1. PM Modi speaks with UK PM, raises security issue of Indian diplomatic establishments
2. “Startups garnered over 40 lakh jobs”, PM Modi virtually attends Rashtriya Rozgar Mela, distributes appointment letters to 71,000
3. States, UTs alerted for possible cyber attacks at 12,000 govt websites by Indonesian hacker
4. India builds infra near LAC to counter China’s model villages
5. Atiq Ahmad’s son Asad shot dead in UP Police encounter

What Else

6. Amit Shah reviews J-K security in a high-level meeting in Delhi
7. Debt crisis key priority of India’s G20 presidency, says FM in US
8. India’s exports up 6% to record $447 bn in 2022-23; overall shipment at all-time high of $770 bn
9. India’s ED registers case against BBC India for foreign exchange violations
10. Satya Pal Malik gets defamation notice from RSS leader over bribery allegation
11. US federal agents arrest National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, 21, over leaked intelligence documents revealing Ukraine war secrets
12. China sanctions senior US lawmaker Michael McCaul for visiting Taiwan
13. China cozies up with Brazil’s Lula on state visit full of deals, diplomacy and S American inroads
14. Pakistan: Khawaja Asif warns of striking terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan
15. Pakistan: ‘Patience, reciprocity’ needed in dealing with Kabul: Khar
16. Pakistan: Supreme Court bars implementation of bill limiting CJP powers
17. Nepal: Nepal gifts 669MW Lower Arun to India’s SJVN

PM Modi speaks with UK PM, raises security issue of Indian diplomatic establishments

• PM Modi on Thu raised the issue of the security of the Indian diplomatic mission with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak and called for strong action against anti-India forces.
• In a telephone dialog, PM Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack unacceptable and assured of the security of the Indian Mission and its personnel.
• The leaders also reviewed the progress on several bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030.
• They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors.
• They agreed on the need for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement.
• PM Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK
• He sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. (here)

“Startups garnered over 40 lakh jobs”, PM Modi virtually attends Rashtriya Rozgar Mela, distributes appointment letters to 71,000

• PM Modi on Thu virtually distributed appointment letters to 71k recruits in the ‘employment festival’ and said that Startups have created more than 40 lakh direct and indirect jobs.
• The PM said that the Rashtriya Rozgar Mela shows the government’s commitment to uplifting youth spirit and giving them employment opportunities.
• Mentioning the growing Defence sector in the country, PM Modi said that India has exported Defence equipment worth Rs 15,000 crore.
• Detailing the self-reliance in various sectors of the country including drones, the Prime Minister said that youth are engaging in new-age technologies.
• He lauded the health sector in the country and said that it is becoming the best example of employment generation. (here)

States, UTs alerted for possible cyber attacks at 12,000 govt websites by Indonesian hacker

• Indian Cyber Crime Centre (I4C) on Thu issued an alert to all the States about a possible cyber attack from a group from Indonesia aiming 12k govt websites across the country.
• I4C wing alerted following their findings about the Indonesian cyber attack group hatching a conspiracy to implement their ill intentions.
• The inputs shared with the States and the UTs mention a potential attack on govt-run websites (center/state).
• In Nov last year, hackers from China managed a ransomware attack on AIIMS Delhi’s servers. (here)

India builds infra near LAC to counter China’s model villages

• India is developing border villages in Arunachal as tourist hubs through a civil-military partnership in response to China’s “model villages” close to the LAC.
• The idea is to not only boost the local economy and stop migration to the cities but also assert India’s dominance near the border at a time when there is volatility at the LAC.
• The emphasis is on developing homestays, treks, camping sites, adventure sports activities, and spiritual tours HT reported citing anonymous sources.
• The Arunachal govt is actively considering promoting tours to the World War II planes’ crash sites in the state, which has a 1,129 km long international border with China.
• To make access to the remote state easier, the state administration has also decided to build a commercial landing ground for helicopters at Walong.
• The micro, mini, and small hydropower projects of 10–100-KW capacity are being built at an estimated cost of ₹200 crores.
• 17 such projects located in 11 districts will cover 123 border villages benefiting 10,185 people. (here)

Atiq Ahmad’s son Asad shot dead in UP Police encounter

• Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad’s son Asad and Ghulam, wanted in Umesh Pal’s murder case have been killed in an encounter by the UP Police’s STF in Jhansi.
• UP STF said, “Both wanted in Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rupees 5 lakhs each. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons recovered.”
• Asad Ahmad was the third son of Atiq Ahmad and had taken over Atiq’s gang after his brothers surrendered in court.
• The FIR lodged against Asad was under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (offense committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
• Asad’s killing in the encounter comes when Atiq Ahmad and his brother were produced before a Prayagraj court in connection with the Umesh murder case. (here)
• Atiq along with his younger brother and former MLA, Khalid Azeem on Thu were sent to 14-day Judicial custody by the court of chief Judicial magistrate-Prayagraj. (here)
• Asad’s encounter foiled plan to free gangster Atiq Ahmed from Custody: UP Police
• Opposition leaders, SP supremo, Akhilesh Yadav, and AIMIM Chief Asadudeen Owasi alleged that the encounter is fake, while CPI leader Brinda Karat said, “Encounter politics is a violation of the legal system”.

Amit Shah reviews J-K security in a high-level meeting in Delhi

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thu chaired a review meeting from 3 to 7 pm related to the security situation in J&K, ahead of G-20 meeting to be held in Srinagar.
• In the high-level meeting attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, and Home Secretary among other senior officials including intelligence chiefs.
• He reiterated that under the leadership of PM Modi, the GoI is “committed towards zero tolerance against terrorism.”
• Shah also reviewed the Area Domination Plan, Zero Terror Plan, Law and Order situation, cases of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and other issues. (here)

Debt crisis key priority of India’s G20 presidency, says FM in US

• Fin Min N Sitharaman reiterated that addressing the growing debt distress was a priority for India’s G20 presidency.
• She has emphasized debt transparency, information-sharing, clarity on the comparability of treatment, predictability, and restructuring process as key principles.
• Her comments, according to tweets by the Ministry, come in the backdrop of what is widely perceived to be China’s position impeding efforts to help countries in distress.
• Each of the principles Sitharaman mentioned can be interpreted as a coded message to Beijing.
• Sitharaman made the remarks while co-chairing a meeting of the global sovereign debt roundtable along with the heads of the IMF and WB on Wed in Washington DC
• The second G20 finance minister and central bank governors meeting commenced under India’s presidency. (here)

India’s exports up 6% to record $447 bn in 2022-23; overall shipment at all-time high of $770 bn

• The country’s exports rose by about 6% to a record $447.46 billion during 2022-23 on account of healthy growth from sectors like petroleum, pharma, and chemicals.
• Service exports grew by 26.8% to an all-time high of $322.72 billion in 2022-23 against $254.53 billion in 2021-22.
• The total goods and services exports during the last fiscal grew by 13.84% to $770.18 bn
• However, the merchandise exports in Mar dipped to $38.38 bn against $44.57 bn in the same month last year.
• Imports too declined to $58.11 bn in the month under review from $63 bn a year ago.
• The trade deficit during Mar stood at $19.73 bn.
• The country’s imports in 2022-23 grew by 16.5% to $714.24 bn compared to $613 bn in 2021-22.
• The merchandise trade deficit for the last fiscal was estimated at $266.78 bn against $191.05 bn in 2021-22. (here)

India’s ED registers case against BBC India for foreign exchange violations

• The economic offense wing, ED, has registered a case against the BBC India news broadcaster for alleged foreign exchange violations.
• The case was filed under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 2 weeks ago.
• ED has been probing BBC India employees with so far 6 employees being interrogated.
• It even involves high-level employees of the BBC including the BBC India directors.
• This comes after Income Tax Department carried out tax surveys at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai in Feb.
• The IT department had reportedly “gathered evidence” which indicates that “tax has not been paid on certain remittances” which have not been disclosed as income in India.
• The raids were followed weeks after the BBC on Jan 17 released a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, which is opposed by GoI and curbed its domestic release. (here)

Satya Pal Malik gets defamation notice from RSS leader over bribery allegation

• RSS leader Ram Madhav has sent a defamation notice to former J&K governor Malik in response to his allegation that Madhav tried to influence him”
• In Oct 2021, Malik claimed that Madhav had offered him a bribe of ₹300 crore to clear two files related to “Ambani” when he was the J&K governor.
• On Tuesday, Congress held a press conference where they played up the interview and asked why the CBI or ED is not knocking at the doors of Ram Madhav.
• The Congress leader said the CBI had openly questioned the former governor at its headquarters but why has Ram Madhav not been called for questioning yet? (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

US federal agents arrest National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, 21, over leaked intelligence documents revealing Ukraine war secrets

• US federal agents arrested a Massachusetts Air National Guard employee on Thu over the release of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war.
• The documents have embarrassed Washington, strained ties with allies, and revealed how deeply American intelligence agencies can penetrate the secrets of overseas govts.
• FBI agents took Jack Douglas Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident.
• Investigators believe that Teixeira who specializes in intelligence led the online chat group where the documents were posted.
• Analysts said ramifications of the leak could play out over years among allies as well as adversaries, as seen in a past case with China implications.
• Washington has scrambled to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. (here)

China sanctions senior US lawmaker Michael McCaul for visiting Taiwan

• China’s foreign ministry on Thu sanctioned US Michael McCaul, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, for visiting Taiwan.
• Ministry said he had sent a “seriously wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces”.
• McCaul visited Taipei last week and met Tsai, pledging to help provide training for Taiwan’s armed forces and to speed up the delivery of weapons.
• The ministry said McCaul, a Republican, had frequently interfered in China’s internal affairs with his words and actions and harmed China’s interests.
• McCaul commented that China’s action is “a badge of honor”. (here)

China cozies up with Brazil’s Lula on state visit full of deals, diplomacy and S American inroads

• China is cementing closer ties with Brazil this week, with more than 20 deals to be signed during President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s 4-day visit.
• The state trip takes place as Beijing is trying to broaden its political and economic influence in Latin America amid tensions with the United States.
• After reaching a yuan-settlement deal in Feb – a move believed to reduce US dollar exposure – the two countries are expected to cooperate in a variety of sectors.
• One of the agreements Lula will sign will be for the construction of a 6^th satellite that will monitor biomes or biological communities, such as the Amazon rainforest. (here)

Pakistan: Khawaja Asif warns of striking terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan

• Def Min Khawaja Asif has warned Taliban rulers that Islamabad will strike terrorist hideouts inside the country if the latter were unable to rein in anti-Pakistan militants.
• The minister made the remarks in an inclusive interview with VoA published on Wed.
• Asif’s comments come on the back of his earlier statement that the banned TTP was using Afghan soil for carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
• Asif said that in his visit to Afghanistan in late-Feb, he reminded the Taliban administration to live up to their cross-border security commitments.
• Asif went on to say that the Afghans responded to this “really well”. (here)

Pakistan: ‘Patience, reciprocity’ needed in dealing with Kabul: Khar

• Pakistan again warned the international community against abandoning Afghanistan, which is currently facing a humanitarian crisis and needs urgent assistance to survive.
• Speaking at the FMs Meeting in Samarkand on Thu, dy FM Hina Rabbani called for ‘patience’ and ‘reciprocity’, saying that the world should continue to engage with the interim Afghan government.
• “We need to be flexible. This process should be appropriately incentivized,” she suggested.
• She said Pakistan firmly believed that humanitarian support should remain delinked from any political considerations.
• She mentioned Kabul’s decision to suspend education for women and girls and to prevent female staff members from working for national and international NGOs.
• On the sidelines of the conference, Khar met with the FMs of China, Russia, and Iran.
• In her meeting with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, the two sides agreed to further bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and food security. (here)

Pakistan: Supreme Court bars implementation of bill limiting CJP powers

• In a major development, an 8-member larger bench of the SC on Thu ordered that even if the SC (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 even signed by the President would not be acted upon.
• The top court’s 8-member larger bench — headed by Chief Justice and 8 others — issued its 8-page ruling on 3 petitions challenging the SC bill.
• In its order, the bench stated that the facts and circumstances presented here are extraordinary both in import and effect.
• The bench stated that an interim measure ought to be put in place, like an anticipatory injunction. (here)

Nepal: Nepal gifts 669MW Lower Arun to India’s SJVN

• Weeks ahead of a proposed visit to India by PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Investment Board has offered yet another hydropower project to India, through a negotiation frame
• The 53^rd meeting of the IBN chaired by the PM approved an investment worth Rs92.68 bn proposed by India’s state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam to develop the 669 MW Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project.
• The NIB decided to form a “project development agreement negotiation committee’ led by the board’s CEO, instructing it to submit the document of consensus to the board.
• This is the 3^rd project undertaken, all through negotiation windows, on the Arun River after the 900 MW Arun-III and 695 MW Arun-IV hydroelectricity projects. (here)