Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation at 5 pm on Sunday, as confirmed by officials. While the specific subject of his address remains undisclosed, the timing of the speech has sparked speculation due to its alignment with significant domestic and international developments.
The address is set to occur on the eve of Navratri, a major Hindu festival, and coincides with the implementation of new GST rate cuts, which will take effect from Monday, the first day of Navratri. These reforms simplify the existing four-slab GST structure into a two-slab system, a move expected to reduce the prices of several products and ease the financial burden on consumers.
The timing of the Prime Minister’s address is particularly noteworthy given the recent strain in India-US relations. Over the past few months, tensions have escalated due to the United States imposing a 50 pc tariff, including an additional 25 pc levy, on India in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. This follows sanctions imposed by the US and other countries on Russia due to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
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Adding to the complexity, the Trump administration recently increased the annual fee for new H-1B visa applications to USD 100,000 (over Rs 88 lakh), causing widespread concern among Indian professionals, who constitute the majority of H-1B visa holders. The steep fee hike led to confusion and alarm in India’s tech community. In response, the Trump administration clarified that the USD 100,000 fee applies only to new H-1B visa petitions and is a one-time payment. Current visa holders and those re-entering the US are exempt from this fee.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi made an indirect reference to these US policies, highlighting India’s reliance on foreign nations as its "biggest adversary". He emphasised the need for self-reliance in critical sectors such as semiconductors and shipbuilding, signalling a push towards strengthening India’s economic and technological independence.
As the nation awaits PM Modi’s address, the convergence of domestic policy reforms and international diplomatic challenges sets the stage for a significant speech that could address these pressing issues or outline the government’s vision for the future.
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