SOURCE: PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday hit out at the Modi government over reports that China was building 90 new villages along the Arunachal Pradesh border and accused it of putting India’s national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty at risk.

In a post on X, Kharge alleged that the priorities of the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were “PR stunts” and “false advertisements”, and “not national security”.

SOURCE: PTI

Chief of Bangladesh’s border guarding force on Thursday sought to downplay the attacks on minorities in his country that took place after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, saying such reports were “exaggerated”. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) director general Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui also said “many new issues” under the common heads were discussed during his high-level talks with an Indian delegation headed by BSF DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary here.

Siddiqui, while speaking to reporters during a joint press conference with Chawdhary, asserted that authorities of his country took steps for the protection of the minorities as he gave example of his force “personally” extending security cover to Durga Puja pandals within 8 km of their jurisdiction along the international border. This was the rst high-level meeting of the two forces after the regime change in Bangladesh in August last year. The BGB DG also said they raised “objections” and “agged a number of cases” during the biannual DG-level talks with regard to the fencing being done by India along the IB and has requested for a “joint inspection” before the work is done.

SOURCE: PTI

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday asserted that the Arunachal Frontier Highway, which will connect 12 districts along the India-China boundary, will be a “game changer” for the border areas of the state.

Speaking at the 39th Statehood Day celebrations here, Rijiju said that nearly Rs 42,000 crore will be invested into the project which is the “highest allocation ever made by the Centre for a single project”. On the occasion, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K T Parnaik also said that the state has been on the path of development and the government is committed to boost the infrastructure.

SOURCE: PTI

A Delhi court has convicted former Madhya Pradesh MLA Kishore Samrite for allegedly threatening to blow up Parliament in September 2022 if his demands were not met. Special judge Vishal Gogne, however, acquitted him of charges for possession of explosives and endangering life or causing injury through it.

The court said upon examination of the substance found in a parcel he reportedly sent to the office of the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha turned out to be “harmless in terms of their capability to cause an explosion”.

SOURCE: IANS

The government on Thursday said it signed a contract with Bharat Electronics (NSE:BAJE) Ltd (BEL) for the procurement of 149 software-defined radios for the Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of Rs 1,220.12 crore.The pact was signed under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category between the Ministry of Defence and BEL, Bengaluru.

According to the ministry, these state-of-the-art radios will enable secure and reliable information sharing, collaboration, and situational awareness through high-speed data and secure voice communication.

SOURCE: IANS

The new Rs 500 crore worth Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) unveiled by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), an arm of the Department of Space (DoS), will nurture and support the growth of India’s space startups as well as their technological capabilities. The TAF is aimed to promote the development of space technology within India while reducing the nation’s dependence on imported solutions.

The TAF will invest in domestic research and development and will also help build a strong partnership between government bodies and the private sector to position India as a reliable global partner in the space industry.

SOURCE: REUTERS

India’s oil imports from the United States rose sharply in January from December, turning Washington as the fifth largest oil supplier to New Delhi, data obtained from trade sources show.

India shipped in 218,400 barrels per day of oil from the U.S. compared to 70,600 bpd in December, the data showed. Refiners in India, the world’s third biggest oil importer and consumer, are bracing for higher imports of energy from Washington, as New Delhi looks to boost its energy purchases from the U.S. to $25 billion from $15 billion last year.

SOURCE: IANS

India has denounced Pakistan as “a global epicentre of terrorism” and called it an irony that Islamabad claims to be at the forefront of fighting terror. “Pakistan is a global epicentre of terrorism, harbouring more than 20 UN-listed terrorist entities and providing state support to cross-border terrorism,” India’s Permanent Representative Parvathaneni Harish said on Tuesday at the Security Council.

“Hence it is a supreme irony when Pakistan pats itself on the back as being at the forefront of the fight against terrorism,” he said.

SOURCE: PTI

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said India will need at least 20,000 pilots in the coming years to meet the rising air-travel demand in the country — one of the world’s fastest growing aviation market.

Addressing a gathering at the UDAAN Bhawan here following the launch of Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots, the Minister said aviation has always been the backbone of connectivity, economic growth, and technological advancements.

SOURCE: ANI

Following the killing of four Naxals in an encounter with Hawk force and police in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Nagendra Singh said that the campaign to eliminate Naxals from the state would be continued further. The encounter took place between the forces and Naxals near Raunda Forest Camp, Supkhar Forest Range under Garhi police station limits in the district.

The force also recovered three weapons INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle, Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) rifle and 303 rifle and other daily use items from the spot. Balaghat SP Nagendra Singh told ANI, “Our Jawans killed four women Naxals following an encounter near Raunda Forest Camp, Supkhar Forest Range of Kanha National Park on Wednesday.

SOURCE: IANS

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 10 fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, for allegedly trespassing into its territorial waters.

Three mechanised fishing boats were also seized during the late night operation on Wednesday. Tamil Nadu coastal police officials confirmed that the fishermen were apprehended for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).Following the arrests, the families of the detained fishermen, along with local fishing communities, have urged both the Central and State governments to take immediate action to secure their release.

SOURCE: ANI

India Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has said that since 2014, India has been “assertive” in its communication with Pakistan on the Line of Control (LOC), and they have understood that “we mean business.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ANI, the Army Chief suggested that India is now aggressive enough to respond if Pakistan provokes us. “Now what has happened from 2014, if you see, that both sides have generally understood that we mean business. And India has said very clearly that we will be assertive in our communication. And if required, we can be aggressive also. So, what you have just spoken about, it was a kind of an indication that look, if you force us, then we will be aggressive enough to communicate our intent,” he said.

SOURCE: PTI

Former ISRO chairman S Somanath on Wednesday highlighted the cost-effectiveness of India’s space programmes and noted that for the same satellite and share of work, the country will incur five-time less expenditure compared to the USA for an upcoming mission.

He was referring to the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission. The joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) project will map the entire globe and provide data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, ground water and natural hazards.

SOURCE: ANI

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday said that the country’s indigenous production capabilities are increasing, including in the field of drones, and the desire is to have 100 pc of equipment production in India eventually, even if it takes a few years.

“See, India follows Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family… This and atmanirbharta (self-reliance) both have to combine. Finally, our desire is to have 100 pc equipment production in India. But it doesn’t mean it has to happen today. It can happen after three years, five years, ten years,” Gen Dwivedi told ANI in an exclusive interview.

SOURCE: ANI

India Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that he was concerned about the presence of Pakistan Army and ISI officials in Bangladesh areas close to India’s Chicken’s Neck area

Speaking to ANI in an exclusive interview, General Dwivedi said that they must make sure that those anti-India elements must not be able to use that soil to send terrorists to India.