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Putin Visit to Take India-Russia Ties to Newer Heights: PM Modi Tweets in Russian

As Russian President Vladimir Putin flew in to Delhi on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the visit will take the bilateral relations to "newer heights." Delighted to welcome President Putin to India. Looking forward to a productive visit that will take India, Russia ties to newer heights," PM Modi tweeted in Russian ahead of his talks with Mr Putin on Thursday on close strategic ties particularly in the fields of nuclear energy, hydrocarbons and defence.

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Bali pact was imperfect, needed correction: Nirmala Sitharaman

Government today said it has protected the intersst of Indian farmers by ensuring correction in WTO's Bali agreement which was "imperfect".Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also rejected the opposition charge in the Rajya Sabha that India had lost friends in the process of the WTO talks. "We are very clearly saying, Bali was imperfect ... It was an imperfect agreement. It required a course correction and it was that course correction that this government had engaged in from July," she said replying to clarifications on her statement on "India's stand on WTO" made on November 28.

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New foreign trade policy under consultation: Government

A new foreign trade policy (FTP) is under consultation and finalisation, government said today.The policy deals with export and import related activities of the country. Government also announces incentives in the policy to boost exports. "The new FTP is under consultation and finalisation," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

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Extension of financial assistance for setting up food processing units in North Eastern States during XII Plan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the inclusion of all North Eastern States for setting up food processing units within the Sub scheme of the Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) of the Integrated Mission for Development of Horticulture (MIDH).