Top 10 TikTok videos of the week, March 14 to 20

On this Special Report, India Today’s Nagarjun Dwarkanath and Sagai Raj cover the explosive allegations of a ₹6,000 crore liquor scam rocking the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka. The Karnataka Wine Merchants Association has alleged that 'nearly 6000 crore rupees has been siphoned off through a systematic bribe network linked to bar and liquor licenses' over the last two years. The association claims that bribes for CL7 licenses in Bengaluru range from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore, with funds purportedly reaching the excise minister and department officials. In response, BJP and JDS legislators staged a protest at the Gandhi statue, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur. While the opposition accuses the government of acting as an 'ATM for the Congress High Command,' Minister Timmapur has dismissed the charges as baseless, challenging the accusers to provide evidence. The merchants now plan to escalate the matter by writing to Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

On this Special Report, India Today’s Pranay Upadhyay provides an in-depth analysis of the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being finalised at Hyderabad House. Highlighting the strategic importance of the deal, Upadhyay notes, 'This is not only a trade agreement, this is also a geo-economic and a geo-political statement' that demonstrates mutual respect for sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy. The transcript outlines seven key takeaways, including duty-free or low-duty access for over 90% of goods, providing a significant boost to India’s textiles, leather, and gems sectors. The discussion also addresses global trade disruptions and the US stance on tariffs, with Upadhyay explaining how the FTA serves as a precedent for stable, diversified supply chains. By reducing over-reliance on China and opening services trade in IT and telecom, the deal aims to multiply the existing billion-dollar relationship between India and the EU while navigating complex geopolitical narratives.

On this special report, the focus is on the landmark Free Trade Agreement signed between India and the European Union. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the pact as the 'mother of all deals', stating it brings 'huge opportunities for 140 crore Indians and crores of people in European countries.' The agreement represents nearly 25% of global GDP and one-third of global trade, aimed at strengthening manufacturing and services. While the deal provides improved market access for Indian textiles, pharmaceuticals, and IT services, the Indian government has ensured that the sensitive agriculture and dairy sectors remain protected to safeguard the interests of local farmers. The pact is expected to significantly reduce import duties on European automobiles and luxury goods, while providing Indian exporters a vital alternative market amidst global trade disruptions and high US tariffs. Experts suggest the deal could boost Indian exports to the EU by $50 billion by 2031, reinforcing India's position in the global supply chain.

This news report examines the evolving economic and strategic partnership between India and the European Union (EU) through the lens of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The speaker highlights that this collaboration is a 'win-win combination between India and European Union' occurring amidst global geopolitical turbulence. Key focus areas include investment protection, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and geographical indications (GI) tagging. The transcript details how the EU seeks to reduce its over-reliance on China by leveraging India's 'Make in India' programme, skilled manpower, and production capabilities. The partnership extends to the defence sector, driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the need for diversified supply chains. Furthermore, the report discusses market access for Indian labor-intensive sectors like textiles and gems, while the EU eyes India's rapidly growing automobile market for high-end brands. Despite sensitivities in agriculture and dairy, both sides are fast-tracking negotiations to ensure economic and geopolitical security.