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Economic Survey 2022: 8 key points you need to know

The macroeconomic stability indicators in the govt’s Economic Survey suggest that the country’s economy is well-placed to take on the challenges of the financial year 2022-23.

Budget session: Congress plans to target Centre on Pegasus issue

As the Union Budget session begins on Mon, Congress has planned to target the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government on the issue of Pegasus snooping. The Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Centre and said that the Monsoon session of the Parliament was affected due to the Pegasus issue. Claiming that the Pegasus is undermining India’s democratic structure, freedom of speech. It is interesting to note that in the last few sessions the genie comes out of the bottle from foreign media and this time it’s NYT.

IAF Special Forces played a key role in the Pulwama operation in which 4 terrorists were killed, two Guards injured

In the Pulwama encounter in which four terrorists were killed in an operation led by the Indian Army on Sat, the Garud Special Forces operatives played an important role as the officer continued to fire at the terrorists despite being hit twice in the firefight, sources in the security establishment said.

India carrying out more warship patrols than ever to catch China in crowded global seas

Estimated 125 foreign naval vessels are in the Indian Ocean at any given time, roughly 3 times the number deployed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks when the US invaded Afghanistan.

After WHO depicts J&K, Arunachal as parts of Pak, China, Indian MP writes to PM Modi

A Trinamool Congress, Member of Parliament Santanu Sen from West Bengal, has written to PM Modi on Sun after the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Covid dashboard showed Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as parts of Pakistan and China. He informed the PM, that when he was navigating through the dashboard he came across the discrepancy. He has also sent copies of the letter to the govt’s ministries of home, external affairs, and health. “When I clicked over the differently colored portions, given to our state of J&K, the larger portion was showing the data of Pakistan and the smaller one was showing the data of China,” Sen wrote, who called it a “serious International issue” that the govt should get it corrected. 

Oman defense ministry’s secretary-general, air, and navy chief arrived in India

Being held after a gap of three years, largely due to the Covid crisis, the 10^th JMCC is expected to evaluate the ongoing defense exchanges and provide a roadmap for strengthening defense ties further. Omani Defence Ministry Secretary Gen Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi during India’s visit from Jan 30 to Feb 4^th,  will call on Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The 10^th JMCC is expected to evaluate the ongoing defense exchanges and provide a roadmap for strengthening defense ties further. The Indian side has been working for a long time so that the visit can happen soon. Feb will also witness a bilateral air force exercise in Jodhpur between India and the Oman Air force. Oman is the only country in the Gulf region with which all tri-services of the Indian forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and staff talks. The country also provides critical operational support to Indian naval deployments in the Arabian sea for anti-piracy missions.

Russian Deputy Foreign minister Sergey Vershinin in Delhi;

Hold talks with Secretary West Reenat Sandhu. Russian Vershinin speaks to Indian envoy to Russia Pavan Kapoor. Discussed the Russian presidency of the security council in Feb. Development comes even as Russian side has been keeping India in a loop over developments in Ukraine and ahead of Russian presidency of UNSC.

India sends 4^th batch of medical assistance consisting of 3-ton medicines to Afghanistan

The supplies were handed over to WHO and India Gandhi Children Hospital in Kabul. India has already sent three batches of medical assistance, including 5,00,000 doses of the Covid vaccine. India has supplied three tonnes of essential life-saving medicines to Afghanistan in the fourth batch of medical assistance to the war-torn country and will provide further humanitarian help to the people there in form of medicines and foodgrains in coming weeks, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sat. In a statement, the MEA said India stands committed to continuing its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and providing humanitarian assistance.

Damien Symon,(@detresfa_) has tweeted with a couple of pictures, read as “Simple map highlighting another sector, where large-scale development of settlements by China, near disputed sections of the Sino-Indo border, are observed, as construction is ongoing with a definite purpose unknown, most likely to populate border areas and reinforce territorial claims. A total of 155 structures were counted with more under development, one location shows a cluster of close to 95 units being prepared.”

Gujarat ATS arrests Delhi-based cleric in Kishan Bharwad murder case

ANI – The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested a cleric, Maulana Qamar Gani Usmani from New Delhi on Sun in connection with the Kishan Bharwad murder case, confirmed ATS Gujarat. The Gujarat ATS has arrested a total of six people in this case. 30-year-old Bharwad was murdered in Ahmedabad’s Dhandhuka on Tue was allegedly shot dead over a social media post. According to the ATS, the cleric ran an organization named the Tahreek Farogh-e-Islami and allegedly circulated videos of speeches to instigate youth belonging to the minority community to target those who insult Islam. The ATS is further investigating the case.

Centre suspends transmission of Malayalam news channel MediaOne

HT-Its editor Pramod Raman came on the air in the afternoon announcing the decision of the ministry and said a legal team had been asked to collect more details. “The ministry says the ban was due to security reasons. We are yet to get details,” he said. Many journalists’ organizations and Congress slammed the move. This is the second time MediaOne has been barred. In March 2020, the Centre imposed a ban on the channel for 48 hours on charges of violating the Cable Television Networks Act 1998, while reporting on riots in northeast Delhi. But people who are aware of the latest development said security clearance was denied after the channel failed to renew its license granted 10 years ago. As per I&B norms, uplinking and downlinking need to get security clearance from the Home Ministry, the official said. The Ministry is yet to release a statement.

Fake currency smuggler from Uttar Pradesh nabbed in Kolkata

The smuggler was identified as Aftab Alam alias Reyhan, a resident of the Khodare police station area in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. An alleged fake Indian currency note (FICN) smuggler from Uttar Pradesh was arrested in Kolkata on Sun, said the Special Task Force (STF) of the city police. Several bundles of counterfeit Rupees 500 notes, with a face value of ₹5,00,000, were seized from the possession of the 27-year-old man held near the banks of the Hooghly river in Kolkata.

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Four Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ)

ANI – 4 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ on Jan 30, marking the 23^rd intrusion this month, reported Taiwan News. Taiwan responded by sending planes, issuing radio warnings, and deploying air defense assets to keep an eye on the PLAAF planes. Notably, an ADIZ is a zone that extends outside a country’s airspace where approaching aircraft are asked to identify themselves by air traffic controllers, reported the news portal. Except for Jan 3, 9, 16, 21, 22, 26, and 29, China has deployed planes into ADIZ every day this month. MND data- a total of 137 Chinese jets had been spotted there in Jan, including 98 fighters, three bombers, and 36 spotter planes. Since Sept 2020, China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics by flying aircraft into ADIZ regularly, with the majority of incidents occurring in the southwest corner. Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.” Moreover, China’s military jets crossed the ADIZ 961 times during 239 days in 2021 as per the MND data.

Karachi: Pak Sarzameen Party announces sit-in against Sindh’s law governing local govt

ANI -After Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) called off its protest after almost a month in Karachi, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Sat announced to stage a sit-in against the Sindh Local Govt Act 2021. The PSP is seeking amendment of the law to give back control of major administrative affairs, including health, education, water supply, and sewerage system, to the local administration. PSP Chairman Mustafa Kamal announced a rally, which he had called against the controversial law. Scores of party workers and supporters had reached Fawara Chowk on his call, reported Geo News.

No bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan will be taking place next week in Beijing.

Both leaders will be in the city for the start of the Winter Olympics, diplomatically boycotted by the West. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov to Russia’s TASS said, “I would like to reiterate that there are no bilateral meetings on President Putin’s schedule, except for full-scale talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping“. President Putin will be in China on Feb 4 and also hold summit-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The controversial mega event in China will see many world leaders including all 5 Central Asian countries, Monaco, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE.

UN report claims Taliban have killed over 100 ex-Afghan govt officials, others since the takeover

A United Nations report seen Sun says the Taliban and its allies allegedly killed more than 100 former Afghan govt members, security personnel, and people who worked with international forces. The report, an advance copy of which was seen by AFP, describes severe curtailing of human rights by Afghanistan’s new fundamentalist rulers. In addition to the political killings, women’s rights and the right to protest have also been curbed.

Islamabad, Kabul agree to ease border crossing

• Modalities for barter trade initiative to be worked out immediately
• NSA’s two-day visit to Afghanistan concludes
• Both sides refresh commitment to early completion of power, gas, railway projects

Dawn-Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to establish a national-level coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points. The official announcements were made on Sun when National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf concluded his 2-day visit to Kabul where he met senior Taliban officials. According to the Prime Minister Office, the main objective of the visit was to discuss with the Afghan leadership the humanitarian requirements and Pakistan’s proposals for strengthening economic engagement to help Afghanistan tackle financial challenges. Energy, railway projects-“Both sides also reiterated their commitment to early completion of 3 major connectivity projects CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Rail project,” the press release said.

US Congressman urges Biden to reject Imran Khan’s pick as next Pak ambassador

Congressman, Scott Perry said Masood Khan, who has been selected by the Imran Khan govt as the next envoy to the US, has praised both terrorists and foreign terrorist organizations, including Hizbul Mujahideen. “While I am encouraged that the State Department has reportedly placed a pause on approving Masood Khan as the new Ambassador from Pakistan, a pause is not enough. I urge you to reject any diplomatic credentials presented to you by Masood Khan and reject any effort by the Govt of Pakistan to install this jihadist as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US,” Pennsylvania wrote in the letter.

IAF Special Forces played a key role in the Pulwama operation in which 4 terrorists were killed, two Guards injured

ANI-(sources) In the Pulwama encounter in which 4 terrorists were killed in an operation led by the Indian Army on Sat, the Garud Special Forces operatives played an important role as the officer continued to fire at the terrorists despite being hit twice in the firefight.

• The Garud Commandos were in the limelight for a major operation 4 years ago when they carried out two major operations in 2017 where they killed 8 terrorists.
• During the Pulwama operation, the forces including the 55 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army, J&K police carried out a cordon and search operation in Naira village Pulwama at 7 pm.
• After some time, the forces managed to pinpoint the presence of terrorists inside a particular house based on inputs by locals.
• The forces immediately evacuated the civilians in and around the house and ensured that they were sent to a safe distance.
• The forces tightened the cordon around the house which forced the terrorists to start firing at the forces to escape from the location.
• Despite the injury, the officer continued engaging the terrorists till all the 3 fleeing militants were eliminated.
• While the troops were looking for more terrorists, 1 of the terrorists hiding there came out and started firing on the Guards and hit the bullet but later he was eliminated.

To help the Garud Special Forces gain experience in real combat, the Army Headquarters has been attaching Garud Special Forces operatives and sending them on attachment to Rashtriya Rifles units who carry out counter-terrorist operations daily.

• In the 2017 operations in Hajin, the Guards were part of the 13 RR operations while in the encounter on Sat, they were with the 55 RR.
• Corporal JP Nirala was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously while team commander Wing Comdr Rajeev Chauhan was given a Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry.

JeM commander Zahid Wani among 5 terrorists killed in twin operations in J&K

Five terrorists were killed in two operations in India’s Kashmir valley earlier today. Four terrorists belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit were killed in the Pulwama district and one terrorist belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. 

Kashmir Police Chief Vijay Kumar: 21 terrorists, including 8 hardcore Pakistani terrorists, have been killed in 11 encounters in Kashmir this year.

• The elimination of terrorists will result in a drop in recruitment and boost peace and development in the Valley.
• Bomb Disposal Squad teams of the Indian Army and Police recovered and destroyed more than 200 detonators in the Shindra area of Poonch district on Jan 29^th.

Economic Survey 2022: 8 key points you need to know

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Mon tabled the Economic Survey 2021-22 ahead of the Union Budget 2022.
• The Survey shed light on different sectors of the economy as well as reforms that are needed in the future to accelerate growth.
• The macroeconomic stability indicators in the govt’s Survey suggest that the country’s economy is well-placed to take on the challenges of the financial year 2022-23.

Strong Revenue: The survey pointed out that revenues have witnessed a strong revival in FY22, which means that the govt has fiscal room to provide support if necessary. High Foreign Reserves, Foreign Direct Investment, and rising exports have provided a buffer against liquidity tampering.

GDP Estimate: The Survey projected an 8-8.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the Indian economy in the 2022-23 fiscal year beginning on Apr 1. This compares to a 9.2% GDP expansion projected by the National Statistical Office for an ongoing financial year. It also noted that the GDP growth rate contracted by 7.3% in 2020-21.

Agriculture: This and allied sectors remained the silver lining during the Covid-19 pandemic and are expected to grow by 3.9% in 2021-22 after growing 3.6% in the previous year.

Service Sector: The Covid-19 pandemic has hit this sector the hardest. This sector is projected to grow by 8.2% this financial year following the previous fiscal’s 8.4% contraction.

Industrial Sector: The growth of this sector has been estimated at 11.2% in FY22.

Consumption: Total consumption is estimated to have grown by 7.0% in 2021-22 with significant contributions in the form of govt spending.

Air India Privatisation: The Survey has highlighted that privatization was a significant step in terms of boosting the privatization drive and gathering disinvestment proceeds.

Increase in Capital Spending: According to the Survey, there can be a sharp increase in capital spending by the government as a demand and supply-enhancing measure

India needs to be wary of imported inflation-Inflation has reappeared as a global issue in both advanced and emerging economies and India needs to be wary of “imported inflation”, especially due to high oil prices, according to the survey released on Mon. “Inflation has reappeared as a global issue in both advanced and emerging economies. India’s Consumer Price Index inflation stood at 5.6% YoY in Dec 2021 which is within the targeted tolerance band.

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Islamabad, Kabul agree to ease border crossing

Dawn-Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to establish a national-level coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points.

The official announcements were made on Sun when National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf concluded his 2-day visit to Kabul where he met senior Taliban officials.

According to the Prime Minister Office, the main objective of the visit was to discuss with the Afghan leadership the humanitarian requirements and Pakistan’s proposals for strengthening economic engagement to help Afghanistan tackle financial challenges.

Energy, railway projects-“Both sides also reiterated their commitment to early completion of 3 major connectivity projects CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Rail project,” the press release said.

Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq and senior officials from relevant ministries were part of the NSA-led delegation.

Earlier on Sat, Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan termed the meeting with the acting foreign minister “constructive”.