As the workday wound down in New Delhi on Wednesday, most Indian trade officials were getting ready to head home. Then their phones lit up: Donald Trump hit the nation with a 25% tariff.

Indian opposition parties criticised the government on Thursday, describing U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of a 25% tariff as a diplomatic failure for New Delhi, while the rupee currency tumbled and equity indexes slid in response to the news.

Congress and other opposition leaders on Wednesday took jibes at the Modi government over Donald Trump announcing a 25 per cent tariff and an extra penalty on Indian goods, but also slammed the US President's move,