## Top India Headlines Today – October 15, 2025
Oct 15, 2025 • By AI
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## Top India Headlines Today – October 15, 2025
**Meta Description:**
India resumes postal services to the US, US honors Charlie Kirk, PM-Kisan recipients await 21st payout – stay informed on key national developments today.
Today marks a significant rebound in India’s international logistics as **India Post officially resumes all categories of postal services to the United States after a nearly two-month suspension**. The halt was triggered by regulatory changes in US customs duties, prompting a revised mechanism. Starting today, Express Mail Service, air parcels, registered letters, and tracked packets will be fully restored from all post offices, international business centres, and Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras[1].
The Department of Posts (DoP) has adopted a new **Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) system**, aligning with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements. Under this scheme, a flat 50% customs duty on the declared free-on-board (FOB) value of parcels will be collected in India at the time of booking and remitted directly to US authorities through qualified parties[1]. Letters, documents, and gifts valued up to $100 will continue to be exempt from duty, easing the process for personal and small-scale senders.
**LK Dash, deputy director general (IR & GB),** contextualized the development: “Things will become difficult for those who are importing from India, and although Indian exporters initially pay the 50% US duty upfront, the cost is ultimately borne by the US buyers, who either reimburse the sender or pay a higher total price for the goods.”[1] The new structure is expected to benefit Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, small traders, and e-commerce exporters by reducing their compliance burden and making the postal channel more cost-competitive.
## Other Key National Developments
- **PM-Kisan Yojana:** The wait for the 21st installment of the PM-Kisan Yojana continues to dominate headlines as beneficiaries keenly check for disbursement dates and troubleshooting issues with linking mobile numbers and Aadhaar on the scheme’s portal[9]. The direct income support scheme, which provides ₹6,000 annually to eligible farming families, remains a key rural welfare initiative.
- **Automation in Ahmedabad Construction:** A new study highlights that automation in Ahmedabad’s construction sector has reduced women’s participation by nearly 80%, raising concerns about gendered job displacement in the fast-modernizing Indian economy[9].
- **Platinum Jubilee Drive:** IIT-Kharagpur has launched an ambitious drive to boost its research park in Rajarhat as part of its platinum jubilee celebrations, signaling an investment in advanced technology and research-driven enterprises[9].
- **Gujarat Events:** In Gujarat, five people were arrested over two days for theft and desecration at two temples. Meanwhile, the state’s High Court rejected a former IPS officer’s plea for exemption from surrendering in a wrongful confinement case[9].
- **Safari Permit Black Marketing:** Authorities have arrested three people in connection with the black marketing of safari entry permits in Gir and Devaliya parks, exposing what police call a “digital loophole” in the system[9].
- **Punjab Floods:** Amid ongoing flooding, Punjab’s government has demanded more central aid, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urging more coordinated relief. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan pledged additional support “without politics” based on Punjab’s memorandum[9].
## Snapshots from States
- **Ludhiana:** A “Hypertension Awareness Drive” will see Ludhiana government schools conduct blood pressure checks for parents on PTM (Parent-Teacher Meeting) days, attempting early screening for India’s silent epidemic[9].
- **Delhi:** As the city prepares for Chhath Puja, the New Delhi Railway Station opened a new facility to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) workers’ strike continues, with the civic body considering forming a panel to seek a resolution[9].
- **West Delhi:** A man was arrested for allegedly extorting women via fake social media profiles, underlining ongoing cybercrime concerns in the national capital region[9].
- **Moga, Punjab:** A woman inspector wanted in a corruption case for over a year surrendered in court, underscoring the long tail of ongoing investigations in Punjab’s law enforcement[9].
## International Spotlight Affecting India
- **Trump Honors Charlie Kirk:** On what would have been the American commentator’s 32nd birthday, former US President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This move drew attention in India, especially among followers of transatlantic conservative politics[9].
- **US Visa Revocations:** The US State Department revoked visas for six foreigners over social media comments about Charlie Kirk’s death, illustrating the growing reach of American immigration enforcement on free speech issues abroad[9].
- **Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Clashes:** Pakistan reported new clashes with Afghan forces along its northwest border, a reminder of regional instability at India’s doorstep[9].
- **Middle East Tensions:** Hamas handed over the bodies of four more hostages to Israel after Israeli threats to cut off humanitarian aid, reflecting ongoing volatility in the region[9].
## In Summary
India today stands at a crossroads of logistical recovery, rural anticipation, and urban transformation, even as it keeps a close eye on international developments with domestic implications. The resumption of postal services to the US signals both adaptability and ambition in global trade, while domestic schemes and crises keep the spotlight on India’s socioeconomic evolution.
**—**
**Sources:**
- India resumes postal services to US, new duty mechanism in effect[1]
- Latest updates from The Indian Express news archive, October 15, 2025[9]
- Additional headlines on international events with domestic relevance[9]
**Meta Description:**
India resumes postal services to the US, US honors Charlie Kirk, PM-Kisan recipients await 21st payout – stay informed on key national developments today.
Today marks a significant rebound in India’s international logistics as **India Post officially resumes all categories of postal services to the United States after a nearly two-month suspension**. The halt was triggered by regulatory changes in US customs duties, prompting a revised mechanism. Starting today, Express Mail Service, air parcels, registered letters, and tracked packets will be fully restored from all post offices, international business centres, and Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras[1].
The Department of Posts (DoP) has adopted a new **Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) system**, aligning with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements. Under this scheme, a flat 50% customs duty on the declared free-on-board (FOB) value of parcels will be collected in India at the time of booking and remitted directly to US authorities through qualified parties[1]. Letters, documents, and gifts valued up to $100 will continue to be exempt from duty, easing the process for personal and small-scale senders.
**LK Dash, deputy director general (IR & GB),** contextualized the development: “Things will become difficult for those who are importing from India, and although Indian exporters initially pay the 50% US duty upfront, the cost is ultimately borne by the US buyers, who either reimburse the sender or pay a higher total price for the goods.”[1] The new structure is expected to benefit Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, small traders, and e-commerce exporters by reducing their compliance burden and making the postal channel more cost-competitive.
## Other Key National Developments
- **PM-Kisan Yojana:** The wait for the 21st installment of the PM-Kisan Yojana continues to dominate headlines as beneficiaries keenly check for disbursement dates and troubleshooting issues with linking mobile numbers and Aadhaar on the scheme’s portal[9]. The direct income support scheme, which provides ₹6,000 annually to eligible farming families, remains a key rural welfare initiative.
- **Automation in Ahmedabad Construction:** A new study highlights that automation in Ahmedabad’s construction sector has reduced women’s participation by nearly 80%, raising concerns about gendered job displacement in the fast-modernizing Indian economy[9].
- **Platinum Jubilee Drive:** IIT-Kharagpur has launched an ambitious drive to boost its research park in Rajarhat as part of its platinum jubilee celebrations, signaling an investment in advanced technology and research-driven enterprises[9].
- **Gujarat Events:** In Gujarat, five people were arrested over two days for theft and desecration at two temples. Meanwhile, the state’s High Court rejected a former IPS officer’s plea for exemption from surrendering in a wrongful confinement case[9].
- **Safari Permit Black Marketing:** Authorities have arrested three people in connection with the black marketing of safari entry permits in Gir and Devaliya parks, exposing what police call a “digital loophole” in the system[9].
- **Punjab Floods:** Amid ongoing flooding, Punjab’s government has demanded more central aid, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urging more coordinated relief. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan pledged additional support “without politics” based on Punjab’s memorandum[9].
## Snapshots from States
- **Ludhiana:** A “Hypertension Awareness Drive” will see Ludhiana government schools conduct blood pressure checks for parents on PTM (Parent-Teacher Meeting) days, attempting early screening for India’s silent epidemic[9].
- **Delhi:** As the city prepares for Chhath Puja, the New Delhi Railway Station opened a new facility to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) workers’ strike continues, with the civic body considering forming a panel to seek a resolution[9].
- **West Delhi:** A man was arrested for allegedly extorting women via fake social media profiles, underlining ongoing cybercrime concerns in the national capital region[9].
- **Moga, Punjab:** A woman inspector wanted in a corruption case for over a year surrendered in court, underscoring the long tail of ongoing investigations in Punjab’s law enforcement[9].
## International Spotlight Affecting India
- **Trump Honors Charlie Kirk:** On what would have been the American commentator’s 32nd birthday, former US President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This move drew attention in India, especially among followers of transatlantic conservative politics[9].
- **US Visa Revocations:** The US State Department revoked visas for six foreigners over social media comments about Charlie Kirk’s death, illustrating the growing reach of American immigration enforcement on free speech issues abroad[9].
- **Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Clashes:** Pakistan reported new clashes with Afghan forces along its northwest border, a reminder of regional instability at India’s doorstep[9].
- **Middle East Tensions:** Hamas handed over the bodies of four more hostages to Israel after Israeli threats to cut off humanitarian aid, reflecting ongoing volatility in the region[9].
## In Summary
India today stands at a crossroads of logistical recovery, rural anticipation, and urban transformation, even as it keeps a close eye on international developments with domestic implications. The resumption of postal services to the US signals both adaptability and ambition in global trade, while domestic schemes and crises keep the spotlight on India’s socioeconomic evolution.
**—**
**Sources:**
- India resumes postal services to US, new duty mechanism in effect[1]
- Latest updates from The Indian Express news archive, October 15, 2025[9]
- Additional headlines on international events with domestic relevance[9]