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India’s internet subscribers cross 100 crore by June rising 3.48 pc quarterly

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New Delhi, Sep 4: India’s internet subscribers surpassed 1 billion, reaching 1,002.85 million by June 30, 2025, surging 3.48 per cent from March, driven by broadband growth, government data said.

According to a report from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), of these over 100 crore subscribers, 4.47 crore had wired internet connections, while 95.81 crore have wireless connections.

Broadband subscribers increased by 3.77 per cent to 979.71 million, while narrowband users decreased to 23.14 million. Total telephone subscribers reached 1,218.36 million in the March-June 2025 quarter, marking a 1.46 per cent increase from the previous quarter.

This raised the overall tele-density to 86.09 per cent, up from 85.04 per cent the previous quarter, an official release said. In terms of demographics, urban internet subscribers number around 57.94 crore, while rural internet subscribers are not far behind at 42.33 crore, it added.

The data indicated that the monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless services is Rs 186.62, while the average Minutes of Usage (MOU) per wireless subscriber each month is 16.76 hours.

The telecom sector’s gross revenue reached Rs. 96,646 crore, a 1.63 per cent decline from the previous quarter but a 12.34 per cent increase year-on-year. Adjusted gross revenue was Rs. 81,325 crore, up 2.65 per cent from the last quarter.

services accounted for 83.62 per cent of adjusted gross revenue. The licence fees rose by 2.63 per cent to Rs 6,506 crore and pass-through charges dropped 19.45 per cent to Rs 10,457 crore, the release further said.

Around 912 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking or downlinking or both. Out of 902 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 333 satellite pay TV channels as of June 30, 2025, the release noted.

IANS

India, Singapore believe fighting terrorism is the duty of all, says PM Modi

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New Delhi, Sep 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Singapore share common concerns regarding terrorism and believe that fighting it together is the duty of all nations. He also expressed gratitude to Singapore for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and supporting India’s fight against terrorism.

Addressing a joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, PM Modi said, “We share common concerns regarding terrorism and believe that fighting terrorism together is the duty of all humanitarian nations.”

“After the Pahalgam terror attack, I thank PM Wong and the Singapore government for their empathy towards the people of India and their support in our fight against terrorism,” he added.

These remarks came as PM Modi and Singaporean PM Wong met at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi to discuss ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties. At least 26 people were killed by four heavily-armed terrorists — linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Laskhar-e-Taiba — in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Following this, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor against the terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Wong had taken to social media and condemned the attack.

“Shocked by the terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, last night. Singapore strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all the families of the victims and the people of India,” Wong had said.

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan had also expressed shock over the brutal terror attack. “Deeply saddened by the terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of many and injured others. Singapore strongly condemns terrorism. We stand with India at this difficult time,” he had posted on X.

Wong is currently on a three-day official visit, marking a significant moment in the evolving strategic partnership between the two countries. This is his first visit to India since assuming office, and he is accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation including cabinet ministers and senior officials.

IANS

Tribal tea growers of Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape trained in handmade tea processing

Guwahati, Sep 4: Premier biodiversity conservation organisation of the region Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) successfully completed two training sessions on handmade tea processing recently in Diring River Basin, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKL) of Assam.

The training was attended by twelve new trainees and three refresher participants who are small tea growers of Sivoram Terang and Sarbura Singnar village, according to a Press release.

This initiative was aimed to empower local tea growers with advanced skills and knowledge to enhance the quality and sustainability of handmade tea production.

Over the course of two sessions, participants from these villages were engaged in hands-on training led by Mina Tokbipi, a local tea expert from Englepathar village.

The programme focused on critical aspects of tea processing, including plucking techniques, withering, rolling, drying, and quality evaluation, tailored to small-scale tea growers aiming to produce high-quality handmade tea.

The training focused on strengthening the local tea industry by equipping growers with the tools to improve product quality, meet market standards, and boost economic opportunities.

Participants learned sustainable practices to maintain the region’s rich tea heritage. The programme also emphasised the unique cultural and economic significance of tea production in these communities, fostering pride and innovation among growers.

Among the participants, there was a dedicated grower, Jevilyn Hansepi, who had already undertaken a similar training in the year 2023. She  rejoined to refresh her knowledge sharing, “I had taken the training before, but forgot some of the processing steps. Coming back helped me regain my confidence and learn new techniques to improve my tea quality.“

Rani Singnarpi, a first time participant expressed her enthusiasm stating “We’re deeply grateful to Aaranyak for conducting such training programmes. This training programme will equip us with valuable skills to produce handmade tea, which will not only help our households but also boost our local economy.”

“I am thrilled to witness the enthusiasm and dedication of the tea growers in Sivoram Terang and Sarbura Singnar,” said Mina Tokbipi. “This training programne is a step toward empowering our local farmers with the knowledge and skills to produce premium handmade teas, ensuring both economic growth and the preservation of our region’s tea-making legacy.”

This training was organised and facilitated by Avinash Phangcho and Moromi Nath, with support from Uttaran Dutta, of Aaranyak.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to support small tea growers in the region and aligned with the Aaranyak’s vision to promote sustainable agriculture and enhance livelihoods. Plans are underway to conduct similar programmes in other villages to further enhance the quantity of tea production.

Aaranyak is committed towards conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem and supporting the indigenous communities residing in Kaziranga- Karbi Anglong Landscape and Manas Landscape through promotion of Alternative and Sustainable Livelihoods activities, education and awareness. The initiative is supported by IUCN – Kfw and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

 

Major relief to people by leaving more money in their hands: Industry chambers hail GST reforms

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New Delhi, Sep 4: The country’s leading industry chambers on Thursday welcomed the GST Council’s decision to reduce tax slabs from four to two, saying the move will bring major relief to the common citizens by leaving more money in their hands.

The council, at its 56th meeting, abolished the 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs and decided to stick with the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs. Hemant Jain, President of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), told IANS, “With this GST reform, the government has given a timely gift to the common man by increasing his spending power during the festive season.”

Jain highlighted that the reforms would significantly benefit the health sector, as GST on personal health and life insurance premiums has been reduced to zero. He said the measure would directly help households.

Commenting on the broader economy, he added, “GST reforms are crucial for realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India. After the impact of U.S. tariffs, several sectors were facing challenges, as America is one of India’s key trading partners. These reforms will strengthen India’s growth story.”

He also noted that while the government has made many essential items cheaper, luxury items — which are not part of everyday needs — have been made costlier to strike a balance. Manish Singhal, Secretary General of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), echoed this sentiment.

“This is a highly relieving decision for the common man. Lower prices will encourage higher consumption, which in turn will increase production in industry. Greater production will attract more investment and boost the logistics and supply chain sectors. For instance, GST cuts on trucks and tractors will have a far-reaching impact,” Singhal said.

On insurance, Singhal pointed out that policies had become prohibitively expensive for ordinary citizens. “The removal of GST will make insurance more affordable and encourage more people to get coverage. As the customer base expands, insurers will find it difficult to keep premiums high. This reform will help families strengthen their financial security. It is indeed a commendable step by the government,” he added.

IANS

India’s postal system is now world’s largest doorstep banking network: PM Modi

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New Delhi, Sep 4:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted that India’s postal system has now become the world’s largest doorstep banking network, and the humble postman is playing the role of the harbinger of financial inclusion.

“With unprecedented efforts from the government, our humble postman has become the harbinger of financial inclusion. With India Post Office and IPPB Online, India’s postal system is now the world’s largest doorstep banking network, ensuring dignity and empowerment,” wrote PMO India on X.

He was responding to an article on India’s postal system by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The Prime Minister praised the article for presenting a “broader vision” on the country’s postal system.

Scindia said, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, India Post Office and India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) Online have redefined one of the world’s oldest postal networks into the globe’s largest doorstep banking system.

In consonance with this vision, the India Post Payments Bank is bringing access, assurance, and aspiration directly to the doorsteps of 140 crore Indians.” The minister has further stated in an article that the Department of Posts, with its network of 1,60,000 post offices, is writing its growth story.

“Yesterday’s postman now brings the promise of financial access and dignity to every doorstep in the country.” IPPB has quietly become a national pioneer by ensuring the digitalisation of all its rural accounts.

By integrating technology, expanding partnerships and diversifying services, the IPPB has transformed post offices into comprehensive financial hubs, proving that even the oldest institutions can evolve step with a rapidly changing world.

Eight years ago, the IPPB was established with a commitment to ensure that no Indian, irrespective of geography, gender, or circumstance, is excluded from the formal economy. Beyond opening accounts, it was unlocking opportunities and empowerment. By integrating rural India into the digital economy, it has become an engine of national economic empowerment, Scindia added.

IANS

64 pc GST comes from poor & middle class, only 3 pc GST collected from billionaires: K’taka Minister Priyank Kharge

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Bengaluru, Sep 4: Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), IT and BT, Priyank Kharge, taking objection to the revamp of the eight-year-old indirect tax regime by the Centre, stated on Thursday that “two thirds of the total Goods and Services Tax i.e. 64 per cent comes from the pockets of the poor and the middle class, but only 3 per cent GST is collected from billionaires, while the rate of Corporate Tax has been reduced from 30 per cent to 22 per cent.”

Priyank Kharge further stated that, “Now that, the government has finally adhered to our demands of rationalising and simplifying the GST, they are yet to figure out how they will compensate the losses to states like Karnataka.”

Minister Kharge took to social media platform X to state, “A bit of common sense seems to have dawned upon the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sarkar on the ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’. For almost a decade, the Indian National Congress has been demanding simplification of GST. ‘One Nation, One Tax’ had become ‘One Nation, 9 Taxes’ — 0 per cent, 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, 28 per cent, and special rates of 0.25 per cent, 1.5 per cent, 3 per cent and 6 per cent.”

“The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge had been consistently batting for 18 per cent cap or lower GST rates. The Congress party in its 2019 and 2024 manifestos had demanded a GST 2.0 with simplified and rational tax regime. We had also demanded to simplify the complicated compliances which had severely hit the MSMEs and small businesses,” Kharge said.

For the first time, farmers were taxed under the BJP, with GST rates on at least 36 goods/items in the farm sector ranging from 12 per cent to 28 per cent, he stated. Essential commodities like packaged milk, wheat flour, curd, books, stationery etc were brought in under the GST, Kharge pointed out.

IANS

GST Council cuts tax on renewable energy equipment to 5 pc

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New Delhi, Sep 4: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has reduced the tax on renewable energy devices and manufacturing parts from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, effective from September 22 this year.

The Council also raised the tax on coal and lignite from 5 per cent to 18 per cent to offset revenue losses for state governments. The Council has lowered the GST on non-lithium-ion batteries, including lead acid, sodium, and flow batteries, from 28 per cent to 18 per cent to scale grid-scale energy storage technologies for storing renewable power for longer durations.

The GST for lithium-ion batteries shall remain 18 per cent. “GST has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent on renewable energy devices and parts for their manufacture, such as biogas plants, windmills, wind-operated electricity generators, waste to energy plants, devices, PV cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up in panel, solar cookers, solar water heaters and systems, and so on,” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Further, the tax on hydrogen vehicles using fuel cell technology, such as cars, buses, and trucks has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, while Electric Vehicles (EVs) will continue to attract a 5 per cent GST.

Analysts said that reducing GST rates on clean energy technologies like solar, wind, and batteries can decrease project costs and enhance the competitiveness of renewable power. The GST 2.0 reforms reduced GST primarily to two slabs, 5 per cent and 18 per cent from the erstwhile four-slab regime.

The prices of consumer goods are expected to come down due to the lower taxes, leading to an increase in demand and spurring growth in the economy. HSBC Global Investment Research had projected the commissioning of 11.7 GW of thermal power, 3.8 GW of hydropower, and 36 GW of solar power in India during FY26. The overall power demand increased 4.4 per cent Year on Year in August and over 2 per cent in July upon a low base. IANS

Trump’s ego behind US tariff hike on Indian goods: Report

New Delhi, Sep 4: The 50 per cent punitive US tariff imposed on Indian goods is increasingly being seen as more to do with President Donald Trump’s ego being hurt over New Delhi contradicting his claim of having brokered the ceasefire with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor rather than any economic rationale.

“Trump’s 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods is as much about showing off power as about economics. The irony is striking. While India is being targeted for buying Russian oil, EU countries quietly imported €21.9 billion in Russian fossil fuels last year—more than the €18.7 billion they sent in aid to Ukraine. The EU has been trying to reduce its dependency on Russia since the start of the Ukraine conflict, yet the numbers remain high,” according to an article in the London Daily.

“So, is this really about energy morality—or is it messaging in a world order that’s in flux, where alliances, trade, and even climate priorities are shifting? Perhaps ego is also part of the story,” the article further states.

It highlights that the relations between the two countries soured when India refused to credit Trump for “stopping” the recent India-Pakistan flare-up. Other media reports have also mentioned that Trump is singling out India because it has categorically pointed out that he had no role to play in the truce with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.

India has made it clear that after the successful precision strikes that wiped out terrorist camps and damaged strategic air bases deep in Pakistani territory, Islamabad had requested a ceasefire. New Delhi had agreed to the proposal as Operation Sindoor had successfully accomplished the mission for which it was launched.

However, this runs contrary to Trump’s narrative of posing as a peacemaker who has brought several conflicts to an end worldwide since he came to power. Pakistan, on the other hand, has been supporting this narrative and recommended Trump’s name for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of its cosying up to Washington.

The London Daily also mentions that “the situation got complicated further when Pakistan suggested nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his supposed role in the ceasefire. India, unsurprisingly, stayed away from the fanfare. And Trump, who has often hinted that he deserved the Nobel, now faced a scenario that may have marked the final crack in a relationship that once seemed firmly on friendly footing.”

President Trump has also stated that the 25 per cent additional tariff is being imposed in the form of sanctions against India for buying Russian oil and is aimed at putting pressure on Moscow to agree to a peace deal in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, India has made it clear that it has been buying Russian oil because it is in both national and global interest. These purchases have ensured low prices for Indian consumers and also prevented oil prices in the international market from shooting up, which would have imposed a heavy economic burden on all countries.

In fact, the rationale for the US allowing India to buy Russian oil was to keep world prices in check. Interestingly, while China buys more oil than India from Russia, the Trump administration has not imposed any punitive tariffs on the Asian economic giant.

IANS

Acclaimed conservation scientist urges Shillong students to focus on hands-on experience on NE’s biodiversity

Guwahati, Sept 4:  The Department of Zoology, St. Edmund’s College, Shillong in collaboration with IQAC of the college organised an awareness programme on “Wildlife Conservation: A Shared Responsibility” on the forenoon of September 2.

Passionate conservation scientist Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Secretary General and Executive Director of Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org), as the invited speaker delivered a talk on the topic. The programme was participated by over 200 students and faculty members from the college, according to a Press release.

Dr. Talukdar emphasised on the ecological significance of Northeast India in terms of its rich biodiversity and highlighted the opportunities available for students to contribute, not only through research but also by engaging in on- ground conservation efforts where expertise from diverse disciplines is in demand as on date.

Dr. Talukdar also spoke about Aaranyak’s wide-ranging initiatives, encouraging students to explore the organisation’s internship and volunteering programmes to work jointly for biodiversity conservation.
He further underlined the importance of collaborative training programmes to enhance students’ capacities in the field of biodiversity conservation and
human well-being.
The Principal in-charge of the college, Br. Sunil Britto also attended the event and felicitated Dr. Talukdar prior to his address.

In the afternoon same day, Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar delivered another invited talk on “Research Opportunities in the Field of Bioresource Conservation in Northeast India,” at Shillong College in the capital city of Meghalaya.

Addressing the students of Zoology, he spoke about the wide range of research avenues available in the region and encouraged them to devote time to understand and learn from nature.

Here too he highlighted Aaranyak’s internship and volunteering programmes and emphasised the need for collaborative training initiatives to help students strengthen their skills and capacities in conservation.

The faculty members of both colleges expressed strong interest in collaborating with Aaranyak to create opportunities for skill development of the students, with the aim of creating a pool of conservation-minded and research-oriented students and scholars in their institutions.

New GST rates: What gets cheaper and costlier from Sep 22

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New Delhi, Sep 4:  After the GST Council approved historical changes to India’s indirect tax structure, several daily-use goods will become cheaper from September 22. The new tax structure, adopted on Wednesday, has two major slabs now 5 per cent and 18 per cent, and a whopping 40 per cent for sin goods.

For the common man, this change means more money in hand, which the government hopes will be routed into the economy, giving it a significant boost. From groceries and fertilisers to footwear, textiles, and even renewable energy, a broad basket of goods and services is set to become more affordable.

Items earlier taxed at 12 per cent and 28 per cent will now largely migrate to the other two slabs, making a wide range of products cheaper. Food and daily essentials Milk products: Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk will now be tax-free (down from 5 per cent), while condensed milk, butter, ghee, paneer, and cheese have moved from 12 per cent to 5 per cent or nil in some cases.

Staple foods: Malt, starches, pasta, cornflakes, biscuits, and even chocolates and cocoa products will see rates reduced from 12–18 per cent to 5 per cent. Dry fruits and nuts: Almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, and dates, earlier taxed at 12 per cent, will now attract just 5 per cent.

Sugar and confectionery: Refined sugar, sugar syrups, and confectionery items like toffees and candy have shifted to the 5 per cent slab. Other packaged foods: Vegetable oils, animal fats, edible spreads, sausages, meat preparations, fish products, and malt extract-based packaged foods have been moved to the 5 per cent slab.

Namkeens, bhujia, mixture, chabena and similar edible preparations ready for consumption form (other than roasted gram), pre-packaged and labelled to go from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. Waters, including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, nor flavoured to move from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.

Agriculture and fertilisers Fertilisers are down from 12 per cent/18 per cent to 5 per cent. Select agricultural inputs, including seeds and crop nutrients, have been rationalised from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. Healthcare Life-saving drugs, health-related products, and some medical devices have seen rate cuts from 12 per cent/18 per cent to 5 per cent or nil.

Individual life and health insurance policies, including family floater, which had a 12 per cent tax, will no longer be taxed A massive chunk of medical items of regular use — including thermometers and glucometers — will be in the 5 per cent tax bracket. Consumer goods Entry-level and mass-use items like select electrical appliances will move from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.

Footwear and textiles have seen GST cut from 12 per cent to 5 per cent, reducing costs for mass-market products. However, certain goods and services remain firmly under higher taxation. Pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, zarda, unmanufactured tobacco, and bidi will continue under existing high GST rates and compensation cess until outstanding cess-linked loans are cleared.

Additionally, the valuation of these products will now be shifted to Retail Sale Price (RSP) instead of transaction value, tightening compliance. All goods (including aerated waters), containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured to go from 28 per cent to 40 per cent. A new 40 per cent slab for sin and luxury goods remains, ensuring that items like cigarettes, premium liquor, and high-end cars don’t see tax relief. Imported armoured luxury sedans will be exempt only in special cases, such as those brought in by the President’s Secretariat.

IANS