SOURCE: THE WEEK

Two weeks ago, the ministry of defence approved issuance of request for proposals (RFP) to build six new conventionally powered submarines for the Indian Navy.

The Project 75 India (75I) tender, with an estimated value of around Rs 43,000 crore, envisages the construction of submarines that are larger than any of the existing class of diesel-electric submarines in the Indian Navy. The Project 75I submarines are required by the Indian Navy to have ‘air-independent propulsion’ (AIP), which is the capability to operate and recharge their batteries without use of atmospheric oxygen. Diesel-electric submarines typically run their diesel engines on the surface in order to recharge their batteries that are used for operations underwater. In addition, the Project 75I class submarines should also have the capability to launch land-attack cruise missiles.

SOURCE: PTI

Terrorism and radicalisation are the “gravest threats” to peace and security in the world and a collective approach is required to combat the challenges, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today. In a virtual address at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Mr Singh also highlighted India’s concerns over maritime security challenges while noting that developments in the South China Sea attracted attention in the region and beyond, an oblique reference to China’s aggressive behaviour in the critical waterways.

The Defence Minister called for ensuring a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.

SOURCE: Express News Service

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday reiterated India’s stand for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific while speaking at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) 2021. Rajnath, in his online address, made it clear that maritime security is an area of concern to India and developments in the South China Sea have attracted attention in the region and beyond.

Rajnath said, “India calls for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific, based upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.”

SOURCE: THE PRINT

With there being little headway in the de-escalation process at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a year since the Galwan valley clash in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives, former Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale has warned that bilateral ties between New Delhi and Beijing could deteriorate further in the coming years.

In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, Bambawale said the very reason the Chinese initiated the border standoff in April-May last year was because they wanted “to move their ground positions to what their claims were in Eastern Ladakh”, adding that Beijing has been able to achieve that objective to a certain extent but the Indian armed forces were able to thwart their plans.

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

One year has elapsed since the Galwan Valley clash India and China. The Chinese soldiers are still in the region with no sign of status quo ante. India is ramping up military infrastructure further to enhance troop deployment that is already in the range of 50,000 to 60,000 troops.

Building better road connectivity for quick mobilisation of troops and enhancement of equipment are some of the key areas that the Indian Army has focussed on to be better prepared to face Chinese belligerence in Ladakh over the last year as a final resolution seems far off.

SOURCE: Analyticsindiamag

Early last year, the Indian Government decided to open up the space sector to private players. “The Department of Space will promote sector space activities to enable it to provide end to end space services, including building and launching of rockets and satellites as well as providing space-based services on a commercial basis,” ISRO chief K Sivan had said.

Founded by BITS Pilani alumni Kshitij Khandelwal and Awais Ahmed in March 2019, Pixxel is building a constellation of hyperspectral earth imaging satellites and analytical tools to mine insights.

SOURCE: Express News Service

The chief minister of a province in coup-hit Myanmar is among over 9,000 people who have fled to Mizoram over the past few months. Chief Minister of the country’s Chin State, Salai Lian Luai, crossed over the border on Monday night and was taking refuge in the remote Champhai district.

Luai is among over 20 lawmakers from the country taking shelter in the northeastern state. He is a leader of National League of Democracy which Aung San Suu Kyi leads.

SOURCE:  Republic

A massive protest against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government erupted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) Muzaffarabad on Tuesday after the youth took to the streets to demand a rollback of the Job Regulation Act. The protestors stated that the Act which promises jobs to the youth was ‘discriminatory’, and alleged that the Pakistan government and Ministers were only extending the jobs to their friends, acquaintances, or those with allegiance to the ruling PTI through it. 

Taking to the streets of Muzaffarabad protestors demanded the rollback of the ‘black law’ accusing the Pakistan government of using it to engage in nepotism, corruption, and suppression of the educated youth in PoK who truly deserved the jobs.

SOURCE: HT

Six members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with the Greyhound forces of Andhra Pradesh police in Visakhapatnam early on Wednesday, the police said. The encounter took place at Theegalametta forest area of Koyyuru block, when the Greyhounds, specially trained for anti-Maoist operations, were conducting combing operations.

“According to the preliminary information received from the spot, six bodies of Maoists were recovered along with an AK-47 rifle, a SLR (self-loading rifle), a carbine, three .303 rifles and a country-made weapon,” an official release from the Visakhapatnam (rural) district police said.

SOURCE: HT

Five days after a Maoist, carrying ?5 lakh reward on his head, was killed during an encounter with Odisha Police in Bargarh district, the security officials on Tuesday seized an INSAS rifle, a Sony camera, several magazines of INSAS and AK-47 rifles from the forests of Malkangiri district.

Police officials said the recovery was made after a brief exchange of fire between Maoists and teams of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and the District Voluntary Force (DVF) during a combing operation near Kulabeda forests of Mathili in bordering areas of Malkangiri and Koraput district.

SOURCE: PTI

The Centre on Wednesday approved a proposal to roll out a “deep ocean mission” to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources.

“The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will support the blue economy and take India into a new era,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told a press conference after the cabinet meeting.

SOURCE: ANI

India- Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday held the 11th round of Foreign Office Consultations virtually and reviewed bilateral cooperation with special emphasis on timely implementation of decisions taken and MoUs/agreements signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2019.

The Indian side was led by Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West). The Kyrgyz side was led by Nuran Niyazaliev, First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, read an official release of the Ministry of External Affairs. During the consultations, both sides reviewed the bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including political, economic, commercial, defence, development partnership, capacity building, consular matters and cultural cooperation.

SOURCE: ANI

The Kashmir Police on Wednesday recovered one pistol, one ammunition magazine, six rounds, and two grenades from the site of encounter between security forces and terrorists at Wagoora in the Naugam area of Srinagar.

According to the police, the terrorist which was earlier killed in the encounter has been identified as Uzair Ashraf Dar. “Dar is the resident of Shopian district and was an active terrorist since January 2,” the police said.

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Indian envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in an exclusive interview with India Today TV, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States before the end of the year if the health situation, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, improves.

On the global vaccine distribution plan, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said India will get vaccines both through COVAX as well as those earmarked for US neighbours and partner countries. “President Biden named four of them specifically which included South Korea, Canada, Mexico and India,” he said.

SOURCE: ET

About a year after India and China faced off at Galwan valley, many Indians claim they have stopped buying Chinese products or have reduced the usage substantially, a LocalCircles survey said. As per the survey, 43% of Indian consumers said they did not buy any made in China product in the last 12 months. While 34% said they bought 1-2 products, 8% bought 3-5 Chinese products, 4% of consumers who bought 5-10 made in China products, 3% said 10-15, 1% said over 20, and another 1% said 15-20 products. The remaining people who participated in the survey refused to disclose.

A similar survey conducted in November last year indicated that 71% of Indian consumers did not purchase Made in China products, and many of those who did ended up doing so because of their lower prices.