FOR THE FIRST TIME in a decade, India, once competing among the biggest sugar exporters in the world, has announced duty-free import of sugar for traders, mills, and wholesale buyers. On Thursday, August 20, 2026, the Commerce Ministry of India notified that 10 lakh metric tons (MT) of raw sugar imports will be cleared without tax till October 31, 2026. This follows the recent price hike of the product due to the shortage of sugarcane yield in the Indian market.

Just two years ago, in 2022-23, India became the second biggest sugar exporter in the world, standing only behind Brazil. Now, this move by the government is seen with skepticism about how one of the biggest exporters has to rely on other countries to meet its demands. The opposing voices grew strong, especially when a major portion of sugarcane was recently diverted to produce Ethanol as part of the center’s mandate E20 rollout. While concerns over sugar prices rise with the festive season ahead, experts also warn of how the ethanol policy can have adverse effects on larger food economy

Govt’s Tax-Free Sugar Import Comes Amid Record Price Hike

According to reports, sugar prices have hiked 10% over the past month and 40% in the last two months, hitting a record high since April 2025. India is among the biggest sugar consumers in the world, with the majority of the produce grown locally in sugarcane farms in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Sugar demand in the country usually surges between August and November as major festivals like Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali drive the market needs as production of sweets and confectionary items grow. That is why the government's deadline of October 31 is seen as a relief for traders, mills, and large confectionary manufacturers in this season.

One of the reasons behind the low yield of sugarcane— a water intensive crop— is lower than average rains during monsoon season. This year, the sugar mills are planning to start crushing sugarcane from the harvest slightly earlier than their usual crushing period of November to boost further supply of sweeteners in the market.

See Also: E20 More Expensive Than Petrol?: Tehseen Poonawalla Cites Centre's Reply in Parliament, Announces Ethanol 2.0 Protest

Sugarcane Used for E20 Fuel Raise Questions

Political experts, commentators, and opposition leaders have linked this government’s decision to import sugar with the its recent mandated push of 20% ethanol-blended petrol. Tehseen Poonawalla, entrepreneur, political analyst and recently seen as a prominent protesting voice  against the E20 rollout, called it a “sugar scam,” highlighting how the country was once among the biggest exporters of ethanol. 

He wrote on X, “BETAs of NETAs (sons of politicians) got PSU banks loans for their Ethanol distilleries & a forced market was created for the Ethanol they produced with our Sugarcane and our money. That market for their overpriced Ethanol is our vehicles: totally totally screwing our vehicles & denying us a choice.” 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal reacted to the Commerce Ministry's notice and linked it to the Ethanol policy. They pointed out the irony about how the policy was brought in with the aim of cutting down oil imports but instead now the country has become a sugar importer as well.

See Also: Ethanol Scam: ₹1,160-Crore Worth Govt-Subsidized Rice Allocated for Ethanol Production Redirected to Rice Mills, Then Resold to Govt for Profit

Beyond Sugar: Experts Predict E20 Fuel’s Effect on Other Food Items

According to reports, the warning signs of low yield of sugarcane this year were already present. On August 17, 2026, Government’s Chief Economic Advisor, V. Anantha Nageswaran, in his column for The Indian Express, flagged more such food price hikes in the future if the center continues with its mandated E20 rollout. He not only reflected on the rising sugar prices, but also explained how the larger food economy will be affected.

Earlier in August 2026, Reuters reported that the government has already shifted away from using sugarcane as the main crop for ethanol in response to the rise in demand and market shortage. According to reports, 30 lakh MT of sugarcane— amounting to 10% of the total annual produce— was used for ethanol production in the last season alone, driving the government's decision to cut down on the same.

However, CEA Nageswaran wrote that just cutting sugarcane produce will not resolve the larger problem as the ethanol demand still needs to be fulfilled. This will put strain on other crops like maize and rice. One of the most striking points from the Indian Express column is how the economist evaluates the domino effect this will cause on other food items as well. 

Taking the example of maize, the government official writes that the excess use in the ethanol production will increase the grain’s price. As corn is also used as a feedstock for poultry and other livestock animals, any surge in its prices will also affect poultry food items and the larger economy as well.

The government has not given any reason behind the recent price hike and its reason for allowing duty-free sugar. All India Radio, the government's public broadcaster, posted a clarification on X, telling people to refrain from calling it a “crisis” or “dependence.” It called the move a “routine step to stabilise the market.” However, the ones who have been protesting against the mandated E20 rollout for months have linked it to the government's policy and are voicing out their grievances.

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Gandhi had been staging the sit-in outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Delhi's Parliament Street Police Station, protesting the alleged refusal of the police to register an FIR on Lochab's complaint

Addressing reporters after the FIR was lodged, Lochab expressed gratitude to the LoP, saying: "I am thankful to Rahul Gandhi ji who sat here for eight hours following which this FIR was registered. His team has been in touch with me for the last one month, and he (Gandhi) himself had been enquiring about my health."

Stating that he didn't plan to come in front of the media, he said: "Yesterday when he (Gandhi) had called, I told him that my FIR was not being registered. He immediately asked me to meet him today and assured me that he would get my FIR lodged. I thank him for this."

He also thanked the public for praying for his recovery because of which he could again stand on his feet despite "200 pellets being lodged in his body".

"This is a victory for justice," he asserted.

However, the student said that he is upset that despite the Leader of Opposition and the complainant being present, "it took eight hours for the police to register an FIR".

"In fact, the FIR might not have been lodged if the LoP had not helped me. From August 14, I have been making frequent visits (to the police station) to lodge an FIR, but it has been registered now, after seven to eight days," he added.

Further, Lochab said that he had faith that the LoP's presence would ultimately lead to the filing of the FIR.

His mother also thanked LoP Gandhi for assisting them in getting the FIR registered.

ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026, the Jharkhand High Court ordered a stay on the state government's decision to cancel the civil service examinations and appointments made under the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations, as well as the recruitment exams for Food Safety Officers.

The stay order was passed by the High Court after hearing a plea filed by students who had cleared the exams. These students argued that the state government's decision to cancel their appointments was unjust and highlighted that students who had already become government employees would lose their jobs.

Justice Deepak Roshan granted interim relief to these candidates after hearing the petitions. Further, the court also ordered the Jharkhand government to submit its response on the matter by September 15, 2026.

Why Were JPSC and JSSC Exams Cancelled in Jharkhand?

The cancellation of the exams followed a days-long agitation by JPSC and JSSC students in Ranchi, who alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations. The High Court's intervention comes after the government decided to cancel 22 recruitment exams following a 24-day agitation by student protesters.

See Also: Jharkhand Student Protests Trigger Enforcement Directorate Money-Laundering Probe as Demand for CBI Investigation Grows

The protest was focused on transparency in the recruitment examination system in Jharkhand.

The students demanded a transparent investigation into the alleged malpractices in the examination process, particularly the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and examinations conducted through the outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL).

The protest in Jharkhand began on July 25, 2026, against the state recruitment examinations, particularly the JPSC and JSSC exams. The protesters demanded a transparent investigation into these exams, accountability for irregularities, and reforms in the recruitment process.

The protesters went on hunger strikes, raised slogans, and marched towards the state Assembly, asking the government to accept their demands.

Hemant Soren Government Announces Cancellation of 22 Recruitment Exams

On August 18, 2026, the Jharkhand government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, announced the cancellation of 22 recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC, JSSC and other outsourced agencies. After the government agreed to various demands of the protesters, the students' agitation came to a halt.

The students who had been on hunger strike for 15 days ended their fast after the 26-day protest. However, the protesters said that the movement had not ended but had only been suspended for two months.

As per reports by The Hindu, the decision to cancel the examinations was taken during a four-hour emergency meeting of cabinet officials in Jharkhand. Soren also announced that all examinations conducted by TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), which has been blacklisted since 2014 would be cancelled.

See Also: “Why Reactive and Not Proactive”: Netizens Call Out the Hypocrisy of CJP Leaders After Their Absence from the Jharkhand Protest

Selected JPSC Candidates on the Exam Cancellation

While the government's decision to cancel the exams provided relief to students who had been protesting, another group of candidates began questioning the decision.

Candidates who had cleared the exams, some of whom had already joined government offices, questioned the government's decision. They argued that the government had cancelled the examinations and appointments of selected candidates without giving them an opportunity to present their case.

Many candidates who had already joined government offices also expressed disappointment, as the government's decision put their jobs at risk.

The candidates said that the government should conduct individual inquiries into the case and identify the candidates who were involved in malpractice. Action should be taken against these candidates instead of cancelling the appointments of all selected candidates. 

The latest High Court order has provided relief to candidates whose appointments and jobs were affected by the government's decision to cancel the examinations. For now, the cancellation of their appointments has been stayed. The further decision on whether the examinations and appointments will ultimately be cancelled will depend on the proceedings before the Jharkhand High Court.

(Edited by Harsh Pandey)

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LoP Gandhi, who was later joined by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is staging the sit-in outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Delhi's Parliament Street Police Station, protesting the alleged refusal of the police to register an FIR on a complaint by a student, Sahil Lochab, who the Congress claimed, suffered pellet-gun injuries during last month's protests demanding education reforms at Jantar Mantar.

Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said: "His (Lochab's) lawyer has demanded the registration of an FIR. This is not some general FIR but rather a strictly defined one, concerning the illegal manner in which police action took place (against Sahil), where pellet guns were used."

Maintaining that their demand has not been accepted yet, he said: "Discussions must be going on. They must have spoken to the Home Secretary, they must have spoken to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and ultimately, they have to speak to the Home Minister. But so far, nothing has been conveyed to us."

"Rahul ji is absolutely clear: Until an FIR is registered, and a new FIR registration number is given, we will not leave from here," he asserted.

Admitting that a general FIR regarding complaints against the alleged police action during the July 20 Parliament march has been registered, Ramesh specified that the pellet gun victim has sought a new FIR.

"It is completely unacceptable and condemnable that the BJP is viewing the matter through the lens of polarisation."

Congress MP Kishori Lal Sharma also took part in the agitation.

"This is a very shameful matter. The democratic right of an ordinary citizen states that if any injustice is done to him, an FIR should be registered. But they are not even registering that as the government is scared," Sharma remarked while speaking to IANS.

"The Leader of the Opposition had to come here... Does any investigation take place without registering an FIR? Why is the government scared about the truth coming out regarding who ordered the use of pellet guns? The Home Minister didn't come to the Parliament and FIRs are also not being registered," he said.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik, who was also present at the site, said: "Our fight will continue till the government reveals the truth regarding who ordered the firing of pellet guns on students."

Meanwhile, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari told reporters in Uttar Pradesh that Rahul Gandhi has gone to "secure the right of a victim".

"The pellet gun was fired on the 20th (of July). Today, it has been over a month, yet no FIR has been filed so far. So, Rahul Gandhi went to file an FIR to seek justice in accordance with the laws of India. Under Indian law—and anywhere in the world—filing an FIR is every victim's absolute right. He went there to secure the right of a victim, and all of us stand with him in this struggle," he said.

Further, he accused the Centre of "shielding the accused".

In Rajasthan, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said: "Rahul Gandhi is making every effort to ensure that those people get justice...The youths who were hit by pellet guns...Everyone has the right to seek justice..."

A SIP calculator can tell you how much your regular investments could potentially grow into, but the headline corpus is only one part of the calculation. The more useful exercise is to test what happens when the assumptions change. What if returns are lower than expected? What if inflation pushes the cost of your goal higher? What if you have fewer years to invest? By changing these variables and comparing the outcomes, investors can identify potential shortfalls, assess how much they may need to invest and determine whether their financial goal remains achievable under different scenarios. Used this way, a SIP calculator becomes a practical tool for stress-testing an investment plan rather than simply generating a projected corpus.

How to Use a SIP Calculator for Realistic Financial GoalPlanning

A SIP calculator can turn a monthly investment into a projected future corpus in seconds. But while the calculation is simple, interpreting the result requires more thought. The figure displayed by the calculator depends on assumptions about investment returns, the amount invested and the time available. Change any of these inputs and the projected corpus changes. Inflation can add another layer by increasing the amount an investor may eventually need for the same financial goal. For this reason, a SIP calculator is best used not to predict a precise future value, but to test whether an investment plan remains practical under different scenarios.

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Start With the Goal

The most effective way to use a SIP calculator is to begin with the financial goal rather than the monthly investment. Whether the objective is retirement, a child's education, a home purchase or long-term wealth creation, identify when the money will be required and estimate the amount that may be needed at that time. This is important because the current cost of a goal may not be its future cost. For instance, if higher education costs ₹20 lakh today and the requirement is 15 years away, using ₹20 lakh as the target could understate the amount eventually required. Inflation may increase the cost considerably over the intervening period. Once the future requirement is estimated, the SIP calculator can help assess the regular investment that may be required to pursue it.

Treat Return Assumptions as Scenarios

The expected rate of return can have a significant effect on a long-term SIP projection. A higher assumption can produce a substantially larger projected corpus. However, mutual fund returns are market-linked and do not follow a fixed path. The actual outcome can differ from the return assumption used in a calculator. Instead of relying on a single rate, investors can test multiple scenarios. A relatively conservative assumption can show how the plan may look under weaker performance, while a base and optimistic scenario can illustrate a wider range of possible outcomes. The objective is not to predict the return. It is to understand how dependent the financial goal is on that assumption.

If the target is achievable only under an optimistic scenario, the investor may need to reconsider the monthly contribution or the time available to reach the goal.

Factor Inflation Into the Goal

A projected corpus and the future cost of a financial goal are two different numbers.

Inflation can gradually reduce the purchasing power of money. As a result, an amount that appears sufficient today may not be adequate several years from now. This becomes particularly important for long-term goals such as retirement. Current household expenses may look manageable, but the cost of maintaining a similar lifestyle could be significantly higher in the future. Investors should therefore consider inflation while estimating the future requirement and then compare that requirement with the potential SIP corpus.

See What Time Does to the Calculation

Investment tenure can materially influence the outcome of a SIP. A longer horizon gives regular investments more time to compound. Conversely, delaying the start of an investment can mean a higher monthly contribution may be required to pursue the same target over a shorter period. A SIP calculator makes this trade off easy to examine. Keep the target unchanged and compare different investment periods. The resulting difference can illustrate the potential cost of waiting. This is particularly relevant for long-term goals, where starting earlier can provide greater flexibility in the amount invested each month.

Test Different SIP Amounts

The monthly contribution should not necessarily be treated as a fixed number. As income changes, an investor's ability to invest may also change. Increasing the SIP over time can potentially improve the projected corpus, provided the higher contribution remains sustainable. Investors can use the calculator to compare their current SIP with a higher contribution and assess the potential difference over the remaining investment period.

This can also help identify whether the existing SIP needs to be revisited as the financial goal approaches.

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Stress-Test the Plan

A single projection can create a misleading sense of certainty. A better approach is to deliberately change the assumptions.

Consider four questions:

• What if returns are lower than expected?

• What if inflation increases the cost of the goal?

• What if the investment starts later?

• What if the monthly SIP is increased?

Running these scenarios can reveal where the financial plan is most sensitive. If a goal remains within reach under several reasonable assumptions, the investor may have greater flexibility. If it depends heavily on a high return or an unusually long investment period, the plan may require closer attention. The purpose of stress-testing is not to predict the future. It is to understand the range of outcomes the plan may face.

Conclusion

A SIP calculator is more useful when treated as a planning aid rather than a prediction tool. The projected corpus should be evaluated alongside the future cost of the financial goal, inflation, different return assumptions and the time available for investment. Testing these variables can reveal whether a plan is robust or relies too heavily on favourable assumptions.

Disclaimers

Investors may consult their Financial Advisors and/or Tax advisors before making any investment decision.

These materials are not intended for distribution to or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to local law or regulation.  The distribution of this document in certain jurisdictions may be restricted or totally prohibited and accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

(MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY)

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With criticisms mounting on social media platforms, the Press Club issued a clarification statement on X, stating that the terms of renting out the venue were violated by the organization and the club authorities had immediately intervened to stop the event. 

Rajan Singh Explains The ‘Modi Chalisa’ Event

A hall of the Press Club of India was hired by the Bihar State Transgender Welfare board to organize an event on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Soon after the event began, videos began to circulate on social media, drawing widespread criticisms on the event. NewsGram reached out to Bihar Transgender Welfare Board’s Vice-President, Rajan Singh for further comments.

See Also: 'Another Temple for Donation Theft?' Internet Reacts to PM Modi Mandir Proposal by Bihar Transgender Board

Speaking to NewsGram, Singh said the organization planned to construct a temple dedicated to what they refer to as, “Lord Shri Narendra Modi Ji.” Singh claimed that the temple would be constructed at Patna, Bihar, and that it was their way to acknowledge the efforts of Narendra Modi in securing the rights and opportunities for the transgender community. 

“On July 29, 2026, the Bihar Transgender Welfare Board passed a proposal to build a temple commemorating Lord Narendra Modi Ji in Patna, Bihar. No one in this country has worked for the transgender community as much as Narendra Modi Ji”, Rajan Singh said.

Singh also claimed that the efforts by the Prime Minister had led to the upliftment of the transgender community, who had been overlooked for years. “In 2019, Narendra Modi Ji passed the Transgender Protection Act, and as a result, in my own state Bihar, the members of the Transgender community have been able to avail government employment opportunities. Many today work as Sub-Inspectors, Constables, Doctors and Engineers” Singh said.

However, what captured everyone’s attention was the recitation and worshipping inside the hall, which became the main point of contention. Speaking on the details of the event, Rajan Singh said that the event was organized to acknowledge the prime minister’s role.

Singh said, “It was on this occasion that we organized an event at the Press Club of India yesterday, on August 20, 2026. The members of the Transgender Community were present there and they recited the ‘Modi Chalisa’. The ‘Modi Chalisa’ consisted of a detailed description of all the works done by Narendra Modi ji over the years for different communities. We consider Narendra Modi Ji to be an Avatar of Lord Ram.”

Repercussions of the ‘Modi Chalisa’ Event

Soon after the event, videos began to spread across social media platforms sparking widespread criticisms. The Press Club of India also issued an official statement on X, clarifying their stance.

“The Press Club of India has noticed that a photo/video of an event held at its premises earlier today, is circulating on social media. It is hereby #clarified that the Club had not organised the event. The hall was hired for the purpose of holding a press conference by an organization but when terms for renting out the place were violated by it, the Club authorities immediately intervened and it was stopped” the post on X read.

Speaking on the responses of the Press Club of India, Rajan Singh further commented that they are deeply saddened by the sequence of events since yesterday. “We are deeply saddened by how things have been since yesterday. The Press Club of India had given us a rental space to conduct our event. We had also given a written letter detailing the entire event and paid the charges. But after the event, we could see many of its representatives saying that they had blocked our event and drove us out”, Rajan Singh said to NewsGram. 

Singh further stated that they are looking for legal advice and would send a notice to the Press club about the entire fiasco. 

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