PM Modi to chair crucial Union Cabinet meeting today

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important Union Cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. The high-level meeting is expected to take place at 11 a.m.

Prime Minister Modi chaired the most recent Cabinet meeting on August 8, which began at 1 p.m. That session was called in response to the substantial increase in tariffs imposed by the United States on Indian goods.

The move by the US administration, led by President Donald Trump, raised total tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

The latest 25 per cent hike in tariffs was announced by President Trump, citing India’s continued imports of Russian crude oil as the main reason behind the punitive action.

This came on top of a previous 25 per cent tariff that had already taken effect on July 20.

The previous Cabinet meeting focused on evaluating the impact of these trade measures and exploring India's options to safeguard its economic interests amid escalating trade tensions, IANS reported.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi was on a two-day visit to his home state, Gujarat, where he inaugurated and flagged off the 'Made in India' e-Vitara, Suzuki’s first global strategic Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

The launch event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Japanese Ambassador Keiichi Ono.

Marking a major milestone in India's push toward green mobility, PM Modi called it a “special day” in the country’s journey toward self-reliance.

He also announced that hybrid battery electrode production would soon begin at a new facility in Gujarat, boosting India's growing battery ecosystem.

The 'Made in India' e-Vitaras will be exported to over 100 countries, including key markets in Europe and Japan.