AGP Executive Report

Starlink Setback: India has reportedly frozen final clearance for Elon Musk’s Starlink commercial operations, citing security concerns after terminals were allegedly used during the Iran–US conflict, adding to regulatory hurdles for SpaceX partners Airtel and Reliance Jio. Border Humanitarian Crisis: Bangladesh says India’s “push-in” policy is worsening irregular migration and stranding families in no-man’s land, turning it into a wider international concern. Strategic Infrastructure: India completed the Zojila Tunnel breakthrough, a 13-km all-weather link to Ladakh that’s expected to open to traffic in 2028, boosting year-round connectivity amid India–China tensions. Energy & Industry: A study says green-hydrogen steel could be slightly cheaper than blast-furnace steel in India by 2030, while India also launched E85 fuel to cut crude imports. Economy & Trade: India’s exports hit a record $863 bn in FY25-26, and the RBI saw $800 mn bond inflows in two days. Sports: India A beat Sri Lanka A by 8 runs in the tri-series opener as Gaikwad made 101; Rohit Sharma topped India’s ODI run tally after turning 35. Safety Watch: A steel plant fire in Visakhapatnam killed at least eight workers, with unions demanding an investigation.

UN Diplomacy: India’s UN envoy Harish Parvathaneni hit back at Pakistan over “Fitna al Hindustan,” calling it “officially sponsored misinformation” and a “factory of hate,” while also reaffirming India’s humanitarian support for Afghanistan. Energy & Industry: India is set to launch Coal Exchanges under a new regulatory framework to modernise coal trading and improve price discovery. Healthcare & Pharma: Piyush Goyal invited global pharma firms to partner India’s innovation-led growth, saying the sector could double in five years. Infrastructure: Zojila Tunnel’s final breakthrough is nearing, promising all-weather Kashmir-Ladakh connectivity and major defence and tourism benefits. Weather: Delhi-NCR braces for a heatwave with temperatures up to 44°C as monsoon advances. Sports: Manav Suthar’s debut spin haul powered India to a record innings-and-300-run win over Afghanistan; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India A debut, however, ended early for 14. Business/Deals: Freshfields advised on Prudential’s $366m acquisition move in India’s insurance space.

West Asia Tensions: India urged immediate de-escalation after fresh Israel-Iran flare-ups, reiterating its travel advisory for citizens to leave Iran. Opposition INDIA Bloc: A Delhi meeting ended with a push to redraw strategy and a “united” fight, with allies backing letters to the CJI over SIR and NEET paper leak concerns—while AAP said it is no longer part of INDIA and DMK confirmed it has exited. Economy & Growth: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India’s 7.7% GDP growth reflects a decade of reforms, while RBI’s June stance kept rates unchanged amid inflation and rupee worries. Industry & Energy: Government plans a new biogas blending policy as LNG access stays hit; NLC India divestment moves ahead with a 3% OFS at Rs 303; LPG prices rose as PNG supply remains limited. Aviation: DGCA launched a probe after a Delhi storm damaged three Air India A320s when runaway ground equipment hit parked planes. Sports: India beat West Indies Women by 26 runs in a T20 World Cup warm-up; debutant Manav Suthar’s 7-wicket haul powered India’s innings-and-300-run Test win over Afghanistan. Auto: BMW India will hike prices up to 2% from July. Politics Abroad/Trade: India-US trade deal talks point to a first tranche signing by July after tariff probe steps.

Opposition Unity in Focus: INDIA bloc leaders began deliberations in Delhi to redraw strategy for 2029, with 23 parties set to attend and DMK staying away, while BJP hit back calling the alliance a “figment of imagination.” Trinamool Turmoil: Around 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs are reportedly holed up in Delhi, weighing options like seeking separate bloc status or mass resignation amid the party’s internal revolt. Court Action: A special NIA court ordered framing of charges against the Popular Front of India (PFI) in a case tied to a plan to reshape India’s democratic structure. Air India Disruption: Strong winds and rain at Delhi IGI damaged three parked Air India aircraft after ground equipment was blown into them; all were taken out of service pending inspections. Cricket Spotlight: Debutant Manav Suthar’s 6/33 helped India dominate Afghanistan in the one-off Test; Afghanistan reached 18/0 at lunch after follow-on. Economy & Energy: World Bank’s Neelkanth Mishra said India can grow 8%+ despite oil shocks, while Rosneft’s Sechin flagged India’s rising role in global oil and electricity demand. Weather Alert: IMD warned of rain in 17 states and heavy showers in parts of South and the Northeast. Business & Trade: Haleon will invest ₹2,000 crore to build its first India oral-care plant in Pithampur, and APSEZ won a 10-year marine services contract for Argentina’s first LNG export to India.

Cricket & Youth Spotlight: Debutant spinner Manav Suthar’s three-wicket burst helped India press Afghanistan in the one-off Test; Afghanistan were 113/5 at stumps, still trailing by 451. T20 Buzz: BCCI allowed 15-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s parents to travel with him on India tours after his maiden senior call-up. Aviation Disruption: Three Air India aircraft at Delhi’s IGI were damaged after ground equipment was thrown by sudden stormy winds and rain; the planes were taken out of operation for checks. Border & Security Talks: India and Bangladesh security forces will discuss “illegal push-ins” and border killings in a DG-level meeting. Earthquake Alert: A 5.6 quake struck Bhutan, with tremors felt across Northeast India; no major damage reported so far. Neighbourhood Diplomacy: Nepal’s FM reiterated no third-party mediation for border disputes with India, while India-Nepal launched direct cross-border cash transfers via UPI-NPI linkage. Economy at Home: LPG price hikes continue to spark protests, while the monsoon’s late, uncertain start raises worries for the farm season. Business & Industry: Nestle India’s royalty payments to its Swiss parent crossed ₹1,000 crore in FY26, and compressor import curbs are drawing heat from appliance makers ahead of peak demand.

LPG Price Row: India hiked domestic LPG cylinder prices by Rs 29 to Rs 942 (14.2 kg in Delhi), with the government saying cooking gas still stays among the world’s cheapest and that subsidies keep PMUY refills at an effective Rs 642; oil firms had been losing about Rs 703 per cylinder. India-Nepal Diplomacy: Nepal’s FM Shishir Khanal pushed for border-dispute talks with an “open heart” and, with Jaishankar, launched UPI-NPI cross-border remittances plus a multilingual AI language platform MoU. Cricket—T20 Leadership & Teen Breakthrough: BCCI named Shreyas Iyer India’s T20I captain and dropped Suryakumar Yadav; meanwhile 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned maiden call-ups for Ireland/England tours and Asian Games, with BCCI allowing parents to travel. Youth Politics: The “Cockroach People’s Party” staged protests in Delhi, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s removal within a week, as police tightened security. Sports—Test Control: India stayed in command at 475/6 vs Afghanistan on Day 2, with Gill and Pant driving the momentum. Business & Energy: Nestle India paid over ₹1,024 crore in royalties to its Swiss parent in FY26; LNG imports rebounded in May with US supplying 41%.

Economy Watch: India’s GDP grew 7.8% in Jan–Mar and 7.7% for FY26, beating expectations even as West Asia risks cloud the outlook; PM Modi chaired an EAC-PM meeting on sustaining growth and resilience. India–Nepal Ties: Jaishankar virtually handed over 72 health facilities and 12 heritage projects and launched UPI–NPI linkage for cross-border remittances. Youth Politics: The “Cockroach People’s Party” staged its first major street protest in Delhi, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over exam leaks and glitches. Cricket Leadership: Shreyas Iyer named India’s new T20I captain for Ireland/England and the Asian Games; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns a maiden call-up. On-field Moment: Gill’s feet-touched-by-ball-boy gesture during IND vs AFG Test went viral. Sports Development: India won U18 Asia Cup hockey gold (men) and bronze (women). Energy & Fuel: India begins phased E85 rollout with Rs 20/litre discount; Oil India reports natural gas in a third Andaman offshore well. Demography Debate: Elon Musk flagged India’s fertility rate falling below replacement.

Cricket, One-off Test: India ended day 1 at 96/1 at lunch against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, with KL Rahul 37* and Sai Sudharsan 32* after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 24. India opted to bat; Manav Suthar made his Test debut as India looks to experiment in red-ball cricket. Economy, Growth Outlook: India’s FY26 GDP growth at 7.7% beat expectations, while CEA V Anantha Nageswaran said India could return to 7%+ growth in FY28 if macro stability improves. AI & Governance: India’s top IT official S Krishnan urged tighter control over AI and biometric systems to prevent data leaks and misuse. India-Russia Defence: Putin renewed the Su-57 pitch, hinting at joint production and stressing India’s strategic autonomy. Foreign Policy, Kashmir: India hit back at Pakistan at the UN, rejecting attempts to internationalise Kashmir. Protests, Youth Politics: Police tightened security in Delhi ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar led by Abhijeet Dipke. Business, AI Infrastructure: AirTrunk plans a $30 billion push for 5 GW data centres in India by 2030, backed by PM Modi’s praise. Sports, Hockey: India’s Women U18 won Asia Cup bronze, beating Korea 3-0.

Economy Watch: India met its FY26 fiscal deficit target at 4.4% of GDP (₹15.2 lakh crore), but ICRA warns FY27 risks from West Asia tensions, subsidies and oil-linked revenue pressure. Growth Outlook: PM Modi cites 7.7% FY26 GDP growth (7.8% in Jan–Mar) as proof of a strong base, while CEA Nageswaran says India could be back above 7% by FY28 if stability returns. Trade & Diplomacy: India and the US are aiming to sign the first phase of a bilateral trade deal by mid-July, with talks moving fast on remaining “open ends.” Neighbourhood Tensions: India lodged a protest with Pakistan over Gilgit-Baltistan elections on June 7; Pakistan rejected India’s remarks as “baseless.” Health Alert: A suspected Ebola case was reported in Jaipur; the patient is isolated and lab confirmation is awaited. Weather & Safety: Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s 7th Regional Meteorological Centre in Jammu, with more district-level forecasts and disaster warnings. Sports: India face Bangladesh in the SAFF Women’s final, while the men’s team lost 1-3 to Tajikistan in a friendly. Business & Industry: YKK plans a $150 million new Tamil Nadu facility; Oil India reported natural gas discovery in the Andaman offshore block.

World Environment Day: FAIFA urges “El Niño-ready” climate-resilient farming as India faces heat, erratic rain and soil stress. Climate & Conservation: PM Modi marks India’s 100th Ramsar site—Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in UP—boosting wetland protection. India-US Trade: Trump says a deal with India is near, even as the US proposes 12.5% forced-labour-linked tariffs; India and the US are working on an interim pact. Rupee & Rates: RBI holds repo and related rates steady; forex reserves stand at $682.3 bn. Foreign Investment Push: India exempts FIIs from taxes on government securities returns and plans faster dispute-resolution in investment treaties. Energy & Industry: Inox Clean Energy to buy Vena’s 6 GW renewables portfolio; Coal Ministry launches a ₹37,500 cr gasification push. Sports: Shreyas Iyer set to replace Suryakumar as India T20I captain; Tilak Varma to lead India A in Sri Lanka tri-series. Sports/Entertainment: Cockroach People’s Party founder Abhijeet Dipke heads to Delhi for a protest.

T20 Cricket Shake-up: Shreyas Iyer is set to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain, with Tilak Varma likely as deputy, ahead of the Ireland-England tour. India-Venezuela Diplomacy: PM Modi met Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez, with talks focused on energy, trade, investment, healthcare and automobiles; Jaishankar also met her to reaffirm the partnership. Renewables Deal: Inox Clean Energy will acquire Vena Energy’s India renewables platform (about 6GW portfolio), marking GIP’s exit from operational green assets in India. Delhi Fire Fallout: Investigations into the Malviya Nagar bed-and-breakfast tragedy highlight fire-safety and regulatory lapses, with legal action underway. Airline Network Changes: IndiGo temporarily suspends flights to six international destinations from July 1, citing softer demand and high costs. Gold Market: India gold ETFs saw their first net monthly outflow in a year in May as investors booked profits after duty hikes. Politics in the INDIA bloc: DMK says it will boycott the June 8 INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi over Congress’s role after Tamil Nadu polls. Global Security/Policy: Russia’s Putin called India a reliable partner and said Western pressure won’t curb Moscow-New Delhi ties.

Cricket Update: Virat Kohli is ruled out of India’s ODI series vs Afghanistan with a hamstring injury, leaving Shubman Gill’s side to reshuffle the batting order for the June 13 start. Aviation & Energy: India’s cabinet approved a $1.04bn ATF price stabilisation support package for airlines to cushion West Asia-linked fuel volatility and curb sudden airfare spikes. US-India Trade Tension: The US has proposed 12.5% tariffs on India under forced-labour concerns as Section 301 talks continue in New Delhi, with India saying it remains engaged on the probe and an interim trade framework. Markets & Tax: India bonds may gain on reports the government plans to scrap capital gains tax for foreign investors in government securities, aiming to attract steadier flows. Defence: India received the fourth Russian S-400 squadron, boosting long-range air defence, with the fifth expected soon. Economy & Jobs: Bank lending growth hit 16.2% (year through May 15), the fastest in two years, as credit demand outpaced deposits. Tech & Digital Governance: PM-WANI public Wi-Fi keeps expanding, with the model allowing small businesses to host hotspots without licences or heavy registration. Auto & Energy Transition: Maruti Suzuki launched the Wagon R flex-fuel (E85/E100 compatible), pushing ethanol to cut oil import dependence. Sports & Culture: India-South Africa ties deepen in biotech and healthcare innovation, with a focus on genomics, vaccines and pandemic preparedness.

US Tariff Threat: The USTR has proposed up to a 12.5% forced-labour tariff on India and dozens of other economies under Section 301, escalating pressure even as India-US trade talks near the finish line. Airline Fuel Shield: India approved a $1 billion support package to help airlines absorb jet-fuel spikes linked to the West Asia crisis, aiming to protect connectivity and jobs. RBI Gold Rumour Denied: The government and RBI pushed back on claims the central bank sold $12 billion in gold, saying holdings actually rose to 880.52 tonnes. Education Accountability: A CBSE whistleblower told Parliament about alleged rigging in the OSM tender; CBSE’s chairman and secretary were transferred and an inquiry ordered. Defence Boost: India received its fourth S-400 squadron from Russia, with a fifth expected soon. Tech & Industry: Kotak Alts closed its 14th real estate fund at $1 billion; Agilitas raised Rs 225 crore; Skechers India picked Brandman Retail to run e-commerce marketplaces. Sports: India crushed Chinese Taipei 25-0 in Women’s U18 Asia Cup group play and set up semis. Regional Ties: Modi met Nepal’s Rabi Lamichhane, while Nepal lawmakers urged diplomatic talks to resolve the border dispute.

US-India Trade Shock: The US Trade Representative has proposed an extra 12.5% tariff on imports from India and 53 other economies under Section 301, alleging weak enforcement against forced-labour goods—while India denies the claims and is pushing for relief during ongoing trade talks in New Delhi. RBI & Gold Watch: A report says the RBI may have sold about $12 billion in gold reserves over two weeks to protect forex liquidity amid rupee pressure and West Asia risks, sparking political questions. Myanmar Security Assurance: PM Modi reiterated India’s support for Myanmar’s sovereignty and warned against any use of Myanmar territory to threaten India; Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing also met the RBI and toured JN Port. AI Economy: India’s AI push is boosting data centres and hardware engineering demand, while Microsoft Copilot deployments in India reportedly jumped 250% to 20 million seats globally. Markets & Inflation: IT stocks faced a sharp sell-off after investors reassessed AI’s impact on software demand; Bank of Baroda warns retail inflation could hit 5% by FY27. Cricket: New Zealand announced a record 12-match all-format home tour for India starting Oct 22, and England Women beat India in the 3rd T20I to win the series 2-1.

Air India Deal in Mumbai: Maharashtra formally acquires the iconic Air India building at Nariman Point for Rs 1,601 crore, with transfer agreements completed after a cabinet meeting. Cricket Coaching Boost: BCCI appoints former India all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule as spin bowling coach for the men’s team ahead of the Afghanistan Test in New Chandigarh. India-Nepal Border Row: MEA hits back after Nepal PM Balendra Shah’s remarks, saying about 98% of the boundary is demarcated and remaining issues are being jointly mapped. Trade Talks: India and the US are “about 99%” done on the first tranche of an interim trade deal, with negotiations focused on Section 301 tariff relief. Digital Push: Uber invests in ONDC to expand mobility and logistics using India’s open digital commerce rails. Economy & Inflation Data: Govt approves a revised WPI base year (2022-23) and new Producer Price Indices, with the updated series to be released on June 15. Health & Travel: India dispatches urgent Ebola medical supplies to Africa CDC and issues an advisory urging vigilance for travellers. Sports Spotlight: India women face Bhutan in the SAFF Women’s Championship semi-final as favourites.

India-US Trade Talks: Negotiators led by Brendan Lynch meet in New Delhi to finalise the first phase of an interim trade deal, with India pushing for relief from US Section 301 tariff probes and focusing on “commas and full stops” in the legal text. EV Surge: India’s EV sales hit a record 26,221 units in May, up 80% year-on-year, as fuel price pressure keeps driving demand. Immigration Update: The MHA amended foreigner registration rules—registration must be completed any time before the 180-day mark, with delayed registration allowed only in emergent cases. Coca-Cola Listing Plan: Coca-Cola is exploring a 2027 IPO of its India bottling arm Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings and may sell part of its stake. Ebola Aid to Africa CDC: India dispatched a second 43-tonne tranche of medical supplies to strengthen Africa’s Ebola response. India-Myanmar Ties: Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing met President Droupadi Murmu, with both sides discussing trade, security and cooperation. Sports: Zee won FIFA broadcast rights for World Cup 2026 in India; India also named its women’s hockey squad for the Nations Cup in Auckland.