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Nitish Kumar maintains silence on Prashant Kishor’s political announcement

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 A day after political strategist Prashant Kishor hinted about launching a political party, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar maintained a studied silence on the development.

While interacting with media on the occasion of Eid on Tuesday, the chief minister initially ducked the question, but on being asked repeatedly, he stated that he has nothing to do with it.

On Monday, Prashant Kishor hinted at launching a political party from Bihar. Taking to his official Twitter handle, he tweeted: “My quest to be a meaningful participation in democracy and help shape pro people policy led to a 10 years rollercoaster ride.”

“As I turn this page, time to go to the Real Masters. The people to better understand the issues and to path to Jan Suraj – People good governance starting from Bihar,” he tweeted.

His tweets evoked sharp reactions by RJD and BJP, but JD-U chose not to react.

It is well known that Nitish Kumar has good relations with Prashant Kishor, which the former has admitted several times on public platforms.

Several, however, see it a political ploy of Nitish Kumar to indirectly promote PK in the state so that the parties can be merged.

Currently, JD-U is undergoing a deep crisis especially after the second expansion of the Narendra Modi government. In that expansion, R.C.P. Singh was given the charge to bargain with BJP but he opted otherwise and secured the cabinet berth for himself.

This led to other prominent leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh being upset with him. Nitish Kumar realised it and made him the party’s national president.

At present, there is a RCP Singh group, Lalan Singh group, Upendra Kushwaha group, active in JD-U.

Taking this in view, the JD-U has issued an official notification directing that every poster and advertisement will have Kumar’s photograph only. No other leaders are entitled to promote themselves through poster politics in Bihar.

It is well known that except Nitish Kumar, there is no political successor in JD-U who could hold the party together at present. Neither RCP Singh, nor Lalan Singh or Upendra Kushwaha.

In that context, the political capability of PK is well established across the country. Hence, Nitish Kumar could give ideal play ground in Bihar to grow as a party and then merge into JD-U so that it would be easy for Nitish Kumar to hand over the responsibility to hold his legacy.

Though, this is just an assumption of political analysts in Bihar, they also believe that no one, including his closest allies, know Kumar’s take on it.

Business

Maruti Suzuki’s New Mid-Term Plan Aims To Make India An Export Hub, Launch More EVs

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New Delhi: The Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, the parent company of Maruti Suzuki India, on Thursday announced a new mid-term plan with a “rethink” in its strategy as “the business environment has changed due to declining market share in India” and the growing electrical vehicles segment.

In its new mid-term plan for 2025-30, the company has identified India as its “most important market”. Maruti Suzuki aims to create a manufacturing capacity of producing 4 million cars annually to reclaim a 50 per cent market share in India and use the country as a global export hub as well.

The auto major plans to expand its EV lineup starting with the e-Vitara, and is aiming to launch four new EV models by FY30 in a segment where its rivals like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra already have a varied EV portfolio in India.

“In India, we will promote further localisation in line with the growth of the electric vehicle market,” the company said.

Maruti Suzuki is currently exporting three lakh vehicles from India annually. By the end of this decade, it is targeting the export of 7.5-8 lakh units per year.

While the company noted it achieved revenue and profit targets ahead of schedule by improving sales mix and quality, its sales volume target could not be met.

It noted that the “competitive environment is becoming increasingly severe, and the quality of product functions, equipment and services required by customers is increasing”.

It aims to be India’s no.1 carmaker in terms of production, local sales and exports of electric cars. A total of six electric vehicles will be introduced by FY30, including four electric cars and two commercial vehicles.

Suzuki Motor plans to invest 1,200 billion yen (about Rs 7,000 crore) as capital expenditure towards production, new models, carbon neutrality and quality measures. A new plant in Haryana’s Kharkhoda and an assembly line in Suzuki Motor Gujarat will come onstream by 2030 for a total installed capacity of four million units.

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Business

India to transform into high-income country with GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047

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New Delhi, Feb 20: India is set to transform into a high-income country with a projected GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047, driven by sustained annual growth of 8-10 per cent, according to a report on Thursday.

This will be powered by India’s demographic dividend, technological innovation, and sectoral transformation, according to the report by Bain & Company and Nasscom.

With nearly 200 million individuals expected to enter the workforce in the coming decades, India has a unique opportunity to drive high-value job creation and unlock significant economic potential.

Five key sectors, including electronics, energy, chemicals, automotive, and services, would act as strategic growth levers due to alignment with global trends and scalability, with the potential to address India’s unique challenges and advantages.

Rising income, a growing pool of skilled workers, and continuous improvements in infrastructure are some of the key factors that can fuel this growth, said the report.

“By investing in digital and transport infrastructure, enhancing domestic manufacturing, and driving collaborative R&D, we can position India as a leader in future technologies and global trade. A multi-pronged, tech-driven approach will be key to unlocking inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President at Nasscom.

Advances in AI-driven chip design, touchless manufacturing, and backward integration into component manufacturing and design could enhance cost competitiveness and innovation, driving the sector’s export share from 24 per cent to 45 per cent-50 per cent by 2047 and its GDP contribution from 3 per cent to 8 per cent-10 per cent.

India’s share of renewables in overall energy generation has the potential to rise from 24 per cent in 2023 to 70 per cent in 2047 backed by modernising energy infrastructure, and scaled investments in green energy. India is also likely to transition from a net energy importer to a net exporter.

“AI-powered molecular design and digital twin technologies, along with other tech-driven improvements can lead to a potential increase India’s share in global value chain from around 3 per cent to over 10 per cent in 2047,” said the report.

Auto-components exports sector are likely to reach $200–$250 billion (by 2047), driven by near-term share capture in ICE market and longer-term shift to EVs.

“Electronics is one of the key sectors instrumental in this journey and is poised to emerge as a global manufacturing hub expected to $3.5 trillion by 2047, contributing more than 20 per cent to global production,” said Lokesh Payik, Partner at Bain & Company.

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Business

India aims to triple its textile exports to Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030

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New Delhi, Feb 19: India’s textile exports have reached Rs 3 lakh crore and the goal is to triple this to Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030 by strengthening domestic manufacturing and expanding global reach, the government has said.

India is the sixth-largest exporter of textiles globally, contributing 8.21 per cent to the country’s total exports in 2023-24.

The sector holds a 4.5 per cent share in global trade, with the United States and European Union accounting for 47 per cent of India’s textile and apparel exports, according to the Ministry of Textiles.

The recently concluded ‘Bharat Tex 2025’ in the national capital served as a platform to accelerate the government’s “Farm to Fibre, Fabric, Fashion, and Foreign Markets” vision. The event demonstrated India’s leadership in the textile sector and its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration.

Organised from February 14 -17, the event spanned 2.2 million square feet and featured over 5,000 exhibitors, providing a comprehensive showcase of India’s textile ecosystem.

More than 1,20,000 trade visitors, from 120+ countries including global CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders, attended the event, according to the ministry.

“From an employment perspective, the textile industry provides direct employment to over 45 million people and supports the livelihoods of over 100 million individuals indirectly, including a large proportion of women and rural workers,” said the government.

The government’s focus on increasing textile manufacturing, modernising infrastructure, fostering innovation, and upgrading technology has strengthened India’s position as a global textile hub.

India is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of fabrics, catering to both domestic and international markets.

The sector is characterised by a mix of large-scale industrial manufacturing and small-scale artisanal production, reflecting a vibrant tapestry of innovation and tradition.

Major fabric hubs in the country include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal, each known for its unique textile specialties.

The apparel and fashion industry is a major economic driver, contributing significantly to GDP and employment.

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