Congress Demands Parliamentary Debate on Security After Pahalgam Attack
Congress Calls for Discussion on National Security
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The Congress party has raised questions regarding whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will permit a comprehensive discussion in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament concerning India's security and foreign policy issues, particularly in light of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. This session is scheduled to take place from July 21 to August 12.
The demand from Congress came shortly after Modi's meeting with Indian delegations, which included former diplomats and MPs who recently visited 32 countries to communicate India's stance on cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has urged the Prime Minister to organize discussions with leaders from all political parties to forge a consensus on India's approach towards China and Pakistan, especially following recent remarks made by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Singapore.
Ramesh referenced Chauhan's statements to Bloomberg, which some interpreted as an acknowledgment of the Indian Air Force's losses during Operation Sindoor.
US and China Reach Trade Agreement
The United States and China have established a framework aimed at reducing trade tensions and lifting restrictions on rare earth mineral exports imposed by Beijing on Washington. However, the details of this framework remain unclear.
This development follows an agreement made nearly a month ago, where both nations decided to suspend tariffs on each other's goods for a period of 90 days after discussions in Geneva.
The agreement had stalled due to China's ongoing restrictions on critical mineral exports, prompting Washington to impose its own restrictions on shipments of semiconductor design software, aircraft, and other products to China.
After two days of talks in London, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the newly reached framework with Beijing adds substance to the May 12 agreement in Geneva aimed at easing mutual retaliatory tariffs.
Karnataka to Conduct New Caste Survey
Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced plans for a new caste survey in the state, addressing concerns regarding the accuracy of previous data. This new enumeration will respond to claims from various communities that they were either excluded or inadequately represented in the earlier survey.
In April, the Cabinet accepted the report from the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, which collected data in 2015 during Siddaramaiah's previous term as chief minister.
The findings faced criticism from politicians who argued that the data did not accurately reflect the state's diverse caste makeup. Additionally, the Vokkaligas and Veerashaiva-Lingayats, two of Karnataka's major communities, objected to the findings and called for the report to be discarded.
New Temperature Regulations for Air Conditioners in India
Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar has announced that new air conditioners in India will have their temperature settings standardized to not fall below 20 degrees Celsius or exceed 28 degrees Celsius. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address rising temperatures due to climate change and the increasing reliance on cooling systems.
However, the minister did not specify when this new regulation would be implemented.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has indicated that raising an air conditioner's temperature setting by just one degree Celsius can lead to a reduction in electricity consumption by up to 6%.
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