1. Encounter starts in J&K’s Pulwama, 1 terrorist killed
2. PM Modi disburses ₹16,800 cr to 80 million farmers under PM-KISAN scheme
3. Exit polls suggest BJP, allies to win in Nagaland, Tripura; uncertainty looms over Meghalaya
4. Seven booked after 2 Moosewala murder accused killed in jail
5. Delhi Excise policy: Court sends Manish Sisodia to five-day CBI custody

What Else

6. Our companies are interested in developing businesses in India: Danish Climate Minister
7. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to visit India in March to attend Raisina Dialogue
8. Australian Foreign minister to visit India this week, set to attend G20 FMs meeting
9. Indian banks’ credit growth accelerates 16.8% in December quarter – RBI
10. China doubts the ability to invade Taiwan, says CIA chief William Burns
11. Nepal: CPN-UML ministers submit their resignations, ruling alliance in trouble
12. Pakistan: Over 24 Pakistanis killed in Italy migrant shipwreck, death toll hits 61, dozens missing
13. Pakistan: Retired general Amjad Shoaib remanded in police custody for 3 days for ‘inciting hatred against institutions’
14. Two soldiers martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan: ISPR
15. Pak: Big blow to anti-India terror group Al Badr; Former Jihadist killed in Karachi attack
16. Massive protests in Sri Lanka over poll postponement, tear gas fired

Encounter starts in J&K’s Pulwama, 1 terrorist killed

• A terrorist has been neutralized by security forces in an encounter in Awantipora in J&K, police said on Tue.
• The body of the slain terrorist is yet to be retrieved.
• The encounter took place in Awantipora tehsil under the Pulwama, days after the targeted killing of yet another Kashmiri Pandit.
• The encounter is underway. Further information is awaited.
• Sanjay Sharma, a resident of Achan in Pulwama, was fired upon by terrorists when he was on his way to a local market on Sunday. The 45-year-old, who worked as a bank security guard, succumbed to injuries in the hospital. (here)

PM Modi disburses ₹16,800 cr to 80 million farmers under PM-KISAN scheme

• PM Modi Mon disbursed ₹16,800 crores to nearly 80 million farmers through direct benefit transfer under the PM-KISAN scheme on Mon in Karnataka’s Belagavi.
• Under PM-KISAN, the govt provides income support of ₹6,000 a year to farmers with a valid enrolment, paid in three equal cash transfers of ₹2,000—one every four months.
• It was launched on Feb, 24, 2019, when the first installment was paid.
• This is the 13^th installment under the scheme
• Since its launch, the government has disbursed more than ₹2.24 lakh crore to eligible farmers through various installments.
• PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme with 100% funding from the central govt. (here)

Exit polls suggest BJP, allies to win in Nagaland, Tripura; uncertainty looms over Meghalaya

• 3 Indian states in the country’s northeast region held their assembly elections on Mon.
• The exit polls began hours later after Meghalaya and Nagaland finished their voting, earlier Mon while Tripura had finished polling on Feb 16.
• So far, the exit polls have suggested that PM Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies will lead in two states while there will be a close race for Meghalaya.
• All three states have 60 seats in their assembly where 31 seats are needed to secure the majority.
• The elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland took place across 59 constituencies in each of the two states, early Mon.
• However, one seat in Meghalaya was adjourned due to the death of a candidate while no poll was held for one seat in Nagaland as there was only one candidate.
• According to recent data from the Election Commission, the turnout in both states was over 80% with Meghalaya at 81.57% and Nagaland at 85.90%.
• Meanwhile, Tripura recorded nearly 87.6% in the 1-day assembly elections when it held the polls nearly two weeks ago. (here)

Seven booked after 2 Moosewala murder accused killed in jail

• 7 inmates of the Central Jail in Punjab’s Tarn Taran on Mon were booked for the killing of 2 people held in connection with the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, police said.
• The deceased were identified as Mandeep Singh alias Toofan, a resident of Batala, and Manmohan Singh alias Mohna, a resident of Budhlada in Bhatinda.
• Another associate of the deceased gangsters – Keshav – was injured in the incident, which took place around 3.30 pm on Sun, according to a jail official aware of the matter.
• Initial investigation indicated that the 3 victims belonged to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and they were attacked by some inmates, who are also accused in the murder case but belonged to the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. (here)

• In the firing line of Opposition in the violence at Ajnala, Amritsar, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann claimed that the clashes were an attempt by Pakistan to stoke tensions.
• Speaking at a press conference in Bhavnagar, Gujarat on Sun, the CM said: “1,000 people” (followers of alleged Khalistani sympathizer Amritpal Singh) do not represent Punjab, adding that they were funded by Pakistan in a bid to disturb peace in the state.
• This came after thousands of followers of the pro-Khalistan outfit stormed the Ajnala police station, flashing swords, and high-caliber firearms, on Feb 23
• They have threatened the police with dire consequences if they did not release Lovepreet, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and abducting a man. (here)

Delhi Excise policy: Court sends Manish Sisodia to five-day CBI custody

• The special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Mon granted 5 days remand of Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia to the CBI till Mar 4.
• Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on Sun
• While seeking 5 days’ remand the CBI’s public prosecutor submitted before the court that Sisodia was heading the Group of Ministers.
• It is a case of increasing the profit margin from 5-12% and benefiting the liquor manufacturer. (here)

Our companies are interested in developing businesses in India: Danish Climate Minister

• Denmark Minister for Climate and Energy, Lars Aagaard during his visit to India said that when it comes to the green strategic partnership between the two countries, Green energy remains the focus and that Danish companies would like to develop their businesses in India.
• Aagaard also met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Mon, where issues related to climate and energy were discussed.
• The Green Strategic partnership between the two consolidates the existing agreement establishing a Joint Commission for Cooperation between the two countries.
• The minister is part of the Denmark delegation led by Denmark’s royal couple who are on an India visit.
• The couple who is on a visit to India will address the opening session of the India-Denmark: Partners for Green & Sustainable Progress organized by CII.
• He also met President Draupadi Murmu, the Ministry of External Affairs. (here)

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to visit India in March to attend Raisina Dialogue

• Italian PM Giorgia Meloni will visit India in the first week of Mar to attend the 8^th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi as Chief Guest, as per a statement released by Ministry.
• The Italian PM will visit India on Mar 2-3 and will be accompanied by Dy PM and FM Antonio Tajan and a high-powered business delegation.
• This will be the first bilateral Very Very Important Person visit from Italy to India.
• In 2018, the last PM visited India.
• PM Modi and PM Meloni will hold discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on PM Meloni.
• The visiting PM will call on President Droupadi Murmu on Mar 02. (here)

Australian Foreign minister to visit India this week, set to attend G20 FMs meeting

• Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, will this week travel to India and Malaysia.
• Wong stated that she looks forward to meeting her counterparts at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi.
• She will also attend the 2023 Raisina Dialogue.
• She stated that Australia strongly supports India’s G20 Presidency and welcomes India’s ambitious, action-oriented G20 agenda under the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future‘.
• Wong said Australian PM Anthony Albanese, Minister for Trade, Don Farrell and Minister for Resources Madeleine King will travel to India over the next month.
• She further stated Australia looks forward to hosting PM Modi when he attends the Quad Leaders’ meeting. (here)

Indian banks’ credit growth accelerates 16.8% in December quarter – RBI

• Indian banks’ credit growth doubled to 16.8% in the Oct-Dec quarter from a year earlier, data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Mon showed.
• Bank credit had expanded by 8.4% in the quarter that ended Dec 2021 and 17.2% in the quarter that ended Sept 2022, as per the data.
• The credit growth was led by bank branches in metropolitan centers, which accounted for nearly 60% of the total credit by banks, the RBI said.
• Urban, semi-urban, and rural centers also recorded double-digit credit growth (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China doubts the ability to invade Taiwan, says CIA chief William Burns

• Given Russia’s experience in its war with Ukraine, US intelligence chief William Burns on Sun said that there appear to be doubts in Beijing about its ability to invade Taiwan.
• However, he said it was still important to take the threat to the island “very seriously.”
• CIA chief said that the potential use of force was likely to grow by the end of the decade and into the next.
• Burns, on a TV, stressed that the US must take “very seriously” China’s President Xi Jinping’s desire to ultimately control Taiwan even if military conflict is not inevitable.
• Burns said it appeared likely that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s setbacks during the invasion of Ukraine may have informed Beijing’s sentiments. (here)

Nepal: CPN-UML ministers submit their resignations, ruling alliance in trouble

• Ahead of the Presidential elections in Nepal, the country’s coalition govt has been thrown into turmoil as the CPN-UML Ministers on Mon resigned to PM PK Dahal.
• With CPN-UML ministers submitting their resignations, the incumbent govt formed in late Dec last year has lost its majority and now it may dissolve.
• Prachanda now leads a minority govt and would need to undertake a vote of confidence within a month.
• On Mon morning, in a secretariat meeting of the CPN-UMP, the party decided to quit the govt and withdraw its support. (here)

Pakistan: Over 24 Pakistanis killed in Italy migrant shipwreck, death toll hits 61, dozens missing

• PM Shehbaz Sharif on Mon said over 2 dozen Pakistanis were believed to be among 61 people who died when a boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed near the southern Italian coast.
• At least 81 people survived Sun’s accident, with 20 hospitalized including one person in intensive care, Italian authorities said,
• Rescue crews have recovered dozens of bodies, including those of several children.
• Many more people were feared dead given survivor reports that the wooden vessel, which set off from Turkey last week, had carried as many as 200 migrants.
• The boat is said to have had people from Iran and Afghanistan on board as well as those from other countries.
• Rescue crews searched by sea and air on Mon for dozens of believed still missing that drove home once again the desperate and dangerous crossings of migrants. (here)
• FIA says teams have been formed to investigate the matter and arrest the traffickers who had illegally sent the victims.

Pakistan: Retired general Amjad Shoaib remanded in police custody for 3 days for ‘inciting hatred against institutions’

• An Islamabad district and sessions court on Monday granted the police a 3-day remand of defense analyst and retired Lt Gen Amjad Shoaib, following his arrest after a registered a case on charges of inciting the public against state institutions.
• FIR has lodged at the Ramna police station by Magistrate Owais Khan a day ago.
• It invokes section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
• In an interview on BOL TV show ‘Imran Khan Bol Kay Saath’ aired on Sat, passed statements that “incited the govt officials and opposition from performing their govt and legal duties”.
• Following his arrest, the gen was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate where Ramna police station’s investigation officer and Prosecutor were also present. (here)

Two soldiers martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan: ISPR

• Two Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in the North Waziristan tribal district during a gunfight with terrorists, the military’s media wing (ISPR) said on Mon.
• The two were identified as the martyrs as 25-year-old Sepoy Imran Ullah from Bajaur and 21-year-old Sepoy Afzal Khan from Upper Dir.
• “Resultantly, 2 terrorists were killed, while 2 terrorists were apprehended. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists,” ISPR stated.
• The ISPR said sanitization of the area was being carried out to eliminate other terrorists in the area.
• PM Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyrs and extended his condolences to their families. (here)

Pak: Big blow to anti-India terror group Al Badr; Former Jihadist killed in Karachi attack

• A former commander of Pakistan-based terror outfit Al Badr was killed by unidentified gunmen in Karachi on Sun.
• Dawn reported that Syed Khalid Raza suffered a single bullet wound in the head and died on the spot.
• He had served as Al Badr’s commander in J&K for 8 years and waged jihad against India.
• This came within a week after a top Hizbul commander, Imtiaz Alam alias Bashir Ahmed Peer, one of India’s most wanted terrorists, was killed in similar circumstances in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (here)

Massive protests in Sri Lanka over poll postponement, tear gas fired

• Police in Sri Lanka on Sun fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters angry over a decision to postpone local elections after the govt said it cannot afford it
• About 15 people were treated for minor injuries, according to Colombo National Hospital.
• Thousands of supporters of the opposition National People’s Power party tried to march towards the main business district in the capital Colombo, ignoring police warnings after a court order barring them from entering the area. (here)