India A Laundromat For Russia, Has Role In Ukraine Bloodshed: White House Trade Advisor

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'They Don't Need The Oil. . .It's A Profiteering Scheme': Peter Navarro On India

Days after his article in a business daily targeting India, White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro continued with his criticism of New Delhi. Speaking to media persons in Washington on 21 August, Navarro said India was acting as a "laundromat for the Kremlin".

Answering a reporter's question on whether he saw the 50 per cent tariff rate on India kick in six days from now, Navarro said: "I see that taking place. India doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed. It simply doesn't. It's cosying up to Xi Jinping".

"They don't need the oil", Navarro emphasized. "It's a refinering profiteering scheme. It's a laundromat for the Kremlin. That's the reality".

Navarro's latest comments come days after he wrote in a piece in a Western financial daily where he criticised India's relationship with Russia.

Notably, in his piece, Navarro also referred to “India’s politically connected energy titans,” a phrase widely interpreted as a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Observers noted that Navarro appears to borrow from the rhetoric often used by India’s domestic opposition, which accuses PM Modi of favouring certain businesses and enabling profiteering.

Some analysts said that Navarro’s direct targeting of the prime minister lends credence to the argument that there is a personal rift between Trump and Modi, and that any senior adviser in any US administration would be more cautious in framing this if that were not the case.

Group of Ministers On GST Proposes Two-Slab Structure: Report

A Group of Ministers (GoM) examining Goods and Services Tax reforms has endorsed a sweeping rate restructuring that would eliminate two existing tax slabs and create a simplified two-tier system, according to a report in a national news portal.

The six-member GoM, led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, has recommended scrapping the current 12 percent and 28 percent GST categories while retaining only 5 percent for merit goods and 18 percent for standard items.

Under the proposed framework, a higher 40 per cent levy would remain exclusively for sin goods.

The panel is preparing final recommendations for submission to the GST Council, which is scheduled to meet September 18-19 to discuss the proposals in detail.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the GST 2.0 reforms during his Independence Day address, targeting a Diwali launch for the overhauled indirect tax system.

Other developments

Supreme Court to Deliver Verdict Today on Petitions Challenging Stray Dog Roundup Order

The Supreme Court will announce its ruling Friday on challenges to the August 8 directive ordering authorities to capture all stray dogs across Delhi and four adjoining districts—Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria will decide whether to suspend, modify, or maintain the order that requires civic bodies to round up strays within eight weeks and confine them to shelters.

The order mandated creating shelters for the animals with welfare protections but banned street releases.

Animal welfare groups immediately challenged the measures, arguing they violated existing laws requiring sterilization and return to original locations. Chief Justice Bhushan R Gavai reassigned the case to a larger bench after mounting criticism.

During hearings, the court rebuked Delhi authorities for failing to implement existing stray dog management frameworks. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the order citing child safety concerns, while senior advocates Kapil Sibal and others argued the mass removal approach was unlawful and would cause cruelty.

'Silence Emboldens The Bully': China 'Firmly' Backs India Against Trump’s Tariffs

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Thursday (21 August) voiced strong opposition to Washington’s latest tariff measures against New Delhi, framing Beijing as a partner in India’s trade dispute with the United States.

“The US has long benefited from free trade but now uses tariffs as bargaining chips. Silence only emboldens the bully,” Xu said in Delhi, adding that China “firmly opposes” the decision and “will firmly stand with India.”

Xu urged “teamwork and collaboration” between Asia’s two largest economies, describing India and China as the “double engines of Asia” whose cooperation is vital for regional stability and growth.

Government Forms High-Powered Ministerial Panels Led By Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh To Push Economic, Social Reforms

The Centre has set up two informal groups of ministers (iGoMs) to spearhead reforms in economic and social sectors, reported a national daily.

Home Minister Amit Shah will lead the 13-member panel on technology and economic reforms, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh heads the 18-member group on social, welfare, and security sectors.

Shah’s panel includes Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, with Railways, I&B and Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as the convener.

This group will draft the legislative and policy reform agenda across finance, commerce, industry, infrastructure, logistics, resources, science, technology, and governance.

Singh’s panel will focus on education, healthcare, defence, skilling, housing, labour, and public health.

Members include Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as convener.

The panels follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day call for “next-generation reforms.”

Both panels will submit monthly progress reports and a consolidated reform roadmap in three months, supported by the Department of Economic Affairs. They can invite ministers, secretaries, and experts as needed.

PM Modi Scheduled To Visit Bihar And Bengal Today; Launch Mega Projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bengal on Friday (22 August) to inaugurate three metro rail projects and lay the foundation for major road infrastructure worth over Rs 1,200 crore.

He will also address a public gathering at Dum Dum during the visit.

In Kolkata, he will visit Jessore Road Metro Station to flag off the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro service, which will improve airport connectivity.

Alongside metro projects, Modi will lay the foundation stone for a 7.2 km six-lane elevated Kona Expressway project, valued at more than Rs 1,200 crore.

Before arriving in Kolkata, the Prime Minister will inaugurate development projects in Gaya, Bihar.

His schedule also includes flagging off two trains and addressing the public. Later, he will inaugurate the Aunta–Simaria bridge project over the Ganga in Bihar.

You’re all caught up. Until next time.