Rs 15-crore horse, Rs 23-crore buffalo steal spotlight at Rajasthan's Pushkar Fair
Pushkar (PTI): A horse worth Rs 15 crore, a Rs 23-crore buffalo and a cow just 16 inches tall are the star attractions of the Pushkar Cattle Fair in Rajasthan, one of India's most prominent livestock fairs known for showcasing elite breeds and record-breaking valuation of animals.
Although the fair will start from October 30 and continue till November 5, livestock traders and enthusiasts have already started to gather at the site.
Of the more than 4,300 animals, including 3,028 horses and 1,306 camels, that have been registered for the fair, the centrepiece is a two-and-a-half-year-old stallion, Shahbaz, owned by Chandigarh-based breeder Gary Gill, which has drawn a massive crowd.
"Shahbaz has won multiple shows and comes from a prestigious lineage. His covering fee is Rs 2 lakh, and the asking price is Rs 15 crore," Gill said, adding that he has already received offers up to Rs 9 crore for the Marwari breed horse.
Another showstopper is 1,500-kg Anmol, a buffalo priced at Rs 23 crore. Its owner, Palmindra Gill, said the animal is "raised like royalty" and is fed milk, desi ghee, and dry fruits daily.
Joining the line-up is Rana, a buffalo from Ujjain valued at Rs 25 lakh and weighing 600 kg. The animal consumes food worth Rs 1,500 a day, including gram flour, eggs, oil, milk, ghee, and liver tonic.
Also at the fair is Badal, a veteran Marwari stallion and father of 285 colts, who has reportedly attracted offers of up to Rs 11 crore but remains unsold.
Adding a unique charm to the fair, Abhinav Tiwari from Jaipur's Bagru has brought over 15 cows of different breeds, including one that stands just 16 inches tall, believed to be among the smallest in the fair.
DSP (Ajmer Rural) Ramchandra Chaudhary said that this year, the Pushkar Fair will see a larger police deployment compared to previous years.
"More than 2,000 police personnel will be deployed during the fair. All officers have been briefed properly to ensure that visitors face no inconvenience," he said.
Rajasthan's Animal Husbandry Department has intensified monitoring to ensure the health and safety of the livestock arriving for trade at the fair, an official said.
The department's joint director, Sunil Ghiya, said dedicated checkpoints have been set up on routes being used by traders and herders to bring animals to the fair. "Every animal will be registered, examined by veterinary doctors, and tagged before entry," he said.
The officer noted that such precautions are essential as large gatherings of livestock increase the risk of communicable diseases. "The department has deployed veterinary teams and officials on a 24-hour duty schedule at the fairgrounds," Ghiya added.
He further said that animal records, particularly for camels, cows, buffaloes and horses, are being digitised as part of a larger initiative to ensure transparency and traceability in livestock management.
The fairground is abuzz with tourists and traders. Livestock trading and competitions like best milk producer, best horse breed, and best-dressed camel are underway, an official said.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
