Digest for 16 October, 2025
Trump Claims India Pledged to Halt Russian Oil Imports
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him that India will stop purchasing oil from Russia. The alleged pledge comes amid US pressure, including tariffs, to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine war. India, currently Russia's second-largest oil buyer, has not officially confirmed the claim. If true, this would mark a major pivot in India's foreign policy and energy strategy, with significant implications for its relationships with both Washington and Moscow.
China Files WTO Complaint Against India's Electric Vehicle Subsidies
China has initiated a formal dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against India's subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries. Beijing alleges that India's policies, including the production-linked incentive scheme, violate WTO rules by unfairly favouring domestic manufacturers and constituting prohibited import substitution subsidies. The complaint escalates trade tensions between the two economic powers and challenges a cornerstone of India's strategy to boost domestic manufacturing and promote green energy.
Centre to Introduce New Drug Law Following Cough Syrup Tragedies
In response to recent child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups, the Union Government is set to introduce a new law to overhaul drug regulation. The proposed "Drugs, Medical Devices, and Cosmetics Act 2025" will grant statutory powers to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for stricter control over drug manufacturing, sales, and distribution. The bill aims to replace the colonial-era 1940 Act, digitize licensing, and improve coordination to ensure greater accountability and public safety.
Prominent US-India Policy Expert Ashley Tellis Arrested for Retaining Classified Documents
The US FBI has arrested Ashley Tellis, a highly influential Indian-American foreign policy scholar, on charges of unlawfully retaining classified national defence information. Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is accused of taking top-secret documents from a Pentagon office where he was a contractor. While not charged with espionage, the Department of Justice noted the case presents a "grave breach of trust" and has sparked shockwaves in Washington's foreign policy circles and political debate in India.
Haryana IPS Officer Cremated After 9-Day Standoff Over Suicide Note Alleging Caste Bias
The body of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar was cremated following a nine-day standoff between his family and the state government. Kumar died by suicide, leaving a note that accused several senior officers of systemic caste-based discrimination and harassment. His family had refused to allow an autopsy until they received assurances of a fair probe and action against those named. The case has cast a national spotlight on allegations of entrenched casteism within India's elite police services.