1. Major terror attack averted in Udhampur, 15-kg IED defused: J-K cops
2. Govt inks peace pact with Manipur insurgent group
3. India’s NE strategic rail link to LAC with China gathers pace, plans to connect 8 capitals too
4. National Clean Ganga Mission approves sewerage infra projects worth Rs 2,700 cr in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and WB
5. Cabinet approves opening of new Consulates in Maldives, Lithuania

What Else

6. Election Commission initiates process for delimitation of assembly, parliamentary constituencies in Assam
7. Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti will join Bharat Jodo Yatra, says Venugopal in J-K
8. Tarn Taran blast: Police busts sub-module operating from Philippines, arrests 3 with RPG
9. Karnataka-Maharashtra border Row: ‘Not an inch’ will be ceded to Maharashtra: Both Claims
10. Air India express issues covid guidelines for travelers from UAE to India
11. Pakistan: Suspects involved in Islamabad suicide blast arrested: Sanaullah
12. Pakistan: Establishment’s apolitical role ‘orphaned selected’: Bilawal
13. Taiwan to extend compulsory military service on China threat -government source
14. Putin-Xi call not expected to alter China’s balancing act with the West

Major terror attack averted in Udhampur, 15-kg IED defused: J-K cops

• Police on Tue defused an improvised explosive device weighing 15 kg, which was recovered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, officials said.
• A major terror plan was averted when the cylindrical shaped IED, 300-400 grams of RDX, 7, 7.62 mm cartridges, and 5 detonators were recovered on Mon, they said.
• The IED was safely defused on Tue.
• One coded sheet and one letter pad page of the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were also recovered and a suspect has been detained.
• According to the officials, a case has been registered at Basantgarh police station and further investigation is underway. (here)

Govt inks peace pact with Manipur insurgent group

• The Union home ministry and the Manipur govt on Tue signed a peace agreement with the insurgent group Zeliangrong United Front had been active for more than a decade.
• The agreement was signed by officials in the home ministry, Manipur govt, and ZUF under the guidance of minister Amit Shah and the presence of CM N Biren Singh.
• “This will be a significant boost to the peace process in Manipur,” the statement added.
• An armed group, most of the activities of ZUF were reported from the Tamenglong district which is inhabited mostly by Zeliangrong Naga tribes.
• “Representatives of the armed group agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land,” the ministry said in its statement.
• After signing a peace accord with 8 tribal insurgent outfits in Assam, Shah in Sept said the govt has decided to end all conflicts with armed groups in the Northeast by 2024.
• The Centre has taken several steps in the last few years to bring peace in the region.
• These include the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from large swathes – 23 districts and 1 PS area – in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur from Apr 1. (here)

India’s NE strategic rail link to LAC with China gathers pace, plans to connect 8 capitals too

• India has completed the final location survey of 3 strategic rail lines in the Northeast that aims to military push its men and equipment faster, especially in Arunachal.
• These strategic railway lines, which will be completed over the next decade, will add to the extensive network of highways that are already being built.
• However, the key lines are a 200 km broad gauge line between Bhalukpong to Tawang, 87 km line between Silapathar to Along, and a 217 km line between Rupai to Pasighat, which also has an advanced landing ground of the Indian Air Force.
• All three proposed railway lines are categorized as “strategic”, which means that the cost will be borne by both the railways and defense ministries.
• A final location survey is done to decide the alignment of the rail line and the location of stations.
• In railway parlance, the completion of the final location survey means the project is finally happening.
• Fund allocation in the Northeast states was done to the tune of Rs 51787 cr with the average fund allocation/year in the last 8 years being 254% more than in 2009-14. (here)

National Clean Ganga Mission approves sewerage infra projects worth Rs 2,700 cr in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and WB

• The 46^th Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga approved projects worth around Rs 2,700 cr for developing sewerage infrastructure in UP, Bihar, JH, and WB.
• Afforestation programs for 2022-’23 for Uttarakhand and Bihar were also approved at an estimated cost of Rs 42.80 crore.
• These programs aim to create an enabling environment for a climate-resilient and sustainable ecosystem with a community participatory approach, said the Ministry.
• In WB, a big project for the Rejuvenation of River Adi Ganga, a tributary of Ganga, in Kolkata was approved at an estimated cost of Rs 653.67 crore.
• According to the Ministry, a total of 3 projects were approved in UP one of which pertains to the development of sewerage infrastructure in Prayagraj at Rs 475.19 crore.
• In Bihar, one project each for Daudnagar and Motihari has been approved at estimated costs of Rs 42.25 and Rs 149.15 crore respectively.
• In Bihar, 4 projects of cost enhancement were also approved.
• A major project in Jharkhand was approved in the 46^th EC meeting. (here)

Cabinet approves opening of new Consulates in Maldives, Lithuania

• In Parliament, on India having only resident Missions in 48 out of 193 UN members, the Centre on Tue said the Cabinet has approved the opening of 2 new Consulates.
• “Cabinet has also approved the opening of a new Consulate in Addu, Maldives in May 2021 and a new Mission in Lithuania in April 2022,” the govt said.
• The crucial role of the missions or posts would go a long way toward India’s aspiration to be a permanent member of the UNSC, the committee said.
• And it recommended that the Ministry chalk out a roadmap for setting up Indian missions or posts in the remaining 48 countries in a time-bound manner.
• India has opened missions in 14 African countries out of the 18 announced in Mar 2018.
• Three new Missions in Estonia, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic, approved by Cabinet in Dec 2020, were made operational in Jan-Feb, 2022.
• India announced a new Project Executing Agency for the early completion of a portion of the road under the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project. (here)

Election Commission initiates process for delimitation of assembly, parliamentary constituencies in Assam

• The EC on Tue said it has initiated the process for delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in Assam in pursuance of the request received from the Ministry of Law.
• Delimitation falls under Section 8A of the Re Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• “The Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer to take up the matter with State Govt to issue a complete ban on the creation of new administrative units w.e.f. 1st Jan 2023 till the completion of the delimitation exercise.
• Census figures of 2001 will be used for the readjustment of Constituencies in the state.
• Once a draft proposal of constituencies in the State is finalized by the Commission, it will be published in the Central and State Gazettes to invite objections. (here)

Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti will join Bharat Jodo Yatra, says Venugopal in J-K

• Congress leader KC Venugopal on Tue said that Opposition leaders in J&K including former CMs Abdullah father and son, and Mehbooba Mufti will join the BJY.
• The Congress leader’s announcement comes after meeting J-K Lt Governor which was in connection with the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi.
• He termed the party’s BJY as a “national padayatra“.
• Earlier on Mon, Mufti applauded the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra.
• Mufti said that the new govt during the last 8 years has shaken all the foundations of this country, but Rahul Gandhi is out to save the foundations. (here)
• In UP, the largest state, a dynast leader, and former CM Akhilesh Yadav refused to participate in BJY and said it cant up rooted BJP.

Tarn Taran blast: Police busts sub-module operating from Philippines, arrests 3 with RPG

• In further probe into the Rocket-Propelled Grenade attack in Tarn Taran, Punjab Police on Tue busted a sub-module being operated from the Philippines and arrested 3.
• Police said the sub-module was handled by Phillippines-based Yadwinder Singh on the instructions of Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa.
• Police also recovered a loaded RPG in Tarn Taran.
• Earlier police arrested 6 persons, including 2 juveniles, accused of the RPG attack, carried out at Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran on December 9.
• The state Police chief had said the attack was masterminded by Landa, Satbir Singh alias Satta, and Gurdev alias Jaisel, with the help of Ajmeet Singh, currently in Jail.
• The handlers used cut-outs and Dead Letter Box techniques for delivery and establishing contact so that the members were assigned tasks by the handlers. (here)

Karnataka-Maharashtra border Row: ‘Not an inch’ will be ceded to Maharashtra: Both Claims

• Karnataka Chief Minister BS Bommai on Tue said that not an inch of land will be ceded to Maharashtra.
• Bommai said Karnataka is confident of getting justice as the States have been organized based on the States Reorganisation Act 1956.
• His remarks came against the backdrop of the Maha Assembly on Tue unanimously passing the resolution on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.
• Bommai said the resolution of the Maha Assembly did not have any value and they are doing such things since their case pending before the Supreme Court is very weak.
• The resolution says that Maharashtra will fight the pending case in the Supreme Court with full strength for the inclusion of each and every inch of 865 villages.
• Meanwhile, Maha leader of the opposition, Uddhav Thackeray demands to declare disputed areas as Union Territory.
• The border dispute between the states dates back to the State Reorganization Act, of 1956, and then Maha govt had demanded the readjustment of its border with KT. (here)

Air India express issues covid guidelines for travellers from UAE to India

• Air India Express on Tue issued guidelines for the maintenance of Covid-appropriate behavior by travelers traveling from the UAE to India.
• The recommendation advises that all visitors should preferably be completely immunized as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against Covid-19 in their country.
• Other precautions to take when traveling include the use of masks and physical distancing.
• The Air India Express, HQ in Kochi, Kerala is notably, India’s first international budget carrier, offering connectivity to the Middle East and SE Asia. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: Suspects involved in Islamabad suicide blast arrested: Sanaullah

• Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tue that the suspects involved in the suicide attack in Islamabad — that left a policeman martyred and several injured — have been arrested.
• The incident, in which 4 police officers and 2 civilians were injured, took place in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector on Dec 23.
• The police had said that a suicide attacker, riding a cab, blew himself up after the vehicle was stopped over suspicion, claimed by TTP.
• The taxi driver was hired by the suspects and had no involvement. The terrorists moved from Kurram Agency and stayed in Rawalpindi. We have rounded up 4 to 5,” he said.
• Earlier today, the Islamabad police issued a “special” plan that introduces 25 temporary checkposts in the city and requires citizens and foreigners to carry their ID
• As per the plan, entry points of the Red Zone will be recorded via Safe City cameras while video surveillance of metro bus passengers would also be conducted. (here)

Pakistan: Establishment’s apolitical role ‘orphaned selected’: Bilawal

• FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Tue that the establishment’s decision to remain apolitical has “politically orphaned selected” PTI Chief and the likes of him.
• Bilawal says PTI seeking the establishment’s intervention.
• “This is the reason why there’s hue and cry in Bani Gala.”
• Foreign minister links terrorism to Imran’s election as PM. (here)
• Meanwhile, The PTI is willing to play a role in Parliament but the govt is not ready to make a serious commitment to it, claimed former FM SM Qureshi.
• Says govt not serious about it as it is not giving elections date. 
• Fawad says the entire country is attentively listening to Imran Khan. (here)

Taiwan to extend compulsory military service on China threat -government source

• Taiwan will extend compulsory military service to 1 year from 4 months, from 2024 due to the rising threat faced by China, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tue.
• The move comes as China ramps up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims, over the past three years.
• Tsai said Taiwan wanted peace but needed to be able to defend itself.
• The current military system, including training reservists, is inefficient and insufficient to cope with China’s rising military threat, especially if it launched a rapid attack.
• Conscripts will undergo more intense training, including shooting exercises, combat instruction used by U.S. forces, and operating more powerful weapons.
• Taiwan has complained of delayed U.S. arms deliveries this year, including Stingers, but Tsai said the situation was improving after discussions with the United States.
• The de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan ‘welcomed’ the announcement on conscription reform. (here)

Putin-Xi call not expected to alter China’s balancing act with the West

• Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to speak with Vladimir Putin this week, as the Russian leader seeks more support from Beijing amid the invasion of Ukraine.
• Citing Kremlin, Russian state news agency Tass said on Mon that the pair would talk before the end of the year.
• Last week, Putin sent the former Russian president to Beijing with a personal message for Xi, while FM Wang discussed the Ukraine situation by phone with US Secy of State.
• On Sun, Wang said that deepening its “rock-solid” strategic partnership with Russia was among China’s diplomatic priorities for next year, while also pledging to bring China’s fraught ties with NATO back on course. (here)