The Chhattisgarh Forest Department recently withdrew its May 2025 advisory that prohibited NGOs, private entities, and other departments from engaging in Community Forest Resource (CFR) management activities.
Background
The May 2025 order cited a 2020 circular and the National Working Plan Code (NWPC), 2023, emphasizing the need for scientific forest management.
The order conflicted with the 2023 guidelines of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which empower Gram Sabhas and their CFR Management Committees (CFRMCs) to independently prepare and approve CFR plans, consulting Forest Departments only afterward.
India's toy industry has undergone a major transformation and is now manufacturing domestically and exporting to 153 countries.
Toy Sector of India: Historical Linkages
India's toy-making tradition dates back to the Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2500 BCE), with early toys made from clay, wood, and cloth reflecting cultural and social values.
Traditional toys like Channapatna wooden toys and Kondapalli figurines are known for their eco-friendly craftsmanship and regional themes.
Toy-making in India is deeply rooted in cultural customs and varies by region, shaped by local folklore and artisanal practices.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has approved significant amendments to the Natural Gas Pipeline Tariff Regulations, 2025, aimed at simplifying tariffs, improving access, and supporting the government’s vision of "One Nation, One Grid, One Tariff."
Key Amendments
Reduction of Unified Tariff Zones: The number of unified tariff zones is reduced from three to two.
This will simplify the tariff structure and streamline the natural gas transportation network.
Nationwide Extension of Lower Unified Tariff (Zone 1): The benefit of the lower unified tariff under Zone 1 is now extended across India. Applies to both Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG), including domestic household consumers.
Expected to improve affordability and access to natural gas nationwide.
Thirty-five million members of the Indian diaspora spread across the world are India’s “pride”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event of the people of Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago.
Indian Diaspora
The diaspora encompasses a group of people who can either trace their origins to India or who are Indian citizens living abroad, either temporarily or permanently.
As per the Indian Ministry of External Affairs [2024], the global Indian diaspora numbers approximately 35.42 million, consisting of 15.85 million non-resident Indians (NRIs) and 19.57 million people of Indian origin (PIOs).
Top 5 countries where the Indian diaspora resides: United States of America (USA): 5.4Mn, United Arab Emirates (UAE): 3.6Mn, Malaysia: 2.9Mn, Canada: 2.8Mn and Saudi Arabia: 2.4Mn.
India is the origin of the largest number of international migrants in the world, touching nearly 18 million, according to the UN World Migration Report 2024.
The Indian government has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its proposal to levy retaliatory tariffs amounting to nearly $724 million on the U.S..
About
The move follows the United States’ decision to extend safeguard tariffs—amounting to a 25% ad valorem increase—on imports of passenger vehicles, light trucks, and certain automobile components from India.
The proposed suspension of concessions by India or other obligations would take the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the US.
