SOURCE: ANI

India will replace military personnel at aviation platforms in the Maldives with competent Indian technical personnel, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. The Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government has formally requested that India withdraw its troops from Male.

In this regard, a second high-level group meeting took place in New Delhi on February 2 and a third meeting is scheduled to be held later this month. Addressing a weekly press briefing in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “What we had to say, we made it out in the press release. This was done after the second high-level core group meeting. We also said that the third core group meeting will be subsequently held.”

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, paid a courtesy call on Maldivian Commissioner General of Customs, Yoosuf Maaniu Mohamed, on Thursday. The discussions were centred around new areas of capacity building and collaboration in trade facilitation and mutual security.

Both countries came to an agreement on exploring and carrying forward the multifaceted collaboration between the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The meeting took place in the backdrop of the strain in bilateral ties between the two countries over the disparaging social media posts by Maldivian junior ministers and government officials against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and the request for the withdrawal of Indian troops by Maladivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

SOURCE: PTI

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has welcomed the Centre’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Centre has decided to scrap the FMR to maintain the country’s internal security and demographic structure of the northeastern states.

As the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended the immediate suspension of FMR, Shah said. FMR allows people living close to the India-Myanmar border to go 16 km into each other’s territory without any documents.

SOURCE: PTI

A Naxalite, who was active in the outlawed Maoist outfit for nearly three decades and carried a reward of ? 8 lakh, was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, a senior police official said on Thursday.

The face-off took place on Wednesday on a forested hill between Gondpalli, Parlagatta, and Badepalli villages on the Dantewada-Sukma districts border, when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation.

SOURCE: PTI

A worker from Punjab who was injured in Wednesday’s terror attack in Srinagar’s Habba Kadal area died at the SKIMS hospital here this morning, taking the toll to two in the first targeted killing of the year by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

The city is on alert following the attack with security measures being intensified and authorities asking people to be cautious and vigilant. Rohit Masih succumbed to injuries at the SKIMS Hospital here this morning. He was shifted to the tertiary care institution late Wednesday night after his condition worsened at the SMHS Hospital, officials said.

SOURCE: ANI

The External Affairs Ministry, on Thursday, addressing the unfortunate deaths of five Indian students in the United States, emphasised that there was “no foul play or interconnectedness” in the incidents.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, provided details during a weekly briefing, shed light on the circumstances surrounding the demise of two Indian nationals and three individuals of Indian origin who were US nationals.

SOURCE: PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at multiple locations in Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in connection with a case involving a top CPI (Maoist) leader who was arrested by Telangana Police in Hyderabad in September 2023.

NIA teams conducted raids on the premises associated with the accused and suspects at six locations – two in Hyderabad, and one each in Thane (Maharashtra), Chennai, Malappuram and Palakkad (in Kerala), a spokesperson of the investigative agency said in New Delhi.

SOURCE: AFI

India may soon host a crucial meeting of National Security Advisors (NSAs) from the Quad countries – the United States, Australia, Japan, and India – on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue, scheduled for February 21-23. This high-level gathering is expected to address various security concerns, including a potential discussion on the alleged assassination plot against Khalistan separatist and US national Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The Quad has emerged as a significant strategic grouping in the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, address shared security challenges, and collaborate on issues like maritime security, counterterrorism, and critical technologies. This NSA meeting presents an opportunity for further coordination and strategic alignment among the member nations.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s space aspirations soared higher with the inauguration of DEFSAT 2024, a three-day Space Seminar & Exhibition held in Delhi. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan graced the opening ceremony, highlighting the nation’s remarkable strides in space technology and urging further collaboration between industry and the government.

General Chauhan emphasized the significant progress India has made in developing its space capabilities, citing recent achievements like the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and the Cartosat-3 imaging satellite. He lauded the role of the Space Sector Reforms 2020 and increased budgetary investments in boosting space research and development.

SOURCE: AFI

The World Defence Show in Riyadh (WDS2024) witnessed a significant moment for gender inclusivity in the Indian Armed Forces. A delegation of three women officers – Colonel Ponung Doming (Indian Army), Lieutenant Commander Annu Prakash (Indian Navy), and Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth (Indian Air Force) – attended the event as special invitees to the “International Women in Defence – Investing in an Inclusive Future” themed seminar.

This participation signifies a positive step towards showcasing the growing role of women in the Indian defense sector. The delegation represented diverse branches of the armed forces, highlighting the expanding opportunities for women across the organization.

SOURCE: PTI

The MQ9-B SkyGuardian Aircraft being sold to India by the US would be equipped with highly sensitive surveillance and lethal attack equipment including hellfire missile, and laser small diameter bombs, according to details sent by the Biden Administration to the US Congress.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) wrote a letter to the Congress last week informing it that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 3.99 billion.

SOURCE: ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced for “immediate suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR)” between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern states bordering Myanmar. “Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” Shah said.

The Home Minister in a post on X, made the announcement, saying that the aim of abolishing the FMR between India and Myanmar is to safeguard the internal security of the nation and preserve the demographic composition of India’s North Eastern states that share borders with Myanmar. “It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to secure our borders.

SOURCE: UNI

India’s installed nuclear power capacity will increase to 22800 megawatts by 2031–32, the central government announced on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, “The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 7480 MW to 22800 MW by 2031–32.” The government is taking policy measures to generate electricity through atomic energy as well as other sources to promote these, he said.

To increase the share of nuclear power in total electricity generation in the country, the government has taken several steps, including administrative approval and financial sanction, to set up 10 indigenous 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) in fleet mode, the minister said.

SOURCE: ANI

The country is going through Amrit Kaal; it is time to build a highly capable Aatmanirbhar defence space ecosystem, said Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Wednesday. He was addressing during inauguration of ‘DEFSAT’, a three-day Space Seminar and Exhibition at the Manekshaw Centre.

Highlighting the vitality of space for mankind and also for the armed forces engaged in combat, the CDS said that space can be used as a force multiplier to enhance combat capabilities in traditional domains of land, air, sea and even cyber.

SOURCE: PTI

India and Saudi Arabia discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence and strategic cooperation including the scope of increasing joint military training exercises and technology transfer for defence industrial engagement. The issues figured in the talks between Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Bhatt also met Assistant Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia Khaled Al-Bayari, with whom he discussed ways to further strengthen the long-standing and multi-faceted defence cooperation between the two countries. The talks came amid increasing global concerns over the situation in West-Asia, especially the attacks on commercial cargo vessels by Iran-backed Houthi militants.