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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gifted US President Joe Biden an antique silver hand-engraved train model, a rare and extraordinary piece masterfully crafted by artisans from Maharashtra and showcasing the pinnacle of Indian metalworking artistry. The vintage piece involves intricate filigree work and is made of 92.5 per cent silver, officials said. This creation is a tribute to the steam locomotive era, with artistic brilliance merging with historical significance. Signifying the robust linkages between India and the US, the model has been customised by inscribing "DELHI-DELAWARE" on the sides of the main carriage and "INDIAN RAILWAYS" on the sides of the engine in English and Hindi based on the standard format used on passenger trains in India, they noted. This work not only highlights the artisan's exceptional skill but also serves as a glowing testimony to the long history of Indian railways and its global influences. Modi chose a pashmina shawl in papier mache box as t
With the government seeking a review of certain provisions of a free trade agreement with UAE, think tank GTRI on Friday asked for the withdrawal of duty cut concessions on platinum, silver, diamonds, gold jewellery, and tweak the rules of origin norms in the pact. India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officially dubbed as Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on February 18, 2022, and implemented on May 1, 2022. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has earlier stated that the pact contains provisions for unlimited imports of duty-free gold, silver, platinum, and diamonds into India over the next few years and it would hurt domestic industry. It has also alleged that there is a potential misuse of the rules of origin in the agreement and due to that India should review the CEPA. Meeting these rules are must to get duty concessions under the agreement. In the review, it said India should focus on issues such as "withdraw