SOURCE: PTI
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India and Pakistan have renewed the agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the next five years, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Tuesday.
In view of the continued requests of the pilgrims regarding the removal of $ 20 service charge levied by Pakistan per pilgrim per visit, India has once again urged Pakistan to not levy any fee or charges on the pilgrims, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG
India has quietly achieved another significant milestone in its strategic defense capabilities by launching its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), codenamed S4 (Star), according to a recent report from Hindustan Times. The submarine was launched on October 16, 2024, a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Very Low-Frequency (VLF) Naval Station, underscoring India’s growing naval prowess.
The S4 (Star) is a sister ship of INS Aridhaman (S4), part of India’s second generation of SSBNs, designed to improve upon the capabilities of the Arihant-class submarines. With a displacement of approximately 7,000 tons, S4 (Star) is 1,000 tons heavier than the earlier Arihant-class submarines, offering more space for enhanced capabilities, including a larger missile payload.
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Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to halt the export of Indian defense equipment to Israel, citing allegations of war crimes by Tel Aviv in Gaza. The court’s refusal to intervene was rooted in the fact that foreign policy is not within its jurisdiction, deferring the matter to the executive. However, the issue raised by the PIL transcends Israel and touches on a broader debate critical to India’s aspirations to become a major defense exporter.
The question of whether a country should regulate its defence exports based on the actions of its buyers in global conflicts is a normative one. It requires India to balance its moral standing with its strategic and economic ambitions in the global defence market. This debate has gained importance as India seeks to transition from one of the world’s largest arms importers to a competitive exporter of weapons and military systems.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Navy’s acquisition of the Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, INS Chakra III, has faced significant delays, with the vessel now expected to join the fleet by 2028. Originally slated for delivery in 2025, the project has been pushed back due to complications arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions imposed on Russia.
In 2019, India and Russia signed a $3 billion deal for the lease of an Akula-1 class submarine, which would be named INS Chakra III. The lease, similar to previous agreements between the two countries, was intended to enhance the Indian Navy’s underwater capabilities by providing it with advanced nuclear attack submarine (SSN) technology for a decade.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The South Korean government is on the verge of making a critical decision that will determine the direction of its indigenous engine program for the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Expected by the end of November 2024, this decision will influence the future trajectory of the nation’s defense capabilities and possibly open doors to international collaborations, including potential partnerships with India for the development of a new engine that could power both the KF-21 and India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae is a next-generation, 4.5-generation multirole fighter aircraft that represents a significant leap in the country’s aerospace ambitions. While the aircraft’s development has been progressing steadily, it is currently powered by American-made GE F414 engines. However, South Korea aims to achieve greater self-reliance by developing its own indigenous engine, which could power future variants of the KF-21 and potentially other platforms.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Hyderabad-based Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools Pvt Ltd has announced its latest endeavor: the development of a larger micro turbojet engine, the Indra RV40. This new project follows the successful creation of the Indra RV25, a fully indigenous micro turbojet engine with a thrust of 240N.
The Indra RV40, weighing only 4.2 kilograms, is designed to generate a thrust of 400N. This significant increase in power output while maintaining a compact size makes it a promising candidate for various applications, especially in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones.
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The Russian Navy has docked in the southern Indian port of Kochi. The vessels include the submarine Ufa and the rescue boat Alatau. The visit will include talks with India’s Southern Naval Command, sports competitions and supply replenishment.
The Ufa is a submarine of the Project 636.3 class, also known as the improved Kilo-class. It is the fourth submarine of the series for the Pacific Fleet, launched in November 2019 with the participation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Evmenov. The Ufa joined the Russian Navy in 2022.
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In response to China’s plans for a massive hydroelectric project near Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian government has expedited the development of its own colossal dam in the Siang upper valley. The recently announced financial assistance from the Union Cabinet for hydropower projects is primarily intended to support the initial project management of this ambitious endeavor.
The proposed dam serves a threefold purpose: flood management, water flow correction, and power generation as a secondary benefit. NHPC, a state-owned hydropower company, has been tasked with preparing a detailed project report (DPR) and a project feasibility report (PFR). According to NHPC’s estimates, the dam will have the capacity to generate 10-12 gigawatts (GW) of hydropower, surpassing all existing hydel projects in India. The projected cost is estimated to be around Rs 1 trillion.
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China on Tuesday confirmed that it has reached an agreement with India to end the standoff between the two armies in eastern Ladakh.
“Over a recent period, China and India have been in close communication through diplomatic and military channels on issues related to the China-India border,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing here.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore said on Tuesday that the United Nations (UN) is “not weak by accident, but by design” and also argued that India should replace the United Kingdom (UK) on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to make it stronger.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Mahbubani, a former UNSC President, spotlighted India’s pivotal role in shaping the new world order, which he described as based on three key principles: multi-civilisational, multi-polar, and multi-lateral. He also addresses issues, pertaining to Indian interests including the India-China patrolling agreement along Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the BRICS summit.
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India values close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on a range of key issues concerning global developmental agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.
Modi made comments in a statement before embarking on a two-day visit to the Russian city of Kazan to attend the 16th summit of the BRICS grouping. “The expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year has added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good,” he said.
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday hit out at Canada for its “double standards” as the ties between New Delhi and Ottawa came under severe strain over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil last year.
“Double standards is a very mild word for it,” Jaishankar said while explaining how Canada treats other diplomats and the “licence” their diplomats try to use while in India.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Monday that India does not believe in “taken-for-granted” relations, and the world is realising that trust and reliability make the foundation of the country’s ties.
His comments at the NDTV World Summit came amid deepening chill in India’s ties with Canada as New Delhi recalled six of its diplomats including the high commissioner, and expelled as many Canadian envoys.
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Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Monday said the government plans to take legislative actions to deal with instances of bomb threats to airlines, including placing perpetrators of such threats in the no-fly list.
In the last one week, nearly 100 flights of Indian airlines received bomb threats. At a briefing in the national capital, Naidu said amendments are being planned to aviation security rules as well as the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982.
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Former chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday lashed out at Pakistan for perpetrating terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, saying Islamabad will have to stop terror incidents here if it wants to have friendly relations with India.
Abdullah said there can be no talks between New Delhi and Islamabad till the neighbouring country stops killings in Jammu and Kashmir.
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