration database with unauthorised persons.

If proven guilty, the punishment of the erring individuals will be imprisonment for a term of at least three months, but it might extend to two years, and with a fine, the CEO has reminded the Chief Secretary in the communique.

IANS

New Delhi, Aug 5: While US President Donald Trump has labelled India as a “tariff king”, the claim doesn’t hold up against actual trade data and global comparisons with other nations.

While India’s simple average tariff is approximately 15.98 per cent, the trade-weighted average, which better reflects the duties actually applied on traded goods, is only 4.6 per cent, as per World Bank data, much lower than what is commonly believed.

Trade-weighted average tariffs measure the actual duties paid based on trade volume. This means that most of India’s high tariffs apply to sectors with low import volumes, such as agriculture or automobiles.

In contrast, the bulk of US exports to India – pharmaceuticals, energy products, machinery, and chemicals – face much lower duties, typically 5-8 per cent, as per official data. A significant portion of India’s imports enter duty-free, thanks to various schemes like Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Export-Oriented Units (EOUs), and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

In FY 2023-24, India imported over $42.2 billion worth of goods from the US. Nearly 75 per cent of this trade came from only 100 key product categories, and most of these faced low or minimal tariffs. For example, for crude oil and LNG, the import duty of Rs. 1.1 per tonne and 2.75 per cent accounts for 18.25 per cent of US imports to India.

In industrial machinery, a tariff of 7.5 per cent makes up 9.75 per cent of imports. Coal, with a 5 per cent duty, contributes 8.8 per cent of imports, and medical equipment has duties between 5 per cent and 7.5 per cent, with a 4.6 per cent import share.

Aircraft and parts carry a low tariff of 2.5 per cent, constituting 3 per cent of total imports and fertilisers with a tariff ranging from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent make up 1 per cent of imports, as per official data. When stacked against other countries, both developed and developing, India’s tariffs are far from extreme, sources say.

India’s weighted average is just 4.6 per cent, which is lower than Vietnam (5.1 per cent) and Indonesia (5.7 per cent) and is nearly equal to the European Union (5 per cent). In 1990, India’s average tariff was as high as 80.9 per cent. Following economic reforms in the early 1990s, tariffs were gradually reduced, falling to 33 per cent by 1999.

By 2023, India’s simple average tariff dropped further to 15.98 per cent, while the trade-weighted average stood at 4.6 per cent. India’s regulatory and safety standards are generally less restrictive than those of countries like the EU, Japan, or China.

On the other hand, the US itself imposes very high duties on several important products. These tariffs, many exceeding 100 per cent, are applied across a range of products, including dairy, agriculture, textiles, and autos, reflecting deep-rooted domestic concerns similar to those seen in countries like India.

IANS

New Delhi, Aug 5: The Defence Acquisition Council, under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday approved various proposals for buying military hardware at a total cost of about Rs 67,000 crore.

Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded for the procurement of Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sight for the Indian Army’s BMP fleet. This will enhance the night driving capability of BMPs and provide higher mobility and operational advantage to the Mechanised Infantry, according to an official statement.

For the Indian Navy, AoN was accorded for the procurement of Compact Autonomous Surface Craft, BrahMos Fire Control System & Launchers, and upgradation of BARAK-1 Point Defence Missile System.

The procurement of the Compact Autonomous Surface Craft will provide the capability to the navy for detection, classification and neutralisation of threats in anti-submarine warfare missions, the statement said.

the Indian Air Force, AoN was accorded for the procurement of mountain radars and the upgradation of the SAKSHAM/SPYDER weapon system. The procurement of mountain radars will enhance the air surveillance capability along and across the borders in the mountainous region.

The upgradation of SAKSHAM/SPYDER System for integration with the Integrated Air Command and Control System will enhance the air defence capability, the statement said. AoN was also accorded for the procurement of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) for the three Services.

The proposed MALE RPAs can carry multiple payloads and weapons and operate at longer ranges for long endurance missions. They will significantly enhance round-the-clock surveillance and combat capability of the armed forces, the statement said.

In addition, the DAC has also accorded AoN for sustenance of C-17 and C-130J planes of the Indian Air Force fleet and a comprehensive annual maintenance contract of the S-400 Long Range Air Defence Missile System, the statement added.

Ministry of Defence had also last month signed a contract with public sector defence company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of Air Defence Fire Control Radars for the army, worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore.

With a minimum 70 per cent indigenous content, these Fire Control Radars will be able to detect all forms of airborne threats, including fighter aircraft, attack helicopters and enemy drones. This would mark a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Air Defence Regiments and enhance the army’s operational readiness.

IANS

Dhaka, Aug 5: Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday unveiled the July Declaration and announced that the revised constitution would include it as a scheduled annexure, incorporating the “uprising” as a foundational moment in Bangladesh’s democratic transformation.

Yunus stated that the “Student-Mass Uprising 2024” will be given full state and constitutional recognition under a revised constitution to be adopted by the next elected government.

He unveiled the July Declaration at a grand public gathering at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Tuesday, marking the first anniversary of the ouster of the Awami League government, Dhaka Tribune reported.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Golam Parwar, Nationalist Citizen Party’s Nahid Islam, Ganosamhati Andolan’s Jonayed Saki, Nagorik Oikko’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna, and Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Nurul Haque Nur and others attended the public gathering.

At the public gathering, Yunus said that the document of the declaration is written to present the “aspirations” of the people of Bangladesh. He said the people of Bangladesh expressed their expectations to safeguard the rights of the present and the future generations through an environmental friendly, climate resilient, sustainable and inclusive development plan, United News of Bangladesh reported.

While reading out the 28-point declaration, he said, “Therefore, the people of Bangladesh express their desire that the student-people uprising of 2024 will get proper state and constitutional recognition and that the July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election.” July Declaration is a political manifesto marking the first anniversary of the fall of the Awami League government.

The anti-discrimination student movement had first raised the idea for a declaration in December last year. After their demand, the interim government decided to issue the July Declaration, Dhaka Tribune reported. Meanwhile, the students who were involved in the protests to overthrow former Prime Minister Hasina, boycotted the event, stating that their “courage” became “worthless” in less than a year, as not all of them received invitations.

Abdul Hannan Masud, the coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and Senior Joint Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), took to his social media, stating that he boycotted the event.

“I heard that this government could not invite the 158 coordinators and co-coordinators, the legitimate body of the July Uprising. They may have set up a few seats, but there will not be room for 158 people,” Masud posted.

“Those whose courage and leadership led to this coup and this government are worthless in less than a year. If my fellow fighters, who led the movement to overthrow Hasina, do not get the respect they deserve, I, Abdul Hannan Masood, personally announce to boycott tomorrow’s July Declaration programme,” the post added. Students’ Federation General Secretary Saikat Arif also said that they had decided not to participate in the event.

IANS

New Delhi, Aug 5: As sudden cloudburst triggered massive mudslides and landslides in Harshil, Uttarakhand on Tuesday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is on high alert and ready to join the ongoing rescue operations being carried out by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

IAF sources confirmed to IANS that helicopters from three major airbases – Chandigarh, Sarsawa, and Bareilly – have been placed on standby for aerial rescue and supply missions. The assets include two Chinooks, two Mi-17V5s, two Cheetahs, and one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), said an IAF official on the condition of anonymity.

However, adverse weather conditions over the higher reaches of Uttarakhand hampered air operations on Tuesday. “Helicopters were ready to take off today itself, but due to poor visibility and heavy rains, it was unsafe to operate,” the official said.

The helicopters will proceed to the Harshil sector once the weather permits and join the multi-agency relief effort. “Once deployed, they will assist in casualty evacuation, delivery of relief materials, and support to ground rescue teams,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has already deployed 150 personnel who reached the mudslide-hit area near Dharali village within minutes of the disaster. The NDRF and ITBP teams are also on the ground, conducting search-and-rescue operations amid extremely challenging terrain and continuous rainfall.

The situation in Harshil remains tense as multiple families have been reported stranded or missing due to the flash floods and debris flow. With communication lines snapped in some areas and roads washed away, air support is expected to play a crucial role once the weather improves.

Rescue agencies are coordinating closely to minimise casualties and deliver timely relief in the affected regions. Continuous rainfall remains the biggest hurdle in the response effort. IANS