Morning Brief: Glorification Of Aurangzeb Must Stop, Says RSS; Indian Markets To Open Higher As US Fed Reaffirms Rate Cut Plans; US Court To Review 26/11 Accused Rana’s Plea, And More

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Glorification Of Aurangzeb Must Stop, Says RSS

RSS chief spokesperson Sunil Ambekar on Wednesday said the glorification of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb should stop, asserting that he is irrelevant in present times. His remarks came in response to the recent violence in Nagpur, where clashes erupted following demands to demolish Aurangzeb’s tomb. The riots led to police intervention, with authorities now investigating the unrest. Ambekar, while condemning the violence, maintained that the issue of the tomb remains significant but Aurangzeb himself holds no relevance today. He was speaking in Bengaluru ahead of the Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha, scheduled from March 21 to 23, where senior RSS leaders, including Mohan Bhagwat and Dattatreya Hosabale, will convene.

Indian Markets To Open Higher As US Fed Reaffirms Rate Cut Plans

Indian markets are set to open higher on March 20, tracking global gains after the US Federal Reserve reaffirmed plans for two rate cuts in 2025. The GIFT Nifty signals a strong start, with the benchmark index expected to surpass 23,000. Wall Street ended on a positive note, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq gaining 1-1.4 per cent, while Asia-Pacific markets also rose. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged at 4.25-4.50 per cent, citing economic uncertainty and inflation risks, particularly amid Trump’s tariff plans. It also raised its core inflation estimate to 2.8 per cent and revised economic growth projections for 2025 down to 1.7 per cent from 2.1 per cent.

US Supreme Court To Review 26/11 Accused Rana’s Plea

The US Supreme Court is set to review 26/11 Mumbai terror accused Tahawwur Rana’s plea seeking a stay on his extradition to India. Rana, currently held in a Los Angeles prison, filed a request with US Chief Justice John Roberts after a review petition was rejected by a judge earlier this month. He is known to have ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, a key figure in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. The judges have received a copy of Rana’s application, but only a few cases are typically discussed in detail, with most dismissed without debate. Last month, during PM Narendra Modi’s US visit, President Donald Trump said his administration had approved Rana’s extradition to India, calling him a "very evil man."

Other Developments

Centre Targets 1 Million Tonne Tur Buffer To Stabilise Prices

The Centre is aiming to build a buffer stock of 1 million tonnes of tur (pigeon pea) for FY 2025-26 to stabilise prices, amid expectations of increased domestic production and a declining price trend. So far, 200,000 tonnes have been procured, with officials expecting purchases to reach 500,000 tonnes by March. Tur production for 2024-25 is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes, up 3 per cent from last year, though past fluctuations have been caused by erratic weather and shifting sowing trends. Domestic consumption has varied, with imports from Mozambique, Myanmar, Malawi, and Tanzania bridging supply gaps under a duty-free policy until March 2026. The buffer stock acts as a safeguard to control food inflation and stabilize pulse prices.

India Proposes 12 Per Cent Safeguard Duty On Steel Imports

India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has proposed a 12 per cent provisional safeguard duty on steel imports, including from China and Vietnam, to protect the domestic industry. The duty will be imposed for 200 days while the probe continues, but imports from other developing nations will be exempt. The DGTR report highlighted a sharp surge in steel imports, which is causing serious injury to Indian steel producers. It also cited "critical circumstances" requiring immediate action to prevent further damage. Imports from China and Vietnam each exceed 3 per cent of India’s total steel imports, while those from other developing nations remain below this threshold.

US Becomes Top Source Of Remittances To India

The US has become the top source of remittances to India in 2023-24, contributing 27.7 per cent, while the UAE, which led in 2016-17, now holds 19.2 per cent. The GCC nations' share of India's remittances has dropped from 46.7 per cent in 2016-17 to 37.9 per cent, while countries like the US, UK, Singapore, Canada, and Australia now account for over half. The RBI report attributes higher remittances from the US to Indian migrants working in high-paying white-collar jobs, unlike the UAE, where migrants are mostly employed in blue-collar sectors. Maharashtra has overtaken Kerala as the top recipient of remittances, holding a 20.5 per cent share in 2023-24, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

From The States

Punjab Police Detain Farmer Leaders, Clear Protest Sites

Punjab Police on Wednesday (19 March) detained farmer activist Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha head Sarvan Singh Pandher, and other agitators in Mohali after their meeting with a central government delegation in Chandigarh. Protesters were also evicted from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, despite Punjab ministers earlier assuring that the sites would not be disturbed. By late evening, both protest sites were cleared. The meeting, the seventh since February 2024, focused on the farmers' demand for a law guaranteeing MSP for crops. Central ministers have decided to appoint a joint secretary to engage with stakeholders, with the next meeting set for 4 May.

Rajasthan Moves To Regulate Coaching Centres With New Bill

Rajasthan has introduced a bill to regulate coaching centres following rising student suicides in Kota, with eight cases this year and 26 last year. The bill proposes a 12-member authority to oversee coaching institutes, district-level committees for monitoring, student counselling, remedial classes, and recreational activities. It mandates shorter class durations of up to five hours, confidential exam results, and easier fee refunds for dropouts. However, it omits key provisions, including an expected age limit for students enrolling in coaching. Mental health experts had recommended a minimum age of 16, but the bill does not address this concern.

J&K High Court To Hear Plea On LG’s Power To Nominate MLAs

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court may hear final arguments on a PIL challenging the Lieutenant Governor's authority to nominate five MLAs to the UT Assembly. Last October, the court constituted a special division bench to hear the case. The petition contests provisions of the J&K Reorganisation Act that grant the LG this power. Section 15 of the Act allows the L-G to nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly to ensure women's representation if deemed inadequate. Sections 15A and 15B, added in 2023, empower the L-G to nominate two members (including one woman) from the Kashmiri migrant community and one member from displaced persons of POJK.

You’re all caught up—until next time.