1. Would take all vital measures to safeguard national interests: Ministry of External Affairs
2. Sri Lankan President seeks India’s help in policy reforms among other issues
3. Ram Navami clash: MHA seeks detailed report from West Bengal government
4. India one of the fastest-growing economies, says WB; cuts GDP growth to 6.3% in FY24
5. India to carry out maiden firing of its Russian-origin S-400 air defense system “soon”

What Else

6. India acquires weapons worth $300 mn from US for its Navy
7. Two Indian journalists barred from returning to China amid tensions
8. Govt rejects SC verdict in polls delay case, terms it ‘unenforceable’
9. Pakistan: Punjab polls on May 14 after SC declares ECP decision ‘unconstitutional’
10. Pakistan: SBP hikes policy rate by 100bps to record high of 21%
11. Nepal: Nepali and Chinese officials to discuss border, security issues but skip GSI

India, Bhutan’s security concerns intertwined, indivisible: Foreign secy Kwatra

• Amid China’s efforts to push boundary talks with Bhutan, the Bhutan King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is on India’s visit from Mon to Wed.
• MEA in response to Bhutan’s PM’s remarks said India follows all developments which have a bearing on the national interest and all necessary measures would be taken.
• The remark by the Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering that “there is no intrusion” into Bhutan by China and that Beijing has an “equal” say in any discussion over its illegal intrusions raises several concerns.“
• Moreover, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “The recent utterances of Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering indicate that the unshakeable relationship between Bhutan and India is now facing a challenge from an aggressive China”.
• India on Tue rejected attempts by China to rename 11 places in Arunachal.
• Regarding the bilateral relations between India and Bhutan, Secretary Kwatra said, “In the meeting between PM Modi and the King of Bhutan, it was agreed that India would step up its support for Bhutan’s upcoming 13^th 5-year plan.
• During his meeting, PM Modi reiterated continued support for socio-economic reforms in Bhutan, Secretary added. (here)
• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tue called on the King.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Mon received upon his arrival in the country and later called on him in the evening.
• Jaishankar noted that Bhutan King’s vision for strengthening the unique partnership with India is “deeply appreciated.” (here)
• The US has recognized that territory for a long time and we strongly oppose any unilateral attempt to advance territory claims by renaming localities: WH Press Secy

Sri Lankan President seeks India’s help in policy reforms among other issues

• Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has sought India’s help in policy reforms, digital technology, capacity building, good governance, and institution building.
• The help was sought during a discussion with an Indian delegation led by the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance.
• During the meeting, President shared his vision for Sri Lanka, a strategy to address the recent economic challenges and put the country on the path of high economic growth.
• During the discussion, President urged NCGG to help in establishing a University of Governance and Public Policy in Sri Lanka.
• NCGG in partnership with the MEA is dedicated to promoting collaboration and learning among civil servants of India and neighboring countries. (here)

Ram Navami clash: MHA seeks detailed report from West Bengal government

• Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a detailed report from the West Bengal govt on violence during the Ram Navami procession taken out in Howrah city last week.
• As per top govt sources, the Bengal govt has been asked to submit the report as soon as possible. (here)

• OIC Again Pokes Nose Into India’s Internal Affair, Issues Statement on Violence: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has again tried to interfere in India’s internal affairs.
• OIC has stated Ram Navami’s violence in India and alleged targeting of Muslims during the religious processions and denounced alleged acts of violence against Muslims.
• The grouping also denounced alleged Islamophobia.
• As reported, several incidents of violence were reported on Ram Navami on Mar 31^st in Bihar’s Nalanda and West Bengal’s Howrah. (here)
• Responding to the media queries about the statement of OIC, MEA said, “We strongly condemn the statement issued by OIC Secretariat today regarding India. This is one more example of their communal mindset and anti-India agenda.” (here)
• Coming down heavily on the BJP over the violent incidents in West Bengal, CM Banerjee on Tue alleged that the party hired “goons from Bihar” to incite violence.
• She said that the rioters do not belong to any religion and they are the “BJP goons”.

India one of the fastest-growing economies, says WB; cuts GDP growth to 6.3% in FY24

• World Bank, on Tue, cut India’s GDP growth to 6.3% in FY24 and projected the Current Account Deficit at 5.2% due to shrinkage in consumption
• Interestingly, the report noted that India was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world despite significant challenges in the global environment.
• India’s overall growth remains robust and is estimated to be ‘6.9% for the full year with real GDP growing 7.7% year-on-year during the 1^st 3 Qs of the fiscal year 2022/23′.
• The Current Account Deficit is expected to be 5.2% for the year 2024.
• According to the World Bank report, retail inflation in India will see moderation from 6.6% to 5.2% in FY24. (here)

India to carry out maiden firing of its Russian-origin S-400 air defense system “soon”

• Having already operationalized the 1^st two squadrons of the long-range air defense system, the Air Force is going to carry out the maiden firing of the S-400 missiles soon.
• Indian forces had carried out the firing of the Russian-origin missile system during trials in Russia but it is yet to be fired in the country.
• The air defense missile system had a different range of missiles, which can shoot down fast-moving fighter jets or cruise missiles at a maximum range of 400 km.
• The first two squadrons have been deployed at different locations from where they can cover the Ladakh sector, as well as West Bengal’s delicate Chicken’s Neck. (here)

India acquires weapons worth $300 mn from US for its Navy

• India is acquiring arms worth over $300 million from the US to arm its naval multi-role helicopters that will enhance their capability to counter enemy warship and submarine.
• The weapons are for the MH 60 ‘Romeo’ choppers, the most advanced multi-role helicopters currently in service with the Indian Navy.
• The fleet of 24 choppers will get additional Hellfire missiles and Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes.
• The MH 60 Romeos have been in service since last year when the first batch was delivered at Kochi (here)

Two Indian journalists barred from returning to China amid tensions

• China has barred 2 Indian journalists from returning to Beijing, weeks after India asked a Chinese journalist to leave the country, people familiar with the matter said on Tue.
• State-run Prasar Bharati’s representative and The Hindu’s correspondent were informed by Chinese officials that their visas were frozen, the people said.
• Both Mishra and Krishnan had recently come to India for personal reasons.
• The move followed the Indian side informing a New Delhi-based reporter of the state-run Xinhua last month that his Indian visa would not be renewed. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Govt rejects SC verdict in polls delay case, terms it ‘unenforceable’

• In its meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif, the federal cabinet on Tue rejected the SC’s “unanimous verdict” in the postponement of polls in Punjab and KP.
• “The Supreme Court’s decision is a minority verdict, which is why the cabinet rejects it,” federal cabinet sources said.
• The top court’s decision, as per the sources, is not enforceable.
• The govt would raise its voice in the parliament regarding the verdict.
• It was also decided in the meeting that the coalition parties in power will talk about the apex court’s decision in the parliament, they added.
• In the meeting, the cabinet decided to present its position on the verdict. (here)

Pakistan: Punjab polls on May 14 after SC declares ECP decision ‘unconstitutional’

• The 3-member top Court bench hearing the PTI petition challenging the delay in Punjab polls nullified the Election Commission’s decision on Tue, declaring it “unconstitutional”.
• The apex court announced that general elections of the Punjab Assembly would be held on May 14.
• The bench was headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprised Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
• The court declared that the ECP’s orders postponing the provincial assembly elections until Oct 8 was “illegal” and “unconstitutional”.
• “The law does not permit the ECP to extend the election date,” declared the court.
• The govt has been directed by the court to release funds of Rs 21 billion for polls by Apr 10.
• The ruling also stated that the court would issue appropriate orders should the govt fail to comply. (here)

Pakistan: SBP hikes policy rate by 100bps to record high of 21%

• Pakistan’s central bank hiked its benchmark policy rate by 100 basis points to a new record high of 21% on Tue as a measure to anchor rising inflation.
• The inflation reading hit a 6-decade high at 35.4% in Mar 2023.
• It is projected to peak in the range of 37% to 40% in Apr or May, experts said.
• The market is of the view that the central bank increased the rate on IMF’s endorsement to resume its $6.5 billion loan program.
• The central bank also noted that despite a sharp reduction in the current account deficit in recent months, external account vulnerabilities persist.
• In Feb, the current account saw a deficit of only $74 million and the cumulative deficit now stands at $3.9 billion in Jul-Feb FY23, about 68% lower than Feb 2022. (here)

Nepal: Nepali and Chinese officials to discuss border, security issues but skip GSI

• A foreign ministry official says there will be an open and frank discussion on all topics including some disputed ones.
• Foreign Secy Bharat Raj Paudyal is Beijing-bound as the head of the Nepali delegation to the 15^th meeting of the Bilateral Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism.
• At the meeting scheduled for Fri, Paudyal and Sun Weidong, Dy FM, China will lead their respective delegations.
• Despite, China having pushed hard for Nepal’s support for the Global Security Initiative, a new security plan by China, the issue is unlikely to be discussed.
• Beijing claimed that the GSI aims to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, improve global security governance, and encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and certainty to a volatile and changing era.
• The Nepali side has time and again communicated to the Chinese side that it cannot be part of, or support, the GSI.
• But during the meeting, two other initiatives undertaken by China—the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative (GDI)—will be discussed.
• The meeting is taking place just ahead of the 6^th anniversary of Nepal signing up for the Chinese BRI.
• Nepal and China signed an MoU on the BRI framework agreement in May 2017, despite being six years, no project under the initiative has started in Nepal. (here)