SOURCE: AFI

A recent Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crash has brought renewed focus to the safety records of the Tejas and its competitor, the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder. On March 12th, 2024, an IAF Tejas LCA unfortunately crashed while returning from the “Bharat Shakti” military exercise. This marks the first such accident for the Tejas in its 23-year history.

In contrast, the JF-17 Thunder has a history of accidents. According to The Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network, the JF-17 has been involved in four crashes since 2011, with at least one fatality. These incidents occurred in:

SOURCE: AFI

India’s private sector defense leader, Bharat Forge, showcased its latest advancements at the “Bharat Shakti” event on March 12th. The event, held at the PFFR Pokaran Ranges, provided a platform for Bharat Forge to demonstrate its commitment to India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-reliant India) initiative in the defense sector.

Among the highlights was the unveiling of the Garuda-105 V2. This innovative weapon system features a 105mm gun mounted on a highly mobile 4×4 platform nicknamed the “Go Anywhere Vehicle.” This combination offers a unique capability – powerful firepower delivered with exceptional mobility. The Garuda-105 V2 is designed for rapid deployment and operation in diverse terrains, enhancing battlefield versatility.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian government has presented its arguments before the Supreme Court regarding the status of Rohingya Muslim migrants currently residing in the country. The government maintains that these migrants lack the fundamental right to reside and settle in India.

The government’s argument centers on the separation of powers between the judiciary, legislature, and executive branches. They assert that the judiciary cannot dictate legislative or policy matters related to immigration, which falls under the purview of Parliament and the executive.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will visit India next week as Kyiv looks to build support for its peace plan, two Indian officials aware of the matter said, the first visit by a top Ukrainian leader since Russia’s invasion over two years ago.

New Delhi, which has traditionally had close economic and defence ties with Moscow, has so far refused to criticise Russia for the February 2022 invasion, instead stepping up purchases of Russian oil to record levels.

SOURCE: PIB

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin.

PM congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation and conveyed his best wishes for peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Russia.  The two leaders agreed to make concerted efforts towards further strengthening the Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the years to come. 

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that there is a greater sense of pride in the nation now and that over the last five years he has seen foreign policy becoming a vote-determining issue. Speaking at News 18 Rising Bharat Summit 2024 on Wednesday, the external affairs minister said that the sentiment is growing as there is a great sense of pride in the nation about itself. “As people’s basic necessity is met, there is a new thought pervading the middle-class.

People today know that water, electricity, health needs will be provided,” Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister said, “When I go out and explain foreign policy I would say Modi ki guarantee works outside as much as it works back home….You know the Modi ki guarantee also applies that we keep petrol prices at a reasonable price by not bowing down to political pressure.

SOURCE: PTI

Sri Lanka has said it will allow foreign offshore research ships for replenishments at its ports despite a one-year ban on such vessels, a senior official has said after China protested to Colombo for allowing a German survey ship but turning down Beijing’s similar request.

This is the first time Sri Lanka has officially admitted that foreign research vessels will be allowed for replenishments since President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government imposed a one-year ban on offshore research vessels in December last year after strong security concerns raised by India and the US following the visit of two Chinese high-tech research vessels in 14 months.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today took a critical view of some of the key decisions made by the Jawaharlal Nehru government, and said one needs to get out of this “cult worship” that the period from 1946 onwards was “great years” and the country did “splendidly”.

In the early years, it was very much “a Nehruvian ideological bubble” when it came to foreign policy and “vestiges of that continue, even today,” he said in response to a question during a session at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit.

SOURCE: Government of Pakistan.

Pakistan denounces the Indian authorities’ decision to declare the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League and four factions of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League as “unlawful associations”. It also denounces the decision to extend the ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik faction) for five more years.

With the fresh notifications, a total of 14 Kashmiri political parties have become outlawed in Indian Jammu and Kashmir . The affiliates of these parties are also facing persecution. Most notably, a death penalty has been sought for Mr. Yasin Malik, who was awarded life sentence in 2022. However, such oppressive tactics cannot suppress the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

SOURCE: IANS

India on Tuesday slammed the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) model on UNSC reforms, citing that it won’t empower Africa or Global South nations or change permanent seat membership. The UFC, which comprises 12 countries and two observers, including a P5 nation, stands against the idea advocated by a majority of the UN member states — which is an expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories of an expanded Security Council.

Some of the countries in the group — nicknamed the Coffee Club — include Mexico, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey and China as one of its Observer members.

SOURCE: IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that he was convinced that India will become the world leader in AI with its young innovators emerging as a driving force to take the nation ahead.

Addressing the Startup Mahakhumb at the Bharat Mandapam here, the Prime Minister said, “India will have the upper hand in AI and we will not let the opportunity go.” He exhorted the young startup founders to find solutions that will not only help India solve its problems and achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat but also create a better future for the world.

SOURCE: AFI

A 2004 article from Flight International, a renowned aerospace magazine, has resurfaced online, sparking a wave of interest. Authored by Veena Singh, the piece titled (original title can be inserted here) details discussions between China and India regarding collaboration on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program.

The article reveals that in late July 2004, a high-level Chinese delegation, led by Aviation Industries of China vice-president Zhang Yang-Chong, visited India to explore joint development of the LCA. This news comes as a surprise, considering the current geopolitical realities between the two nations.