The Surat Diamond Bourse, billed as the world's largest office complex - surpassing even the Pentagon in size and symbolising India's growing trade ambitions, stands eerily quiet, with only a few traders at work.

India’s embassy in Washington has hired a lobbying firm with close ties to the Trump administration and a history of advocating for foreign entities targeted by the US, just before 50% tariffs take effect on exports from the South Asian country.

The Trump Administration outlined plans to implement a 50% tariff on products from India in a draft notice published Monday, the latest signal that the White House plans to push ahead with the heightened levies as efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine appear to be stalling.