Evening news wrap: PM Modi’s double engine pitch as India-EU finalise FTA; ‘gamosa’ row fuels BJP–Congress clash and more and more | India News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched a “double engine” growth model after India and the EU signed a historic free trade agreement, positioning the pact as a stabilising force amid global economic turmoil.
- India and the European Union finalised their largest-ever free trade agreement, promising cheaper imports, wider market access and new opportunities for exporters, services and students.
- A political row erupted between the BJP and Congress after Rahul Gandhi was accused of not wearing a traditional Assamese gamosa at the President’s ‘at home’ reception on Republic Day.
- An HR manager in Agra was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her lover following a relationship dispute, with police arresting the accused after CCTV footage helped crack the case.
- The ICC is reworking media accreditation rules after it said it could not accommodate 80–90 Bangladeshi journalists following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India.
Here are the top 5 stories of the day
PM Modi pitches ‘double engine’ growth after India-EU historic FTA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the India-EU free trade agreement would provide stability and common prosperity at a time of “turmoil in global environment”, calling it the biggest trade pact India has signed. Speaking at the India-EU Business Forum, he said the agreement would deepen cooperation across manufacturing, services and investment, with bilateral trade already touching 180 billion euros. Read full story
India-EU FTA explained: What gets cheaper and who gains
India and the European Union announced a landmark free trade agreement that will bring down duties on items such as European cars and wines while giving over 99 per cent of Indian exports duty-free access to the EU. The pact, expected to come into force in 2027, also opens new opportunities for labour-intensive sectors, services, students and MSMEs, linking two economies that together account for about a quarter of global GDP. Read full story
BJP vs Congress: Gamosa row erupts at President’s ‘at home’ reception
The BJP and Congress traded sharp accusations after the ruling party alleged Rahul Gandhi refused to wear a traditional Assamese gamosa at a Republic Day reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. While BJP leaders called it an insult to the northeast, the Congress hit back by pointing out that defence minister Rajnath Singh was also not wearing the scarf, turning the episode into a wider political slugfest. Read full story
Agra murder case: HR manager killed by lover, body found in gunny bag
Police in Agra said a 32-year-old HR manager was allegedly murdered, beheaded and dismembered by her lover after repeated arguments over her contact with another man. The accused has been arrested, and investigators used CCTV footage and a missing complaint to trace the crime, which has sent shockwaves through the city. Read full story
ICC revisits media accreditation after Bangladesh pulls out of T20 World Cup
The International Cricket Council has begun reworking its media accreditation process after saying it could not accommodate 80–90 applications from Bangladeshi journalists for the T20 World Cup in India. The move follows Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from the tournament citing security concerns, with the ICC asking journalists to reapply as the process is reassessed. Read full story
