President Donald Trump paid a price for going it alone on tariffs, as the Supreme Court on Friday delivered a rare rebuke, ruling that he lacked the power to declare an economic emergency and impose sweeping new taxes on imports. Trump had made tariffs the bedrock of his economic pitch to voters ahead of the midterm elections, even describing tariffs as his “favourite word in the dictionary.” He promised that factories would relocate from overseas and bring jobs with them, and he warned that losing the tariffs could plunge the US into a deep recession. However, Friday’s ruling is likely to prolong political and economic uncertainty over international trade through the election year. Trump reacts strongly to court ruling Trump called the decision “a disgrace” after he was handed a note informing him of the ruling during a private meeting with several governors, according to two people familiar with his reaction who spoke on condition of anonymity. Another person briefed on the conversation said Trump remarked that he would “have to do something about these courts.” The meeting with the governors ended shortly after Trump learned of the decision. He is expected to address the ruling publicly during an afternoon press conference. Republican strategist Doug Heye said it was immediately clear that the president “is not going to be happy” about the decision. “We’re starting to hear that this is a massive blow, a massive repudiation,” he said. However, Heye added that Trump would likely look for another way to pursue his trade agenda. “Are they going to be able to figure out how to use this as an opportunity or not?” he asked. “There are too many questions.” White House explores alternative legal routes to maintain tariffs The White House plans to use alternative laws to preserve the tariffs, but those policies could prolong the debate and keep alive an issue that is largely unpopular with voters. About six in 10 Americans said Trump had gone too far in imposing new tariffs on other countries, according to an AP-NORC poll conducted in January. Even more concerning for a president elected on promises to address affordability, 76 per cent said in a poll conducted last April that Trump’s tariff policies would increase the cost of consumer goods in the US. Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs had left many Republican lawmakers uneasy, both publicly and privately, forcing them to defend what were essentially tax increases on American consumers and businesses. At various points during Trump’s second term, at least seven senators from his party voiced concerns. Earlier this month, six House Republicans joined Democrats in voting for a resolution opposing Trump’s tariffs on Canada. Free trade had long been a central plank of the Republican Party before Trump’s rise to power. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served during Trump’s first term, praised the Supreme Court ruling as a victory for the public, the constitutional separation of powers and free trade. “American families and American businesses pay American tariffs — not foreign countries,” Pence wrote on social media. “With this decision, American families and businesses can breathe a sigh of relief.” Democrats highlight Supreme Court ruling as rebuke to Trump’s tariffs Democrats were quick to seize on the opportunity presented by the ruling. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said Trump “is not a king” and that his “tariffs were always illegal.” “Republicans in Congress could have easily ended this economic crisis by standing up for their communities,” said DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Instead, they chose to bend the knee to Trump while families, small businesses and farmers suffered from higher prices.” The ruling allows Trump’s critics to argue that he broke the law and that middle-class families suffered as a result. Still, Trump has maintained that his tariffs were the difference between national prosperity and deep poverty, a message he repeated Thursday night to voters in the swing state of Georgia. The president used the word “tariff” 28 times during his speech at a Georgia steel company, Coosa Steel, which credited the import taxes with making its products more competitive against goods from China. Trump defends tariffs, warns country would face economic trouble without them “Without tariffs, this country would be in such trouble right now,” Trump said. He also complained that he had to justify his use of tariffs to the Supreme Court. “I have to wait for this decision. I’ve been waiting forever, forever, and the language is clear that I have the right to do it as president,” he said. “I have the right to put tariffs on for national security purposes, against countries that have been ripping us off for years.” By a 6–3 vote, the high court disagreed. The president has consistently misrepresented his tariffs, claiming — despite evidence to the contrary — that foreign governments would pay them and that the revenues would be sufficient to reduce the national debt and provide taxpayers with dividend checks. New research linked to one of America’s leading banks found that tariffs paid by midsize US businesses tripled over the past year. The additional costs meant that companies employing a combined 48 million people in the US — the types of businesses Trump had promised to revive — had to absorb the expense by passing it on to customers through higher prices, reducing their workforce or accepting lower profits. Trump’s tariffs — not all of which were overturned — were expected to generate USD 3 trillion in revenue over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. While substantial, that amount would still be insufficient to cover projected deficits. The Supreme Court has not ruled on how any refund process would work. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 February,2026 12:53 AM IST | Washington | APWestern Railway (WR) on Friday announced six pairs of special trains on special fares across key routes, along with the extension of the Rajkot–Mahbubnagar weekly special. The extra services are made to manage the festive rush during Holi. According to WR Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, the special services will connect Mumbai, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and West Bengal, offering additional capacity during the peak travel season. Key special trains announced Mumbai Central – Kathgodam Superfast Weekly Special (10 trips)Services will operate between February 25 and March 26, 2026, connecting Mumbai with Uttarakhand. Mumbai Central – Kanpur Anwarganj Superfast Weekly Special (12 trips)The train will run between February 22 and March 30, 2026, linking Mumbai with key cities in Uttar Pradesh. Bandra Terminus – Palitana Weekly Special (2 trips)A special service will run at the end of February, catering to passengers travelling to Gujarat. Udhna – Malda Town Weekly Special (8 trips)This service will operate between late February and March, connecting Gujarat with eastern India. Sabarmati – Haridwar Weekly Special (10 trips)Scheduled between February 23 and March 24, the train will facilitate travel to Uttarakhand via Rajasthan and Delhi. Indore – Hazrat Nizamuddin Bi-Weekly Superfast Special (20 trips)Running from February 22 to March 28, this train will enhance connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Rajkot–Mahbubnagar special extended WR has also extended Train No. 09575/09576 Rajkot–Mahbubnagar Weekly Special up to March 30/31, 2026, offering continued relief to passengers on this route. Booking details Reservations for Train Nos. 09075, 09185, 09023, 09024, 03418, 09425, 09309 and the extended trips of 09575 will open from February 21, 2026, at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and on the IRCTC website. Western Railway to operate four-hour night block on Mumbai suburban section; details here Western Railway (WR) will not operate a daytime block on Sunday over the suburban section. However, a four-hour maintenance block will be operated at night, affecting Mumbai local train services on certain stretches, WR informed. The block will be imposed on the UP and DOWN Slow lines between Vasai Road and Virar from 12.15 am to 4.15 am on the intervening night of Saturday/Sunday to carry out maintenance of tracks, signalling, and overhead equipment. Additionally, a major block on all the lines between Borivali and Dahisar will take place from 2.10 am to 4.10 am to facilitate the launching of a new foot over bridge (FOB) girder. During this period, Slow line suburban trains will run on Fast lines between Vasai Road and Virar. Due to the FOB-launching block, some suburban and Mail/Express trains will be delayed or cancelled.
20 February,2026 09:20 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (MH-CET) Cell has announced a final extension for online registration and application form submission for the Maharashtra Master of Business Administration (MAH-MBA)/Master of Management Studies (MMS) CET 2026 and Maharashtra Health and Technical (MAH-MHT) CET 2026 (physics-chemistry-maths and physics-chemistry-biology), providing one last opportunity for candidates ahead of the entrance exams for the academic year 2026-27. According to official notices issued on Friday, the registration deadline for MAH-MBA/MMS CET has been extended to February 25, while for MAH-MHT CET (PCM/PCB), it closes on February 24, with an additional window from February 25 to 27 for late registrations, subject to an extra fee of Rs 500. The registration process began on January 10. This final extension considers the academic interests of candidates and follows earlier extensions (initially to Friday in some cases). Candidates must complete online registration, application form filling, and confirmation by the respective deadlines via the official website: www.mahacet.org (or cetcell.mahacet.org). A key highlight this year is the introduction of two attempts for these CETs, aligning with national-level exams like Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)-Main to give students better opportunities. Candidates can opt for one or both attempts during registration (the choice is binding, with no later changes allowed). The better score from the two attempts will be considered for admissions. Tentative exam dates MAH-MBA/MMS CET 2026 First attempt: April 6 to 8 Second attempt: May 9 MAH-MHT CET (PCM/PCB) 2026 First attempt: April 11 to April 26 (PCM/PCB windows vary slightly) Second attempt: May 10 to 17 The CET Cell reported strong response, with a combined total of 12,51,792 registrations across both attempts for the three CETs (as of the latest update). A breakdown of the registrations is given below: MHT CET (PCM group): 7,32,268 (4,52,931 for first attempt + 2,79,337 for second) MHT CET (PCB group): 3,61,891 (2,64,019 for first + 97,872 for second) MBA/MMS CET: 1,57,633 (1,14,327 for first + 43,306 for second) Overall, 8,31,277 candidates registered for the first attempt and 4,20,515 for the second. The cell has asked candidates without an Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) identification to generate one via DigiLocker for accurate verification (though not mandatory in cases of technical issues). APAAR ID and Unique Disability ID (UDID) for persons with disabilities aid in smooth processing. The CET Cell has also appealed to all the aspirants, parents, and stakeholders to regularly check the official website for updates, detailed schedules, information brochures, and instructions. The exams will be conducted online (computer-based) at various centres across Maharashtra for admissions to MBA/MMS, engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and related professional courses. This move aims to maximise participation and reduce pressure on students by offering flexibility similar to national exams. Those yet to register should act promptly to avoid missing out, the cell directed.
20 February,2026 06:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid a row over an order regulating the collection of donations during Ramzan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the decision was taken after consultations with local religious leaders and should not be politicised. Citing concerns over unauthorised fund raising, the deputy commissioner of Kishtwar had on Wednesday issued an order regulating the collection of donations during the holy month. Responding to concerns raised by Congress MLAs Gulam Ahmed Mir and Nizam-ud-Din Bhat in the Assembly on Thursday, Abdullah said he looked into the matter and found that the deputy commissioner did not issue the order arbitrarily. He said all district commissioners had been instructed in advance to engage with local communities and make necessary preparations for Ramzan. During one such meeting, religious leaders from the Muslim community in and around Kishtwar met the deputy commissioner and highlighted the issue of individuals setting up fake non-governmental organisations during Ramzan to collect donations, the chief minister said. "They informed the administration that money is often collected in the name of charity or patients whose existence cannot be verified, and there is no clarity on how the funds are actually utilised," Abdullah said, adding that genuine NGOs suffer as a result and are deprived of much-needed support. Abdullah said religious leaders had specifically requested the deputy commissioner to intervene and put an end to the practice. "Based on these genuine concerns raised by clerics and community representatives, the deputy commissioner issued the order," he said. Abdullah further said the Imam of the Jamia Masjid Kishtwar, along with other clerics and religious leaders, has welcomed the move. Appealing for restraint, the chief minister said not every administrative decision should be viewed through a political lens. "We should sometimes go into the details. Many decisions are taken after consultations with the people and not on political grounds. Such matters should not be dragged into politics," he said. Criticising the order, Mir and Bhat had demanded its immediate revocation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 February,2026 06:22 PM IST | Jammu | PTITension gripped Sihora town in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district as members of two communities clashed. The groups indulged in stone-pelting and damaged shops and vehicles in the area. The ruckus in Sihora forced the police to fire several teargas shells to bring the situation under control, news agency PTI reported. Jabalpur: Tension flared in Sihora following a Communal dispute, prompting heavy police deployment. Members of a Hindu group allegedly vandalised shops during a protest, after which police used force to disperse crowds. A Muslim group also gathered nearby but was pushed back.… pic.twitter.com/WQoDlwugJ9 — IANS (@ians_india) February 20, 2026 Speaking about the incident, a police officer said, “The incident occurred in the Azad Chowk area of the town on Thursday night, after which a heavy police force was deployed there." Eyewitnesses said that a temple of Goddess Durga and a mosque are located close to each other in the Azad Chowk area. When the 'aarti' was underway at the temple, members of both communities clashed over the damaged safety grill of the temple, reported PTI. They further added that the altercation soon escalated into a violent confrontation, following which both the sides began pelting stones at each other. They also vandalised shops and vehicles parked on the road. The police officer further stated that they initially used mild force, but when there were no signs of the clash ceasing, they fired teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Senior officials from the police and the administration later visited the spot to take stock of the situation, he said. Situation in Sihora now under control, says collector District Collector Raghavendra Singh said the situation is completely under control now. "Members of two communities clashed and indulged in vandalism. In order to bring the situation under control, the police had to fire eight to ten teargas shells," said Superintendent of Police (SP) Sampat Upadhyay. Additional SP Jabalpur Suryakant Sharma, while speaking to the media on Friday, stated, “Whoever takes the law into their own hands will not be spared; everyone will be made to face action. " If someone starts overturning a cart, we will stop them using force and drive them away so that peace is maintained." While the situation now seems under control, police authorities across the district remain vigilant to ensure that law and order are maintained across the city. Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: Additional SP Suryakant Sharma says, "Whoever takes the law into their own hands will not be spared, everyone will be made to face action. Someone starts overturning a cart, we will stop them using force and drive them away so that peace is… pic.twitter.com/UAe6XXSqjR — IANS (@ians_india) February 20, 2026 (With inputs from PTI and IANS)
20 February,2026 06:13 PM IST | Jabalpur | mid-day online correspondentAuthorities in Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand held a meeting with community members, amid simmering tension after a video of namaz being offered in an under-construction government building surfaced on social media. The municipality on Thursday withdrew the verbal permission given for offering namaz in the building and locked it. Jyotirmath Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Chandrashekhar Vashisht told reporters that a meeting was held on Thursday with members of both communities as a precautionary measure for peace. He said police have been instructed to keep a vigil on elements that may disrupt the atmosphere. Some Hindu outfits met the district magistrate and superintendent of police on the issue and demanded an investigation. At the heart of the controversy is a video in which some people are seen offering namaz in an under-construction table tennis court in the Meat Bazaar area of Jyotirmath municipality. Municipal Council President Deveshwari Shah told reporters that Muslims had obtained verbal permission to offer namaz. However, after a meeting of councillors chaired by Shah in the evening, the room in the building was locked. In 2017, a gurdwara here had opened its gates for the members of the Muslim community to offer namaz on Eid al-Adha due to heavy rain. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 February,2026 05:27 PM IST | Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand) | PTIA group of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers on Friday staged a dramatic 'shirtless protest' at the AI Impact Summit exhibition hall, holding T-shirts with slogans against the government and the India–US trade deal, before being removed by security personnel. A senior police officer told news agency PTI that around 10 protesters were detained during the demonstration. “They were removed immediately and taken to Tilak Marg police station. No one will be allowed to breach law and order,” the officer added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the protest, alleging that Congress’ youth wing had created a “ruckus” at the venue to tarnish India’s global image at the behest of former party chief Rahul Gandhi. The protesters marched into Exhibition Hall No 5, wearing or holding white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as “India–US Trade Deal”, “Epstein Files” and “PM is compromised”, creating a commotion. The incident led to heated exchanges between some summit attendees and the protesters. Youth Congress says protest was against "compromises" on India’s interests, not AI Summit 2026 Posting a video of the protest, the IYC said the question they were raising was: “Why exactly did young Congress workers need to raise their voices against the ‘compromised PM inside the AI Summit’?” The statement added, “In a country where the media, the system, and the prime minister himself have already been compromised, what platform remains to raise a voice against it? If we protest on the streets, we are stopped. Under the guise of IT Rules, social media posts against the government are taken down. The media has become the government’s mouthpiece. So, what avenue remains open to us?” The Youth Congress clarified, “We are not against the AI Summit. We are against the compromises being made with India’s interests. When the country’s farmers are being bargained away, anti-India trade agreements are being signed, and the youth is kept unemployed while being dragged into politics of hate, should we stay silent?” They added, “This country belongs to 140 crore citizens. If we know how to walk the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, we also know how to walk the path shown by Sardar Bhagat Singh. We will never allow the interests of the country’s youths and farmers to be bargained away. Inquilab Zindabad.” A Delhi Police officer on duty said security inside the halls will be heightened following the “unfortunate episode”. The protest, which lasted a few minutes before the group was removed, surprised guests and other visitors, many of whom watched in disbelief given the global significance of the AI Summit hosted by India. The AI Impact Summit, held from February 16–20 at Bharat Mandapam, is seeing participation from several heads of state, global AI leaders, academicians, researchers, top executives of tech giants, and philanthropists. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the summit on Thursday in the presence of world leaders and global tech heads. After being removed from the hall, the protesters moved to the lobby, stood against a large backdrop, and continued shouting slogans against the government. A student from Ludhiana visiting the Impact Arena on Friday said that general visitors registering through the summit website receive a QR code in their email. “This QR code carries the name and identity of their organisation or institution and is used to enter the Bharat Mandapam premises,” he explained. (With PTI inputs)
20 February,2026 05:16 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe government on Friday announced seven measures, including credit assistance for e-commerce exporters and support for alternative trade instruments, with an aim to promote the country's outbound shipments. These measures are part of the Rs 25,060-crore export promotion mission. Out of 10 components of the mission, three have already been rolled out in January. To support exporters using digital channels, the commerce ministry announced credit facilities with interest subvention and partial credit guarantees. The Direct E-Commerce Credit Facility will provide support up to Rs 50 lakh with 90 per cent guarantee coverage. The Overseas Inventory Credit Facility will extend support up to Rs 5 crore with 75 per cent guarantee coverage, and an interest subvention of 2.75 per cent will be available, subject to an annual ceiling of Rs 15 lakh per applicant, the commerce ministry said. To promote export factoring as an affordable working capital solution for MSMEs, an interest subvention of 2.75 per cent will be provided on the factoring cost for eligible transactions undertaken through RBI/IFSCA-recognised entities. Assistance is capped at Rs 50 lakh per MSME annually and will be processed through a digital claim mechanism to ensure transparency and timely disbursal. To support emerging export opportunities, the ministry said this intervention enables exporters to access new or high-risk markets through shared-risk and credit enhancement instruments such as Letters of Credit confirmation and negotiation. For Trade Regulations, Accreditation and Compliance Enablement (TRACE), support will be extended to exporters in meeting international testing, inspections, certifications and other conformity requirements. Under this, partial reimbursement of 60 per cent under the Positive List and 75 per cent under the Priority Positive List will be provided for eligible testing, inspection and certification expenses, subject to an annual ceiling of Rs 25 lakh per IEC (import export code). Facilitating Logistics, Overseas Warehousing and Fulfilment (FLOW) will enable exporters to access overseas warehousing and fulfilment infrastructure, including E-Commerce Export Hubs integrated with global distribution networks, it said. Under this, an assistance of up to 30 per cent of the approved project cost will be provided for a maximum of three years, subject to prescribed ceilings and MSME participation norms. For exporters from northeastern and hilly regions, Logistics Interventions for Freight and Transport (LIFT) was announced. LIFT mitigates geographical disadvantages faced by exporters in remote, hilly, northeastern and landlocked districts. Under this, there will be partial reimbursement of up to 30 per cent of the eligible freight expenditure, subject to a ceiling of Rs 20 lakh per IEC per financial year. Financial assistance will also be extended for an integrated Support for Trade Intelligence and Facilitation (INSIGHT). It is generally limited to 50 per cent of project cost, with up to 100 per cent support for proposals from central and state Government institutions and Indian Missions abroad, subject to notified ceilings. Through these coordinated financial and ecosystem interventions, the government aims to reduce the cost of capital, diversify trade finance instruments, enhance compliance readiness, address logistics constraints and strengthen overseas market integration for MSMEs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 February,2026 04:48 PM IST | New Delhi | PTILeader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, appeared before an MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Friday to record his statement in a 2018 defamation case. The case relates to remarks he allegedly made about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Karnataka elections in 2018. The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 9, when Gandhi is expected to provide evidence in his defence, his advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla told PTI. Gandhi entered the court at around 10:40 am and left by 11:15 am. After the hearing, he left for Lucknow before flying back to Delhi. Ahead of the court appearance, local Congress leaders put up posters in Sultanpur reading “Satyamev Jayate” (truth always triumphs). Support from party leaders Gandhi was accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, MLA Aradhana Mishra, and UP Congress chief Ajay Rai. Speaking to ANI, Pramod Tiwari criticized the BJP, saying, “The BJP is continuously filing false and fabricated cases against him across the entire country. Similarly, a case has been filed in Sultanpur. We have faith in the judiciary; we will get justice. He is coming today to appear in that very matter.” Aradhana Mishra added, “Rahul Gandhi will today attend the hearing in Sultanpur for the case currently underway in the court there. All workers are with him,” while Ajay Rai explained Gandhi’s presence saying that he has a program in Sultanpur which is why he has to go there and hence has to appear in the court there personally. Gandhi was coming there for the above mentioned reasons according to Rai as per ANI reports. Background of the case The case was filed in 2018 by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra, alleging that Gandhi made derogatory remarks about then-BJP president Amit Shah. A warrant was issued against Gandhi in December 2023 for not appearing, but he surrendered in February 2024, receiving bail on two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. Gandhi previously recorded his statement in July 2024, claiming that he was innocent and calling the case a political conspiracy. Following Friday’s hearing, the court has directed the complainant to produce evidence in the case. (With PTI and ANI Inputs)
20 February,2026 03:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSergio Gor, US Ambassador to India on Friday said that the US has seen India diversify the sourcing of oil and underlined that that the United States does not want any country to buy Russian Oil as Washington continues with its efforts of brokering peace between Ukraine and Russia. He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit taking place here in the national capital. When asked about America's monitoring mechanism with regard to Russian oil, Gor told the press, "On oil, there's an agreement. We have seen India diversify on their oil. There is a commitment. This is not about India. The United States doesn't want anyone buying Russian oil. The President's been very clear on this, he wants this war to end. And so anyone who is in a way still involved with that conflict is something that the President wants to see come to an end in hopes of peace coming with that." In efforts to end the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Trump has been consistently urging for energy decoupling from Russia with several officials associated with the 2.0 administration time and again calling to halt oil exports. The Ministry of External Affairs has underlined that diversifying energy sourcing in line with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics remains central to India's strategy to ensure energy security for its population of 1.4 billion. Gor was joined by US Under Secretary Jacob Helberg and and White House adviser Michael Kratsios during the press conference. Helberg expressed confidence on India joining the US led Pax Silica initiative and said, "As you know PAX SILICA does not follow typical geopolitical geometries. It is a coalition of capabilities and India is by far the country that has the world's deepest bench of talent and we think will be a key contributor to helping us amortize R&D costs through scale. Scale is key to competitiveness and we look forward to working with India to strengthen our shared supply chains". Michael Kratsios told the media, "One of the main messages here in India has been all about AI impacts and the story that the United States wants to bring is that we as a country want to share the great American technology stack with the world. We want every country in the world to be able to realize the benefits of AI and there's no better partner in the world and no better set of technologies than those provided by the United States. Today we unveiled a suite of initiatives across the whole of the US government to support the export of our great technologies abroad and we believe that is the best solution and best path forward for countries that want to realize these benefits." When asked when the India-US interim trade deal would be signed, Gor praised the ties between New Delhi and Washington and hailed the friendship between PM Modi and US President Trump. "The signing will happen very soon. In fact even this week we have both teams are talking to each other and actively getting to a place where both will be able to sign. We're not dealing with a small country, this is one of the biggest economies. And so we're thrilled that the interim deal is done. You have the few tweaking points that are left to do but it's done. So the signing will happen sooner than later." Gor lauded the AI Summit in his remarks and called it highly successful. "I think it was highly successful. I think it's a testament to your Prime Minister. This is when the intersection of AI is the United States and India right now. And it happened here in New Delhi and we're thrilled to be part of it." The India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academics and civil society representatives to deliberate on responsible AI governance and inclusive technological advancement. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 February,2026 01:52 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIIndia on Friday joined the United States (US)-led strategic alliance Pax Silica, an initiative aimed at building a secure and resilient supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence. The agreement to join the coalition was formalised at a ceremony held on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, news agency PTI reported. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology (IT) Ashwini Vaishnaw, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor were among those present. India’s decision to enter the coalition comes at a time when New Delhi and Washington are working to conclude a proposed trade agreement and advance several initiatives to strengthen bilateral ties after a period of strain. “From the trade deal to Pax Silica to defence cooperation, the potential for our two nations to work together is truly limitless,” Gor said. He described India’s participation as not merely symbolic but a strategic step that would further strengthen the trajectory of bilateral relations. Highlighting India’s strengths, Gor said the country possesses deep engineering talent capable of meeting global challenges. He noted that India has also made significant progress in developing critical mineral processing capacity, an area in which the US is closely engaged. He suggested that trusted AI technologies could be shared with India under the Pax Silica framework. Helberg welcomed India’s entry into the alliance and characterised Pax Silica as an initiative aimed at countering coercion and blackmail in global supply chains — an apparent reference to China. “We watch as our friends and allies face daily threats of economic coercion and blackmail. They are forced to choose between their sovereignty and their prosperity. We find ourselves grappling with a global supply chain that is massively over-concentrated,” he said. “So today, as we sign the Pax Silica declaration, we say no to weaponised dependency, and we say no to blackmail, and together, we say that economic security is national security, but we must be precise about what that word means,” he added. Launched in December, Pax Silica seeks to create a secure, resilient and innovation-driven supply chain ecosystem spanning critical minerals, semiconductors and AI infrastructure. The Pax Silica Summit was held in Washington on December 12, where partner countries signed the declaration. The declaration outlines a shared vision of deep economic and technological cooperation across the supply chain — from raw material extraction to semiconductor manufacturing and AI systems — with a focus on mutual prosperity and security. Current members of Pax Silica include Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Last month, Ambassador Gor had announced an invitation to India to join the alliance. A central pillar of Pax Silica is the creation of a durable economic framework to drive AI-powered growth across partner nations. “We recognise that a reliable supply chain is indispensable to our mutual economic security,” the declaration states. It further underlines that artificial intelligence represents a transformative force for long-term prosperity and that trustworthy systems are critical to safeguarding shared security and growth. The declaration adds that economic value and expansion will flow across every layer of the global AI supply chain, creating unprecedented demand for energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, advanced hardware, infrastructure and entirely new markets. (With PTI inputs)
20 February,2026 01:26 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1771584442383_d.png "Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah . File Pic")
-1771588222052_d.png "Namaz being offered in an under-construction government building. Pic/X (@THESRAHUL) screengrab")
-1771581476499_d.png "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. File Pic")
-1771574916880_d.png "US Ambassador Sergio Gor. Pic/X (@USAmbIndia)")
