1. Split in NCP? Ajit Pawar sworn in as 2nd deputy CM in Shinde-Fadnavis govt
2. CM Biren Singh inspects on-ground situation after fresh violence in Manipur
3. Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, France offers to co-develop engine for combat jets
4. Sri Lanka will stay neutral in China-India rivalry: Foreign Minister Ali Sabry
5. India, China ramp up infra on north bank of Pangong Tso lake

What Else

6. Xi Jinping to attend SCO summit hosted by India virtually on July 4
7. Key BRICS meet this week to discuss expansion
8. Telangana: PM Modi to visit Telangana on July 8, hold public meeting in Warangal
9. During EAM Jaishankar’s visit, announcement to be made on setting up IIT in Tanzania
10. Pak-operated ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ case: NIA raids 5 locations in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh
11. J-K: 1 LeT associate apprehended by Srinagar Police, 4 perfume IEDs recovered
12. Gujarat riots case: Supreme Court grants interim protection to Teesta Setalvad for 7 days
13. India’s first domestically built 700 MW nuclear reactor starts commercial operations in Gujarat
14. Rajya Sabha session from July 20 to August 11
15. Pakistan secures critical $3bn nod from IMF in nick of time
16. 4 security personnel martyred after checkposts in Balochistan’s Sherani come under attack
17. In emergency session, OIC calls for collective measures against desecration of Holy Quran
18. China names forex regulatory head Pan as Communist Party chief for c’bank
19. Egypt gets China-funded satellites in step towards space industry ambitions
20. Russia opens research centre on Xi Jinping’s ideology, the first outside China

Ajit Pawar sworn in as 2^nd deputy CM in Shinde-Fadnavis govt; Split in NCP?

• NCP leader Ajit Pawar has been sworn in as dy chief minister of Maharashtra.
• Pawar, who is believed to have the support of a considerable number of NCP MLAs, reached the Raj Bhawan in Mumbai Sun afternoon.
• This was the 3^rd time since 2019 that Pawar was administered the oath of dy CM.
• 8 NCP MLAs were also sworn in as ministers in CM Eknath Shinde’s cabinet including Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde, and Dilip Walse Patil.
• This event of the NCP splitting and much of its leadership joining the BJP-SS govt are not just being seen as a blow to MVA but also to the attempts to forge a larger Opposition unity nationally. (here)
• The rift between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit resurfaced many times over the last few years. (here)
• NCP chief Sharad Pawar to hold a meeting on Jul 5 after Pawar-led vertical split (here)
• In 1999, Sharad Pawar was expelled from Congress for objecting to Sonia Gandhi’s leadership and thus the NCP was born.
• Congress’s chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi also spoke to Sharad Pawar as senior Pawar clarified that Ajit Pawar’s action was not endorsed by the party. (here)
• Given Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s deep concern to restore peace and harmony in the State and alleviate the plight of people in general, UPF and KNO have decided to lift the blockade at Kangui on NH2 with immediate effect.

CM Biren Singh inspects on-ground situation after fresh violence in Manipur

• At least 3 “village volunteers” were killed and 5 others injured in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, police said on Sun.
• The incident took place in Khoijumantabi village late on Sat night when the “village volunteers” were guarding the area in a makeshift bunker.
• While 2 bodies were found initially, the third one was recovered later.
• 5 people were injured in the shootout that lasted for several hours 2 of them are serious.
• CM N Biren Singh went to the spot to take stock of the situation and interacted with the locals. (here)
• Defence Secretary visits Myanmar, discusses matters relating to India’s security: Def Secy Giridhar Aramane paid an official visit to Myanmar from Jun 30 to Jul 01, and called on Gen Min Aung Hlaing Chairman, SAC in Capital Nay Pyi Taw
• Aramane also called on the Def Min Gen (Retd.) Mya Tun Oo and held meetings with CnC, Myanmar Navy, and the Chief of Defence Industries.
• The 11-member SAC under Gen Hlaing is governing Myanmar currently.
• The MoD said, “During the meetings, the two sides discussed issues related to maintenance of tranquillity in the border areas, illegal trans-border movements and transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and smuggling.”
• India shares an approximately 1,700-km-long border, including Manipur, sharing around 390 km long borders, is facing violence. (here)

Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, France offers to co-develop engine for combat jets

• Ahead of PM Modi’s 2-day visit to Paris, France made an offer many steps ahead of the pioneering GE-414 engine deal with the US, people familiar with the matter said on Sat
• The Macron govt has given the green signal to defense major Safran to jointly design, develop, test, manufacture, and finally certify an engine.
• The engine will power India’s twin-engine advanced multi-role combat aircraft and the twin-engine deck-based fighter for Indian aircraft carriers.
• (Source)- 100% ToT offered by Safran is free from US International Trade in Arms Regulation, and the proposed 110-kilo newton engine will be fully “Made in India”.
• DRDO chief paid a special visit to the Safran engine factory and the R&D center near Paris on the sidelines of the recently concluded 2023 Paris Air Show.
• The engine proposal has been under discussion under the defense minister and NSA-led strategic dialogue with France. (here)

Sri Lanka will stay neutral in China-India rivalry: Foreign Minister Ali Sabry

• “We want India and China to talk to each other and resolve their differences and that will be better for both countries, better for the world,” said Lankan F Min Ali Sabry.
• Sri Lanka will not take sides between China and India, nor will it do anything to harm either country.
• Relations between Beijing and New Delhi have been deteriorating since their border clashes in 2020, raising fears that tensions could spill beyond the contested region.
• Sri Lanka was drawn into the dispute last summer when India lodged a verbal protest over its agreement for a PLA naval vessel’s planned visit to Hambantota.
• Delhi is concerned that the Chinese-built and leased port in Lanka, strategically situated at the top of the Indian Ocean, could be used by Beijing as a military base in India’s backyard. (here)

India, China ramp up infra on north bank of Pangong Tso lake

• 3 years after the violent clash between Indian and Chinese forces in Galwan followed by tanks facing each other around the Pangong Tso — a lake spanning eastern Ladakh and western Tibet — there is hectic activity in the area from both sides.
• While China is rushing to complete a bridge across the Pangong Tso, connecting the north-south banks, India is also building a black-topped road on its side.
• These are among many infrastructure expansions initiated on both sides, permanently altering the status quo on the ground in eastern Ladakh.
• “Construction of black-topped road towards Finger 4 on our side is on and is expected to be completed by 2025,” an official source said.
• In addition, construction work is at an advanced stage on the alternate axis to the critical Darbuk-Skyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road through the Saser La, the source stated.
• On the Chinese side, work is now underway on the main bridge, while the 2^nd bridge has been completed.
• Recently, large-scale construction activity, along with construction materials, was observed on the north bank.
• Besides the bridge, work on road connectivity along the south bank towards Shandong village is also under progress, while air defense site is located east of the Khurnak fort.
• In addition, a 22 km-long tunnel is under construction along the G-0177 expressway at Yuli, connecting to the very important G-216 highway in Tibet.
• India holds 1/3^rd of the 135 km-long boomerang-shaped Pangong Lake.
• The CC-level talks remain gridlocked over 2 more points at Depsang and Demchok.
• At both locations, the Chinese side has been blocking Indian patrols, while adding that there has been some climb-down on the Chinese position during the talks. (here)

Xi Jinping to attend SCO summit hosted by India virtually on July 4

• China’s President Xi Jinping will attend the SCO summit via video link on Jul 4, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Fri.
• India, as the chair nation of this year’s summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State, announced in May that it would hold the event in a virtual format.
• Def and foreign ministers of the bloc attended in-person meetings in India this year.
• Formed in 2001 by Russia, China, and former Soviet states, the body has been expanded to include India and Pakistan, with a view as a counterweight to Western influence.
• Kazakhstan will take over the presidency of the SCO after the July summit. (here)
• Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the 23^rd Meeting of the SCO’s Heads of State virtually, according to a press release issued by the FM’s on Fri. (here)

Key BRICS meet this week to discuss expansion

• South Africa, as the current President of BRICS, is set to host a significant meeting this week with the expansion of the grouping as a key agenda.
• The BRICS meeting, scheduled to take place from Jul 4^th to 6^th in Durban, will focus on finalizing the expansion document to be considered by the FMs and the Leaders.
• During the meeting, the member countries will collaborate on establishing guidelines, procedures, and criteria for the expansion of BRICS.
• A total of 19 countries, with 13 formal requests and approx 5 or 6 informal queries, have approached BRICS expressing their interest in becoming full members. (here)

Telangana: PM Modi to visit Telangana on July 8, hold public meeting in Warangal

• PM Modi will visit Telangana on Jul 8 to participate in several official programs and a public meeting in Warangal, said Telangana BJP leadership.
• BJP Spokesperson Prakash Reddy briefed about the visit of PM Modi to Telangana on July 8 and the public meeting in Warangal.
• The PM will lay the foundation stone for the wagon manufacturing unit, the budget has already been allocated in the last budget. (here)

During EAM Jaishankar’s visit, announcement to be made on setting up IIT in Tanzania

• A statement is expected to be made during S Jaishankar’s, Minister of External Affairs visit to Tanzania this week regarding the founding of the 1^st abroad campus of the IIT
• This is stress India’s commitment to bringing world-class education to the African continent
• Tanzania in the past has been a major beneficiary of Indian scholarships and educational assistance.
• The upcoming visit of Dr S Jaishankar will witness the signing of a key MoU between the two for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology. (here)

Pak-operated ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ case: NIA raids 5 locations in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh

• The NIA on Sun conducted raids at 5 places in Bihar, Gujarat, and UP in connection with ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’, a radicalized module being run by Pakistan-based suspects.
• The National Investigation searched 1 place in Darbhanga and 2 in Patna (Bihar); 1 in Surat (Guj); and 1 in Bareilly (UP).
• Incriminating material, including digital devices (mobile phones, memory cards), SIM cards, and documents were seized during the raids. (here)
• NIA Asks Home Ministry To Shift Over 10 Dreaded Gangsters To A&N Jail

• The National Investigation Agency on Sun wrote to the Home Ministry to shift 10-12 dreaded gangsters currently lodged in N Indian prisons to the Andaman and Nicobar
• These are suspected to be operating their syndicate behind bars.
• Earlier, the NIA had sought the transfer of at least 25 gangsters from jails in N India to the southern states. (here)
• NIA is also looking at the option of shifting them to the Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, where Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his associates are currently lodged.

J-K: 1 LeT associate apprehended by Srinagar Police, 4 perfume IEDs recovered

• Srinagar Police arrested one LeT terror associate, identified as Yasir Ahmed Ittoo, from the Batmaloo bus stand of the UT, with 4 perfume IEDs, added Srinagar Police.
• FIR under the relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been registered against Yasir.
• Further details are awaited. (here)

Gujarat riots case: Supreme Court grants interim protection to Teesta Setalvad for 7 days

• Vacation benches of SC sit twice on Sat and finally granted interim protection to social activist Teesta Setalvad in the 2002 Gujarat riots’ evidence fabrication case.
• The interim protection of 7 days was granted to Setalvad as her regular bail was rejected by the Gujarat High Court.
• A 3 judges bench stayed the order of the high court which asked Setalvad to surrender immediately
• The apex Court bench said, adding the judge was wrong in not granting the interim protection. (here)

India’s first domestically built 700 MW nuclear reactor starts commercial operations in Gujarat

• India’s 1^st– indigenously developed 700 MW nuclear power reactor at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat started commercial operations on Fri.
• Presently, the unit is operating at 90% of its total power
• The Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd is building two 700 MW pressurized heavy water reactors at Kakrapar, which is also home to two 220 MW power plants. (here)
• The NPCIL plans to build 16, 700 MW PHWRs across the country and has granted financial and administrative sanctions for the same. (here)

Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar assumes office of Western Command

• Lt Gen, Manoj Kumar Katiyar, assumed the office of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Western Command on Sat.
• Before taking over as GOC-in-C of Western Command, the GO was the Director General of Military Operations of the Indian army. (here)
• Lt Gen Pratik Sharma assumed the appointment of the DGMO on Sat.
• Prior to this, he was commanding the Kharga Corps.

Rajya Sabha session from July 20 to August 11

• The Rajya Sabha will meet from Jul 20 to Aug 11 for the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, the Upper House secretariat said.
• Earlier on Sat, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that the monsoon session of Parliament will begin on July 20.
• The session is slated to continue till August 11, he said.
• He said that there will be a total of 17 sittings in this session lasting 23 days.
• The govt is expected to have significant legislative agenda for the session (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan secures critical $3bn nod from IMF in nick of time

• The IMF has reached a staff-level pact with Pak on a $3 bn stand-by arrangement, the lender said, a decision long-awaited by Pak, which is teetering on the brink of default.
• The deal — subject to approval by the IMF board— comes after an 8-month delay and offers some respite to Pakistan, which is battling an acute balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves.
• The $3bn funding, spread over 9 months, is higher than expected for Pakistan.
• The country was awaiting the release of the remaining $2.5bn from a $6.5bn bailout package agreed in 2019, which expired on Fri.
• The new deal will disburse an upfront amount of $1.1 billion shortly after the IMF board’s meeting in Jul, Fin Min said.
• He said Pakistan aimed to take the central bank’s FX reserves to $14 billion by Jul (here)

4 security personnel martyred after checkposts in Balochistan’s Sherani come under attack

• 3 police officials and an FC personnel were martyred while a terrorist was killed on Sun after police and Levies checkposts in Balochistan’s Sherani came under attack.
• Sherani DC confirmed the fatalities, adding that the exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists continued for almost 2 hours.
• A terrorist was killed during the exchange of fire, while two others were injured.
• Meanwhile, Sherani’s Health Officer told that a state of emergency has been put in place at the Zhob Civil Hospital and that all hospital staff had been called on.
• Increase in terror attacks: Pakistan has seen an uptick in terror activities, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the govt in last Nov. (here)

In emergency session, OIC calls for collective measures against desecration of Holy Quran

• The OIC on Sun said collective measures were needed to prevent acts of desecration of the Holy Quran and international law should be used to stop religious hatred after the holy book was burned in a protest in Sweden.
• The statement was issued after an extraordinary meeting in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah called to discuss Wed’s incident of the Holy Quran’s desecration in Sweden.
• The act drew strong criticism from several countries, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq, and Iran.
• On Wed, Salwan Momika, 37, had asked police for permission to burn the Holy Quran “to express my opinion about the Quran”.
• Under a heavy police presence and with around a dozen opponents shouting at him in Arabic, addressed the crowd of several dozen through a megaphone.
• He stomped on the Holy Quran and lit a few pages while waving Swedish flags (here)

China names forex regulatory head Pan Gongsheng as Communist Party chief for central bank

• Pan Gongsheng, a deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), has been appointed Communist Party chief of the central bank.
• The 59-year-old veteran banker is also party secretary and director of China’s foreign exchange regulator – the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).
• Pan will replace 66-year-old Guo Shuqing as PBOC party secretary, according to a brief statement on the central bank’s website.
• PBOC governor Yi Gang, 65, who has been in the post since 2018, will also be stepping down, the statement said.
• Pan is expected to take Yi’s place as governor, as appointments of party posts usually precede govt positions, according to industry insiders.
• This comes at a time when China’s post-pandemic economic recovery is losing steam, and yuan exchange rates face huge volatility as geopolitical tensions intensify. (here)

Egypt gets China-funded satellites in step towards space industry ambitions

• With the help of China, Egypt now can assemble, integrate and test satellites, as it seeks to position itself as the continent’s space industry powerhouse.
• Egypt took delivery of 2 China-funded prototypes for the MisrSat-2 satellite project on Jun 25.
• The satellites will be assembled and tested at a center, also financed by China, at the Egyptian Space Agency near the country’s new capital city.
• China provided a US$74 million grant for the project, as well as US$68 million for the satellite assembly, integration, and test center to be built.
• Over the past 3 months, engineers from Egypt and the China Aerospace Corporation have been conducting tests on 3 MisrSat-2 satellite models. (here)

Russia opens research centre on Xi Jinping’s ideology, the first outside China

• Russia has opened a state-funded research center on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ideology “to understand modern China better”.
• The Modern Ideology of China Research Laboratory was launched in Jun by Russian Academy of Sciences at its Institute of China and Contemporary Asia in Moscow.
• It is the first such research center on the Chinese leader’s political doctrine – known as Xi Jinping Thought – outside China, according to state news agency Xinhua.
• Analysis will allow the ‘government, business and scientific community to understand modern China better’, says the head of an institute overseeing the lab
• The move reflects the changing views within Russian academia on the West and China, especially in the past two years, according to a Chinese observer