Cross Border Rail 🚂

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September 30, 2025

Hello, Chaos Agents! May your WiFi be strong!

Heres whats going on in 🇮🇳

  • India and Bhutan to Build First Cross-Border Rail Links at Four Thousand 33 Crore Rupees Outlay

  • Canada Lists Bishnoi Gang as Terrorist Entity

  • India's FTA with EFTA Nations to Start October 1st Amidst Strong Global Economic Positioning

India and Bhutan to Build First Cross-Border Rail Links at Four Thousand 33 Crore Rupees Outlay

India and Bhutan will establish two cross-border rail links: Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse, totaling an outlay of four thousand 33 crore rupees. The Kokrajhar-Gelephu route will be approximately 69 kilometer long, costing three thousand 456 crore rupees, while the 20-kilometre-long Banarhat-Samtse project will cost 577 crore rupees. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed India will bear the entire investment. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted this is the first set of rail connectivity projects, strengthening the exceptional trust and mutual respect between the two nations, where India is Bhutan's top trading partner and largest provider of developmental assistance.

Why it's important: These rail links mark the first railway connectivity projects between India and Bhutan, significantly boosting trade and infrastructural development with India fully funding the four thousand 33 crore rupees investment.

Canada Lists Bishnoi Gang as Terrorist Entity, Authorizing Asset Seizure

Canada has officially designated the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. This listing enables Canadian law enforcement to freeze or seize any assets owned by the group within Canada, including property, vehicles, and money, to combat terrorist offences like financing, travel, and recruitment. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree noted the gang targets specific communities with violence and intimidation. The Government of Canada confirmed the Bishnoi Gang operates in areas with large diaspora communities, engaging in murder, shootings, arson, extortion, and intimidation, creating insecurity. This addition brings the total number of listed terrorist entities under the Criminal Code of Canada to 88.

Why it's important: This official listing empowers Canadian authorities to legally target the Bishnoi Gang's financial and physical assets to disrupt its operations within the country, enhancing community safety.

India's FTA with EFTA Nations to Start October 1st Amidst Strong Global Economic Positioning

Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with EFTA nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) will be effective from 1st of October this year. Addressing the UP International Trade Show, he noted India's existing FTAs with the UAE, Australia, and the UK, and ongoing talks with the US, EU, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, and Chile. Goyal highlighted India's transformation into the world’s 4th largest economy, with foreign exchange reserves at 700 billion US dollars, aiming to be the 3rd largest at 5 trillion US dollars in the next two years. He also praised the recent GST reforms.

Why it's important: The FTA with EFTA nations and ongoing trade discussions solidify India's growing global economic influence and trade ambitions under current leadership.

Global Chronicles 🌐 

  • Canada listed the Bishnoi Gang as the 88th terrorist entity under the Criminal Code, allowing for the seizure of their assets in the country due to their activities involving murder, shootings, arson, extortion, and intimidation targeting diaspora communities.

  • The White House released a peace plan following a meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, proposing an immediate end to the two-year-old Gaza conflict with conditions including hostage return within 72 hours, prisoner/detainee release, and the establishment of a de-radicalised Gaza redevelopment plan backed by an International Stabilisation Force.

Market Movers 🤑 

  • On Independence Day, PM Modi announced Next Generation GST reforms, realized by the GST Council on 3rd September with tax cuts on items like pizza bread, khakhra, chapati (now tax-free from 5%) and paratha/parotta (exempted from 18%), while sauces/condiments dropped from 12% to 5%, a move welcomed by citizens like Lucknow's Riya for middle-class relief, alongside Modi's call on the 21st to buy swadeshi products.

  • Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the discovery of natural gas in the Andaman basin at the Sri Vijayapuram 2 well, confirming the region's rich reserves and marking a major step in India's deepwater exploration ambitions.

Sports Spectacle 🏅 

  • England all-rounder Chris Woakes, who debuted in 2011, has retired from international cricket after 217 games, taking 396 wickets and scoring 3,705 runs, including being part of the 2019 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup-winning teams.

  • BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia condemned the unfortunate Asia Cup 2025 final incident where Mohsin Naqvi reportedly took the trophy, confirming a formal protest will be lodged at the ICC conference in Dubai in November this year following India's five-wicket win over Pakistan.

Meme of the day

Thank you for being awesome readers and staying informed with our news updates! We look forward to having you join us again on the next one for more exciting stories.

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Synapses 🔗