DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PATNA, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025, KOLKATA, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES BY UNNY LABOUR-INTENSIVE SECTORS FEAR JOB LOSSES Trump’s50%tariffskickintoday,export oftextiles,gemsandjewelleryworsthit Trade experts estimate merchandise exports could drop 40-45% in FY26 NAMED BY U.S. IN PANNUN CASE Non-bailable warrant issued against former R&AW officer MAHENDER SINGH MANRAL NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 A DELHI court has issued a nonbailable warrant for Vikash Yadav, the ex-R&AW officer who was named by the US as a conspirator in an alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist GurpatwantSinghPannun,andissueda notice to his surety. The court said Yadav had failed to appear before it in a case of alleged kidnapping and extortion despite repeated calls. In an order issued Monday, Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler of Patiala House Courts said Yadav wasabsentsincemorning.“Issue NBWs against accused Vikas Yadav and notice to his surety under Section 491 Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (the procedure when bond has been forfeited)forOctober17,”hesaid. Sources said a family member of Yadav was the surety in this case. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 WEST BENGAL CALLING US THIEVES INSULT TO BENGAL, DON’T EXPECT THIS FROM A PM: MAMATA ISF SENDS ALLIANCE PROPOSAL TO LEFT, CPI(M) ‘CAUTIOUS’ PAGE 3 RAVI DUTTA MISHRA & SUKALP SHARMA NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 WITHTHEUSdecidingtoimplement the steep 50 per cent tariffs on merchandise from India starting Wednesday, exports of low-margin and labour-intensive goods ranging from apparel, textiles, gems and jewellery to shrimps, carpets and furniture, aresettobecomeunviableinthe American market, jeopardising low-skilled jobs in India. WithTrump’snewtariffskickingin,tradeexpertsestimatethat the value of India’s merchandise exportstotheUScoulddropbyas muchas40-45%in2025-26com- EXPRESS NETWORK INDIA, U.S. HOLD 2+2 TALKS AMID TARIFF TENSIONS PAGE 5 pared with the previous year. Think-tankGlobalTradeResearch Initiative (GTRI) estimates product exports to the US could fall to $49.6billionthisyearfromnearly $87 billion in 2024-25, as twothirds of exports by value to the US will be hit by 50 per cent tariffs, taking effective tariff rates to over 60 per cent in a few product categories. Around 30 per cent of exports to the US — valued at $27.6 GOODS SUBJECT TO 50% U.S. TARIFF ProductGroup Textilesandapparel Diamonds,goldandjewellery Machineryandmechanicalappliances Agriculture,meatandprocessedfood Steel,aluminium,copper Organicchemicals Shrimps Handicrafts Carpets Leatherandfootwear Furniture,bedding,mattresses ExportstoUS in2024-25 $10.9bn $10bn $6.7bn $6.0bn $4.7bn $2.7bn $2.4bn $1.6bn $1.2bn $1.2bn $1.1bn Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, GTRI analysis billion in FY25 — will remain duty free as product categories like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and petroleum products havebeenexemptfromTrump’s tariffs,while4percentof theexports — mainly auto parts — will face a 25 per cent tariff rate. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 NCLAT judge recuses, claims pressure from ‘revered member’ of higher judiciary NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 INANunprecedentedorder,ajudicial member of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) recused from a case after recording that “one of the most revered members of thehigherjudiciaryof thiscountry” had tried to influence the outcome. “Weareanguishedtoobserve thatoneof us,Member(Judicial), has been approached by one of themostreveredmembersofthe higher judiciary of this country forseekinganorderinfavourof a particular party. Hence, I recuse to hear the matter,” Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma noted while referring to himself in his order dated August 13. The case, involving insolvency proceedings against Hyderabad-based real estate company KLSR Infratech Ltd, Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma was reserved for orders on June 18, with parties allowed an additional week to file their written submissions. Thecompanyhadfiledanappeal against a decision by the Hyderabadbenchof theNational Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), whichallowedacreditor,ASMet Corp Pvt Ltd, to initiate the CorporateInsolvencyResolution Process (CIRP) against it. According to court records, AS Met Corp alleged that an outstanding amount of Rs 2,88,79,417,alongwithmutually agreed-upon interest, remained unpaid by KLSR Infratech. As per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the event in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI when we say Hindu Rashtra, we do not mean we are going to leave out anyone … or we are opposed to anyone. The Sangh is not like that. The Sangh is not born out of a reaction or opposition,” Bhagwat said in a lecture at the Vigyan Bhawan here. The address was part of a three-day centenary lecture series organised by the RSS, titled “100Yearsof theSangh’sJourney — New Horizons”, in which Bhagwat will articulate the Sangh’s views on India and the road ahead for the organisation. “ThewordHinduRashtrahas no connection with power. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 On India-Japan table: Security to economy, energy to digital ties NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 Says was approached ‘for seeking an order in favour of a particular party’ EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE PM VISIT AUGUST 29-30 SHUBHAJIT ROY Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Suzuki Motors president Toshihiro Suzuki (left), Maruti Suzuki India MD-CEO Hisashi Takeuchi and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel at the brand’s Hansalpur facility near Ahmedabad. ANI PM says critical minerals mission will address rare earth shortages My definition of swadeshi is very simple... Whether dollar or pound... in production, sweat must be of Indians: Modi SOUMYARENDRA BARIK & PARIMAL A DABHI HANSALPUR (GUJARAT), AUGUST 26 ACKNOWLEDGING THE ongoing shortage of rare earth materials facedbyIndia’sautomobileindustry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that the Government was working towards building national capacity in critical minerals and would soonlaunchexplorationmissions. “I am aware of the rare earth materials shortage, and we are trying to address it with the critical minerals mission. There will be more than 1,200 explorations for critical minerals across variouslocationsinIndia”Modisaid. RSS chief: Don’t mean to leave out Justice Nagarathna anyone when we say Hindu Rashtra dissents on Patna HC CJ’s elevation to SC DEEPTIMAN TIWARY THE RSS imagination of Hindu Rashtra was neither in opposition to anyone nor does it intend to leave out anyone, the organisation’s chief Mohan Bhagwat said Tuesday. The Sangh chief said having a different opinion was “not a crime” and that while there was constant communication between the RSS and its swayamsevaks, they “graduallybecomeindependent and do not need the Sangh”. "When we talk about Hindu Rashtra, questions are raised … Meanwhile, competitors like Vietnam,Bangladesh,Cambodia, and even China and Pakistan, which currently face lower tariffs from the Donald Trump administration, are set to benefit from India’s potential losses in various export-oriented sectors. The 50 per cent tariff imposed on the majority of Indian goods exported to the US includes the 25 per cent tariff rate announced by Trump late July, and an additional 25 per cent tariff announced early August as a “penalty” for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, apart from its defence imports from Moscow. The additional 25 per cent tariff will take effect from Wednesday. The sky-high tariffs mean that goods exporters would be rendered uncompetitive in the The Prime Minister was speaking in Gujarat's Hansalpur where he green-flagged Maruti Suzuki’s first battery electric vehicle, eVitara, which will be manufactured here and exported to over 100 countries. During his speech, the Prime Ministeralsoexpandedonhisvision of “swadeshi”, saying that CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE WORLD his overall seniority and regional representation. Justice Pancholi CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Eye on US, China INDIA TALKED up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, as it views Tokyo as an important partner. Timed ahead of Modi's visit to China, India and Japan are expected to exchange notes on the US administration’s recent moves and the strategic outreach of China. are three broad elements of the visit—security;economy,science and technology, innovation; and people-to-people exchange. Modi is expected to meet headsof provincialgovernments and prefectures in a bid to forge locallevelpartnershipsbetween Japanese local governments and Indian state governments and municipalities. Sources said the two sides will exchange notes on the currentglobalscenario,beforeModi heads to China after his Japan CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SIT on Vantara holds meeting, discusses roles for members NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 NEW DELHI, AUGUST 26 Justice B V Nagarathna of SC; Patna HC Chief Justice Vipul Pancholi ● EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE APURVA VISHWANATH THE SUPREME Court Collegium’s decision Monday recommending the elevation of Patna High Court Chief Justice VipulManubhaiPancholiforappointment as judge of the top court was not unanimous, The Indian Express has learnt. JusticeBVNagarathna,oneof the five judges in the Collegium, has recorded a dissent in recommending Justice Pancholi, citing AS PRIME Minister Narendra Modi heads to Japan on August 29-30,thetwosidesareexpected to upgrade the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation,launchaneconomic securityinitiativeonsemiconductors,ArtificialIntelligenceandcriticalminerals,andincreasetheinvestments’ target to 7-10 trillion Yen,TheIndianExpresshaslearnt. Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, will take part in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit and are also expectedtotraveltoSendai—acity known for its semiconductor prowess—inabullettrain.Ajoint statementandavisionstatement will be issued during the visit. India and Japan are also workingonpromotingabilateral energy partnership, starting a digital partnership, and launching a new mobility partnership that encompasses railways, roads and bridges across India, sources said. While this will be Modi’s eighth visit to Japan, it is his first summit with Prime Minister Ishiba.Accordingtosources,there E EXPLAINED BUSINESS AS USUAL `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES, `20 IN ANDAMAN) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 FAMILIES FLEE GAZA CITY AFTER NIGHT OF BOMBARDMENT AS ISRAELIS PROTEST NEARLY 2 LAKH EVACUATED IN PAK PUNJAB AMID RISING WATER LEVELS PAGE 10 A DAY after the Supreme Court formed a special investigation team(SIT)headedbyaformertop court judge, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, to inquire into the affairsofVantara,thewildliferescue and rehabilitation centre of Reliance Foundation in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, the panel is learnt to have held its first meeting virtually on Tuesday. The first meeting is learnt to have focused on the responsibilitiesof theSITandthedelegation of roles among its members. Thetopcourthasdirectedthe SIT to examine and submit a report by September 12 on a num- Justice Jasti Chelameswar, Justice Chauhan and Hemant Nagrale berof issues,includingtheacquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants and compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Bihar maps its healthcare units to tackle Covid-like emergencies PAGE 1 ANCHOR SANTOSH SINGH PATNA, AUGUST 26 TO TACKLE a Covid-like public healthcare emergency if it were to arise again, the Bihar government is mapping every healthcare service available in the state – from major public and private hospitals right down to the local village pharmacy. Over the last 10 months, the state has been undertaking a uniqueinitiativeof geo-mapping its health services. Launched in October last year, the survey will cover everything from hospitals, clinics, pathology labs and diagnostic centres to local pharmacies in all of the state’s 38 districts and collate this information in a dashboard. The exercise, which will also cover grassroots health units such as primary health centres and local practitioners, is being conducted by the government’s Bihar State Health Society in collaboration with Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) and is scheduled to wrap up by the end of this year. While the state is yet to take a call on whether to allow the public to access this dashboard, officials say the exercise will help policymakersidentifyandbridgegaps. The idea, according to officials, is to plug holes in the healthcare delivery system to avoid the chaos seen during the pandemic.Tothisend,teamsdeveloped an online-offline synchronised application to map these healthcare units, Sanchita Mahapatra, senior health scientist at ADRI, said. The application is meant to function both with and without an internet connection, storing data locally and syncing it with a remote server once a connec- So far, officials have mapped approximately 20,000 private healthcare units — including pharmacies, private labs. File tion is available. “We also drew up a comprehensive list of private healthcare units in each district using data from various sources, including the government. Using a realtime dashboard for accuracy, we geo-mapped from state headquarters to block towns,” Mahapatra said. So far, officials have mapped approximately 20,000 private healthcare units — including pharmacies, private labs, private solo practitioners, nursing homes, hospitals and medical colleges. Teams also visited block-level units to understand whyprivateplayersareoftenthe first point of contact for the public, especially in rural or underserved areas. According toADRI’smember secretary and economist Asmita Gupta,itisimportanttoinvestin data-driven systems to build a strongerhealthcaremechanism. “Besides a host of other benefits, this mapping could put in place a system of understanding the delivery of over-the-counter medicines and health outcomes,” she said. Nearly 80 per cent of the state’s healthcare units have been mapped, with officials claiming they are now trying to map private health services in “hard-to-reach regions and at villages”. However, there are challenges, particularly in mapping flood-prone and border areas of the state. As the monsoon intensifies, officials expect that this couldposeasignificantchallenge. Anotherchallengeistracking andrecordinghealthvulnerabilities that vary seasonally. Accordingtoofficials,itisdifficult toestablishapatternof diseases, especiallyinthecaseofthestate’s floating migrant population. Still, officials see the survey – especially of private players — as a way to ease the delivery of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Kolkata