SOURCE: ANI

As a ripple effect of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep Islands in January this year, tourism officer Imthias Mohammed T B has confirmed a rise in inquiries to visit the island region.

When asked about the impact of PM Modi’s visit, Imthias told ANI, “Impact is huge, we are receiving lots of inquiries.” He further mentioned that Lakshadweep is receiving inquiries both from the national tourism arena as well as the international tourism market.

SOURCE: REUTERS

India has allowed limited exports of essential commodities, including sugar, wheat, rice, and onions, to the Maldives, the government said on Friday, even as ties between Male and New Delhi remained tense amid rising Chinese influence. India, a leading exporter of rice, sugar and onions, has imposed various curbs on exports of these food commodities to keep a lid on local prices ahead of the general election.

Shipments of these commodities in the 2024/25 financial year which started on April 1 to Maldives “will be exempted from any existing or future restriction/prohibition on export,” the government said in a notification.

SOURCE: PTI

India on Friday voted in favour of a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council that reaffirmed the “inalienable right” of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine.

The draft resolution on the ‘Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination’ was adopted in the Geneva-based Council, with 42 member states, including India, voting in favour. The US and Paraguay were the only two nations in the 47-member Council to vote against the resolution, with abstentions from Albania, Argentina and Cameroon.

SOURCE: IANS

The Indian government got ‘individuals’ killed in Pakistan as part of Delhi’s larger strategy to eliminate wanted terrorists living on foreign soil, ‘The Guardian’, a renowned global newspaper, claimed in a report on Thursday quoting some “intelligence operatives of India and Pakistan”.

The London-based daily claims to have some documents that “shed light on how India’s foreign intelligence agency allegedly carried out operations to eliminate the individuals abroad”.

SOURCE: PTI

The Indian Army has started the induction of control and reporting systems under ‘Project Akashteer’ to bolster its air defence capabilities, sources said on Thursday. ‘Project Akashteer’ aims to deliver an “unprecedented level” of situational awareness and control for the force to ensure safety of friendly aircraft and engage hostile aircraft in “contested airspace”, they said.

In the ‘Year of Technology Infusion’ (2024), the Army has boosted its air defence capabilities with ‘Akashteer Control and Reporting Systems’, the Army sources said. ‘Project Akashteer’ is a cutting-edge initiative designed to automate air defence control and reporting processes by digitising them, they said.

SOURCE: PTI

India aims to produce 100,000 MW of nuclear power by 2047, a massive increase from the current production of over 8,000 MW, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman A K Mohanty said here on Wednesday.

Mohanty was speaking at the release of a report, ‘Synchronising Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All’, largely funded by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India.

SOURCE: PTI

The statements coming out of India on “reclaiming” Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka have “no ground”, the Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda has said. The senior Sri Lankan Tamil politician’s comments came days after the Narendra Modi government targeted the Congress Party and its ally the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu accusing them of overlooking national interests in the ceding of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

The BJP has also been targeting the two parties for not ensuring the rights of the fishermen wanting to fish in waters around the Katchatheevu island.

SOURCE: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed opposition bloc INDIA for spreading canards about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said it is “Modi ki guarantee to provide citizenship to those who have faith in Maa Bharati (Mother India)”.

Addressing a mega rally at Rash Mela grounds in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar, Modi criticised the opposition parties for trying to save the corrupt and asserted that he will ensure that they are punished.

SOURCE: PIB

The Army Commanders’ Conference concluded in New Delhi on   2^nd April 2024. The biannual event, held in a hybrid format, commenced with a virtual session chaired by General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), on 28^th March 2024, and was followed by in-person discussions on 1^st and 2^nd April 2024. The senior leadership of the Army brainstormed a wide array of security-related aspects, including ongoing transformation initiatives, leveraging technology and innovation for capability development, enhancing operational preparedness, addressing emerging security and HR-related issues.

Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, in his keynote address on 2^nd April 2024, reaffirmed the nation’s trust in the Indian Army, acknowledging its indispensable role in national security. He applauded the stellar role of the Army in guarding the borders, fighting terrorism and providing aid to the civil administration during crises. The Hon’ble RM exhorted the Army leadership to constantly review doctrinal, structural, & organisational reforms to meet future challenges in view of the evolving security dynamics.

SOURCE: AP

Rattandeep Singh, a former militant, was gunned down by two bike-borne assailants on Wednesday night in Balachaur. Rattandeep was accompanied by his nephew and they were in the car. The police reached the spot and found a poster in which one Gopi Nawanshahria has claimed the responsibility of the murder.

Jailed for his terror links, Rattandeep was released in 2019 after he completed his term. Since then, he had been staying with his family in Karnal as no case was pending against him.

SOURCE: PTI

Security forces on Friday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing one terrorist, officials said. Alert troops of the army noticed suspicious movement along the LoC at Sabura Nala Rustam in the Uri area of the district and challenged the intruders, they said.

However, the intruders opened firing which was retaliated by the soldiers, resulting in the killing of at least one terrorist, they added.

SOURCE: ANI

Highlighting the concern about Bangladesh opposition party’s ‘BoycottIndia’ trend, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed that India and Bangladesh have a very strong and vibrant relationship.

While addressing a press briefing on Thursday, the MEA spokesperson said that both countries have a comprehensive partnership, spanning various sectors. “I would like to say that India-Bangladesh relations are very strong,” Randhir Jaiswal said.

SOURCE: ANI

Reacting to the comments made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister on resuming trade with India, the Ministry of External Affairs said that there lies a contradiction between his comments and that of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen some reports regarding the Pak Foreign Minister’s comments, but thereafter I would like you to refer to the comments made by the spokesperson of Pakistan Foreign Ministry. Please have a look at those comments, you will see there is a contradiction between the two. That is where it is.”

Earlier, Pak Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the relevant stakeholders would “seriously examine” the trade situation with India as he highlighted the concerns of the business community, Dawn reported. “Pakistani businessmen want trade with India to resume,” he added.

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said “toughest legal action” will be taken against agents who duped students from Kerala into fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Interacting with media persons in Thiruvanthanpuram today, Mr Jaishankar said, “This is a matter of very, very deep concern for us, very strong concern for us. We called in the Russian ambassador. Our ambassador in Moscow was instructed to go to the foreign ministry.”

SOURCE: ANI

Amid instances in the recent past where Shri was being used before names of Indian Coast Guard officers instead of their ranks, the President’s Secretariat in an RTI reply has explained that only ranks have to be used before names of Indian Coast Guard and defence officers in official communication.

The ceremonial section of the President’s Secretariat in May 2023 issued a letter that stated that for both serving and retired officials, only their ranks have to be prefixed before their names and Shri was not to be used.