Issue SC certificates to persons belonging scheduled castes, converted to Buddhism: Karnataka govt
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government has issued an order to provide SC caste certificates to people belonging to the scheduled castes even after their conversion to Buddhism.
This order will be applicable to persons belonging to any of the 101 Scheduled Castes in the state who converted to Buddhism, the social welfare department said in its order.
"It is ordered to issue the Scheduled Caste Certificate to persons belonging to 101 Scheduled Castes in the Karnataka Scheduled Caste list who have converted to Buddhism, as per the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation in Appointments, etc.) Act, 1990 (Amendment) Act, 2024 and Rules, 1992," the order dated October 6 said.
The order provides for allowing to mention 'Buddhism' in the religion column in applications for Scheduled Caste Certificates.
Also, allowing the applicants/parents to enter Buddhism in the religion column in the documents of government schools/private schools/all other educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department of School Education and Literacy, if they so wish.
"All departments, boards and corporations/other institutions of the Government of Karnataka shall act as per the said order," it added.
Citing the union government's instructions in a letter written in 1990, the department in its order said that based on the letter, the state government issued a circular in 2013, allowing scheduled caste persons converting to Buddhism to obtain SC certificates.
In 2016, the Union government again asked chief secretaries of all states to ensure that scheduled caste people who become Buddhists get SC certificates.
"Although a circular was issued, several organisations have petitioned the government seeking clarity and an appropriate order on this," the social welfare department said.
Buddhists come under the religious minorities list in Karnataka along with Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, and Jains.
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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.
