India adopted the GST in 2017, sweeping in more than a dozen domestic state taxes in a bid to unify the economy on the principle of "one nation, one tax, one market". It was hailed as the biggest tax reform since independence from Britain in 1947.

The announcement comes as the United States President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on India to put additional pressure on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary.

The Indian prime minister has said his country "is ready" to react to President Donald Trump's additional 25 percent levy on goods entering the U.S.

The highlights this week: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces down multiple challenges at once as the United States threatens high tariffs, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is tried in absentia for charges related to last year’s protest crackdown, and the Taliban mark four years back in power in Kabul.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced tax cuts, pledged policy reform and urged the citizens to design and produce high quality goods at home, in a sweeping Independence Day speech that blasted rising “economic selfishness” in the world.

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For years, India has balanced close partnerships with both Washington and Moscow, even throughout Ukraine war. Trump is finally demanding it picks a side

During his Friday speech, Modi also hinted India would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty, which India suspended after the April massacre, allows sharing of the Indus River that runs about 2,897 kilometers (1,800 miles) through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries.

Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gayaji district on August 22 to launch several projects and address a public rally, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Wednesday.